2004

January –

Harry had to smile as his best friend stood nervously fussing with his gym clothes. This was the beginning of this new class' training and it began with physical ability evaluations.

Harry knew Ron had good reason to be nervous, 5 years as a shop keeper had softened his friend. He had already warned Hermione that for the first 4 weeks Ron would come home tired and sore.

Cho Chang was standing with the other medi-witches who monitored the recruits for the first two weeks. She had been through this before and smiled as she saw Harry watching Ron.

Harry was stretching, getting ready for his morning run and work-out. After a quick nod and thumbs up to Ron and a wave to Cho he disappeared with a pop.

When he returned to the gym after his run he noted that Ron was holding his own alongside the younger recruits. Gint currently had the class doing pushups. Harry ducked in to a side room, conjuring his boxing gloves as he went. Kingsley liked to work out with the aurors each day, said it was a piece of cake compared to the political battles, and he was waiting to spar with Harry.

February-

It was too quiet. Harry and the rest of the department were getting a bit jumpy; they always did when it got quiet. He saw Ron from time to time during the day and tomorrow he would get to see more of him and the class.

Each of the Aurors took turns teaching the recruits and Harry pulled defense. He was hoping that the DA at Hogwarts had kept up the training. If the new graduates were like the last 4 years they should all fly through the first set of lessons.

Ron need not worry Harry, Bill, George, Ginny, Hermione and he had been dueling for years now. It kept them all sharp.

AN- some readers will recognize this and April's

March –

3/31/04 -

Percy looked decidedly uncomfortable standing in front of the fireplace at the burrow. He had surprised the family when he had introduced them to his girlfriend Audrey. They had met at the world cup. She had been working for the Canadian Quidditch league.

Not long after she accepted a job with an English manufacturer of Quidditch supplies and they had begun quietly dating.

Just after Christmas they had announced they planned to wed in March. They wanted a quiet ceremony at the burrow, just Percy's family. Audrey had no family that she knew of. She had been raised by an elderly aunt who had passed away Audrey's last year in school.

Now Percy was standing with the minister and his dad waiting for Audrey to join them. Molly and Audrey had gotten close quickly and Audrey had asked Molly to stand with her.

The rest of the family was crowded in to the parlor.

Molly walked down the stairs first, looking radiant in a pale lavender robe. Audrey soon followed. Bill had volunteered to stand in as her dad and escorted her down the stairs. She had on a simple white dress that fell softly to just below her knees. Fleur had made her a silken barrette to hold back her lovely brown curls.

She carried a simple bouquet of pale purple roses.

The ceremony was over quickly and Percy looked much relived at the reception. Molly and Fleur had collaborated on the desert buffet and it was outstanding!

Soon the happy couple was off to their honeymoon.

April -

4/1/04 –

Harry and Ginny had just settled in for a good night's sleep when an owl began tapping urgently on the window. Unrolling the parchment Ginny read; "Angie in labor, going to Mungo's. George"

They were hurriedly getting dressed when Ginny stopped in her tracks and said; "What time is it?"

Harry pulled on his glasses and checked the battered old watch. "Midnight."

Ginny collapsed on the bed and began crying. Harry felt helpless and confused.

"Harry its April 1st. George and….Fred's birthday. Angie is going to have the baby on Fred's birthday."

Harry had realized that it did not matter how long it had been since the war there were still times when the sadness came back.

"Ginny listen to me." Harry sat on the bed and lifted her chin. "George has not celebrated his birthday since Fred died. Now with the birth of his own son on the same day he will have to celebrate. Maybe this baby is a gift."

Ginny dried her eyes and they hurried to the hospital. Six hours later Fredric Fabian Weasley the second was born.

May –

Spring practices had begun for Ginny and Bill was adding on to Shell cottage to make room for their second baby, so days off for Harry most often found him at Shell cottage working alongside his brothers-in-law.

Fleur had glowed and had it easy with her first pregnancy, and Victoire had been a calm quiet baby. It looked as if this one would be all Weasley. Poor Fleur was sick 24/7 Molly had moved her to the burrow to look after her and Madame Delacor was in attendance as well.

