Chapter Eleven – Child Six
Molly walked down the streets of Diagon Alley with her eldest son with pride. Bill would be starting Hogwarts in four little days. It was time for Bill to get his school supplies.
They had bought his robes and his other supplies. Luckily, the second hand shop had a lot of the supplies that he needed, such as his cauldron and a telescope. They had just left the bookstore, Flourish and Blotts. Molly cleared her throat, "Bill, I know these are your books, but I'd appreciate it if..." she trailed off.
"I know, Mum. I'll leave them in good condition so that Charlie can use them next year," Bill said good-naturedly.
Molly felt tears sting her eyes. Arthur and she never actually told the children that money was tight. They knew anyway. She hated thinking that she would be denying her children anything. Her children were always very good with their toys, Bill and Charlie especially. They seemed to realize that the younger boys would be using the toys as well.
"Let's go get your wand," Molly told him.
They entered Ollivanders. Bill seemed to look at the place in awe. "I finally can stop bugging you about getting my own wand," Bill said softly.
"Hello. He is the first of many, if I'm not to be mistaken?" Mr. Ollivander said.
"Yes," Molly answered, "Bill the oldest of six sons."
"Yours is ash with unicorn horn powder," Mr. Ollivander questioned her.
Molly nodded, wondering how he always remembered. She could recall buying her wand twenty years ago with her father. Mr. Ollivander knew what wand her father had used (Mahogany and unicorn hair)
Mr. Ollivander walked to the back of the storeroom and came back with four thin boxes. He took out the first wand and handed it to Bill. A warm glow surrounded Bill.
"On the first try. Good. Good," Mr. Ollivander muttered to himself. "Beachwood and a peacock feather. Very good for dealing with curses."
Molly went to pay for the wand. She smiled; Bill couldn't take his eyes off of his new wand. Molly looked at the remaining money in her purse. She would have to be very careful with the grocery money until Arthur brought home his next paycheck. She was trying to save for a new rocking chair. Hers was getting past repair.
"Mum, can we bring back some candy for everyone?" Bill asked eagerly.
Molly made a quick decision. The new rocking chair could wait.
-------------------------
"Fred and George, stop laughing at your little brother," Molly scolded her twins.
"Mum, he threw up!" one of the boys yelled. Molly had her back towards them, so she couldn't tell who had spoken.
"Babies throw up," Molly sighed.
"I didn't!" Molly turned around. Fred was the one who had just spoken.
"Yes, you did, Freddie. All babies throw up," Molly said, regretting calling him Freddie as soon as she said it.
"I'm not FREDDIE!" the boy pouted, and stamped his foot.
"Freddie, Freddie," his twin taunted him.
"Georgie, Georgie," Fred yelled back.
"Boys, calm down. Ronnie just fell asleep. I swear, if you wake him..." Molly said in what she knew the boys called her "dangerous" voice.
"Don't wake the baby," Fred laughed.
George pushed Fred slightly, "Ah, little Ronniekins is sleeping!"
Molly took a towel and wiped the spit-up that was on Ron's jumper. She couldn't believe this jumper had made it through four children. It was Charlie's first. It was green, so the next child, a girl would be able to wear it as well.
Today was bittersweet for Molly. Bill, her oldest son, was going to leave for Hogwarts today. Molly couldn't believe that she was old enough to have a child start Hogwarts. She could hardly believe that she was going to be turning thirty-one in just a couple of weeks. Where did the time go?
"Bill, you better get downstairs! It's almost time to leave!" Molly called to her son.
Bill came pounding down the stairs, already in his Hogwarts uniform. Molly lifted her hand to her mouth, trying to choke back the tears. Bill was so handsome in his uniform.
"Mum, don't cry," Fred started.
"We love you," George continued.
"Even if Ronnie-poo is a cry baby," Fred finished.
Molly sighed. She couldn't wait until the terrible twos were over for her twins.
A second later, Molly heard her mother apparate into the living room. Molly and Arthur wanted to be there with Bill as he left on the Hogwarts Express. However, it would have been too difficult of a journey with the whole family.
"Thanks, Mum," Molly told her. Arthur came down the stairs then, balancing Bill's trunk with his wand.
"Already, son?" Arthur asked Bill.
Bill nodded. Charlie and Percy had gathered in the living room as well. Bill quickly said good-bye to his brothers, promising to see them at Christmas. Molly, Arthur and Bill walked over to the fireplace.
