Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, brilliantly created by J.K.
Rowling. Most situations are based on those created by J.K. Rowling.
Author's Note: Just in time for the holidays! (And I fixed a type in which I said Charlie and Dawn also had a son named Jack - his name is actually Owen!)
Chapter Eight: A Weasley Family Christmas
Hermione and Ron were busy getting the children ready to head for the Burrow. Emma was dressed and ready to go, watching a movie so as not to get anything on her red velvet party dress. Ron was struggling with Jack, trying to get him to wear the dressy pants Hermione had bought for him earlier in the week, but the four-year-old seemed determined to wear his usual jeans. Hermione listened to their conversations from Charlotte's bedroom, where she was dressing the one-year-old in her best dress and trying to tie a matching bow in her small curls. Olivia was watching the process, and trying to be a help to her mother.
"What are you going to wear mummy?" the little girl asked when it appeared that Charlotte was ready.
Hermione smiled at Olivia. "I don't know yet," she said. "I've just been thinking about my girls today."
"You have to wear something pretty," Olivia said. It was not a suggestion, but a statement of fact.
"You might need to help me figure something out," Hermione said, and she finished up with Charlotte and placed the little girl on the floor, and she toddled out of the room, still a little unsteady on the feet she had only been walking on for three months.
"Ron! Charlie's coming your way!" Hermione called out.
"Got her!" Ron called back from Jack's room, and Hermione turned her attention back to Olivia.
"Why don't we go in my room and pick something out together?" she asked. Olivia smiled and without a word jumped off the bed and ran to her parents' bedroom. When Hermione entered the room moments later, she could see Olivia scrutinizing the items in the closet, looking for something suitable. Being small, she moved into the closet and started searching the recesses of it before tugging on a piece of plastic and pulling it towards her.
"This one," she said adamantly, and Hermione walked to the closet to see what she had.
"Olivia," she said, "that's my wedding dress."
"So? It's pretty."
"Don't you think it's a little too fancy?" Hermione asked. Olivia shook her head.
"I've never seen you wear it," Olivia said.
"That's because I only wore it the one time," said Hermione. "When your daddy and I got married. And that was a long time ago. This dress, even if I wanted to wear it, probably doesn't even fit me anymore. Sorry, Livvie, looks like you'll have to pick something else."
Olivia sighed in defeat and began sifting through the clothes again. "This one then," she said, and this time she had her hands on a plain black dress.
"That one is much better," said Hermione, and she pulled the dress out. "Now, why don't you head downstairs with your sister, and watch the movie, and your dad and I will be down soon."
"Okay," said Olivia and she headed out of the room. She was met in the hallway by Jack, finally in the outfit Hermione had laid out for him and they headed down the stairs together to join Emma in the living room. Hermione quickly changed from her pajamas to the dress, and stood in front of a mirror to fix her hair.
As she was sifting through her jewelry box, looking for a suitable necklace, Ron entered the room, Charlotte on one arm. He let the little girl go, and he walked over to Hermione, pulling something from his pocket. "I think this would look very nice for today," he said as he reached around her and clasped a necklace around her neck.
"Ron, it's beautiful," said Hermione, looking down at the gift. "Thank you."
"Happy Christmas," he said, and he kissed her cheek.
She smiled. "Are you ready to go?" she asked. "The kids are all dressed?"
"Miraculously so, it seems," said Ron. "Even this one here." He gestured towards Charlotte, who was now standing by his feet. He picked her up.
"What do you say, Charlie-girl? You ready to go to grandma and grandpa's house?" he asked. Charlotte laughed, and nodded.
* * *
Hermione, Ron, and the children arrived at the Burrow a short while later to see that they certainly weren't the first to arrive. Harry and Ginny, it seemed, had stayed overnight, and while Harry and Mr. Weasley kept the children occupied, Ginny was helping Mrs. Weasley prepare the massive feast they would need when all seven Weasley children - and their families - were under one roof again.
James and Lily were in the living room with their grandfather, James teaching Lily the fine art of wizard chess. Emma immediately joined them, taking over James' spot, for she had learned how to play wizard chess from one of the pros - her father. Olivia took a seat next to Lily and together they tried to work out a strategy. It was always quite a show when Emma and Olivia were against each other playing wizard chess. Each of them had learned their strategies from Ron, and therefore were equals when it game to dueling each other.
Mrs. Weasley greeted Ron and Hermione, and she was shortly followed by Mr. Weasley, Ginny and Harry. "Happy Christmas," the group wishes to one another as they exchanged hugs.
"You can put those right under the tree, dear," said Mrs. Weasley, gesturing to the bag of presents Ron was carrying. "And Arthur, dear, do make sure the children don't go through them before it's time."
"Sure thing," said Mr. Weasley, but Ron was sure he would let the children sneak a peek at their gifts, just as he had done many years earlier.
"Where's Daniel?" Hermione asked Ginny, inquiring after the 8-month-old.
"Sound asleep," said Ginny. "All day, it seems. He hasn't been feeling well. Shame it has to be on his first Christmas."
"Please, please, make yourselves at home," said Mrs. Weasley. "Sit down, have something to drink."
Ron and Harry each grabbed a butterbeer and took Jack and Charlotte into the living room with the other children. "How're you doing James?" Ron asked the boy as they sat down. "How's school?"
"Great!" said James.
"I heard you made the Quidditch team," said Ron.
