Very early the next morning, Harry returned to St Mungo's. He went directly to the nursery to see James first before checking on Ginny. As he turned down the corridor where the nursery was, he was surprised to see Lucius Malfoy and Hermione already there, gazing through the window at the display of babies. Hermione leaned lightly on Lucius' arm for support.
"You're up early," Harry remarked as he joined the Malfoys at the window. "And I'm surprised to see you already up, Hermione."
"I could say the same, Mr Potter," Lucius responded dryly.
"Well, it's been two days," Hermione told him. "And the healer said it's important for me to get back on my feet as quickly as possible. I'd just finished feeding Lucia, and I decided I'd walk back to the nursery with her so I could get a bit of exercise." Gazing longingly through the window, "And we just can't take our eyes off her."
"She's a beautiful baby," Harry agreed. "I know you're both going to spoil her rotten."
"I know Lucius will," Hermione admitted, laughing. "But I'm going to try not to."
"Good luck on that," Harry chuckled, knowing that Lucia woujld be spoiled by both her parents.
Gesturing toward the nursery, Lucius remarked, "I see that your son finally arrived."
There was no mistaking the son of Harry Potter. Baby James Potter had been born with the messy, nearly black hair and green eyes of his father. Lucius considered the child lucky that he bore no outward indication of his Weasley ancestry.
"Yesterday," Harry confirmed. "Ginny ended up having to have a Caesarian section."
Lucius looked puzzled at the unfamiliar muggle term, so Hermione elaborated. "It's when a baby is taken from the womb by surgical intervention. It's fairly common in the muggle world."
The older wizard frowned at this notion. "I've never actually heard of anyone giving birth in this manner."
"It was a last resort," Harry told him. "The midwife said Ginny had gone on too long in labour and the potions she tried next didn't work, so had to call in a healer who'd also been trained in muggle medicine."
Looking back at the Potter baby, Lucius said, "I suppose that all's well that ends well. He seems perfectly content now."
"He seems to be a good baby so far," Harry said. "I'm just afraid that Molly will totally ruin him by spoiling him."
"You have to be firm with her, Mr Potter," Lucius told him. "You have to make it clear from the very beginning that you are the father and that it's not up to her to decide how your son will be raised."
"That will be easier said than done," Harry grumbled. "You know how she is. She won't ever take 'no' for an answer. And what's worse, Ginny usually sides with her mother!"
"If you don't put your foot down now, it will be this way from now on," the older wizard told him. "If you want any peace and sanity in your marriage, the sooner you do it, the better."
"That's just it," Harry admitted miserably. "I've been wondering if I made a mistake getting married to Ginny."
Both Malfoys exchanged startled glances. "Only you can decide that, Mr Potter," Lucius said. "That is also something you need to work out sooner rather than later, though not today, of course. But whatever you decide, you now have a son who should be your first consideration."
"We'll stand by you, whatever happens," Hermione put in.
"I can recommend an excellent lawyer, if it comes to that," Lucius assured him smoothly.
"Thanks, I really appreciate it," Harry said. "But for now, I'm hoping that everything will work out, once Ginny and I can settle down alone at Grimmauld Place with James."
The Malfoys again exchanged glances, knowing that the odds of Molly Weasley leaving the Potter couple alone to raise their child in peace were practically nil. Harry was being naive, but his awakening dissatisfaction indicated that such moments of innocent naivete would soon be a thing of the past.
Looking back through the window at James, who was in a bassinet right next to Lucia, Harry sighed, then said, "I hope by the time these two start off to Hogwarts that people will have gotten past the war and we'll truly be a united wizarding society."
"That would be ideal," Lucius agreed. "But I don't see that happening. Likely as not, a new controversy will arise to divide us into factions, even if the old rivalries no longer exist. And memories are long in the wizarding world, as well as the resultant grudges generated by them."
"But you never know," Hermione said. "Stranger things have happened."
"Mr Malfoy," a voice behind the group interrupted before Lucius or Harry could comment.
They all turned to see a nondescript young man in plain black robes with a wizarding camera slung around his neck.
"I'm Jonathan Biedenbender of the Daily Prophet and I was wondering if I could take a few photos of all of you for an article Mr Terwilliger will be writing?" the young wizard asked.
"Ah, yes, Terwilliger had owled me for an interview," Lucius recalled. "I have no objections." Looking at Harry, he inquired, "Mr Potter?"
"What will the article be about?" Harry asked, hesitant.
"Oh, it's kind of a follow up on the consort relationship articles previously featured in the Prophet, plus an update on how the Wizarding Repopulation effort is going," Lucius explained. "I imagine Terwilliger would like photos of you and young Mr Potter as part of the second part of the article."
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't harm anything," Harry decided.
