Molly Weasley was overjoyed. Christmas at the Burrow this year was going to be a big deal. It was the first year in some time that the whole family had been able to get together for a holiday. The house was decorated from floor to crooked ceiling, but Fred's absence was hanging over everyone more noticeably than the bunches of mistletoe Luna sent (with a card promising she inspected them for nargles, of course). Molly allowed herself only a few tears before she dried her eyes and returned to the treacle tart. She must finish it before Harry arrived. She'd promised him she'd make it this year.
She glanced at the clock in the hall. After all these years, she'd still never seen its equal. It had so many hands on it now that it resembled one of Arthur's silly contraptions he had hidden in the garage. All her children's hands were either pointed to "home" or "traveling." All but one.
"Mum?"
Molly started as Fred's voice carried through the kitchen window. She stood quite still for a moment, head tilted to one side, trying to discern reality from memory.
"Mum?"
George's voice. Yes, of course. "Being silly.." She muttered as she gave herself a shake and went to the back door. George and Angelina were approaching the Burrow, little Freddie in tow.
"Grammy! Grammy, I want to throw the gnomes!" he exclaimed. His big brown eyes had a painfully familiar gleam to them.
"Of course dear. Why don't you wait for Victoire? You can do it together." As the eldest of all the grandkids, Victoire often ended up looking after the clan. She complained frequently and loudly but she could be seen having quite a bit of fun with her siblings and cousins.
Freddie scowled. "She won't help me. She doesn't like to get dirty and Auntie Flower gets mad if Vickie ruins her pretty dresses. I wanna play with Jamie and Al. Or Dom. She'll get her dresses dirty." Freddie's lower lip began to tremble. Really. He was too much like his uncle.
"Well," Molly replied, "why don't we wait for them inside, then?" She bent down beside her grandson. "I happen to know your grandfather is hiding some droobles in his coat pocket!" she whispered. She smiled as she watched him run inside his bright auburn curls bouncing, then turned back to her son.
"You alright mum? You look pale." He remarked. He lowered his voice. "You thought I was Fred again, didn't you?"
"Nonsense," chided Molly. "How could I? You? With your silly brown hair? No, dear." She stroked George's head, softly.
"Mum," he began quietly, catching her hand in his. "Really, mum. How are y-"
Molly pulled away suddenly and turned toward Angelina.
"Ang!" She cried. " You, my dear, look lovely. Oh, you must give me that little one right this second!"
Angelina threw her head back and laughed, braids swinging, and handed over Roxanne.
"Okay, okay. But if you wake her up, we're all in a spot of trouble. She's getting over an earache. Are we late? I told George we must get a move on but he and Freddie were working on something in the basement and you know, I don't think I even want to know what they're up to this time. Foul smell coming up, there was!" She mimed gagging and laughed.
Molly smiled. So George and little Freddie were up to no good. Oh, of course it wasn't the same. No, not at all. But if her eldest grandson was anything like his father and uncle well, that would be just fine with her. All the mischief she put up with from the twins and all the times she thought they wouldn't amount to anything, only to have them turn out to be the most successful in the family! Well, until- she turned her attention back to Angelina.
"No, dear you're not late at all. You're the first to arrive! Not counting Charlie, of course. He came in from Romania yesterday. Been tinkering on something in the garage with Arthur. You know Bill and Fleur, of course are rather known for being a bit behind...I do expect Ginny and Harry to be a bit late. Harry mentioned as how he'd like to pop in and visit Teddy for a bit. Sweet boy, that one. Got a lot of his father in him. Well, you know what I mean. Let's see, Percy and Audrey will be right on time, naturally, and I expect Hermione will see to it that Ron will be along soon. Anyway, shouldn't be long now before everyone is here. Let's get you settled in the living room. Presents under the tree, mind you! Oh, and Happy Christmas!"
Molly gently placed little Roxanne in one of the many playpens that had been set up just outside the living room and hurried back into the kitchen just in time to take the pies out of the oven. Moments later, Angelina joined her, apron on, wand in hand.
"How can I help?"
Molly opened her mouth to reply but at that moment, heard voices that could only belong to her youngest son and his wife.
"..and then come to find out we don't even HAVE it..." Hermione was saying.
"I'm TELLING you I put it RIGHT on the...oh." a look of sudden comprehension came across Ron's face. "I'll be right back. Here, take Hugo," he said. He kissed her on the cheek and disapparated. Hermione shook her head, smiling. She shifted the sleeping child to her other arm, took Rose by the hand, and looked down at the pile of parcels in dismay. Then, noticing Molly and Angelina, she waved to them happily.
"Sorry about that," she glanced around before lowering her voice and explaining, "It seems we left without little Jamie's gift."
"Well you've got quite a bit to be going on with here," said Molly. "Let us help you. We can put those under the tree and get Rosie and Hugo settled inside. Roxanne should be awake soon, I would think. The boys are in the garage and Freddie is along tormenting the garden gnomes, I imagine. I told- Percy!"
They had just entered the Burrow through the back door to find Percy and Audrey coming in through the front door, children in hand, followed by Bill and Fleur. The result was instant chaos. Percy, who had outstretched his arms in order to hug his mother, caught sight of Fleur and in a sudden fit of gentility made an attempt to shake her hand, accidentally giving his older brother quite a nice right hook in the process. Bill, caught completely off guard, stumbled backward onto his daughter's foot, sending her into hysterics.
"Mummmmy!" wailed Victoire, hopping up and down.
Fleur attempted to quell Victoire's tantrum while simultaneously holding Louis and checking the status of her husband's jawbone. Meanwhile, Dominique, screwed up her face and covered her ears at the noise her sister was making. Little Molly caught sight of her cousin's face and immediately burst into giggles, Lucy following suit, which naturally set Freddie off as well. Hermione, who had just deposited a sleeping Hugo in a playpen, made a mad dash for him, nearly colliding with Angelina, who'd had the same idea. They made it halfway across the living room before Roxanne's earsplitting screams joined the cacophony. Arthur, Charlie and George had heard the commotion and come running, which only made the hallway even more crowded. Molly pointed her wand at her throat and muttered, "sonorous". Her voice filled the house.
"WEASLEYS! ENOUGH!" Everyone quieted. Even Roxanne's screeches subsided to sniffles. When Molly Weasley wanted silence, there was silence.
(BANG)
"That'll be the back door." Observed Molly.
"That'll be Ron," mused Hermione. She rolled her eyes with a smile. "He never does do anything quietly."
Ron entered the family room just then to find everyone turned toward him expectantly.
"Missed me, did you? Look who I found in the garden." He gestured with the parcel he had in his hand and stepped to the side. Behind him stood Harry and Ginny along with James, Albus, Lily, and a surprise guest: a tall and lanky, blue-haired boy.