Harry woke up from a baby's cry. He opened his eyes and saw a wonderful sight. Hermione was rocking Arabella in her arms and smiling down at her. She kissed her nose and noticed Harry moving beside her. She looked at him and said, "Good morning."
"'Morning," he said back groggily, but smiling nevertheless. "What time is it?"
Hermione looked at the clock on the wall. "Almost six in the morning. She woke me up about thirty minutes ago. I'm surprised you didn't hear her. She has to eat every three hours."
"Yes, Mr. Potter, so why don't you give Miss Granger some privacy so your daughter can eat," Madame Pomfrey said. Harry noticed for the first time she was there.
He nodded tiredly and made to get up. "Actually, Harry, you can stay. You look tired. Why don't you just lay on one of the beds and face away from me so that you won't look and I won't know you're peeking," Hermione said with a smile.
Harry smiled back, chuckling a bit. He nodded and went to the next bed to lie down. He, however, did not fall asleep. He heard Hermione's shirt being pulled up and began to hear a beautiful sound. Arabella began suckling on her mother's breast. He smiled, wishing he could watch the miracle. But he had to respect Hermione's privacy. So he did.
"She's hungry," he heard Hermione say chuckling.
"Yeah," the medi-witch said back."Hungry little thing."
After a while, Arabella was done eating and Hermione pulled her shirt down. Madame Pomfrey reached for the baby. "Here, I'll put a diaper on her for you."
Hermione handed her over reluctantly. "Thanks." The baby girl started to get a little fussy because she left her mother's arms. A tear leaked out of the new mother's eye as her daughter was searching for her. She watched as the medi-witch put a diaper on her and close the tiny onesie shut. It was a small onesie that Madame Pomfrey had transfigured out of old linen. It was pink to represent the sex of the baby.
Harry turned over on his other side, facing Hermione. She turned her head to look at him. "You done?" he asked. She nodded and he made his way over to hold her as she cried. "What's wrong?" He ran his hand through her hair soothingly.
"I don't know I just can't stop crying," she replied burying her face in his shirt and wetting his shoulder. He just held her. "It's okay. Shh. You're both fine."
"It's perfectly natural," Madame Pomfrey interceded bringing Arabella back to her parents. Hermione reached for her and held her to her chest, keeping her warm from the cold December air. "With all your hormones, it's perfectly normal. Plus, you're tired." Hermione nodded.
"I'm fine. I can't sleep anyway. I'll wait for her to fall asleep," she protested.
"Are you sure?" the nurse asked.
Hermione nodded, still gazing at Arabella, who was looking up at the stone ceiling. Harry watched as Madame Pomfrey stalked away.
"What ya looking at, angel?" he heard Hermione ask. Arabella's eyes shot toward her as she spoke. "We're in the Hospital Wing in Hogwarts. It's where you were born. I think you need to rest now, baby girl. It's time to rest." She began to hum a sweet tune, one Harry had never heard before, but immediately fell in love with. They watched once again her yawn and make that stinking cute yawning sound. Her eyes closed to the lovely lullaby her mother was humming and drifted off into a dreamland.
Hermione looked at Harry. "Did you get in touch with my parents?"
"Well, I ran into Remus outside while you breastfed her for the first time. He said he was going to tell them and get them over here," he answered watching his daughter fidget a few times.
"I hope they come soon," she said offhandedly. "They need to see their granddaughter and how beautiful she is."
Harry smiled and nodded. "What did they do with Malfoy and the others?" she asked.
"Remus told me that whoever crucioed you was going to Azkaban-" she cut him off.
"Goyle," she answered.
"He's going to Azkaban. And then along with him and the others are going to be expelled for kidnapping and harming another student and an unborn child," he told her.
She nodded and gave a slight smile, happy that they were leaving this school and wouldn't be around her or her child.
Harry looked down, sadly. "What's wrong?"
"I failed you and Arabella," he said simply.
"What?"
"Remember about seven months ago, when you first told me about the baby and I promised you I would not let anyone hurt you or the baby?" he asked solemnly.
She nodded.
"I failed you two. I broke my promise." He looked somewhere else other than the two of them. Hermione softly put her hand on his other cheek and turned his face to make him look at her.
"Hey, it's okay. We're fine."
"All thanks to Arabella. If she and I couldn't speak to each other through our minds, I don't know what would've happened. You could've been in the hands of Voldemort," he said sadly as a tear rolled down his cheek.
