First came the release of the death grip Ginny had on his hand. Then, his exhausted wife fell back heavily against the pillows on the hospital bed. Finally, the small cry of a newborn filled his ears as well as the rest of the room. These were all signs that let Harry know that it was all over.
Harry looked at Ginny. Tired, yes, but Harry could easily see the traces of a smile on her face as he saw realization dawn on her. She also knew that fifteen hours of labor had ended. "Harry..." she mumbled.
"Shhh," Harry told her. He reached to tuck a piece of stray hair out of her face so she could see better. Even though she was pale, and tiny beads of sweat were just as common as her freckles were, Ginny still stood as beautiful to Harry.
"Mr. Potter, would you like to meet your son?"
Harry snapped out of his trance with Ginny. "I--we have a son?" he asked. Without another word, just a nod, a small blue blanket-wrapped bundle was placed in his arms by a Healer. The first aspect that caught Harry's eye was the small patch of dark red hair that was poking out from the top of the small child's head. "Good news, Ginny. The kid has your hair."
Harry turned back to his wife, who was now sitting upright in the hospital bed. "I can't say I'm surprised, with most of my family having red hair," Ginny responded. Harry smiled. He gently handed the bundle to its mother. Right away, Harry thought, Ginny looked like a mother. He'd seen her hold Teddy, as well as their nieces and nephews when they were infants, but this time, the infant was hers.
Harry sat on the bed next to Ginny, who was tracing the delicate features of her son with her index finger. "What should we name him?" she asked, not even looking at Harry. They both knew that a name should be picked out well ahead of time, but they never came to terms on one. Harry thought for a second.
"I was thinking," he began cautiously, "that we could name him after my dad, James."
"James Potter. Has a nice ring to it," Ginny smiled, looking at Harry. "Now, how come you never thought of this before the baby was born," she wondered, "before we got into all those arguments about names?"
"Would you believe that it just came to me?" Harry asked sheepishly.
"No," Ginny replied bluntly, and then began to laugh. Harry laughed in return. "What about a middle name?" Ginny asked.
Harry stalled for a moment. "Well..." he began, before he was interrupted by Ginny.
"Oh, don't tell me; you've already come up with a middle name too," Ginny joked.
"I have actually," Harry said.
"What is it then?"
"Well, I've heard that the first son is supposed to have his father's first name as his middle name," he explained. Ginny nodded in understanding. "But, if our son's middle name was the same as my first name, his whole name would be almost the same as mine. Instead of Harry James Potter, as I was named after my father, it would be James Harry Potter. It just wouldn't feel...original," Harry continued.
"So what are you saying?" Ginny asked.
"Well, I thought about other names, people that could be associated with James, my father. The first person I thought of, besides my mother, and I don't think you want to name him James Lily Potter - was Sirius. He was my dad's best friend all through Hogwarts and I think they would be honored to share their names for our first son, and possibly the newest Marauder. James Sirius Potter."
Ginny thought, going over the name in her head, making sure it sounded right. "James Sirius Potter," she mumbled now and again. Often, Ginny looked down at her sleeping baby, as if deciding if the name fit with what he looked like. "James Sirius Potter," she said with finality. "Welcome to the family."
Harry smiled, kissing her temple. Ginny smiled and turned to kiss Harry full on the lips. After they parted, she cuddled closer to Harry, re-situating James so both of his parents could look at him. "Whose eyes do you think he'll have?" Ginny wondered aloud.
"Yours, I hope," Harry said, "I have a thing for red hair and brown eyes." The couple laughed quietly, so as not to disturb their baby.
Ginny and Harry laid there for a few more minutes, before Harry asked, "Are you ready to see visitors yet?"
Ginny nodded, "I think so."
"Who do you want to see first? Harry asked.
"Ron and Hermione," Ginny answered. "There's something I need to talk about with them."
"Alright." Harry thought it was odd that she didn't wish to see her parents first. "Oh, well," he sighed to himself. He slid off the hospital bed and left the room.
