It was 2:31 pm on August 31st and the entire Weasley-Potter family were gathered together at The Burrow.
As per tradition, the family spent the night before the kids left for Hogwarts catching up. They talked about their holidays (Bill, Fleur, Dom, and Louis had gone to France, as always; Percy, Audrey, Molly, and Lucy had gone to visit their maternal-muggle-grandparents in Wales; and Ron, Hermione, Rose, and Hugo had traveled to India), as well as their jobs (Victoire, who had chosen to stay in England whilst the rest of her family visited France, had found a new job opportunity working as an editor for a new teen witch magazine: "Well, you know Vanessa, from school, she's now working as a photographer and she had a job for this new magazine. Anyway one day, we were going out for dinner and I met her at this shoot for the magazine, and well you know the deal; 'wow a Weasley', and so next thing I now I'm doing an interview with them, then I'm looking at their front cover, then I'm giving advice, and one thing led to another. So now I'm an editor."), and plans for the upcoming year (Teddy was finishing his Auror training; Molly, who had just graduated, was going to get a full-time job; Rose and Albus were promising to study hard for their O.W.L's, and James and Fred were discussing Quidditch tactics).
The mood was jovial. Full of laughter and voices that spoke over each other without worry. And why wouldn't it be, the children of the Weasley-Potter family, more commonly just referred to as just The Weasley's were the most enviable group. James had once said "everyone else either wants to be us, hate us, or date us", (Only 'date' wasn't the exact word he used), and it was true. All of them were popular, most of them were likeable. They all had a reputation.
First Teddy (though an honorary Weasley, everyone knows he's as part of the family as the rest of the bunch) he's punk rock, leather jackets, and electric blue hair (most of the time), but also a Hufflepuff, and head boy, he's great with kids, and falls madly in love. Next Victoire, she has obtained perfection, long blonde perfect hair, perfect grades, perfect behaviour, perfect life.
A year or so younger is Molly, she's books and knowledge, knowing all the correct punctuation, and O's in all important subjects (so basically, everything except divination). James Potter, the oldest of the kids (Teddy, Vic, and Molly aren't really considered kids), the star Gryffindor quidditch captain, master of mischief, flirting and using all his plethora of charm and confidence.
Then we meet the twins, Roxy and Fred. Both with dark skin and freckles, both with a slight disregard for stupid rules. Fred is all that he could be, pranks, quidditch commentary, and loud jokes yelled across the Gryffindor common room. Roxy, on the other hand, is head girl, prank vengeance, muggle expert and fanatic, first Weasley in Slytherin.
Then comes Dom, she's flaming red hair to match a temper, intense sessions of truth or dare, a daring smile and eyes that linger just a second longer, gorgeous as hell.
Louis is a party boy, popular and hungover, everyone loves him. Lucy is the bitch, straightened hair, and cold smooth smiles, fashion always top of the game, don't cross this one.
A year below is Rose. She has her mother's love for books, but Rose is all about competition. She's a winner on the Gryffindor quidditch team. And, she'll beat you in every test.
After Rose is Albus, one of the quieter of the lot. Some would say he doesn't like his family, that because he's a Slytherin he's a disappointment. But he's clumsy and sarcastic, will swear in every other sentence. Though not in front of an adult, that's just disrespectful.
Hugo is a Hufflepuff, through and through. He'll stand up for what he believes in, and he'll beat you in chess in just three moves, and he's shy but passionate. To top them all off is Lily, Lily Luna Potter. The girl that laughs, the girl that can be found in a tree, staring at the clouds, the baby of the family. But be warned, the girl has spirit, she'll fight you without hesitation, no matter who you are.
And so the group continued, amongst laughter and talk, parents conversing with their nephews and nieces, stories being shared, and insults traded. All through the afternoon. It was when the famous Weasley clock struck five, that Gran (Molly), Ginny, Hermione, Fleur, Audrey, and Victoire declined the help of both Harry and Bill and began to cook dinner. It was only a few minutes later that Rose, Lily, and Eve came in too, knowing full well that they could obtain a lot of information if they just sat on the bench and kept a low profile, leaving the mothers to gossip.
"Oh it's honestly so embarrassing", Ginny peeled the potatoes "Just the other day, I remarked how Albus' eyes are so green and he goes 'as green as a fresh pickled toad', and it was all I could manage not to curse him into the next room. At least not while the kids were watching. For Merlin's sake, I was goddam eleven." Ginny laughed along with the other mothers (and Victoire), and Rose and Lily looked at each other. Rose shrugged, but Lily grew a smile of determination and made a mental note to ask her father about it.
It was almost eight o'clock by the time dinner was served. The children had set the table, and the men were preparing for the aftermath of cleaning they knew they were going to do. Still, they sat and they ate. They ate, and ate, and ate. Particularly James.
"Lucy, do you want any more potatoes"
"Oh um no thank you, Bill"
"What about you James?"
"Of course I would. So how was France Dom? Did Madeleine say anything about me?"
"You do realise you're related, right?"
Madeleine was the only daughter, and oldest child, of Fleur's sister Gabrielle.
"Only by marriage" James responded in the usual manner.
It was at this time that George coughed and stood up, along with his wife Angelina. Slowly but surely, the table quietened and he held everybody's attention.
"After much consideration and years of unhappiness, Angelina and I have decided ... uh, that it would be best for everybody if ... well what I mean to say is-"
"For heaven's sake, George just get on with the bloody thing already" Angelina started frustratedly at her husband.
"We... uh... we're getting a divorce!"
For the first time in years, maybe decades, The Burrow was truly silent. A moment passed in which there was no noise whatsoever. Until the scraping of a chair and the fading of footsteps as Roxy left the room.
A/N:
So basically just a massive thank you to everybody who reads this. It took a long long time for me to gather the confidence to publish this (I've been working on this for a year). I know that everyone, myself included, hate when people do this, but if you really enjoyed this, I would love the encouragement of likes and comments and all that stuff.
Anyway, a massive thank you from me and I hope you enjoy the rest and have a beautiful day.
- E P.S If you're really enamoured, you can follow my Tumblr:
blog/hpxnextgenx