STUCK WITH US FOREVER
02 May 2001

The wind blew delicately across the shoreline at Shell Cottage, ruffling the rose bushes that grew at the base of the back door. Outside the narrow house, Bill was stringing up fairy lights to illuminate the garden before the sun set on the water. Inside, Fleur balanced a one-year-old Victoire on her hip while she stirred a pot of coq au vin over the stove. The new mum had quickly become accustomed to her role in the house but was eagerly anticipating some much needed time with adults, a luxury which she had not experienced often since she quit working over a year ago.

"Darling?" Bill stepped into the home, dusting himself off.

"Kitchen," she called out in her thick French accent.

"The lights are done," he explained. "I just need to head upstairs and get changed. Everyone should be here soon."

"First," she pointed to a towering croquembouche on the kitchen counter, "can you put the cake on the table?"

He nodded and kindly carried the pastry, placing it in the centre of the long rectangular table. He chuckled to himself when he remembered the fight he and Fleur had over the unusual birthday sustenance. His French bride insisted on a croquembouche which was essentially a pillar comprised of cream puffs with a sugary glaze drizzled on top. Bill loved his wife's cooking and he was not opposed to French cuisine, but he feared the moment when he told his own mother that her culinary skills would not be required at her first grandchild's birthday. Even the thought was blasphemous.

"I thought you were going to change," Fleur said, peeking her head into the dining room.

"Er...right," Bill remembered the task at hand, flashing his wife a smile.

She watched him disappear up the narrow staircase and then put the final touches on her dish. A glance at the clock reminded her that Bill's family was arriving momentarily. She set the toddler down on the floor with her toys and caught sight of herself in a decorative mirror. Her cheeks were flushed from spending the afternoon over a hot stove and her hair could use a wash but thankfully her Veela heritage made a messy bun and a rosy cheeks look like they belonged in the pages of Witch Weekly.

"My sweet girl," Bill said standing at the foot of the steps once again. Fleur looked up and smiled at her husband, but his kind words were not directed at her. Instead, he strode across the room and picked Victoire up into his arms. The little girl cooed and kicked her legs happily.

"She's happy," Fleur laughed. "I think she knows she's seeing her uncles. My great grandmother had a gift for divination. Maybe little Vic's inherited it."

"Or maybe she just likes her new toys," Bill winked.

Before Fleur could answer the fireplace glowed with green flames. Seconds later, Harry Potter emerged from the embers and strode toward Fleur hugging her tightly.

"Where's Ginny?" Fleur asked.

"She's right behind me," he explained. "Forgot her bag as we were leaving and had to run back and get it."

"Glad you made it, mate," Bill shook his hand, cradling his daughter in one arm.

"How's the birthday girl?" Harry asked, taking Victoire in his arms just as Ginny popped out of the green flames behind him.

The bubbly redhead kicked the soot off her boots and jumped onto her older brother. He caught her in his arms and spun her around the room before planting her back down on solid ground.

"I've missed you," Ginny sighed. "Remind me to send you tickets for next season. You've got to come and see me play. Bring Vic! I'm sure she'll be knocking Quaffles about in no time."

"Maybe in a few years," Fleur cut in.

"I'll hold you to that," Ginny smiled at her sister-in-law. Then she embraced her. "You look as beautiful as ever."

"Thank you," Fleur said warmly. It had taken a long time for Ginny to acclimate to a new female Weasley and even longer to finally accept Fleur as one of their own but she finally came around. The white-haired woman happily clung to every ounce of Ginny's hospitality, knowing it was a difficult task to infiltrate the tightly knit Weasley family.

"I'm glad you're here," Bill told the two of them. "There's actually something we wanted to ask you both."

Ginny was dangling a stuffed dragon in Vic's hands when Bill spoke. She hardly looked up when she answered. "Oh yeah. What's that?"

"Well," Fleur took a seat on the edge of the sofa, "we would like you to be Victoire's godparents."

"Don't you usually ask married couples?" Ginny wondered. For a split second, Harry thought his girlfriend had an ulterior motive for bringing up marriage.

"That's usually how it's done," Bill replied, "but we want both of you in Vic's life and we like to do things differently."

"Er...sorry," Harry realized how rude they were being, "we're honoured, really. I guess I just thought you'd pick Charlie or someone in the family."

"You're practically family," Fleur assured him.

"And Charlie's my best mate," Bill explained, "but with him always in Romania, I don't think he is present enough to be a good godfather."

"Then we're in!" Ginny smirked. Then she turned to the little girl in her boyfriend's arms. "Hear that Vic? You're stuck with us forever."

The toddler giggled and reached for her young aunt. Ginny lifted her up and rested her goddaughter in the crook of her arm. While the four of them played with the birthday girl, three figures seemed to appear from thin air in the garden. The bright red hair gave them away and Ginny recognized her parents walking inside with her brother Percy. Bill also noticed the three guests at his door and hurriedly let them in, happy to see that his estranged brother was making an effort to spend more time with his family.

Bill had just poured a round of Butterbeer for his guests when the fireplace once again roared with green flames. George stepped out and Angelina was close behind with Fred swaddled in her arms. They were greeted warmly by the rest of the family and soon the house was filled with Weasleys trying desperately to hold the coveted birthday girl.

But Victoire was not accustomed to being doted on. She couldn't comprehend the fact that all of the guests were present to make her first birthday the most special day she had ever lived, and hopefully the first of many more. In fact, she was so overwhelmed that she broke down into tears until Fleur lifted her up and carried the sleepy toddler up to the nursery.

"Is she alright?" Hermione asked when Fleur had returned to the festivities.

"She's fine," the veela replied. "Just overwhelmed with so many visitors. I think a nap would do her good."

"Well," George clinked his glass to command attention, "with the little one gone, we can start the party!"

His own son was still bundled up tightly in Angelina's arm, sleeping soundly and oblivious to the world. George was testing out a silencing charm and so far it seemed to work on little Fred. With any luck, he would still be resting peacefully by the time they finished the next bottle of Firewhiskey, or Butterbeer in George's case.

The lovely Nymphie recommended I start adding titles to my chapters so bear with me as I update the previously uploaded stuff, but starting now there will be bold headers at the top of each chapter. Hopefully that makes it easier to read. Also, while we're on the subject, check out Nymph's amazing story The Escapades of Teddy Lupin. It's linked on my page and it's a fantastic piece of writing, like seriously, I would pay money to read her stories.

COMING UP: Harry has an important question to ask Ginny.