The quiet of the winter had given way to a rash of crimes in the spring. Muggle drugs had begun making their way in to the wizard world and they were busting more and more dealers.

But the biggest problem was the related crime. The poor sods hooked on the stuff were stealing everything they could get their hands on to buy the stuff.

More and more Harry and the other aurors worked with Scotland Yard because some strung out witch or wizard had committed a crime against a muggle.

Using his wand to carve stone blocks and levitating them to the cottage was a relief from the grind of work.

June -

6/30/04 -

Harry sat holding a sleeping Victoire. The whole family was awaiting the birth of her little sister. Teddy was curled up in Percy's arms and George was pacing with Freddy over his shoulder.

Bill emerged from the birthing suite with a tiny bundle in his arms; Harry woke his niece with a kiss on the head, "little one I believe it's time to meet your sister!"

Bill knelt before his oldest and loosened the blanket to reveal a small round face that had a dusting of freckles across the bridge of the nose and a fine crop of coppery hair. "Victoire this is Dominique, your little sister."

Victoire's mouth formed and O and she bent down and placed a feathery kiss on the baby's forehead. "Daddy can I see mammon?"

July –

Four of the recruits had washed out, it was a rare class that graduated all by the end of the two years. There was a buzz about Ron in the department; apparently he had worried for naught. He outshone his classmates in most every subject, a situation that would have caused conflict if it weren't for the fact he enjoyed helping them out.

Harry's 24th birthday was a quiet affair. He was in the midst of getting ready to be on the team accompanying the UK Olympic muggle security team to the XXVIII summer games.

August –

Ginny was so busy with the Harpies that she did not even have her birthday off. They planned on celebrating it when Harry got back for Greece on the 30th with a 4 day weekend away.

September –

The Olympics had gone off without a hitch and Harry had actually gotten a chance for some site-seeing. When he got home he had taken Ginny to a little muggle inn just outside of Cornwall and they had not left their room for the 4 days except for meals. One of the managers had mistaken them for honeymooners.

November –

AN – from Harry and Ginny

It was a spectacular autumn day. The trees were competing to see which would boast the brightest colors. Harry and Ginny had gone for a picnic. They had found a secluded spot not far from the burrow that boasted magnificent views of the countryside.

Harry was looking forward to the treacle tart the Ginny had baked. "Ginny would you pass me the tart please."

"Harry can you wait on desert for just one minute? I have a present for you."

Ginny handed Harry a thin heavy small box. Puzzled he opened it to find a silver picture frame. "Uh thanks…."

"Harry, look at the engraving." He looked closer at the front of the frame, it said Daddy's boy. Understanding dawned. Harry picked up Ginny and swung her around full circle.

"Oh Ginny we're having a baby!" Harry danced a funny jig all around Ginny.

"I know. I told you, remember!" Ginny laughed.

Harry suddenly sat down. "It says Daddy's BOY! You..we..we're having a BOY?"

All Ginny could do was nod her head she was laughing so hard. Harry wrapped her in to his arms for a long soft kiss.

December -

Christmas that year was a festive occasion. Two new babies added to the fun. Audrey was feeling good enough to join in. A new peace seemed to have settled over George.

Molly had knitted stockings for all the little ones. The boys had bright blue stockings to hang by the fire and the girls had rich burgundy ones.

Christmas morning found Teddy and Victoire happily passing out presents before tearing in to theirs. After all the presents had been opened, Teddy and Victoire had been given permission to play in Ginny's old room with their new quidditch figures. (Teddy now had the Canadian national team and Victoire had gotten her wish of her own stadium, the UK team and the French team.)

"Before everyone runs off Harry and I have one last present for Mum." Ginny handed her mother a box.

Smiling questioningly Molly opened it to find another bright blue stocking. "We will have to hang that one up next year Mum."

Suddenly the adults all roared as they all realized what the stocking meant!

The first to get to Harry and Ginny were Arthur and Molly the last to Ginny was George. He wrapped his arms around her and softly whispered; "Sis you are going to be a great mum. You have no idea how great it is to be a parent!"