It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn

A/N: Well, I’ve decided to make this an ongoing story.  Hopefully it works.  I just want to age Lily a little bit before I post the sequel.

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            Harry woke about a week later to Hermione crying in her sleep.

            “Mione.  Mione, wake up, sweetie,” he said as he ran a finger down her face.

            “Harry!  Wake up, Harry!  Oh, God, not the baby!” Hermione cried out in her sleep.

            “Hermione!  I’m here.  Wake up, Hermione,” Harry repeated.

            Hermione sat up violently.  She looked around the room and recognized her surroundings.  “Harry!  Where’s Lily?” she hurriedly asked.

            “Don’t worry.  She’s fine.  She’s right over there in her crib,” he said as he pointed to the white crib against the far wall.  “Remember?  You were nervous about leaving her in her nursery?  We brought her back in here and said we’d keep her in here for another couple of days, and then we’ll put her back in her nursery.  Everything is fine, honey.  Don’t worry about her.”

            “Oh, Harry.  It was horrible!  I was dreaming about that night.  I just kept seeing you tied to that tree.  I heard Sirius howling.  But in the end, Lily was there and Voldemort was holding her and threatening to kill her.  I couldn’t save any of you!” Hermione sobbed.

            “Come here,” Harry said as he pulled his wife into a loving embrace.  “Everything is fine.  Voldemort is dead.  Sirius is alive.  Lily is sleeping peacefully in her crib.  And you and I saved the day that night.  Everyone is safe and sound.”

            Hermione sniffled a little and then turned to face her husband.  “It seemed so real.”

            “I know it did.  But it’s ok now.  It was just a dream.  Go back to sleep, sweetheart.  I will never let anything happen to either of you again,” Harry said while stroking her hair.

            Hermione nodded and laid down again.  Harry held her tightly and both fell asleep.

            Later that night, Lily began to cry.  Harry rushed to her crib and picked her up.

            “Lily.  Your Mum needs her rest.  You and I will have to sit here until you’re ready to sleep again yourself.  Why don’t we have a chat?  Sirius once told me that my father used to have talks with me when I was a baby, so I might as well carry on the tradition.  First, I want to apologize for the rough ride right before you were born.  That was definitely not planned on.  But, it’ll be an exciting story for your kids, right?  Second, I want to tell you how much you are loved.  Your mother and I think that there’s just nothing like you in the entire world.  Then, there’s your grandpa Sirius.  He didn’t get to watch me grow up, so he’ll probably fuss over you a great deal.  There’s also your Uncle Ron and Aunt Lavender, Ginny and all the other Weasleys (there’s too many to mention now, princess).  Plus Uncle Albus and Aunt Minerva, I almost forgot about them.  And you’re going to be a beautiful young lady.  You’ve got my eyes, which are also your grandmother’s, so that’s good.  I think you may have gotten your mum’s hair, looks like her color already.  Now, if it’s a little unruly, that could be either of our faults.  I hope you got your mother’s, her’s was bushy, but it calmed down.  Mine will forever look like this,” he said as he ruffled his own hair.

            “Anyway, next week we’ll be moving you into your own room.  I’m a little nervous to do that, since I’m so used to worrying about bad people.  But, we took care of big, bad Voldie, didn’t we, princess?  Yeah, you, Mummy and me.  We got him at last.”  Harry sighed.  “Well, anyway, I hope you like your nursery.  It’s quite cheery.  I wanted it full of wands and snitches, but your Mum nixed that idea.  She wanted it full of dancing bears, but I vetoed that one.  I thought that would be too scary.  So, it’s just a very pretty pink now.  Well, looks like you’re ready to sleep again,” he said as the baby yawned.  “That’s good b/c I’m tired myself.”  Harry put his daughter back into her crib.  “I love you, my precious little girl.”   He then crawled back into bed with his wife, circling his arms around her.

            The next night, when Lily began to cry, it was Hermione who got up to tend to her.

            “Oh, my little Lily.  Your Daddy needs some sleep.  Why are you so fussy lately?  You ought to be so happy, pumpkin.  Daddy took down Voldemort and the world is a much safer place now.  Plus, your grandpa Sirius is coming to visit you tomorrow.  And you’ll just love him!  He’s a character, but lovable.  He was your daddy’s daddy’s best friend in the whole world and he’s just dying to play with you.  Then in a few days, my parents are coming over to spoil you as well.  So, there’s no need to be fussy.   Ah, Lily.  I am so proud of you already.  Just think of how proud I’ll be when you start at Hogwarts.  I might burst when you get to that staircase.  I can just see you now.  You’ve got your Daddy’s eyes.  Thank goodness for that because he has beautiful eyes.  You might be getting my hair, but you’ll grow out of the bushiness, I promise.”  Hermione sighed.

            The baby cooed.

            “Ok, Lily.  Back to bed for you.  We all need our rest for Sirius’s visit.  He’ll wear us all out!” Hermione said as she placed her daughter back into the crib.  “I love you, my perfect little girl.”

            When she got back into the bed, she found Harry awake.

            “You are so good with her,” he said.

            “You’re not so bad yourself,” she replied.

            “I’m not sure there’s a baby anywhere on earth that is as loved as she is.”

            “I’m sure you were.  I know Lily and James loved you more than anything.  Sirius told me all about it.”

            “I don’t think I want to know everything he told you.  Probably some embarrassing stuff.”

            “Not entirely,” Hermione said as she rolled over.  “I heard about your obsession with your ickle binky, though,” she added. “The blanky that went everywhere.”

            “Ugh, Sirius!” Harry sighed.  “I’m going to get ammo from your parents now.”

            “I surrender!” Hermione replied with a big, fake yawn.

            “Oh, yeah.  That was very convincing, Hermione.”

            “Good night, Harry.”

            Harry knew he couldn’t win this one, as usual.  “Good night, Hermione.  I love you.”

            “I love you, too, sweetheart.”

            And with that, the Potters went to sleep to be rested for Grandpa Sirius’s visit.