Chapter Twenty-Four – The Burrow, Traveling

Molly didn't quite understand why this wedding was so special to her. Every one of her son's had had a beautiful wedding. But as Molly sat next to Arthur and watched Hermione walk down the aisle towards Ron, she knew this was special.

Since the first summer she had stayed at the Burrow, Molly always looked at Hermione like her own daughter. Molly knew she didn't need the mothering; Hermione had two wonderful parents of her own who loved her. But Molly was so proud of the little girl she had watched grow up and become an amazing young woman.

And she had chosen Ron. Hermione was the type that any man would be proud to love. And she had seen that Ron was also special, that they were destined for each other.

Arthur quietly handed her a handkerchief, which Molly accepted gratefully. This wedding was more of a muggle than a wizard wedding. Hermione wore a beautiful white dress with a veil. Ron, and the rest of the men in the wedding party rented tuxedos. Molly smiled, remembering how thrilled Arthur was going into a muggle store and getting his measurements taken by a real tape measurer.

They had one concession to the wizarding world though. Professor McGonagall married them, wearing her finest wizarding robes.

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"Mum, can you do us a huge favor?" Fred asked through the fire.

"I can try Fred," Molly said good-naturedly as she knitted. Since she had so many Weasley sweaters to make every year now, she generally started knitting in February.

"Angelina's mum is in St. Mungos. Nothing serious," Fred answered the question Molly was about to ask. "But Angelina wants us to spend the evening there with her. Can you watch the kids for us?"

"Of course, Fred. Why don't you floo them over?" Molly said.

"Thanks, Mum. I'll have them over in a minute," Fred said, relief showing on his face.

Five minutes later, Fred brought his children over. Rina bounded through the fireplace first. "Grammy!" she cried, running to Molly to give her a hug. Next, Albus George waddled though, being only four years old. Finally, Fred flooed over, holding baby Donna Rose in his arms.

"This is wonderful of you, Mum," Fred said again, giving Donna to Molly.

"They don't have any fake wands on them, do they?" Molly asked warily. One time she babysat them, Rina and Albus had gotten into a pretty serious duel with fake wands. Rina burned her eyebrows off. Luckily, they re-grew fast enough.

"Don't worry. I binned the ones they had. Honestly, I felt like I was you," he said slyly.

"Off you go," Molly said, grinning. Fred apparated quickly out of the living room.

Just then, there was another head in the fire. "It's Uncle Percy," Rina told Molly.

"Percy?" Molly asked.

"Mum, Penelope and I have to go to a last minute fundraiser. Can you watch the kids tonight?" Percy asked desperately.

"Of course. Floo them on over," Molly told him.

A few minutes later, Percy, Jr., came through the fireplace. "Rina!" he cried happily, seeing his cousin. Then Mary Jane, who tripped trying to stand up and started crying. Albus took her hand and helped her up. Finally Percy flooed, holding Allison Marie, who he put in Molly's other arm.

"I see you're the baby sitting service tonight," Percy said.

"I don't mind," Molly smiled at her grandchildren. "Anyway, Arthur will be home soon enough."

"Thanks again, Mum," Percy said as he apparated.

Molly knew what to do with the children. Rina, Albus, Percy Jr., and Mary Jane all loved running around outside. They all lived in London, and didn't have the access to the country like this. She would let Donna and Allison sleep.

Four hours later, after Fred and Percy picked the kids up, she and Arthur were absolutely exhausted. "How did we do this?" Arthur asked. "How did we raise seven kids?"

"To be fair, we spaced them out over eleven years. Tonight was six kids under seven," Molly said yawning. She loved her grandchildren, but my, they could be little terrors! It was like having three pairs of young Fred and Georges here tonight.

"Very true," Arthur said, putting his arm around her. They spent the rest of the evening enjoying how silent the Burrow could be.

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Ginny and Harry ran into the Burrow. "I'm going to France!" Ginny cried, running over to Molly and giving her a huge hug. "I'm going to France!" she repeated, going to Arthur, who was sitting on the couch, reading the Daily Prophet. She kissed him on the top of his head. "I'm going to France!" she cried one last time, jumping on Harry's back, arms thrown up over her head.

