Chaos

Hermione could barely get the door open. She had to shove her upper body against it before it budged. She was instantly alert. The room was in shambles. Toys were strewn around the kitchen, dirty dishes lay piled in the sink, and various articles of clothing littered the floor.

"Fred?" she called out cautiously.

When there was no answer, she drew her wand.

"Fred?" she called again, slowly making her way into the den.

Things were even worse in this room. Small scraps of paper lay all over the table and chairs. A cup of liquid had been spilled on the floor, making a bright red stain on the carpet. There was even a potted plant that had been overturned and dirty footprints tracked around the room.

Hermione's hand gripped her wand even tighter. The house was eerily quiet. It was NEVER this quiet. Even before the children, Fred always had some project underway that sent things whizzing in the air or an experiment that whirled loudly through the halls. The noise level, moreover, had increased exponentially with each child that had been added to the household.

Walking into the living room, Hermione stopped in her tracks. Her entire family was sprawled out across the room unmoving. Her five-year-old was curled up asleep in a chair. The three-year-old twins rested on the floor snoring lightly. And Fred lay on the couch with the baby sleeping on his chest.

Letting out a deep breath, Hermione sat in a chair close to Fred and brushed the hair off his forehead. A small smile curled his lips as he slowly opened his eyes.

"Tough day?" Hermione whispered.

"You have no idea," Fred replied quietly. "Sorry about the mess. I'll clean it up later."

Hermione nodded and grinned at her husband of seven years. Although she had always thought of herself as a woman of discipline and order, she couldn't help but be grateful for the excitement and chaos that Fred had brought into her life.