The waiting area was not far from Ginny's room. Harry hoped that there were no other patrons that were in need of a seat in the Maternity Ward in St.Mungo's, because every seat in the waiting room was occupied by a Weasley. A sleeping Weasley, as a matter of fact. Harry, being unable to completely control when James was going to be born, had called everyone to the hospital at around nine o'clock the previous night. It was now two-thirty in the morning.
Molly, Arthur, Bill, Fleur, George, Ron, and Hermione (Charlie and Percy were at the Burrow with the small children who could not sit still for more then thirty minutes) occupied all the chairs and benches in one way or another, whether they were sprawled out on a couch, or sitting upright in one of the chairs.
The couple he sought was sitting the closest to the edge from the direction he was coming. Ron was using one of the small waiting room tables as a foot rest, so he could stretch out without taking up a full bench. Hermione sat next to him in almost the same position, but with her head resting on her husband's shoulder. Ron's arms were wrapped protectively around Hermione.
Harry came up behind them. He crouched down and then gently shook Ron's shoulder, and did the same with Hermione's. "Ron, Hermione, wake up!" he whispered. They began to stir. Ron stretched out his arms as Hermione rubbed her eyes. They both looked around for the source of their peaceful sleep's disturbance. Finally, they both looked behind them and saw Harry crouched down to their level. Hermione looked at Harry, exchanging a glance. It was almost if she was trying to figure out why he had come to wake her and Ron up, without saying anything. Realization dawned on her and she smiled at Harry. He smiled back and somehow, she figured out why he was there.
She stood up from her chair and walked over to Harry, who had stood up as well. She reached to pull him into an embrace. "I have a son," Harry whispered in her ear, knowing she knew the reason for waking them up. He could feel Hermione smile.
"Congratulations," she whispered back. She leaned back from the embrace and kissed him on the cheek.
Ron, who had risen and joined Harry and Hermione, had a questioning look on his face. Without even thinking what Ron was questioning about, Harry said, "I have a son."
A grin formed on Ron's face. He gave Harry a brotherly hug. "I'm happy for you, mate."
"Now that I broke the news to you, would you like to see him?" Harry asked. His two friends nodded.
The trio walked down the hall towards Ginny's room side-by-side. Once they reached the room, Harry let them in first. They entered silently, Harry closing the door behind them.
Ginny's position had not changed since he left. She was still sitting up in bed, holding baby James.
Hermione got to Ginny first. She reached to give as good of a hug as she could with Ginny in bed. She also kissed her cheek. "Congratulations, Ginny," Hermione said.
Ron came over and did the same actions. "Congrats, baby sis."
Harry went and stood on the opposite side of the bed that Ron and Hermione were on. "Ron, Hermione, I present to you...James Sirius Potter," Harry announced. As if prompted, Ginny handed James off to an awaiting, beaming Hermione. She took him tenderly in her arms, already a seasoned pro from holding her nieces and nephews.
"Hi, James," she cooed, "I'm your aunt Hermione."
Ron walked over to where Harry was standing.
Not realizing it, Harry watched how Hermione fawned over James, just as she did with the other young Wealseys. Harry knew how much she and Ron wanted children of their own. They had tried many times and were just as unsuccessful. They were the only couple in the Weasley family who had not had children yet, aside from George and Angelina, who had just recently gotten married. Harry felt Ron beside him, looking at the same scene. Harry knew very well that Ron felt guilty he couldn't give his wife children. "Don't worry. Your time will come," Harry said. Ron turned to him smiling.
"How does it feel," Ron asked,"being a dad?"
"Well, seeing as how I've only been a dad for fifteen minutes..."Harry said, pretending to check the watch that had once been Fabian Prewetts. The two men laughed. "Seriously, though," Harry began again," it feels amazing."
Hermione handed James back to his mother, who handed him to his father. "Do you want to hold him?" Harry questioned Ron.
"Sure," Ron replied, keeping the smile from before. He fawned over the young Weasleys just as much as Hermione did. He would hold the babies forever, if he had the chance. However, after a few minutes, James became fussy, and was quickly handed back to Ginny. Ron went back over to Hermione.