"Yup!" said James, happily. "Seeker, just like dad! And my friend Aidan was made a beater."
"I trust you're not getting yourself into any trouble," Ron said, in a voice of mock seriously that made James laugh.
"Not TOO much," he said.
"I suppose you can't," he said. "Not with this guy on your back all the time." He gestured to Harry, and James laughed again.
"Hey!" Harry exclaimed. "I am not on his back all the time!"
"Yeah," said James. "Look what he gave me." James produced a piece of parchment from his pocket, and showed it to Ron. He recognized it immediately.
"The good ole Marauder's Map," said Ron. "That came in handy for us many times."
"I know," said James. "Dad told me." He turned back to the chess game, where Emma's knight was now engaged in battle with Olivia's rook.
"Do me a favor," Harry said to Ron, "and don't mention that to Ginny." Ron nodded, a smile on his face as he thought of what Hermione would say if she knew that Harry had given James all of his old tools for causing mischief.
* * *
"Hello all!" a friendly voice called, and Mrs. Weasley, Ginny and Hermione looked up from their food preparing stations to see that Fred and Angelina had arrived. With them was Stacey, along with their two other children: Brian, who was nine years old, and Michael, who was six.
"Fred!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed happily, and she hugged her son before moving on to Angelina and the children.
"What are we, chopped liver?" came a similar voice, and from behind Fred and Angelina appeared George and Katie, along with nine-year-old Matthew and six-year-old Chelsea. Mrs. Weasley spent the next few minutes gathering her various family members in her arms and telling them how happy she was to see them.
Fred and George took their children into the living room and cousins started to branch out into their various cliques. James, Stacey, Matthew, Emma and Brian took full control of the chess board, while Lily, Olivia, Chelsea and Michael began picking up and shaking the numerous presents that were underneath the tree, looking for the ones specifically for themselves. Jack seemed content to look at a book by himself, and Charlotte stayed in her father's lap, smiling whenever one of her uncles would try to play a trick on her.
"That kid is just too smart, Ron," said Fred, when his last attempt to trick the 16-month-old failed. "What good are tricks when there are kids like that?"
"She's right, to be wary of you," said Ron, and he gestured for Charlotte to give him a high five, and she obliged.
Just minutes after George had arrived, Percy and Penelope came in, with Peter and Phillip at the rear. Penelope stayed in the kitchen while Percy and the boys headed for the living room. Peter joined James and his other older cousins, while Phillip preferred the adults' company.
"So, Phil, breaking any hearts at Hogwarts yet?" George asked his nephew, to which the boy blushed beet red. Both of Percy's children had definitely inherited the Weasley complexion, hair and all.
"Breaking hearts?" Fred asked. "I would think Phil's got an example to set, now that he's a prefect." Percy eyed Fred and George, warning them with his eyes that it was one thing to tease him about being a prefect, but quite another to tease his son.
"We're not teasing him, Perce," said Fred. "We're just wondering if he's keeping the halls of Hogwarts safe."
"I try, but sometimes it's hard to keep some children from wandering the halls at night," said Phillip, and he cast a glance towards James and Stacey.
"Well," said Fred. "There is something to be said that since we left, Hogwarts has not seen two such troublemakers."
"There are plenty of troublemakers," said Phillip.
"But none have ever come close to pulling a Weasley, like these two did in their last year," said Harry, remembering when Fred and George had stormed away from Hogwarts. He listened as the discussion shifted to the Quidditch teams, at which James joined in, telling them of his victory over Slytherin house.
* * *
In the next hour, the rest of the family arrived. Bill and Fleur came first, with five-year-old Sarah, who immediately ran into the room to join Jack. Finally, Charlie and Dawn arrived, and with them were seven year old Milo and four year old Owen. The children joined their cousins, and Charlie and Bill joined in the conversation, which was still mostly about Quidditch.
"They could go on all day about that subject," said Mrs. Weasley as she pointed her wand at the stove to turn it on, boiling potatoes.
"Probably because they never get to talk about it at home," said Dawn.
"No," said Angelina. "Fred and I talk about Quidditch all the time. As do the children."
"George and I too," said Katie.
"You have the advantage of being former players though," said Hermione. "I watched the game for years at Hogwarts, and when Harry was playing, but I can't hold up a conversation with Ron about it."
"Yeah!" said Ginny, with a laugh. "He still makes fun of her for calling Viktor Krum's Wronski Feint a 'Wonky Faint!""
"I do not STILL call it that!" Hermione exclaimed in her defense.
"Probably because you don't talk about it," said Ginny. She looked at her other sisters-in-law to explain. "Ron still gets red in the face whenever Viktor Krum's name is mentioned, even in passing."
"You'd think after being together for seventeen years - and married for fourteen of those years, mind you - that he'd stop worrying it about it," said Hermione, but she said this with a small smile, for the fact that Ron still got insanely jealous about someone he never needed to be jealous of made he know how much he loved her.
The women laughed. "Bill has that jealous nature as well," said Fleur, whose English had improved greatly due to her large amounts of time spent in England. "He still gets sensitive if I mention and old beau."
"It's such a silly insecurity," Dawn added.
"Mummy?" came a voice, and the women looked to see Lily standing in the kitchen, Olivia behind her.
"What is it, sweetie?" Ginny asked.
"We want to help you," said Lily.
"Of course you can help us!" Mrs. Weasley said, happily. "Let's see, what can you girls do?" She looked around the kitchen and finally had Lily and Olivia sit down and work on some cookies.
