The elder Molly Weasley sat on the bench outside of the maternity ward at St. Mungo's. She watched as her grandchildren play on the brightly carpeted area in front of her, and the rest of her family talk amongst themselves. Her eyes met with the eyes of her husband, who sat on the floor tinkering with some toys, entertaining the smaller toddlers.
Another grandchild, she thought to herself with pride. She watched with adoration as Arthur, clad in a tropical patterned shirt and shorts, matching hers, adjusted his visor as four-year-old Molly flung herself to his lap. This was her heaven – a roomful of her children being together, Arthur laughing with and surrounded by his grandchildren. Greece was a nice change of scenery, and she and Arthur quite enjoyed their retirement, being a couple again, only doing the fun side of parenting – spoiling the grandchildren then sending them home. She'd never been so pleased to receive a patronus out of nowhere.
Her attention broke when she heard a cry from the wall behind her, where her only daughter was in the process of bringing her most recent grandchild into the world.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! YOU ARE SLEEPING ON THE SOFA FROM NOW ON!" she roared. Her children and in-laws broke into laughter, and she could not help but chuckle herself.
"Funny, seems like that's her birthing catchphrase," joked Charlie as he bounced Albus on his knee. Another laugh from the clan, as Percy returned from the cafeteria with Victoire and Teddy, bringing trays of water for everyone.
Moments later, they heard the cry of a newborn, signaling that the new addition to the clan has arrived. Fleur exited out of the room, and placed her wand into her healer robe.
"Well, mozher and ze babe are doing juz- fine! Audrey iz tenzing to ze babe now," she exclaimed happily. There were cheers of happiness and Molly rushed to give Fleur a hug.
"Oh, thank Merlin! Thank you, Fleur!" she said, wiping tears of joy from her eyes. Fleur, being a maternity healer, has tended to the birth of every Weasley-related birth with the exception of her own children.
"Mollee, iz waz a smooth delivery! No need to worry," she replied, "I must go back in, I will make sure Ginny iz comfortable." As she returned to the room, Harry exited, carrying a small bundle of pink. The room suddenly quieted down, and Molly's tears of joy started again as she reached her arms out to the bundle.
"Everyone, this is my little Lily Luna Potter!" he said proudly and excitedly. He handed the baby to Molly, who promptly kissed her forehead gently, as every aunt and uncle and cousin in the room gather around them. Harry picked James up and pulled Teddy closer with one arm, as Charlie had Albus, and everyone parted to make room for the two brothers to meet their new sister.
"James, Al, this is Lily. She's your new baby sister!" introduced Harry.
"Baby?" piped Albus, confused.
"Baby," replied Molly, beaming at her new granddaughter. She reminded her of Ginny when she was born. Tufts of strawberry blonde hair, long brown eyelashes, and pink round cheeks. Her eyes were still closed, she was sleeping soundly. Molly sat on the nearby chair so that the rest of the grandchildren can see her.
"Can I touch her?"
"What does she smell like?"
"A baby, a baby!"
"I want to hold her!"
"No, I want to hold her!" cries startled from the grandchildren, arguing amongst themselves as to who will get to bask in the new baby.
"Alright, settle down," called Arthur calmly, "Teddy goes first, it's his sister too, you know! Go on, Ted!"
Teddy sat next to Grandmum Weasley and stretched his arm to receive Lily. "Be gentle, now, Teddy," reminded Molly quietly. Teddy happily gazed at the newborn as her lips began to form a small smile.
"She'll give you a run for your money, mate," said Ron, "Welcome to the Dads with Daughters club, finally!"
Ginny sat in her bed at St. Mungo's, holding her newest baby in her arms. The rest of the family has returned to their respective homes, and her two toddlers asleep in the cots next to her bed, not wanting to leave their mother and their new sister. Teddy laid on the sofa, reading the comic section of the day-old Prophet. Harry was still taking care of the birth certificates, and more paperwork in the Administration department.
