Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Harry Potter and all other series characters are the property of J.K. Rowling, and are not my intellectual property. There is not financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.
Title: Child's Play
Category: Harry Potter
Pairing: FWHG
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Rating: M (Language, Sexual Situations)
Summary: Fred Weasley, on the brink of frustration with his shop, gets an unexpected visitor from this past. Hermione Granger, just back to the UK, finds new solace in her life as a single mother through the help of an old friend. FWHG
PART TWO - A HOMECOMING
Mid-July 2008
The sun was beating down into Fred's office through the large warehouse windows that lined the wall behind his desk. Fred had toa pause his paperwork to wipe off the beads of sweat forming on his brow. He then took the opportunity to peel himself up from his leather chair and replace the atmospheric charm in his office to cool it off.
"How are those plans coming along Mr. Julian?" Fred asked as he crossed the room to where the sandy haired boy was stationed at a perfectly scaled down replica of Fred's own desk. "Any progress on the rabbit fighter?"
The boy lifted the sheet of paper towards the older man. "I don't like the feet," Julian admitted, slightly discouraged.
Fred took the drawing from the boy and held the sheet of scribbles to inspect. There were a few round shapes that must be the rabbit's body and a small scribble of a fluffy tail along with some vaguely triangular ears. "I love the feet," Fred said as he found the very large ovals at the bottom of the figure. "I love how big they are. They can be the rabbit's special weapon. A big kick and a hop away."
"Oh, yeah," Julian nodded in agreement as he took back his drawing, looking at it with new eyes. "That's what I meant to do."
Fred chuckled at the kid. "Well I think this is an excellent place for a break. What shall we have for lunch today, Mr. Julian?"
"Pizza!" The boy jumped up from his seat in excitement.
"We had pizza with your mum on Tuesday for dinner," Fred reminded him. "We can't have the same thing twice in as many days."
Julian pondered for a moment, lips pursed in deep thought. "What if we got different toppings? Then it's different," he justified.
Fred couldn't help but laugh at the kid's logic. "Fair enough," he chuckled. "What toppings should we get then?"
"Pepperoni and cheese," the boy immediately answered.
"Wait," Fred paused. "How is that different from the pepperoni and cheese pizza we got for dinner?"
"We get extra cheese," Julian asked hopefully with a small shrug.
"Fine," Fred gave in, admiring the boy's cleverness. "But I'm adding mushrooms to it so we can tell your mum that you got some veg."
"Ew," Julian frowned.
Feed nodded solemnly in agreement. "I know. But it's in the name of nutrition. So just promise me you'll eat 3 of the mushrooms and then I'll let you pick the rest off."
"Okay," Julian reluctantly agreed. "Can we get the thin pizza?"
"You mean the thin and crispy crust?"
"Kind of," Julian nodded. "But like a big one. Like the ones from home that you have to fold and the slice is as big as my face."
Fred's brow furrowed for a moment. "Oh," it suddenly hit him. "You mean New York style? Yeah, sure Jules."
A cheer rang out from the boy as he ran over to the couch and threw his little body down onto the leather cushions. "Pizza, pizza, pizza," he chanted over and over with happy kicks.
Fred sent off the order through one of the shop's owls before joining Julian on the sofa. "A game of exploding snap while we wait?" Fred asked as he summoned the deck of cards from his desk with a flick of his wand.
"Yes!" Julian squealed in delight as he positioned himself in his now routine stance for a game across from Fred.
Soon enough, their 7th round was interrupted by the return of the tawny shop owl with a large square box strung up by its talons. "Thank you, Cercis." Fred told the owl as it placed the box gently onto his desk. He rewarded the bird with a couple of treats from the bowl on his desk.
With an affectionate nip, the owl went back to the cage in the corner of Fred's office for a well deserved rest. "Thank you, Cercis!" Julian yelled as Fred brought the box back over to the couch, resting it on the coffee table in front of them.
"Which slice do you want?" Fred asked the boy.
Julian, of course, proceeded to pick the biggest and cheesiest slice of the pie, which he then ferociously devoured almost half of before Fred took his own slice.
Fred chuckled at the sight of the boy's greasy face and tossed some napkins in the boy's lap. "So what's the verdict? Good pizza?" Fred asked before he began to eat his own slice.
Julian nodded enthusiastically. "It's just like the one from home," he explained with his mouth full. "Thank you, Mr. Fred." Little fingers now at work picking off the remaining mushrooms after his first few bites.
Fred took in the sight of the boy as a curious thought began to form in his mind. He's grown quite accustomed to this time with Julian in just the couple of weeks he's been watching him. The boy was funny and incredibly smart. So smart sometimes that it caused Fred to pause wondering how this kid could possibly know that. But then he remembers who exactly his mother is.
Everyday they had their routine. Hermione dropped off Julian in the morning at the shop with a spare coffee and pastry for Fred, before leaving for work. Julian and Fred then do their daily inspection of the store. Julian has a real eye for deciding when displays should be changed. They then spend some time with the Pygmy Puffs and help disperse their morning snack to the multicolored puff balls.
Afterwards Fred usually drew Julian into playing some sort of game with him. They've conquered Exploding Snap, Gobstones, and even the basics of Qudditch using some foam balls and the play brooms Julian discovered on his first day in the shop. Fred even showed him Wizard's Chess, though the boy was only really interested in watching the pieces fight each other rather than learning the strategy of the game.
Julian also didn't mind the time Fred had to spend working, usually after they had some lunch. After Fred watched the boy spend that time coloring on the floor the first day, he then spent the night transfiguring an old end table into a Julian sized version of his own desk. Julian immediately began to copy Fred as he did work and set off in developing his own version of his favorite games while Fred filled out boring paperwork.
Hermione usually showed up to pick up Julian after 5, though some days it's been much later. They tend to then have dinner together a few times a week, Hermione insisting that feeding Fred is the least she can do for his help with Julian.
It's been a comfortable routine for the 3 of them. One that Fred has found so enjoyable that he forgets that this hasn't been his life for that long of a time. "Do you miss New York, Mr. Julian?" Fred asked, curious if the boy enjoyed his time with him as well.
The boy's face fell slightly at the question before Julian nodded a small yes to Fred. "It's different here," he explained.
"Well that's okay," Fred said with a small reassuring smile. "That's why there are so many places in the world. So they can be different from the others."
"Have you always lived here?" Julian asked through a full mouth.
"Kind of," Fred answered. "My home has always been here in the UK. But I'm lucky enough to consider many places home. I grew up in the countryside in Ottery St. Catchpole. After that, when I was 11, I went to Hogwarts, just like your mum, in Scotland. Then after school George and I moved directly here to London because we weren't about to go home to the Burrow and deal with our Mum."
Julian swallowed the large mouthful before asking, "What's the Burrow?"
"My parents' home," Fred explained. "It's where I grew up with all of my siblings. It's quite a funny looking place actually. Your mum would stay with us all the time, especially during the summer."
"Why?" Julian asked with eyes as large as saucers.
Fred chuckled at the boy. "Because she is a part of our family. Growing up, she was friends with one of my brothers, Ron. Her, Ron, and their other friend Harry would get into loads of mischief together."