"I can't believe that James and Stacey are in Hogwarts now," said Penelope. "It seems like only yesterday that Phillip started."
"I remember," said Ginny. "Everyone was so excited."
"How's James doing?" Angelina asked. "From what Stacey tells me, they're both having a wonderful time."
"He is," said Ginny, proudly. "He's making friends, he's on the Quidditch team, and he gets decent grades. But it sure is lonely around the house without him."
Mrs. Weasley put her arm around Ginny. "Now you know how I felt, dear," she said. "Even though I had more of you at home to take care of, you didn't replace the one that was missing." She paused. "And speaking of your other children, I believe I hear Daniel crying."
"I think you're right," Ginny said, straining her ears. "I'll be right back." Ginny headed up the stairs. Mrs. Weasley turned back to her daughters-in-law.
"Okay now," she said. "I think I've got everything just about under control. I have my two junior helpers now, so I want all of you - and DO NOT argue with me - to join your families in there." She pointed to the living room. "Dinner will be in an hour."
The women did not protest, and they headed into the living room, and found seats wherever they could get them. Hermione ended up on the arm of the chair Ron was sitting in. "Mummy!" Charlotte exclaimed, and she reached for Hermione, who took her. Ginny came down, Daniel in her arms, and took a seat on the floor by Harry's chair.
"Here's the stranger," she said to the family members around her, and she placed Daniel in her lap so that he was looking out at his family. Emma came running over, and knelt before Ginny.
"Hi Danny!" she exclaimed. She was always excited about the new babies in her family, as long as they weren't her brothers or sisters. It wasn't that she didn't like to play with Charlotte, it was simply that the novelty of having her around all the time had worn off quickly, and even though she saw Daniel almost every day, she still liked to play with him whenever she could. Daniel smiled at her immediately, having quickly learned that this was the cousin who would give him the most attention.
The large family group continued to talk to each other as the hour passed. "I'm starving!" Fred suddenly announced. "When's dinner?"
As though he had said the magic words, Mrs. Weasley entered the living room and announced that dinner was on the table. The enormous family group headed into the kitchen, which Mr. Weasley had managed to expand for the occasion and sat down at the long table, now slightly reminiscent of a Hogwarts house table as it now held so many people. The feast on the table also resembled one that was fit for Hogwarts, with all their favorite foods. The family eagerly dug in.
"You've outdone yourself, Molly," said Hermione as she took in all the wonderful food.
"It's my pleasure," said Mrs. Weasley, and from her place at the head of the table she beamed down at her family. They were sitting in small groups of their own families, husband and wives next to each other, spooning food out onto the younger children's plates. Ron and Hermione were unsuccessfully trying to get Jack to eat the broccoli they had put on his plate, but the four-year-old just kept shaking his head in defiance. Finally, his parents shrugged, apparently deciding not to worry about it for the time being.
Charlie and Dawn were watching their son Milo as he piled tons of food on his plate. "Quite an appetite you have there," Charlie said to him, and the boy smiled at his father.
"I just want to try EVERYTHING!" he exclaimed as he spooned himself some more sweet potatoes.
Mr. Weasley stood at the other end of the table, causing the family to look over at him immediately. "I know some of you have started eating already," he began. "But I just wanted to take a moment and say a few words."
The family put down their forks and eagerly awaited Mr. Weasley's next words. "As you know, your mum and I love it when you're all here together. It reminds us so much of when you children were younger. And I can't tell you how good it feels to see all our sons - and our daughter - so happy with his or her own family now."
"Hear, hear," said Molly from her side of the table.
Arthur smiled at her before he continued. "I hope that you will all continue to be as happy as you are now, and I wish each and every one of you the happiest of Christmases."
"And to you!" George called out, and the family raised their glasses in a toast.
* * *
"Who's ready for presents?" Mrs. Weasley asked once all the dishes were cleared from the table.
"ME!" came a chorus of small voices, mostly from the children (though Mrs. Weasley was sure she heard Fred and George in there somewhere as well).
"Well, come on then!" she exclaimed, and she took Daniel from Ginny and headed into the living room.
"We'd better supervise," said Hermione, and she lifted Charlotte from her high chair and carried her in after the rest of the children. Ron, Ginny and Harry followed.
"Okay now," Mrs. Weasley was saying to the group of children sitting in front of her. "I want you all to make sure you have a present in front of you. And, Brian, make sure that present has your name on it!"
Brian giggled and moved the present from his lap, taking one that really belonged to him. Mrs. Weasley gave him a stern look. "Now, Brian, more tricks like that and you'll spoil everyone else's fun!"
"Yeah, Brian!" came the voice of Stacey, exercising her big sister nagging rights. She looked at Mrs. Weasley. "I'll make sure he only opens his own presents, grandma."
"Thank you Stacey," said Mrs. Weasley, with a small smile in her direction, and she turned to Hermione. "Now, I'll help Daniel if you'll help Charlotte."
"Mum, believe me, little Charlie here is perfectly capable of ripping wrapping paper all by herself," Ron said. "Aren't you?" Charlotte nodded.
"Okay then," said Mrs. Weasley. "Are you all ready?" The children let out a chorus of 'yesses.' Mrs. Weasley beamed. "Then open up!" she called out, and for a moment the only sound that could be heard was that of eager children ripping into wrapping paper. The rest of the adults were starting to drift in by now, and they were just in time to see what their children had been given for Christmas.
