Fred was drinking a glass of whiskey and watching the children run around outside in the yard. He was hanging his leg off the porch and enjoying the happiness and simplicity of their games. There was exhaustion written on his face from lack of sleep.

"Well, what are you doing? Practicing, brother?" Bill's voice interrupted his musings.

Fred downed his glass and glanced up. "Yeah, sure, Billy. What's going on inside?"

Bill groaned and rolled his eyes. "Hermione just arrived," he hummed and sat down next to Fred.

"Aren't you all pro her future husband?" Fred inquired as he set down his glass.

Bill grunted and leaned against the wall. "I am."

"Then what's wrong?"

Bill shook his head and waved his fingers. "It's just; I think she isn't as happy as she could be. They're polite and great together, but something is missing."

"Grant it; mum said that about Fleur, and now they're close," Fred reminded him.

Bill bounced his shoulders. "I suppose."

"I believe they were having a slumber party," Fred declared as he looked out at the children running.

Bill snorted. "How do you know?"

Fred eyed him from the side of his vision. "I live next to her."

"Well, I guess there's that," Bill grunted.

Their conversation was interrupted as the backdoor opened and Hermione came outside in a beautiful maroon sundress. She was smiling and slid down next to Fred, who shifted so she could lean against him. "Hello, Weasley men."

"Ministry witch, how are you doing after last night?" Fred snickered and nudged her.

"About that," she murmured and glanced at him. "Can you not say anything to anyone? I don't want your mother to tell his parents," Hermione grumbled as her cheeks darkened.

"Oh, yeah," Fred mumbled.

She shifted and licked her lips. "I don't want anyone to think this is legitimate before we decide. Oliver and Lee both agreed with me that we all need time to make a proper decision. It's the proper way to go about this."

"Do you," Fred stopped and shook his head. "Never mind, not my business."

Hermione looked away from him. "Not often, and this wasn't what I usually do," she whispered while hiding her face in her hair.

"Hey, I think it's great if it makes you happy, Hermione," Fred nudged her. "I would never judge you."

Hermione looked over at him, and her blush was wicked bright, but her lips were curled. "Thank you, Freddy. This is just so difficult. I'm desperate to make the right decision because this is so…" she trailed off and dropped her vision.

"Permanent?" Bill offered.

The witch inhaled while rocking her head. "Permanent is the perfect word. I don't want to make someone unhappy to be married to me."

"It's not a business transaction," Bill said and reached over to pat her shoulder. "It's about love and familiarity. You can't have a great marriage without knowing that person would stand with you in the face of conflict."

Hermione faltered and gazed back at Fred. "Is that what you think too?"

Fred smiled and agreed. "Yeah, what he said. Shagging is great and even the other stuff that comes with it, but it's who you want to curl up at the end of the day with that matters, ministry witch."

Hermione exhaled and leaned into him. "If only it were that easy to know."

Fred thinned his lips and pressed his chin against her head while wrapping his arm around her. She closed her eyes and knitted her hand within his. "What do you say when dinner is over that we have some wine and read a bit tonight? No talks of this bill or work."

She rocked her head against him and breathed. "Yes, that sounds perfect."

The door creaked, and the older Oliver Wood stepped out in a pleasant grey sweater. He was sharp-looking, but his smile was warm. "Hermione, love, Molly is askin' what's next for the bill."

Hermione opened her eyes and climbed from the ground. "I suppose I could fill her in," she said while pacing to him.

Fred lifted his hand and waved. "Wood, how ya doin'?"

"Ah, Fred, it's nice to see ya. I'm doing great. Puddlemeres are on break from the circuit until next week," Oliver declared as Hermione stood next to him.

Hermione smiled and touched his arm. "I'm just going to give her the basics."

Oliver bent and kissed her cheek. "I'll be talkin' Quidditch. No need to bore ya," he teased and ran his thumb over her cheek.

She smiled and wandered into the house, leaving Bill and Fred to stare up at her suitor. Oliver shifted and ran a hand over his hair. "She's quite spirited," he chuckled with a tint to his cheeks.

Obviously, he was the man for certain. Fred pointed to the stool and bottle of whiskey. "Come have a drink while we watch the kids," he suggested.

Oliver rocked his head and sat down, grabbing up a pebble and transfiguring it to a glass. When he poured himself a serving, he offered the bottle to Fred. Fred filled his glass halfway and lifted it. "Cheers, mate."

"Cheers," Oliver hummed.

Bill took the bottle and created a glass for himself. He was silent and observed but did so with a pleasant smile. Fred sipped his glass and turned his attention to Oliver.

"Whatcha think about this bill, Wood?"

Oliver groaned and waved his hand. "My mum said it was the best thing to happen. She's not very fond of Hermione, but I'm sure they'll warm up to each other."

"Your mum doesn't like Hermione?" Fred scowled.

"She doesn't like that she wants to work after marriage. Old-fashioned and such," he mused before sipping his glass.

"You like her, though?" Bill questioned.

Oliver's cheeks bloomed with color as he agreed. "Oh yeah, she's wicked intelligent. Quite funny when she doesn't try to be. We've been out a few times now. Probably wouldn't have done the family bit until late if George didn't insist."

Victoire came bounding over with Teddy in tow. "Uncle Freddy, can you make us some fireflies to catch?" she questioned with wide eyes.

Fred chuckled and swished his wand. The glimmering bugs flew out and around the yard, causing the older children to laugh. Teddy held up his thumbs before racing after Victoire. "Ah, I do love those two. Billy, they're going to be dating by fourth year," Fred teased.