"Wow," the boy gasped. "Mum got in trouble?"
"Mr. Julian," Fred smirked down at the boy. "The trouble those 3 got into at the Burrow doesn't even scratch the surface of the trouble they got into at Hogwarts."
Julian's mouth was left open at the news, bits of food still on display in there. Fred laughed and reached over to close the boy's mouth. "You'll see it for yourself soon enough, I'm sure."
"Why?" The boy asked after taking a giant swallow of pizza.
Fred paused as he considered the best answer and reached for some more napkins to blot the boy's greasy face. "Let's just say that you can't outrun the inevitable. And in this case, family is inevitable. Especially when it's the Weasley's."
"But Mum is a Granger," Julian pointed out.
"Family is more than a name, Julian," Fred explained. "It's those who love you and who you spend most bank holidays with."
The boy nodded like he understood perfectly. "So am I a Weasley?"
Fred chuckled. "Not just yet," he teased. "But I think you're a shoo-in."
Julian's face scrunched up in thought. "Could my name be Julian Granger-Weiss-Weasley?"
Laughter boomed out of Fred's mouth. "That might be a bit of a mouthful there," he tried to reason. "I think Granger-Weiss is lovely the way it is. Plus then you'll save so much money on monogrammed towels without the addition. They charge by the letter you know."
The boy just giggled before stuffing more pizza into his face. "I do like England," he offered as he chewed. "Mummy is fun again here."
The door to the office then suddenly opened before Fred could respond, causing the boy to jump. A man, identical to himself except the peak of a missing ear from underneath the slightly shaggy red hair, stepped through, nose buried in the paper. Fred noticed Julian timidly move closer towards him as the boy took in the intruder.
"I'm guessing you've seen the newest in our Talpin & Minks matter?" George ranted as he crossed to Fred's desk without a glance up.
Fred sat up straight on the couch as Julian settled behind him. "Considering it's been in the paper already for 3 days? Yes, I have." The annoyance towards his twin, apparent in his tone.
George let out a heavy sigh. "I know, I know," he shook his head and deposited the paper in his hands on Fred's desk. "I've been the-" George's sentence dropped as he finally looked over towards the couch and saw the child hiding badly behind his twin's shoulder. "Who gave you a child?" His tone was caught between concern and amusement.
"No one," Fred immediately answered in a deadpan manner. "He's our newest employee. Did you not receive the pay forms for him? I told Verity to expedite them to you."
"Must've gotten lost in the shuffle," George offered with a smirk as he crossed the room to kneel in front of the couch, eye level with Julian. "Always nice to meet a new employee. I'm George," he introduced himself with an outstretched hand.
With an encouraging nudge from Fred, Julian shifted out from behind Fred's back and met George's eyes. "Julian," the boy answered coyly and accepted the handshake briefly before dropping George's hand. He immediately turned back to Fred and loudly whispered in his ear, "He did steal your face!"
"I told you!" Fred fake whispered back over his laughter.
"Excuse me?" George scoffed. "I'm the first born. That means you stole my face."
"To whose knowledge?" Fred argued. "Dad has admitted to mixing us up constantly as infants. I could easily be the true first born."
George rolled his eyes in a stalemate and straightened back up to full height. "I see you lads are on lunch," he commented as he helped himself to a slice of pizza. "Been a busy day?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact," Fred stated. "I've been dealing with writing up new contracts for our vendors so we don't end up limited on ingredients when Talpin & Minks rolls in. And Mr. Julian has been hard at work on a project that he came up with." Fred paused to give the boy next to him an encouraging smile. "Would you like to gather your things to show George your ideas?"
Julian nodded excitedly before climbing over the couch arm and running across the room to his desk where he began grabbing armfuls of papers.
George smirked at the sight of the boy before turning his attention back to his twin. "Clever thinking with reworking the contracts," he mused as he chewed.
"Well you saw the Prophet," Fred crossed his legs as he settled back. "It's all just a PR appeal for customers to make them feel like they're supporting a local business."
"It's a bloody brilliant one," George countered. "Promising to use locally sourced ingredients for their new UK warehouse? People will love that."
"It's bollocks," Fred asserted. "It'll overwhelm our small vendors and then we'll be left with short supply. Not to mention, how the cost is going to skyrocket with the demand. We'll probably have to stall the expansion of the Hogsmeade shop."
His twin nodded in agreement. "Probably for the best. Ensuring our contracts seems like the best defense we can do right now." George leaned to the side of the chair, face resting in his hand while propped up with his elbow. Fred watched as George's eyes drifted over to the other side of the office. "So what's the deal with the kid?" He asked again.
"Watching him for a friend," Fred answered matter of factly with a shrug.
"Really?" George questioned with a raised eyebrow. "You never even watch your own nieces and nephews."
"I'm never asked," Fred shrugged again with a smirk.
George pauses for a moment as he takes in his twin's face. "Which friend?" He finally gives in and asks.
The amusement on Fred's face grows tenfold. "If you're so curious, then just stay and find out." A challenging glint in his eye. "They usually pick him up around 5."
George sighed and checked the watch on his wrist as he weighed his options. "Well I guess Percy can stay with Mum a bit longer.
"Good lad." Fred nodded with a smile on his face, happy to have cornered his brother into some time with him.
The small boy then jumped back onto the couch with a running start causing the papers in his hands to scatter. "Watch out," Fred laughed as he assisted in gathering the papers. "Can't have your plans all rumpled from impact." Julian's laughter was the only response given as he settled next to Fred. "Alright then, Mr. Julian," Fred began as he handed the papers back to the child. "The floor is yours."
Julian's eyes turned over to George waiting patiently before darting back. "Where do I start?" he whispered to Fred.
"The beginning, I suppose," Fred offered. "Why did you want to make your own game?"
Julian turned back to George and explained, "Well Mr. Fred has been showing me all kinds of games while Mummy is at work."
"Mummy?" George interrupted, eagerly leaving forward with his hands on his knees. "And who is that?"
Fred rolled his eyes at his twin's blatant attempt, but Julian spoke before Fred could. "My mum," the child deadpanned.
Undeterred, George laughed. "Yes, I guessed that. But, for instance, what does Fred call her?"
"He calls her my mum," Julian explained, not getting what the man was trying to do.
"Don't distract the poor boy just to be a nosy-parker, George," Fred stepped in to scold his brother. "Go on, Mr. Julian," Fred encouraged with a pat on the boy's back.
Julian nodded and took a breath before continuing. "Well Mr. Fred and I have been playing a lot of fun games. We play Gobstones and Exploding Snap a lot in the office. In the store he lets me fly around on the broom and we play Quidditch. I like all of those," the boy reported with a smile before it turned sour. "But then he showed me Wizard's Chess."
"Not a fan?" George asked Julian with a raise of his brow.
"It's boring!" Julian explained with a sigh, crossing his arms. "And it had a lot of rules. I didn't like it."
Fred interrupted then. "There was one part you quite liked, Mr. Julian."
The smile on the boy's face grew wide. "It's really fun to watch them fight each other," Julian said almost menacingly. "So I asked Mr. Fred why couldn't the game be just that."
George chuckled at the notion. "You're completely right," he insisted. "But the chess pieces are designed to only animate when they're moved properly."