"Wow!" James called out. "A
"Look, mummy! I got my own 'Hogwarts: A History!'" Emma called out to Hermione. "It's the latest edition!" She ran over to her mother. "Can we read it tonight? Please?"
"We'll see when we get home," said Hermione.
* * *
Ron and Hermione entered their dark house, exhausted. The children showed signs of exhaustion too. Emma and Olivia were walking slowly along down the hallway. "Turn on the light, mummy," Olivia managed to murmur between yawns.
Hermione obliged, and the girls continued to walk until they reached the stairs. "Go on up, girls," said Ron when they paused. "We'll be right behind you." Emma and Olivia slowly took the steps. Ron turned to Hermione, who was holding a sleeping Charlotte.
"Let's get these two upstairs as well," said Ron, gesturing to Jack, who was sleeping on his own shoulder. Hermione smiled and headed up the stairs, Ron just behind her. They could hear Emma and Olivia in their bedrooms, each getting their pajamas on and presumably climbing under the covers. Ron placed Jack and Charlotte in their respective bedrooms, whispered their good-nights to them, and then met back in the hallway.
"Shall I see Emma first, or Olivia?" Ron asked.
"Emma," said Hermione, and she opened Olivia's bedroom door, while Ron headed for Emma's.
The nine-year-old was sitting up in her bed, looking through her new book and wearing her newly acquired Weasley sweater. "Is that your favorite present?" he asked her as he walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. Emma nodded eagerly.
"But the other stuff's good too," she said.
"Good," said Ron. "It was a good Christmas then?"
"Yup!" she exclaimed. "And the best part is, our birthday is only two months away now!"
"That's right," said Ron. "And what should we do this year?"
Emma scrunched up her nose in thought. Over the past couple of years, she had deemed it tradition that she and Ron do something special together since they shared the same birthday. "Can we see a Quidditch game?" she asked. It was, inevitably, what they did every year, even though they always tried to think of something else to do.
"I think that can be arranged," said Ron, and Emma smiled.
"Good night," she said to him.
"Night, love," he said. He placed a kiss on her cheek and she hugged him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. "Don't stay up too long reading, okay?"
"I won't," said Emma. "Love you dad!"
"Love you too," said Ron, and he headed for the door.
* * *
"Did you have fun at grandma and grandpa's house, Livvie?" Hermione asked Olivia as she placed the covers over the six-year-old, just the way she liked them.
"Yes," she said. "Christmas is my favorite holiday."
"I know," said Hermione. "I'm glad you had fun."
Olivia opened her mouth to say something, but instead let out a huge lawn. Hermione laughed softly. "Tired, love?" she asked. Olivia just nodded. "Okay, then, you get to sleep. Sweet dreams, and I'll see you in the morning."
Hermione kissed Olivia's forehead and headed to the door. Ron was standing just outside of it. "You better hurry," she said to him. "She's dozing fast." With a smile to his wife, Ron headed into his daughter's room.
* * *
"Daddy, can we play chess tomorrow?" Olivia asked, when Ron was seated near her bed. She was keen to play, as she had gotten her own set of chessmen at the holiday celebration.
"Of course," said Ron.
"You don't have to work?" she asked, with another yawn.
"Nope!" said Ron.
Olivia smiled. "Good," she said, and her eyes started to droop. She opened them again. "I need my doll."
Ron turned and reached over to her shelf, where her Quidditch doll lay. It wasn't any recognizable player, as far as Ron could tell, but simply a generic version of all players wrapped up into one. It had been Olivia's favorite toy since she had gotten it for her second birthday, and she never went to sleep without it. As soon as Ron handed it to her, she tucked it under her chin, rolled over in bed, and let her eyes close, heavy with sleep.
"Night daddy," she murmured.
"Night, love," said Ron, and he headed for the door, shutting it softly behind him.
* * *
"Can we read now?" Emma asked as soon as Hermione entered the room.
"Don't you think it's a little late?" Hermione asked, as she took the seat that Ron had occupied moments earlier.
"It's never too late to read, mum!" Emma exclaimed.
Hermione smiled. "I suppose you're right," said Hermione. "But I'm pretty tired, so not too much tonight."
"Okay," said Emma, with a resigned sigh. "But you have to make sure Charlotte and Jack don't rip the pages."
"I will," said Hermione softly, and she took the book from Emma's hands and opened it to the first page. "Ready?" she asked. Emma smiled at her and nodded. "Okay, then." Hermione began to read. She was three paragraphs into the book when she heard Emma's breathing pattern change, signaling that the child had fallen asleep. She pulled the covers up to her chin and kissed her cheek. "Good-night, Em," she said, and she put the book on the bedside table, switched off the lamp and made her way to her own bedroom.
* * *
Ron was in the bathroom, presumably brushing his teeth when Hermione entered the bedroom. She quickly changed out of her dress and into pajamas, and was situated in bed, reading a book, when Ron came in.
"You can't honestly say you're going to read," he said to her.
She looked up at him. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," said Ron, and he climbed into bed next to her, "that for the first time in weeks, all of our children are sleeping. At the same time."
Hermione smiled. "And why would that matter?" she asked in mock innocence.
"It matters," said Ron, and he kissed her before continuing, "because we can spend some quality time together." Hermione now kissed him, and turned off the light beside the bed, making the room go dark.
"Happy Christmas," she said to Ron.