"Is she still asleep?" asked Teddy in a whisper, slowly getting up towards Ginny's bed. He sat on his side, looking at the baby.
"She is, she's had a big day today," said Ginny quietly.
"Right, making her entrance into the world and all. She's earned her nap," joked Teddy. Ginny smiled warmly at him as he caressed Lily's cheek gently.
"I remember when you were born, Teddy," piped Ginny. Teddy looked up at her, studying her face. He's never heard his own birth story before.
"Your father was at Grimmauld Place for a meeting with the Order, and your mother was with me, your grandmother, and Grandmum Weasley at the Burrow. You were due almost any day then…it was dark times, Ted, dark times. But you were the one thing that gave us a reason to persist, a reason to smile."
"Then suddenly your mother started to feel uneasy, and Fleur suggested that we head straight to St. Mungo's. Your mother was worried that Remus would miss it, - your birth, that is - but he came just in the nick of time. I'd never seen two people so happy during such dark times Ted, or any time at all for that matter. When you entered the world, it seemed like all of the darkness were gone."
Teddy smiled at Ginny's story, glad and proud that he was the son of two brave heroes, who had sacrificed everything for him, for others, and for a multitude of new lives to begin. He felt comfort in the fact that he's given his parents at least one moment of happiness.
"I remember your hair kept changing colors and textures for days! Tonks was excited that you inherited her metamorphagous ability, and Remus thought it was the most entertaining thing in the world. There was even bets placed on what would be you 'default' hair color within the Order!" Ginny recalled, smiling brightly. Teddy let out a small laugh.
"I still remember Kingsley's woes about losing 10 galleons," Harry added as he entered the room, "Think I should take you and the boys to the Burrow, Ted, Grandmum Weasley prepared Ron's old room for you and James. Some of your cousins will be there."
"Alright, if I have to," he said, getting up. Harry took Albus into his arms and woke James up. Teddy picked up his small rucksack and helped Harry with James. Such a great big brother for her boys and Lily to look up to, thought Ginny.
"I'll be back in a moment. Say goodnight to your mother and sister boys," said Harry, as he kissed his wife and baby girl and Teddy and James lined to do the same.
"Mama loves you, Jamesie, I'll see you tomorrow, ok?" she said to a half-awake James, whose only thoughts were of beds and sleep.
"See you, Lily," bid Teddy. The four men left the room, and Ginny was once again alone with her little girl.
Harry Potter hovered over the crib in the pink nursery, picking up his crying newborn. He'd let Ginny sleep as it's only been two weeks and she's still healing and tires easily. He also secretly enjoyed this time, the rare times that he's alone with his little girl without any interruption from anyone.
He rocked and bounced her softly in his arms and her crying slowly concedes. He sat in the rocking chair next to the crib, and glanced around the room at the piles of presents – some opened, some half-opened, some still neatly wrapped – from family and friends. Ginny tried to sort them out earlier, but she grew tired after keeping up with the boys and Lily today since Harry had to step into the Ministry for an important meeting.
"You're so loved, Lily," he said softly to her. She nestled deeper into Harry's chest and let out a short noise of comfort, her brown eyes giving him her undivided attention. She had grown more of the strawberry blonde hair, looking more and more like Ginny everyday – just with slightly lighter hair. She was the most beautiful and wonderful thing he's ever held and loved, and he had a feeling that she may just give him a run for his money after all.
"You have three brothers who dote on you, and a herd of aunts and uncles and cousins. Not to mention the best grandparents," he added, "and your beautiful, kind mother. And me, Daddy loves you. I love you with all of my heart, Lily."
It was the same speech that Harry gave each of his newborns as he is alone with them. It was the same protective incantations that his mother had used to protect him from the grasp of Voldemort, the incantation that saved him. Voldemort no longer existed, true – yet there were still danger everywhere, the last of his followers still lurking about.