"Harry, I'm not going to say you're wrong, because you're not. But I'm not going to say you're right either. The important thing right now is that we're safe. Arabella's fine and healthy, I'm fine and healthy, you're fine and healthy. And you're with us. Right now. I wouldn't have it any other way," she smiled wiping a tear away from his cheek, his eyes closing at the soft and tender contact.
He nodded and said, "Well, from now on, I promise to keep both of you safe from harm. I think the worst is gone. Malfoy and his goons are expelled and Voldemort can't get into Hogwarts. I think we'll be fine for a while. Let's just enjoy Christmas."
She nodded agreeing.
The Grangers came to see them later that day with Remus and Tonks. Today was the day all of the students were going home for the Christmas holidays. Harry, Hermione, and Arabella, however, were supposed to stay for a few days for surveillance under Madame Pomfrey and see how she was holding up.
Charlotte Granger nearly cried when she saw her granddaughter for the first time. "Oh, my God!" Jacob had to hold her upright to make sure she would faint. They all laughed though at her reaction. Jacob was almost the same way, but not nearly as worse as his wife.
"She's beautiful, kids!" he exclaimed.
Charlotte kissed each of their foreheads and then asked Hermione if she could hold her. She nodded and passed her over to her mother. Arabella was wide awake and gazing up at the Granger matriarch. When she saw her eyes, she grinned, "Harry, she's got your eyes!"
He and Hermione nodded, knowingly. "Oh, and Hermione's hair! Grammy could just eat you up!" They all stared at her. She looked at them. "I won't!" And they laughed.
They were called "Grammy" and "Gramps" for Arabella. Harry smiled at his new family. His new daughter and the love of his life, who did not know this information. He was proud that he had a family to call his own now.
Harry was taught to put a diaper on Arabella properly. It took a few times, but he eventually got it. Hermione could not stop snickering next to him. He would mock-glare at her. Arabella would play tricks on him. She would kick and kick and kick, making it hard for him to do it. He didn't get frustrated, not one bit. He'd laugh along right with the mother of his child.
After a few days in the Hospital Wing, they were escorted to Hogsmeade to apparate to an alley by Grimmauld Place. However, when they arrived, it was not Grimmauld Place.
It was a quaint little town, with snow everywhere on the ground and on the roofs of houses. There were picket fences at almost every house. Harry and Hermione could tell that if it were spring, there would beautiful and magnificent gardens of all colors in the yards. There was a cute, little, stone church that was on one side of the street. Next to it was a cemetery, surrounded by a black gate.
"Where are we?" Hermione asked Remus confused. She noticed that the only ones who did look confused were herself and Harry.
"You'll see," he said and he continued to lead them down the street.
Arabella started to get fussy as the nip in the air caught to her. Hermione held her tighter to her chest, warming her. "Remus, are we almost there? Arabella's freezing!"
"We're almost there, don't worry," he assured her. Harry went to Hermione and took his daughter from her as he was warmer. She calmed down a little bit and snuggled into Harry's embrace. Hermione smiled at father and daughter. They were so cute together. Harry was sensitive, but tough, and to see him hold a baby was the most precious thing she'd ever seen. He was completely at ease.
They arrived at a black wrought-ironed gate that had a golden "P" on it. Through it was a sight. It was a beautiful, stone manor, with a few vines crawling up the sides. There were about four stories that completed the manor, with one tower on the right side. There was a big oak tree in the front yard, with a swing hanging from one of the limbs. There was a fountain right in front of the manor, with a lion in the middle and water coming out of its mouth.
"Welcome to Potter Manor," Remus told Tonks, the Grangers, Harry, Hermione, and Arabella.
Harry and Hermione looked at him as if he were crazy. "What?!"
"Welcome to your new home, you three." He pushed open the gate and led them through. They all walked down the path, around the lion fountain, and to the front door. On the big, oak doors was each a lion door knocker. Remus opened the door and let them through into their new home.
The two teens gasped at the wonderful sight of the interior. The floors were white stone; there were two white stone staircases that wound to a balcony that overlooked the entrance. Under the stairs led to the basement. Over their heads was a chandelier made of crystal that sparkled when the light hit it. On the walls were paintings of what they assumed to be Harry's ancestors and family members.