"Mr Terwilliger also wanted me to mention that he'll be contacting you soon about an interview as well," Biedenbender supplied, backing up Lucius' words.
"I'll consent to the photos being published, as long as I approve of the captions," Harry told him. "But I would prefer not to be interviewed. I'm completely done with being "The Boy Who Lived to Save the Wizarding World". I want my son to have a normal childhood."
"Very good, Harry," Hermione murmured nearly to herself, as she felt Lucius squeeze her hand in agreement.
"I...uh...suppose that will have to do," the photographer replied. "I'll pass your message on to Mr Terwilliger."
"Yes, you do that," Harry responded, somewhat impatiently.
"I will make sure your wishes are respected," Lucius told Harry firmly. Turning to the photographer, he said, "Well? Shall we get on with it, then? Mrs Granger-Malfoy will need to rest soon, so let's get this over with."
"How about we take a few shots with both babies," Biedenbender began. "Is there a room where we can do this privately?"
"I know just the place," Lucius said. After he and Harry went to retrieve their babies from the nursery, Lucius led the group to the private waiting room attached to Hermione's suite.
They did not meet anyone in the corridor and once the group was ensconced in the waiting room, the photographer indicated a chair, then said, "I think I'll do a family shot first. Mrs Granger-Malfoy, if you'd sit in this chair holding the baby, with Mr Malfoy standing behind you."
After the Malfoys had taken their places, with Lucius' hands resting on Hermione's shoulders possessively, while she cradled Lucia, the photographer snapped the picture, quite pleased with the results.
"Now, Mr Potter, why don't you have a seat and I'll take a picture of you with your son," Biedenbender instructed. He frowned for a moment, then asked, "Where is Mrs Potter? We really should have her here so I can photograph you in the same way as I did with the Malfoys."
"Ginny is resting," Harry told the other wizard. "She had a difficult labor and isn't up to anything right now." This was true, but Harry also wanted to avoid Molly Weasley, as she'd no doubt be in Ginny's room if Harry went to get her for the photographer. He knew she'd insist on coming along, then would embarrass him once she saw the Malfoys were to be included.
"Oh, just one picture wouldn't hurt," the photographer wheedled. "It won't take but a minute."
"Mr Potter just told you that Mrs Potter is indisposed," Lucius said firmly. "I suggest you respect his wishes without question, if you intend to finish this photo shoot."
Knowing there was no further point in pursuing the matter, Biedenbender sighed, then said, "All right then, Mr Potter. We'll just take a picture of you holding your son."
After that photo was snapped, the photographer said, "Now, let's get a photo of both the men holding their babies. I think standing will be better for this shot."
Several more picture were shot after this: Hermione standing between Harry and Lucius holding the children, Lucius holding James Potter with Harry looking on, Hermione holding James with Harry looking on, Harry holding Lucia with Lucius looking on, Harry holding Lucia with Hermione looking on, Harry holding Lucia with both Lucius and Hermione looking on, and one of just the two babies together.
Finally, Jonathan Biedenbender said, "I think I have enough pictures to choose from. I thank all of your for your time."
"When will this article appear in the Prophet?" Harry asked.
"Probably in a couple of days," the photographer told him. "Not until Mr Terwilliger interviews the Malfoys."
"And that will be at the penthouse once Hermione and I bring the baby home," Lucius told Harry. After the photographer left, he added, "We're expecting that Hermione will be released today."
"That's great," Harry said. "I don't imagine Ginny will be able to go home for a few more days yet, considering how hard of a time she had." Checking the time, he said, "I'd better go. If I don't show up soon, Molly will send out a search party for me."
"I'll owl you in a few days, Harry," Hermione said. "I won't be doing much other than resting for about the next six weeks, so I'd love it if you could come to lunch one day."
"I'd like that," Harry said as he picked up James, who was beginning to fuss, and headed to the door. "I'll be in touch."
Several hours later, Calandra Jones examined both Hermione and Lucia and pronounced them both fit for release.
"Both you and Lucia are doing well and I see no reason to keep either of you here any longer," Calandra said at the conclusion of the examination. "But I'll expect to see you both in six weeks for a follow-up exam. And feel free to owl me if you have any concerns in the meantime."
"Thank you, I will," Hermione said, smiling broadly. "Thank you for all your help."
A short time later, Lucius, who was carrying Lucia, led Hermione down a narrow corridor of the hospital, which was used by maintenance personnel and usually not accessible to the public. This corridor led to an employee floo, where they could leave without being assaulted by the press.
They flooed home without incident where Hermione's mother and Breezy were eagerly waiting for them.
"Home at last," Hermione sighed, gazing at Lucius and their new daughter, totally content with her life.
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A/N One thousand reviews! Wow! I never thought I'd get this many. Thanks, everyone!
A/N Next chapter yet to be named.