They sit under a tree near the playground Lily used to play on as a child. He leans against the tree and she leans against him. His arms rest on her abdomen. A comfortable silence falls between them as they watch the young children, running, jumping and shouting.

Lily has brought James here several times this summer to her busy little neighbourhood. This is the first holiday they have been close enough to do such a thing. She knows James appreciates her attempts to show him more of where she grew up.

A little boy runs into his mother's arms crying. The woman wraps her arms around him and kisses his elbow, on which a bruise is quickly blooming.

"Do you think you'll ever have kids?" Lily murmurs to James.

"Mmm," he replies into her shoulder. "Seven."

Lily's head whips around at this, her hair smacking him in the face. "Seven?" she repeats, laughing. "Because it's supposed to be the most magical number, I suppose?"

James shakes his head. "It's enough to fill a Quidditch team," he informs her.

She chuckles, falling back into his arms. "Should've known."

They are looking back at the playground. A young blond boy yanks hard on a little girl's hair and is rewarded by being shoved to the ground. Grinning, the boy gets up and does it again.

"Can you imagine a Quidditch team with my genes?" James says gleefully. "They'd take Hogwarts by storm. Win the Cup every year."

Lily can see it. A group of mischievous boys and girls with messy hair all zooming around a Quidditch pitch like they were born flying. "And what woman do you expect to carry seven of your offspring into the world?"

He takes a moment to consider this. "You, probably."

Her heart jumps in her chest. They are friends, but both would be lying if they claimed there was nothing else between them. "Well, I'm not sure where you'll get the other five because I won't have more than two,"

"Why's that?" James says, laughing. She is not sure if he is laughing at her or at the blond boy, who is now chasing the girl around, desperate for her attention. "Is that the proper amount of swishes for the perfect charm?" he asks mockingly.

She shakes her head, elbowing him in the gut. "Prat. I just want them to always be cared for. Have too many and you won't have time for all of them."

James scoffs. "They can play with each other."

"Bloody good father you'll be," Lily says, rolling her eyes. Still, she cannot hide her smile.

James is silent. One hand is lifted from her midsection and is used to pull her gaze towards him. A mischievous light is shining from behind his glasses. "You know Evans, if we're going to be having seven kids, we ought to get started soon. Since we're in the prime of our youth and all," he says very seriously.

Despite the tug of butterflies in her stomach, Lily is brought into a fit of laughter. "James Potter, that is an atrocious way to ask a girl out-"

But she doesn't get to finish because James has pressed his lips to hers, not managing to swallow her giggles because he is fighting chuckles of his own. They are laughing, they are kissing, and everything is so right that she wants to cry in the best sort of way.

With reluctance, Lily pulls away. "Four," she tells him breathlessly.

James looks at her as if she has gone mad. "Pardon?"

"It's a compromise, Potter. I'm not having any more than four and having the boys around is practically like having kids anyway-"

James laughs and pushes her gently into the grass, kissing her again. Somehow she does not mind the interruption.