The Houses Competition
Round 8 Standard
House: Hufflepuff
Class: Transfiguration
Prompts: [Event] Platinum Wedding Anniversary
Word Count: 2104 (Google Docs)
Patriarch and Matriarch
"Seventy years. Blimey!" Ron said as he and his siblings sat around the table of the Leaky Cauldron, sipping on butterbeers and finalizing the plans for their parent's upcoming platinum wedding anniversary.
"I'm not sure what's more unbelievable. That Mum and Dad are still alive and well enough to be celebrating such an important anniversary, or that we're all much older, too," Bill said.
"Speak for yourself," George retorted as the rest of the table laughed.
"Alright, alright, let's focus on the planning, shall we?" Ginny asked, roping her brothers back into the task at hand.
"I don't think we should be planning anything," Percy argued. "Mum insisted she didn't want a big to do."
"C'mon, Perce, you know she'll be chuffed that we've planned something for them. Even if it's just for family," Charlie reasoned.
Ron snorted. "You do realize 'just for family' is more than fifty people now, don't you? 'S not exactly a small gathering."
Charlie rolled his eyes. "Last I checked, I wasn't implying the family was small."
"Well, regardless of size, Mum and Dad wouldn't want it any other way." Bill's words sounded final as most of his siblings around the table nodded.
"Yes, completely ignore the 'no party' option…" Percy's grumbles trailed off as Bill glared at him.
"Anyways, I'll take Mum and Dad for an afternoon in Diagon Alley to get them out of the Burrow while you all sort out the set up," Ginny said, steering the conversation back into productive territory. "They haven't seen the shop in a while, and I know how Dad loves to treat Mum to her favorite ice cream at Fortescue's on special occasions."
"You don't think they'll suspect anything if you offer to take them?" George asked skeptically.
"They might, but if we insist that nothing's going to happen because that's what they requested, then we'll have a shot at pulling this off," Charlie explained.
"Except that's the oldest trick in the book," George reminded them.
"Eh, they're old, and Mum's not as quick as she used to be. I think we'll be alright," Ginny said matter-of-factly.
"I've got the cake all planned out," Ron mentioned, changing the direction of the conversation, "and the kids are in charge of the decorations."
"Yes, Victoire said she and Rose were taking charge of that. I'm sure it will be fine," Bill added. "So, that leaves us with food. Percy?"
"I've talked to everyone, and things will be potluck style. I've got the list here of what each family is planning on bringing, and I've made sure that there's enough variety so no one will be hungry."
"Come on, Perce, don't you think that's a little overboard?" Ron asked.
"It's better than Mum's 75th surprise birthday party where we didn't remember the food aspect at all," Ginny reminded him.
"Or their 50th anniversary when half of us brought the same thing," Bill recalled, causing all the Weasley siblings around the table to laugh.
"That's why we put Percy in charge of food. We know he's the only one who won't screw it up," Charlie said, clapping his brother on the back.
"Great, so everything's sorted, then, yeah?" Ron asked before taking another sip of his butterbeer.
"I think so," Bill said triumphantly. "This is going to be the best Weasley family party we've thrown yet!"
"And we've thrown a lot of parties," Ginny chuckled.
The following Saturday, things were going off without a hitch. Ginny had gone to the Burrow to meet her parents in the early afternoon, and they apparated via side-along into London. The plan had altered slightly in an attempt to keep the elderly home-bodies away longer than originally anticipated. Setting up wouldn't take long, but getting the grandchildren and great-grandchildren to the Burrow on time could prove more difficult than anticipated.
The men set up a large tent in the garden first before moving on to other tasks. Tables had been conjured and joined so the food could be set up in a marvelous buffet-style—sorted by category at Percy's insistence. Victoire and Rose oversaw the assembly of a massive balloon arch in front of the tent to welcome Molly and Arthur home. Red and gold balloons adorned either side, while those at the top of the arch had been charmed to sparkle against a banner that read, 'happy 70th anniversary Molly and Arthur!' Molly's favorite Celestina Warbeck songs were playing softly on the wireless just inside the tent's entrance.
George was off in the distance with Ron setting up the fireworks display that would go off after dusk, while Charlie and Harry were in the house with Hermione, tidying things up. Bill placed a protective charm around the cake so the younger kids wouldn't accidentally dig in before it was time. The stage was seemingly set for a perfect evening honoring the two most important people in the Weasley family.
Fleur, Audrey and Angelina were in the process of conjuring picnic tables under the tent near the food when Ron and George came back their way.
"Everything all set?" Angelina asked.
"Yup. We'll just need to go over there when it's time to light the first one, and then the chain reaction will set the rest off from there."
"You did place protective enchantments around them so the kids won't get too close, right?" Audrey asked worriedly.
"C'mon Aud, you say that like we haven't been doing this for years. Of course, we have!" George defended.
"You know we have to ask after that one close call with Fred—" Fleur began before George cut her off.
"That was almost forty years ago!"
Ron let out a snicker. "Leave it to your son to live up to his namesake as a toddler."
As if on cue, Fred and his family walked out of the house, having flooed into the Burrow. Their appearance kicked off the steady stream of family members arriving, and soon the Burrow was bustling with excitable chatter. The buffet table was overflowing with a wide selection of foods, and the children were playing tag in the fields. At the same time, the adults had sectioned off into groups, sitting at the tables and enjoying butterbeers whilst they waited.
