Christmas 1999
Bill Weasley emerged from beneath the Christmas tree with two square packages in his arms. "These two are for Mum and Dad, from us."
"Ooh, give 'em here!" Mrs. Weasley squealed.
The family was in the midst of another Weasley Christmas, a veritable orgy of wrapping paper, food, and Celestina Warbeck songs. Bill and Fleur were sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace, and Mr. Weasley was next to them in a large armchair. Ginny was sitting on the other side of him with Teddy, wearing his new Weasley sweater, in her lap, while Harry and Andromeda helped him open his presents. Mrs. Weasley was sitting on the couch in between Ron and Hermione. Charlie and Percy were arguing about a new regulation on the international transportation of dragons, and Audrey was sitting on Percy's there side, looking apprehensively at the massive piles of torn wrapping paper that littered the floor. George and Angelina were making out on the stairs, near the empty chair that had been left out and draped with a new Weasley jumper with an F on the front. It still hurt to celebrate Christmas without Fred, but leaving a chair out for him helped the whole family to feel as though he was still there with them.
Bill passed one package to Mr. Weasley and handed the other one to his mother. She eagerly tore into the package. "Oh look, you've given us sweatshirts!"
"Go on, unfold it." Said Bill, who looked like he was trying not to laugh.
Mrs. Weasley unfolded the sweatshirt, read the words on the front, then screamed loud enough to be heard in France. "Are—are you—" She asked Fleur through the tears that were starting to stream down her face. Fleur nodded. Mrs. Weasley screamed again and hugged both Bill and Fleur very tightly.
"Wait, what's happening?" Said Ron. "Dad, what does yours say?"
Mr. Weasley, who was starting to cry too, proudly held up a sweatshirt emblazoned with the words, "World's Best Grandpa."
"They're having a baby!" Mrs. Weasley sobbed. "I thought that sweater looked tight on you!" She added to Fleur.
Then the whole family surged forward. Hugs and congratulations were given, and questions asked.
"When're you due?" Asked Charlie.
"Mid-May." Fleur replied.
"Do you know the gender yet?" Asked Ginny.
"We find out next week." Said Bill.
"Do you have any plans for a baby shower yet?" This was Hermione, who looked like she was already puzzling out the logistics of a baby shower.
"Good grief, Hermione, this baby's not coming until May! We haven't thought that far ahead yet." Bill replied.
"You should be thinking about it now! You don't know exactly when the baby's coming, in fact a certain percentage of babies come well before their due date and—" Ron stuffed a canary cream into Hermione's mouth to prevent her from spouting anymore pregnancy facts.
"I'm gonna be an uncle." He said, still looking shocked.
"Oh, I should give you everything I saved from when you were a baby." Said Mrs. Weasley, now wearing her new "World's Best Grandma" sweatshirt. "Oh, I can't believe my baby is having a baby!"
"Teddy, you'll have a little playmate." Said Harry, who now bouncing the toddler on his knees.
"Oh, that's right!" Said Ginny. "They'll be right about two years apart. What do you say to that, Teddy-Bear?"
Teddy squealed happily.
"I think he'll love having a new playmate." Andromeda smiled.
"They'll grow up together." Mrs. Weasley sobbed as she sat back down.
There were still other gifts to be opened, and other gifts given that year that were loved and cherished, but nothing quite so memorable. After all, this was more than just a sweatshirt or a new baby, it was a little piece of the future they'd fought for, died for, and was now theirs.