A few minutes later, they were all in the Kings Cross Station, walking towards platform 9 ¾. It had been twenty years since Molly had made that journey for the first time. She had met Arthur on that journey. Would Bill meet the love of his life today?
Together they walked through the barrier. Molly tried to think of something motherly to tell her son. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Bill and said, "I love you. Promise me you'll write home as soon as you're sorted."
Bill nodded and then hugged his father. Taking his trunk, he got onto the train. Molly took Arthur's hand. "He'll be fine," Molly said, wanting to be reassured.
Arthur kissed Molly's forehead. "Of course he will be."
The next day Molly told anyone who would listen how proud she was that Bill had been sorted into Gryffindor. -------------------------
"Why do we have to stay here again?" Charlie asked.
"We're adding on to the house, Charlie. We need another floor," Molly told him. Molly and the boys were staying at her Uncle Bilius' house, where her mother also lived. Arthur was adding an extra floor to the Burrow with two of her brothers. The Burrow had gotten very crowded. They had added an extra floor after Percy was born. It was now time for a fourth floor. Luckily, her brother Matthew had come good contacts, so it wasn't that expensive.
"I don't like staying here. It's creepy," Charlie said.
"Well, we're only here for the night," Molly said.
"Good," Charlie muttered under his breath.
Ron was sleeping in Molly's arms. Charlie was working on a lesson Molly had given him. Percy was reading. The twins were speaking in the strange language they had invented last week. She had given up trying to understand the language.
Suddenly the door burst opened. "A grim! I saw a grim!" Uncle Bilius yelled. He was Molly's uncle, but all the boys called him uncle as well.
Molly looked at him in horror. "Are you sure? Maybe you were seeing things?" she asked worriedly.
Molly's mother stood up. "Bilius, I'm sure you'll be fine."
Bilius shook his head. "I've only twenty-four hours left on this earth," he said mournfully, "Best I find me a firewhiskey."
"What's a grim?" Charlie asked.
"A death omen," Percy said from the corner.
"You're going to die?" Fred asked, speaking English for the first time today.
"Don't die!" George said, his lower lip trembling.
Bilius nodded. "My time is short. I'm going to enjoy it with my family."
"Bilius, stop it this instant. You're scaring my grandchildren," Mrs. MacKenzie scolded.
Molly was worried. She always believed in the grim. Her best hope was that Bilius was seeing things. Just in case, she made a spectacular dinner for the family. After dinner, they stayed up late, talking around the fireplace.
The boys all gave Bilius a hug before going to bed. After Molly had sent them upstairs, she had a quick nightcap with her uncle. Bilius then announced that he was ready to move on from this world.
Bilius went to sleep and never woke up.
-------------------------
Molly stayed with her mother after the funeral. The children all went home to the Burrow. "What am I going to do?" Molly's mother asked.
"Mum, you're only fifty-eight. You can do whatever you want to do," Molly told her mother. She poured her mother another cup of tea.
"I've never lived alone before in my entire life," Mrs. MacKenzie said.
"Well, why don't you stay with us through Christmas? That gives you a month to figure out what you'd like to do," Molly said.
"I don't want to be in the way," Mrs. MacKenzie said sadly.
"You wouldn't be in the way. Wouldn't I love an extra pair of hands to help me out?" Molly said.
Molly and Mrs. MacKenzie showed up at the Burrow together. Molly settled her mother in the room that the next child would have. The first night was uncomfortable. Molly was forced to admit that her mother wasn't very good company.
After the first night, Molly realized that Arthur was spending a great deal of time in his shed. Over the years, Arthur had collected a huge amount of muggle items. His pride and joy was his Ford Anglia. She supposed she couldn't fault Arthur for not wanting to spend time with her mother.
One morning, she and her mother took the boys into the local village. Molly needed some flour, and didn't want to go all the way to Diagon Alley. "Margaret, when are you going to lose the weight you've gained from Ron?"
Molly sighed and shifted Ron, who was on her back, sleeping. She hated to admit it, but she was almost twenty pounds heavier than she was since she got married. "I'm fine, Mum."
"You're not pregnant again, are you?" her mother asked shrewdly.
Molly shook her head. "No, the girl's not on her way yet," Molly said.
"Fred! George! Get back here!" Molly yelled. The twins were trying to push Percy over. Percy, being two years older and bigger than them both, ignored them.
"Stay out here with them. I'll be right out," Molly said in front of the store. After giving the man behind the counter the wrong amount of muggle money, she left with her items.
Her mother was talking to a man who looked to be in his fifties or sixties. Her mother was more animated than Molly had seen her in years.
