"Come on dear, if you don't hurry, we're going to be late." Auden picked up Aerilyn's hand and pulled her after Fred and the triplets. They were on their way to Platform 9 ¾. It was Aerilyn's first year at Hogwarts and the triplet's third year. Aerilyn had been bouncing with excitement until now. Now, she just seemed nervous.
Finn and Cameron ran through the barrier first, followed by Fred and Felicity, then Auden and Aerilyn.
"I see Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione!" Finn yelled.
"Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny too!" Felicity added.
"Don't go anywhere just yet," Auden said. "We'll all walk over together. I don't want you getting lost. It's crowded."
They made their way over to where Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny were standing, surrounded by their own children. James was starting his second year, and Albus and Rose were starting their first year, just like Aerilyn. Hugo and Lily wouldn't start for another two years.
James was the first one to notice Auden, Fred and the kids. He tugged on Harry's sleeve and pointed before running up to the triplets to show them his owl that happened to look just like Hedwig.
"Coincidence?" Fred asked Harry, raising his eyebrows.
"No," Harry said, holding up his hands. "He picked it out all on his own. I didn't influence him one bit."
"If by that you mean you made a beeline straight for that one owl and didn't walk away from it, even when James asked if you liked any other owls." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"I was just asking Harry if he parked alright," Ron said to Auden and Fred. "Hermione didn't think I could pass a Muggle driving test."
"As I've already told you," Hermione sighed, "I knew you could do it."
Ron smiled before leaning in closer to Fred and Auden. "I actually did Confund the instructor, though," he said with a sheepish smile.
"Of course you did," Auden laughed.
"We parked fine," Fred said with a proud grin. "We parked great, actually, if I do say so myself."
"Oh, yes, Fred's a lot better at driving then he was when he first tried," Auden said. "The first time he tried to drive a car, he backed into a fence."
Ron burst into laughter as Fred looked embarrassed. "I thought it would be easy!" he protested as his ears turned red.
"It's not like flying your dad's enchanted car," Auden told him. "I believe I told you that a long time ago as well." She smiled gently and reached up to smooth down a piece of his hair that had blown out of place.
"I don't understand why we had to drive anyway," Hugo mumbled. "I want to try that side along apparation."
"We can't just Apparate into a Muggle train station, Hugo," Hermione said. "I've told you this many times."
Auden smiled. "You mean you haven't forced him to read Hogwarts, A History yet?" she asked.
"I've tried," Hermione sighed. "But he and Rose won't have it."
"She tried to read it to them as a bedtime story," Ron chimed in, rolling his eyes. "But it did put them to sleep straightaway."
"Which was my plan all along," Hermione muttered, fiddling with the strap of her bag.
Auden then caught sight of Albus, Rose and Aerilyn, who were standing in a nervous group, close to the train, looking up at it with wide eyes. Auden almost wished she were eleven again so that she could relive the feeling of seeing the train for the first time.
"We're going to go find a compartment and put our luggage in it," James yelled as he ran off with the triplets.
"Don't forget to come back so we can embarrass you by kissing you goodbye!" Fred yelled after them.
"That'll make them come back," Auden snorted.
"Hey, there's Uncle George," Hugo pointed.
Sure enough, George was making his way towards them, holding hands with Katie, who was holding onto their youngest child, Raina's hand. The thirteen year old twins, Shannon and Matthew followed close behind.
"It's bloody scary that Fred and George have triplets and twins," Ron said. "I still can't get over it."
"Get used to it, Ron," Fred nudged his brother's shoulder.
Moments later, Ben and Marnie showed up with Kaylee and Brad, who were now fifteen and thirteen. They had moved back from Romania and Ben had Marnie had gotten jobs at the Ministry. Ben always said it wasn't as exciting as working with dragons, but he liked being back home. He hadn't wanted his children growing up around dragons and he also wasn't going to let them miss out on Hogwarts.
"Alright, let's get you all on the train," Hermione said. "It'll be leaving soon."
"Where did James get off to with the triplets?" Ginny asked as Hermione and Ron helped Rose onto the train.
