Her Other Half

Chapter Two: A Celebrated Birth

Chapter Two: A celebrated birth

Harry stood behind Ginny, his hands on her waist while she leaned over the crib to tuck the blankets around the slumbering infant.

“She’s perfect,” Harry breathed, speaking quietly so as not to wake the baby.

“She is,” Ginny whispered back, straightening up and snuggling against Harry.

Several long moments passed in silence as Harry and Ginny stood over their daughter.  Reluctantly, yawning in exhaustion, Ginny linked her hand in Harry’s and pulled him away from the peaceful newborn.

“She’ll still be here in the morning,” Ginny reminded him as they walked down the short hallway to their bedroom.

“I know,” Harry sighed.  “I didn’t think it was possible to worry this much.”

“You thought Mum had the corner on worrying, didn’t you?” Ginny teased.

“After seven of you rascals,” Harry sniffed, “I can see why.”

Harry turned from Ginny, as if upset, but busied himself with the modified baby monitor.  It had been a gift from Tonks and Remus – Harry still struggled to call him by his given name, who had obtained it at a Muggle maternity store in London.  They had both added their own protections to the monitor before presenting it to the expecting couple.

Once Harry had it in his hands, he could feel the magic oozing from the plastic case.  Tonks had explained how to work the intruder alarms while Remus had held the baby, who giggled and tried to tug on his shaggy hair. After they had left, Harry had secretly added his own protection, not wanting to offend his close friends, but more worried than he had been when Voldemort was alive all the same

“Something just doesn’t feel right,” he had murmured the night they brought her home from St. Mungo’s.

Ginny ignored his grumbling about a new threat, telling him that he reminded her of an Auror she knew with a wooden leg and a magic eye.  After that, Harry had kept his fears to himself, blocking them in a part of his mind that Ginny couldn’t access accidentally.

“Hey,” Ginny called softly.  “Are you coming to bed?”

“I’ve almost got this blasted thing set,” Harry replied, noticing that Ginny was already curled up on the bed, under the covers. 

As he concentrated on the incantation to set the alarm, Harry smiled broadly.  Setting the alarm on the table next to the bed, he climbed under the covers and pulled Ginny close to him.

“What were you thinking about?” Ginny asked tenderly.

“The password you chose,” Harry admitted, chuckling at the memory.

“You know it will be suitable someday,” Ginny remarked.  “Bychan Echryd.”

“I’m sure she will be a ‘little terror’,” Harry said fondly, “just like her mum.”

“Speaking of Mum,” Ginny giggled.  “I still can’t believe how quickly she recovered when we told her the name we had picked.”

“She looked like she wouldn’t be able to talk for a month,” Harry agreed.  “With your flaming hair, there’s no reason not to pick an Irish name.”

“We didn’t know that she’d have red hair,” Ginny reminded him. 

“That’s what Mum said,” Harry observed.  “Amazing how much the two of you sound alike.”  After pulling a few feathers from his mouth and handing his wife back her pillow, Harry continued.  “What’s wrong with giving her a strong Irish name?”