Just the Two of Us

By Queenie

Dedicated to B. Nonymous and the babies A and P. Nonymous and B. and E. Nonymous

Happy birthday, and welcome to the world.

Just the two of us…

Just the two of us.

            "Here he is, Mr. Potter… your beautiful baby boy.  Mind his head, now…"

            "My baby boy… my son… I'm a father!!!" 'Amazing,' I thought, 'he's hardly been in the world for a half-hour, and I already love him as much as I love Lily!  Oh my god…'

            The doctor and nurse smiled knowingly at me, this downright giddy new father.

            "Your baby is in a stable health condition for now, and I trust that you know how to take care of him.  Have a nice day.  We'll be back tomorrow."  And with a small pop, they Disapparated.

            Lily gave me a tired smile from her bed.  "If you don't mind, James, I'd like to get a little sleep, so I'll leave you two…" her head dropped onto the pillow, and she was fast asleep already.  I couldn't blame her, really.

I was now alone with my son.  'Should I call the other Marauders?' I asked myself.  'Nah… this time, I want to be alone with my son…'

            My little boy… Harry, to be named after his late grandfather and his uncle, Henry.  A lump came into my throat at the thought of my brother and father, but it was soon replaced with, 'How do I calm him when he's fussy?  How early can I start practicing Quidditch with him?  Am I… ready? Should we have waited a few more years before…?  Stop!  This is no time to muse over the past, Prongs, you're a father!!! You have to take responsibilities now.  Not just for Harry, but for Lily…!'

From the first time the doctor[1]

Placed you in my arms,

I knew I'd meet death

'Fore I let you meet harm,

Although questions arose in my mind,

'Would I be man enough?'

Against wrong, choose right, and be standing up

From the hospital that first night,

Took an hour just to get the car seat in right!

People drivin' all fast, made me kinda upset…

Got you home safe, placed you in your bassinet.

I was unbelievably jumpy.  Every slight imperfection in the outside world, and I hopped.  If Harry squirmed a little, I fretted.  A very loud party was held down the street with a disk jockey whaddya-call-it making them scream again and again, and I had half a mind to go to the window and turn them all into little Flobberworms for even thinking of disturbing little Bambi.  My God, I had already christened Harry 'Bambi'.  Sometimes I astound even myself.

Yet, I was unaccustomedly happy.

I placed Harry into the cute, frilly, eyelet-covered bassinet, which took me an hour (and many handy expletives) to assemble.  I went through the past few hours, which were a blur of expectations and one screaming Lily.  I chuckled as I remembered when she actually kicked the doctor in the face -- accidentally, of course, but still!  Maybe that's why he left so soon.  I sat by the bassinet, stroking my son's head. My son. Wow.  I knew that no harm would come to this child while I was alive.  None.  Anyone who wanted to hurt him would have to deal with me first, even if it was Lord Voldemort himself.  I looked up at the ceiling and I begged whatever gods there may be, "Please, please, please, let me be able to do this.  Lily will be a great mother, I know that… but if I never do anything else in my entire life, please let me be a good father."

That night I don't think one wink I slept,

As I slipped out of bed,

To your crib I crept,

Touched your head gently, felt my heart melt,

'Cuz I knew I loved you more than life itself,

I got down on my knees, and I begged the Lord

Please, lemme be a good Daddy, all he needs

Love,

Knowledge,

Discipline too.

I pledge my life to you.

I looked at Harry again.  He was still sleeping, but starting to stir a little.  Somehow, there was something that said, 'Everything will be alright.  Don't worry.  I trust you.'

I gently kissed Harry on the forehead.  "I won't fail you, Harry," I whispered.

'Now, I just need to teach him how to be a Marauder,' I thought, giving an inward chuckle.  I heard Lily waking up, and I turned to her, smiling.  She was in a kind of daze, and said, "James, I just had the strangest dream.  I dreamt that our baby was born, and he was named Harry, and I kicked the doctor in the face…"

I carefully took Harry out of the bassinet and said, "Yes, Lily, that was an odd dream." Cradling him in my arms, I added, "and you might want to feed little 'Bambi' here now that he's waking up."

She was startled at first, and laughed.  Then she realized… "Oh no.  I don't believe it.  I'm asleep for five minutes and he's already a new purveryor to magical mischief.  I can't stand it."

I laughed as I gave Harry to her, saying, "I'll be back in a little while.  I just have to tell the Marauders, Hagrid, and Dumbledore."

"Which means the entire wizarding world will know before I change Harry's diaper for the first time."

"Yep," I nodded.  As I walked out the door, I waved to Harry, saying, "Bye-bye, little Bambi.  I'll be back soon!"

Just the two of us,

We can make it if we try,

Just the two of us,

You and I.

Just the two of us,

Building castles in the sky,

Just the two of us,

You and I.

*~*~*~*~*

In his office, Albus Dumbledore was getting an early start on his work.  Of course, he had to start with selecting the music for the day.  He'd decided on Bach when the fireplace suddenly glowed a bright, emerald green and a large revolving shape appeared in it.  A minute later James Potter stepped out of the flames, brushing ash and soot off of himself.  "A moment, if you please, Headmaster…"

"Since you're already here, James, what kind of man would I be to send you away?  Now, what news do you bring?"

"Well," said James, glowing with pride even underneath the ashes, "I came to tell you that my wife has given birth to our firstborn son, Harry, this morning."

"Ah," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling merrily, "so you have named him Harry?  After his uncle, I presume."

"Harry James Potter, to be specific, sir.  Now, I'm really sorry, but I must get on to Sirius'."

"Will you not stay for a cup of tea?"

"No, thank you, sir…"

"Very well.  Be off, and congratulations."

"Thank you, Professor.  Have a good day."

James stepped back into the flames and disappeared.  Albus chortled a little, then took out a piece of parchment and a quill, and wrote on it,

~Students for 1991~

Harry James Potter