"You're right," Fred jumped in for Julian. "So why not design a brand new game drawing inspiration from the battling figurines?"
Fred watched as his twin's face brightened at the idea. "What kind of figurines?" George asked as he sat up straighter.
"Animals!" Julian yelled with excitement as he handed sheets of his plans over to George. "I have a cat, a Pygmy Puff, a horse, a dragon, and I'm working on a bunny right now."
George listened to the boy as he narrated each of his drawings in detail, only interrupting to ask Julian additional questions about each fighter he's made. "So how would the actual game work?" George asked Fred after Julian was done.
"I was thinking each figurine comes with a card of some sort with a couple of abilities that they'll use to fight," Fred explained. "We'd set up a strengths and weaknesses system for some checks and balances between fighters. But ultimately the best way to win is to have a strong battle team of multiple figurines."
"That we'll sell separately," George stated with a nod and a chuckle as the plan clicked into his mind. "I love it." His smile grew so big that it made his eye's wrinkle in the corners.
George immediately set off into discussing the logistics of the figurines. How he'll need to do the research on Wizard's Chess and see what he can find about animating the pieces. What materials they'll need in order to make the prototypes. How quickly they could potentially get the first set out onto the shelves. Everything that Fred has been missing discussing with his twin these past few months. All of this conversation happened while Julian continued brainstorming out loud over the shop talk of details flowing between the twins.
This bubble of productivity the three of them formed continued until the office door opened with an apologetic, "Sorry I'm late today." Hermione entered, looking flushed from the heat outside on her walk from the Ministry, and veered directly over to deposit her bag on it's usual spot on the chair by Fred's desk. "Budget discussions are the thorn in my side today."
"Mummy!" Julian yelled immediately as he ran across the room to hug her, just like everyday.
Hermione started to greet her son back but paused as she looked over and saw the extra person with them. "Why hello, George," she smiled hesitantly. "Been wondering when you'd pop up."
George quickly shot a glance over at Fred in disbelief before loud chuckles took over the original surprise. "Of course," George continued to shake his head as he stood up to cross the room and immediately embrace the woman. "A child as brilliant as this one could only be yours, Hermione."
"Oh Merlin," Hermione chuckled as she played with the hair of the boy still wrapped around her legs. "What were you being brilliant about today, Duckie?"
"Mr. Fred's and my game!" Julian practically squealed as he let go of his mother. "It's going to be so much better than before."
"You know," Hermione began as she took the opportunity to take down her hair from the bun she wore it in for work. "Not all games of Wizard's Chess are boring. I once played one that was quite exciting when I was at Hogwarts."
Fred bursted out in a loud laugh from his seat on the couch. "Yeah, it only took McGonagall transfiguring the pieces to be giant and the threat of your 11 year old lives to make it exciting."
Hermione ignored the comment as George's face lit up. "Do you think McGonagall would tell us how she animated those pieces? That'd save us some research."
"She'd probably laugh us out of her office saying if we wanted to learn that then we should've actually finished her NEWT level."
"Gather your things as I chat with Fred and George," she instructed her son. Julian obeyed his mother and ran back over to the couch to collect his drawings.
With a sigh, Hermione tucked some of her stray hair behind her left earlobe and fully turned to George still next to her. "So how surprised are you, really?" She asked.
George smirked. "What? Like on a scale?"
"Sure," she smirked. "1 being that you already knew." Fred didn't miss Hermione's sly glance his way with a raised eyebrow at the suggestion. "10 being you would've been less surprised to see the ghost of Dumbledore himself walking in."
"I resent that accusation," Fred interrupted jestfully as he crossed the room to join his brother and Hermione. "I've been nothing but a loyal friend since you and your offspring showed up here."
"Why don't you let your brother speak for himself then?" Hermione challenged hauttilly.
George stood bewilder as he looked back and forth between Fred and Hermione's exchange. "I'm just trying to understand how you're even here, Hermione," George answered honestly. "Last I heard you were still in America."
"Well that was still a fact until a few weeks ago," Hermione admitted. "Kingsley reached out with a job offer I couldn't refuse so I packed up Julian and our things."
"Ah, yes." At the mention of the boy, George's eyes darted over to Julian finishing his clean up then back to Fred and Hermione. "I imagine the rest is a longer story."
Hermione sheepishly nodded. "I'm afraid so."
Julian joined the adults with his small worn blue backpack on his back. "I'm ready!" He announced as he wedged himself between his mother and Fred.
George's face fell slightly for a moment before lighting up with a smirk. "Julian," he began as he crouched to the eye level of the four year old. "I must insist that you and your mother join me and my family for dinner tonight. I have a little boy that you must meet."
The boy immediately pulled on his mother's arm with excitement. "Can we?"
Hermione's lips pursed slightly as she considered the request. "Shouldn't you check with Angelina first before inviting unexpected dinner guests?"
"She married me," George reminded her with a smile. "I believe my wife knows by now to expect the unexpected."
"Right," Fred agreed. "Like how last month you brought home our baby Pygmy Puffs to hand feed every 2 hours through the night."
George laughed at the memory. "Or the time I brought our human baby home completely bald."
"Well that wasn't entirely your fault," argued Fred. "Who was to guess that the wormwood would have that effect when combined with the dried nettles?"
"Hermione, probably," George half-joked.
Fred chuckled along with his twin as Hermione couldn't help but smirk at the compliment breaking her resolve.
"Well it would be nice to catch up with Angelina," she gave in.
All three boys around her cheered with excitement. "Wonderful," George exclaimed. "I just need to apparate over to the Burrow to collect my son real quick."
"Let me go collect Little Percy from Mum," Fred stepped in. He didn't miss the flash of an inquisitive look in Hermione's eyes. "You can take Hermione and Julian over now and I'll meet you there."
"Excellent," George agreed. "This'll give me a chance to show you the flat before the crazed toddler destroys it all."
"I understand that all too well," Hermione reminisced as she collected her bag. "Julian can still make a nice display of his room when he wants to."
"Hey!" Julian protested. "I've been good at Mr. Neville's!"
George's face lit up with intrigue as he took out his wand. "First my twin and now Neville? Such an interesting crowd you've chosen since arriving back, Hermione."
Hermione sighed as she collected Julian's hand. "What can I say? It's been an interesting 8 years and an even more interesting few weeks."
She flashed a smile at Fred before George captured Julian's other hand and apparated the three of them away, leaving Fred alone.
The sky was a dark indigo by the time 3 figures blinked into existence within eyesight of the gates surrounding Longbottom Manor. The crack of their arrival quickly echoed throughout the valley behind the old manor house on top of the hill before giving back away to the sounds of the Yorkshire summer night. The hum of the insects settled back in around them like white noise.
"Thanks for apparating us back to Neville's," Hermione whispered to the man next to her after dropping his hand now that they've arrived.
"Happy to," Fred nodded, igniting his wand with a lumos charm to light the pathway they started to walk up leading towards the house. "Not completely sure that George's barrier would've let you through by yourself."
"What? Does he have some sort of Weasley detection charm or something?" She asked as she readjusted the sleeping boy securely into both of her arms.
