It was summer, and in summer, the Burrow came alive. Molly was always resplendent during this season, when the whole family gathered together. It was her favorite time of year, when she could watch her children (though they were adults, they would always be children to Molly), who, it seemed had grown up overnight. Each time she looked at them, she could still see the child they used to be through the adults they had become.
They would sit on the lawn as the children (her grandchildren) frolicked and rolled like puppies in the yard. Harry and Ginny would always be there, Molly knew. Harry accepted and loved the Weasleys as if they were always his family, and always came back in the summer. It was his refuge, and had been since Ron brought him there for the first time. They'd been so young, Molly mused to herself, but still accomplished so much. And now summer is a time for peace.
She watched ten of her children as they watched their own. They actually got along now, not like the old days of calling Fleur "Phlegm", and the ten of them were as chummy as if they had been best friends for years (well, some of them were); even Percy got along with the group. Molly watched as Harry, George and Ron played with a few of the younger children, showing them amazing "magic tricks" and whizzing around on brooms to the children's amazement. Ginny, Angelina, Audrey, Fleur, and Hermione were off to the side, chatting and drinking cool bottles of water and taking the sun. As hard working wives and mothers they had collectively decided that they needed, no, deserved the time off. Percy, Bill and Charlie stood together with Arthur, laughing and talking and watching the rest of the kids running and tumbling in the yard.
It was a perfect family picture, Molly decided, despite the fact that they were missing a member. It was times like this that Molly thought of her son, no matter how hard she tried not to. The day was perfect, and Fred should be there to enjoy it. Molly pushed away the tears that still came too often, and decided that it was not a day for tears. With that thought, she strode over where Harry, George and Ron stood on the lawn, now entertaining young Lily, Lucy, and Roxanne with the Orchideous charm. Molly watched as the girls watched, entranced with the flowers, and even more so with the idea of magic.
That's how all the children were: mesmerized with magic. That's how Molly was at the moment, too, but she was also captivated by something else, something she always felt when the whole family gathered together and the children flourished before her.
It was hope.