Disclaimer……… All characters are the copyright of JK Rowling
Chapter 20.
Christmas day
Charlie woke early and looked around, unsure at first why he felt excited, milliseconds later he remembered, today was the big day. Today he would marry Nicky. The thought bought a huge smile to his face, a smile that remained there as he got dressed then went down to the kitchen for breakfast, Molly was busy cooking as usual though she seemed just a little tense as she fussed over her pots, breakfast was going to be an enormous task as they had people arriving from all over the wizarding world, all probably hungry after such an early start to the day.
"Wish we had a house elf," she said to Charlie as she placed his breakfast in front of him, "it would make things so much easier if I had help."
Charlie looked up from the table and studied his mother and it dawned on him that she was looking older, he realised that she had a tremendous amount to do on these special occasions; it was something he had never thought about before. Half way through his breakfast he heard hesitant footsteps on the stairs, he looked at his mother for some sort of explanation.
"That will be Caddie, George's friend, she's probably a little shy," Molly said as she pointed her wand at another plate on the rack, it soared gently over to the table and settled opposite him. Caddie came slowly down the last flight of stairs wondering what she might find, would she be too early for breakfast or maybe even too late. "Good morning Mrs Weasley," she said as she reached the last step.
"Good morning dear, did you sleep well, take a seat breakfast will be ready in just a few seconds," Molly replied cheerfully.
Caddie took the seat in front of the empty plate and looked at Charlie, "morning," she said quietly.
"Oh sorry dear, this is Charlie, he's the one getting married today," Molly told her as she placed the food on the plate, "Charlie this is Caddie."
"I hope George knows just what a gorgeous woman he has?" Charlie announced as he took in the beauty in front of him.
Caddie smiled her cheeks turning pink and looked down at her food, in the village she had come from the men had nearly all been old and she had never had so many compliments, her face blushed more brightly as she thought about it. It was not long before they were joined by Arthur who had dressed in his best robes, a new outfit that had been supplied to him when he had taken office as Minister.
"Morning all," Arthur quipped cheerfully as he sat at the table, "could I just have a nice cup of tea this morning dear?"
Molly gave her husband his tea and once more wished out loud for a house elf to help out.
"If you need some help Mrs Weasley I could help," Caddie said rising from her seat.
"You finish your food dear, it was just a little wishful thinking," Molly said as she refilled the plates then the cups with fresh food and drink.
"I could get the fairy folk to help out if you need them, and with the wedding and the party it looks like you will be needing some help," Caddie said as the kitchen door opened.
Caddie stared up at the ceiling a look of concentration on her face, after a few seconds several fairies appeared in the kitchen. Caddie spoke to them in a tinkling sort of language and then smiled at Molly. "Your helpers for the day," she said pointing at the fairies all of whom were watching Molly eagerly, "just tell them what you need and they will get it done."
Molly was pleasantly surprised by Caddie's apparent control of the fairies and accepted their help willingly "Thank you dear, it will be so nice to have some help."
Charlie sat open mouthed as his soon to be wife came down the stairs, she was still in her dressing gown, her hair still untidy and she looked sleepy, yet to him she looked beautiful and radiant. "Good Morning all," she announced as she joined them at the table.
"Nicky sweetheart you look wonderful," Charlie whispered to her, a look of adoration in his eyes.
Their attention was drawn to the door as it opened Harry and Hermione entered hand in hand, they both looked happy enough to burst. Molly left her cooking and rushed over to Hermione, grabbing her in a warm embrace, she then stood back and placed her hand on Hermione's stomach and bent down to whisper good morning to it.
"Molly I doubt the baby is developed enough to hear you," Hermione laughed.
"You never know," Molly said as she grabbed Harry and tried to squeeze the life from him with a huge hug.
"Mum let the poor man breath," Charlie chuckled as he watched Harry's face change colour.
"Morning Molly, Arthur, Caddie, Nicky and thanks Charlie," Harry laughed as Molly let him go.
"How is Hermione this morning?" Arthur asked in between sips of tea.
"Absolutely fine thank you Arthur, in fact I couldn't be any happier than I am right now," Hermione replied.
"And you Harry are you ok?" Arthur asked already knowing the answer.
