one

'WEASLEY!'

Oh boy. Angelina was MAD. Never good at the best of times, and when you've just accidentally set loose a jumbo-sized carton of bouncing spraggots, it's definitely not the sort of mood you want her in.

Ah well, he thought as a particularly persistent spraggot attempted to flee the charm now exerting from his wand. It could easily be either one of us. There are multiple Weasleys in the place.

'RONALD IF YOU DON'T GET OVER HERE THIS INSTANT –'

Bugger.

It was just after closing time that the raucous had started. Ron had been minding his own business packing up the unsold merchandise when somehow he had become sucked into the somewhat problematic situation concerning his nephew, Fred.

Ron had to admire the little guy. If he'd had Angelina as a mother…mind you, he had Molly Weasley, so he couldn't talk. Barely a year old, young Fred Weasley had taken after his namesake in his knack for trouble. Today, it was turning his father's wand into some kind of long, thin goo-shooting instrument and covering the already likely-to-explode shop in various splats of rancid neon-coloured goop.

Although Ron occupied the spare room to his brother George's apartment above Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, he did not enjoy the constant ordeal of being sucked into their lives for - most specifically - the more unpleasant tribulations. He was a twenty year old salesman for Christ's sake, not their babysitter. Yet, his role as the younger sibling had to come into play somewhere, and apparently, it was here.

'OI! GIT!'

It wasn't until Ron heard the thorough breaking of his brother's vocal chords that he decided he wouldn't be avoiding this most recent disaster. He sighed and levitated the now packed up box with a casual swish and flick, smiling grimly in defeat.

'Alright, alright, I'm here, I'm here!' Ron said as he dashed into the front section of the shop.

It was an entertaining sight – Ange looking positively wild, covered head to toe in goo, George steadily attempting to get Fred to give him back his wand.

'That's it son, give it to daddy, that's a good boy…'

Fred continued to chuckle with his toothy grin and wide eyes. Every time his father dived for the wand, he would jab at the ceiling with his grubby fist and more goo would ricochet out of it with a loud 'PHUT!'

Ron had to hand it to his brother and sister-in-law – they really never had things under control around here.

'Ah,' said Ron, carefully observing the situation. 'Usual procedure?' he questioned, eyes fixed on Fred's weapon.

'Let's do it,' Angelina agreed, teeth clenched. Ron's skeptically amused look made her hesitate before smiling at apparent ease.

'Oh, piss off' she said casually. 'Wait until you've got ten miniature Hermione replicas who you don't understand half the vocabulary of.'

Ron hesitated as the usual lump in his throat proceeded to throb painfully. He quickly tried for a recovery, and to his surprise was able to manage, 'Yeah, yeah. Let's get this over with.'

*****

An hour and several charms and transfigurative spells later, one including George being accidentally turned into a parrot, Fred had fallen sound asleep in Angelina's arms, and she too had drifted off at the mere sight of his exhaustion. The slight frown that framed her sleeping face couldn't amount for the obvious affection she had for her troublesome son.

George was sitting at the counter adding up the day's profits. He paused on a scribbled sum, trying to make it out. Immersed in calculations he almost didn't hear Ron re-enter the room after finishing up in the back room. When he looked up to take a sip of his coffee, however, he saw Ron's loving expression on his wife and son and couldn't help but smile.

'I could just stare at them all day' George said suddenly, making Ron jump.

'Couldn't give me a warning next time, could you?' Ron asked sardonically.

'Hey, there are no warnings in this house Ronald. Otherwise life would be no fun, and that would be no life at all.' George reeled off wisely, back to his accounts.

Ron shook his head, unable to hide a smile. His brother was certainly making the most out of life at the moment.

'Anyway,' George continued brightly, 'it's Friday night; you got any plans?'

'Hermione should be here soon.' Ron replied distractedly. 'Actually,' he continued to his own surprise, 'I'm a little worried, she's normally earlier than this.'

George marveled at his brother's new ability to express his worries. Hermione sure had changed him.

'She'll probably just be saving the world or something,' he reassured him.

'Probably,' Ron replied with distinct pride. His girlfriend had a knack for doing that on a daily basis. He noticed George's slight cynicism and realized he was picking up on Hermione's controlling attitude. Her constant encouragement that he should 'show his feelings' and 'not be afraid of her'; well, he mumbled about it in front of her but everyone knew that Hermione could probably get him to agree to anything she wanted. Ron didn't mind that she 'wore the pants' in the relationship – it was probably for the best. He'd probably pick out the wrong size pants, or put them on backwards. She was simply a safer bet.

'Hope you don't mind, Ange and I were hoping you might babysit for us tomorrow night. We need –' said George as he shook dried fluorescent green goo out of his hair, '- a bit of a break.'

'Uhh, me?' Ron reconfirmed shiftily. He couldn't think of a worse person to take care of Fred. The image of exploding buildings flashed vaguely across his mind.

'Yeah. Oh come on, you're better with him than you think you know.'

Ron snorted disbelievingly. It was one thing for people to judge Hermione's control over him; that he could take, but his non-existent fathering abilities? How many more people would be on his back about how useless he was?

'What about the 'rents?'

'Other plans' Fred said, eyeing Ron over the coffee he was now stirring with his returned wand.

'Bill and Fleur?' he said hopefully.

