A/N: Hello all! I like this chapter. I am not really sure why, but I think I enjoyed having Harry and Ron act like they were young and stupid. I do realise they may act a little too young and stupid, but have you met men who are sick? Seriously, they get so unbelievably childish.
I guess I should clear up a few things. Lily turns seventeen on the 21st of August. She will be Head Girl when she goes back to Hogwarts, together with… well… you can probably figure that one out on your own. Sirius is the quiet, brainy one in this family. He'd rather read and study than play around. He's 13 and starting his third year. Max is the insane one. He has the Gred and Forge genes, and he's also a quidditch enthusiast. He's 12, and will start his second year. I hope that cleared everything up a little, and if you have any more questions, ask away!
ETA: I updated the chapter slightly to give the story a better flow. And Iboprofus first appeared in Katinka's Interwoven, at Sugarquill.

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Harry was pacing back and forth in the living room of Weasley Manor. He had gotten some bad news earlier and had gone straight to talk to Ron. If anyone knew how to deal with this it was him. Or at least he would understand the atrocity of it all. He wouldn't tell him to calm down and think about this in a rational matter, no siree. He would tell him it was unheard of, and he would let him swear and kick things and get angry. Yes, because that's why you had best friends. Best friends who knew you, as opposed to a certain wife who had no clue! Only problem was that said best friend was not at home, only best friend's wife was home, and although she was also your best friend, she was also best friends with your wife, your wife who had absolutely no clue.

Some ruckus in the kitchen made Harry stop his pacing, and moments later Ron came barging in. He was smiling, and except for the few beginning wrinkles around his eyes and the graying temples, he didn't look a day above twenty-five. When he saw Harry he grinned jovially, but his smile faded at his friend's look.

"Whoah, mate. Bad day?"

Harry fell down into a stressless nearby. "You have no idea," he said with a sigh.

Ron looked worried, made two drinks, and then handed one to Harry before he sat down opposite him. "What's the matter? Is Ginny ok? The children?"

Harry downed his drink and put the glass on the table. "They are well in body, although considerably rumpled in spirit. Or should I say mind? They've all gone bloody insane, that's what."

"Harry, I'm not following you," Ron said and put away his glass. "What has happened?"

"Lily has a boyfriend," Harry said then, and Ron laughed. "What? It's no laughing matter, I tell you that!"

"Harry, I know how you feel, but you can't go crazy every time some boy turns his attention on Lily. She's seventeen, and you know as well as I do what kind of things happen at Hogwarts." He arched his eyebrows meaningfully and Harry snorted.

"If it was only that," he said, "but no. It's not just any guy. It's a Slytherin."

Ron gaped. "No way! Lily can't be dating a Slytherin."

"Obviously she can. And if you think that's bad…" He conjured up another drink, downed it, then took a deep breath. "It's Malfoy's son, Jonathan."

The silence that followed this statement was more eloquent than any scream. Harry watched as Ron's eyes grew wide as saucers, and then he went to get the bottle of firewhisky before he sat back down, still not saying a word.

"Bloody hell," Ron muttered after a while, and Harry nodded.

"You said it."

"But, you can't let her! What is Ginny saying? Ginny was there back then. She isn't stupid. She can't let this happen, can she?" Harry downed another shot of firewhisky. "Bloody hell," Ron mumbled, "she can. She hasn't learned a bloody thing, has she? God, Harry, has she gone absolutely insane? Bloody hell!" He yelled the last few words, and got up. He started to pace, pretty much in the same Harry had done only ten minutes earlier.

"So what are you going to do?" Ron asked.

Harry shrugged. "Apparently not a thing. Ginny, Lily, Sirius, even Max have all agreed that this is a done deal. Lily is dating ferretboy's son, and I'm not allowed to do a thing about it!"

Ron stopped and stared at Harry. "So you're saying… Malfoy? And Lily? And everyone's ok with that? God, I need a drink." He got out his wand. "Meet you at the Three Broomsticks in two? I need to get very, very drunk."