"So," Harry began, "what was so important that you had to ask Ron and Hermione right away?" Ginny looked at the other couple.
"I was wondering if you wanted to be James's godparents," she said.
Without missing a beat, Hermione answered "Of course we will."
"Not to kick you guys out or anything, but I think I want to see Mum and Dad now," Ginny said.
"That's fine, Ginny," Ron replied. He and Hermione headed for the door.
"I'll walk you guys back," Harry offered. They exited just as they entered, silent.
By the time the trio returned to the waiting area, Arthur and Molly had awoken. Upon their awakening, they wondered where Ron and Hermione had gone. Seeing them return with Harry gave the look on Molly's face a bit of hopefulness. Seeing this, Harry simply smiled and asked "Would you like to meet your grandson?"
Excitedly, Mrs.Weasely nodded. "Yes," Arthur said. Just as he had with Hermione and Ron, Harry led Molly and Arthur down to Ginny's room.
Harry opened the door into the room and found that Ginny was no longer in the bed. Almost beginning to panic, Harry looked around the room. Relived, he found Ginny standing, with James cradled in her arms, looking out the window on the opposite end of the room. Even in the early February morning, downtown London was beautiful, draped in a thin blanket of snow.
Harry motioned for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to stay by the door as he got Ginny. He padded lightly across the floor. As he came up to her, he wrapped his arms around her, being cautious of James. He felt Ginny jump slightly, then relax. Harry laid his head on her shoulder. "You should be resting," he whispered.
"I'm fine," she whispered back, still looking out the window.
"You should probably come and sit down, though. There are two people who would really like to see you."
Hearing this, Ginny obliged. Slowly, she made her way to the rocking chair that was in the room. Looking back toward the door, Harry acknowledged Molly and Arthur, and they quietly made their way over to Ginny.
Molly was the first to reach Ginny. She gave her youngest child a hug and a kiss. "I am so proud of you," she told Ginny. "And who is this?" she asked, gesturing to the baby.
"This," Ginny began, "is James Sirius Potter."
Molly smiled, "What a perfect name. May I?" she said, holding her arms open. Ginny handed her son over to her mother.
"Harry, could I have a word?" Arthur said. Looking at Ginny and Molly, both occupied with James, he figured they would be okay for a little bit. He nodded, following Arthur out to the hall. Once they were out there, Arthur closed the door to Ginny's room.
"What is it that you want to talk to me about, Mr.Weasley?" Harry wondered.
"Harry, for the millionth time, please call me Arthur," Mr.Weasley said. "And I wanted to thank you."
"For what?"
"For everything that you've done for Ginny and the rest of our family."
"Well, you're welcome," Harry said, simply.
"I'm not quite finished yet," Arthur said back, "After the war, obviously we were all a little emotionally drained. I think of all the Weasleys, Ginny was the worst." Harry knew this. Unlike everyone else, who cried and cried for days, Ginny remained silent and tearless. In the days following the battle, which were spent mostly either at Hogwarts or The Burrow, Ginny had not talked to anyone, well, anyone except Harry, and was rarely seen, save meals times when her mother made her come to the table.
Somehow, Harry had been the only person who was able to get a word out of her. She and Harry would sit and talk for hours some days. It never mattered to either of them what they talked about. Ginny and Harry would sit in Ginny's room, with the door open, by Molly's rules. Other times, they would walk around the Weasley's orchards or play a game of one-on-one Quidditch. Some times there were tears, from both Harry and Ginny, and sometimes there weren't. Little by little, as each day passed, Ginny recovered, her beautiful brown eyes regained their life, even her glorious red hair, which had seemed to dull slightly, had brightened up again. She began to laugh and joke the way she used to, the way Harry loved.
Harry had not realized that he had stopped talking to Arthur until he heard Arthur call his name. "Harry, are you still listening?" he said.
"Yeah. I'm sorry, I sort of spaced out," said Harry.
