Chapter 11 Life with Lily
Life in the Potter household was starting to get back to normal. Harry and Ginny were getting adjusted to having three kids instead of two. Silencing charms were added to the boy's bedrooms to keep them from waking up when Lily cried and the child safety and monitoring charms were added to Lily's room.
Harry and Ginny learned early on when Albus was a baby that James was a light sleeper like his father. Only once did James wake up when Albus cried and stayed up all night, much to his parent's chagrin. Harry added a silencing charm to his bedroom the next day.
Hermione nearly came unglued when she found out, but Harry was quick to point out that the silencing charm would keep James and now Albus from getting woken up in the middle of the night by Lily. The child safety and monitoring charms were still working, which would alert Harry and Ginny if James or Albus needed them.
Despite all the work the parents did to keep the boys from waking up, Harry and Ginny were sleep deprived.
Molly noticed this when she came over a week after Lily was born to help out.
"You two look awful!" she exclaimed when she entered the kitchen.
"Thanks, Mum," Ginny replied sarcastically, flicking her wand to the cabinet that held the cups and summoned a cup and poured herself some tea.
Molly walked to the end of the table where Harry was sitting. His head was down, his eyes were closed and judging by his breathing, he was asleep.
"Lily woke up at 11 for a feeding, nappy change at midnight, another nappy change at one, this time a dirty one, then she woke up just for the sake of it at three, plus for another feeding. She went back to sleep at four and woke up for yet another nappy change and we never got her back to sleep," Ginny explained, pausing every now and then to yawn.
"And just like with the boys, you're taking turns getting up with her," Molly stated. Ginny nodded and covered her mouth to hide a yawn.
"Ginny dear, why don't you go back to bed, I'll floo Arthur and he can take the boys and I'll watch Lily. Take Harry with you, he looks exhausted."
Ginny hesitated for a moment before she felt total exhaustion set in.
"Okay, I'll get him up," she motioned to her sleeping husband. "And we'll go back to bed," She leaned over and gently shook Harry's shoulder.
"Harry, wake up."
Harry slowly opened his eyes and mumbled "what?"
"Mum's going to watch Lily, Dad's got the boys and you and I are going back to bed."
"Okay", Harry got up and followed her to their bedroom.
Molly stood outside Lily's nursery with the baby in her arms, "Have a good sleep; I'll make you some lunch later and then start dinner."
Ginny hugged her mother as she said thank you.
"It's the least I can do," she turned to Harry, "I better start cooking, you're too thin."
Harry just nodded, too tired to say otherwise. He followed Ginny to their bedroom and all but collapsed on the unmade bed.
"I love you, Ginny," Harry mumbled against her cheek.
Ginny turned to face Harry and wrapped her arm around him, snuggling against his side.
"I love you, Harry."
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Four hours later, Ginny woke up to a noise from downstairs. Instantly alert, she grabbed her wand and got out of bed. She turned briefly to find Harry still asleep, which was understandable considering he had been awake since four that morning. She was surprised that the noise didn't wake up Harry; he must have been dead asleep to not hear that sound.
Ginny approached their door and slowly made her way to the stairs. Quiet as a church mouse, she made her way downstairs and felt foolish when reached the bottom.
The noise she heard was her sons, knocking over blocks with Arthur.
"Good sleep, Ginny?" Arthur asked when he saw his daughter.
Ginny nodded and made her way to the kitchen.
"What are you doing up? You're supposed to be in bed!" Molly exclaimed before she fretted over her daughter. "Do you eat? I swear you and Harry are too thin." With that, Molly began piecing together lunch and placed it on the table. Sandwiches piled high with bowls of crisps, potato salad, and fruit.
"Lunch is ready," Molly called into the family room. Arthur came in with Albus in his arms and James behind him.
They sat down to eat when Molly asked Ginny if Harry was awake.
"He's still asleep," Ginny informed her as she selected a turkey sandwich for herself and scooped out some grapes on the boys' plates. To Ginny's surprise, Molly had cut the crusts off the boy's sandwiches and cut them in half.