"There they are," George pointed. Raina was pulling on his hand in her rush to get on the train. Shannon and Matthew were already on the train, sticking their heads out the window and waving at Finn, Cameron and Felicity, who were trying to keep up with James who was racing towards his parents, laughing.
"Guess who we just saw?"
"Who?" Harry asked.
"Teddy and he was with Victoire and they were kissing! Our cousin Victoire and Teddy Lupin! Kissing!"
"Oh, how lovely," Lily said.
"I think so too," Felicity said, grinning.
"Well personally I thought it was quite-," Finn began.
"Disgusting," Cameron finished. "Both of them are practically our-,"
"Family," Finn said.
"Wouldn't it be lovely if they got married?" Lily asked. "Teddy would really be family then."
"He already comes over for dinner every other night," Harry laughed.
"But listen!" James said loudly. "I asked them what they were doing and Teddy said he was just saying goodbye and then he told me to go away."
"You interrupted them?" Ginny asked. "You are so like Ron."
"Which isn't always a bad thing," Ron added, returning from getting Rose on the train. She was sticking her head out of the window talking to Hermione.
The train's whistle blew, warning everyone that it was almost time to leave.
"Mum," Aerilyn said in a whisper. She was twirling a ring on her finger. The same ring that had once been Auden's, given to her by her mother on her eleventh birthday. And when Aerilyn had turned eleven, Auden had passed the ring on to her.
"Yes?" Auden knelt down in front of her daughter and waited for her to speak.
"Daddy said something about having to fight a troll to figure out what House we get put into. I don't know how to fight a troll," she whispered the last bit into Auden's ear.
Auden laughed. "I'll have to have a talk with your father. You know him, he likes to play jokes. He told Ron the same thing on our first day of school. There's no troll. The Sorting is very easy, trust me."
"What do we have to do?"
"You'll see when you get there, but don't worry; it's nothing to worry about."
"Will you hate me if I'm not in Gryffindor? Uncle Ron said he's going to disown Rose if she isn't."
"Uncle Ron was just kidding, too. There's nothing wrong with any of the Houses."
"But Slytherin-,"
"I don't think you'll be in Slytherin," Auden said, brushing hair away from her daughter's face, "but if you are, you shouldn't worry. No one in this family will be disowned for being put into any of the houses."
Aerilyn nodded and threw her arms around her mother's neck before hugging Fred tightly and getting onto the train.
"Bye, Mum," the triplets hugged Auden all at once, nearly knocking her over, and then they too hopped onto the train to join the rest of their cousins.
"Now, don't forget," Harry said, "Hagrid says you're all welcome for tea any time."
"I wouldn't advise you to eat his food, but you should at least be polite and fake it," Auden added.
"What's wrong with his food?" Rose asked.
"It'll break your teeth," Hermione said. "And Grandma and Grandpa Granger wouldn't be too happy if you came home for Christmas with broken teeth."
"Remember to beat out Scorpious Malfoy in every test," Ron added. "And stay away from giant spiders and blast ended skrewts."
"Giant spiders? Where?" Finn asked.
"Can we bring one home?" Cameron asked.
"Absolutely not," Auden shook her head.
"Yeah, listen to your mum," Ron mumbled.
"What about a toilet seat?" Felicity asked, looking directly at Auden and Fred, who looked at each other.
"How did you find out about that?" Fred asked.
"When you took us to the shop, I saw it hanging above the fireplace in the flat," Felicity shrugged. "I got Uncle George to tell me the story."
"In my defense, it's hard to say no to those kids," George said.
Auden laughed and shook her head. "Stay out of trouble. All of you."
"Not completely out of trouble, though," Fred added. "Don't forget to prank Scorpious any chance you get and anyone else who gets on your nerves. I'll send you some Skiving Snackboxes next week."
"Yes!" the triplets cheered.
"You'll do no such thing," Auden turned to Fred, glaring at him.
"How else are they going to get their pranking supplies?" Fred asked.
Auden closed her eyes and sighed, but a smile formed on her face. She knew she couldn't change her children's minds about pranking. They were Fred's children and it only made sense that they loved pulling pranks just as much as he did.
"Don't forget to send Neville our love," Ginny said.
