Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, brilliantly created by J.K.
Rowling. Most situations are based on those created by J.K. Rowling.
Note: I had to take a wild guess at how long Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would have been married at this point!
Chapter Eighteen: The Anniversary Party
"Is the book available yet?" Lavender asked them.
"It just became available this month," said Hermione.
"I might just have to read it," said Lavender. "Not that I'm so interested in Mind Reading, but I assume you get some money whenever someone buys one of you books?"
Ginny nodded, and Lavender smiled. "Then that's a good enough reason for me! Supporting my old schoolmates."
"Well, thanks," said Hermione. "I think you might enjoy the book though. I mean, it's full of factual information, but we tried to write it in an accessible way."
"We're hoping it will be a textbook of choice for the Mind Reading program at St. Mungo's," Ginny added.
"Sounds great," said Lavender. She smiled again, and addressed her next question to Ginny and Ron. "How are you parents?"
"They're fine," said Ron.
"Really great," said Ginny. "As a matter of fact, they just celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary."
"Wow!" said Lavender. "Don't know too many people who can say that these days."
"Well, my parents are something special," said Ginny, and she smiled.
* * *
"Quiet! They'll be here any minute!" Ginny hissed at her brothers. She looked at Harry for help.
"Come on everyone! Do you want to ruin the surprise?!" Harry shouted to the crowd in the room. Many of the voices stopped when they heard his, and soon they died down to whispers.
"Ron and Hermione are bringing them home soon," said Ginny. "And we don't want them to hear us."
A large crowd of family was gathered at the Burrow to celebrate the fortieth wedding anniversary of Arthur and Molly Weasley. When Ginny had realized the milestone event was approaching, she immediately planned a surprise party in their honor, and worked hard to get everything ready. Right now there were crowds of Weasleys crammed into the first floor of the Burrow. Once Mr. and Mrs. Weasley arrived, they would move into the tent in the backyard, but for now it was crucial that they keep out of sight in the house.
Ginny was feeling the strain of the party. She had worked very hard to make it perfect, and now the moment of truth was upon her. She wanted her family to keep the quiet going, so as not to ruin the moment. "Do you think they'll like it?" she nervously asked Harry.
Harry smiled at her and put his arm around her. "I think they'll love it, Gin," he said. Still, she didn't relax.
"I wish they would hurry up," she said, looking at her watch. "Ron said he'd be here ten minutes ago."
"I'm sure they're on their way," Harry reassured her.
"Look! Grandma and grandpa!" called the small voice of six-year-old Peter Weasley. It was soon drowned out by the demanding voice of his older brother Phillip, now nine-years-old and the self-proclaimed "in charge grandchild."
"Okay!" Ginny shouted. "They're coming. Everyone hide!"
The family hid in their various locations and waited with bated breath as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley entered the house. "Thank you so much, Ronnie," said Mrs. Weasley, "and Hermione. That was a lovely breakfast."
"You're very welcome," said Hermione. "Congratulations, again."
"Thank you, dear," said Mrs. Weasley. She looked around. "Are you certain Harry and Ginny were going to meet us here with the girls?"
"Sure," said Ron. "They're probably just running a little late."
"Sure," Mrs. Weasley agreed. "Why don't we go in the kitchen and make a cup of t---"
"SURPRISE!" yelled the many voices of the family, all jumping up from their hiding places.
"Oh my goodness!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed with a start.
Mr. Weasley's eyes lit up. "Well, this IS a surprise!"
"Happy Anniversary!" called a chorus of voices. Mrs. Weasley looked at Ron and Hermione accusingly.
"Did you two know about this?" she asked.
"Of course," said Ron. "We were commissioned by Ginny to take you to breakfast - not that we wouldn't have anyway!"
"Ginny, did you do all this?" Mr. Weasley asked, and he hugged Ginny.
"Well, Hermione helped, and Angelina and Katie and Dawn and Fleur and Penelope of course," Ginny explained. "And my brothers and Harry were nice enough to stay out of the way."
"And NOT eat all the food," Ron added, somewhat proud of himself.
"This is wonderful, simply wonderful," said Mrs. Weasley, her eyes shining. "Thank you so much, everyone."
* * *
An hour later, food was being served in a heated tent in the backyard. Music was playing and everyone was having a marvelous time. Hermione smiled as she watched Ron and Emma dance, the little girl's feet using her father's toes as platforms. He smiled back at her when he caught her watching, and they gazed at each other as he continued to sway to the music with Emma.