To the right was the sitting room. A fire was roaring, making the room glow. All of the furniture in the room was red and stuffy. One couch was in the middle of the room, facing the fire. A loveseat was perpendicular to it. Two armchairs were across from the loveseat. Over the mantelpiece was a fifty-six inch flat screen TV. Since Hermione was a muggleborn, they thought they would put in a few muggle touches, help from the Grangers, of course.
To the left of the entrance was the dining room. The dining table was a long, oak table that fit about eighteen people. There was a high chair at the corner of the table all ready for when Arabella was a little older.
They went upstairs and looked at all of the rooms. The nursery was the best room to both parents. It had pink walls. There was a white set of French doors that led to a balcony. They would have to lock it and charm it for when she started to crawl and stand up by herself, so she wouldn't accidentally go outside. A baby-changing station was to one wall as a toy trunk was on the opposite. Next to the toy trunk was a white rocking chair for Hermione to sit in and lull her daughter to sleep. In a dresser were already some baby clothes for her. There weren't that many but Hermione was going to go shopping after Christmas and get her more clothes.
A white, circular crib was set in the middle on a pink carpet. It was silhouetted with a white curtain. There were some stuffed animals a window seat. Hermione's favorite was the white bookcase that extended to the ceiling. There were already so many books on it of all ages. Her favorite book was even on there. Alice in Wonderland.
She loved that book. It let her escape to another world for a little while. She was glad she could read it to her daughter now.
In Hermione's room, there was a bassinet by the bed for Arabella while she was still a newborn. Harry had an identical one in his room, as well. They laid her down in the one in Hermione's room as she was beginning to fall sleep. Each parent kissed her head and Hermione turned on the baby monitor, taking its twin to listen if she should stir and following the rest out of the room.
They continued through the rest of the house. There was a big playroom for Arabella not far from her nursery; and another bedroom for her for when she got older. Hermione's second to favorite room, behind the nursery, was the library. It was actually the tower they had seen earlier, or the upper half of the tower. The lower half of it was the house elf quarters. Hermione didn't want house elves, but she knew she and Harry would need help when they were over here and could not count on Remus and Tonks most of the time.
The library was two stories tall and had, what Harry thought, every book imaginable. Of course, this was false, as it didn't have nearly as many as every book imaginable. Hermione thought she was in heaven. She'd spend a lot of time in here.
The master bedroom was wonderful. The bed was made and looked like nobody had slept in it. They didn't change anything in that room, just made the bed. There were pictures scattered on dressers, vanities, and bedside tables of various people, including Lily and James Potter and baby Harry.
Once the tour was finished, they all went down to the sitting room to talk. Harry and Hermione sat on the loveseat, the Grangers on the couch, and Remus and Tonks in the two armchairs.
"Who did this?" Harry asked with a dreamy smile.
"We all did," Charlotte answered smiling back. "It's your Christmas present from us all, in fact."
Hermione was crying happy tears. She stood and hugged everyone. Harry followed suit. They were happy they had a home now.
"Oh, yeah, you have two house elves," Remus said after a moment. "Kit! Torry!" he called. In front of them popped two house elves. One was a male, they concurred because the other had longer eyelashes. Both were wearing clothes, however. They both turned to the teens and bowed.
"This is Kit, he's good with cooking and cleaning. And Torry can help with the baby."
Hermione opened up her mouth to say something, but Tonks beat her to it. "We pay them a great wage every week. And they're happy."
Hermione smiled and nodded. The two house elves turned to the two teens and bowed. "We are honored to serve you, Master Harry and Mistress Hermione. We haven't had a Master or Mistress since Master James and Mistress Lily," Kit said.
Harry's ears perked up at his parents' names. "You served my parents?"
"Yes, Master Harry, sir, best Masters we've ever had," he replied.
That night was their first night in their new home. Hermione fed Arabella and put her to bed in Hermione's bassinet again. She had to get up several times in the night to feed her again. Harry often heard her cry and came in to help with anything. The new mother would cover her breast with a blanket so he couldn't see.
Christmas had come and gone and soon the New Year rolled in and it was time to go back to school. They were sad leaving their new home. Kit and Torry told them they were going to keep the house clean and in order while they were away.
They told the adults goodbye and embarked onto the train. Arabella was snoozing in an infant seat held by Harry. They found an empty compartment and settled themselves down comfortably. Harry gently took Arabella out of the seat and held her in his arms. He sat down next to Hermione, who kissed Arabella's head. She couldn't get enough of her. The baby Granger-Potter buried her cute, little, almost-bald head in her Daddy's neck, snuggling in close.