"He looks peaky. Is he eating well?" she asked.
Ginny got herself some potato salad and a handful of crisps.
"He's been eating as well as he had when he was pregnant, only a smaller amount, sometimes seconds of what I've fixed."
Molly nodded, accepting the answer. She made a note to make sure that Harry ate well that day.
"He's been trying to lose the baby weight, which luckily for him isn't that much," Ginny asked as she picked up a grape. "He didn't gain weight anywhere except for his belly."
The sound of the stairs creaking brought everyone's attention to the doorway where a few minutes later a disheveled Harry appeared.
"Have a nice kip?" Molly asked.
Harry nodded through a yawn and sat down next to Ginny.
Molly wordlessly handed Harry a plate with a little bit of everything on it. Harry grimaced at the amount but began to eat regardless.
"Harry, you're too thin and you look awful. Are you feeling alright?" Molly asked.
"I'm fine, just not been sleeping much. I forget what it was like to have a newborn."
"You know, I could come over and help out for a while so you two could rest," Molly offered. Harry and Ginny looked at each other, having a nonverbal conversation. After a moment, Ginny turned to her mother.
"I don't know. Can you handle the boys and Lily at the same time?" Ginny hesitantly asked.
"I raised the seven of you, plus Fred and George. I think I can manage the boys and Lily. Your father is off work trying to use up his accumulated sick days and vacations before he retires, so he'll be available to help."
Ginny sighed and eventually agreed, on the condition that sometimes they bring the kids to the Burrow to allow Molly to get work done around the house.
"I could take the boys down to the village for ice cream sometime".
Ginny smiled. "Like you did when we were growing up?"
Arthur nodded. "As a granddad, it's my job to spoil them, love on them, and feed them sugary treats…"
"And send them home with us on a sugar high," Harry added. He smiled at Arthur, "You and Molly are the only grandparents that my kids will get to go places with, spend the night with and anything else that grandparents do. Go right ahead".
Molly smiled at Harry's statement. Ginny never said anything. She knew how much her parents loved being grandparents and if they wanted to feed the kids ice cream and send them home messy, sticky, and on a sugar high, who was she to tell them no.
She wanted her kids to spend time with the grandparents, they have that's alive. And she wouldn't want to change a thing.
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A few days later, Harry stumbled out of the floo at the Burrow, catching himself on the armchair sitting in front of the floo.
"Am I ever going to master flooing?" He asked himself as dusted himself off and cleaned up the mess he made.
"Hello Harry," Molly greeted when Harry entered the kitchen.
"Hi, Molly, Arthur," The Weasley patriarch and matriarch were in the kitchen, sitting at the table. Arthur was reading the Daily Prophet and Molly was reading Good Witchkeeping.
"How are you, Harry?" Molly asked.
"Good, I was wondering if I could talk to Arthur," Harry said, looking at his father in law, hopefully.
"Sure, let's go out to the shed." Arthur folded the paper and headed for the door.
"Harry, I some food I'm sending home with you, come in and get it before you go home," Molly called as he followed Arthur out the door.
"Okay," Harry called back. He followed Arthur to the shed. The shed was something that never changed. It was filled with Muggle gadgets and Arthur's tools.
"What is that you wanted to talk about Harry?" Arthur asked, sitting down on a stool.
"Well, I was wondering, what's it like raising a daughter?" Harry asked suddenly.
Arthur paused, thinking and he grinned when he said, "Nothing like I've experienced before".
He moved closer to Harry. "When Molly told me we were going to have another baby, I had mixed emotions. I was happy, but yet I wasn't happy. We had six boys and we wanted to try for another baby, but not for another year, kind of like what you and Ginny thought when you had Albus a year after James."
Harry nodded. Neither he nor Ginny was ready for another baby so soon after James.