When the song ended, Emma rushed off to find James and Ron joined Hermione at the table. "Olivia fall asleep?" he asked. Hermione nodded.
"She's in your old room," said Hermione. "She went to sleep really well, actually. Despite the fact that she was in a strange bedroom."
"Must be being around all my old Canons stuff," he joked. "Makes it feel like home."
Hermione laughed. She gestured towards the dance floor. "Look at your parents." Ron glanced in the direction Hermione referred to and saw his parents slow dancing in the middle of the dance floor, looking at each other like they were the only two people in the room.
"It's nice," Ron said with a smile. He watched her watch his parents for a moment and smiled. "I love you," he said.
"I love you too," Hermione said. She sighed happily and took his hand. "I hope one day our children will watch us dance like that."
"They will," said Ron, and he kissed her. "They will." They continued to watch Mr. and Mrs. Weasley dance.
"I wonder what they're thinking about," Hermione said.
* * *
Mrs. Weasley laughed as Mr. Weasley twirled her along the dance floor. "We haven't danced like this in years," she said to him softly.
"I know," he said back to her. "We should do it more often. Make me feel young again."
Mrs. Weasley beamed and held onto her husband a little tighter. "Do you remember the night you proposed to me?" she asked.
"Of course," said Mr. Weasley. "How could I forget?"
"You were so nervous," Mrs. Weasley continued. "I thought you were ill."
"I remember," Mr. Weasley said, and he smiled.
Arthur had asked for Molly's hand in marriage forty-one years before. They were twenty-one years old, and just three years out of Hogwarts. They had dated at Hogwarts, but it wasn't until they met up a year after their graduation that things really began to get serious. They ran into each other at the Ministry of Magic, where Arthur had just started working and where Molly was meeting an old Hogwarts friend. Something sparked between the two of them at that meeting, and they ended up going out that very night.
"Would you like to come out with me again sometime?" Arthur asked Molly as he dropped her off at the home she still shared with her parents.
"I would like that," Molly said, and she kissed him on the cheek quickly and hurried back into her own house. Arthur called for her the next day, and they had another wonderful evening together. In fact, they spent the next two years having wonderful evenings together, until Arthur decided he would like to make their relationship something more permanent.
The night he planned to propose, nothing seemed to go right. He had invited her over to his apartment for dinner, but ended up staying at work late and had to ask her to postpone the evening. Though it occurred to him to postpone the proposal to the next night, he knew that he had spent the day working up his nerve to do it, and he was scared that a postponement would take the nerve away. However, his late evening at work forced him to rush to get his place ready for Molly's arrival.
In what he instantly saw as a mistake, he had actually tried to cook a meal for the first time in his life. He ended up running about the kitchen, trying to make things smell as he thought they should, when the doorbell rang. He answered it and saw Molly on the other side. Her smile instantly made him relax, and it wasn't until they were back in the flat and she was comfortable sitting on his living room couch that he remembered that something was burning in the kitchen.
"Do you need some help?" Molly asked gently when she came in and saw Arthur's mess.
"No, no," he said quickly, and he turned the stove off and leaned on the wall, defeated. "Okay, maybe I do need some help."
Molly laughed softly. "I see this isn't your strong point," she said, and she pulled out her wand. "Let me." Arthur watched as she put the dinner quickly back together. "I can't save the burnt things, but I can make them taste a little better, I hope."
Arthur blushed and Molly smiled at him. "Thanks," he said. "I was really hoping to make things nice for you tonight."
Molly smiled at him a second time. "Don't worry," she said. "I'm just good at these sorts of things. My mum says I'll make somebody an excellent wife someday." Arthur gulped loudly, causing Molly to look at him curiously. "Are you all right?"
"Just fine," he said. "Maybe one of these days you can teach me how to deal with this cooking stuff."
"Maybe," said Molly, but she shooed him away from the kitchen so that she could finish saving the dinner.
Once dinner was underway, Arthur seemed to calm down a little, or so Molly thought. Though color had returned to his face and he was chatting amiably with her, he was still as nervous as could be inside, and he kept checking to make sure the ring was in his pocket.
"How was your day?" Molly asked him as she served dessert. Arthur was surprised at the question, having been lost in his own thoughts. He watched Molly move about the apartment as though she owned it. He watched her prepare things as though it were something she were meant to do. "Arthur?"
"Oh, it was nice," he said. "Thank you for asking."
"Is something wrong?" Molly asked, watching him.
"No," said Arthur. "I'm okay."