"We can't give a professor love!" James protested.
"But you know Neville."
"Outside, yeah," Felicity said, "but at school he's Professor Longbottom, isn't he?"
"We can't walk into Herbology and give him love!" James added, sticking his tongue out as if he were disgusted.
"Of course you can," Hermione said.
"No, they can't," George argued as Ron nodded by his side. "That's just downright embarrassing."
"Fine, then don't give him any love," Ginny huffed. "Just completely ignore him and act like you don't know him at all."
"At least ask him how Luna's last trip to Sweden was," Auden said.
"No, we're not going to ask a professor about his wife," Finn said.
"Why not?" Fred asked.
"Because that's almost as bad as giving him love!" Cameron answered. The train was beginning to pull away from the station.
"Everyone's staring at you, dad!" James said, excitedly. "They know, don't they?"
"No, it's me," Ron said. "I'm extremely famous, too, you know."
"For what?" Rose yelled, snorting as the train slowly moved further away.
"For the best game of chess Hogwarts has ever seen!" Ron yelled back, waving.
Auden slid her arms around Fred and they both waved, watching the faces of their children, nieces, and nephews grow smaller and smaller. It was surreal. All of her kids were finally at Hogwarts. She almost envied them in a way. She wished she could go back to being a first year and experiencing it all for the first time again.
"Well, that's it then," Fred said, "All of our children have left us."
Auden laughed. "We have a while before they leave for good."
"Yeah, fifty years for the boys and a hundred years for the girls," Fred answered with a small nod as if her were proud of his calculations. "And any guy that wants to date our daughters has to submit to questioning."
Auden snorted. "I'm sure the girls will love that idea. Will these prospective boyfriends have to stay five feet away from them as well?"
"Of course," Fred answered. "I'm actually thinking more along the lines of ten feet, though."
Auden laughed. "What happens if they don't listen?"
"I'll hex them," Fred answered simply, pulling her closer and kissing her forehead.
"You didn't obey that rule, though, so you may not be in a position to do that," Auden whispered, resting her forehead against his.
"Well, I knew what I was doing," Fred said. "We all know how innocent and perfect I always was. I can't say the same for other boys."
"We only do this for their protection, Aud," George said, overhearing the conversation and noticing Auden's smile and eye roll.
"Let's not worry about them dating just yet," she said. "They're only children."
"If you're so sure we don't have to worry, what if they come home for the summer with a significant other?" Fred asked, smirking.
"They won't, but if they did I'd make them eat nothing but broccoli for a week."
"That's a cruel punishment," George shook his head.
"I agree," Fred answered, nodding.
"Uh-huh, you better hope I don't make you eat only broccoli for a week Fred Weasley." She pointed a finger in his face.
"For what?" he asked.
"For being a downright annoyance," she laughed.
"Oh yeah?" he grabbed her around the waist from behind and she squealed with laughter as he held her tight, her arms pinned to her sides.
"Good thing the kids left already. You'd be embarrassing them," Ben laughed.
"Never mind the kids. You're embarrassing us," Ron mumbled.
"Shut up, Ron. Don't make me hide a spider under your pillow," Auden said through her laughter.
Ron's ears turned pink, but he kept his mouth shut.
"That's what I thought," Auden giggled.
"Honestly, people are staring," Hermione said as Auden continued to try and wrestle out of Fred's grip. "It's like you're still teenagers."
"Ah, Hermione, we're still young at heart," Fred said. "You should try it sometime."
"You're allowed to be young at heart. You own a joke shop," Hermione argued, rolling her eyes.
"Just because you work at the Ministry doesn't mean you shouldn't have fun," George said. "Actually, it's all the more reason to or else-,"
"You'll end up-," Fred continued.
"Like Percy used to be," George said.
Fred nodded. "He came around eventually but-,"
"Who knows, you might not be that lucky," George finished.
"George," Katie scolded.
"It's the truth," George said, putting his arm around her shoulders.
Hermione just rolled her eyes. "Trust me I won't end up like Percy. I know better."
"Oh, but of course," Fred said. "You always know everything."
Hermione glared at Fred, but a small smile was threatening to take over her face.