Minutes later, Lily was fast asleep. Harry placed her gently on the crib and slowly slipped out of the room, back to his bedroom. There Ginny laid asleep, a look of comfort and contentment on her face. He quietly slipped into the bed and starred at the back of his wife, the mother of his children, before wrapping his arms around her waist and falling back into slumber.
The next morning, Ginny woke to a quiet house, her husband still asleep next to her, the sun slowly filling their bedroom. She looked at the clock on the nightstand, 6:30 A.M. Lily had slept a full 5 hours, a new record – and Teddy, James, and Albus were surely still asleep after the exhausting day they spent at the beach with their cousins at Shell Cottage. It was Sunday, meaning a roast supper at the Burrow. She slowly climbed out of her bed and pulled on the belt of her bathrobe, grabbed the baby monitor, and headed to the kitchen. She casted "Muffliato" around the perimeter on the kitchen, so as to not wake anyone as she prepared breakfast for her family.
It was one of the things she loved to do, making breakfast. Especially for her own little family. She watched her mother do it every day since she was a little girl, and she began helping when she was old enough. She summoned the ingredients from the cupboard, gathering bowls and spatulas herself. She began to pour ingredients together to make a batch of pancakes.
As she whisked the mix, her eyes traveled to the family room. Toys and baby wares were everywhere, blankets and pillows were on the floor. The boys's beach bags were still by the doorway, leaving trails of sand on the floor. Ginny was not particularly dirty, but she didn't mind the mess. To her, the mess meant that life happened here. Messes can be cleaned up, but sometimes she catches herself smiling at the cluttered room.
As she charm the stove and pancake mix to cook itself, she headed towards the living room to pick up the toys and blankets, one by one, every now and then checking on her pancakes. She didn't realize how many hours has passed by, as she sees Harry enter the family room with Lily in his arms.
"Oh, I didn't realize she was awake," glanced Ginny, thinking that she hadn't heard anything come from the monitor.
"She didn't fuss, I just went in to see her and she was just laying there, awake. I've changed her, she's good to go," he said, placing Lily in the slowly rocking basinet nearby and placing his arms around Ginny.
"Husband of the year, you are," said Ginny, smiling as he kissed her good morning. He let go of her and began helping her pick things up off the floor, as Ginny returned back to the kitchen to turn off the stove. Moments later pitter patter of feet and paws came down the stairs, and Ginny and Harry greeted the little bodies that made the noises.
"Morning boys," said Harry, lifting his mug of coffee to greet James and Teddy, "Al still asleep?" They shook their head and headed for the chairs.
'Mama, mama!' is heard through the monitor, announcing that Albus is indeed, awake. Ginny placed the food on the table, as Harry began to distribute pancakes and fruits to the boys.
She found Albus nearly climbing out of his crib again, picking him up into her arms.
"Good morning, sweetheart," she covered his chubby face with kisses. Albus giggled, patting Ginny's cheeks.
"I think you're ready for a big boy's bed, aren't you?" she said to him, as she walked out of the room.
"I big boy, mama? Like Jame' and Teddy?" he questioned.
"I think you are, as much as I hate to admit it," she answered, "Guess who's ready for his own big boy bed!" she announced as they entered the kitchen.
"Climbing again?" guessed Harry, as Ginny placed Albus in his seat. She nodded.
"Big boy bed it is, then," Harry said, as he watched Albus and his brothers dig into their helpings of pancakes vigorously. He chuckled. Weasley offsprings are never fussy eaters, it's embedded into their genetics, he decided.
That same morning, Bill Weasley sat in the family room of Shell Cottage, watching three-year-old Louis trot on his broomstick, hovering a mere 2 feet above ground. He could hear mixtures of French and English from the upstairs bedrooms, minor arguments between his wife of nearly eleven years and his daughters. Following, he could hear footsteps racing towards him; three blonde ladies appeared before him with hands on their waists.
"Dad, help me!" bellowed Victoire, sinking onto her father's lap.