"Good," said Molly. "I was worried that you were feeling a little sick. You've looked quite pale all evening."
"Have I?" Arthur asked. "I guess I'm just a little nervous."
"Why would you feel nervous?" she asked.
"Because I have an important question to ask you, and even though I am anxious to hear what you have to say about it, I'm also nervous that you won't say what I want to hear," Arthur explained.
Molly sat down, suddenly feeling nervous herself. She suddenly became aware of what it was that Arthur might have to ask her. She faced him and he continued to talk. "Well, as you know, we've been together for a while now," he started. She nodded, silently encouraging him to go on. "And I know that we always have a wonderful time together. And I know that no one takes care of me like you do, or worries about me like you do." Molly smiled and felt a blush creep to her cheeks. "What I'm saying is that it's time for me to return the favor. Molly, I love you. I want to take care of you and make sure you're always happy. I want to make sure that we continue all the fun we've been having. Will you marry me?" He showed her the ring he had carefully chosen for her.
"Arthur, of course," said Molly, and she took his hand before kissing him. "I love you, and would love nothing more than for you to take care of me. As long as you let me do the same."
"You always have," Arthur said, and he kissed her again. Later that night, they would lie awake in separate houses, thinking of the bright future ahead of them.
* * *
"Could you ever imagine that we'd have seven wonderful children?" Mrs. Weasley asked as they continued to dance.
"Couldn't have told you that then," said Mr. Weasley. "But I'll tell you something now: I wouldn't have had it any other way."
"Me neither," Mrs. Weasley piped in. "Isn't it wonderful to see our children so happy together?"
Mr. Weasley looked out over the people in the tent. Bill and Fleur, who expected their first child in just three weeks, were taking to Charlie and Dawn. In Dawn's arms was a sleeping, one-year-old Milo. Mr. Weasley watched as Charlie brushed a piece of hair from Dawn's face and then smiled at her before resuming his conversation with his brother. Percy and Penelope were also on the dance floor, and Peter was dancing with them. Phillip was sitting at the table, scowling, perhaps at something one of his cousins had done to him.
Fred and Angelina were dancing as well, each with one of their children. Five year old Stacey laughed as her father spun her around and around in circles. Three year old Brian was staring at his mother's face as she danced with him. Their third child, Michael, born just a few months earlier, was sleeping soundly in the house. George and Katie were nowhere to be seen. Mr. Weasley assumed they were up in the house as well, trying to get nearly one-year-old Chelsea to bed. Three-year-old Matthew was cutting a rug himself on the dance floor, with Emma to keep him company.
Ron and Hermione were still at their place at the table, watching the other dancers and talking to each other softly. Mr. Weasley could still see Ron's eyes light up whenever Hermione smiled, and he saw the way Hermione would take Ron's hand, ever so gently but at the same time as though she never intended to let go of it. They were both watching Emma as she danced.
Mr. Weasley shifted his gaze to the other side of the room, where Harry was deep in conversation with James, who seemed to be complaining (Mr. Weasley guessed it had something to do with Phillip). Ginny was right next to them, smiling at Lily and trying to get her to laugh.
"You know, I think we're pretty lucky," Mr. Weasley said to his wife.
"Why's that?"
"How many people could say they had SEVEN married children?" Mr. Weasley asked. "We have seven children and not a single one of them still live at home with us!"
Mrs. Weasley laughed. "You know as well as I do that you would love it if one of the kids moved in with their family."
"All right," said Mr. Weasley. "You caught me." Mrs. Weasley laughed and Mr. Weasley took the opportunity to twirl her along the dance floor.
"This has been a wonderful evening," Mrs. Weasley said to him when they were facing each other again. Mr. Weasley nodded in agreement.
"Happy Anniversary," he said.
Mrs. Weasley smiled. "Happy Anniversary," she repeated.
* * *
"They were so sweet, dancing like that," Hermione said to an enraptured Lavender.
"I love stories about love," Lavender said. She spoke next to Ginny. "Your parents love story certainly is inspiring."
"I guess that's why we're all so happy now," Ginny speculated. "After all, we did have them as role models."
"Makes sense," said Lavender. She yawned, and looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry. That wasn't related to your story. It's just getting rather late, isn't it?"
Harry checked his watch. "It's after eleven," he said.
"Looks like people are starting to head out," said Ron.
"I suppose I should do the same," Lavender said. "But it was really, really wonderful to see all of you again. I hope we won't be such strangers."