They heard a knock on the compartment door, sending them into déjà vu. However, instead of Malfoy, since he was expelled, it was two faces they were happy to see.
"Neville, Luna!" Hermione exclaimed quietly trying not to wake her daughter up. They smiled and waved quietly. Hermione stood and hugged them both.
"Can we sit here with you three?" Luna asked.
"Sure," she answered.
"She's so cute!" Luna cried looking at the baby.
"Yeah, but she's a little bit of a handful. No worries, though. We can deal with it," she said.
They received no more horrible plans from Dumbledore though, now that the baby was born. However, they still didn't trust him. Not one bit. Hermione still kept her daughter close to her at all times.
Taking care of the baby wasn't easy. Hermione was still being tutored by her professors. Harry insisted that he was to be tutored as well so that he could help with Arabella. If she was real fussy, Dobby would take care of her. They had to eat their meals in their Common Room and they couldn't see their two best friends. Homework took a while since Arabella had to eat around that time. They had a lot to do, but they never complained. Not one bit. Arabella was seeming to be a very well-behaved baby. She received a lot of attention from her parents, Dobby, and Mr. Neville, and Miss Luna.
Eventually, they deemed Remus and Tonks as her godparents. They were excited to be that important to their friends' baby's life. They were going to choose Neville and Luna, but they were too young. Luna was only fourteen. However, they did become "Uncle Neville" and "Aunt Luna". The pair's relationship was beginning to deepen. They had not been to that step yet and were not planning to until they got married. Neville had told Harry that he wanted to propose when Luna was graduating. He was going to wait for her and she was going to wait for him.
They had a wonderful and passionate love no one could describe. Everyone thought Luna was eccentric and Neville was a klutz. But to each other they were everything. Harry and Hermione both had found someone like that, but neither knew a thing.
On Valentine's Day, Harry and Hermione decided to do something special together. Not wanting to be away from their offspring, they had a candlelit dinner in the Common Room, like for Hermione's birthday, while Dobby watched Arabella.
Hermione could tell the little tyke was becoming a "Daddy's girl" already. She loved her mother as well, but she loved it when Harry would tickle her feet and she loved to snuggle up in his neck and take a nap. Arabella started to pick things up with her hands at about three months in March. It was small things like a sock or a small, pint-sized teddy bear. The parents would walk her around the school during the weekends. People would look at them, but would smile when they saw the baby girl. She was getting bigger every day it seemed like. They would take a picture of her every month and send it with an owl to her parents to see how big she was getting.
In April, the weather began to getting a little warmer and the family would go outside to be in the fresh air. Arabella was learning to sit up by herself now like a big girl. Hermione started to feed her formula now. She'd actually hold it up by herself and feed herself. They were amazed at this.
Harry was getting nightmares again. Visions. Visions of frightful and scary things that haunted him. Most of them weren't that bad. But then they began to be about his family. It would start where he, Hermione, and Arabella were sitting on the Hogwarts grounds having a picnic and then the sky started to get dark. Arabella pointed to the sky and they looked up and saw the Dark Mark. They had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, except in the Forest where there were dark creatures. Harry had grabbed them and shoved them into the Forest, telling Hermione to take Arabella and go. She, of course, told him no, but he told her to go and save Arabella. She had complied for her daughter but began to weep for him. Arabella was crying and her mother was trying to soothe her.
Harry was fighting five Death Eaters at once. But then he saw Voldemort go into the Forest after his best friend and child. He immediately ran after him. "Stupefy!" he had yelled. It hit him but had no effect on him whatsoever. It was like he didn't feel it.
He then tried to tackle him, but he fell right through him. He attempted everything, but he wouldn't stop going after them. He began to cry as he approached them. Hermione was huddled with Arabella in her arms. She had her face planted in her chest so that she couldn't see the horror that was about to come. Harry ran to cover them, but found he couldn't get anywhere near them.
"NO!" he bellowed as loud as he could. Voldemort drew his wand. Hermione turned her back to him to block Arabella and protect her as long as she could.
"Stand aside, silly Mudblood," he sneered. She didn't respond so he said, "Avada Kedavra!" A green jet of light shot from his wand and hit her in the back. She fell to the ground and Arabella started crying again. She started crying for her Mummy.
"NOOOOO!" Harry yelled again sobbing and trying to get to his daughter. Voldemort repeated, "Avada Kedavra!" and the cries stopped.
