Chapter Ten – Baby Harry

Hermione had spent the last month with members of the Order, training in all possible forms of combat. She was rather pleasantly surprised to find she was now an expert on Harry's Firebolt: Blur.
It was early December and the first snow had started to fall as Hermione stepped out of a hot shower after a grueling day of training. She planned on visiting Harry in the hospital wing before going to bed.

"Hermione!" Ron yelled. It sounded like he was outside the Heads common room. Hermione threw on her pyjamas and a bathrobe and rushed to the portrait hole to find Ron grinning wildly, "He's awake, Harry's awake!" Ron splurged excitedly.

Hermione ran straight to the infirmary with Ron at her heels. She flung the large doors open and looked towards Harry's bed. He was propped up by several pillows and very much awake.

"Harry!" Hermione raced towards him and dived into his arms, tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks.

"hey Mi," Harry whispered taking her hands in his. He looked down and saw her left hand, "You said yes!"

"Of course I did!" Hermione smiled, "Lucky too or you wouldn't be here. So did you hear anything I told you over the last month?"

"Has it been that long? Sorry, baby, haven't heard a word."

"It's good you're up mate," Ron said, "I'll catch up with you tomorrow, you guys need to talk." Ron left the infirmary quickly.

"Well, that was subtle," Harry commented, grinning, "Sounds like something big went down."

"You could say that," Hermione smiled, "You remember the night you left?" Harry nodded, "Well Harry, I'm pregnant, we're having a baby."

Harry swallowed, hard, "What? Wow – I'm gonna be a dad?" It was Hermione's turn to nod, "Cool, this is cool. Mi? I love you."

"Oh," Hermione cooed, "I've been needing to hear that for so long! Love you too." Hermione snuggled into Harry's arms and soon drifted off to sleep.

Harry reached to his nightstand for his wand and whispered, "Accio Pensieve accio memories."
Once the Pensieve was in front of him and Harry had made sure Hermione wasn't disturbed, he picked up two of the memories and poured them into the stone basin.

Harry stared into the liquidy depths and found himself in the corridor of Ward 51, St Mungo's hospital. A healer was walking towards him. She was a petite woman, with her blond hair pulled back in a long plait. She had kind, motherly eyes and Harry guessed her to be in her mid 30s.

"Healer Brooks, thank Merlin you're back!" Harry heard a deep voice and spun around to see a very stressed James Potter.

"Calm down Mr Potter, or you will be waiting out here while I deliver you child," Healer Brooks said with a smile.

"I'm calm, I'm calm. Oh no I'm not! Yes I am – Lily needs me to be calm. Oh who am I kidding, she's the calm one!"

Harry laughed at his father's rambling. His laugh was echoed by another, very familiar, bark-like chuckle. Harry turned to see Sirius walk around the corner grinning, "Prongsy," he said, "Pull yourself together! Get in there and I don't want to see you out here again, unless you have news of my Godson's arrival!" Sirius gave James a push towards the door.

"Thanks Padfoot. But what makes you think it'll be a boy?"

"Here's hoping" Sirius grinned.

"Come along, Mr Potter," Healer Brooks gestured to the door. Harry hurried into the room before the door was closed.

There in front of him, lying on the bed, looking as calm and collected as Hermione, was Harry's mother. Harry walked closer to the bedside as James assumed his position next to Lily.

"How you doing, Lil?" James asked, grabbing hold of her hand and stroking her cheek.

"I'm fine James. Women have been doing this for centuries."

"Ok, Mrs Potter are you ready?" Healer Brooks asked. Lily nodded in response and James paled, "Are you ready Mr Potter?" A smirk appeared on the mediwitch's face.

"No – go ahead," James replied bravely.

"Ok Mrs Potter, I need you to push…"

Fifteen minutes later, the cries of himself as a baby filled Harry's ears. He watched as the healer wrapped baby Harry in a blanket and placed I'm in Lily's waiting arms. James kissed Lily on the forehead, a look of amazed pride etched onto his face. Lily was crying, "My little boy," she whispered through joyous tears, "Harry James Potter."

James grinned, got up and went to the door. Opening it he said, "Hey Padfoot! You were right. I have a son!"

A split second later, Sirius had joined the new family. Lily smiled as Sirius cooed over the now sleeping baby Harry.

"You will be a marauder one day, my boy. I'll teach you all you need to know," Sirius declared.

"And I'll teach you even more," James added, competing with his best friend.

"And I'll teach Harry what's right and wrong!" Lily challenged, glaring happily at James and Sirius.

Harry grinned while watching this little battle – he knew his mother would have been fighting a losing war against all of James's 'lessons'.

"Well, I'm cleaned up here," said Healer Brooks form the corner, "I think we should let our new mother and child rest," she looked pointedly at James who nodded and motioned for Sirius to follow him as he headed for the corridor.

Harry took one more look at his mother and watched her kiss baby Harry's nose, the the memory dissolved.

Harry now found himself in a park. In front of him was a group of people sitting on a picnic blanket. Harry recognized the three adults as his parents and Remus. In between the adults was a smiling toddler with a shock of messy black hair.

"Me…" Harry said.

"I can't believe my little boy is one already," Lily gushed, kissing little Harry on the cheek.

"Stop babying him Lil. He'll turn out to be a sissy. And while we're on the subject, when are you going to let me teach him how to fly a broom?" James complained.

Remus laughed, "Wait a while, Prongs. He just started walking!"

Baby Harry, obviously distracted from the adults' conversation, stood up and toddled towards Harry. Harry watched, confused, until baby Harry yelled out, "Paddy Paddy Paddy!"

Harry turned to see a big black dog bounding towards the toddler. He laughed, "Of course, Padfoot." He said in realization as he watched himself as a toddler giggle senselessly as Padfoot licked his face.

The dog looked around, cautiously before changing into human form. Lily and Remus had disapproving looks on their faces but James looked thoroughly amused.

"I know it's risky," Sirius defended himself, "But it's Harry's birthday and he loves that trick," Sirius scooped Harry off the ground and scruffed his hair, "Don't you mate?"

Baby Harry laughed, "Paddy funny!"

The group sat down to eat their picnic.

"He's really taken a liking to you Padfoot," James said.

"Prongs! Of course he has, look at me – I'm irresistible!" Sirius grinned.

Remus and James scoffed.

"Hey Harry. Look I bought you something," Sirius pulled a present out of his robes and gave it to Harry, who ripped it open to reveal a plush toy Quidditch set. A quaffle, two bludgers, two clubs and a snitch.

"Now you can play inside without mummy yelling at you!" James grinned, impishly.

"I don't need to tell Harry off nearly as often as I have to tell you off," Lily objected, "Remember it was you who sent that quaffle through the kitchen window."

James blushed.

Baby Harry had started playing with his new toys. He was promptly bashing Sirius over the head with one of the clubs. James picked up the other and copied his son.

Harry laughed at the episode, "I think I actually remember those toys…" he mused.

"Ok ok, I think Sirius has had enough honey," Lily said gently taking the club from her son, "Time for cake."

After they had sung happy birthday and Harry had gotten cake all over him and Lily had cleaned it off, baby Harry crawled into James's lap.

"Daddy? I tired now. Ni-ni," he said snuggling up to James and falling asleep.

Harry smiled as he left the memory.

Harry looked next to him at the sleeping Hermione and vowed then and there that every one of his child's birthdays would be celebrated and remembered just like the one he'd just visited.