Harry got to his feet, as well. "Meet you there."

---

It was almost midnight when Harry and Ron fell out of the fireplace at Potter's Place. The lights were all out, only a candlelight was burning by Ginny's chair, the one she always sat in when she read, or listened to the radio, or was pretending not to sleep, but definitely was.

"Shhh," Harry whispered and put his index finger up. "We can't wake the others."

"Got it," Ron muttered while putting all his effort into getting up from the floor.

"Hey, isn't this my home?" Harry asked and looked around. "I remember seeing this place before."

This comment brought on a gale of laughter from Ron, who had managed to get up on his knees. "I think this is your home," he said eventually. "I certainly think that's your wife, at least." He pointed to the person sitting by the candle light.

Harry looked at where he pointed, then when he noticed Ginny in the chair a very quiet "shit" came out.

"Shit indeed, Harry Potter," Ginny said angrily. "What do you think you're doing coming home like this in the middle of the night? Have you lost all common sense?"

Ron snickered. "Harry's in the doghouse."

"And you," Ginny all but screamed and turned to look at Ron. "Why am I not surprised to see you with him? I should have guessed the two of you had gone out to do something ridiculous like this! Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

Harry was on his feet now, and he stumbled towards where Ginny sat.

"Don't be angry, love," he said and winked in what he was pretty sure was a seductive way. "Ron and I were just having some fun."

Ginny snorted. "Fun indeed. And don't touch me. I don't want your filthy alcohol hands on me."

"Oh come on, Gin," Harry said with a grin, "don't be stupid. Why don't you and I go and take a bath, before we go have some fun?"

Ginny pushed him off, causing him to all but fall onto the floor again. "I said, don't touch me. You're drunk as a pirate, and you need to get sobered up before I even want to consider talking to you."

"You're no fun," Harry muttered as Ginny walked off.

"Don't push it, Harry," Ginny said over her shoulder before she left the room, "you should be glad I don't hex you six ways to Sunday with the way you've behaved tonight. Like a bloody teenager."

"Mum, was that dad?" Lily was standing in the doorway, and when she saw her father and uncle in the living room she gaped. "Oh my god, they're pissed."

"Don't use that kind of language, young lady," Harry said before laying down on the sofa.

"Yeah," Ron said and lay down on the other sofa, "you don't want to become like your father. Him and his foul language." And then he laughed again, while Harry tried to punch him, but only achieved almost falling onto the floor.

"Be nice, Weasley," Harry growled, "you don't want to be on my wrong side."

"Then what?" Ron taunted. "I'm nothing compared to Voldemort, you know."

Harry snorted. "Are you challenging me?"

"Tomorrow, Potter. Tomorrow." And before Harry go to answer they were both fast asleep.

Lily watched them in disbelief, before she looked at her mother with a wicked grin. "Mum, may I make a lot of noise tomorrow around, let's say, very early?"

Ginny sighed. "Make as much as noise as you wish, dear, but whatever it is you do it will be nothing compared to what I'll put them through. Trust me."

Lily giggled. "God, I can't believe it. They are pissed. Wait until Catharina hears about this."

"Oh Lily, what shall I do? I need to floo Hermione. She's probably worried sick."

"Do that. I'll come with you. I want to talk to Cathy."

"Oh no you won't. What you will do, is get to bed. Then tomorrow morning just as the sun is coming up I need you to start a very loud, very big fight with Max and Sirius. And please make sure that there will be no coffee. They don't deserve coffee."

Lily sighed. "Ok mum. And trust me, no coffee."

