Chapter twelve

A few weeks later, Harry and Ginny were in St Mungo's for Ginny's check-up and to find out what they were having. Healer Tresswell was moving her wand over Ginny's stomach after giving Ginny a thick purple potion. She straightened up and faced the expectant couple.

'You and the baby are both healthy, so do you wish to know the sex of the child?'

Harry and Ginny looked at each other, then at the healer, 'Yes,' the said together.

'You're having a son, congratulations. So I'll see you again in a month Ginny, remember, plenty of rest and no flying.'

'I already had to promise Harry to stay off a broom. Thank you Healer Tresswell,' Ginny and Harry waited until she left, before Ginny stood up, 'A boy Harry, our son, James.'

'Yeah, a son. Oh blimey, it's really happening, isn't it Gin, were having a baby?'

Ginny laughed, 'Yes we are daddy. Let's go home and from tomorrow, I'll start decorating the room, but you'll have to charm it so no one can tell what we're having.'

'I'll do that love, let's go,' Harry put his arm around his wife and they stepped out into the waiting room and spotted a few reporters who headed straight for them.

'Harry, why are you and your wife here?'

Harry looked at Ginny who shrugged, 'Alright, Ginny was having a check-up, she's pregnant.'

'So the saviour is about to have his first heir. Are you excited Harry?'

Harry shook his head, 'Yes, very excited and I'm no saviour, I don't know how many times I have to tell you that. But Ginny and I are both excited about our first child. Now I would like to get my wife home,' Harry smiled then he and Ginny stepped into the fireplace and vanished.

Over the next few months, Harry couldn't stop touching Ginny's expanding stomach and always kissed it. At night time, Harry would sit in bed and talk to Ginny, before he would put his head down near her stomach, talking to his son and he always called him James.

A few months later, Harry was sitting on the edge of Ron's desk talking about some muggle deaths that they had heard about and sounded like a magical death. Ginny's horse patronus appeared before them.

'Harry, I'm in labour, get me to St Mungo's,' she yelled.

'Tell everyone Ron,' Harry said and ran from the auror office down to the atrium and flooed to his home. Ginny was walking back and forth in front of the fireplace. Harry grabbed the bag, put his arm around his wife and stepped back into the fireplace.

They headed straight through into the wards, where the welcome witch held a door open for them. Harry helped Ginny onto the bed, just as Healer Tresswell came into the room.

'Okay, relax and I'll see how everything's going,' she smiled reassuringly, then checked on Ginny, 'Coming along fine, but it's not time yet. So remember what I told you, do not push just yet. Try to breathe through the contractions.'

'How long do you think?' Harry asked anxiously.

'I'd say in the next couple of hours you'll be parents.'

'Did you tell Ron?' Ginny said panting heavily.

'Yep, he's letting everyone know and I'd say the waiting room would already be crowded by now.'

'And probably not with just friends and family,' Healer Tresswell said, 'We've had a lot of reporters trying to get information out of any of us to see when you were due, what you're having, so their bound to be out there.'

'Probably,' Harry said then saw Ginny wince in pain as she squeezed his hand. He knew what was going to happen, but he hated the fact Ginny was in pain and he couldn't help her.

For the next couple of hours, Ginny's contractions were coming fast until the healer told her to start pushing. Harry winced with every scream Ginny let out over the next hour. The healer stood up with a crying baby boy in her arms. She waved her wand over the child, then handed him to Ginny.

'Congratulations,' she smiled at the looks Harry and Ginny were giving the baby, then she finished working over Ginny.

'I'll let your family know you'll be out soon.'

'Alright, thank you and I'm sure James thanks you as well,' Harry grinned.

'After you're father Mr. Potter, that's nice,' she smiled again then left the room.

'So daddy, I'm too sore, so how about you take your son and clean him up then dress him.'

Harry gently took his son into his arms, 'Lucky I had a lot of practice with Teddy,' Harry moved over to the side of the room, lay James down on the change table. He checked to make sure the water was just right, then gently put his son in the water, cleaning every part of his son's body. Harry couldn't stop smiling as his son just lay there enjoying the feel of the water. Harry lifted him out and dressed him. When he turned back, he noticed Ginny was asleep. He leaned over and kissed her, 'I love you,' he whispered then left the room.

Harry stepped out into the waiting room and got surrounded instantly, 'Ginny and I would like you to meet James Sirius Potter,' Harry smiled then placed the baby into Hermione's arms, 'Say hello to your godson Hermione.'

The moment the baby was out of Harry's arms, Ron hugged him before Molly did, then everyone else did. All of Harry's friends were there, so were the aurors and friends of Ginny's from the hit wizards. All the Weasley's were there, along with Kingsley and Hagrid, who patted Harry on the shoulder, making Harry sink, but the big man kept sniffing back his tears.

'How's Ginny?' Molly asked.

'Asleep, sore, but I think I'm in for some hexes for putting her through that.'

'I'd count on it Harry,' Arthur smiled, 'If my daughter felt that much pain, she'd definitely going to make sure you feel the same.

Everyone laughed. James started to get passed around. After Hermione, was Ron, who was very awkward holding his godson. Then it was Molly and Arthur's turn, before the rest of the Weasley's. After the family it was friends and work colleagues, with Harry handing James to Hagrid last.

'I remember holding you like this Harry,' Hagrid sniffed as he looked down at the baby.