Just before four, Ginny's Patronus came soaring into view. The horse stood prominently in the center of the tent, looking around before announcing, "We'll be back in five minutes. Get everyone ready."
As the horse vanished into a wisp of thin air, chaos ensued, though completely unlike the last time a Patronus arrived in the middle of Bill and Fleur's wedding all those years ago. Parents called the children to them as each subdivision of the Weasley family sectioned themselves off in front of the tent and balloon arch. It had been Harry's idea for the Weasleys to arrange themselves in order from oldest to youngest, with their families cascading out from there. When everyone was gathered together, it was truly a wonder to see how large the family had become over the last seventy years, and all because of the love Molly and Arthur had for each other.
The last of the Potter clan had just gotten into place for the surprise welcome when they heard a faint 'pop' a short distance away. Ginny's voice faintly carried across the garden as she told her parents to not be alarmed at the sight they were about to see when they turned around. She pointed in the direction of the massive family as Arthur and Molly slowly shifted to see the sight behind them.
A gasp of shock echoed across the field as the word "Surprise!" was bellowed by of all ages were grinning from ear to ear as the elderly couple walked over to where the family was standing.
"Ginevra, we told you no party!" Molly chided.
"Oh, come off it, Mum! Seventy years is a long time! Not everyone gets to celebrate their platinum wedding anniversary," Ginny waved her mum off.
"Yeah, Mum, you should come to expect it by now!" George added, as the rest of the Weasley siblings nodded in agreement.
"This is truly spectacular," Arthur said sincerely. "I can't imagine how much planning this must have taken."
"Yes, it's not often that we're all able to be together like this," Molly added.
It was true. Now that the grandkids were grown and had families of their own, there were other familial commitments. Christmas celebrations with the family usually lasted a week, as they gathered in smaller groups so that the Burrow wouldn't explode with the number of people celebrating together.
"I'm hungry!" one of the great-grandchildren complained, while another asked,
"Can we go play now?"
"In a minute," Dominique hushed one of her brood.
"Yes, we just want to give you the gift while we've got everyone's attention," Ginny explained, looking to her brothers.
"Gift?" George looked surprised.
"Yeah, what gift?" Ron asked in agreement.
"Er, we didn't talk about that," Percy added, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Merlin's beard, we forgot the gift!" Bill looked at Charlie in alarm.
"Oh, honestly!" Hermione huffed, rolling her eyes.
She broke loose of the mass of Weasleys as she gave Ginny a knowing look. Fleur, Audrey and Angelina also laughed at the men's embarrassed horror as they broke the ranks to join Hermione and Ginny. Hermione pulled out her wand, and with a brief wave and incantation, revealed an easel that contained an enlarged collage frame that consisted of dozens of family portraits. Molly and Arthur walked over to get a closer look. In the center was a copy of the Weasley family photo from their Egypt trip in 1992. Immediately upon sight of the picture, Molly burst into tears as she saw Fred smiling and waving at her. Arthur's eyes glistened as well as they perused the many photos.
Cascading out in a circle from the center photo were the wedding photos of each of the Weasley children with their significant others, followed by a second circle that displayed how their families had grown. The third and final circle of photos consisted of the grandchildren and their own families, which completed the representation of the four generations of Weasleys pictured within the large frame.
"We thought this would be the best way to commemorate all the love you've shown and what you've created over the last seventy years," Fleur explained.
Hermione nodded, "And we wanted you to know how thankful we all are that you welcomed us into this family all those years ago with open arms. Not everyone is blessed with having a second set of parents to look out for them," she said, leaning in to hug her mother-in-law and father-in-law.
"We can't thank you enough for everything you've done for us." Harry had managed his way into the group of in-laws to express his gratitude. "Thanks for taking me in, and raising my best friend and wife."
"Er, just to clarify, I'm still the best friend, right?" Ron called from behind as the Weasley men now appeared behind their wives.
The close-knit family laughed as Ginny bumped her brother's shoulder.
"Happy Anniversary," Audrey said. "Shall we give a toast?"
Everyone nodded as they made their way back into the tent. Angelina headed the force, along with Roxane, Rose, and Lily, to ensure everyone had a drink. Once everyone had a glass in hand, she gave Bill the nod.
"First off, thanks to our wives for coordinating the gift—"
"And Harry!" Hermione called out, eliciting a chuckle from the group as Harry rolled his eyes at being called out like that.
"—And Harry," Bill added, "since we still managed to forget something. Anyways, I think the women put it really well a few minutes ago, but I'll say it again. Mum and Dad, you're the best parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents we could have ever asked for. You raised us all through two wizarding wars, and even took in The Chosen One despite how much danger it posed. It's hard to believe it's been seventy years since you were married, but we hope that you look out at all of us and know how special you are to us.
"You taught us how to love, be accepting of everyone, and always fight for what was right, and that's something we hope we've continued to pass down to our kids. Here's to your platinum year, and hopefully, many more yet to come. Happy anniversary to the couple we love the most."
Bill held up his glass, and everyone followed, "To the patriarch and matriarch of this family: Molly and Arthur!"
"To Molly and Arthur!"