"That's quite all right, son, considering that you must have been up for hours while Ginny was having the baby. In any way, Molly and I are forever grateful that you came into Ginny's life. I'm glad she chose you. You two will make wonderful parents."
Harry blushed, "Thanks, Mr. Wea-, I mean, Arthur." Arthur gave his son-in-law a hug.
"So," Mr.Weasley began again, "what's this I hear about a new young wizard by the name of James?"
Harry smiled. "Would you like to go and see him now?" Harry asked.
"I would greatly enjoy that," Mr.Weasley replied. The two men re-entered the room. Ginny was back in bed, most likely by her mother's orders, and Molly was still holding her grandson.
"Don't you think you've held him long enough, dear?" Arthur asked.
"I suppose so," Molly replied, mocking her exasperation. James was handed to his grandfather.
Arthur held James as though he was a professional. Of course, it came from holding his seven children, Teddy Lupin, and his few grandchildren over the years. "He looks a lot like both of you," he said. James let out a tiny yawn. "Oh, looks like somebody's tired," Arthur said. He handed James back to Ginny.
"Poor kid's had a rough day," Harry said.
Arthur put his arm around his wife's shoulders. "We'll let you three be. We'll come back later tonight," Molly said," Do you want us to send everyone else down?"
"Yeah. George especially would want to meet his new 'trainee'." Ginny laughed, remembering how George especially, knowing of Harry's relation to the infamous Marauders, wanted her child to be his new apprentice for the joke shop. ("Got to keep up the family business somehow," he'd said.)
"Okay," her father said, "see you later." He hugged his daughter and son-in-law. Molly gave Harry one of her bone-crushing hugs.
"Take care of yourselves," she said to him.
"We will," Harry said back, returning the hug. Molly moved over to her youngest.
"Your father and I are so incredibly proud of you," she told her.
"Thanks Mum."
Molly kissed her daughter and placed a small kiss on her grandson's tiny head. "The others should be here shortly," Mr. Weasley said. With that, the elder Weasleys left the room.
As was promised, George, Bill, and Fleur arrived to meet their newest nephew. James was passed around to everyone. As expected, George dubbed him as his new intern for Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. Both Ginny and Harry rolled their eyes at this. Bill commented on how he was almost an equal mix of Harry and Ginny. "We still don't know whose eyes he has yet," Harry said. "He just doesn't want to open his eyes.'
"Well, 'e is tired, I'm sure," Fleur pointed out. They all stayed for a few more minutes before going home to their families.
"Alone at last," Harry sighed, after seeing off George. He took James from a sleepy Ginny. Harry leaned down to kiss her on the lips. "I love you very much," he told her.
"I love you, too," Ginny replied sleepily.
"Get some rest, Gin. I'll take care of James," Harry said. Ginny didn't even argue. She just closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Harry held his son tightly against his chest. He moved the rocking chair over to the window that Ginny had stood by earlier, and sat down in it. Harry began to rock back and forth. "Sorry James, I'm not much of a singer, and I don't know any lullabies," he said to James. James cooed in response.
In the distance, Harry saw rays of sunlight coming over the horizon. The beams of light on the snow made the ground and buildings look like they were encrusted in millions of tiny diamonds. This, Harry thought, isn't just the beginning of a new day; it's the beginning of my new life with James and Ginny.
Harry looked down at his baby boy and rubbed James's cheek with his index finger. James grabbed onto Harry's finger. It amazed Harry that James was so tiny and vulnerable and weak, but somehow strong at the same time, that he had to use his whole hand just to hold one finger. Just then, James lifted his eyelids to reveal large chocolate-brown orbs, just like Ginny's. "Oh, now you decide to open your eyes just for daddy, huh?" Harry joked. James let out a small gurgle. Harry chuckled, as he kissed his son's forehead. He stood up and moved over to Ginny's bed. "Gin, Ginny! Wake up," Harry exclaimed quietly. Ginny rolled over to face her husband.
"What?" she asked, yawning.
"James has your eyes."