"Okay, I think it's time we go home now," Katie said loudly. "There's no reason to stay now that the train's gone."
"Katie, there's every reason to stay," George said, pretending to be shocked. "The real fun is just beginning after the train leaves." Auden and Fred laughed.
"Sometimes I question your sanity, George," Katie sighed, grabbing his arm and gently pulling him away. "Come on, let's go."
"I've always questioned the sanity of these two," Auden said, gesturing to Fred and George as they walked away.
"How rude," Fred answered, throwing his arm over Auden's shoulders as they walked. She wrapped an arm around his waist. "George and I are completely sane."
Auden heard Ron snort from behind her and with a flick of her wand she turned his watch into a spider without a backwards glance. She smirked as Ron gave a yelp and she could picture him waving his arm around in an attempt to get the spider off. She was only sorry that the children weren't there to witness it.
Dear Mum and Dad,
I am having a wonderful time at Hogwarts. Today was the first day of classes and they're so fascinating, but first, I want to tell you about the Sorting. Mum, you were right. There was no troll. I only had to try on a hat. It was so easy and I wasn't nervous at all. James told me that Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron fought a troll in their first year and they said Mum was there too with Aunt Hermione. Why didn't you tell me? Anyway, I got put into Gryffindor, so I'm with Finn, Cameron and Felicity. And the rest of the family as well for that matter. The food was really good. Finn, Cameron, and Felicity took me down to see the kitchens last night too and we met all the house elves who work there.
Anyway, like I said, my classes are very fascinating. Professor McGonagall is still teaching Transfiguration even though she's the headmistress. I like her. She's strict, but she's very nice. The triplets like her, too, but they act like they don't because of how she always gave them detention last year. I like Professor Flitwick, too. He's funny. I'm definitely the worst at Potions, but Professor Slughorn is very understanding. I'm glad that Professor McGonagall allowed Professor Lupin to take over the Defense Against the Dark Arts job again. I'm also glad people have a better understanding of werewolves so he can teach here without getting "angry letters from parents," as Finn described it.
This afternoon, the triplets snuck Filch a Puking Pastil and a Nosebleed Nougat at the same time during lunch. It was probably the funniest thing I have ever seen. Dad, I know you said you would be sending some Skiving Snackboxes next week, but the triplets snuck some into school already, if you haven't already guessed. They still want you to send more, though. They decided that in order to convince you, they needed to send you this Hogwarts toilet seat.
Now, I know you already have one, but now you have two. I helped them detach it from the toilet and smuggle it back to the dorms. It wasn't very difficult. We went to this empty girl's bathroom that Lissie called 'Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom.' I don't know who Moaning Myrtle is, but I don't think I want to know. Her name is unpleasant on its own. Anyway, don't worry, I made sure the toilet was sanitized before we sent it. Basically, I'm the brains of the operation.
James made it onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team as Seeker. No surprise there. Finn, Cameron and Lissie all made it on to the team for the second year in a row. Lissie's a great Chaser and Finn and Cameron make great Beaters. I wish you could see them play. Next year, maybe I'll go out for a Chaser position. Do you think I'd make it?
I'll see you when we come home for Christmas. I miss you, but don't let that go to your head and think I'm clinically depressed and suffering from detachment from my parents. I don't know how to tell you this in a kind way, but I am doing just fine over here. I am practically a grown up lady after all. Anyway, like I said, I'll see you at Christmas, and I'll make sure to cause some trouble by then, but also do all of my homework. Don't worry, Mum and Dad, I'll make you both proud.
Love, Aerliyn
Three days before Christmas, Auden was wrapped in a blanket on the floor in front of the fire. She was leaning up against the coffee table, waiting for Fred. He said he had a surprise and he wanted to show her before the kids came home the next day.
"Okay, you're going to need to stand up," Fred said.
"Why?" she twisted around to see him entering the room with two mugs, a thermos, and a blanket under his arm. "What's all that?"
"You'll find out soon enough. Now, take that blanket, stand up, and grab my arm."
"Why? Where are we going?"
"Must you ask so many questions?"
"Yes," she answered.