"Happy Christmas," he repeated, just before he kissed her again.
Author's Note: Just in time for the holidays! (And I fixed a type in which I said Charlie and Dawn also had a son named Jack - his name is actually Owen!)
Chapter Eight: A Weasley Family Christmas
Hermione and Ron were busy getting the children ready to head for the Burrow. Emma was dressed and ready to go, watching a movie so as not to get anything on her red velvet party dress. Ron was struggling with Jack, trying to get him to wear the dressy pants Hermione had bought for him earlier in the week, but the four-year-old seemed determined to wear his usual jeans. Hermione listened to their conversations from Charlotte's bedroom, where she was dressing the one-year-old in her best dress and trying to tie a matching bow in her small curls. Olivia was watching the process, and trying to be a help to her mother.
"What are you going to wear mummy?" the little girl asked when it appeared that Charlotte was ready.
Hermione smiled at Olivia. "I don't know yet," she said. "I've just been thinking about my girls today."
"You have to wear something pretty," Olivia said. It was not a suggestion, but a statement of fact.
"You might need to help me figure something out," Hermione said, and she finished up with Charlotte and placed the little girl on the floor, and she toddled out of the room, still a little unsteady on the feet she had only been walking on for three months.
"Ron! Charlie's coming your way!" Hermione called out.
"Got her!" Ron called back from Jack's room, and Hermione turned her attention back to Olivia.
"Why don't we go in my room and pick something out together?" she asked. Olivia smiled and without a word jumped off the bed and ran to her parents' bedroom. When Hermione entered the room moments later, she could see Olivia scrutinizing the items in the closet, looking for something suitable. Being small, she moved into the closet and started searching the recesses of it before tugging on a piece of plastic and pulling it towards her.
"This one," she said adamantly, and Hermione walked to the closet to see what she had.
"Olivia," she said, "that's my wedding dress."
"So? It's pretty."
"Don't you think it's a little too fancy?" Hermione asked. Olivia shook her head.
"I've never seen you wear it," Olivia said.
"That's because I only wore it the one time," said Hermione. "When your daddy and I got married. And that was a long time ago. This dress, even if I wanted to wear it, probably doesn't even fit me anymore. Sorry, Livvie, looks like you'll have to pick something else."
Olivia sighed in defeat and began sifting through the clothes again. "This one then," she said, and this time she had her hands on a plain black dress.
"That one is much better," said Hermione, and she pulled the dress out. "Now, why don't you head downstairs with your sister, and watch the movie, and your dad and I will be down soon."
"Okay," said Olivia and she headed out of the room. She was met in the hallway by Jack, finally in the outfit Hermione had laid out for him and they headed down the stairs together to join Emma in the living room. Hermione quickly changed from her pajamas to the dress, and stood in front of a mirror to fix her hair.
As she was sifting through her jewelry box, looking for a suitable necklace, Ron entered the room, Charlotte on one arm. He let the little girl go, and he walked over to Hermione, pulling something from his pocket. "I think this would look very nice for today," he said as he reached around her and clasped a necklace around her neck.
"Ron, it's beautiful," said Hermione, looking down at the gift. "Thank you."
"Happy Christmas," he said, and he kissed her cheek.
She smiled. "Are you ready to go?" she asked. "The kids are all dressed?"
"Miraculously so, it seems," said Ron. "Even this one here." He gestured towards Charlotte, who was now standing by his feet. He picked her up.
"What do you say, Charlie-girl? You ready to go to grandma and grandpa's house?" he asked. Charlotte laughed, and nodded.
* * *
Hermione, Ron, and the children arrived at the Burrow a short while later to see that they certainly weren't the first to arrive. Harry and Ginny, it seemed, had stayed overnight, and while Harry and Mr. Weasley kept the children occupied, Ginny was helping Mrs. Weasley prepare the massive feast they would need when all seven Weasley children - and their families - were under one roof again.
James and Lily were in the living room with their grandfather, James teaching Lily the fine art of wizard chess. Emma immediately joined them, taking over James' spot, for she had learned how to play wizard chess from one of the pros - her father. Olivia took a seat next to Lily and together they tried to work out a strategy. It was always quite a show when Emma and Olivia were against each other playing wizard chess. Each of them had learned their strategies from Ron, and therefore were equals when it game to dueling each other.
Mrs. Weasley greeted Ron and Hermione, and she was shortly followed by Mr. Weasley, Ginny and Harry. "Happy Christmas," the group wishes to one another as they exchanged hugs.
"You can put those right under the tree, dear," said Mrs. Weasley, gesturing to the bag of presents Ron was carrying. "And Arthur, dear, do make sure the children don't go through them before it's time."
"Sure thing," said Mr. Weasley, but Ron was sure he would let the children sneak a peek at their gifts, just as he had done many years earlier.
"Where's Daniel?" Hermione asked Ginny, inquiring after the 8-month-old.
"Sound asleep," said Ginny. "All day, it seems. He hasn't been feeling well. Shame it has to be on his first Christmas."
"Please, please, make yourselves at home," said Mrs. Weasley. "Sit down, have something to drink."
Ron and Harry each grabbed a butterbeer and took Jack and Charlotte into the living room with the other children. "How're you doing James?" Ron asked the boy as they sat down. "How's school?"
"Great!" said James.
"I heard you made the Quidditch team," said Ron.
"Yup!" said James, happily. "Seeker, just like dad! And my friend Aidan was made a beater."