When Molly approached, they stopped talking. "I'll see you tomorrow, then," Mrs. MacKenzie told the man.
They walked in silence for a few minutes. "Who was that, Mum?" Molly asked casually.
"Wilson Kendall. I've met him before, on my walks," Mrs. MacKenzie said.
"Why are you seeing him tomorrow?" Molly asked, grinning.
"We're going to have coffee," Mrs. MacKenzie asked.
"Is he a muggle?" Molly asked.
Molly's mother shook her head. "He's a wizard. Have you never seen him in the area?"
"I didn't know there were any other wizards in the area," Molly said.
Wilson Kendall's and Mrs. MacKenzie courtship went quickly. They married on New Year's Day. The wedding was a huge event. Not much money was spent, but both of their entire families were there. Mrs. MacKenzie's seven children and twenty-three grandchildren and Kendall's five children from his first marriage, and his fourteen grandchildren made quite a lot of noise.
-------------------------
"Happy Birthday, Ron!" the family cried.
It was Ron's first birthday. They had a small family party for him. Molly forced herself to stop calling him Ronnie. The twins always made fun of that. She would slip once in a while though.
Ron looked very pleased with the attention. Molly realized it must be hard for him, being the youngest son. She hoped he would be able to handle it.
Soon it was time for everyone's bedtime. Molly sensed that Arthur wanted to talk. And she had important news to tell him. She was four weeks pregnant with their last child. The first and only girl was on her way. After getting the boys in bed, she sat down next to Arthur in the living room. He put his arm around her.
"What's on your mind Arthur?" she asked, bursting with her news.
"I was thinking, Molly. We have our hands full right now. I think we should do whatever we can not to have another baby for a while," he started.
Molly sat up straight and her mouth dropped in horror. "Oh Arthur," she said, her eyes starting to water.
"Molly? What's wrong? I thought you'd agree with me," Arthur asked, confused.
Molly put her head in her hands. "I'm a month pregnant," she whispered.
"Oh."
They sat in silence for a moment. "You are for sure?" Arthur asked.
"I did the spell this afternoon," Molly said.
"Our last baby," Arthur said quietly.
"I'm sorry to spring this on you," Molly said.
"I'm sorry I said what I said," Arthur told her, taking her hand, "It'll be nice to have a daughter."
Molly nodded. "Too much testosterone in the house," she giggled.
They let another silence lapse between them. "I wonder what she'll be like?" Molly wondered.
"I hope she's just like you," Arthur said.
"Thank you," Molly said, "She needs to have a strong constitution when she's the mother of seven children."
"It's weird, isn't it? Knowing our baby will have seven of her own one day," Arthur said, putting his hand on Molly's stomach.
"Unless there's a way to break the curse before then," Molly laughed.
"Looking back," Arthur said seriously, "Would you have broken the curse if you could have?'
Molly thought for a moment. "I wouldn't give up any of our sons for the world," she said.
"Not even the twins?" Arthur laughed.
Molly's laughter mixed with Arthur's. "Not even the twins."
-------------------------
Molly walked up and down the kitchen anxiously. Arthur was due back with Bill any minute now. She hadn't seen her eldest son since Christmas break. She didn't want to floo to the station because of the baby in her belly.
She heard the familiar sound and looked towards the fireplace. Bill was just standing up. "Mum!" he cried.
"Bill!" Molly walked over to him quickly and gave him a hug. She heard Arthur apparate into the living room.
She released him and put her hands on his shoulders. "Let me look at you." He had grown. He was just a tad taller than Molly now. "You're even more handsome than I remember," Molly sighed.
Bill wriggled out of her grasp, "Mum..."
"But you need a haircut," Molly started.
She was interrupted by Charlie. "Bill!" he cried, "Let's go fly!"
"Can we Mum?" Bill asked.
Molly nodded. "Can we fly too?" George asked.
"Please!" Fred joined in. The twins hero worshipped Bill a bit.
"What do you say, Mum?" Bill asked.
"It's up to you Bill. They're only three years old. You really couldn't fly with them around."
Bill thought for a minute. He looked at Charlie, "Let's teach them to fly a bit, then we'll have a fly later."
"Don't let them go more than six feet off the ground," Molly said.
"Don't worry, Mum!" Bill and Charlie said together.
Molly started dinner, feeling very content. She could see a flash of red hair now and then. It looked like the twins were naturals, like Charlie. Feeling a small kick from the baby, she smiled. Molly couldn't wait until the entire family was here.
