Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. All Chocolate Frog card facts are from the Harry Potter Lexicon.
AN: Why study for finals when you could write fanfiction instead? Inspired by various graphics on Tumblr. Will eventually be a threeshot.
The Burrow was a war zone. Or at least it looked like one. There were remnants of wrappings and ribbons so thick one couldn't see the floor underneath. And if making the trek to the kitchen, one had to proceed cautiously, for there were action figures and doll accessories and copious other bits and bobs waiting to attack innocent feet. The living room floor had taken down more than one Weasley that afternoon.
And the noise, oh the noise. Screams of excitement, laughter, dozens of conversations, arguments between siblings and spouses, the ruckus magical toys always made, the occasional explosion when one of the kids tried out George's latest prototype, and the buzz of the oven as Molly Weasley's pies finished.
Yes, it was definitely a war zone…but Ron Weasley loved every minute of it.
He was seated on the living room couch, one arm around his lovely wife and the other clutching a glass of Butterbeer (no alcohol at family events where the kids were present—a strict Molly Weasley rule after many events proving the necessity of such a ban). He and Hermione were the adults-in-charge of the living room, keeping a close eye on the nieces and nephews playing with their new toys by the fireplace.
Ron heard Hugo shout something upstairs, and briefly wondered if he should brave the living room floor to go investigate. But when he heard an angry French accent respond, he settled back down. Fleur was just as capable of disciplining his kids as he was.
He took in the living room scene before him. Al was seated in his Grandpa Weasley's chair, intently reading a new book. Lily and Roxanne were playing with their dolls by the hearth. And James and Fred were bent over something that Ron would have to break up sooner or later. But for now it was an idyllic scene.
Ron leaned his head on his Hermione's shoulder and smiled, allowing his eyes to flutter shut. He had been on duty yesterday, up until nearly 2 am. Dark wizards loved ruining people's holidays after all. Then Rosie and Hugo had been up by 7 and he had been awake ever since. His Mum's amazing cooking wasn't helping matters. But he had had to try everything at least twice—it was rude not to wasn't it? He felt Hermione pat the hand on her shoulder gently and snuggled closer. Just a few seconds and he would be…
"UNCLE RON! UNCLE RON LOOK! LOOK LOOK UNCLE RON!"
He sat up so fast that his Butterbeer went flying all over his trousers, and he barely managed to bite back the curse on his lips. Hermione waved her wand at him and he got off the couch and onto his knees, hoping he wouldn't suffer pain-by-toy in the process. His niece raced over to him, conquering the dangerous living room floor with apparent ease.
"What is it Lily?"
She thrust a Chocolate Frog card in his face, jumping up and down. She had apparently stopped playing with her dolls in order to fetch a Chocolate Frog from her stocking. Seeing a familiar face on the accompanying card had caused her a great deal of surprise.
"IT'S YOU UNCLE RON! IT'S YOU ON THE CHOCOLATE FROG CARD!"
"All that fuss for one measly Chocolate Frog Card with some ginger-haired wanker on it?" Ron laughed and shook his head at her.
"Ron!" a combination of wives, aunts, mums, and grandmums exclaimed in tandem throughout the Burrow. Despite his status as Daddy and Uncle Ron, Ron still had the same colorful vocabulary that he had had at seventeen. Although he was pretty good at keeping it clean around the kids, every so often, he let one slip. He secretly enjoyed passing his language habits to the next generation of Weasleys and Potters. He would never fully grow up and he was proud of that fact.
"Haven't you seen my card before, Lily?" When his niece shook his head, he looked confused. Lily was five, yet she hadn't seen his card? Clearly his sister and his best mate weren't feeding their kids enough chocolate.
He glanced down at the familiar card, smiling at his eighteen-year-old self. Lily peered at the card with him, giggling as picture Ron began waving at them.
"Greatest accomplishment of my life this is, Lily. Once you get your Chocolate Frog card, that's when you know you've made it. Almost made everything we went through worth it."
"You look different though, Uncle Ron!" Lily had finally found her inside voice again.
