Prologue
Angel Garden
In a celestial garden, on the outskirts of the northern realm of angels, an unnamed angel was filling a small green watering can from a clear cold spring. When it was almost full to the top, she carefully carried it around the beautiful rows of flowers that were tended to by other angel gardeners. She did not stop here, these flowers were not her duty instead she climbed the small hill behind the spring. On the hill's plateau, a tiny plant was growing. There were ten small grey buds flowering, each one shaped like a snowdrop. It had beautiful flaming red leaves, that wound around the stalk and head protecting it from the winds that blew accross the hill. Water poured from the upturned can, showering the flowers and bathing its leaves. The aqua liquid seeped deep down into its roots, and the buds opened up a little bit more. The angel pulled out a little trowel from her pocket, and lovely upturned the dark ruby-enriched soil, pulling some weeds that had sprouted up since her last visit.
As the sun began to set, the tiny plant was framed in a terra cotta light. The angel entranced by the beautiful moment, softly started to sing. In that moment, the tallest flower opened up completely. The angel gasped partly at its beauty and at the hand that rested on her shoulder. The angel looked up to see the owner of the hand, Cathetel, the guardian of the garden.
"It's time", he said.
"I know", she whispered back.
"You have done well my daughter, this flower is strong and beautiful, she will be an asset to humankind." Cathetel handed the younger angel a pair of clippers. " Would you do the honours?"
The angel knelt beside the plant, her head bowed and hand clasped, she said the prayer and then cut the stem of tallest flower. "May I go, Cathtel? I would see this flower to its end."
"You may. Go child, the time is at hand."
The unnamed angel clutched the flower with her right hand over her heart, closed her eyes, her wings unfurled around her covering her entire body. She faded out of time and space.
The Burrow
It was late on a cold december night, Molly had an unusual moment of relaxation. Dishes were washing themselves, shirts were ironing and a mop was washing the floor. The fire in the kitchen was burning low but cast a lovely warm glow about the room. All the boys were in bed though Molly thought she would do a final bed check before she had that cup of tea.
She reached the first landing of the stairs and softly opened the door, Bill and Charlie were softly snoring in their beds. Bill flat on his back, mouth open, snoring the loudest of the two, and Charlie snuggled deep down under the sheets. Molly always laughed at Charlie's sleeping habits, he often ended down at the end of the bed, so wrapped up in his blankets that when he awakes in the mornings, he needs help to remove himself from his coccoon.
Molly smiled to herself as she closed the door to their room and moved accross the landing to the twin's room. The door was open so that the landing light could be seen, Fred and Georgie were scared of the dark. In the dim light of the room, Molly could make out two red heads side by side, in Fred's bed. Molly smiled again. The twins were always put into their separate beds at bed time but somehow managed to be in the same one by morning. Molly didn't mind, they both slept better knowing their twin was close by.
Going further up the stairs, she got to Percy's room. Percy slept by himself as the others didn't want to share with him. She hesitated at the door, 'Please let this be the night he stops', she prayed to whoever was listening. Opening the door quietly, she sniffed the air hopefully. Unfortunately a sharp acrid smell reached her nostrils and she cringed. Looking further into the room, she made out a body slumped on the floor all covered in blankets. Tutting to herself, she went into the room. Pointing her wand at the bed, she removed the offending sheets with a spell and placed clean ones on instead. Next she turned to Percy, quietly picking him up and trying not to wake him, she quickly changed his pajamas with a spell and placed him back into bed, tucking him in tightly so he wouldn't fall out of bed again. Percy rolled over slightly on his side, and placed his thumb in his mouth, murmuring softly. Molly kissed him on the forehead and crept out of the room. 'Oh well, ' she thought, 'One bedwetter out of five boys isn't bad, I only hope Ron isn't one as well.'
Ron, the last child, her baby boy was not asleep in his crib, but awake and gurgling at the moving mobile of shapes and animals above his head. Molly laughed at him, "Ron, what are you doing awake, it's way past your bedtime! " picking him up for a cuddle. "I'm going to miss having babies", she said, "especially when they are as adorable as you, my baby boy." After eight pregnancies resulting in six boys and two miscarriages, Ron would be the last baby. Molly was greatly disappointed when her midwife told her that news after Ron's difficult birth, she had hoped to have a lovely baby girl, a daughter of her very own. Molly hugged Ron closer, breathing in his lovely baby smell. "Come downstairs with me, baby boy and we will have a wee visit together by the fireplace."
Molly sat in her rocking chair by the fireplace in the kitchen softly singing to Ron, who was almost asleep.
All through the night
Guardian angels God will send thee,
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping
I my loved ones' watch am keeping,
All through the night
Angels watching, e'er around thee,
All through the night
Midnight slumber close surround thee,
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping
I my loved ones' watch am keeping,
All through the night"
Suddenly the kitchen was filled with a warm bright golden light, Molly was startled. She looked around bewilderedly, a creature was forming in the doorway to the kitchen. She reached for her wand. Ron, awaking to this movement, let out a big wail.
"Do not be afraid of me, I have a message for you" The unamed angel come closer to Molly and placed a hand on Ron's head. Ron immediately quietened.
Strangely enough, Molly did not feel afraid, infact she felt warm and protected in the light. "Are you an angel?", she asked.
"Yes."
"Who are you? What is your name?" Molly asked.
"I have none yet, I have not earned one. I am simply daughter of Sabriel."
"Why are you here?"
"I have a message for you from the angel realm. Molly Weasley, mother of six magnificent sons, you will be the carrier of the titian angel. Your daughter will be the very important to the angel and magical realms."
"My daughter...but I don't understand, I have no daughter, I cannot have anymore children." Molly cried.
"You will have a strong, beautiful, intelligent daughter who will become the titian angel on her sixteenth birthday. This flower, I give to you represents your daughter, fed it, water it, nuture it and as it grows, so to will your daughter." The angel gave the precious flower to Molly, kissed Ron on his head, and clasped Molly's hand in farewell.
"Goodbye Molly, look after your daughter, she is very important to us and to all witches and wizards."
"Angel?"
"I have a name now. I am Gabriella."
"Thankyou for my daughter."
A/N: Lullabye is not original