"Of course not," said Hermione. With a few more good-byes, Lavender headed towards the door.
Note: I had to take a wild guess at how long Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would have been married at this point!
Chapter Eighteen: The Anniversary Party
"Is the book available yet?" Lavender asked them.
"It just became available this month," said Hermione.
"I might just have to read it," said Lavender. "Not that I'm so interested in Mind Reading, but I assume you get some money whenever someone buys one of you books?"
Ginny nodded, and Lavender smiled. "Then that's a good enough reason for me! Supporting my old schoolmates."
"Well, thanks," said Hermione. "I think you might enjoy the book though. I mean, it's full of factual information, but we tried to write it in an accessible way."
"We're hoping it will be a textbook of choice for the Mind Reading program at St. Mungo's," Ginny added.
"Sounds great," said Lavender. She smiled again, and addressed her next question to Ginny and Ron. "How are you parents?"
"They're fine," said Ron.
"Really great," said Ginny. "As a matter of fact, they just celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary."
"Wow!" said Lavender. "Don't know too many people who can say that these days."
"Well, my parents are something special," said Ginny, and she smiled.
* * *
"Quiet! They'll be here any minute!" Ginny hissed at her brothers. She looked at Harry for help.
"Come on everyone! Do you want to ruin the surprise?!" Harry shouted to the crowd in the room. Many of the voices stopped when they heard his, and soon they died down to whispers.
"Ron and Hermione are bringing them home soon," said Ginny. "And we don't want them to hear us."
A large crowd of family was gathered at the Burrow to celebrate the fortieth wedding anniversary of Arthur and Molly Weasley. When Ginny had realized the milestone event was approaching, she immediately planned a surprise party in their honor, and worked hard to get everything ready. Right now there were crowds of Weasleys crammed into the first floor of the Burrow. Once Mr. and Mrs. Weasley arrived, they would move into the tent in the backyard, but for now it was crucial that they keep out of sight in the house.
Ginny was feeling the strain of the party. She had worked very hard to make it perfect, and now the moment of truth was upon her. She wanted her family to keep the quiet going, so as not to ruin the moment. "Do you think they'll like it?" she nervously asked Harry.
Harry smiled at her and put his arm around her. "I think they'll love it, Gin," he said. Still, she didn't relax.
"I wish they would hurry up," she said, looking at her watch. "Ron said he'd be here ten minutes ago."
"I'm sure they're on their way," Harry reassured her.
"Look! Grandma and grandpa!" called the small voice of six-year-old Peter Weasley. It was soon drowned out by the demanding voice of his older brother Phillip, now nine-years-old and the self-proclaimed "in charge grandchild."
"Okay!" Ginny shouted. "They're coming. Everyone hide!"
The family hid in their various locations and waited with bated breath as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley entered the house. "Thank you so much, Ronnie," said Mrs. Weasley, "and Hermione. That was a lovely breakfast."
"You're very welcome," said Hermione. "Congratulations, again."
"Thank you, dear," said Mrs. Weasley. She looked around. "Are you certain Harry and Ginny were going to meet us here with the girls?"
"Sure," said Ron. "They're probably just running a little late."
"Sure," Mrs. Weasley agreed. "Why don't we go in the kitchen and make a cup of t---"
"SURPRISE!" yelled the many voices of the family, all jumping up from their hiding places.
"Oh my goodness!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed with a start.
Mr. Weasley's eyes lit up. "Well, this IS a surprise!"
"Happy Anniversary!" called a chorus of voices. Mrs. Weasley looked at Ron and Hermione accusingly.
"Did you two know about this?" she asked.
"Of course," said Ron. "We were commissioned by Ginny to take you to breakfast - not that we wouldn't have anyway!"
"Ginny, did you do all this?" Mr. Weasley asked, and he hugged Ginny.
"Well, Hermione helped, and Angelina and Katie and Dawn and Fleur and Penelope of course," Ginny explained. "And my brothers and Harry were nice enough to stay out of the way."
"And NOT eat all the food," Ron added, somewhat proud of himself.
"This is wonderful, simply wonderful," said Mrs. Weasley, her eyes shining. "Thank you so much, everyone."
* * *
An hour later, food was being served in a heated tent in the backyard. Music was playing and everyone was having a marvelous time. Hermione smiled as she watched Ron and Emma dance, the little girl's feet using her father's toes as platforms. He smiled back at her when he caught her watching, and they gazed at each other as he continued to sway to the music with Emma.