Molly looked at Arthur. They obviously had forgotten something important, since Ginny was so excited. "That's wonderful dear," Molly exclaimed. "When?"

Ginny laughed. "Don't worry, Mum! You haven't forgotten anything. I did it!" she cried, jumping off of Harry's back.

"You are looking at the third Chaser for the English National Team that will be playing in the World Cup in three months!" Ginny said proudly.

"Oh Ginny!" Molly exclaimed. "Oh Ginny, that's wonderful!"

Arthur stood up and patted Ginny on the back, and she gave him a huge hug. "I didn't think I'd make it," she said. "I didn't tell anyone that I was trying out."

"Not even me," Harry laughed.

"This is a cause for a celebration," Molly said happily. "We haven't had the family together since Ron's wedding."

"Mum, that was only two months ago," Ginny said.

"Still, this is special," Molly fussed, walking over to the fireplace to invite her children over.

Within an hour, Fred and Angelina, their children were there. Next came George and Alicia by the Knight Bus. Alicia was seven months pregnant, so flooing wasn't advised. Ron and Hermione said they would be over as soon as they could, they both had to finish work. Percy and Penelope couldn't make it; they were hosting a fundraiser for the Clearwater Foundation.

Ginny spoke to Bill and Charlie through the floo network to tell them the news. Each one promised to be there for the tournament. Molly was thrilled; they would all be together then.

Just as Molly was starting dinner, Ron and Hermione came in. Ginny told them the news, and Ron had the most awestruck look on his face. "First you play for the best team ever, and now you're on the National Team. I'm so lucky to be your brother."

Ginny laughed, "Don't you forget that!"

Fred made Ginny promise to give Rina flying lessons. Ginny said yes happily. As they all sat down at the table, George stood up.

"Alicia and I had a doctor's appointment today," he started.

"You mean Alicia did," Fred joked.

"Don't I have sympathy pains just like Alicia?" George laughed. "Tell 'em, love."

"Don't you dare compare your pains to mine," Alicia said, grinning.

"Right, then. Alicia had an appointment, in which I was just along for the ride, a hand holder, a well wisher…" George said.

"Get to the point, twin!" Fred shouted.

"My darling wife and I are going to have twins," George said happily. "One boy and one girl."

Molly sighed. She half hoped that twins might start running in the family. There had been none on her side before. Not just one more grandchild, she was getting two!

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The three months went quickly, and before Molly knew it, she was back in France for the World Cup. Arthur was able to use a great deal of clout and get a private sky box seat for the family for England's games. They needed the space. Fifteen adults and fourteen children, three of them newborns, needed a lot of space.

The first game, England won easily over the Japanese team, 470-120. Ginny was doing very well; she scored fourteen of the goals.

The next game was much more difficult, against the Peruvian team. Ginny only scored one goal that game, but England won, 170-20. The English seeker found the snitch in only five minutes.

After the first day of qualifying matches were done, Ginny came back to have dinner with the family. Molly had never seen her look so happy. Her children gave a cry, when they saw whom she brought with her. Oliver Wood was joining them at the table.

"You weren't on the field?" Harry asked, surprised. "I would have seen you on the field."

Oliver shook his head, "I'm the reserve Keeper," he said modestly. Immediately, Angelina and Alicia were at his side, demanding to know where his wife, Katie Bell was. Turned out Katie was eight months pregnant, and had been told she shouldn't come. Both girls looked sad that she wasn't there, but happy that she was going to be a mother, it was going to be their first child.

"Tomorrow's the big day. If we can beat Transylvania, I think we have a chance at the whole thing," Ginny said proudly.

"I hope you can," Bill said. "Last time we played them was insane. Three hundred and ninety to ten."

"Well, we have a much, much better team than the last World Cup team," Oliver said happily.

Molly had never heard more quidditch talk that night than in her entire life.

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Turned out Transylvania's seeker had been hurt in the previous game, so the English Team won easily. They now only had to win one more game to get into the Final for the World Cup.

Molly spent most of the match against the Polish National Team with her hands over her eyes. The Polish team was comprised of all men who looked like they should be Beaters. Ginny look incredibly small out on the field. The Polish team seemed to delight in fouling Ginny, who was the only woman on the English team.