"I trust you're not getting yourself into any trouble," Ron said, in a voice of mock seriously that made James laugh.
"Not TOO much," he said.
"I suppose you can't," he said. "Not with this guy on your back all the time." He gestured to Harry, and James laughed again.
"Hey!" Harry exclaimed. "I am not on his back all the time!"
"Yeah," said James. "Look what he gave me." James produced a piece of parchment from his pocket, and showed it to Ron. He recognized it immediately.
"The good ole Marauder's Map," said Ron. "That came in handy for us many times."
"I know," said James. "Dad told me." He turned back to the chess game, where Emma's knight was now engaged in battle with Olivia's rook.
"Do me a favor," Harry said to Ron, "and don't mention that to Ginny." Ron nodded, a smile on his face as he thought of what Hermione would say if she knew that Harry had given James all of his old tools for causing mischief.
* * *
"Hello all!" a friendly voice called, and Mrs. Weasley, Ginny and Hermione looked up from their food preparing stations to see that Fred and Angelina had arrived. With them was Stacey, along with their two other children: Brian, who was nine years old, and Michael, who was six.
"Fred!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed happily, and she hugged her son before moving on to Angelina and the children.
"What are we, chopped liver?" came a similar voice, and from behind Fred and Angelina appeared George and Katie, along with nine-year-old Matthew and six-year-old Chelsea. Mrs. Weasley spent the next few minutes gathering her various family members in her arms and telling them how happy she was to see them.
Fred and George took their children into the living room and cousins started to branch out into their various cliques. James, Stacey, Matthew, Emma and Brian took full control of the chess board, while Lily, Olivia, Chelsea and Michael began picking up and shaking the numerous presents that were underneath the tree, looking for the ones specifically for themselves. Jack seemed content to look at a book by himself, and Charlotte stayed in her father's lap, smiling whenever one of her uncles would try to play a trick on her.
"That kid is just too smart, Ron," said Fred, when his last attempt to trick the 16-month-old failed. "What good are tricks when there are kids like that?"
"She's right, to be wary of you," said Ron, and he gestured for Charlotte to give him a high five, and she obliged.
Just minutes after George had arrived, Percy and Penelope came in, with Peter and Phillip at the rear. Penelope stayed in the kitchen while Percy and the boys headed for the living room. Peter joined James and his other older cousins, while Phillip preferred the adults' company.
"So, Phil, breaking any hearts at Hogwarts yet?" George asked his nephew, to which the boy blushed beet red. Both of Percy's children had definitely inherited the Weasley complexion, hair and all.
"Breaking hearts?" Fred asked. "I would think Phil's got an example to set, now that he's a prefect." Percy eyed Fred and George, warning them with his eyes that it was one thing to tease him about being a prefect, but quite another to tease his son.
"We're not teasing him, Perce," said Fred. "We're just wondering if he's keeping the halls of Hogwarts safe."
"I try, but sometimes it's hard to keep some children from wandering the halls at night," said Phillip, and he cast a glance towards James and Stacey.
"Well," said Fred. "There is something to be said that since we left, Hogwarts has not seen two such troublemakers."
"There are plenty of troublemakers," said Phillip.
"But none have ever come close to pulling a Weasley, like these two did in their last year," said Harry, remembering when Fred and George had stormed away from Hogwarts. He listened as the discussion shifted to the Quidditch teams, at which James joined in, telling them of his victory over Slytherin house.
* * *
In the next hour, the rest of the family arrived. Bill and Fleur came first, with five-year-old Sarah, who immediately ran into the room to join Jack. Finally, Charlie and Dawn arrived, and with them were seven year old Milo and four year old Owen. The children joined their cousins, and Charlie and Bill joined in the conversation, which was still mostly about Quidditch.
"They could go on all day about that subject," said Mrs. Weasley as she pointed her wand at the stove to turn it on, boiling potatoes.
"Probably because they never get to talk about it at home," said Dawn.
"No," said Angelina. "Fred and I talk about Quidditch all the time. As do the children."
"George and I too," said Katie.
"You have the advantage of being former players though," said Hermione. "I watched the game for years at Hogwarts, and when Harry was playing, but I can't hold up a conversation with Ron about it."
"Yeah!" said Ginny, with a laugh. "He still makes fun of her for calling Viktor Krum's Wronski Feint a 'Wonky Faint!""
"I do not STILL call it that!" Hermione exclaimed in her defense.
"Probably because you don't talk about it," said Ginny. She looked at her other sisters-in-law to explain. "Ron still gets red in the face whenever Viktor Krum's name is mentioned, even in passing."
"You'd think after being together for seventeen years - and married for fourteen of those years, mind you - that he'd stop worrying it about it," said Hermione, but she said this with a small smile, for the fact that Ron still got insanely jealous about someone he never needed to be jealous of made he know how much he loved her.
The women laughed. "Bill has that jealous nature as well," said Fleur, whose English had improved greatly due to her large amounts of time spent in England. "He still gets sensitive if I mention and old beau."
"It's such a silly insecurity," Dawn added.
"Mummy?" came a voice, and the women looked to see Lily standing in the kitchen, Olivia behind her.
"What is it, sweetie?" Ginny asked.
"We want to help you," said Lily.
"Of course you can help us!" Mrs. Weasley said, happily. "Let's see, what can you girls do?" She looked around the kitchen and finally had Lily and Olivia sit down and work on some cookies.