When the song ended, Emma rushed off to find James and Ron joined Hermione at the table. "Olivia fall asleep?" he asked. Hermione nodded.
"She's in your old room," said Hermione. "She went to sleep really well, actually. Despite the fact that she was in a strange bedroom."
"Must be being around all my old Canons stuff," he joked. "Makes it feel like home."
Hermione laughed. She gestured towards the dance floor. "Look at your parents." Ron glanced in the direction Hermione referred to and saw his parents slow dancing in the middle of the dance floor, looking at each other like they were the only two people in the room.
"It's nice," Ron said with a smile. He watched her watch his parents for a moment and smiled. "I love you," he said.
"I love you too," Hermione said. She sighed happily and took his hand. "I hope one day our children will watch us dance like that."
"They will," said Ron, and he kissed her. "They will." They continued to watch Mr. and Mrs. Weasley dance.
"I wonder what they're thinking about," Hermione said.
* * *
Mrs. Weasley laughed as Mr. Weasley twirled her along the dance floor. "We haven't danced like this in years," she said to him softly.
"I know," he said back to her. "We should do it more often. Make me feel young again."
Mrs. Weasley beamed and held onto her husband a little tighter. "Do you remember the night you proposed to me?" she asked.
"Of course," said Mr. Weasley. "How could I forget?"
"You were so nervous," Mrs. Weasley continued. "I thought you were ill."
"I remember," Mr. Weasley said, and he smiled.
Arthur had asked for Molly's hand in marriage forty-one years before. They were twenty-one years old, and just three years out of Hogwarts. They had dated at Hogwarts, but it wasn't until they met up a year after their graduation that things really began to get serious. They ran into each other at the Ministry of Magic, where Arthur had just started working and where Molly was meeting an old Hogwarts friend. Something sparked between the two of them at that meeting, and they ended up going out that very night.
"Would you like to come out with me again sometime?" Arthur asked Molly as he dropped her off at the home she still shared with her parents.
"I would like that," Molly said, and she kissed him on the cheek quickly and hurried back into her own house. Arthur called for her the next day, and they had another wonderful evening together. In fact, they spent the next two years having wonderful evenings together, until Arthur decided he would like to make their relationship something more permanent.
The night he planned to propose, nothing seemed to go right. He had invited her over to his apartment for dinner, but ended up staying at work late and had to ask her to postpone the evening. Though it occurred to him to postpone the proposal to the next night, he knew that he had spent the day working up his nerve to do it, and he was scared that a postponement would take the nerve away. However, his late evening at work forced him to rush to get his place ready for Molly's arrival.
In what he instantly saw as a mistake, he had actually tried to cook a meal for the first time in his life. He ended up running about the kitchen, trying to make things smell as he thought they should, when the doorbell rang. He answered it and saw Molly on the other side. Her smile instantly made him relax, and it wasn't until they were back in the flat and she was comfortable sitting on his living room couch that he remembered that something was burning in the kitchen.
"Do you need some help?" Molly asked gently when she came in and saw Arthur's mess.
"No, no," he said quickly, and he turned the stove off and leaned on the wall, defeated. "Okay, maybe I do need some help."
Molly laughed softly. "I see this isn't your strong point," she said, and she pulled out her wand. "Let me." Arthur watched as she put the dinner quickly back together. "I can't save the burnt things, but I can make them taste a little better, I hope."
Arthur blushed and Molly smiled at him. "Thanks," he said. "I was really hoping to make things nice for you tonight."
Molly smiled at him a second time. "Don't worry," she said. "I'm just good at these sorts of things. My mum says I'll make somebody an excellent wife someday." Arthur gulped loudly, causing Molly to look at him curiously. "Are you all right?"
"Just fine," he said. "Maybe one of these days you can teach me how to deal with this cooking stuff."
"Maybe," said Molly, but she shooed him away from the kitchen so that she could finish saving the dinner.
Once dinner was underway, Arthur seemed to calm down a little, or so Molly thought. Though color had returned to his face and he was chatting amiably with her, he was still as nervous as could be inside, and he kept checking to make sure the ring was in his pocket.
"How was your day?" Molly asked him as she served dessert. Arthur was surprised at the question, having been lost in his own thoughts. He watched Molly move about the apartment as though she owned it. He watched her prepare things as though it were something she were meant to do. "Arthur?"
"Oh, it was nice," he said. "Thank you for asking."
"Is something wrong?" Molly asked, watching him.
"No," said Arthur. "I'm okay."