'They're still away in Bulgaria, remember?' Fred reminded him '-And before you can butt in again…I want you to do it, okay? You're good with him, Ron.'

Ron just looked blank.

'I'm serious,' said George, raising his eyebrows in a Dumbledore-like manner. Ron was genuinely surprised.

'Come on George, I'm lousy with kids,' Ron complained, a sinking feeling developing as he said it.

He knew that Ange's previous comment had been a harmless enough jab, but he couldn't help but be in full belief of her words. He'd never had any practice with kids, being the second youngest of seven siblings and not exactly spending his afternoons at a youth centre.

Hungarian Horntail anyday, he thought. Just don't expect me to be the one taking care of its orphaned babies.

'It just takes practise' George said softly, eyes intently observing Ron in a paternal fashion.

Ron didn't reply. Fred wriggled even closer into his mother's arms, making the couple into an even more perfect picture. George sighed and gazed happily over at them.

'It's the best feeling in the world, seeing them like that' he said quietly. 'Not saying it isn't ten handfuls in itself though,' he admitted with a chuckle. 'But it makes her happy,' he added firmly.

Although Ron remained silent there was something in his brother's words that he couldn't ignore. How happy it made Angelina. However discomfited he felt by the prospect of having a child, something in him couldn't resist the idea of making someone he loved happy. Even the idea of the responsibility seemed inviting.

Ron shook himself to try and see some sense. He must have gone completely mad. He was actually thinking about having kids?! He and Hermione weren't even engaged! George couldn't be considering encouraging him to think about it when he had no incentive. So it must just be George trying to make him feel more comfortable with himself. Yes, that must be it.

Ron patted George understandingly on the back. One thing was for sure, he admired his brother like hell after all he'd been through, and seeing him so happy was enough to elate Ron himself.

The sound of recorded comic evil laughter announced the entry of someone into the shop, at which point Angelina shunted awake and almost dropped the sleeping Fred.

'Sorry, did I wake you?' Hermione asked guiltily as she entered. She was wearing smart, office-like robes and had her hair tied in a tight bun. Her face was drained and her eyes tired.

'Don't worry about it girl, I need to be getting him upstairs anyway,' Ange replied, obviously picking up on Hermione's exhaustion.

'I should get up there too' George announced from the desk. 'Sorry I can't stay and chat, Hermione' he said.

'It's alright you two, I understand,' said Hermione soothingly, catching Ron's eye but then looking away quickly. 'Have a good night. We'll catch up soon.'

Ange rose steadily from the chair and charmed Fred on to some kind of invisible stretcher. She waved goodnight to Ron and Hermione and yawned widely as she left the room, Fred drifting behind her in her wake. Ron watched Fred float steadily away, feeling Hermione's gaze on him as he did. George came up at the rear, winking at Ron as he left.

As soon as turned around any dread and anxiety he had simply drained out of him. Her smile was enough to make everything just disappear for awhile.

'God, am I glad to see you,' he said distractedly, his whole body collapsing into comfort as he approached her. They immediately locked themselves in an embrace, Ron's eyes closing due to her intoxicating smell and their noses gently making contact.

It was incredible that after three years of dating they were still completely irresistible to each other. The strength of their mutual affection was unmistakable and yet they had managed to maintain the embarrassment of their feelings they had developed as teenagers. He knew that survival was virtually impossible without her, something he thought with a grimace, had been annoying obvious since they were 11 years old. Either way he was determined to be the one she would depend on after he had been dependant on her for so long.

'Have you had a good day?' Ron asked her as he gazed at her perfect complexion.

'Yeah, it was exhausting, but I like it that way' she said, pulling out the million accessories her mane of hair held.

He couldn't help but notice the heavier than usual pressure she was forcing into his strong frame.

'Are you sure you feel like going tonight?' he asked, absent-mindedly stroking her thick curls.

'Oh yes, of course' she replied a little more spritedly. 'I'll perk up in a minute. Just hold me a little longer.'

'Gladly' He said happily. They were interrupted a moment later by Hermione pulling out her wand and muttering a small incantation.

'What's that for?' Ron asked, miffed that their intimacy had now been stopped, most likely for some spark of genius.

'Charm to keep me awake.' she explained hurriedly. Now they were no longer interlocked, his hands felt awkward; he immediately ran them through his hair to find them sticky, and completely covered in green goo.

'What exactly have you been up to, eh Ronald?' Hermione asked, half laughing, half bemused.

'Fred, of course' He grimaced initially but found he couldn't help a beam from stretching across his face as he thought of the previous events of the evening.

'He's a rascal. Gorgeous little troublemaker, that one.'

'Easy for you to say, you weren't here when he turned us into the animal kingdom.'

Hermione managed to look affectionately skeptical.

'Okay, well, it was only George, but still,' he insisted. 'Big kafuffle it was.'

Hermione laughed. 'What's the time? We probably should get going; we're always at least a few minutes late arriving everywhere.'

'Makes us quirky' said Ron, recalling his earlier conversation with his brother.

'Even so, I don't want to be late.' She said, grabbing her bag and moving quickly to the door. Ron was stationary, still thinking about what George had said.

'Come on you,' Hermione urged, taking his hand, and they left the shop. It only took the touch of the love of his life for Ron to realise that life could probably not get any better than this.