Harry woke up panting and yelling. "NOOOO!"
"Harry, Harry, its okay. You're fine. You're fine." Hermione was there at his bedside soothing him and calming him down.
He looked at her. "You're okay. You're okay," he reassured more of himself.
"What?" she asked confusedly.
"Nothing, bad dream," he replied. "Is Arabella okay?"
"Yeah, she's safe and in her crib. Don't worry, we're both fine." Harry nodded and said, "Okay, go back to bed. I'll be fine."
She asked him one last time, "Are you sure you're okay?"
He nodded and watched her leave. He was fine just as long as she and Arabella were fine. He fell back to sleep and had no dreams.
In May as school was drawing to a close, McGonagall sent a letter to Harry to see her in her office. He told Hermione where she was going and asked if she needed him to stay. She said no and played with her daughter a little. Arabella watched her Daddy leave the Common Room. She looked at her mother confused.
"Daddy's going to be back soon. Don't worry." She began tickling her, making her giggle and laugh from her gut, which became Hermione's favorite sound. She began to hum a tune, the same tune she hummed when she was born. Soon she began to sing it,
"Your baby blues
So full of wonder
Your curly cues
Your contagious smile
And as I watch
You start to grow up
All I can do is hold you tight
Knowing clouds will rage
And storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash around
But you will be safe in my arms
Storybooks full of fairy tales
Of kings and queens and the bluest skies
My heart is torn just in knowing
You'll someday see the truth from lies
Knowing clouds will rage
And storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash around
But you will be safe in my arms
Castles they might crumble
Dreams may not come true
But you are never all alone
Because I will always
Always love you
Clouds will rage
And storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash around
But you will be safe in my arms."
Arabella smiled at the wonderful lullaby her mother was singing. It was beginning to be her favorite song. Hermione needed to burn that song onto a CD for her in case they had to leave her at her grandparents' house for whatever reason so that she could listen to it when her mother wasn't around. "I love you, Arabella." She kissed her forehead tenderly. Arabella closed her eyes at her mother's gentle touch. Hermione leaned back onto the arm of the couch, pulling her daughter on top of her, lying on her stomach, fully content and at ease, waiting for Harry to get back.
Harry arrived at McGonagall's office and entered, wondering why she wanted to see him. When she saw him, she smiled and said, "Sit down. I have something to tell you." He did and awaited her response. She, however, decided to start off with small talk. "How is your daughter?"
"She's fine, ma'am. She's five months old almost," Harry answered with a smile.
"Oh, dear, already? It seems like just yesterday she was born," McGonagall said with a smile.
"Yes, ma'am, she's growing up fast," he chuckled.
The Headmistress became serious and solemn. "Harry, I need to tell you something. Professor Dumbledore has been keeping something from you. Very important and I think you should know what it is." She looked around on her desk and gave him a piece of parchment. "This is a prophecy and it had your name…and the Dark Lord's name on it."
'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…Born to those who thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while other survives…'
Harry finished reading it and became solemn. "We have to defeat each other. One has to die and the other has to live."
"Yes, that's what I believe it means," she said.
"What's 'the power he knows not'?" he asked her.
"I do not know. I'm sure you'll find out in time, though, Mr. Potter. I just wanted to let you know I had found this," she said.
He looked at her and gave her a small smile. "Thank you, Professor." He stood up and left the office and headed back to Hermione and his Common Room, taking the parchment with him.
He couldn't believe it. He had to kill Voldemort. It was his Destiny. It was his Fate. Or the other way around and Voldemort was supposed to kill him.
He folded the prophecy up and put it in his pocket as he approached the portrait of Aphrodite. "Arabella," he said and she let him through. He walked in and smiled.
Hermione was sleeping on the couch with their daughter on her chest, sleeping as well. Every so often the baby would twitch and fidget in her slumber. He walked up to the sleeping mother and child. He ran his finger across his daughter's cheek, making her reach up and brush it. He chuckled a bit as the movement woke Hermione up.
"Harry?" she yawned. "What did McGonagall want?"
He knew he had to tell her. He didn't like keeping secrets anymore. But he didn't have to tell her now. He'd wait a few weeks until the summer started. "I'll tell you when school's over. You don't need to be worrying about this when O.W.L.s are coming up soon. Just don't worry about it. I promise I'll tell you."