Lily was a bit confused on what her Uncle Ron meant, and why he and Aunt Hermione didn't look quite as cheery as they had before. But that wasn't really the important part. Uncle Ron had his own card! He was famous!
"Well, that's because I was eighteen when this picture was taken. Your Uncle Ron was quite a good-looking bloke wasn't he? Luckily, I'm not eighteen anymore—I was a bit of prat back then as Aunt Hermione can tell you."
"You still are a prat," Hermione said fondly. Lily giggled—Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione were so silly. They were happily married, but they were always insulting each other. Daddy said that was how they showed their love for each other.
"But you know, I'm not the only one in this humungous family to have one you know."
"Really?" Lily gasped.
"Yeah, stupid. Dad's got one too!" James called from across the room.
Lily stuck her tongue out at him as their recently arrived mother scolded him for his language.
"Hey now," Hermione protested, "Having a Chocolate Frog Card is not just a male pursuit you know! Numerous women have them you know, such as Queen Maeve, and Bridget Wenlock, who discovered the magical properties of the number seven, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff and Ignatia Wildsmith for inventing Floo Powder and and…"
"And Leopoldina Smethwyck, the first witch to referee a Quidditch match and of course Gwenog Jones, finest captain in the history of the Harpies!" Ginny called, always willing to offer 'Women in Quidditch' facts.
"And Hermione Granger-Weasley, for being bloody brilliant!" Ron supplied helpfully.
"Honestly, Ron, do watch your mouth!" Hermione's bright smile gave away her true feelings on the matter though.
"You've got one too, Aunt Hermione?" Lily was jumping up and down. This fact excited her more than the fact that Daddy had one. Daddy was Harry Potter; of course he'd have a Chocolate Frog Card. And Uncle Ron was a big Auror. But Aunt Hermione just had a boring job at the Ministry and she had a card! It was exciting!
"Of course she's got one! Deserves it the most she does!" Ron boasted. Everyone in the Weasley/Potter family knew Uncle Ron was Aunt Hermione's biggest fan and he was never afraid to show it.
Hermione just beamed while Ginny rolled her eyes at her brother's mushiness. James and Fred pretended to gag at each other and went back to their experiment. Roxanne was still playing with her dolls, well aware of the family Chocolate Frog card recipients. Al, typically, hadn't even looked up at the commotion.
And as the female Weasleys and Potters continued to discuss important women in history, Ron zoned out. His part in the conversation was now over and he had lost his Butterbeer. His knees were starting to hurt and his tiredness had come back in full-force. He glanced down at the floor with longing. Dangerous toys be damned! Within seconds, he had flopped onto the floor and was sound asleep.
There was a moment of silence as everyone in the living room glanced at him. But then Hermione merely summoned a blanket and pillow and the noise continued. People often slept in weird places at the Burrow—there were never enough beds for all of them.
And Ron was completely unaware as Hermione and Lily tucked the orange blanket in and put his head on the pillow. Lily's giggle went unheard when she found a Merlin action figure poking his elbow. Nor was he conscious when James and Fred's explosion finally went off.
And when Lily finally went back to her dolls, she left the card on the couch, giving Hermione amble opportunity to look at it.
Hermione hummed contently as she picked up the card. She had seen this picture hundreds of times, yet it always brought a grin to her face. Eighteen-year-old Ron with the cheeky smile she had fallen in love with. Picture Ron didn't have his happy look this time though, as he was looking at his older self with a disgruntled look. He was no doubt annoyed that older Ron had been the first to conk out of the party. Younger Ron had always considered his ability to stay awake no matter what a point of pride.
"Now, now," Hermione scolded picture Ron, "He had a very long night at work and then got up too early this morning for the kids. Not to mention all the carbs he put into his—er, your—stomach! He deserves some sleep." She then stopped, realizing it was quite ridiculous to argue with her husband about, well…her husband.
Not that this Ron had been her husband. Hell, this Ron hadn't even seen her naked yet! Wasn't that a weird thought…
And Ron slept on through his wife's laughter.