"Something like that. Plus you kind of have your arms full at the moment," Fred joked with a fond rub of the boy's head before shifting his eyes back to Hermione. "And this gives me the chance to coax you into the plan."
Hermione rolled her eyes with a sigh. "I told you all that I'd have to think about it."
"Well I think it's brilliant," Fred continued, undeterred. "You can't keep hiding from them forever. And the timing is perfect. You'll be the best birthday gift Harry's ever gotten. Where's that Gryffindor bravery?"
"My pride overshadows it," she states, matter of factly. "It's hard for me to admit when I've made mistakes, you know."
Fred let out an unconvincing surprised gasp that earned him a shove on the shoulder from Hermione. "You don't seriously believe that you actually made a mistake in leaving, do you?" He asked curiously.
"No," she answered without hesitation. "Going to New York was what I needed to do. I just know now that things should've ended differently here before I left. Emotionally immature, 20 year old or not."
As she paused, Fred wondered if she meant Ron or herself with that last comment.
"Ultimately it's not me I'm concerned about. I know that I need to face my actions," she confided. "I'm worried about Julian. I don't want him to see his mother getting raked over the coals when it doesn't go well."
Fred stepped closer to lay a reassuring hand on her shoulder, pausing their steps. "You and I both know that is not going to happen," he said confidently. "But on the off chance it does, then that's where Angelina's plan comes in. I'll bring you early and surprise everyone and then George and Angelina will bring Julian a little while later once everything's blown over."
She paused as she considered his argument. "And you'll watch out for Julian while we're there?"
"Of course," he instantly agreed. "I still need that genius little brain of this to finish his game."
Hermione couldn't help the slight pull of a smile at the corner of her mouth at the praise of her son. "Let me sleep on it," she offered.
"Fine," Fred conceded with the drop of his hand. "But I think it's time to rip off the band-aid."
"It'd be so strange to see everyone," she pondered as they continued towards the gate once again. "I mean it was completely odd seeing George as a father tonight."
Fred chuckled in agreement. "It was a bit of a shock for all. The two of us were at the Hogsmeade shop working on prep for the first Hogwarts weekend of the year and George just blurts out that Angelina's pregnant and that they're getting married," he remembered. "It fits though," he supplied thoughtfully. "Them and Little Percy."
Hermione opened her mouth before quickly shutting it, but not before Fred noticed. "Come on, Hermione," he urged. "I know you were about to say something. Out with it."
"Just curious about your thoughts on them naming him after Percy," she asked hesitantly. "When I left he wasn't anyone's favorite topic of conversation. Especially yours."
Fred's lips flatten into a straight line as he considered his response. "George asked me about it before he was born," he offered in a melancholy tone. "I told him it was fine. Couldn't say anything else." Fred paused to take a breath. "Sometimes it still feels weird saying and hearing the name so casually again after it was practically taboo for so long."
Hermione kept his eye as a wave of empathy passed between them as they arrived at the iron gate to the manor. The shared grief for their fallen friends and family forever bonded all of those who survived those dark times.
"Mummy," groaned the small voice of the boy wrapped around Hermione's torso. "Are we home yet?"
"Yes, Ducky," Hermione petted the top of his dark blonde head. "I'm just saying goodbye to Mr. Fred."
"Ah, yes," Fred looked at his watch as both adults shook off the tense moment. "Time to get you in bed before you turn into a pumpkin." Fred placed a hand on the boy's back and rubbed it affectionately. "Sleep tight, Mr. Julian."
A responding mumble was heard against the collarbone of Hermione, making her softly chuckle. "Goodnight, Fred," she said with a quick kiss against the man's cheek.
"See you both in the morning," Fred responded with a friendly kiss of his own on her cheek before they parted ways.
Last Day of July 2008
With a crack, Fred and Hermione landed steadily on the hill slightly north of his childhood home. The air around them in Ottery St. Catchpole was thick with the heat and humidity of summer's peak. Fred was thankful he had found his favorite purple linen shirt to wear in this heat as he felt the familiar glisten of sweat already beginning to form at his hairline.
"Shite." He heard directly from his right. "It looks exactly the same."
Hermione had been staring out at the Burrow with a wistful expression that quickly turned with an anxious burrow of her eyebrows. "I feel like a teenager coming home to face their parents after they snuck out," she confessed with a heartless laugh.
"Or just dropped out of school with a giant fireworks display and a swamp?" Fred joked in hopes of lightening her mood.
She chuckled as she pushed a wayward curl that had escaped from her ponytail out of her face. "I was surprised that the two of you even survived long enough to start the store."
"Luckily we had Dad in our corner," Fred remembered as he sheathed his wand back into his pocket. "He was just surprised that we lasted over a month in school after turning of age."
He let her pause another moment as she continued to take in the sight of the home that she had spent so much time in as a teenager. A place that was now both familiar and foreign to her.
"You ready?" He gently asked her with a touch to her shoulder.
Hermione blinked out of her trance and quickly began smoothing out and adjusting the light blue sundress she wore with her hand not holding the gift she brought. "I guess as much as I'll ever be," she answered nervously.
"Don't worry," Fred reassured her as he began to lead her down the hill. "You're going to be brilliant as always. They are all going to be so happy to see you. They've all missed you, Hermione."
"All of them?" She questioned unconvinced.
Fred nodded. "Just because you and Ron had a spat-"
"A spat," Hermione scoffed. "We broke up, I immediately moved to another country, and then haven't communicated with him for almost a decade. That's more than just a spat."
"Well then just because you and Ron had more than a spat, doesn't mean that he stopped caring. The opposite of love's indifference, not hate, and all of that." Fred gloated in the slight groan he got from Hermione at that.
Too soon they arrived at the chipped and worn bright red door. They could already hear loud and boisterous voices echoing from the garden out back. Fred offered Hermione one last supportive smile before reaching out to open the door.
"Wait," Hermione placed her hand over Fred's before it could turn the knob. "You remember the safe word we came up with if I need a quick exit?"
"Sneakoscope," Fred answered immediately.
She gave him a single nod in response before dropping her hand from his, signaling for him to go ahead.
The door creaked open revealing the familiar entry way of the burrow. Fred heard Hermione next to him take a big breath in as she eyed the place. He knew that not much had changed since the last time she had been here but didn't know if it would come as a shock or a comfort for her. The bright light from the sunshine outside lit up the warmth of home and all of the colorfully mismatched decor the way it always did on the rare sunny day. The only thing that was off was that there was no noise coming from anywhere inside.
"Hello?" Fred called out. After a moment of no response, he shrugged. "Must all be out back. Come on." He began to lead Hermione further into the house. He almost wanted to laugh at how quiet she was being as she followed, anxiety still plaguing her.
Crossing over into the kitchen, Fred spotted a smaller figure sneaking over towards the table housing a few different desserts. He gave Hermione a quick smirk with a finger to his lips signalling her to keep staying quiet before he silently crept behind the child.
"Oi, Ted!" Fred spoke loudly. The boy gave a shirek and jumped away from the table in surprise causing his previously blonde hair to shift to a vibrant purple shade. "Sneaking some sweets before supper?"
"Fred," Teddy let out a relieved laugh once he settled and realized that he hadn't been caught by an adult that would've immediately reprimanded him. "Do you want some? Your mum made treacle fudge."