"I'm fine thanks, but I would probably feel even better if I had a nice mug of tea," Harry replied looking with a side ways glance at Hermione.
"He's just moaning because I made him leave his mug of tea behind, he wanted to bring it with him, I ask you," Hermione said with a mock sigh.
Two small fairies had a mug of tea ready for Harry even as Molly thought of it, she was amazed at how they had pre-empted her thoughts, 'if that happens all day I'll have nothing to do' she thought as she turned to the cooking.
Harry sat down and began talking with Arthur and Charlie while Hermione sat with Nicky and Caddie discussing the wedding and their dresses. Ten minutes later they were interrupted when Ron and Luna joined them, Ron as usual entered the kitchen declaring that he was starving. Luna gasped and turned a shade of pink, "Ronald Weasley, how on earth could you be starving, honestly mum he had enough breakfast to feed three large pigs," she declared looking at Ron in shock.
"It's ok Luna dear, Ron would declare his hunger half way through a meal if his mouth was empty long enough," Molly laughed at the indignant look on Luna's face that was aimed at Ron.
Ron's shrugged his shoulders "I was just saying," he said as he took the seat next to Harry. Looking around he noticed they were all grinning at him and he turned a dark shade of red, "well I like my food," he declared.
Just a few minutes later and George and Fred arrived from their shop. Almost as soon as they had sat down the conversation at the table turned to George and Caddie.
"I was checking out my books last night and I found and copied this, it was in Irish Myths and legends," Hermione said handing Arthur a piece of parchment. Arthur read the parchment slowly as he finished off his tea.
"Well what does it say?" asked Molly staring at him.
Arthur gave the parchment a little shake and cleared his throat; he then began to read it to them.
' The Tuatha Dé Danann arrived in Ireland bearing with them their stone of destiny called the Lia Fail which they placed on the mound of Tara and ever after the rightful kings of Ireland were chosen when it called out.
They also brought the spear of Lugh which ensured victory to whoever wielded it, The Sword of Nuada from whom none could escape and the Cauldron of the Dagda from which none would go unsatisfied.
There is a story that they came to Ireland in flying ships but could not land as the Fomorians had set up a great energy field that they could not penetrate. So they had to circle Ireland nine times before finding a breach in the energy field and setting down on Sliabh an Iarainn in Co. Leitrim.
They clashed with the Fir Bolg who they defeated at the first battle of Magh Tuiredh and routed towards the West of Ireland where they allowed them to stay. After defeating the Fir-Bolg they were challenged by the Fomorians and had to fight another battle this time in Co. Roscommon, which became known as the second battle of Magh Tuiredh, they defeated the great Fomorian warrior Balor, and so laid undisputed claim to the land.
They prospered under their two great heroes Nuada of the Silver Arm and Lugh of the Long Arm. They were eventually defeated by the Milesians at Teltown.
As they were a magical people they decided to go underground into another dimension of space and time the entrances to which are at many sites around Ireland; one of the most famous being Brugh na Boinne.
It was reputed that only iron weapons could injure them. They became like gods to the later Celtic people and were worshipped as such. They became known as the people of the Sidhe and there are many Fairy Mounds in existence in Ireland today.'
Arthur finished reading and passed the parchment to Harry, after a quick look Harry passed it to Charlie. The parchment was passed from one to another till all around the table had read it.
"I wonder why we never heard all this before." Arthur said to no one in particular.
"We, that is my ancestors decided it was best if we were believed to be a legend, a myth," Caddie answered, "that way we were not forever being challenged to do battle."
"So the sword George used belonged to someone called Nuada then?" Ron asked as he stuck his fork into yet another sausage.
"That's right and it is a most powerful weapon, there is not a living creature it can not slay," Caddie answered.
Arthur was highly interested in the sword but as soon as he started to ask questions Molly told him that they had more important things to do over the weekend. "We don't have time for any Ministry nonsense, we have to get the wedding and the party finished before you become Minister again," she said as she placed more food on the table. She finally ushered them all from her kitchen, telling them that there was much work to be done, it was still snowing out side and they needed to prepare the field ready for the wedding.
As they were ushered from the door Ron asked "Has anyone remembered its Christmas day? I mean I was expecting to be opening presents not shifting snow."
Everyone looked at him oddly.
"Seems you all forgot." he said a little sadly.