His mother's bright green eyes were on him as Harry felt his face break into a huge childish grin, and he rushed towards his mother and new baby sister.

"Hi Mum," he said enthusiastically, falling into a chair besides the bed and then sitting up ramrod straight, legs jiggling with excitement. Rosa whimpered at the loud noise he had made, wriggling slightly in his mother's arms, and Harry quickly sat still. "Oops," he whispered, "sorry."

James chuckled and Lily smiled, carefully tucking a stray piece of blanket which had unravelled slightly, back under Rosa's chin, and they all held their breath to see if she would wake.

Her eyelids fluttered softly against her rosy cheeks, and her tiny snub nose scrunched up, before she let out an adorable little sigh and fell deeply to sleep.

She really is so cute, Harry thought, smiling at the small babies antics.

"Hey, sweetie," his mother said gently, reaching out with the hand not cradling Rosa to stroke his hair. "Meet Rosa, she's your little sister," her green eyes were shining, "and Harry's your big brother," she aimed the second part at the sleeping baby.

"What colour are her eyes?" He asked, careful to keep his voice quiet this time.

"Blue," Lily murmured, eyebrows furrowing, "Merlin knows where that came from, probably your Grandad, Harry."

"Can I hold her?" He asked eagerly, wanting to cuddle his tiny sister and touch the wispy tuft of red red. His mother nodded at him, smiling.

"First though, love," she nodded at the door, "go and get Sev, for some reason he's hovering outside."

"I'll go," James grinned, "I bet he's just being shy and he's going to come out with that 'I'm not your family Potter, I can't possibly see Rosa yet,' rubbish."

Lily rolled her eyes.

"Just go and get the idiot."

His father gave a mock salute and strode from the ward.

"Here Harry," she smiled at him affectionately, "put your arms like this," Harry hurried to copy his mother, "okay, here's Rosa."

The warm weight of his sister pressing against his chest, Harry gazed down at her in awe; he'd never seen anything so sweet, or tiny!

Her tiny little thumb moved out from between her lips at the movement, and her whole face screwed up in a massive yawn. She was so light, and so toasty; like a little furnace, Harry thought, smiling. He quickly tugged the blankets closer around her small frame as she stretched in his arms, they almost came loose, and slowly blinked her eyes open and stared up at him.

They were a brilliant, brilliant blue; brighter even than Dumbledore's, and framed by expressive, fine eyelashes. Her nose was a teeny ski slope in the centre of her face, and dotted with three small ginger freckles.

"Hi Rosa," Harry whispered in awe, "I'm Harry, I'm your big brother."

Rosa blinked up at him. Harry had a weird feeling that those bright blue eyes could see right into his soul.

She yawned again, showing a mouth filled with shiny pink gums, and then reached up with a small hand and patted his face.

Harry's face broke into a broad grin.

"That's my cheek," he told her; she stopped at the sound of his voice, "and that's my nose," he giggled as she stuck a weeny finger up one of his nostrils. Blue eyes stared at him, studying him, as he spoke, and then her mouth opened wide, like she was trying to smile. A little fist closed around his glasses.

"And they're my glasses," Harry laughed. She froze at the sound of his laughter, before waving little fists up and down, mouth open wide as she gurgled back at him.

"Is she laughing?" Harry asked, amazed.

"Yes, she is, champ," Harry almost jumped at his father's voice behind him, but managed to stay still for Rosa. He looked round at his Dad, who had a proud smile on his face.

"She likes you, Hare-bear," Lily smiled at him; Harry's heart swelled with affection for his tiny sister.

"Of course," he said cheekily, "who wouldn't?"

"Modest as usual," a voice said dryly from his other side.

"Hey Uncle Sev, look at Rosa!"

"I know love, she's precious," Severus agreed, his dark eyes soft as he stared at the babies gurgling form.

James looked amused.

"Precious? Precious? Why, Sev, I didn't know you used words like precious," he winked, "admit it, Rosa's touched your heart." He poked Severus in the ribs.

"No," the Potion's Master said stiffly, "she's just very...sweet."

"Do you want to hold her Uncle Sev?" Harry asked, as Rosa patted his face again, seeming to want his attention.

"No, that's alright, love, give her back to your mum or dad," Severus told him, glancing at the parents who both wore gooey smiles.

"James, you can have her," Lily yawned, "I'm going to have a nap, I'm knackered."

"This is how it starts, Harry," James stage-whispered to him, "fed up with the baby already, give it to the father and let him deal with it when it screams and cries."

Lily glared at him.

"I've just given birth, how would you feel after giving birth?"

All the men flinched.

"Exactly," she nodded triumphantly, settling back on the pillows and closing her eyes, eyelashes fluttering shut on the darkened skin beneath her eyes. Harry looked at his father, who was watching his wife with love clear in his eyes, and offered out his arms.

"Ros-" Before he could get the word out a loud shriek emitted from the small baby as she was removed from the warmth of his chest, and little hands reached back for him.

"Maybe not, darling," James smiled, "it seems she's taken a shine to you." He kissed his son's forehead and smoothed his hair.

"Lily, James?" A familiar voice called from across the room, and Harry turned to see Ellie walking towards them, a beaming smile on her face. He didn't need to look at Snape to know that he would have turned red.