"Yeah, Dad, help me!" echoed her sister, Dominique. Lately she's been following Victoire's footsteps, replicating everything she does, everything she says, and everything she wants. Victoire didn't mind, she felt flattered that she had a minion, and assumed responsibility in turning Dominique into her ally.
"What's the matter?" Bill asked, stroking her daughter's hair, "And tell Daddy calmly."
"Mum won't let me wear my new make up to dinner! Tante Gabrielle bought it for us from Paris!" Victoire exclaimed, and Dominique vigorously nodded in agreement, resting her head on her father's chest. At the sight before her, Fleur knew that there's a good chance she may lose this argument, but she stood her ground. Bill sitting in the armchair, tangled in between his two daughters whose lips formed pouts. Bill looked at the expressions on his daughters' faces and sighed.
Exasperated, Fleur flew out of the room, muttering to herself loudly, her arms flying with her steps, "Elles ne sont pas vieux meme 10 ans! Beel, zey are still littell girls! I zid not even wear make up until I was 12!"
"But Daddy, that was so long ago!" whined Victoire. Bill tried to hold the chuckle to himself as he tried to disentangle himself off the mass of limbs and blonde hair that are his daughters.
"Why don't you girls pick out your outfits, I'll talk to Mum, alright?" he beckoned. Still grumbling, the girls headed off to their bedroom as Bill found his wife in the kitchen.
"Love, they-" he started.
"Mais non, Beel! Zey are not old enough! And vat vas my seester thinking, getting littell girls such a gift!" exclaimed Fleur, throwing the dish towel on the counter. Bill stepped closer to her, caressing her back to calm her down.
"Maybe they can just wear a bit of it? And if we keep saying no to them, they'll pout and rile everyone else along with them," bargained Bill. Fleur finally gave in, much to her dismay.
"You are un-reel, Beel Weesley," said Fleur teasingly, turning to meet her husband's grin, "Can't even stand up to your own daughters?"
Before Bill could think of any clever reply, a swarm of blonde hair came through the doorway of the kitchen, heading straight for Fleur.
"Merci, Maman! You're the best! Je t'adore!" exclaimed Victoire excitedly.
"Only ze leep-stick, Victoire Weesley!" she replied, trying to keep stern.
Bill chuckled, lifting up Dominique on his shoulders and headed back into the family room.
"Daddy," said Dominique, feeling her own darker blonde, and shorter hair, "do you reckon that I'd be as beautiful as Victoire and Mum one day?"
Bill looked at his six-year-old with a slight concern, as he understood why she's been tailing Victoire the past few weeks.
"Oh, my love," said Bill, holding her tighter, as he sat back on his chair, "you already are. Beautiful, lovely, and gorgeous. You're not like Mum or Victoire, per say, but you're beautiful in your own way, as are your Mum and your sister."
"But Dad, people always say how pretty Victoire is and how lovely Mum's dresses are, and they never say anything about me. Do you think it's because of my nose?"
While Victoire inherited nearly everything from Fleur, Dominique was gifted with darker blonde hair and a slightly flatter nose and deep blue eyes that matched her father's. Her cheekbones were less pronounced than Victoire's, and she only has one dimple on her left cheek instead of Victoire's mirroring cheek dimples.
"Certainly not – that's my nose you've got, you know!" said Bill, pretending to be slightly hurt, "But we're all bound to be slightly different, love. I think you're beautiful since the day you were born. And here's a tip; beauty does not just come from here," he gestured towards her face, " but it also comes from here-" he pointed to her forehead, "and more, here," he pointed to her heart. Dominique grinned brightly at her father, feeling proud. Bill matched her grin, and as he pulled her closer into his arms, a thud was heard and the father and daughter looked up to find Louis off his broom after flying into a mirror.
"At least my brain's better than his, right Daddy?" she teased. Bill chuckled as Dominique leaped from his lap, going to help her little brother stand again.
