Living at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was like Christmas everyday. Breakfast was surprisingly early, 8am before the shop opened at nine. The twins were wonderful hosts; Fred pitching in more than George. Each morning they were up before her and by the time she came out of the bedroom, she was greeted with a Hogwart's worthy feast of pancakes, egss, bacon, toast; if she asked for it she would get it. Then when the shop opened, crowds of children and amazed parents crammed into the shop to purchase all the christmas special products such as exploding firecrackers and gingerbread soldiers with a similar charm to chocolate frogs. The shop was always busy, mini firework displays above the customers, snow falling from the ceiling, this left Emilie very busy with helping out.
Something had changed between her and Fred. She was unsure at what it was at first after her first night was it nerves of what he thought of her but she soon realised they were closer than every before. She was no longer self conscious of herself anymore, what she would say or do didn't matter.
Her mother had wrote to her on her second day to ask if she could come to see her on christmas eve and stay at the burrow over christmas day. Of course Emilie was seconds from scribbling an answer and rushed to tell Fred after owling her mother back. It was her first "real" christmas with her new family, before it had been a blur of forgetton and stolen memories but now she had to buy presents for almost a dozen people. Fred had warned her he didn't want anything but she got him
a couple small things just in case.
Emilie had gone shopping with Ginny, Hermione and Luna the day before christmas eve in Diagon Alley. The girls had all agreed not to get each other anything, instead letting their significant other get the presents. Ginny helped Emilie pick out some comfier clothes for Fred as she doubted those suits were comfy enough to wear everyday, she also bought him new quills, notebooks for new product ideas and a few advanced charm and potion books to help with new products.
"How come you have such a big family Gin? I'm struggling here, picking out something for Ron and George." Emilie sighed, looking at the qudditch supplies shop window.
"Okay let me help fussy. Ron would probably like those keeper gloves, his old ones are worn down to the thumbs." Ginny said, pointing at the dragon-skin gloves in the corner. "Hmm and George..." She walked along the shop windows and stopped at flourish and blotts. "There, he's been all over the place without a planner. Forgetting family lunches, organizing the shop. That one matches his favourite suit." She smiled, pointing at the purple and orange planner. Emilie purchased both items and she was done with her gifts.
"Coming back to the Burrow, Em?" Hermione asked, they had stopped at the twins' shop which was now closing up for the night.
"Mum owled me, she wanted me over tomorrow for Christmas. I'll see you then." Emilie smiled at the girls who nodded and said their goodbyes. Weighed down with all the shopping bag, Emilie stumbled into the shop and straight into one of the leaving customers.
"Oh I'm sorry!" She quickly blurted out before looking up, as she did, her eyes met the cold grey gaze of Draco Malfoy.
"Jones." He greeted her, "It's fine, see you at school." He said quickly and disappearing before she could say another word. She stood in the entrance of the shop for a while, bewildered at the fact he didn't have some sarcastic comment for her.
She shook her head and proceeded to go up the stairs to the apartment and drop off her shopping. She made a mental note to hide George's present in Fred's underwear drawer, somewhere were she doubted he would go; at least it's wrapped she thought.
The trio were gathered on the sofa by the fireplace having a cup of hot chocolate when the fire blazed emerald green and Harry bounced out. Fred's arm twitched around Emilie, wodnering whether or not to remove it.
"Harry! Good to see you mate what's up?" George spoke up as Harry dusted himself down. He never quite got the hang of travelling through the fire.
"Molly wants you all at the Burrow. Bill wants to make an announcement with all the family there." Harry said quickly, ushering them to get up. Emilie was sitting in her pyjamas and both boys were in sweats and their initial jumpers.
"What's wrong?! Is Bill okay?" Fred pressed, grabbing a pair of trainers from beside the sofa and pulling them on.
"Everything is fine but he wants to do it in front of the family first. Remus, Tonks and Teddy are arriving tomorrow with Dromeda, Neville and Luna as well." Harry explained, smiling at the thought of his godson coming for Christmas. He as well as everyone knew it was the first christmas since the war and last year he had spent it with Hermione at his parent's grave.
"Alright let me grab a hoodie from my room." Emilie said rushing into her and Fred's room, grabbing her ravenclaw one and picking up her wand from the bedside table and running out again. George and Fred had gone on and Harry was waiting by the fireplace.
"Ready?" He asked her, looking down at her stripped blue pyjama bottoms and her favourite fluffy slippers smirking.
"Yes and leave my slippers alone, they are incredibly comfortable." She stuck her tongue out. Lifting a handful of floo powder and stepping into the fireplace. "The Burrow." She spoke clearly, throwing the floo powder down and green flames engulfed her until she saw the Weasley's gathered in the living room.
"Harry's on his.." Before she could even finish her sentence, her cousin fell out of the fireplace, his glasses crooked and dust covered him once again. "Way.." She trailed off shaking her head and going to sit beside Fred and Hermione. Once the entire family and their significant other's were seated, Bill stood up centre stage.
"I know most of you are panicking, Mum almost fainted when I owled her to call a family meeting but nothing is wrong. In fact it's the opposite." Everyone went silent and watched Bill curiously. "As the eldest, I find it only fitting to have the first grandchild." At this point, Fleur stood up and took her coat off to reveal a small bump. Molly squealed and rushed over to congratulate them first, Arthur was in a state of shock, all the kids cheered.
"The baby should be due around April/May time." Bill smiled, Emilie could have sworn he was crying but hey he was going to be a father. She wondered who would be next strangely, her thoughts always amazed her.
The boys were chuffed at the fact they would be uncles in a matter of months. Ginny was already excited, rushing over to Fleur to ask about a nursery, baby names, and whether she wanted a boy or girl first.
After a while of excitement and questions, and a lot of people feeling Fleur's bump, the family all settled down to tea or hot chocolate on the sofas. Arthur had expanded the large sofa and an armchair to fit everyone in. It was strange, peaceful, small conversations between two or three people. Emilie sat beside Fred as he discussed a new baby range of products with George. She heard the words "self cleaning nappies." and she rolled her eyes smiling to herself.
It wasn't long before Bill and Fleur left for Shell cottage and Emile and the twins said their goodbyes to go back to the shop. Tomorrow would be a long busy day.
I just want to say a huge thank you to Fandomqueen104 for reviewing previous chapters and the original story Joining the battle. Anytime someone posts a postive review it makes me motivated to write more, and I finished this chapter and I'm currently half way through the next one I shall be posted within a matter of hours.
I tried to bring some reality to this story with Christmas and also stick to JK Rowling's canon with Bill and Fleur being the first couple to have a child. Yes we will meet Victorie in this story. Also in the next chapter is a HUGE clue to Emilie's father so follow this story to get the update.
Also I'd like to know how you found this story, was it recommended by a friend? did you stumble upon it on browse? I love people sharing this story with others. I'll be speaking to you soon.