Fred smiled at the boy with a pat on his shoulder. "Not just yet for me," he answered. "But since I've caught you. I need a favor from you," he leaned down closer to the boy's ear. "Can you run and get your godfather for me? I've brought him a gift that he should see in private." Fred inclined his head with a single nod over to Hermione still standing at the entryway from the hallway.
Teddy took in the woman with a curious glance for a moment, but nothing else crossed his face. He only lingered for a second before nodding and running out of the kitchen. Fred chuckled at the sight of the boy. But when he turned back, the look on Hermione's face alarmed him. She looked like she saw a ghost and was breathing very fast. He immediately strode back through the kitchen and placed his right hand on her shoulder before grabbing the gift she was holding with his left. "You okay?" He feebly asked.
"It's just-" Hermione had to cut herself off to catch her breath and swallow the lump in her throat. "That was Teddy?" She asked, brown eyes wide.
Fred calmly nodded in confirmation to her as he began to rub her shoulder. "He's so big," she stammered. "He looks so much like Remus. His hair-"
"I know," Fred continued to nod in agreement. "He'll be starting Hogwarts next year."
"Oh my-" Hermione visibly paled at the news. "I don't know if I can do this. It's been too long. I've been away too long. Teddy didn't even recognize me. What am I doing-"
She was interrupted by footsteps entering the kitchen. The figure of Harry stepped inside, brown hair shorter but just as unruly as always. The same round shape of glasses on the bridge of his nose. The same, but now fainter, lighting scar on his forehead. Ginny was close behind her husband, holding their newborn daughter. They both stopped immediately at the surprise of the sight before them.
Harry was quick to be the first to speak. "Hermione?" His tone filled with confusion, bewilderment, and joy.
Hermione, unable to speak, just sheepishly smiled with a nod at her old friend.
Harry was across the kitchen in the blink of an eye, before Fred could even fully step away from Hermione, and embraced her without hesitation.
Fred could see Hermione visibly relax as Harry's arms wrapped around her incredibly tight. "Happy Birthday," she finally spoke with tears in her eyes after a few long moments. "Sorry. I know I've missed a few."
Harry laughed as he pulled back. "I can't believe you're here," he said, still bewildered. Ginny took the opportunity to place their child into Harry's arms before embracing Hermione herself.
"I'm so happy to see you," she spoke sincerely, tears of her own brimming out.
"Are you crying?" Hermione asked, her own tears now fully streaming down her cheeks.
"Of course I am," the red haired girl laughed. "It's like you've come back from the dead."
"Oh Merlin." Hermione wiped her cheeks. "I've been horrible. I shouldn't have stayed away for so long. I owe you all the biggest apology."
Harry shook his head at her deprecation. "It doesn't matter."
"It does matter," she stubbornly insisted.
"All that matters is that you're here now," he insisted back.
"Are you here for long?" Ginny asked hopefully, stopping the cycle.
Hermione nodded happily. "Indefinitely. I have a new job with the Department of International Magical Cooperation here in London."
"This is amazing." Harry's smile seemed to grow even more as he went in to bear hug Hermione again, his daughter still in his arms.
"Woah, woah!" Ginny laughed. "Don't squish the baby. The soft spot is still very much a thing."
"Yes," Hermione chuckled as she wiped the rest of her tears from her eyes. "I've heard that I had some new Potters to meet."
Harry nodded as he presented the sleeping newborn to his friend. "This is Lily. There's also James and Albus, but they're outside running amuck."
Hermione stroked the light dusting of auburn hair on the baby girl's head with a wistful smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Lily."
Ginny opened her mouth to speak but was cut off with the sounds of more footsteps entering the kitchen.
"Wow." The tall and lean figure of Ron Weasley uttered as he stopped in his tracks. "I guess Teddy wasn't lying. Fred really did bring you a girl for your birthday, Harry."
A tense air immediately filled the kitchen. Even Lily started to wake up with a fuss as the air turned. The groans of the infant broke Hermione out of the momentary stasis she found herself in at the sight of Ron and she took a few steps closer towards him. "Hello, Ron," she spoke cautiously, but with a fondness.
"Hermione," Ron echoed, with the slight shake of his head. Another silent moment passed as they took in the sight of each other.
She started to nervously run her hands together. "I can leave if you'd like," she offered meekly.
"Don't be daft," Ron answered immediately before letting out a slight laugh of disbelief and closing the small distance between them to give her a hug. "I'm just trying to fully process this. Are you really here or is this some sort of joke that Fred's come up with?"
"I'm really here," She chuckled, her mood significantly lifted from the arms of Ron still around her. "The twins may be good at what they do but I don't think they've crossed over into the cloning of human life yet."
"Was hoping to save that announcement for the spring catalog." Fred cheekily added, joining in for the first time since the arrivals of the others.
Hermione then pulled back from the hug just enough to make eye contact with Ron and then quickly with Harry from behind her shoulder. "Can we go and have a chat upstairs? The 3 of us?"
Both Ron and Harry immediately agreed to the notion. Harry gently handed his daughter off to his wife with a kiss to Ginny's cheek as Ron and Hermione fully separated. Both men then walked over to the entryway and lingered as Hermione paused in front of Fred.
She reached out for the gift from Fred's hand with a grateful smile lifting one side of her lips. "Thank you," she whispered, as softly as she could, to him.
Fred gave her a wink in response, punctuating the 'I told you so' smirk on his own lips.
The reunited trio then left the kitchen together, the sounds of the creaking stairs echoing through the empty hallway as they climbed up towards Ron's old room.
As the noise faded, Ginny approached her older brother. Curiosity etched her face. "Care to explain?" She asked as she adjusted the baby in her arms.
"Maybe after a drink." Fred replied with a jump of his eyebrows before brushing past his sister towards the open door to the garden.
The sun was just beginning to touch the horizon in the distance as Fred took the familiar path into the garden where most of his large family were gathered around. He could still sense his sister easily keeping up with him as she followed behind. Ignoring her presence, he diverted towards the refreshment table his mother set up with a nod of acknowledgment towards his two older brothers gathered in front of it, sharing a drink together.
Fred quickly cracked open a cold butterbeer with the nook of his elbow. "You can't just show up with her and not explain anything," Ginny insisted, still beside him.
"Show up with who?" Bill asked, intrigued.
"Hermione," Ginny explains with a huff. "She's upstairs with Harry and Ron as we speak."
"Hermione's here?" Charlie repeated loudly.
"What about Hermione?" Molly asked, immediately jumping in at the sound of the name from the nearby table she was still setting with her wand.
"She's here, Mum," Ginny explained with a huff.
Molly's face etched in further confusion. "How'd she get here?"
"Fred brought her."
"No," Molly insisted as she turned away to walk back into the kitchen. "Fred said he was bringing a new friend."
"Yeah. A friend named Hermione apparently," Ginny called out after her.
Fred just rolled his eyes as he drowned his butterbeer in one long pull, enjoying his family's continued game. His father slid up to his group of gathered children with a pat on Fred's back in greeting after he finished his first drink.
"What is this I hear about you bringing a girl for Harry for his birthday?" Arthur asked him seriously. "That's quite rude to your sister, you know."