---

Harry woke up the next morning feeling almost like he had the morning after the last battle. The sunlight was coming through the living room window, and his first thought when he realised that he was on the sofa was what on earth he had done last night to upset Ginny. It must have been bad, because he felt like crap, and when the sun hit his eyes he couldn't help but groan. His head was literally exploding. He lay there for a while trying to figure out exactly what had happened, when a curse from the other sofa made him aware that he was not alone. Whatever it was he had done last night, Ron had been in on it, as well. Because had woken up on enough mornings after with Ron to know it was his hangover moan.

"God I'm too old for this," Ron was muttering, and Harry couldn't help but agree. What the hell had they been thinking?

"What time is it?" Ron asked then, and Harry squinted at his watch.

"Eight," he mumbled, and Ron groaned.

"Oh man, Hermione is going to be manic."

Harry snorted, but came to regret it when his brain tried to come out of his head at the sound.

"So what are we doing here?" Harry mumbled, hoping Ron at least had any recollection of what had happened.

"I think we got drunk."

"No kidding."

"I think we got very drunk," Ron continued, while Harry tried to find a way to turn off the sun. "And I think Ginny is angry with you."

Harry sighed. So he was on the sofa for a reason. He was about to answer when a very loud, very piercing scream made him remember exactly what being hit with an Imperius curse felt like.

"She has a scream like an Unforgivable, that one," Ron was saying, and Harry mumbled his agreement.

"Daaaaad!" Max was running down the stairs, and each 'thump' made Harry wish he had never had children. "Dad, have you seen my socks?"

"Daaaaad!" It was Sirius. "Dad, I can't find my book anywhere, and mum's at aunt Hermione's so I need you to help me look."

"Daaaaad!" Lily. Sweet, sweet Lily, who was dating a Malfoy and whose lack of character judgement had forced him to get drunk in the first place. Now she was coming into the living room, followed by her brothers.

"What?" Harry barked.

"Dad, have you seen my homework? Daaaad, come on, help me look!"

"You know how to use a wand. Accio it."

Lily smirked. "No, dad, I can't do that. I'm not of age yet, remember? I'm not allowed to use a wand."

Harry cursed, and Max looked stunned. "Dad, you shouldn't curse. Now you have to put a knut on the curse jar."

"Potter, get your children to shut up," Ron's voice came from the sofa.

"Uncle Ron!" All the children turned to their uncle.

"Oh uncle Ron I'm so glad you are here," Max exclaimed. "I really need some help with my quidditch tactics. Do you think you can be Keeper?"

"Yes, uncle Ron," Sirius continued, "and then you can help me with my homework. After all, you did say I could come to you whenever you needed me to."

"Thank you so much for being here, uncle Ron," Lily grinned, "that way you can tell me what to expect when I go back to Hogwarts. After all, you were Head Boy, and as the coming Head Girl I need to know about all the responsibilities that entails."

"Kids, get out," Harry said in what he hoped was a stern voice, and not just a voice of someone who had gotten very drunk the night before and was now making a big idiot out of himself, and in front of his own children, at that. "And please get some coffee?"

Right then a cloud of smoke came out of the fireplace, and soon Ginny was standing in the living room. To Harry's eyes she looked like like an angel, an angel who had come to save him from the wrath of his children. Soon after Hermione followed, and Harry could practically hear Ron trying his best to become invisible.

"Well hello there," Ginny said cheerfully. "I see that you are awake. And how are we feeling this fine morning?"

"Mum, dad says he won't help me find my homework," Lily complained.

"And uncle Ron told us to shut up," Sirius said to Hermione.

"And then dad swore, and now he has to put a knut on the swearing jar, only he won't do it and thinks we should make him coffee." Max was saying it with the air of someone who had been purposely wronged and wanted justification from all the unfairness in the world.

"Is that so?" Hermione asked. The way she seemed to tower over them made Harry feel very sorry for Ron, and also a little for himself. There was this thing about Hermione, although she had married Ron and was now the mother of four, there were times when Harry could see the same girl who had yelled at them for not doing their homework, who had helped him rescue Sirius, who had helped him defeat the most evil wizard ever known. And Harry knew that when she was angry, it didn't matter that he was merely her brother-in-law. Their history went back way further than that, and she was not afraid to give him a piece of her mind.