'A long time ago Hagrid, just don't tell me you changed me?' everyone chuckled.

'Na, left that for ya mum,' Hagrid placed James back into Harry's arms as reporters finally turned up, shouting questions.

'Alright,' Harry called and held his son up, 'My son, James Sirius Potter,' he let the photographers take a couple of photos then turned his back, 'I better get him back into Ginny,' Harry got gentle hugs and kisses from everyone then stepped back into the ward and over to Ginny's who was still sleeping. Harry sat on the chair just content to hold and talk quietly to his son. After a minute Hermione and Ron came into the room and sat there watching Harry.

'Can you believe it, I'm a daddy.'

'Yeah, you are Harry. So James, who's idea was that, yours?' Hermione asked.

'Ginny's actually, we knew early on but wanted to keep it to ourselves.'

'But I saw the baby room you decorated. Did you place enchantments on it Harry?' Ron asked suspiciously.

'Yeah, right after Ginny started to buy what was needed. We considered telling you two, sorry we didn't. But this was something we could keep completely to ourselves for a while. Would you like to hold you're godson again Hermione?'

'How did you guess,' Hermione sat in the other chair, then Harry handed his son to her.

'Now as godparents, you have to give him anything he wants and you can't say no to him.'

'Harry, don't say something like that,' Hermione shook her head.

'Hi,' Ginny said wearily.

Harry leaned over and kissed her, 'Everyone said congratulations and will see you soon.'

'Can I see him Hermione?'

Hermione got up and placed little James into his mother's arms. He let out a small cry, so Ginny placed her son on her breast, much to Ron's embarrassment.

'It's a natural part of having babies Ron, you don't need to feel uncomfortable watching me feed James.'

'I think it's beautiful to watch, but I'll tell you one thing Gin, I'm going to miss having those for a while.'

Ginny giggled, Ron turned bright red, Hermione shook her head, but Harry just kept watching his wife feed his son.

'We really don't need to hear any of that Harry,' Ron shook his head at his friend.

'It's true, but I'll keep it to myself from now on.' Harry sat on the edge of the bed watching his wife feed their son, 'Merlin it's hard to believe he's here.'

'And you're parents, not something I was expecting. I knew eventually you would have kids, but it was something I tried not to think about,' Ron ended up standing next to Harry.

'Is that because it proved I'm shagging your little sister?' Harry noticed Ron turn red again.

'Harry, stop it, but I can't believe you're saying stuff like that, especially to Ron,' Hermione said shaking her head.

'Normally I wouldn't, I don't know, I just feel so open and easy going about everything now James is here.'

'Fine, but no more sharing personal things like that with us.'

'Alright, I promise, but look at him. He hasn't got red hair, he hasn't got black, it's a good mixture of both of us,' Harry picked up his son's hand, then laughed as James wrapped his hand around Harry's finger, 'He's got a grip.'

'Tell me about it, you should feel it from here,' Ginny smiled down at her son. After a couple more minutes, James released his hold on his mother, 'Okay daddy, you're turn, try not to get spit up on,' Ginny handed Harry their son and watched as he stood up with James up on his shoulder and Harry gently started to pat his back.

'So, Ginny, how painful was it?' Hermione asked.

'Very Hermione, so expect it. It's easier after the head's out though. So have you two discussed when James might be getting a cousin from you?'

'Since you've been pregnant, we have spoken about it. So after I organise a few things, then you might hear about a godson or goddaughter,' Hermione smiled as she kept watching Harry, 'Even though we're older, it's still strange to see Harry as a father.'

'I've had nine months to get used to it and it's still strange to me Hermione. I think when Ginny and James come home, then it will really hit me.'

'Especially being woken up every night, interrupted when you're both...busy,' Ron chuckled.

'Ron's going to be as bad as Harry, I can see it already. One little sound and they'll be up to their children. It's good to let babies cry sometimes and it doesn't hurt them to learn to wait until their parents finish shagging,' Ginny and Hermione chuckled.

'We can't let him cry love, we'll just have to make sure we shag as soon as James gets put to sleep. It should give us a couple of hours at least.'

'See, already,' Ginny smiled, 'But you know what I'd like now, a good snog, then something to eat, I'm starving.'

'I'll go see about you're food sis, while you snog Harry,' Ron walked out of the room laughing.

Harry handed his son to Hermione, then sat on the bed, leaned down and kissed his wife, but she deepened the kiss instantly.

'Do you realise how good it's going to feel being able to get close to you again,' Harry said as he ran his hand over Ginny's smaller stomach.

'Yeah, no more trying to hug a whale, but what I can't wait for my sweet Harry is making love to you and being able to see your face again. I miss that thing you do with your mouth right when you finish.'

Harry laughed, 'You don't have to tell Hermione everything Ginny. I know we all share a lot, but some things are best kept private.'

Ron came back in with a tray of food for Ginny. Hermione handed James to her husband so he could get used to holding a baby. Harry and Ginny kept staring at each other or James as Ginny ate. Even though Ginny wasn't a small eater, she wasn't anything like Ron, but now, she ate everything on the tray, then said she wouldn't mind some desert. Harry promised to go get some for her while she had company. But it took Harry twenty minutes before he could actually walk out of the room and away from his son. That made Ginny, Hermione and Ron laugh because they realised that James is going to be very protected by Harry. James has finally made Harry feel like he had his own family, for the first time since he was one and they couldn't be happier for him.