"He didn't bring a girl," Ginny stepped in, like an echoing parrot. "He brought Hermione."
Arthur's face perked up. "Hermione? Really?" He didn't stick around at the news, instead slipping out to make a beeline further back into the garden to no doubt continue the spread of gossip.
Charlie leaned over closer to Bill with a smirk on his face. "Did you hear that Hermione's here?"
"Oh really?" Bill played along. "Can't say I have. You'd think it'd be big news around here." Fred laughed with his older brothers as he reached for another drink.
Their sister's face, meanwhile, was still unamused. "You're really not going to explain Fred?"
"What's there to explain?" Fred offered with a shrug. "She told you that she got a new job so she's back here. That's pretty much the gist of it."
"Pretty much?" Ginny rolled her eyes. "That doesn't explain why she's shown up with you, Fred. Unless you somehow gave her the job."
Fred couldn't help but laugh at that notion. "Yes. Well, you all will now finally understand the grip of power my joke shop has over the Minister of Magic."
"You're really not going to tell?" Ginny continued her prodding, ignoring the laughter from all of her brothers.
"Not really my story to tell," Fred answered before taking a pull of his new bottle. "I just happened to be the first one of us that she ran across since being back."
"You don't find that odd?" She questioned. "I mean I don't think any of us would've classified you two as friends before."
Fred paused at the notion briefly. "We were friends," he defended. His eyes shifted over to Bill and Charlie for backup. "Hermione was all of our friend."
Bill shrugged. "I mean, sure. But most of the conversations I remember between you two were more like battle than they were cordial."
"Remember the one about Ron's birthday present?" Charlie chuckled at the memory.
"Or when you considered bringing in some elves for the shop," Bill remembered.
"When Crookshanks went bald after he got into that box of treats."
"The privacy issues with the restroom that one New Year's Eve."
"You both didn't even see the ones they got into in the Gryffindor common room once she officially became prefect," Ginny added to the onslaught.
The trip down memory lane was then cut off by the arrival of two little arms wrapping around the legs of Fred, to the surprise of the whole group.
"Mr. Fred!" The blonde boy shouted in delight at the man.
Fred's mood lifted instantly at the greeting. "Mr. Julian!" He matched back with an affectionate ruffle to the boy's head. "Welcome to the Burrow."
"What's this now?" His sister asked with an almost exasperated look.
"It's a child," Fred answered cheekily. "Would've expected you to know that. You happen to have 3 of your own."
"Who does this child belong to?" Ginny clarified with an eye roll.
"Me, currently," George answered as he joined the group with a pat on his twin's back, the boys still wrapped around Fred's legs. "Ange and I are watching him this evening for a friend."
"Oh," Ginny voiced, seemingly satisfied with that explanation. "Anyone that-" Her follow up question was cut off by the infant in her arms stirring with a cry.
"My dear," she cooed at Lily as she started to bounce the baby in her arms. "It's time for you to eat, isn't it?" The calming tone Ginny used with her daughter was dropped as she turned her attention back to Fred. "I expect a better answer when I come back." And with that, Ginny walked back towards the home.
"Why is she so dramatic today?" George asked his brothers as he reached for a drink for himself.
"Hermione is upstairs," Bill shared.
Luckily the soft giggle that escaped Julian was muffled into Fred's shorts. "Is she really?" George's face in pretend shock.
"Come off it," Charlie immediately called out. "She came with Fred. You obviously knew."
"To be fair, I've only recently been included in that little secret." George grinned teasingly at his twin as he twisted the cap off his butterbeer.
Ignoring the comment, Fred placed his now empty second bottle on the table before reaching down to scoop up the boy at his feet. "Let's go and introduce you to the other small people running about here, Mr. Julian."
Fred knew exactly where all of his nieces and nephews were at this time of the year, even without the boisterous laughter echoing around the yard. As he turned towards the back of the fenced area, the children came into view as they ran around capturing and throwing the gnomes out of his mother's garden. Angelina and Fleur sat at the small picnic table chatting as they watched the activities.
He could feel Julian tense up slightly in his arms as he saw all of the other children. "You alright?" Fred asked the boy as he stopped moving.
"There's so many," Julian whispered with wide eyes.
Fred laughed. "Yeah, I know. I have to buy them all Christmas presents every year and it is quickly adding up," he joked.
"Will they like me?" The boy asked nervously.
Fred placed Julian back on the ground before he squatted down to be eye level with the boy to answer. "You're such a cool kid, Jules," he said earnestly. "Truly. And don't tell them I said this, since I'm not technically allowed to play favorites, but they have nothing on you. If they like you even just a fraction that I do then you have nothing to worry about. Okay?"
"Okay," Julian's face brightened with a small smile. His body posture quickly turned to excitement as the group of kids behind them all started shouting about something.
"I'll just be over at that table with Ms. Angelina. So I won't be far," Fred reassured before standing back up fully and offering his hand to the boy. "You ready?"
The small hand quickly grabbed the outstretched bigger hand. Fred then began to lead his young friend up towards the other children. He spotted that the oldest Potter child was the closest to them as he cornered a gnome against the fence post.
"Gotcha!" James yelled in excitement as he held the gnome in his small fist. "Uncle Fred!" He yelled in excitement as the older man approached. "Did you see me sneak up on him?" He showed off his capture proudly.
"I sure did," Fred told him. "You get any quicker with those hands and I'll have no choice but to pick you over your dad as Seeker for Quidditch."
The delighted look on James' face was cut short by the pain of sharp little teeth digging into his finger. "Ow!"
Fred immediately dropped Julian's hand and reached over to grab the small creature from his nephew's hand. Narrowly missing the teeth himself, he presented the gnome to both of the boys with his thumb and pointer finger holding the creature by the back of its neck. "Remember, this is how you should hold them. Don't give them any skin to sink their teeth into."
"Woah!" Julian exclaimed as he got closer to the gnome to take a better look. "What do you do with them?"
"We get rid of them!" James explained with excitement. "Nan doesn't like them in her garden so we take care of them for her."
"But how do you get rid of them?" Julian asked the other boy.
"Like this," Fred interjected as he began to disorient the gnome still between his fingers by making quick circles with his wrist like he was whisking. "Then you throw them over the fence," he instructed before he wound up his arm and tossed the gnome.
James laughed in delight as Julian's eyes grew big as they watched the small creature arch through the air and beyond the fence. "Woah!" Julian exclaimed. "Can I try?"
"Of course you can." Fred smiled at his young friend before turning his attention to his nephew. "James, can you show my friend, Julian, the ropes?"
James nodded immediately. "I know where a bunch of them hide. Come on!"
Fred watched as James and Julian took off to the other end of the garden, both of them already talking a million miles a minute to one another, before joining his sister in laws at the picnic table nearby.
The two youngest grandsons, Albus and Percy, were playing in the large sandbox that Fred's father built right after Victorie was born. Angelina was subtly keeping an eye on the boys as she caught up with Fleur over some drinks when Fred approached.
"Hello there," Fred greeted as he slid onto the bench next to Angelina. "Long time, no see, Ange."