"But, then I thought maybe this time we'd get a girl. It had been several generations since a Weasley had a girl. Well, as you know, we did. When I first laid eyes on Ginny, I couldn't believe that we finally had our daughter".
Arthur smiled as he remembered the day Ginny was born. Hard to believe she was married and now had a daughter of her own.
"I knew she was a daddy's girl from the moment I first held her. It was me, she smiled at first, me who she laughed, me who she crawled to and then walked to. Words couldn't describe how I felt when I heard her say 'dada'".
Harry prompted his head in his upturned hand and listened, realizing that some of this wasn't too far off for him and Lily.
"Then when I came home, she was the one who would run to greet me," Arthur smiled when he recalled another memory of Ginny growing up. "I once said I pitied the poor soul who would marry her. She may not admit it, but she's her mother's daughter. She's just as strong-willed, stubborn and setting her ways, just her mother".
Harry nodded, recalling her powerful Reducto charm in the D.A.
"When Ginny was a little girl, she'd make me pictures and I'd take them to work and hang them up on the wall. I still have some of them on that wall."
Arthur looked at Harry and seriously said, "cherish her, love her and support her dreams, even if they are not your own."
Harry nodded and asked, "Did you not want Ginny to play Quidditch?"
Arthur shook his head, "That was Molly. She wanted Ginny to be a healer. I knew Ginny had the talent to be a Quidditch player and that she loved to write about Quidditch. I could never be disappointed with her choice of career if it made her happy".
Harry knew that Arthur smiled with pride as he watched Ginny's first professional Quidditch game.
"Enjoy Lily while she's young. Because one day she'll grow up and not need you anymore. She'll meet a boy who sweeps her off her feet and loves her more than anything in the world."
Harry blushed when he realized that Arthur was referring to him. "I remember telling the story about 'The Boy Who Lived' and her telling me that she would marry Harry Potter one day. Of course, she was five years old and no one knows who they would marry at five."
Arthur reached over and patted Harry's shoulder. "She proved me wrong there". Harry smiled, remembering how Ron told him about his sister that summer before their second year.
"One day, she comes home and says 'Harry asked me to be his girlfriend and I said yes' and then the following year she told us about you breaking up with her to keep her safe. When I saw how you were looking at her when you got here for the wedding, I knew that you loved her."
"I did, very much. I still do." Arthur knew that. He had watched Harry, patiently and lovingly, comfort his daughter when Fred died.
Harry was quiet for a moment, taking in all of what Arthur told him.
"Now that you have a daughter, you'll learn what it's like. That little-redheaded princess has captured your heart. I can tell. I've seen it many times before this with the others. You'll be the only man in her life, the only man who can make her smile, makes her happy. Then one day, you'll realize she's given her heart to another man and he is who makes her happy and smile. If you're lucky like me, you'll be able to hand her happiness over to him and know that he'll take care of her and makes her smile, and make her happy as you always have."
Harry felt his cheeks burn, he knew Arthur was referring to him again. Arthur placed a gentle hand on Harry's shoulder and said, "But until then, its chasing monsters out of the closet and from under the bed, kissing boo-boos, holding her close when she's scared and playing tea party with her before you get to the makeup, boys, and dating."
Harry nodded, "Lucky for me that is a long way off. Lily's barely a month old, right now I'm getting used to having a daughter."
"Cherish the time you have with her now. You'll blink and she's off to Hogwarts. I should know".
For the first time since Harry learned he was going to have a daughter, he felt the anxiety leave him. Harry had fears of not being a good father, and the anxiety of that fear increased when Shanti told him and Ginny they were having a girl. But Arthur always would relinquish that fear.
"Thanks, Arthur."
When Harry returned to Godric's Hollow later that day, he went straight to Lily's cot and picked her up.
"I love you baby girl, I might overreact, over worry and be overprotective of you, but always remember that Daddy loves you".
He sat in the rocking chair, gently rocking her, smiling as she cooed.
"Could you do Daddy a favor and don't grow up too fast."
