Harry suddenly felt quite intrusive as James wrapped his arms around Lily, picking her up and carrying her to the living room before sitting down with her in his lap.

"I can't imagine loving anyone as much as I love you," he said. His face conveyed how serious he felt.

"Or worrying about anyone as much as I do you. We're in the middle of a damn war, Lily. Even though no one likes calling it that, that's what this is. Who are we to bring a baby into this mixed up world right now? They'll say we're just being irresponsible," he said, scowling.

"Who will?"

"People," he said darkly. "You know, the same ones who said we got married too young. Who said we'd fight with each other all the time or that You-Know-Who was the catalyst for everyone getting married so fast."

"Well I think we've proven them wrong," Lily said. "Because I love you more now than I did on the day we got married." Her eyes glittered with tears.

James, noticing, produced a handkerchief before gathering her into a tighter embrace.

"You're right, Lily-flower," he mumbled. "We'll prove them wrong again. And I promise you," here his voice turned stony with conviction, "I won't let anything happen to you or…or Baby Potter," he said.

Lily smiled against his chest. "I know, James. I know."

Harry felt the prick of tears in his own eyes. If only James' promise had been so easily fulfilled…suddenly, the scene swirled and Harry found himself back in his and Ginny's living room, staring at an older version of his father once more.

"Not sure if that was the way to show you, but the point I'm trying to make it every father gets scared. It's how you handle that fear," James said, gazing across at his son.

"Er, right. Handle it," Harry repeated.

"And you know, no matter who you'd turned out to be—Boy Who Lived or Boy Who Went to Primary School, whatever, your mother and I still would have thought you were God's gift to humanity," James said smiling. "That's just how parents are. Every thing your child does is special and different and worthy of a Floo-call to 'Uncle' Sirius to report that baby Harry grabbed his own foot."

"Grabbed my own foot, eh? Clearly I was Exceeds-Expectations from an early age," Harry said dryly.

James sighed with an air of exasperation. "Not like that. Just—don't you wonder about your baby? It's hard right now to think of him as separate from Ginny, I know. After all, they're quite the two-in-one deal at the mo'."

Harry nodded in agreement. It was difficult for him to envision life past Ginny giving birth. Every time Molly brought over new baby gear: toys, blankies, nappies, he felt nearly annoyed. How could something so small make such a huge difference in their lives?

"I've got a couple other memories to show you, if you don't mind. Or I can go, if you need some time to think," James said, uncertainty in his voice for the first time.

"No!" Harry said quickly. "I mean, don't go. I'd like to see some more."