The darker skinned witch just rolled her eyes at Fred since he was just at her place hours ago dropping Julian off with Hermione. "How'd it go?" Angelina simply asked with a sip of her drink.
"Pretty well," Fred admitted. "Teddy was the only one in the house when we arrived so I was able to have him grab Harry away from everyone. The three of them are upstairs now."
"Who's upstairs?" Fleur jumped in to ask Fred, completely confused at the conversation.
"Harry, Ron, and Hermione," Angelina answered for him. Fred nodded his appreciation at her for fielding the question this time.
"Ça alors," the blonde muttered in her native language at the news. "What's she doing back here?"
Angelina took the helm and explained Hermione's reappearance to the other witch while Fred looked out over the garden. His eyes fell directly towards Julian as he threw a gnome over the fence, his face lit up in delight. Dominique then ran over to the two boys to join in, already throwing herself onto the ground to capture a gnome. Not far from the group, Victorie rolled her eyes at her sister before leaning over to whisper to Teddy, who's rarely seen from her side.
Fred continued to watch the kids before he was pulled back into the conversation between Angelina and Fleur as it transitioned away from the surprise addition to the party.
"So, Fred," Fleur began. "Are you starting to get nervous about Talpin & Minks?"
"When have you ever seen us nervous about anything?" Fred showboated, hoping to disguise the slight anxiety that formed in his stomach at the name. "We have a game plan shaping up as we speak. So I say, bring on the Americans. We needed some good competition anyway."
The blonde gave a small laugh. "I'm not sure if I'd be so. . . trop sûr de soi. Some of my co-workers have been going on and on about their products," she informed.
Fred held Fleur's gaze defiantly at the challenge she just presented. "Well then, I guess I'll have to send you into work with a whole truck of Wonder Witch products in order to change the conversation."
Angelina laughed. "If you're not careful Fred then you might run yourself into bankruptcy before they even get the chance to try."
Fred's retort died on his tongue as the figure of Harry popped into his peripheral vision, entering the back garden once again. Fred waited to see if the other two figures were close behind, but it was only the one.
Arthur quickly approached Harry, but the younger man seemed to brush off his father-in-law while his eyes searched the garden. Once his eyes skimmed over to the table Fred shared with Angelina and Fleur, Harry began to make a beeline towards it.
Fred stood up from his seat as the other man approached. Harry didn't pause to stop as he arrived, instead he simply wrapped his arms around his brother-in-law. "Thank you so much for getting her here," he spoke sincerely.
"I would've done it sooner," Fred admitted. "But she can be quite stubborn when she wants to be."
Harry chuckled as he pulled away, his eyes already scanning the children close by. "Is that him with James?" He asked in a hushed tone to Fred.
Fred only gave a single nod in confirmation to him. With a wistful smile, Harry patted Fred on the shoulder lovingly before heading further into the garden.
Fred watched as Harry approached his eldest son and had him introduce Harry to his new friend. Julian immediately reached his hand out to Harry, like the polite boy he was raised to be.
"Ron and Hermione must still be upstairs." Angelina's voice drifted into the air in observation.
"Oh, I hope that they work it out," Fleur joined. "She was always good for him."
"Well he and Padma are off again," Angelina acknowledged. "But I don't know. Weirder things have happened." Her voice vaguely insinuated.
Fred could feel Angelina's eyes on him, but he refused to meet them. "I'm going to go and get another drink," he muttered unbothered as he departed back towards the house.
He rejoined his group of brothers there, still gathered by the refreshments. Fred tried to keep up with the conversation, but his eyes kept darting to the door. He felt a small knot form in his stomach as the minutes passed until a small tug on his hand fully pulled his attention away.
"Mr. Fred," the brown eyes of Julian stared up at him. "I'm thirsty. Can you help?"
"Absolutely," Fred immediately complied and reached for an empty cup on the table. He ignored a crack that Charlie spouted to Julian about how their own nephews and nieces don't get this royal treatment as Fred filled the cup with a quick aguamenti.
Ron and Hermione then finally stepped out through the back door, laughing quietly together. They stopped walking as they felt the pressure of everyone's eyes fall onto them, but their eyes were trained onto the child next to Fred.
His younger brother leaned closer to Hermione as he gestured to the boy and whispered in her ear. She simply smiled and gave him a single nod in response to whatever he said.
"Mummy!" Julian yelled as he spotted her, his water completely forgotten, and took off to run into her open arms.
Fred heard the shocked reactions of his older brothers at the scene. He shared a private chuckle with his twin, enjoying the fact that they were already in the know.
"You okay there, Charlie?" George asked at the sight of the dragon tamer's confused face.
"I'm just doing some quick maths," Charlie admitted. "That can't be his kid right?"
"Does that look like an 8 year old to you?" Bill challenged with a smirk.
Charlie shrugged. "How am I supposed to know what age a child is?"
"You're an uncle to 6 children and probably counting knowing this family."
Fred tuned out his brother's bickering as he watched Ron lean down and introduce himself to Julian. The knot in his stomach gave a slight twinge at the sight, but Fred washed that away with a drink of the water that the boy just abandoned in his hands.
The sun had finally set on this hot summer day, long after their original arrival at the Burrow this afternoon. The voices of overlapping conversations from the adults still drifted over from the other side of the garden but Fred was enjoying the peace of the secluded bench he chose to enjoy a glass of firewhisky from, away from the crowd.
From his perch he could also watch as his nieces and nephews continued to run around the garden in search of the glowworms that had started to shine under the fall of night. Julian kept up with the fun for a while until he broke off from the group in favor of the man on the bench.
"I'm tired, Mr. Fred," the boy spoke softly as he approached the bench. "Can we go home yet?"
"I'm tired too, Mr. Julian," Fred answered the boy honestly before finishing his glass of whisky and placing it on the ground by his feet. "But we can't leave just yet. Your mum has a lot of people she has to talk to tonight, so she's making the call on when we can go. How about you join me and we can relax until she's ready?"
Julian simply nodded his head before climbing up onto the bench. Fred scooted over slightly to give the boy some proper room on the seat, but Julian chose to place himself onto the man's lap. He wrapped around Fred with his little arms and legs as his face relaxed onto the man's shoulder. With a small smile, Fred relaxed as he began mindlessly stroking the child's back, luring the boy to sleep in his arms.
Fred could feel the warmth and weight of the child on his lap trying to lure him into shutting his own eyes. It had been a long few hours. Once Hermione was down with everyone and had introduced Julian, the rest had been a whirlwind. He could barely catch sight of the witch before she was dragged into another conversation. Everybody wanted a chance to hug and speak with Hermione to tell her how much they've all missed her.
Both Harry and Ron rarely left her side, not that Fred could blame them. Their best friend was back. They're not the same people that they were the last time they were all together, but it's like they've picked up right from where they've left off. The Golden Trio together again.
It was all a good thing. But surprisingly a part of him, the part that has grown close to this new Hermione and her son these past few weeks, felt a little envious. They had formed their own little trio ever since she appeared at the shop with Julian and Fred couldn't help but wonder if things are going to change now that the secret is no more.
"There you two are." Hermione's voice broke Fred out of his thoughts as she approached, two drinks in hand. "Need a refill?" She asked, reaching out one of the full glasses out to Fred. He accepted the drink, careful not to disturb the sleeping boy in his lap, with a soft thanks.