Little did Harry know, Ginny was watching from the door and silently without Harry knowing, snapped a picture of the moment between father and daughter.
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Ginny folded some of Harry's T-shirts and put them up in his drawer in the bureau. She was sorting through his socks when Harry came into the room.
"Hey sweetie, what are you up to?"
Harry flopped on the bed and turned on his side, propping his head up.
"I've been thinking about the follow-up appointment with Shanti tomorrow. I know she'll give us the information on the healer Shanti said would take care of" Harry patted his shirt covered stomach, "this".
Ginny sat down on the bed and reached over to move a stray hair out of his eyes.
"It's not like you're having something done tomorrow or the next day," she snaked her hand under his shirt and began to caress his side.
Harry nodded, agreeing with her. "I know, but I can't help but be a little nervous".
"Another thing we need to discuss is if we're done having children or do we want at least one more" Ginny looked at Harry smiling softly. "What do you think?"
Harry sighed. "If you want another child, then we'll try for another child."
Ginny was surprised that Harry said that. She was happy with the three kids and felt they were complete. But what Harry didn't know was she worried about him the entire time he was pregnant with Lily.
She felt helpless as she watched Harry go through labor and the pain that came with it. The pregnancy tested Harry's strength and his pain tolerance. Ginny had spent many nights, rubbing his back and stomach, trying to help him sleep. She wished many times that she was still able to carry a pregnancy.
"I think we're complete. We have a girl and two boys and I feel that we're done."
Harry sat up, pulling his knees to his chest. "Are you sure?"
Ginny nodded. "We got lucky with the pregnancy with Lily. I'm afraid to push our luck."
She began to explain how concerned, she was about Harry throughout the pregnancy and how worried she was for him when he went through labor.
"I spend nine months worrying about you and Lily," she confessed. "I would worry that I would get a floo call or an owl saying that you were rushed to St. Mungo's because something's wrong with the baby or you. I was afraid of you miscarrying and having to go through the process all over again."
Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulder and leaned his head against hers.
"I was worried that something might happen during delivery. A part of me wanted to tell Shanti to just do a cesarean because I was scared for you. I didn't want to see you in pain and know there was nothing I could do. I wished many times during this pregnancy that I was still able to carry a baby so you wouldn't have to do."
This was news to Harry; he never knew Ginny felt that way. He placed his hand under Ginny's chin and turned her head towards him. He noticed her face was pink like it was she was embarrassed.
"Gin, I chose to undergo the implantation procedure and have a sack inserted into my belly. I chose to carry a baby in my belly for nine months. I chose to endure the pain, the suffering, nausea, stomach upsets, and the whole nine yards, to have another baby. I chose to do this because I knew how much you wanted a daughter and until we had Lily I never knew how much I wanted one until you put her in my arms."
Ginny nodded, feeling tears well up in her eyes. "I'm sorry".
"You don't have to apologize. I did it, willingly" he confessed.
Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry, mindful of how tender his abdomen still was and hugged him.
"And you're right; I did see what it was like for you like you saw and felt how it was for me".
Harry nodded mutely and asked, "So are we done? Having kids, I mean".
"I think we are," Ginny muttered against his cheek, gently kissing him.
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Harry sat in an exam room waiting on Shanti. Ginny was at the Daily Prophet office working on a Harpies preview for the Quidditch section of the paper.
Harry didn't have to wait long until a knock came at the door and Shanti entered.
"Hello Harry, how are you?" the healer greeted.
"I'm good. I've seemed to have some energy back".
"Good," she looked at the chairs and back to Harry. "This seems odd, where's Ginny?"
"At work, a preview of the new Harpies team members was due at the end of this week."
"When do you return to work?" she asked.
"Mid to late September" Harry replied.
"Okay," she waved her wand over Harry and his vitals appeared on his chart.
"Everything looks good," She said, looking over the chart. "Alright, dare I say you know the drill?"