"I can't believe that James and Stacey are in Hogwarts now," said Penelope. "It seems like only yesterday that Phillip started."
"I remember," said Ginny. "Everyone was so excited."
"How's James doing?" Angelina asked. "From what Stacey tells me, they're both having a wonderful time."
"He is," said Ginny, proudly. "He's making friends, he's on the Quidditch team, and he gets decent grades. But it sure is lonely around the house without him."
Mrs. Weasley put her arm around Ginny. "Now you know how I felt, dear," she said. "Even though I had more of you at home to take care of, you didn't replace the one that was missing." She paused. "And speaking of your other children, I believe I hear Daniel crying."
"I think you're right," Ginny said, straining her ears. "I'll be right back." Ginny headed up the stairs. Mrs. Weasley turned back to her daughters-in-law.
"Okay now," she said. "I think I've got everything just about under control. I have my two junior helpers now, so I want all of you - and DO NOT argue with me - to join your families in there." She pointed to the living room. "Dinner will be in an hour."
The women did not protest, and they headed into the living room, and found seats wherever they could get them. Hermione ended up on the arm of the chair Ron was sitting in. "Mummy!" Charlotte exclaimed, and she reached for Hermione, who took her. Ginny came down, Daniel in her arms, and took a seat on the floor by Harry's chair.
"Here's the stranger," she said to the family members around her, and she placed Daniel in her lap so that he was looking out at his family. Emma came running over, and knelt before Ginny.
"Hi Danny!" she exclaimed. She was always excited about the new babies in her family, as long as they weren't her brothers or sisters. It wasn't that she didn't like to play with Charlotte, it was simply that the novelty of having her around all the time had worn off quickly, and even though she saw Daniel almost every day, she still liked to play with him whenever she could. Daniel smiled at her immediately, having quickly learned that this was the cousin who would give him the most attention.
The large family group continued to talk to each other as the hour passed. "I'm starving!" Fred suddenly announced. "When's dinner?"
As though he had said the magic words, Mrs. Weasley entered the living room and announced that dinner was on the table. The enormous family group headed into the kitchen, which Mr. Weasley had managed to expand for the occasion and sat down at the long table, now slightly reminiscent of a Hogwarts house table as it now held so many people. The feast on the table also resembled one that was fit for Hogwarts, with all their favorite foods. The family eagerly dug in.
"You've outdone yourself, Molly," said Hermione as she took in all the wonderful food.
"It's my pleasure," said Mrs. Weasley, and from her place at the head of the table she beamed down at her family. They were sitting in small groups of their own families, husband and wives next to each other, spooning food out onto the younger children's plates. Ron and Hermione were unsuccessfully trying to get Jack to eat the broccoli they had put on his plate, but the four-year-old just kept shaking his head in defiance. Finally, his parents shrugged, apparently deciding not to worry about it for the time being.
Charlie and Dawn were watching their son Milo as he piled tons of food on his plate. "Quite an appetite you have there," Charlie said to him, and the boy smiled at his father.
"I just want to try EVERYTHING!" he exclaimed as he spooned himself some more sweet potatoes.
Mr. Weasley stood at the other end of the table, causing the family to look over at him immediately. "I know some of you have started eating already," he began. "But I just wanted to take a moment and say a few words."
The family put down their forks and eagerly awaited Mr. Weasley's next words. "As you know, your mum and I love it when you're all here together. It reminds us so much of when you children were younger. And I can't tell you how good it feels to see all our sons - and our daughter - so happy with his or her own family now."
"Hear, hear," said Molly from her side of the table.
Arthur smiled at her before he continued. "I hope that you will all continue to be as happy as you are now, and I wish each and every one of you the happiest of Christmases."
"And to you!" George called out, and the family raised their glasses in a toast.
* * *
"Who's ready for presents?" Mrs. Weasley asked once all the dishes were cleared from the table.
"ME!" came a chorus of small voices, mostly from the children (though Mrs. Weasley was sure she heard Fred and George in there somewhere as well).
"Well, come on then!" she exclaimed, and she took Daniel from Ginny and headed into the living room.
"We'd better supervise," said Hermione, and she lifted Charlotte from her high chair and carried her in after the rest of the children. Ron, Ginny and Harry followed.
"Okay now," Mrs. Weasley was saying to the group of children sitting in front of her. "I want you all to make sure you have a present in front of you. And, Brian, make sure that present has your name on it!"
Brian giggled and moved the present from his lap, taking one that really belonged to him. Mrs. Weasley gave him a stern look. "Now, Brian, more tricks like that and you'll spoil everyone else's fun!"
"Yeah, Brian!" came the voice of Stacey, exercising her big sister nagging rights. She looked at Mrs. Weasley. "I'll make sure he only opens his own presents, grandma."
"Thank you Stacey," said Mrs. Weasley, with a small smile in her direction, and she turned to Hermione. "Now, I'll help Daniel if you'll help Charlotte."
"Mum, believe me, little Charlie here is perfectly capable of ripping wrapping paper all by herself," Ron said. "Aren't you?" Charlotte nodded.
"Okay then," said Mrs. Weasley. "Are you all ready?" The children let out a chorus of 'yesses.' Mrs. Weasley beamed. "Then open up!" she called out, and for a moment the only sound that could be heard was that of eager children ripping into wrapping paper. The rest of the adults were starting to drift in by now, and they were just in time to see what their children had been given for Christmas.