Molly walked down the streets of Diagon Alley with her eldest son with pride. Bill would be starting Hogwarts in four little days. It was time for Bill to get his school supplies.
They had bought his robes and his other supplies. Luckily, the second hand shop had a lot of the supplies that he needed, such as his cauldron and a telescope. They had just left the bookstore, Flourish and Blotts. Molly cleared her throat, "Bill, I know these are your books, but I'd appreciate it if..." she trailed off.
"I know, Mum. I'll leave them in good condition so that Charlie can use them next year," Bill said good-naturedly.
Molly felt tears sting her eyes. Arthur and she never actually told the children that money was tight. They knew anyway. She hated thinking that she would be denying her children anything. Her children were always very good with their toys, Bill and Charlie especially. They seemed to realize that the younger boys would be using the toys as well.
"Let's go get your wand," Molly told him.
They entered Ollivanders. Bill seemed to look at the place in awe. "I finally can stop bugging you about getting my own wand," Bill said softly.
"Hello. He is the first of many, if I'm not to be mistaken?" Mr. Ollivander said.
"Yes," Molly answered, "Bill the oldest of six sons."
"Yours is ash with unicorn horn powder," Mr. Ollivander questioned her.
Molly nodded, wondering how he always remembered. She could recall buying her wand twenty years ago with her father. Mr. Ollivander knew what wand her father had used (Mahogany and unicorn hair)
Mr. Ollivander walked to the back of the storeroom and came back with four thin boxes. He took out the first wand and handed it to Bill. A warm glow surrounded Bill.
"On the first try. Good. Good," Mr. Ollivander muttered to himself. "Beachwood and a peacock feather. Very good for dealing with curses."
Molly went to pay for the wand. She smiled; Bill couldn't take his eyes off of his new wand. Molly looked at the remaining money in her purse. She would have to be very careful with the grocery money until Arthur brought home his next paycheck. She was trying to save for a new rocking chair. Hers was getting past repair.
"Mum, can we bring back some candy for everyone?" Bill asked eagerly.
Molly made a quick decision. The new rocking chair could wait.
-------------------------
"Fred and George, stop laughing at your little brother," Molly scolded her twins.
"Mum, he threw up!" one of the boys yelled. Molly had her back towards them, so she couldn't tell who had spoken.
"Babies throw up," Molly sighed.
"I didn't!" Molly turned around. Fred was the one who had just spoken.
"Yes, you did, Freddie. All babies throw up," Molly said, regretting calling him Freddie as soon as she said it.
"I'm not FREDDIE!" the boy pouted, and stamped his foot.
"Freddie, Freddie," his twin taunted him.
"Georgie, Georgie," Fred yelled back.
"Boys, calm down. Ronnie just fell asleep. I swear, if you wake him..." Molly said in what she knew the boys called her "dangerous" voice.
"Don't wake the baby," Fred laughed.
George pushed Fred slightly, "Ah, little Ronniekins is sleeping!"
Molly took a towel and wiped the spit-up that was on Ron's jumper. She couldn't believe this jumper had made it through four children. It was Charlie's first. It was green, so the next child, a girl would be able to wear it as well.
Today was bittersweet for Molly. Bill, her oldest son, was going to leave for Hogwarts today. Molly couldn't believe that she was old enough to have a child start Hogwarts. She could hardly believe that she was going to be turning thirty-one in just a couple of weeks. Where did the time go?
"Bill, you better get downstairs! It's almost time to leave!" Molly called to her son.
Bill came pounding down the stairs, already in his Hogwarts uniform. Molly lifted her hand to her mouth, trying to choke back the tears. Bill was so handsome in his uniform.
"Mum, don't cry," Fred started.
"We love you," George continued.
"Even if Ronnie-poo is a cry baby," Fred finished.
Molly sighed. She couldn't wait until the terrible twos were over for her twins.
A second later, Molly heard her mother apparate into the living room. Molly and Arthur wanted to be there with Bill as he left on the Hogwarts Express. However, it would have been too difficult of a journey with the whole family.
"Thanks, Mum," Molly told her. Arthur came down the stairs then, balancing Bill's trunk with his wand.
"Already, son?" Arthur asked Bill.
Bill nodded. Charlie and Percy had gathered in the living room as well. Bill quickly said good-bye to his brothers, promising to see them at Christmas. Molly, Arthur and Bill walked over to the fireplace.