And not to mention Ginny. His own darling wife, who had been by his side for almost as long as he could remember. She may be a Potter by name, but her blood was that of a Weasley, and her temper seemed to have only grown throughout the years. All in all, Harry concluded as his head seemed to split open from all the thinking, he and Ron were both in big trouble. Very big trouble.

---

Ginny Weasley-Potter, wife of Harry Potter – international quidditch star and defeater of dark lords – was in a foul mood. Said foul mood had started some time last night and had only grown throughout the night and the following morning. Not only had she had a bit of a fight with her husband, a fight she knew she was in the right about, but once they were done fighting the very same husband had gone off to his best friend, and her brother's house, whereupon the two had decided to throw away all common sense and act like two teenagers. And that without giving her even a warning! And then when they weren't back at midnight she had started to get worried, which only made things worse. And so when they finally came stumbling home at goodness knows what hour, then she had had enough. She had gone off to Hermione's for a place of refuge, and the two had talked all night, and then as the sun started to come back up they had gone to see to their husbands, only to find two hungover boys who acted as if everyone should walk on needles in their presence.

"God I can't believe it," Ginny sighed and sat down in a chair in the kitchen.

"I know," Hermione agreed. "Like two children. What should we do?"

"I don't know," Ginny said and conjured a cup of tea for herself and Hermione. "I want to get angry, I want to get very furious, but something tells me their headache is enough of a punishment right now."

"Not to mention your darling offspring," Hermione added with a smirk.

Ginny laughed. "Too true."

"Oh Ginny, I don't know," Hermione sighed, "somehow it doesn't seem right to get angry. They are grown men, although there are times when I do have my doubts."

"I know," Ginny nodded. "I know, and I agree."

"So what should we do?"

"How about you and I go out for some time and take the children with us? There is that dinner at mum and dad's tonight, and we could go there early, leaving Harry and Ron behind so that they can get their wits about them again. Tnen we accidentally let slip what happened last night, and we just let mum take care of everything from there." She winked meaningfully, and Hermione shook her head and laughed.

"You amaze me sometimes," she said, and Ginny grinned.

"I amaze myself, actually." She got up. "Why don't you go fetch the kids and I'll go tell Harry and Ron that we're going."

"Sure. Meet you at the fireplace, then we can floo over together."

"Got it."

"Harry, Ron?" Ginny entered the living room.

"Yeah?" Harry asked. He had managed to sit up now, and was looking around for something. "Gin have you seen my wand?" he asked. "I could use a decent Ibuprofus right now."

Ginny handed him his wand that was lying on the table. "Here you go." She wanted to say something nasty, but when he looked up at her and smiled her heart melted and what came out was a sincere "are you ok?"

Harry shrugged. "I'll live. Not like I've never been through anything like this before," he said dryly, and Ginny chuckled despite herself.

"You're such an idiot Harry Potter," she said and shook her head. "And there are times when I truly wonder why I even love you."

Harry grinned. "It must be my good looks," he said and winked at her. "Or my irresistable charm."

"Or that fact that I see that you would be helpless without me," she said.

"Or that," he agreed with a chuckle.

"Oh man, this is making me even more sick," Ron suddenly interferred. "Will you two lovebirds get a room?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Get over yourself, Ron. Actually I was just coming in to tell you that Hermione and I are taking the kids to mum's, and we'll stay there until the dinner tonight." She could see how both men suddenly turned very white, and it was all she could do not to burst into evil laughter.

"Is that tonight?" Ron moaned, and Ginny nodded.

"That's tonight. And you should be there. I talked to Fleur earlier and apparently Bill jr. will be announcing his engagament tonight."

Ron sighed. "I'll be there."

"You better. Harry?"

"Count me in. I just need some coffee first. Actually, make that a lot."