Harry laid down on the table, pulling up his shirt. Shanti placed her hand on Harry's abdomen and ran some diagnostics before she began palpation.
"Okay, I'm going to start pressing on your belly," she warned when she finished the diagnostic charms.
She began palpating Harry's abdomen, lightly pressing over where the sack was still implanted.
"Have you and Ginny decided on if you're done and want to remove the sack or want to try for another?" she asked, conversationally, motioning for him to sit up.
"We've talked about and Gin's happy with the three. Add Teddy and we have four. In her words, we're complete".
Shanti smiled. "What about you?"
"I agree with her".
Shanti made a note in Harry's file and wrote down some information on another sheet of parchment.
"This is the healer, I was talking about, Healer Brown. I've referred him to most of my male pregnancy patients. They all were satisfied with his work."
Harry took the parchment from Shanti. He knew that surgery or some type of transfiguration would need to be done to get his abdomen back to its flat and smooth normal self.
"I will be assisting him in the removal of the sack. Once that is complete, Healer Brown will take over."
"Okay". Harry knew he would need to talk to Ginny before they made an appointment.
"Can I discuss this with Ginny and get back to you?"
"Sure, take all the time you need, there is no rush" Shanti assured him.
After discussing the procedure in which Shanti would remove the sack, she said that Healer Brown will take over from there.
"I want to see you again after the surgery; I'll get with Healer Brown when you and Ginny set up the surgery date."
"Okay".
After checking out with the welcome witch, Harry flooed to the Daily Prophet office.
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It felt good to be back in the Quidditch office at the Daily Prophet office to Ginny. The Quidditch season will soon be starting and Ginny would be covering the Harpies new recruits. She had just gotten back from Holyhead where she interviewed the new keeper, chaser, and beater. She also interviewed Gwenog to ask her how she thought the team will do this season.
Gwenog had surprised Ginny with a Holyhead Harpies uniform for James, Albus, and Lily with Ginny's old jersey number and with 'Potter' on the back.
"Ginny?"
Ginny looked up and seen Eleanor standing in front of her desk.
"Yes?"
"Are you ready to return to work?" she asked.
Ginny nodded. "I could always work at home if I need to. James and Albus nap for two hours and Harry could handle Lily while I work."
Raven flopped down in the armchair near Ginny's desk. "How's he doing?"
"Great, he went back to Shanti for a follow-up today."
"When does return to work?" Eleanor asked.
"He's supposed to sometime in September" Ginny answered, turning her chair to face her supervisor. "That is if Shanti hadn't extended it".
She went on to explain that Harry was looking at the possibility of having surgery to make corrects to his abdomen after having Lily.
The door opened and Harry leaned in from the doorway. He made eye contact with Ginny and crooked his finger at her in a come here gesture. Wordlessly, Ginny got up, exited the room, shutting the door behind her and followed Harry to a private room.
"Well, how did it go?" Ginny asked once they were alone.
"She gave me information on Healer Brown. She said that everything is fine and is healed. She said that she would assist Healer Brown in the surgery and remove the sack while I'm under, whatever they knock me out with."
"So, we'll have something to discuss. I assume you said that we'll discuss this and decided if this something we want to do now?"Ginny asked.
Harry slowly nodded, looking down at his feet. "Yeah," he deadpanned.
"Hey," Ginny lifted Harry's chin to look him in the eyes. "This is not happening tomorrow. We'll contact Healer Brown and make an appointment and go from there, okay".
"Okay". Harry looked at with a forced smile, but Ginny could see that this surgery scared Harry. Harry was awake during the cesarean and this time they would be putting him to sleep. The idea of surgery scared Harry and Ginny knew that.
Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry in a hug, which he returned.
"It'll be okay, I promise."
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Harry sat in the exam room of Healer Brown, the healer who Shanti recommended for the procedure that would take care of the excess skin on Harry's abdomen. The room was similar to the ones in Holly and Shanti's office, but that didn't help calm Harry's nerves.