"Good," said Molly. "I was worried that you were feeling a little sick. You've looked quite pale all evening."
"Have I?" Arthur asked. "I guess I'm just a little nervous."
"Why would you feel nervous?" she asked.
"Because I have an important question to ask you, and even though I am anxious to hear what you have to say about it, I'm also nervous that you won't say what I want to hear," Arthur explained.
Molly sat down, suddenly feeling nervous herself. She suddenly became aware of what it was that Arthur might have to ask her. She faced him and he continued to talk. "Well, as you know, we've been together for a while now," he started. She nodded, silently encouraging him to go on. "And I know that we always have a wonderful time together. And I know that no one takes care of me like you do, or worries about me like you do." Molly smiled and felt a blush creep to her cheeks. "What I'm saying is that it's time for me to return the favor. Molly, I love you. I want to take care of you and make sure you're always happy. I want to make sure that we continue all the fun we've been having. Will you marry me?" He showed her the ring he had carefully chosen for her.
"Arthur, of course," said Molly, and she took his hand before kissing him. "I love you, and would love nothing more than for you to take care of me. As long as you let me do the same."
"You always have," Arthur said, and he kissed her again. Later that night, they would lie awake in separate houses, thinking of the bright future ahead of them.
* * *
"Could you ever imagine that we'd have seven wonderful children?" Mrs. Weasley asked as they continued to dance.
"Couldn't have told you that then," said Mr. Weasley. "But I'll tell you something now: I wouldn't have had it any other way."
"Me neither," Mrs. Weasley piped in. "Isn't it wonderful to see our children so happy together?"
Mr. Weasley looked out over the people in the tent. Bill and Fleur, who expected their first child in just three weeks, were taking to Charlie and Dawn. In Dawn's arms was a sleeping, one-year-old Milo. Mr. Weasley watched as Charlie brushed a piece of hair from Dawn's face and then smiled at her before resuming his conversation with his brother. Percy and Penelope were also on the dance floor, and Peter was dancing with them. Phillip was sitting at the table, scowling, perhaps at something one of his cousins had done to him.
Fred and Angelina were dancing as well, each with one of their children. Five year old Stacey laughed as her father spun her around and around in circles. Three year old Brian was staring at his mother's face as she danced with him. Their third child, Michael, born just a few months earlier, was sleeping soundly in the house. George and Katie were nowhere to be seen. Mr. Weasley assumed they were up in the house as well, trying to get nearly one-year-old Chelsea to bed. Three-year-old Matthew was cutting a rug himself on the dance floor, with Emma to keep him company.
Ron and Hermione were still at their place at the table, watching the other dancers and talking to each other softly. Mr. Weasley could still see Ron's eyes light up whenever Hermione smiled, and he saw the way Hermione would take Ron's hand, ever so gently but at the same time as though she never intended to let go of it. They were both watching Emma as she danced.
Mr. Weasley shifted his gaze to the other side of the room, where Harry was deep in conversation with James, who seemed to be complaining (Mr. Weasley guessed it had something to do with Phillip). Ginny was right next to them, smiling at Lily and trying to get her to laugh.
"You know, I think we're pretty lucky," Mr. Weasley said to his wife.
"Why's that?"
"How many people could say they had SEVEN married children?" Mr. Weasley asked. "We have seven children and not a single one of them still live at home with us!"
Mrs. Weasley laughed. "You know as well as I do that you would love it if one of the kids moved in with their family."
"All right," said Mr. Weasley. "You caught me." Mrs. Weasley laughed and Mr. Weasley took the opportunity to twirl her along the dance floor.
"This has been a wonderful evening," Mrs. Weasley said to him when they were facing each other again. Mr. Weasley nodded in agreement.
"Happy Anniversary," he said.
Mrs. Weasley smiled. "Happy Anniversary," she repeated.
* * *
"They were so sweet, dancing like that," Hermione said to an enraptured Lavender.
"I love stories about love," Lavender said. She spoke next to Ginny. "Your parents love story certainly is inspiring."
"I guess that's why we're all so happy now," Ginny speculated. "After all, we did have them as role models."
"Makes sense," said Lavender. She yawned, and looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry. That wasn't related to your story. It's just getting rather late, isn't it?"
Harry checked his watch. "It's after eleven," he said.
"Looks like people are starting to head out," said Ron.
"I suppose I should do the same," Lavender said. "But it was really, really wonderful to see all of you again. I hope we won't be such strangers."
"Of course not," said Hermione. With a few more good-byes, Lavender headed towards the door.