Hermione sat in the empty space next to them on the bench with a smile at her sleeping son. She ran a gentle hand through the boy's fair hair, love radiating in the touch. "Got stuck on babysitting duty?" She asked with a smirk as she settled onto the bench.
"Yeah," Fred chuckled. "He was just dropped off at the store one day. But he's cute and puts in some good work, so I figured I'd keep him. At least on a trial basis."
"Very generous of you," she retorted before taking a sip of her own drink. "Funny to find you all the way over here. You used to be the center of attention in the thick of it over there."
Fred shrugged as best that he could. "Once George left tonight, I needed a break," he dismissed. "There's only so much fuss I can take about relationships and grandchildren from Mum each gathering."
"Yes," Hermione agreed with a laugh. "She's already laid her claim on Julian. I'm sorry that he wasn't enough to distract her from you this evening."
"Molly always finds her way, don't you worry." He paused briefly to adjust his legs that have started to fall asleep.
"Oh I can take him if he's too heavy," she immediately offered.
"Don't be ridiculous," Fred shook off the offer. "He can't weigh more than 3 stone. Besides, you're probably going to be pulled away at any moment for even more catching up."
A small groan fell out of Hermione's lips, surprising Fred. "Don't get me wrong," she started as she took in his face, "I'm just drained, physically and emotionally right now. I'm so happy to see everyone, it's just that . . . "
"You've been repeating the same story all day?" Fred offered as she trailed off.
"Basically," Hermione agreed with a pull from her drink. "Plus there is just . . . a fucking lot of them." Fred bursted out laughing, in agreement. "I'm going to have to get used to being around so many people again," she continued. "But it was so nice to see Julian playing with some kids his age. It's like he has cousins now."
"No cousins in America?" Fred asked with an arched eyebrow.
She just shook her head. "Lucas was an only child as well," she explained. "Julian had some friends in school and at the park, but never anyone he could spend real time with. I always felt so bad about that. It was just hard enough dealing with work and keeping us alive in general by myself. Didn't necessarily have the time to set up proper play dates for him."
"That's okay, Hermione," Fred reassured her with a soft nudge of his leg to hers. "In case you haven't noticed, your kid is already pretty phenomenal. And now you're going to have more help than you'll know what to do with. You don't have to do it all by yourself anymore."
"Tell that to my anxiety," Hermione tried to poorly joke off.
Fred shifted his position to look his friend in the eye more easily. "Speaking of that, how are you feeling? Earlier in the kitchen-"
"I'm alright," she interrupted. "It was just the combination of my nerves and surprise kicking in. It all worked out."
He nodded, silently acknowledging that she obviously didn't want to keep talking about it. "So what happened with Harry and Ron?" He asked, changing the subject.
She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts as she started to play with a strand of her hair. "Once we made it up to the attic, I asked them both to take a seat," she remembered. "I then said that I know they probably have a million questions, but I'd like my chance to just speak first and then they could ask whatever questions they wanted. So I told them everything that I could think of about New York, MACUSA, Lucas, Julian, how I ended up back here and everything you've done for us."
"How did they respond?" Fred asked curiously.
"Really well." Hermione couldn't help but smile at that. "They we're sorry to hear about everything that happened with Lucas, but they kept saying that they were just happy to have me home and wanted to know how soon they could meet my son."
Fred mirrored her smile back at the news. "That's fantastic, Hermione."
She nodded in agreement. "We chatted a bit more after that. I answered their questions and they filled me in a bit on what I've missed over here. I gave Harry his present."
"Ah yes," Fred interrupted. "How'd he like his new bag?"
"He loved it," Hermione confirmed with an eye roll. "You were right. When I told him that it was charmed like my beaded bag was all the way back then, his eyes almost popped out of his head in excitement."
"I mean, he just had a third kid. Doesn't take an Arithmancer to figure out that he could probably use a practically infinite bag like that."
"Yes, yes. Well done you," she mockingly praised. "Anyway, after a bit, Harry left so Ron and I could talk."
In the pause she gave, Fred couldn't help but ask, "And how was that?"
"We kind of got into an apology standoff," she explained with a soft smirk. "I apologized about something and then he would and that basically continued on until I finally asked if we could just agree that we were 20 and stupid and had no idea on how to be in a real relationship."
Hermione paused to finish off her drink before continuing. Fred felt the slight knot in his stomach reappear as she spoke. "It was good," she reflected, almost completely lost in her thoughts. "It was, in all honesty, probably the best the two of us ever communicated in our lives." She stopped for a slight pause to take a deep breath. "I don't know. He's different. Harry's different. You're different. We're all so different yet still the same."
She shook off her train of thought as she straightened her posture. "Sorry about that, Fred. My exhaustion must be catching up to me."
"Couldn't agree more." Fred finished his last gulps of her own drink. "Sneakoscope?"
"Sneakoscope," she agreed with a smirk.
"Let's go and start what will probably be half an hour of goodbyes," he said as he stood, carefully making sure the sleeping boy was still wrapped up around him.
"Hey," Hermione reached up and paused his movements with her hand. "Before I forget, do you think you could slip away from the shop tomorrow?"
His eyebrows raised in curiosity at the question. "I should be able to. Why?"
"I think I found a house that I'd like to see," she explained. "I forgot to mention it with everything else going on today. But I'd like for you to join me."
Fred almost instantly agreed, but the small knot in his stomach made him hesitate. "Are you sure that you don't want to invite Harry or Ron? I just figured you'd want to spend some time with them."
Hermione's eyebrows lifted in slight surprise as her face fell a bit. "Oh, I didn't even consider them. We made plans to get together for some dinner this weekend though." She paused to nervously shift her posture. "But if you don't want to go then I can ask them."
"I'd be happy to go if you want me to," Fred supplied. "I just wanted to remind you that you have more options now. It doesn't have to be me."
Hermione's face softened at him. "I'd like for you to go," she insisted before a small smirk took over. "I mean, you have much more experience in buying real estate than me at this point." Her tone shifted back to playful.
"With flattery like that, how can I say no?" Fred joked back.
"Thank you." Hermione let out a sigh of relief as she stood up, collecting their empty glasses from the bench. "Ginny has already insisted on play dates for the boys. So we might be able to get her to watch Julian."
Fred chuckled slightly as they started the walk back to the main section of the garden. "Not keen on having the opinion of a four year old?"
"I'm not interested in having to break the news that we won't have a doorman anymore just yet," she explained with a chuckle of her own. "Francis always had some sweets on hand for him."
"Well I'm pretty much filling that roll anyway," Fred shrugged with a smile. His arms tightened affectionately around the boy, still asleep in his arms,
Hermione laughed. "I suppose you're right."
A/N: Long time, no see everyone! My apologies on this massive delay. Hopefully you are just as happy as I am that I've finally posted the next part. I am planning on finishing this story, I just ask for some patience between parts.
If you liked it or if you'd like to yell at me for my delay - then please comment! I'd love to get your thoughts, even just a quick note that you're here and are enjoying what I'm creating would mean the world. Until next time . . .
Felix Felicis With a Twist