A few minutes later, they were all in the Kings Cross Station, walking towards platform 9 ¾. It had been twenty years since Molly had made that journey for the first time. She had met Arthur on that journey. Would Bill meet the love of his life today?
Together they walked through the barrier. Molly tried to think of something motherly to tell her son. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Bill and said, "I love you. Promise me you'll write home as soon as you're sorted."
Bill nodded and then hugged his father. Taking his trunk, he got onto the train. Molly took Arthur's hand. "He'll be fine," Molly said, wanting to be reassured.
Arthur kissed Molly's forehead. "Of course he will be."
The next day Molly told anyone who would listen how proud she was that Bill had been sorted into Gryffindor. -------------------------
"Why do we have to stay here again?" Charlie asked.
"We're adding on to the house, Charlie. We need another floor," Molly told him. Molly and the boys were staying at her Uncle Bilius' house, where her mother also lived. Arthur was adding an extra floor to the Burrow with two of her brothers. The Burrow had gotten very crowded. They had added an extra floor after Percy was born. It was now time for a fourth floor. Luckily, her brother Matthew had come good contacts, so it wasn't that expensive.
"I don't like staying here. It's creepy," Charlie said.
"Well, we're only here for the night," Molly said.
"Good," Charlie muttered under his breath.
Ron was sleeping in Molly's arms. Charlie was working on a lesson Molly had given him. Percy was reading. The twins were speaking in the strange language they had invented last week. She had given up trying to understand the language.
Suddenly the door burst opened. "A grim! I saw a grim!" Uncle Bilius yelled. He was Molly's uncle, but all the boys called him uncle as well.
Molly looked at him in horror. "Are you sure? Maybe you were seeing things?" she asked worriedly.
Molly's mother stood up. "Bilius, I'm sure you'll be fine."
Bilius shook his head. "I've only twenty-four hours left on this earth," he said mournfully, "Best I find me a firewhiskey."
"What's a grim?" Charlie asked.
"A death omen," Percy said from the corner.
"You're going to die?" Fred asked, speaking English for the first time today.
"Don't die!" George said, his lower lip trembling.
Bilius nodded. "My time is short. I'm going to enjoy it with my family."
"Bilius, stop it this instant. You're scaring my grandchildren," Mrs. MacKenzie scolded.
Molly was worried. She always believed in the grim. Her best hope was that Bilius was seeing things. Just in case, she made a spectacular dinner for the family. After dinner, they stayed up late, talking around the fireplace.
The boys all gave Bilius a hug before going to bed. After Molly had sent them upstairs, she had a quick nightcap with her uncle. Bilius then announced that he was ready to move on from this world.
Bilius went to sleep and never woke up.
-------------------------
Molly stayed with her mother after the funeral. The children all went home to the Burrow. "What am I going to do?" Molly's mother asked.
"Mum, you're only fifty-eight. You can do whatever you want to do," Molly told her mother. She poured her mother another cup of tea.
"I've never lived alone before in my entire life," Mrs. MacKenzie said.
"Well, why don't you stay with us through Christmas? That gives you a month to figure out what you'd like to do," Molly said.
"I don't want to be in the way," Mrs. MacKenzie said sadly.
"You wouldn't be in the way. Wouldn't I love an extra pair of hands to help me out?" Molly said.
Molly and Mrs. MacKenzie showed up at the Burrow together. Molly settled her mother in the room that the next child would have. The first night was uncomfortable. Molly was forced to admit that her mother wasn't very good company.
After the first night, Molly realized that Arthur was spending a great deal of time in his shed. Over the years, Arthur had collected a huge amount of muggle items. His pride and joy was his Ford Anglia. She supposed she couldn't fault Arthur for not wanting to spend time with her mother.
One morning, she and her mother took the boys into the local village. Molly needed some flour, and didn't want to go all the way to Diagon Alley. "Margaret, when are you going to lose the weight you've gained from Ron?"
Molly sighed and shifted Ron, who was on her back, sleeping. She hated to admit it, but she was almost twenty pounds heavier than she was since she got married. "I'm fine, Mum."
"You're not pregnant again, are you?" her mother asked shrewdly.
Molly shook her head. "No, the girl's not on her way yet," Molly said.
"Fred! George! Get back here!" Molly yelled. The twins were trying to push Percy over. Percy, being two years older and bigger than them both, ignored them.
"Stay out here with them. I'll be right out," Molly said in front of the store. After giving the man behind the counter the wrong amount of muggle money, she left with her items.
Her mother was talking to a man who looked to be in his fifties or sixties. Her mother was more animated than Molly had seen her in years.
