Hugo and Jean were in London for the week, busy with getting the orphans ready for Hogwarts and committee meetings.
They were staying at the renovated Leaky Cauldron. Anyone who had ate or stayed at the Leaky Cauldron in the past were certainly pleased and surprised by the changes that had been made.
The muggle shop next door had been for sale and with a small loan Hannah had been able to secure both properties.
It had long been a blessing and a curse that any access to Diagon alley from muggle London was through the center of the crowded pub and with the post war economy booming more and more magical folk were using the pub's fireplace to floo to London's wizard shopping area.
Working with Arthur Weasley, Hannah had gotten permission to construct a new 'lobby' area on the first floor of the building she had bought. It had two fireplaces hooked up to the floo, several secure apparition booths and a welcome desk, staffed 24 hours a day. The shop owners had wanted a spot for muggle parents to get more information for years and George had led the drive to fund the center. It also had display cases where items available from their shops could be displayed and an area where announcements and sales could be posted.
The top floors of the new building had been connected to the old inn and on suite units built. Tom's old bedroom over the kitchen had been gutted, along about half that floor, and a new private flat for the two of them had been created
The downstairs had seen great changes too. It was no longer dark and smoky with centuries of dirt crusted on. The rich old wood shone from the thorough cleaning it had been given, over the bar was a large flat screen, it would be tuned to the cable-less, most often to the sports channel. A new kitchen had been fitted in the basement.
After the meeting today George had taken them to St Mungo's to acquaint them with the muffle entrance. It was quite cleaver, Around the corner from the store front that served as the magical entrance was what appeared to be a door that led to a bunch of flats, Just inside the door there was what appeared to be a security camera and phone. You simply picked up the phone and stated your name and who you were visiting.
Jean and Hugo needed to know this as Hermione was due to give birth soon. A blessed baby girl was on the way.
Jean had helped Hermione and Ron fix up the nursery in their diagon alley flat and was looking forward to fixing up the room they picked at the Burrow, for Arthur was retiring, he and Molly were moving to Hogsmede and had given the burrow to Ron and Hermione.
It was perfect, he and Jean would be walking distance from their grandchild and had already volunteered to watch the baby when Hermione went back to work.
After George had introduced them to the receptionist at St. Mungo's and they had a tour of the maternity area, they had gone out to see a play, just the two of them on a date! George had hurried off to a family retirement party for Arthur. The Weasley's and Potter's, notorious for being dedicated, nose to the grindstone workers had all taken a half day off! On a Monday!
The MOM had a big celebration planned for Arthur later that month but with Hermione and all her sister-in-laws being large with child, the family wanted a private party before the babies were born. George was getting teased mercilessly by family and friends, it seems his little island should be opened as a fertility clinic. All of the girls had gotten pregnant during Christmas break there!
Hugo had just turned on his mobile, coming out of the theater when it rang. It was Ron, Hermione was in labor!
Wednesday morning found Hugo and Jean with most of the male Weasley's, and Molly, having a celebratory breakfast. They each had a copy of the Prophet:
August 2 2006
Prominent Wizarding Family welcomes four new members on the same day.
It was an event unprecedented in the history of St. Mungo's. "Not since the baby boom the year after Voldemort was defeated have we been this busy." Said mediwitch Cho Chang. "Never, that we know of, have 5 cousins been born on the same day here."
Mrs. Ginny Potter, ne Weasley, reporter for this paper and her Husband Harry, assistant head of the auror department, MOM, welcomed their second child, a boy at 12 past midnight August 1st.
Also welcoming their second child was Mrs. Audrey Weasley and her husband Percy, head of the department of sports regulation, MOM. They had a girl at 4: 15 am.
Mrs. Angelina Weasley and Mr. George Weasley, owner of the wildly successful WWW, welcomed there second child, a girl at 1:20 in the afternoon.
Mrs. Fleur Weasley, maker of the popular "Vela" line of skin care products, and Mr. William Weasley, renowned curse breaker, who works for Gringotts, welcomed their third child, a son at 2:01 pm.
Mrs. Hermione Weasley, head of the department of magical law, MOM, and Mr. Ronald Weasley, auror, MOM, welcomed their first child a girl at 11:59 pm.
"We squeaked that one in!" Mr. R. Weasley was quoted as saying. "I told Hermione to get on with it as all the other's had been born!" Mr. Weasley spoke to us before being admitted to have his broken left shoulder repaired. It is not known how he received the injury.
In a related note; The MOM announced the retirement of Mr. Arthur Weasley. Minister Shakelbolt said of Mr. Weasley; "Arthur has been a trusted coworker of mine for many years. His devotion to cleaning up the ministry and his courage during the war against Voldemort is widely known. He will be missed, but he has earned the right to retire and enjoy spoiling his grandchildren.
The Weasley family is rumored to be one of the richest families in the wizarding world, with the success of WWW. How much they are worth is open to debate as when this reporter tried to inquire at Gringotts I was told to "Mind your own business." By the spokes-goblin.
Hugo chuckled, if they only knew! Arthur and he were heading out to Lloyd's for a meeting concerning the muggle investments WWW's charity had made.
George had listened when Jean had voiced an opinion that there were lots of muggle families dealing with having a magical child, and not all of those families could afford the expenses that entailed.
Freddy's kids already had the mechanics in place to help magical families down on their luck, now Hugo had been elected by the board to head up the muggle side of things. This would be their first year handing out stipends to muggle born students, Arthur would work with Hogwarts and the Ministry to obtain the names of the families.
A group of muggle parents, who already had experienced finding out their child was magical, had volunteered to go with the instructors from Hogwarts with the letters for the students.
WWW sent along with them a atm card to Lloyd's. Lloyd's and Gringotts worked closely together and the card would work in the muggle world and the magical world to buy the supplies that the students needed.
Jean was spending the day with Molly, getting ready for all the girls and new babies to come home on Thursday. Normally they would have only stayed one day, but being who this new crop of wonders belonged to, the MOM wanted an extra day to beef up security around their homes.