"Oh she's gorgeous," she cooed, reaching out a hand to gently stroke Rosa's cheek. Rosa turned her curious little face on the newcomer, and then snuggled back into Harry's chest.

"She certainly likes you, Harry," Ellie grinned, sharing a knowing look with James. James nodded, smiling.

"I can't stay long, I'm afraid, I'm needed down in another ward, but I just came up to congratulate you both and tell you that you can go home whenever you're ready," the dark haired witch explained, "oh and I brought this!" She fished out a small teddy from her Healer robes, soft with squishy eyes and a sewn on nose and smile, and handed it almost shyly to Rosa. Rosa took one look at the little soft thing and latched onto it, cuddling it into her button nose.

"Awwwwh, she really is sweet," Ellie's eyes were bright. She carefully leaned forwards and cautiously kissed Rosa's cheek. Rosa blinked at her, and then opened her mouth wide in a smile. Ellie laughed softly. "Bye bye, sweetie, I'll see you soon. Congratulations James, and tell Lily from me as well when she wakes up." She looked at Harry with a grin, "well done too, Harry, she certainly loves you, you're a natural with her," Harry blushed, "okay then, bye guys, it was great seeing you all again!"

"You too, Ell," James hugged the witch.

"Bye Ellie," Harry called.

Just as she was about to walk away, she paused.

"Bye Severus," nodding curtly, she beamed at the rest of them, and turned to leave.

"B, bye, um-er, Eller-I mean, um, er, Ellie," Snape stuttered, flushing a deep, tomato red.

The dark haired witch had already left.

Harry and James looked at him in amusement.

"Shut up," the Potion's Master grumbled.

"Didn't say a word," James winked. Harry snorted.

"You should invite her for dinner," he advised Severus. Rosa gurgled.

"No."

"Hermione said girls like being invited out on dates and stuff," he continued, "she said it might make her less mad at you-"

"-glad to hear you've been talking about my love life with all your friends, Harry," the dark haired wizard replied sarcastically.

"Yep," Harry's voice was bright, "only Hermione, Ron and Draco...oh, and maybe the Fred and George too, but only because they overheard."

Snape's face was rapidly colouring.

"You, you- what!? Does the word privacy mean anything to you Potter?" He snarled. James was bent over laughing.

"We're just offering you advice, Uncle Sev," Harry widened his eyes and blinked innocently.

"Don't even attempt that look," Severus said severely, "I'm going to be the laughing stock of the entire school!"

"Better than the bat of the dungeons," a need to be cheeky filled Harry. His father was practically rolling around on the floor.

"Watch it, imp," if looks could kill he'd be dead, "your dad can't always protect you."

"Are you threatening my son, Sev" James looked mock angry.

"Yes. He started it."

James rolled his eyes.

"He actually offered you some quite good advice, ask her out for dinner," he paused as the ward door swung open, admitting another pregnant witch in early stages of labour and, would luck have it, Ellie! "Quick, look! She's over there! Go, go go!" He pushed Severus in the direction of the southern end of the ward.

"No, Potter!" He hissed.

"For Merlin's sake, Sev!" James was exasperated. "If you don't ask her now we'll be the ones who have to deal with your moping, so just go!"

"I hate hospitals," he muttered, "they always end in you forcing me to ask someone out."

"Only one person," James winked, "now GO!"

"Fine."

Harry and James watched as Severus walked stiffly over to the bed on the far side of the room, walking as though he'd had a stick shoved up his...well, never mind.

Glancing down at Rosa, Harry saw she had fallen asleep.

"You're missing it," Harry whispered, "Uncle Sev might never ask anyone out again, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity." Rosa stayed fast asleep.

James looked at him and grinned.

"Don't worry, love, we'll tell her all about Sev's dating prowess when she's older."

From where they stood they couldn't hear what Severus was saying, but it seemed to be going well. Ellie hadn't shouted at him yet.

And they hadn't heard the word 'no'.

Promising.

The man headed back to them with a more springy stride, and colour high on his cheekbones. Ellie left the ward with a small smile on her face, Harry noted, smirking.

"So, how did it go?" They asked innocently.

"We're going to Obertelli's on Monday," he muttered, a grin breaking over his face.

"Yes Sev! I hate to say it but..."

"Don't you dare," he warned, "don't even-"

"I told you so," James winked.

Snape smacked him.

"You can't flirt with me anymore, Sev," he winked again, "you've got a date now. And definitely not in front of my kids," he gestured to Harry and Rosa.

Snape rolled his eyes.

"If Rosa turns out to be like you as well..." he raised his eyes to the heavens.

"Aww, Sev, thank you," James wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"That wasn't a compliment, Potter!" Exasperation coloured the man's voice.

"I'll take it as one."

"Whatever makes you happy, darling."

"Why thank you, sugar-bunny," James replied sweetly. Colour heated Severus's cheeks again.

"Never...call me that again."

"I think I'll tell Ellie you like being called sugar-bunny," James said thoughtfully.

Harry snorted.

"I'll kill you."

The eldest Potter rolled his eyes.

"Come on guys, let's go home."

"Lily's asleep," Snape pointed out.

"I've got her," James scooped his wife up into his arms, careful not to wake her, and kissed her forehead lightly. "If you and Ellie get married and have kids, then Rosa and them can be friends."

He sounded thrilled.

Snape rolled his eyes.

"Thinking too far ahead, Potter, too far ahead."