She didn't want to let it go, but nodded nevertheless, knowing she was going to tell him when he was ready. She held her daughter tight as she sat up and turned to sit on the couch. Harry sat down next to her and said, "You don't have to get up. Here, lay down on my lap." She turned back around and laid her back on his lap, with Arabella still on her chest. Harry put a pillow behind her back to even out the level and make her more comfortable. The baby stirred a bit and turned her head the other way so that she was faced Harry. He smiled and rubbed her back gently.
"Fell asleep, did she?" he asked.
"Yeah, right after you left, I sang her a song and she dozed off," his best friend replied.
"You sang to her? What song?" he grinned.
"Yeah, it's called 'In My Arms'. It's the song I hummed when she was born."
"Oh, yeah, I liked that tune. Sing it for me," he grinned even brighter.
"No," she blushed but smiled. "Maybe tomorrow when we put her down for a nap again."
He nodded understandingly and ran his hands through her brown locks. She smiled up at him and sighed. With his other hand, he sneaked it to Arabella's little baby feet. He brushed his finger on the bottom of it and tickled it lightly. She began to kick a bit. He chuckled again.
"Harry!" Hermione scolded whispering. "Don't wake her up!"
"I'm not going to wake her up," he told her. "Don't worry."
"What time is it?" she asked herself looking at her watch. "Almost ten. We better put her in her in her crib." She stood up slowly and Harry followed her to the nursery. He walked to the magic turning lamp that glowed off butterflies and turned it on. It was Arabella's nightlight. Then he went kiss her on the cheek. Hermione gingerly kissed her as well and laid her down in the crib on her stomach. She covered her with the blanket on her back. Arabella began to stir and whimper a bit. "No, shh, go back to sleep, angel. Shh." She did and Harry wondered how she did it. How she could do it. She had the magical words of soothing. They left the room whispering, "goodnight, Arabella."
O.W.L.s came soon enough and Harry and Hermione had to get Dobby watch Arabella as they had to take the exams with the rest of the Fifth Years. They had to take the Defense Against the Dark Arts; however, they found it very easy, as Neville helped them with it. Both teens found the exams very easy.
Arabella was very happy to see her parents when they came back. She'd missed them very much. She giggled when she saw them. A spark of magic must have came out of her because the fireplace all of sudden roared to life. The two teens and Dobby looked in shock at her and the fire. Hermione grabbed her from inside the pack n' play, away from the fireplace. "Hey, Arabella, did you miss Mummy and Daddy while we were gone?" she asked. Arabella wrapped her arms around her mother's neck as tight as she could, laying her cheek on her shoulder, as if to say, "Don' t leave me again, Mummy, Daddy!"
"Obviously," Harry answered. "She must have given off her first magic spark." He whipped out his wand and murmured a spell that lessened the fire to a small flame that eventually went out.
"How was Harry Potter sir and Hermione's O.W.L.s?" Dobby asked them.
"They went pretty well," Hermione answered. "How was Arabella? Was she a good girl?"
Dobby sighed. "Well, she was a little upset when you left, but she eventually settled down once I gave her a few toys to play with."
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said summoning his coin bag to pay Dobby. The house elf saw what he was doing and said, "Oh, no, Harry Potter sir, no need. Dobby was happy to watch baby Arabella. Keep your money, Harry Potter sir."
"Are you sure, Dobby?" he asked unsure.
"Yes, Harry Potter sir, Mistress Headmistress pays Dobby big money every week. Dobby nots broke. I's insists."
Harry nodded and sighed. "Alright, then, Dobby. Thank you very much," he repeated. Hermione nodded agreeing.
"Dobby welcomes Harry Potter sir and Hermione for watching baby Arabella. Call on Dobby if you's need anything." They nodded and he disappeared.
Arabella still gripped her Mummy tight, still fearful of her leaving again. "It's okay, sweet angel, Mummy's not going to leave anytime soon. I promise."
"Hey, princess, did you miss Daddy?" Harry asked her, kissing her cheek making her giggle.
Very soon it was time to go home. They packed everything up in their trunks, took Arabella's toys and shrunk them and put them into their trunks. They boarded the train with Neville and Luna and entered a compartment.
They all sat down and conversed, mainly telling Luna about the O.W.L.s. She got to hold the baby and feed her some formula. "Mmmm, is that good, Arabella? Yum," Luna asked.
When they arrived back at Potter Manor, Harry wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist and looked down at their daughter, who was nestled in her mother's arms. "Well…welcome home," he said smiling.