Chapter Ten
I was becoming the running joke of my remaining family - my sister Alice and her husband, Frank. "Another one?" Ali asked, looking at me. I was eight months pregnant with my sixth child.
"Well, you're one to talk," I joked, shoving her playfully. Alice was four months pregnant with her first child. "We're basically pregnant at the same time."
"But I'm not on my sixth," Alice pointed out. "I can't imagine! Six! And I suppose this isn't your last," she added, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know," I laughed. "We're close enough, we might as well go for the lucky number seven."
Alice rolled her eyes and grinned at me. "You're crazy," she said seriously. "Really crazy."
"I know," I said happily.
Ronald was born on March 16th. Alice came to St. Mungo's and stayed with me through the whole thing. She was the one who lifted Ron up so I could see him. I grinned at my precious little boy, but couldn't help feel a bit disappointed; six boys, but I did desperately want a girl. So really, I had to have another, just to see.
Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, and George all came out to see their new brother. Percy was the most aloof and Fred and George the most mischievous; while Percy drank his tea, Fred and George tried to play Quidditch with their brother - featuring Ron as the Quaffle. Naturally, Arthur stepped in quickly to stop the twins from causing too much mayhem in a hospital.
The times were getting darker, but for our family, the times seemed to grow happier. Alice's baby boy, Neville, was born on July 30th. Ali and I spent nearly every day together, taking care of our babies and discussing what we thought had been their first words. Frank and Arthur formed the "Dad's Club" - Frank liked to call it the "New Dad's Club" and Arthur jokingly went along with it, since he was practically a new father. Six wasn't that big of a number, after all; he would only graduate from the novice "Dad's Club" at the seventh child, who would make an appearance in about eight months.
A year later, in October, we got the best news we'd had in over a decade. Ali was over at my place, helping me clean up after dinner while Ron, Ginny, and Neville played with their favourite toys, when someone began frantically pounding at the door. "Molly!" Arthur shouted.
I forgot about the security procedures. I flung open the door, conveniently not remembering that Arthur had a key to get into the house. He certainly didn't need to bang on the door so much. "Is something wrong?" I asked worriedly.
"No, no, Molly, it's the best news yet!" Arthur exclaimed, setting down his briefcase, picking me up, and swinging me around. He left the door wide open to the night. "Frank is coming soon - oh, Molly, it's wonderful!"
"Why, what's happened?" Alice asked, wiping her hands on a dishtowel and walking over. "And shouldn't we shut that door?" she added sharply, rushing to our wide-open door.
"No!" Arthur shouted. "You-Know-Who is dead!"
My eyes widened. "Dead?" I exclaimed. "He's - but who killed him?"
Arthur grinned. "Well, it's the most miraculous and no one knows how-! But he went to the Potter's house. He killed James and Lily Potter - but he tried to kill the little boy, Harry, and Harry lived! Harry - the Boy Who Lived!"
"Harry?" Ali asked. "He's only a day younger than my Neville - and his parents are dead?"
"Well, yes," Arthur said, his grin fading. "But You-Know-Who is gone for good - gone! We don't have to worry anymore about anything!"
I felt sorry for the little boy, Harry Potter, whose parents had been Lord Voldemort's last victims. But he had ushered in new light. The constant terror that had gripped me ever since my seventh year at Hogwarts had been lifted from my shoulders. Fabian and Gideon had helped bring about this world, this new world of light and peace. The war was over. My family was safe; my sister, my brother-in-law, my husband, and my seven children.
Frank appeared shortly afterwards to kiss his wife and his year-old boy. We could all start families safely, without the fear of someone unwelcome coming to our door.
It was over at last.