"As annoying as it is sometimes, you wouldn't be you if you didn't fire off questions one after the other," he said, kissing her nose. "Grab my arm and close your eyes."
Auden stood up and grabbed his arm, closing her eyes. She felt the familiar Apparating feeling before they reappeared somewhere with a popping sound.
"It's a good thing there's only a dusting of snow," Fred said. "I wasn't looking forward to walking through a lot of it."
Auden opened her eyes and smiled. They were standing in front of the tree house. Fred led the way up the ladder and Auden followed without protest.
"It's amazing how this has stayed up so long, and in almost perfect condition, too," she said, looking around.
"That's because it's magical," Fred answered, sinking to the floor against the wall opposite her. She joined him and they wrapped the blankets around themselves. "Hot chocolate?" Fred handed her a cup of newly poured hot chocolate.
"The good news is that the house is still standing," Auden whispered, holding the cup in her fingers.
"Of course it is. Hot chocolate is one of the only things I can make without ruining it or something else."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. "Fred, can I ask you something?" Auden asked. She wanted to ask him something that she had thought of frequently in the past few years and she really wanted to know his answer.
"Of course," Fred turned to look at her, half of his face in shadow and the other half illuminated by moonlight.
Auden chose her words carefully. "On the night we started dating; you know, when you kissed me in the entrance hall, did you know, or even think we would make it this far? Marriage, a house of our own…kids?"
"No, I didn't know it, but I hoped," he answered. "I had no idea how we would turn out, but I knew I liked you and I knew I had to take a chance. Once Angelina and I broke up, I was planning on finding you to tell you how I felt, Cedric or no Cedric. It was my Weasley twin impulsiveness kicking in."
"I'm glad you came to find me that night," Auden said. She honestly had no idea where she would have ended up if she and Fred had never dated or if things hadn't worked out.
Fred smiled in the darkness. "What about you? Did you think we would last this long?"
"My answer's the same as yours. I had no idea, but I hoped for it. I hoped for it more than anything. I mean, I had liked other guys before. Did I ever tell you that first year I had a crush on Oliver Wood?"
"No!" Fred gasped. "Did you really?"
Auden nodded. "I wanted to try out for the Quidditch team originally because of him, but it was just a silly little girl crush and it ended pretty quickly. Cedric was the first guy I had pretty strong feelings for, but then with you, the feelings were even stronger. It was crazy. I was pathetically head over heels for you and it took me forever to realize it."
"Oliver Wood," Fred repeated, a smile lighting up his face as he chuckled. "I don't believe it. If I had known-,"
"You would have teased me about it. You are teasing me about it."
"Sorry," Fred shook his head as he tried to compose himself.
"Well, what about you? I'm sure you had other crushes before me."
"Well, I did like Angelina for a while, but she didn't start liking me until I had already gotten over her. I also had a crush on that one witch who used to work at Flourish and Blott's.
"What one?"
"The one with the blonde, curly hair," Fred answered. "I was only twelve, so it was the equivalent to your 'little girl crush' I guess."
"Wow," Auden giggled. "Anybody else?"
"I liked Alicia for a few months," Fred said, resting his head against the wall. "She was actually the first girl I ever kissed. It was quick and it was under the mistletoe one Christmas..." Fred laughed and shook his head before looking down at her. "It was nothing compared to kissing you."
"You certainly have a thing for Quidditch girls," Auden said as she gently punched Fred's shoulder. "Although, what attracted you to the bookstore girl?"
"Her bouncy hair," Fred answered quickly. Auden gave him a weird look. "What? I was only twelve!"
Auden giggled and rested her head against his shoulder. "I love you."
"I love you, too, but we have no time to rest."
"Oh, we don't?" Auden asked.
"Not yet," Fred said. He stood up and grabbed her hand, helping her to her feet as well. He held their intertwined hands out to the side and put his other hand on her hip.
"We don't have music," Auden whispered.
"I can fix that," Fred whispered back. He pulled her close to him and started to hum their special song.