Upon entering the waiting room, Harry realized that Healer Brown was a magical Plastic Surgeon, judging by the before and after pictures that lined the walls. Some were the simple Muggle procedures like a nose job or like what Harry was considering….a tummy tuck.
Ginny had accompanied Harry to the appointment, offering support and comfort.
Now Harry sat on the exam table with the pale green gown on. The only difference was that opening that usually went in the back was fronting the front.
"Are you okay?" Ginny asked.
"Fine," was Harry's automatic answer. Ginny got up from her seat and walked to the exam table.
"Are you scared to have this done?" the look on Harry's face was her answer.
"What if it doesn't work, what if I don't ever get back to where I was."
"I know. You're already self-conscious about it. It will be okay, sweetie." Ginny leaned toward him and kissed his forehead.
She went back to her seat when there was a knock at the door and a middle-aged man entered.
"Hello, I'm Healer Brown. You must be Harry," Healer Brown greeted as he offered his hand to Harry, which Harry took and shook politely.
He turned to Ginny, "and who you must be Mrs. Potter".
"Ginny," She said as she shook the healer's hand.
"So, I understand that we're interested in an abdominoplasty, otherwise known as a tummy tuck".
"Correct," Ginny answered. The healer turned to Harry.
"I have to say that I admire a man who would go through a nine-month pregnancy so you and your wife can have a baby. Was this your first?"
"Third, our only daughter," Harry answered. "Shanti said that you did her other patients as well?"
Healer Brown nodded, "Yes, I did. There were some men who I have seen once they were recovered from their pregnancy to see about how to get their pre-pregnancy body back."
Harry started to relax some, feeling that he was in safe hands.
"Okay, so let's see what we're working with. Stand at the foot of the table and undo the gown."
Harry followed the healer's request and stood at the foot of the table and opened the gown. Healer Brown rolled toward Harry on a rolling stool. He gently prodded the area, gently pushing and pulling on the skin.
"This is actually not the worst one I've seen. You only carried one baby. I've seen an abdomen on a man who carried two, twins."
Ginny's eyebrows shot up. "What does this surgery entail?" she asked,
Healer Brown turned Harry to face Ginny.
"I'll make the incision under all of this, here," the healer motioned to Harry's hips. "It will go across, and then I'll pull this down and remove the skin. The incision is down here so it could be hidden under clothes. So this way, you could walk around shirtless without the scars showing. Make a new hole for his belly button and then I'll close the incision."
Healer Brown paused for a minute before he continued. "Since Harry is also having another procedure done, I'll allow Healer Willis to remove the sack before I fix the abdominal muscles".
He turned to Harry. "Lay down on the table and I'll have a look at your abdomen".
Healer Brown made some notes in Harry's file, as he did so, he explained, "I usually perform an abdominal exam so I can get a feel of my patient's abdomen and see if I need to do any muscle repair."
"Can you by any chance create a six pack?" Harry asked casually.
Healer Brown laughed. "If I had a sickle each time a patient asked that," he muttered before he said, "That's entirely up to you, I just get you back to the flat abdomen as you once had."
"Darn."
"Okay, I'm going to press on your abdomen, tell me if anywhere feels uncomfortable or tender."
"Okay."
Healer Brown began palpating Harry's abdomen, beginning on his lower abdomen and worked his way up.
"One thing I can tell is that the muscles are nice and strong. There is a place here and here," Healer Brown gestured to certain areas of Harry's abdomen, "where the muscles are split, separated."
"Would the pressure caused by a pregnancy cause that?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, it would," Healer Brown answered. He had completed his exam, allowing Harry to sit up.
"So, Shanti said that you were healed and we could schedule the surgery when you're ready."
Harry and Ginny looked at each other like they were having a mental conversation. Eventually Ginny nodded and Harry asked, "What's the earliest that we can schedule the surgery for?"
Healer Brown looked over his calendar and then answered, "Thursday of next week."
Harry looked back to Ginny and asked, "What do you think?"