When Molly approached, they stopped talking. "I'll see you tomorrow, then," Mrs. MacKenzie told the man.
They walked in silence for a few minutes. "Who was that, Mum?" Molly asked casually.
"Wilson Kendall. I've met him before, on my walks," Mrs. MacKenzie said.
"Why are you seeing him tomorrow?" Molly asked, grinning.
"We're going to have coffee," Mrs. MacKenzie asked.
"Is he a muggle?" Molly asked.
Molly's mother shook her head. "He's a wizard. Have you never seen him in the area?"
"I didn't know there were any other wizards in the area," Molly said.
Wilson Kendall's and Mrs. MacKenzie courtship went quickly. They married on New Year's Day. The wedding was a huge event. Not much money was spent, but both of their entire families were there. Mrs. MacKenzie's seven children and twenty-three grandchildren and Kendall's five children from his first marriage, and his fourteen grandchildren made quite a lot of noise.
-------------------------
"Happy Birthday, Ron!" the family cried.
It was Ron's first birthday. They had a small family party for him. Molly forced herself to stop calling him Ronnie. The twins always made fun of that. She would slip once in a while though.
Ron looked very pleased with the attention. Molly realized it must be hard for him, being the youngest son. She hoped he would be able to handle it.
Soon it was time for everyone's bedtime. Molly sensed that Arthur wanted to talk. And she had important news to tell him. She was four weeks pregnant with their last child. The first and only girl was on her way. After getting the boys in bed, she sat down next to Arthur in the living room. He put his arm around her.
"What's on your mind Arthur?" she asked, bursting with her news.
"I was thinking, Molly. We have our hands full right now. I think we should do whatever we can not to have another baby for a while," he started.
Molly sat up straight and her mouth dropped in horror. "Oh Arthur," she said, her eyes starting to water.
"Molly? What's wrong? I thought you'd agree with me," Arthur asked, confused.
Molly put her head in her hands. "I'm a month pregnant," she whispered.
"Oh."
They sat in silence for a moment. "You are for sure?" Arthur asked.
"I did the spell this afternoon," Molly said.
"Our last baby," Arthur said quietly.
"I'm sorry to spring this on you," Molly said.
"I'm sorry I said what I said," Arthur told her, taking her hand, "It'll be nice to have a daughter."
Molly nodded. "Too much testosterone in the house," she giggled.
They let another silence lapse between them. "I wonder what she'll be like?" Molly wondered.
"I hope she's just like you," Arthur said.
"Thank you," Molly said, "She needs to have a strong constitution when she's the mother of seven children."
"It's weird, isn't it? Knowing our baby will have seven of her own one day," Arthur said, putting his hand on Molly's stomach.
"Unless there's a way to break the curse before then," Molly laughed.
"Looking back," Arthur said seriously, "Would you have broken the curse if you could have?'
Molly thought for a moment. "I wouldn't give up any of our sons for the world," she said.
"Not even the twins?" Arthur laughed.
Molly's laughter mixed with Arthur's. "Not even the twins."
-------------------------
Molly walked up and down the kitchen anxiously. Arthur was due back with Bill any minute now. She hadn't seen her eldest son since Christmas break. She didn't want to floo to the station because of the baby in her belly.
She heard the familiar sound and looked towards the fireplace. Bill was just standing up. "Mum!" he cried.
"Bill!" Molly walked over to him quickly and gave him a hug. She heard Arthur apparate into the living room.
She released him and put her hands on his shoulders. "Let me look at you." He had grown. He was just a tad taller than Molly now. "You're even more handsome than I remember," Molly sighed.
Bill wriggled out of her grasp, "Mum..."
"But you need a haircut," Molly started.
She was interrupted by Charlie. "Bill!" he cried, "Let's go fly!"
"Can we Mum?" Bill asked.
Molly nodded. "Can we fly too?" George asked.
"Please!" Fred joined in. The twins hero worshipped Bill a bit.
"What do you say, Mum?" Bill asked.
"It's up to you Bill. They're only three years old. You really couldn't fly with them around."
Bill thought for a minute. He looked at Charlie, "Let's teach them to fly a bit, then we'll have a fly later."
"Don't let them go more than six feet off the ground," Molly said.
"Don't worry, Mum!" Bill and Charlie said together.
Molly started dinner, feeling very content. She could see a flash of red hair now and then. It looked like the twins were naturals, like Charlie. Feeling a small kick from the baby, she smiled. Molly couldn't wait until the entire family was here.