Abby stared blankly at all the packages on the floor around her before looking back down at the bib in her hands, her fingers tracing over the words stitched across in bright pink: 

Accio Milk!

It was one of what seemed like hundreds of gifts from family, friends, and coworkers. 

Little stuffed snitches and broomsticks. Mobiles of magical creatures that were so lifelike, Abby could feel the warm heat of the dragon’s breath and hear the soft song of the phoenix. Harry had sworn there was a Thestral thrown into the mix, but she had no way of knowing whether he was pulling her leg or not until Hermione or Ron could prove otherwise. Bloody morbid if it was true, but that was wizards for you. 

“Abby!” came Harry’s greeting from downstairs. 

She snapped out of her thoughts as she heard him coming up the stairs. 

“Hey,” Harry said, taking in the sight before him. “Blimey, they really went all out, didn’t they?”

He gently kicked aside some packages before sitting down next to her and placing a kiss on the side of her head. 

“Hmm,” Abby replied, leaning into him and feeling the knot in her stomach ease as he wrapped an arm around her. 

The sound of his laugh made her lift her head up, and she saw him looking at the bib in her hands. 

“Cute,” Harry said, taking it from her. “I stopped George from getting an Accio Nipples one when Lily was born. Seems he’s learnt his lesson.”

Abby gave him a weak smile that caused a frown to appear on Harry’s face at once. 

“What’s wrong?”

She shook her head and made a show of folding the bib carefully back into the package, but Harry put a hand on her arm to stop her. 

“Abby,” he said simply. 

She licked her lips and avoided his eyes. “They all just assume, don’t they?” she said quietly. 

“Assume what?”

Abby looked up at him and shrugged. “That she’ll have magic.”

Harry’s lips parted. 

He seemed to struggle for a moment to form a proper response.

“It’s fine, I--I know that’s what everyone wants,” she said. “And I hope...”

She trailed off, an obnoxious lump forming in the back of her throat. 

“Hey,” Harry said, turning his entire body to face her. “The only reason people assume anything is because magic is a very strong gene. But even if it wasn’t, and even if this baby is born without magic, it doesn’t bloody matter. You know that, don’t you? Please tell me you know that.”

“I don’t know anything, Harry,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I wish I did. I wish I could tell you that I believe you. But I remember what it was like with Albus and--”

“That was different,” Harry said immediately. “God, Abby...”

He dropped his head in his hands and exhaled loudly. 

“What if she’s a muggle?” Abby said, a few tears escaping her eyes now. “What then?”

“Then I’ll love her like I love you!” Harry said loudly, his voice almost angry now. “How could you possibly believe otherwise? Do you really think so little of me?”

“No. No,” Abby said, feeling miserable now. “I just--”

And then she burst into tears. 

“I’m sorry,” she said as he brought her in for a tight embrace. “I’m sorry, I can’t help it. I can’t help these stupid, stupid thoughts.”

She pounded her fist against her head a bit roughly as she said this, but Harry grabbed it in his own before soothing the spot with his gentle hand. 

“It’ll be all right,” Harry said against her hair. “I promise. When she's born, you’re going to laugh at how silly this conversation was. You know why?”

“Why?” she said, her voice congested. 

“Because no other baby in this whole world will be so loved by so many people,” he said. “Most of all by me and you.”

Abby blinked her eyes shut, feeling the last of her tears escape through her lashes as she nodded silently. 

“Okay?” Harry said.