Bill and Fleur were sitting with their parents and Hermione in the living room. Bill looked the same, his long red hair pulled back into a ponytail, revealing the dragon tooth earring that was dangling from his left ear. He had his arm around Fleur, who was sporting a very round belly that seemed out of place for her rather small frame. They both stood to greet everyone when they came, one by one down the stairs.
"Charlie, you look great. New burn mark?" Bill asked gesturing to Charlie's arm revealed by his rolled up sleeve.
"Oh, yeah." Charlie answered, hugging his brother. "Comes with the job description." He added to Fleur with a laugh, who had a slightly horrified look on her face.
"George! Mum tells me you're opening your shop again! I can't wait to see the grand opening." Bill's tone was congratulatory as he pulled George in for a hug.
"Ve are so excited for you." Fleur agreed, hugging George awkwardly. Ginny had to give her credit; at least she was trying to be apart of the family.
"Thanks! I'm excited about it." George told them, settling down on the floor in front of Mrs. Weasley's chair so Ginny could move forward to greet her brother.
"Easy on the hug. I have Arnold in my pocket." Ginny told Bill as she hugged him hello. "Fleur you look beautiful." Ginny said, hugging her from the side. She meant it. Fleur may have put on some weight from the pregnancy, but she looked very happy. It must be that pregnancy glow everyone talks about.
"What's that fuzzball doing in your pocket?" Bill asked curiously as Ron and Harry sat down among the family.
"He likes it in there. I just got him from my room on the way down here. Besides, Crookshanks is a little too curious about him for me to let him loose all the time." Ginny explained pulling him out and sitting him in her lap.
"So do you know if it's a boy or girl yet?" George asked, gesturing to Fleur's bump.
"No idea. But I have a strong feeling it's a boy." Bill replied, sitting back on the couch with Fleur.
"That is because he vants it to be a boy." Fleur rolled her eyes.
"Ginny and I have a bet going." George told them, playing with a small hole in the rug.
"Yeah, I'm with Bill. Five gallons says it's a boy." Ginny added as the family laughed.
"Have you thought of any names yet?" Hermione asked them.
"We can't agree on any." Bill admitted.
"Bill does not like French names." Fleur sniffed.
"I don't like some French names" Bill corrected her.
"Well there will be plenty of time to sort that out." Mrs. Weasley smiled. Her enthusiasm at being a grandmother for the first time was a great light in her life and nothing pleased her more than talking about the upcoming family addition.
"Hey, we were all talking about getting a game of quidditch going at some point. Can I count you and Charlie in?" Ginny asked Bill, suddenly remembering the previous discussion.
"A quidditch game, huh?" Charlie smiled, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Oh, yeah! Charlie played seeker during his time at Hogwarts. It would be interesting to see how he plays against Harry." George grinned.
"I'm a man in my prime. Charlie doesn't stand a chance." Harry teasingly scoffed.
"Watch it boy, before I have to teach you a lesson." Charlie said, drawing himself to his full height (and still falling quite a bit shorter than Harry.)
"Sounds like a challenge." Harry rose to his feet as well.
"Well are you all talk, or are you ready to put your money where your mouth is?" Charlie needled him.
"Fleur, it looks like I have to go too, keep these kids in line." Bill told her seriously.
"Oh get out of here. Abandon your pregnant wife!" She exclaimed dramatically, pushing him gently towards the others.
"I think Charlie and Harry should be team Captains." Hermione suggested as they all made their way outside.
"How should we determine first pick?" Ron asked.
"Eenie meenie miney moe." Hermione replied. The Weasley's paused, looking at her in confusion.
"Excuse me?" Ron finally responded.
'Was that some kind of spell? Should I be feeling something?" George asked warily as Harry laughed.
"It's a muggle thing!" Hermione said, turning a shade of pink.
"Weird." Bill shrugged.
"Yeah….I don't think so. It sounds like a trick." Charlie said, shaking his head. "Besides, Harry was raised by muggles. Can't give him the advantage."
"Fine. Do you have any suggestions?" Hermione asked, exasperated.
"Flip a knut." Ginny suggested. Ron pulled one from his pocket.
"Call it." He said, flipping it into the air.
"Heads!" Harry yelled.
"Ah, bad luck mate. Tails." Ron said, revealing it as Charlie punched the air in celebration.
"I get…..Ginny!" He declared. Harry was torn. Admittedly, George was the better player, but Ron was his best friend. In the end, loyalty won out. Winning was not as important as hurting Ron's feelings.
"Ron." Harry said, decidedly.
"George, get your furry little arse over here." Charlie announced his second pick.
"My arse is as smooth as a baby's bottom, I'll have you know!" George defended himself as he joined Charlie's side.
"Bill, you're with me." Harry said, choosing the final player.
"Hermione, you're not playing?" Charlie asked.
"I'm the scorekeeper." She told him. Within minutes everyone had found a broom and the game was on. It was a little tricky trying to figure out how they were going to play a fourteen player game with just six people. In the end, it was decided that they would have two keepers and four chasers while discluding the other positions entirely. Then, to settle the score, Harry and Charlie would have a one-on-one seeker face-off.
Ron and George were already in their keeper positions while the others met Hermione in the middle of the field.
"You guys know the rules...Just...don't kill each other." Hermione said, nervously throwing the blue ball they were using as a quaffle into the air before running off the field. Ginny caught it, and passed it to Charlie as Harry caught up to her. Bill intercepted and tried to throw it back to Harry but he slipped and the quaffle fell towards the ground. Harry caught up to the quaffle just before it hit the snow beneath them, and made his way to where George was. Ginny and Charlie were hot on his tail. He threw the ball, and in his haste, it was incredibly sloppy George blocked it with ease, throwing it to Ginny.
She sped with the quaffle back to Ron, where she scored the first point of the game. And so it went, back and forth down the field, and Harry's team was losing quite miserably when she scored the final goal that officially claimed her win. Everyone was practically frozen solid as they met again back in the middle.
"Good game, Potter." Charlie said, grasping his hand in a firm handshake.
"Especially considering you had a team full of old quidditch players." Bill grumbled loudly, though his expression was playful.
"Don't be bitter because you lack the athletic genes." Charlie chided. "You ready for our one on one?" He asked Harry.
"I'm freezing my arse off. I will be watching from inside." Ron said before marching back into the house.
"Yeah, let's save it for better weather." Harry suggested.
"Have it your way." Charlie shrugged, though he was visibly relieved.