AN: A muuuch shorter chapter, but... it's Harry's birthday! I couldn't NOT post a chapter. Anyway... not much happens here, even though we'll start seeing some major signs of a huge Weasley plot here. I'm trying to explore something new with this. It's supposed to be confusing for anyone who's looking from the outside, but it'll get some more development in later years/chapters, so it won't always be this confusing, I hope.
CHAPTER EIGHT – 2005
Angelina Catherine Weasley was very content with her life. Her husband, George, made everything seem interesting and fun. He was also extremely supportive of her. They had two amazing children, who kept growing up faster than she'd would have liked, if she had to be honest. But Angelina had a new reason to celebrate that particular moment.
She had gotten a new job.
No more selling brooms and broom supplies to entitled clients. No more being patronised by people who thought that a witch couldn't possibly know the first thing about brooms or Quidditch. No more trying to look pleasant just to sell more than her colleagues.
No more.
Angelina had been hired by Nimbus. Her talents and knowledge had finally been recognised and she would get the training she had always dreamt of. Angelina was on her way to her first day of work and she couldn't be more excited to start learning about actually making brooms. With a huge grin, she entered the building and walked up the reception.
"The name is Weasley. Angelina Weasley. I'm here to make some Nimbus history." She confidently stated.
Neville frantically looked for Hannah. The Leaky Cauldron was busy that night, since it was Friday and people were relaxing with their friends, drinking a Butterbeer or something stronger. The Gryffindor couldn't care less about any of that. He had just received some incredible news and he wanted Hannah to be the first one to know.
"Nev, you're here!" He heard from his left. Neville quickly turned and found his girlfriend. She was holding her wand and levitating three bottles of Firewhisky, along with at least a dozen glasses. "You look flustered, do you have a fever?" Hannah asked him in concern.
"Hannah, I've got to tell you something. I was with Sprout this afternoon, in fact, I just left Hogwarts, we were working on a particularly challenging Snargaluff this week, quite difficult, really, you wouldn't believe the trouble it gave us…" Neville shook his head when he realised he was rambling. "No, that's not the point. The point, Hannah, the point is that I know what I'm doing with my life."
"Merlin, that was unexpected!" She laughed in surprise. "Go on, then, tell me! I want to know, Neville." Hannah giggled when her boyfriend took a deep breath and puffed out his chest.
"You're looking at a future… Hogwarts professor." Neville finally announced. Hannah gasped in shock, the bottles of Firewhisky dangerously bumping at each other. "That's right! Professor Sprout will be retiring in two years and she wants me to take her place. Me! Isn't that crazy, Hannah?" He asked her, somewhat in disbelief.
"Absolutely not crazy at all." Hannah told him, her voice very serious. "You obviously have the talent and interest that one needs to be a professor. You'll be amazing, Nev, I'm so proud of you!" She waved her wand, making the bottles and glasses disappear, and threw her arms around Neville's neck.
"Thank you for believing in me, Hannah." He whispered in her ear.
It was Harry's 25th birthday and everybody was eager to please their friend, not to mention the hero of the Wizarding world. However, Harry himself barely seemed to care about his birthday, especially because James had just turned one year the week before. During the party, Harry saw Hermione holding his son and quickly joined her, escaping Slughorn's monologue about success.
"That's, erm, very interesting, Professor, but I really should check on James, he's so young, you see." Harry said awkwardly, walking towards his best friend. "Bloody hell, who invited Slughorn to this?" He angrily whispered once he was close to Hermione.
"Honestly, Harry, be nice. Slughorn might be a bit…" She paused, clearly looking for the right word to describe the wizard. "Self-serving, I guess." Hermione offered meekly. "But he was never unkind to any of us." She added, raising her eyebrows at him. Harry sighed.
"I know, I know. He's a good man, nobody can deny that. I just wish this had been more of a quiet affair." He said, taking his son from Hermione's arms. "Crazy how much your godson has grown in just a year, no?"
"I'm glad that you seem so comfortable as a father now." Hermione replied with a smile. "I remember the mess you were on the day James was born. Quite the scene." She chuckled, making Harry roll his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want, Hermione. Very mature. Just wait until it's your time, then you'll see…" He interrupted himself when he saw the look on his friend's face. "No way." Harry whispered. Hermione quietly nodded, but she had a smile on her lips. "Hermione, that's amazing! Why didn't you tell me earlier?" He asked her, hugging his friend.
