"Next-Gen Lovin'"

Summary: Let her have some fun for once, she won't be a kid forever."
Prompt(s): Molly Weasley
Rating: K+, Genre: Family, Characters: Percy Weasley, Molly Weasley II, World: Post-Hogwarts, Next Generation
Word Count: 1,703
Beta: natida

Notes: This was also inspired by a song 'Cat's in the Cradle' by (I don't know, it has several covers and I'm not sure which version I heard). It was very fitting for what I was aiming for and helped me with the structure so thought it was worth mentioning

Cat's in the Cradle

Percy Weasley apparated home from a satisfying day of work at the Ministry; so satisfying, in fact, that his boss had told him he was up for a promotion if he kept this up. He and his family had just moved into a larger house thanks, in part, to the pay raise he'd received for his efforts, and as Molly was walking now and he and his wife Audrey were planning on having a second child, the extra space was welcome. The Floo Network hadn't been set up though, so he and Audrey had to apparate there for the time being.

His good mood evaporated in an instant, however, as he saw his two year old outside the house; she was running around jumping in puddles. Puddles. Getting her dress wet – and wet with filthy, dirty rainwater.

Percy rushed forwards and grabbed her immediately, and her large chocolate brown eyes were fixed on him while her freckled face pouted. He immediately took out his wand started to magically dry her off.

"No, Molly, we do not play in puddles," Percy chastised her strictly. "You know this."

"But it's fun," Molly complained as he finished drying her off.

"Yeah, Perce, lighten up," a familiar voice criticized, and Percy turned his gaze to the doorway where George stood, his own baby son in arms; he had been babysitting while he and Audrey worked. "A little splash of water isn't going to kill her. Let her have some fun for once, she won't be a kid forever."

"Exactly," Percy insisted and his brother gave him a confused look. "She has to grow up and it's not acceptable for adults to run around jumping in puddles. If we don't teach her these things now she's not going to know any better for when she's older."

"She's two. She's not even toilet trained."

"Well, maybe she would be if the people babysitting encouraged that instead of running around in puddles like a lunatic," Percy said more harshly then he'd meant it, as he finished cleaning his daughter up; her red hair was also looking rather frizzy and in need of a brush. He picked her up. "Come on Molly; let's get your hair brushed nicely."

"But I wanna play," Molly whined unhappily as she was carried inside.

Seven years later…

Percy flooed home from a long day of work at the Ministry. He was putting in a lot of overtime as his boss was retiring and he had a real shot of replacing him if he worked hard enough. In fact, he'd brought some paperwork home with him to try get ahead for tomorrow. They were well established into their house now, and as Molly was almost of Hogwarts age the house would be feeling emptier soon, as just little Lucy would be left for most of the year. Lucy was only five, so she still had a way to go before Hogwarts.

After stepping out of the fireplace, he heard thundering of footsteps and had to scowl; one or both of his children were clearly running in the house. Running. Hadn't he told them a thousand times already that it was dangerous to do that as they could hurt themselves? It was an outside activity.

Molly rushed into the room an instant later; throwing her arms around him to hug him in greeting.

"Molly, what have I told you about running in the house?" Percy criticized immediately as he pulled away.

She pouted. "But I was excited you were home!"

"Daddy!" Lucy cried happily as she also reached the room, a chubby little girl, waddling over to cuddle him. At least one of his children obeyed the rules.

"So…?"

"So what?" Percy wondered in confusion as he pulled away from Lucy. Molly looked hurt.

"You promised you'd play with me when you got home today," Molly pointed out and Percy had to think for a minute; he did recall it vaguely, but he had work to do. "That you'd take me out on my new broom, remember?"

"I remember, but I have work to do right now," Percy insisted, and saw his daughter's face fall slightly. He sighed and put his hand on her shoulder. "Look, Molly, there's a big promotion that I can get if I work hard enough. It'll mean I'm more important, we get more money, and we can afford better things."

"Wouldn't you rather play with me?"

"Of course I'd rather play with you, but I'm an adult, I can't just do whatever I want. If I didn't have a job then we wouldn't have a house, and you wouldn't have any toys to play with if I had no money. This is important."

