Chapter 10: The Greatest is Love
Albus Dumbledore used to say that there were many, many types of magic - as many types of magic as there are people. He would then quote the thirteenth apprentice, who wrote in his letter to the wizards of Corinthia that there were three types of magic so great that they remained even to the muggles: faith, hope, and love.
The Burrow is enmeshed in such magic.
When you have had your fill of soap-operatic romance, drama, and high tragedy you'll want to head home to The Burrow. Those things have simply no place in The Burrow. There are fights, but they end before the sun goes down. There are misunderstandings, but they fade. There is a multitude of sins, but it is covered over by a deep, abiding love.
At the head of the table sit Arthur and Molly Weasley. In their younger days, they sat at opposite ends of the table, trying between the two of them to bring order to the chaos brought on by seven children. The years have brought them closer together. They drink from one another's cups and finish each others sentences. After dinner, they hold hands under the table and listen to the wild tales told to them by whoever remains of their brood.
Tonight they are almost all here.
Bill and his muggle "life mate" (Molly shakes her head as she says the phrase) April are not here, but are somewhere in the African underground, unreachable by owl. Their daughter Morghana is present in their place. She is a tall, beautiful witch, sixteen years old. She resembles her muggle mother - her skin is a pale white, her hair is long, thin, and black. She lives with Arthur and Molly while she goes to school - she is the only Weasley who has ever been a Slytherin, but has won them over through her flirty ways, quick wit, and deep family loyalty.
Charlie and his sweet wife, Belinda, are here with their 7-year old son Tort. They flew in at last notice, on a dragon, no less. Tort is wandering around the kitchen, trying to ride on Gladiator, Ron's enormous dog. Charlie is engrossed in conversation with Percy on the restrictions for animal breeding imposed by the ministry.
Percy is here with Penelope and their twelve-year-old twins. The twins are a boy and a girl, aptly named after their parents. They are called "Pep" and "Penny" for short. They promise to be as troublesome as the original Weasley twins, Fred and George. They are Weasleys at first glance, red hair, sparkling eyes.
Fred and Angelina are here. They were unable to have children of their own but, much like Ginny and Harry, took in orphaned children of the dark war. Two girls, two boys. All are grown up and giving much pride to their adopted parents at various universities in both England and America.
George is here alone. He always finds a way to laugh about it, and make you laugh with him. Even his mother is fooled - usually. Many a woman has tried to win the heart of handsome George Weasley, only to find herself pushing against a brick wall. He is kind and seems to regard the entire female race with a kind of wonder. If Fred or Charlie were to think back, they might recall a certain girl with green eyes and straw-colored hair who fell under Voldemort's cruelty, and they might make the connection. But maybe they wouldn't - who can tell with boys, even the grown-up ones?
Ron is late, but this is nothing strange. He usually stumbles in late, either with an elaborate excuse or a pretty girl. Tonight he will have two of each.
The only other one missing is Ginny and her husband, beloved Harry. Both are there in spirit, and their places are set next to Ron's. Molly is fretting over Ginny's difficult pregnancy, but no one is taking it too seriously.
The Weasley's have made it through fights and misunderstandings and dark wars - there is some kind of powerful charm guarding their whole family. What could a little pregnancy ever do to them? If Voldemort's dark army can't even dent the little family, what could ever threaten to do so?
Nothing.
The greatest of all magic is love.