Bill groaned and scrubbed his face. "Don't say that, Fred. I don't want my daughter to date until she's graduated."

"Which Weasley is yours, Fred?" Wood gestured to the children staying within the warded area.

"None, I'm not married, Wood," Fred declared as he glanced back at him.

"Ya want them? I've been a bit hesitant, meself," Oliver confessed.

Fred shrugged and smirked. "Maybe one day. Two at least. A boy and a girl," he hummed.

Wood rocked his head. "I suppose that's why this bill was made, eh?"

"Hermione always said she wants three," Bill declared before lifting his glass to his mouth. "Someone's gonna have to be able to stay home after she has em."

Oliver arched an eyebrow. "She doesn't plan to stay home?"

Fred eyed Bill, who was actually acting more disagreeable to Oliver than he thought he would. What was his damage all of a sudden? Fred cleared his throat and nudged Bill with his shoe. "Let's not say things we don't know about, brother. You never know with that ministry witch."

Oliver rubbed the back of his neck and simpered. "We actually haven't gotten that far in talkin' about it yet. I'm sure it will come up."

The next out the door was Ginny and Harry. Harry bent over and clapped Oliver on the shoulder before walking out to the children. Ginny stood there and beamed at the new addition to their dinner party.

"Oliver, how's quidditch? I do miss it," Ginny sighed.

Oliver smiled and raised his glass. "Always good. I love being able to see the world while doin' what I love."

Fred chuckled and rocked his head. "Ah, yes, I love doing what I love. Probably due for a vacation next year. Maybe someplace exotic with beaches."

"Planning for your honeymoon, Fred?" Harry asked as he paced over through the grass.

Fred made a face. "I don't wanna think about that."

"Oh, come on, Fred. You're going to find a great witch to settle down with," Bill sighed.

"He's just holding out, Bill. Fred has a bit of indecision with this," Ginny tutted.

"I can relate, meself, Fred. If Hermione didn't write to see if I was interested, I would have been ignorin' this bill until later," Oliver nodded before finishing his glass.

Harry leaned against the porch railing. "Wood, how have things been? You two seem pretty decent together."

"Oh, yeah, Harry. Hermione is quite the witch. Jordan was just tellin' me how selective she truly has been. I can appreciate a cautious choice for the rest of my life as well."

Ginny's eyebrows raised. "Both of you talk about Hermione together?"

Oliver cleared his throat and shifted. "Not in detail. To be honest, we both thought she'd gone and married a Weasley. That's what started the whole conversation."

Hermione bustled out of the house and puffed. Ginny glanced at her and scowled as the witch breathed and plastered on a strained smile. "Oh, no, what happened?"

"Nothing, just your mother," Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes.

Fred snorted and pointed at her. "Already trying to get ya fitted for dresses?"

Hermione shook her head and stepped off the porch before pulling off her heels. "No, she's just," she paused and waved her hand before walking out to the children.

Fred observed the witch meet up with the children and join them in their chase. Her dress rippled with her as she skipped about and laughed. It was typical of her to join them, but it always surprised Fred and how natural it was for her.

"She's always so great with the children," Bill mused.

"I can't wait until she has one of her own," Ginny smiled.

Oliver gazed at her and tilted his head. "She's quite good with them."

"Oh, yeah," Harry laughed. "She helped Drom with Teddy the first few years until she got her own flat."

The door creaked, and George poked his head outside. "Bill, come help calm mum down. She's flustered."

Bill groaned and waved his hand. "What did you do?"

"Nothin', that was all Hermione," George snorted.

"What did she do?" Ginny questioned.

George grinned and wagged his eyebrows. "She wouldn't tell her what happened between her and Freddy."

Bill bristled and stood up. "George, what did you do?"

"Nothing," George smiled and disappeared inside.

Harry ducked to Fred's view. "What happened?"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing, Harry. George is being a git to stir the cauldron because he's bored," Bill groaned and marched inside.

"That's a big nothing," Harry noted.

Oliver cleared his throat and set down his glass. "I think I'll go see if Hermione will introduce me to the kids," he murmured and retreated to the grass.

Ginny hummed and rocked on her feet. "You think they're shagging?"

"No, Gin," Harry laughed.

Fred stayed quiet and watched the witch smile and gesture to the children. Oliver was nodding and holding out his hands to the children, but Hermione was scooping them up for the introductions. One by one, each of the children would hug her and shake Oliver's hand. It was sweet but by no means warm.

"Come on, Harry, just look," Ginny said after a bit of back and forth on the subject.

Harry shifted and flattened his hand before tittering it. "Maybe."

George busted out from the backdoor as a cup flew by him and hit the shutting barrier. "Oh, she's angry," he laughed.

"How? How did you piss her off so badly?" Ginny groaned.

George shrugged and wagged his eyebrows before skipping out into the yard. He met the two adults and lifted the witch. Hermione groaned loudly and began smacking the top of his head with little conviction. Oliver was watching the whole thing with odd amusement.

Fred breathed and climbed from his station. "Gonna run to the loo before dinner."

"I'd be sure mum knows it's you, so you're not pelted," Harry teased.

Fred rocked his head and stepped to the door. He took one last glance out at the trio in the yard. Hermione was standing with Oliver and gesturing to George. It all seemed just normal… well, that's what this bill was about, wasn't it? That thought hung over him like a heavy mantle as he shuffled inside the Burrow.