Just to make things clear at the end of Chapter 8 it was Hermione's grandfather that died not her dad. Just to let you know. As always thanks to the reviewers. I was quite disappointed to get such a small number of reviews- please review because it makes me so happy. grins

Now onto the story……………………………

Chapter 9

December 29th

The taxi pulled up at the entrance to Beecham Hill Cemetery and the four occupants stepped out keeping straight, strained faces. The taxi driver looked at his four passengers. There was a tall, skinny red-haired man whose lips were pursed in an obvious attempt to stop him from crying. Clutching his arm was a woman of medium height with bushy brown hair and big red circles round her eyes from crying and little tears streaming down her face. Bending down to pay was a man with black hair and a crooked scar on his forehead. He carried a solemn look and had his arm around he fourth passenger. She looked vaguely like the red-haired man with similarly bright hair. She shook her head in almost disbelief as she clung onto the black-haired man for support

"Take care," the taxi driver said looking at the unhappy group. They nodded and walked through the cemetery doors. He drove off hoping it was nothing to serious.

"Thanks for coming. It really does mean a lot to me," Hermione looked up at Harry and Ginny.

"We wouldn't dream of not coming." They breathed gentle sighs and walked up to where the rest of the congregation were gathered.

"It was a beautiful ceremony," Ginny said pensively when they had apparated back to The Den.

"He must have been an amazing man," Harry put in, nodding.

"He was. He really, really was." She said, tears springing to her eyes.

Ron set about making tea and they discussed John Granger until even Hermione could smile at some of the memories.

January 1st- Midnight

"Happy New Year!" Fred screamed, yanking the cork out of some champagne and throwing the bottle over everyone.

The whole family were partying in and out of every house and in the street as they welcomed a fresh start.

"This is gonna be a FANTASTIC year!" shouted Ginny.

Every roared they're approval and turned the music up. It was going to be a big year for the Weasleys; three new babies were due to come- Alicia and George's any minute now!

Only Percy, Jane and Honour stood sniffing next to the refreshments table. Honour had refused to join in all the crazy games that her cousins had made up and that had sent them shrieking through every house and giggling hysterically.

It wasn't just the Weasleys who were partying all night long. Remus and Tonks had brought their three- year- old Melanie and two-year-old George who were bonding excellently with the Potter/Weasley toddlers. The Longbottoms had brought their kids and so had the Finnigans. But the most exciting guest was Hagrid who had brought along Madame Maxime.

A clink was heard coming from near the barbeque and every turned around to see Hagrid and Madame Maxime standing up with spoons and glasses in their hands. Someone switched the music off and the kids all quietened down to soft whispers.

"Well," Hagrid began, blushing an ever so light rose pink. "Over fifteen years ago now Hogwarts held a contes' called the Triwizard Tournament. Now tragically a student died consequently and You-Know-Who returned. Because of an evil use of polyjuice potion we almost lost Harry. Now you are prob'bly wondering why I have in'errupted your fun to remind you of awful things. Well every cloud does has a silver linin', and there is a ligh' at the end of every tunnel because that contes' brought together Olympe and me. We were, are, very diff'rent, but we share a uni'ed soul and I'd like to take this momen' to announce our engagement!" He ended on a loud yell of joy and everyone began to cheer noisily. Even Percy and co. managed a half-hearted clap or two. Another bottle, this time of butterbeer, was opened and the music was out on full blast.

"Congratulations!" A beaming Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny grinned at Hagrid and Madame Maxime.

"Aw thanks!" Hagrid couldn't keep the ecstatic beam off his face. "I remember when you lot where li'l firs' years' knocking it about alone. An' you Harry, I remember y' Mum and Dad when they where at school…I never thought I'd get married but here I am organising ca'erers!" (A.N that's Hagrid speak for caterers'.) They shared a group hug and wished Hagrid the best.

January 26th

Hermione, Ginny and Ron sat at the Potters' kitchen table sipping tea.

"Where is everyone?" Hermione asked puzzled.

"Harry is at work, James' is over at Charlie and Linda's, Lils is with Bill and Fleur baking French pastries and the twins' are over at George and Ali's."

As she said this the twins' came running into the room panting.

"Aunt Alicia is having the baby! Aunt Alicia's having the baby!" they shouted over each other.

"Oh my gosh!" Hermione squeaked and they all rushed out of the house. Everyone was already in the street apart from Percy, Honour and Jane. They sat at home reading, as though nothing particular was going on, although they had been informed of he coming of he baby.

"She needs to get to St. Mungo's." Angelina took charge.

"Can you apparate?" asked Hermione.

"I'm not allowed to!" Alicia shouted. "Someone get me to a hospital and fast!"

"Can you side-apparate with someone else?" asked Ron.

"Yeah I think so"

"Come on!" George said taking his wife's arm and they were gone. Molly and Arthur soon followed and everyone else wondered what to do.

"Someone get a car!" Bill yelled.

A quarter of an hour later enough taxis arrived to escort everyone to the hospital. Percy's family stayed firmly in their home.

Molly, Arthur and George had accompanied Alicia into the delivery room and everyone else sat in the waiting room. Daisy and Jake began to cry but Ginny soon had them smiling again.

Just under five hours later a nurse came out through a door and said that they could come in. The whole lot of them came bounding into the room where George held a baby wrapped in yellow blankets.

"Mummy!" Daisy and Jake jumped onto the bed and snuggled in with their mum.

"So?" Ron asked.

"So what?" George looked confused.

"Boy or girl? Boy or girl?"

"Right! It's a boy!"

"Any ideas for a name?" asked Molly, now holding the bundle of blankets who was being passed around.

"Well we've thought and thought about it and no other name seems right. We've decided to call him…"

HEY GUYS! That may not have been the longest chapter ever but it was packed full! There was a funeral, New Year's, an engagement and a new baby all in less than a month!

I've decided to leave it on a cliff-hanger where Alicia is about to announce the new baby's name. Now please review with name ideas. Remember he is the little brother of Daisy and Jake so those kinds of names. Please review and the winner of the baby name challenge will be announced in the next chapter!