"Wow!" James called out. "A
"Look, mummy! I got my own 'Hogwarts: A History!'" Emma called out to Hermione. "It's the latest edition!" She ran over to her mother. "Can we read it tonight? Please?"
"We'll see when we get home," said Hermione.
* * *
Ron and Hermione entered their dark house, exhausted. The children showed signs of exhaustion too. Emma and Olivia were walking slowly along down the hallway. "Turn on the light, mummy," Olivia managed to murmur between yawns.
Hermione obliged, and the girls continued to walk until they reached the stairs. "Go on up, girls," said Ron when they paused. "We'll be right behind you." Emma and Olivia slowly took the steps. Ron turned to Hermione, who was holding a sleeping Charlotte.
"Let's get these two upstairs as well," said Ron, gesturing to Jack, who was sleeping on his own shoulder. Hermione smiled and headed up the stairs, Ron just behind her. They could hear Emma and Olivia in their bedrooms, each getting their pajamas on and presumably climbing under the covers. Ron placed Jack and Charlotte in their respective bedrooms, whispered their good-nights to them, and then met back in the hallway.
"Shall I see Emma first, or Olivia?" Ron asked.
"Emma," said Hermione, and she opened Olivia's bedroom door, while Ron headed for Emma's.
The nine-year-old was sitting up in her bed, looking through her new book and wearing her newly acquired Weasley sweater. "Is that your favorite present?" he asked her as he walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. Emma nodded eagerly.
"But the other stuff's good too," she said.
"Good," said Ron. "It was a good Christmas then?"
"Yup!" she exclaimed. "And the best part is, our birthday is only two months away now!"
"That's right," said Ron. "And what should we do this year?"
Emma scrunched up her nose in thought. Over the past couple of years, she had deemed it tradition that she and Ron do something special together since they shared the same birthday. "Can we see a Quidditch game?" she asked. It was, inevitably, what they did every year, even though they always tried to think of something else to do.
"I think that can be arranged," said Ron, and Emma smiled.
"Good night," she said to him.
"Night, love," he said. He placed a kiss on her cheek and she hugged him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. "Don't stay up too long reading, okay?"
"I won't," said Emma. "Love you dad!"
"Love you too," said Ron, and he headed for the door.
* * *
"Did you have fun at grandma and grandpa's house, Livvie?" Hermione asked Olivia as she placed the covers over the six-year-old, just the way she liked them.
"Yes," she said. "Christmas is my favorite holiday."
"I know," said Hermione. "I'm glad you had fun."
Olivia opened her mouth to say something, but instead let out a huge lawn. Hermione laughed softly. "Tired, love?" she asked. Olivia just nodded. "Okay, then, you get to sleep. Sweet dreams, and I'll see you in the morning."
Hermione kissed Olivia's forehead and headed to the door. Ron was standing just outside of it. "You better hurry," she said to him. "She's dozing fast." With a smile to his wife, Ron headed into his daughter's room.
* * *
"Daddy, can we play chess tomorrow?" Olivia asked, when Ron was seated near her bed. She was keen to play, as she had gotten her own set of chessmen at the holiday celebration.
"Of course," said Ron.
"You don't have to work?" she asked, with another yawn.
"Nope!" said Ron.
Olivia smiled. "Good," she said, and her eyes started to droop. She opened them again. "I need my doll."
Ron turned and reached over to her shelf, where her Quidditch doll lay. It wasn't any recognizable player, as far as Ron could tell, but simply a generic version of all players wrapped up into one. It had been Olivia's favorite toy since she had gotten it for her second birthday, and she never went to sleep without it. As soon as Ron handed it to her, she tucked it under her chin, rolled over in bed, and let her eyes close, heavy with sleep.
"Night daddy," she murmured.
"Night, love," said Ron, and he headed for the door, shutting it softly behind him.
* * *
"Can we read now?" Emma asked as soon as Hermione entered the room.
"Don't you think it's a little late?" Hermione asked, as she took the seat that Ron had occupied moments earlier.
"It's never too late to read, mum!" Emma exclaimed.
Hermione smiled. "I suppose you're right," said Hermione. "But I'm pretty tired, so not too much tonight."
"Okay," said Emma, with a resigned sigh. "But you have to make sure Charlotte and Jack don't rip the pages."
"I will," said Hermione softly, and she took the book from Emma's hands and opened it to the first page. "Ready?" she asked. Emma smiled at her and nodded. "Okay, then." Hermione began to read. She was three paragraphs into the book when she heard Emma's breathing pattern change, signaling that the child had fallen asleep. She pulled the covers up to her chin and kissed her cheek. "Good-night, Em," she said, and she put the book on the bedside table, switched off the lamp and made her way to her own bedroom.
* * *
Ron was in the bathroom, presumably brushing his teeth when Hermione entered the bedroom. She quickly changed out of her dress and into pajamas, and was situated in bed, reading a book, when Ron came in.
"You can't honestly say you're going to read," he said to her.
She looked up at him. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," said Ron, and he climbed into bed next to her, "that for the first time in weeks, all of our children are sleeping. At the same time."
Hermione smiled. "And why would that matter?" she asked in mock innocence.
"It matters," said Ron, and he kissed her before continuing, "because we can spend some quality time together." Hermione now kissed him, and turned off the light beside the bed, making the room go dark.
"Happy Christmas," she said to Ron.
"Happy Christmas," he repeated, just before he kissed her again.