"I found out a week ago, I didn't want to steal James's thunder." She said as she hugged him back. "Besides, I'm scared out of my wits. I honestly don't know the first thing about being a mother, and Ron is freaking out too." Hermione told him. Harry barked out a laugh.
"What was it that you told me when we found out Ginny was pregnant for the first time? 'Nobody is ever ready to be a parent' or something like that? I guess we'll see how the great Hermione Granger deals with a baby in her own house." He teased her. However, he quickly turned serious when he saw Hermione studying his face carefully. "What?"
"When you found out Ginny was pregnant for the first time?" She repeated, making Harry gulp. "When did you find out Ginny was pregnant for the second time?" Hermione asked him. He shrugged in defeat.
"Not long ago... I guess our kids will go to Hogwarts together." He finally said. "Poor McGonagall."
Harry and Ginny and Hermione and Ron weren't the only ones preparing for a baby. Astoria had convinced Draco that, despite her weak health, they should at least try to have a child together. And their firstborn was on their way.
"I cannot believe that you are going to be a father." Blaise Zabini said, shaking his head. "Draco Malfoy. A father."
"You'll be this child's godfather, Blaise. Don't forget that." Draco replied curtly. "You have no choice, Astoria and Daphne have already talked about this." He added, talking about his wife and Blaise's fiancée. "To be honest, I can't believe that you are getting married to Daphne."
"What can I say? The Greengrass ladies are something else." He raised his glass and Draco did the same with his own. "Who would've thought that we'd be…" Blaise paused for a second, thinking. "Brothers-in-law?" And he laughed, clearly tipsy. Draco shook his head, amused.
"That's enough Firewhisky for you, friend." He said, but took a sip from his glass and let Blaise continue to drink. "I'm worried. Tory's health is fragile." Draco whispered, unsure if it was wise to voice his fears. To his surprise, his friend seemed to quickly sober up at that comment.
"I know, Draco. Daphne is worried too. I mean. What were you thinking? Is the Malfoy bloodline so important to you that you'd risk your wife's life for a heir?" Blaise accused him, his tone suddenly very vicious. Draco coldly stared at him for a few silent seconds.
"It was never my idea." He said. "I told Astoria that I'd be fine with the Malfoy bloodline dying with me. Merlin knows that nobody who's actually good would miss us. We are the scum of the Wizarding world, Zabini." Draco added, using Blaise's last name to make his point. "But Astoria insisted, despite the curse. And I couldn't say no to her. I may live to regret this, I know that. I just." He sighed angrily, trying to stop the tears in his eyes. "I couldn't say no to her. And I promise you one thing, though. I will not be like my father. I might never be a good person, but my child will be raised as one. I promise you."
Fleur took a deep breath as she sat on her couch. She was simply exhausted. While she enjoyed her work very much, having a career and three children wasn't easy. Of course, her husband did as much as she did, but that hardly made her feel less tired. It only meant that they were both worn out.
"Dominique! What are those?" She heard Bill shouting from the children's bedroom. Fleur sighed, knowing she should join her family. Still, she sat for a while longer, wishing that Bill would solve whatever her daughter had done. "Are those Fred's? You're not supposed to take anyone's underwear!"
Fleur's eyes widened at that. Dominique was a prankster, that much was clear to everyone. She and Fred were unstoppable, even though they weren't even five yet. However, taking her cousin's underwear for herself was new. Putting aside her exhaustion, Fleur made her way to the bedroom, only to find her daughter half-naked, wearing what was clearly a boy's underwear.
"No, no, Dominique." She whispered, shaking her head. "Take these ov and go shower, now." Fleur told her. "Victoire, 'elp your sister, please." She quickly added, thinking that she was too tired to handle that. Dominique glared at her parents, clearly mad.
"I like those. Mine is stupid." The little girl said. Fleur and Bill shared a concerned look. "I don't want my undies. I don't, I don't, I don't!" She angrily shouted.
"I don't understand." Victoire told them. "Let Dom wear what he wants to wear." She shrugged. "What's wrong with that?" The girl asked her parents.
"She, Victoire. Dominique is a girl. She's your sister." Bill quietly replied. Victoire looked at her father, at her sister and back at her father again, clearly confused.
"I don't see it, Papa." She finally said. "Dom is like Freddie, no? It's why Freddie gave Dom his undies." Victoire explained. Bill glanced at Fleur, speechless. His wife simply shrugged. She had no idea how to respond to that.
