The Burrow Brunch
Disclaimer: Work is quickly turning into writing time for me (a.k.a. brainstorming desperately while I paint). Maybe this is leading to a good thing.
Chapter 1: Sunday at the Weasleys'
Teddy Lupin appeared in the fireplace, his grandmother already brushing soot off her sweater, and a basket of rolls was pushed into his hand by Molly Weasley.
"Oh, good, you're here," she said, harried. She kissed Teddy's and then Andromeda's cheeks, giving Teddy a gentle push in the back. "Take those outside, please, dear, you were almost late."
"Sorry, Molly, we were held up," Andromeda apologised. Teddy didn't hear any more, because he was out the back door and almost got plowed down by Rose Weasley and Albus Potter, his cousins in spirit if not by blood.
"Whoops, sorry, Teddy," they chorused, never breaking stride. Teddy's hair turned pink with love for this bunch as he took in the sight in front of him.
Victoire Weasley waved from between her mother and sister, at the end of an impossibly long table heavily laden with Grandma Molly's delicious food spread out by the pond. Victoire's family sat, as always, on the left end, with a seat left out for Teddy to join his girlfriend, which he immediately took, setting the rolls down in front of him. Next to them sat the Potters, Harry and Bill swapping work stories of the week. Ginny and Hermione Weasley sat opposite each other, gossiping, and Hermione's husband and kids followed. Luna Scamander and her family and Neville and Hannah Longbottom and their kids squeezed in next to them, always considered family. Next to Grandma and Grandpa Weasley, in the middle of the table, sat Andromeda and Percy Weasley, often engaged in serious conversation over their tea. His daughters amused his wife with stories of the trouble they had caused during the day with Fred and Roxanne, whose parents always saved a seat at the very end of the table for Charlie, who sometimes dropped by unannounced.
"Honestly, you'd think they would stop going on about the Keeper's boyfriend, just because he gave her a new broom and then dumped her, she still plays fine even though she chucked the broom, she's gotten over him," Ginny rattled on, shelling out some peas for Hermione.
"And so I took the gnome, and slipped it down Louis' pants!" Lucy recounted, to raucous laughter all around the end of the table.
"How did your grandmother feel about that?" Audrey Weasley asked, trying to look disapproving but smirking into her cup. Grandma Weasley did not hear, as she was hurrying down the lawn with a dish of mashed potatoes.
"Oh, don't tell me, the goblin jumped him," Harry moaned to Bill, putting his head in his hands. Bill nodded emphatically, a sad expression on his mangled features.
"I mean, there was no escaping it," he lamented. Fleur nodded grimly.
"Okay, everybody," Grandma Weasley called, clapping her hands. "Now that everyone's here, let's dig in!"
Crows of glee sounded all down the table. Talk became scarce as everyone started to eat. The first conversation to rise above the sounds of chewing was Rose Weasley.
"So, Dad," she turned to her left, "I was thinking. Could I invite one of my friends to next Sunday's Brunch?"
"I don't see why not," Ron said after swallowing an enormous bite of chicken. "You'll have to ask your grandma, though."
"Hey, Gran!" Rose called over her grandfather and Auntie Luna. "Can I have one of my friends over next Sunday?"
Mrs. Weasley looked pleasantly surprised. "Of course you can, Rosie."
"And could his parents maybe come too?"
"Certainly, dear," Grandma Weasley grinned. "Tuck in."
"He?" Ron repeated. "He? What he?"
"Ron," Hermione called. "What do you think of this new foul, this 'crashing' thing?"
"Oh, don't even get me started – "
Rose glanced at her mother over Ron, exchanging a grateful glance for the distraction.
Talvana and I have spent days at work crafting an intense headcanon for the Next Gen. You should check her stuff out. Just so's you know.