"Ron, get your butt out of bed, right now!" Molly shouted at her sixth born son. "It's 1 in the afternoon and you're still not up," she continued, "plus you're going to go help your brothers de-gnome the garden."
Ron rolled over, made a noise, hardly passable as a grunt and then lay still. Molly shook her head in disbelief at her sloth of a son. She grabbed one of the pillows that Ron was laid on and began whacking him with it insensitively.
"Mum! Okay, okay, I'm up," Ron said, sitting up, just to prove his point. Then stretching, while rubbing his eyes and yawning, he swung his legs off the bed and sat staring blankly at his mother.
"Good, now quickly get dressed and go help your brothers," Molly said firmly, then she took one last determined look at him and walked out of his room. As soon as Ron had heard her prompt footsteps going down the stairs he lay back down on his bed, grumbling incoherently about his mother.
"RONALD WEASLEY IF YOU DO NOT GET UP THIS INSTANT!" Molly suddenly exploded from behind Ron's closed bedroom door. Ron jumped up instinctively and began putting his legs in a stripy t-shirt, falling down in the process.
'That sounds more like it,' thought Molly, cheerily humming a tune she'd heard earlier on the radio. She unhurriedly went round all her children's bedrooms, collecting dirty linen. The twin's bedroom had to be the worst, with all the experiments they did in there, it looked more like a dump rather than the tranquil sleeping place it was supposed to be. Then again, nothing had ever been tranquil with those boys, she thought exasperatedly. She sighed and holding her breath she ploughed into Fred and George's room.
Then she took out her wand and did a simple deodorising spell as she routinely did while venturing into their room. She took a gasp of fragranced air and started searching for any clothes that looked particularly dirty. After picking up the last smelly sock, she hitched the basket she had placed on her hip, under her arm and made her way downstairs. Coming into the kitchen, she placed the basket on the floor.
She flicked her wand at various things, making them come to life. The dishes started to wash themselves, the mop began to scrub the floor, the fireplace was being dusted, the surfaces wiped down with noted enthusiasm and her knitting needles continued to knit the scarf that she had started a few days ago.
Molly began to sort the washing into darks and whites while Arthur walked in quietly. Feigning ignorance, she made a small gasp when he grabbed her tenderly around the waist. She noted, as always, while he pulled her to him how right he felt against her, how she just seemed to belong there leaning her head on Arthur's chest. She could feel his breath caressing her ear and her heart began to beat a little faster.
She swivelled round slowly, taking in the few strands bright red hair that was falling seductively over his eyes, his slight slough has he continued to hold her and his cheeky grin that made his eyes sparkle with mischief. She couldn't help but smile back, no matter how many times Molly saw that smile, and she couldn't help but blush.
"You're early," Molly whispered, breaking the pleasant silence.
"I missed you," Arthur replied his head tilting to the side, making his infamous Weasley smile.
Molly could feel her heart melt, but her exterior was a lot tougher than her core. "What happened?" she asked sternly, raising one eyebrow.
"Nothing," Arthur grinned back at her, he'd anticipated this response from her, he knew Molly well. And he was rarely home early, except this time had been a result of a well-earned favour. Arthur focussed on Molly's face again, etched professionally with concern and disbelief.
"Trust me" Arthur said, smiling lightly. He knew it wouldn't keep her quiet for long but he had missed her.
"Eww, can't you two get a room?" Ron asked, looking disgusted as he walked through the kitchen door. Molly very nearly laughed.
"Ronald. Garden. Now!" Molly firmly commanded. Walking past them as he, once again, mumbled incoherently about his mother. "WHAT WAS THAT?" she roared after him. Ron whipped out the room - fast.
"Have I told you I love you lately?" Arthur asked once Ron had disappeared into the garden.
Molly turned round to her husband, his face was soft and his eyes beamed with admiration. "Only twice this morning, and…" she replied thoughtfully.
"Not nearly enough," he interrupted, "let me take you out tonight Molly, just the two of us."
Molly's expression turned to it's overly familiar worried appearance. "The boys. The house. Dinner." she concluded, stating her concerns on three of her left hand fingers.
"Molly, please let me do this," his eyes looked so pleading, so pure. His hands gripped hers tightly.
"Arthur…" She bit her lip hesitantly. Arthur could see he was wearing her down. But they needed this, they hadn't had time alone properly for a while. Something always got in the way.
"We deserve a break," Arthur pointed out. Molly thought about this carefully. They'd certainly been working hard and the boys, under several threats would keep from destroying the house and killing each other if they just went out for a few hours. Overall, it would be nice to take a rest from it all. No matter how much she loved her family, they did drive her crazy sometimes.
"Okay," she said reluctantly, "only if you clean up any mess that they create during the time we're gone," she said sweetly.