"That's fine, what do you want to do?"
Harry mentally went through his calendar. It was now the first of September. Harry was due back to work in the middle of the month. Shanti had asked Harry to extend his time off to allow extra time for him to heal and rest before he returned to work.
"How long is recovery?" Harry asked.
"Four to six weeks, most patients can return to work after two. Since you're an Auror, I'll recommend that you take four weeks."
"I've worked throughout the pregnancy until Shanti said to cut back and then eventually I went on paternity leave. I could extend it for another few weeks if needed." Harry paused before he said, "Thursday is okay."
"Okay," Healer Brown made some notes in Harry's file and handed a packet to Ginny on aftercare and recovery information on an abdominoplasty, the magical version.
"You're scheduled for Thursday morning, at eight in the morning. I'll see you at St. Mungo's at six".
"Okay, we'll see you then. Have any questions, concerns, or need to reschedule, owl me," the healer said as he opened the door to exit the room.
"We will and thank you," Ginny said as she handed Harry his clothes.
After the healer left and Harry changed back into his clothes, Harry and Ginny flooed home.
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Harry gently rocked in the swing in the backyard, watching James and Albus play on the swing set, jungle gym and then the sandbox. It was the night before Harry's surgery and Harry was nervous about the surgery.
"Sickle for your thoughts".
Harry looked up at Ginny, as she sat down beside her, holding Lily.
"Mum will be here in the morning. She said she will feed the kids breakfast. Dad is taking a sick day and helping her. Hermione will meet me in the waiting room and she'll sit with me while you are in surgery," she explained, rocking Lily.
"Hand me, Lily, it will be a while before I can hold her".
"You can hold her, just can't lift on her," Ginny informed him. She watched her husband hold Lily, looking down at her, smiling as she cooed.
"Are you ready for tomorrow?"
Harry looked up at Ginny, her eyes looking softly at him. He sighed and turned his attention to James and Albus. Without looking at her, he said, "I'm ready for tomorrow to be over with".
Ginny reached over and ran her fingers through his hair. She cupped the back of his head and gently pulled him over to her. She softly kissed the top of his head and whispered in his ear.
"It will be okay. You'll do fine."
Harry nodded, his eyes trained on his sons, watching them play in the sandbox, digging with the shovels and playing with the Muggle beach toys from when they went to Shell Cottage last summer and went to the beach.
"You'll take care of won't you?" Harry asked, turning to look at his wife.
"I'll take of care you and I'll love every minute of it. I promised you when we got married that I will always take care of you. I'm not leaving your side for nothing".
Harry nodded and settled back in the swing.
Later that night, Harry lifted James and Albus into his arms, hugged them and kissed them good night because it would be weeks before he could lift them again.
"Good night, Daddy loves you," he told him as he kissed them and turned off the lights. He went into Lily's room and kissed the top of her head.
"Good night Lily, Daddy loves you," and he left the room. His bag was packed, Ginny had her stuff together, and Molly and Arthur were flooing over at four the next morning. Harry had already conjured a bed for them in the family room, where they could sleep until the kids woke up.
The alarm was set to go off at four, about the time Molly and Arthur would arrive and Harry would shower and shave as Healer Brown told him to. Ginny would shave his stomach in the morning before Harry washed his belly with the soap he was given.
He laid down in his bed, allowing Ginny to snuggle close to him.
"Try and sleep tonight, we got an early start in the morning."
Harry nodded, mutely. "Goodnight Ginny. I love you."
"I love you too. Good night."
Harry laid there for about an hour, not able to fall asleep. His brain wouldn't shut off. He didn't tell Ginny, but he was scared of having the surgery. He was more afraid of something going wrong above anything else. But yet, he was ready for it to be over.
He felt Ginny's soft hand snake under his shirt and began to rub soothing circles on Harry's belly. Harry felt his eyes get droopy after five minutes of Ginny's massage and let sleep claim him, hoping he didn't dream about the surgery the next day.