Gives Joy

Gives Joy

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters. *cries* They all belong to the amazing JK Rowling. I’m just borrowing them for a while – I’ll give them back in one piece…promise!

A/N: This is just a little plot bunny that came into my head on Friday and wouldn’t leave until I’d got it out.

Hermione stirred slowly and turned over in her bed, only to find that her husband, Harry wasn’t there. Concerned she pushed back the covers and slowly got out of bed. She winced slightly as she stood up; she was still in a slight bit of pain. But that was to be expected as she’d only given birth less than 36 hours ago.

At only 22, some people were worried that she and Harry were too young to be parents; they certainly hadn’t planned on bringing a child into the world so soon. But as Harry had said to her when she had told him her news; they had been through so much already; they were a lot more mature than most 22 year olds. But that’s what happens when you’re involved in a war against the most powerful dark wizard in the world.

The war had ended in the December after the trio had graduated from Hogwarts. It had been a long a bloody battle, with many casualties. One of whom was Ron who had taken a long time to recover; he still walked with a slight limp. Harry’s defeat of Voldemort had caused him to use quite a lot of his magical energy and his body had shut down as soon as his enemy had fallen. He’d been in a coma for three weeks, while his core magical energy was replenished. Even when he had woken up, he was very weak and couldn’t actually perform any spells more complicated than Wingardium Leviosa for months afterwards. Hermione had stayed by his side throughout his rehabilitation and when Harry had been discharged from St Mungo’s she had moved into Grimmauld Place to continue to aid him in any way she could. Spending the amount of time together that they did brought feelings to the surface that both of them had repressed before the war. But having experienced death and destruction, and knowing first hand how valuable each day was meant that neither of them were willing to waste any time pussyfooting around how they felt for one another.

Once they had confessed their feelings for each other, their relationship had progressed quickly. They had become engaged after three months, but delayed their wedding until Ron had been fit enough. They actually tied the knot on Hermione’s 21^st birthday, eighteen months after their engagement. They had been married only seven months when she discovered she was pregnant, and she had been apprehensive about how Harry would react. She needn’t have worried though; Harry was ecstatic at the news and took to the role of expectant father like a duck to water.

Smiling at the memory, she exited the bedroom and noticed light shining under the door of the nursery. She gently pushed the door open, careful not to make any noise for fear of disturbing her sleeping daughter. She needn’t have bothered because her child was wide awake; lying in her father’s arms, looking up at him with her large green eyes. Harry was rocking the chair back and forth talking to her, softly.

“….and that’s how your mum and I became best friends. Your mum is an amazing woman, little one. She’s smart, funny, and beautiful, oh she’s so beautiful, and she’s got a rebellious side. She loves breaking the rules really, no matter what she says. And I’ll tell you something else, sweetheart – you’ve got the best Mum any little girl could ever wish for.”

“And the best dad,” added Hermione. Harry jumped, slightly startled by his wife’s presence. “Hey,” she smiled and walked over to him.

“Hi. How long have you been there?”

“Not long. I woke up and noticed you weren’t there, I thought I’d find you in here.” She ran her hand through his hair and then brought her hand to rest on his shoulder. Harry looked up at her and then back to their daughter,

“I can’t tear myself away from her, she’s mesmerising,”

“She is, isn’t she? Y’know she still needs a name. We can’t keep calling her ‘little one’”

“I know. I’d been thinking about that actually. What do you think to Abi-Lea?”

“Abi-Lea? Well it’s different, unique even.”

“I think it suits her. Abi means ‘gives joy’ and Lea means ‘brings good news’. She definitely gives joy and she was good news, so…

Hermione smiled.

“I like it. Welcome to the world Abi-Lea Potter.”