Their strategy backfired though, as Ginny made more and more penalty shots. With all of her penalty shots, she put the team up 330-180. Molly knew it wasn't close to being over. If the Polish team caught the snitch, the game would be tied.

Just when Molly didn't think she could handle anymore, the entire skybox erupted into cheers. The Snitch had been caught by the English team. They were going to the World Cup Finals for the first time in one hundred and fifty years.

The entire family went down to the field after the game. Ginny took her time coming out of the changing room. By the time she ran out, the field had been deserted. She ran out quickly, running straight into Harry's arms. "We did it!" she cried.

Everyone started cheering again, and patting Ginny on the back. Molly noticed Ginny and Harry walk slightly away from the crowd, arms around each other. Molly watched them hug fiercely, then kiss passionately on the lips. They walked back towards the family, beaming.

"Oi!" Ginny cried, stepping up on a bench so she could be seen. Everyone stopped talking at once and looked at Ginny.

"This might sound very strange, but this is what we want," she started nervously, "About a month ago, Harry and I got a marriage license."

Molly gasped, and the ones who heard her started chuckling.

Harry stood up on the bench, and wrapped his arms around her. "We want to get married," he said.

"Right now," Ginny added. "I can't think of a better place for us to get married than on a quidditch pitch," she laughed.

"Our family's here," Harry said softly. "So this is as good as time as ever."

"Daddy?" Ginny asked, looking at Arthur. "Would you marry us?"

Arthur looked about ten feet tall. "I'd be honored," he told his daughter.

"Oh Ginny!" Molly sobbed into her hands.

"Mum?" Ginny said softly.

"I'm so happy!" Molly cried, laughing at the same time.

"Phew!" Ginny said happily. "Then that's all settled."

Ginny and Harry jumped off the bench and stood in front of Arthur. Arthur beckoned Molly with his eyes, and she went to stand next to him, his arm wrapped around her shoulder.

Her six other children, their wives and their children formed a small circle around the pair. Ginny and Harry stood across from each other, hand in hand, not able to take their eyes off each other.

"Harry James Potter, do you take this woman to be your wife, to love and cherish, for as long as you both shall live?" Arthur asked quietly. Molly knew he had never officiated a wedding ceremony before, and was making it up as he went along.

"I do," Harry said softly, eyes not leaving Ginny's face. She looked beautiful in the moonlight.

"Ginevra Molly Weasley, do you take this man to be your husband, to love and cherish for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do!" Ginny said eagerly, throwing her arms around Harry.

"That's after he says man and wife, kiddo!" Fred joked. Molly watched Angelina elbow him in the ribs.

Ginny took a step away from Harry and smiled broadly, taking his hands again.

"Are there rings?" Arthur asked.

Harry shook his head. "No rings, not yet," he said softly.

Arthur cleared his throat and looked at the family that was standing there. "I know that everyone of you are going to have the happiness that Molly and I have had for so many years. I cannot express how proud I am of every single one of my children. You have all grown up to become people that I am proud to call family."

"Speeches after the wedding!" George interrupted.

"Let the old man make a speech," Fred countered.

"If I may," Arthur said sternly. The children knew he wasn't upset by the way his eyes were twinkling. "No matter what your goals are in life, having a family you know you can depend on means a great deal. Thank you for so many wonderful years. You all have completed my life."

Molly couldn't stop crying now. She had never heard Arthur speak from the heart like that to the children.

"Now, the moment we've been waiting for. Harry and Ginny, by the power invested in me by the Ministry of Magic, I now pronounce you man and wife," Arthur said happily.

Ginny and Harry kissed and looked like they never wanted to let each other go.

They moved the party from the quidditch field to the hotel suite that Arthur and Molly were staying in. The party lasted well into the night. Ginny and Harry retired early, saying that she needed sleep for the match tomorrow. But Molly saw them look at each other and knew that sleep was the last thing on their mind.

England lost spectacularly to the Uganda National Team, 410-70. Ginny still played wonderfully, scoring five of the seven goals that England managed to score.