The song had played at the Leaky Cauldron, the Yule Ball and when Auden got her memory back. It was a Muggle song, but to Auden and Fred, it had its own special magic. It was a reminder, for Auden at least, that she always wanted to be the greatest fan of Fred's life, even if he was impulsive, talked before thinking, and would do anything for a laugh. Because even if that was all true, she loved him for all the same reasons and more. He was brave, daring, compassionate and kind. He made her laugh and always seemed to get her to dive headfirst into something she was scared to do. They had been through a lot together, and Auden had loved every minute of it.
"And that is the story of how your father and I met, fell and love, got married and started a family," Auden said. It was Christmas Eve, just a few days after the night in the tree house and she was sitting in the living room with Fred and her four children, who were grouped in front of her on the floor.
"Wow, Mum," Aerilyn said.
"I wish I could find a boy like that," Felicity said.
"You better find a boy just like me," Fred said. "Because then I know he'll treat you well. Not that you'll be finding any boy any time soon, though. I told your mother that all boys are going to be submitted to questioning."
Felicity rolled her eyes and Auden had to fight back a grin.
"Did you and Uncle George really hide in the bushes to watch Auden and Katie try out for Quidditch?" Finn asked.
Fred nodded. "We did."
"And Mum, you really tried on Muriel's clothes? That stuffy old bat?" Felicity giggled.
"Lissie, be nice, and yes I did," Auden answered.
"Mum, what was it like to have amnesia?" Aerilyn asked.
"I don't remember," Auden joked. Everyone laughed.
"Wow, you and dad have known each other longer than I've been alive," Cameron said.
"Obviously," Felicity snorted. "We wouldn't even be alive if they didn't know each other."
"I still can't believe Uncle Ron played in that chess game," Finn added. "That's awesome! I'm good at chess. I beat all my friends at school. Do you think the chess game under Fluffy's trap door is still there?"
"I don't know, but don't you dare try to go down there," Auden said.
"Why? You did."
"That was different. I was—,"
"Younger than we are now," Cameron pointed out.
"But she was saving the world," Fred answered. "It's a completely different story. Now, get off to bed."
"Or else?" Felicity asked.
"Or else Santa Clause won't come to this house because there are four little monkeys out of bed," Auden told them.
Aerilyn stifled a yawn and stood up, making her way towards the stairs. The triplets reluctantly followed, dragging their feet to purposely waste time.
"I know what you're doing," Fred said, his voice serious, but a smile turning his lips upwards, "and you better hurry it up and get upstairs."
"Or else?" Finn asked.
"Or else I'm going to come kick your little monkey butts."
They giggled and rushed up the stairs.
Auden smiled at Fred. She reached behind the couch cushion and pulled out a small package. "Merry Christmas," she said.
"What's this?"
"A preliminary gift. I got you something else, but I just had to get you this. Open it."
Fred tore open the package to find a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. "My favorite," he said.
"I hope it makes up for stealing them from you when we were little."
Fred chuckled. "It sure does. I never forgave you, you know."
Auden laughed. "Well, now am I forgiven?"
"Of course," Fred whispered.
"Aw!" said a small voice from the hallway, just behind the door.
"Bed!" Auden said loudly, smiling and shaking her head. There was a scampering sound from the hall and the sound of feet on stairs.
Fred began to laugh and Auden was soon laughing with him. He pulled her to him and she snuggled against him on the couch.
"They're just like you," she whispered, staring at the toilet seat that Fred had hung up to the extreme left of the fireplace. Auden had protested at first, but Fred didn't listen. He said it added to the room.
"Is that a bad thing?" Fred brushed his nose over the top of Auden's head.
"No, it's a perfectly wonderful thing," she answered, kissing him. And she meant it.
A/N: So, this is the last chapter in this story. It's so weird to be done with the whole Auden/Fred series...I miss it already, but I'm thinking about doing a second generation story I just have to think of a storyline. I'd love to hear any ideas if anyone has any.
Thanks to everyone who's read my stories and stuck with me through all of them. Thanks to everyone that's reviewed or added the stories to their story alert/favorites...you guys are totally awesome.
I'm working on another Fred/OC story right now and I'll try to get the first chapter up soon :)
The song I used for the title is Ever Ever After by Carrie Underwood.