"Okay, Dad," Molly sighed, but he thought she did have a more understanding expression as he walked away.

Nine years later…

Percy headed downstairs after having gotten washed and dressed; for once, work was not the most important thing on his mind. Lucy was starting her fourth year of Hogwarts in a few weeks and Molly had actually graduated, so the only question remaining was what grades she'd get. They were just waiting on her N.E.W.T. results to arrive by owl, and it could be any day now. He was anxious to see what she'd get; she hadn't been made prefect or Head Girl but her O.W.L. results had been good, so he wasn't sure what to expect.

The scent of sizzling bacon greeted him as he entered the kitchen where most of his family was already assembled–only Molly wasn't there. Audrey was already at the stove while fourteen year old Lucy sat at the table, a letter behind her sheet of red hair. A letter with the Hogwarts seal no less. Percy felt his stomach twist into an iron knot for the first time since his own N.E.W.T. results letter had arrived, because surely if Lucy had gotten her Hogwarts letter then Molly's results had arrived.

"Has–"

"Yes, the results arrived," Lucy answered before he'd finished asking, without even looking up. "Molly isn't down yet so we haven't opened them."

"Someone say my name?" Molly's voice questioned.

Percy spun to see his eldest girl following him into the room; already fully dressed and looking quite awake. Audrey silently pulled a letter from her pocket and handed it to Molly.

His daughter swallowed nervously as she took it with trembling fingers, while Percy and Audrey went to hover over her shoulders as she opened it. She bit her lip as she unfolded the parchment, but it was unnecessary; a wave of relief crashed through him and destroyed his nerves. She'd gotten all Outstandings.

"I'm so proud of you!" Percy burst out and hugged his daughter tightly.

"We both are, sweetheart," Audrey added, and put a hand on Molly's shoulder as she pulled away from Percy with a smile on her face.

"This is fantastic! You did brilliantly! Did I mention I was proud of you?" Percy rambled, still caught up in his ecstatic delight at her achievement. "We have to tell the whole family–we should go out for a nice meal or–we should throw a party for you to celebrate and–"

"Maybe some other time," Molly cut him off. "Now that I have my grades, I can send them off for those jobs I'm interested in. The sooner I apply the better it looks for me and the more chance I have."

"Forget that, Molly, celebrate now and worry about that later. Savor the moment."

"Good one, Dad," Molly laughed and clapped him on the shoulder before walking out.

Percy watched her go in confusion.

Twenty years later…

Percy stepped off the Knight Bus where he'd been enjoying a pleasant nap on the journey; he had been finding life pretty slow since he'd retired and been quite lonely, really. Audrey hadn't retired yet and both of his daughters had long since moved away with families of their own, so it was just him rattling around the house by himself. That was one of the reasons why he'd decided to show up and surprise Molly; he didn't see his daughters enough,especially his eldest as she'd moved further away.

He was happy to be greeted by the sight of his little grandson playing outside in the garden; the small child zipping around happily. Percy smiled to himself at how big the boy was getting now. He only looked away when the door opened and Molly left the house. She smiled when she saw him and they greeted each other with a hug.

"Dad! It's such a surprise to see you," Molly said happily as she pulled away. "What are you doing here?"

"Just came to see you and my grandkids," Percy explained, and Molly's expression became strained.

"Well, that's great, you can see the kids anyway, but I have to work."

"You have to work? Wouldn't you rather spare a day to spend time with your Dad?" Percy wondered incredulously. It was as if she was speaking a different language.

"Of course I would, but I can't just do whatever I want, I'm an adult. I have work and responsibilities," Molly insisted, before catching sight of her son; he was jumping into a puddle. "Orson! Inside now, I told you before not to play in puddles or you have to play inside."

"But Mummy…" Orson whined, stamping his feet childishly. But Molly pointed to the door and the boy trudged back inside unhappily.

"A little water won't kill him, just let him play," Percy said, feeling bad for his grandson and rather surprised at Molly's behavior. "Since when did you care about that stuff anyway?"

"Since I grew up," Molly told him as if it were obvious before giving him a consoling smile. "Bye Dad, see you."

"Bye," Percy muttered as she disapparated.