A Normal Day in Life

Faint yellow light streamed through the gap in the beige curtains, falling over Daphne’s golden hair, which fluttered over her cheek, her chest rising and falling slowly. She shifted, tugging the blanket higher, and nestled her face into the white pillow.

A smile curved on Harry’s lips, and he pushed the strands of golden hair away from her face, and Daphne shifted, her eyes still closed. Harry felt a warm surge through his chest as he ran a finger down her arm, and she curled amongst the blankets.

The quiet sound of a buzz drew his attention, and he turned to his wand, swiping it up, his smile widening.

“Looks like the little one’s awake,” he whispered, untangling himself from the bedsheets and slipped out of the bed, pulling the curtains close on his way out of the door.

Opposite to them, a pink door stood, slightly ajar, soft coos, and giggles coming from within. Harry pushed it open and caught the sight of wide emerald eyes lighting up.

“Pa-pa!” Fawkes the phoenix was dropped in the crib as the baby pulled herself up in the crib, a wide toothless grin on her face. “Pa-pa!”

“I’m here, baby girl.” Harry scooped her up in his arms and swung her around, her delighted giggles echoing through the room. “Who’s the happy little girl? Yes, you are, Lily.”

A bright gleam of joy lit up in her eyes as she grabbed onto Harry’s hair and tugged at it.

“Ow, ow.” Harry winced, easing his hair out of her grip. “I’m not your Mumma with all that long hair that you can pull.”

“Well, she takes after her father in that department,” a voice said in his ear, and an arm slipped around his waist. “Good morning, Lily.”

Lily waved her little arms, and Harry tilted her toward Daphne. She grabbed the long golden hair into her chubby fists and chomped on them, staying in Harry’s arms.

“She has your tendency for bright, golden things, Mr. Potter.” Daphne laughed, taking the toddler in her arms.

Lily wailed, tugging at Daphne's hair and squirming until she handed her back to Harry. Lily quietened, chomping silently on Daphne's hair, which was still clutched in her fist, looking up at them with wide emerald eyes.

"See, I told you she loves me more." Harry grinned, lifting Lily higher. "Who's Papa's best girl? Yes, you are!"

Lily gurgled happily, clapping her fists, Daphne's hair still clenched between her wet fingers. 

“Why doesn’t Papa give a bath to his best girl then?” Daphne eased Lily’s fists open and pried her hair out. “I will prepare breakfast.”

Harry bounced Lily in his arms. “We are going to have a lot of fun, Lils, aren’t we? Yes, we are.”

She giggled and squealed as Harry lifted her above his hair and zoomed through the room, through the door of the bathroom. She giggled as the bunny-nightdress opened and danced away with a wave of Harry’s wand, and he tugged away the tiny, plush brown pajama.

Harry filled the small tub with warm water and soap before sending enchanted bubbles floating lazily into the air. Lily’s eyes widened with wonder as she tried to grab them, her pudgy fingers closing on nothing but air.

"Merlin, you like your baths. Hermione tells me that Rose doesn’t." Harry lowered her into the shallow water and, she let out a delighted squeal, splashing wildly and drenching his shirt.

"Oi! I didn’t sign up for this part!" Harry laughed, shielding himself from the assault of tiny waves. 

Lily gave him a cheeky, gummy grin and splashed the water again.

Harry tapped the edge of the tub with his wand, making a flock of soap-bubble animals come to life—tiny ducks, dragons, and even a miniature hippogriff that flapped around the surface. Lily clapped her hands, sending the bubbles scattering.

As Lily played, he gently lathered her blonde hair, working in lavender-scented foam. Lily wriggled but stayed mostly still, eyes tracking the swirling soap creatures around her.

“Harry, eggs and toast?” Daphne peeked in from the ajar bathroom door, smiling at Lily as she gurgled happily. 

“Works for me.” Water trickled down his face as Lily splashed again. “Lily has more demands, though, it seems.”

Lily babbled a reply of her own, waving her arms enthusiastically, splashing Harry again in the process.

“Alright, bath time’s over for you.” Harry cleaned away the soap and pulled her from the bath and wrapped her in a soft, fluffy towel.

Lily beamed as he laid her on the table and patted her dry, her little feet kicking gleefully against his stomach. He carried her back to the bedroom to find some clothes, balancing her easily on one hip. She tugged at his glasses, fascinated by the way they wobbled on his nose.

“Why do babies like my glasses?" Harry muttered. “Others like the scar, and babies like the glasses.”

Lily giggled, pulling his glasses askew. He wrestled her into a yellow sundress and pulled yellow striped socks onto her feet as she kicked her legs. “Now, don’t kick them off or Mumma would be cross with both of us.”

Harry gathered her in his arms, and she cooed happily, patting his cheek. 

“Thank you. Yes, it’s a job well done.”

With the toddler settled on his hip, Harry headed toward the kitchen, where the smell of freshly brewed coffee and scrambled eggs filled the air. Daphne stood at the stove, humming softly, her hair pinned up to avoid any more unexpected chomps.

“Here we are!” Harry announced, bouncing Lily gently as she reached for her mother with grabby hands.

Daphne smiled, setting plates on the table. She leaned over to kiss both Harry and Lily on the forehead. “Settle her in. I’ll get her mashed bananas.”

Harry lowered Lily into her highchair, placing Fawkes the plush phoenix in front of her. She squealed with delight, happily smushing the toy’s fabric beak into her mouth.

“That’s not what you are to eat, baby girl. There’s food.”

Daphne placed a pink bowl in front of her with a pink spoon, and Lily beamed, putting Fawkes on her lap, and took the spoon from her mother, jabbing it into her bowl of mashed bananas, and flinging a spoonful onto Harry’s tea.

“Lily, I do not like bananas in my tea,” Harry said as Daphne laughed. Lily giggled and flung another spoonful at her mother’s dress.

“Harry, your daughter is making a mess.” Daphne complained.

“Oh, she’s my daughter when she’s making a mess and yours when she’s being all cute?”

“Yes. She got the messy part from you, clearly.” 

Lily threw the spoon across the table and buried a fist in her bowl, grabbing a fistful of mashed bananas and smearing it gleefully across her face. 

Daphne and Harry shared a look. It was just another day.

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AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the story! 

A huge thanks to Mughil and Nanu for betaing the chapter! 

Damn, it has been a while since this was voted for, but in my defense, between Black Dawn, exams, my health taking a hit, and a crisis or two, I forgot about this for a while. And I also realized that pre-deciding stuff may not be the best idea, especially for independent stories. So, we'll be back to fandom polls, from up here ahead. 

Speaking of stuff, I just got my laptop back from repair, so, yay! It means that, muse willing, the update schedule will not be hindered, and we'll get the updates as they've been planned. [For those who don't know, my laptop unexpectedly stopped charging, and I had to drop it at the service center for repairs on the weekend, a day or so after I published the GotSIS chapters.] 

I am currently completing the last chapter of Agent Potter and have the next chapter of LoSP planned in my head, which I'll begin writing soon. It'll be followed by Black Dawn's fifth chapter (to be published on Halloween, with the 1st chapter going on FFN and AO3.)

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66