Chapter Nine: You're Makin' Me Live
On 2 July Mary gave birth to a healthy set of ginger twins, both boys and both loudly crying immediately upon entry into the world. George was utterly thrilled. He left Neville to mind the shop and returned with a loud pop and fireworks at lunchtime proclaiming the birth of his children. He poured the customers all flagons of firewhiskey and danced around Neville excitedly until he got his employee to take a few shots, then George disapparated back to St. Mungo's to rejoin his family and friends that had gathered to stare at the two tiny Weasleys.
"I'll be buggered; they're the spitting image of Fred and George!" Mrs. Weasley had proclaimed. Indeed they had been named after the older twins as well, much to Fred's portrait's amusement. The older one was called Fred Septimus and the younger George Prewett II. Mary fortunately didn't have to worry about work during their first few months, which gave her time to adjust to being a mother.
After a bit of debate, Mary decided that when school resumed in the fall she would take her children to work with her, as she imagined a classroom would be far less dangerous than Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes for the two of them to abide in. During classes she would use a levitation spell to keep them hovering just over her shoulders while she taught the class and when she had her classes prepare potions, she would take them upstairs to Madam Pomfrey, who loved looking after small children.
After a few short months of this she realized that that arrangement wouldn't work as the girls kept getting distracted by babies in class and the boys constantly tried to lure the children over to the desk in attempts to distract Mary from teaching. Molly had been volunteering to take them during the day and Mary reluctantly gave in and let her babysit. Of course she missed her children during the day, but they were returned in the evenings. Strange things started happening with the twins almost immediately after they turned six months old and George happily surmised that they would be strong wizards.
They grew more like George every day, Mary noticed, as Molly told her amusedly of their exploits 'round the Burrow. One day they cornered the cat that Molly had adopted when her children had gone off to start their lives and before Molly realized what was happening the poor thing had turned green and was missing the fur on its tail. George was thrilled, Molly was not so much, although she had to admit that the babies reminded her of a time in the past when she was bringing up her sons.
Christmas dinner was an interesting affair as well, the babies were fed and put to bed before the rest of the family ate, but they somehow escaped from their crib and rejoined the party stark naked. It was a good laugh, but after the two mini-Houdini's trick, Mary and George started putting charms on their children's bed so that they couldn't escape when it was less convenient.
George loved being a father and a husband and with the portrait of Fred around as well he seemed to miss his brother less. He and Mary were deeply in love and his shop was turning out quite a profit. Life was settling back into a state of normalcy once again when Mary found out that she was with child again just before the summer holidays at Hogwarts. The baby was due in mid-January, Madam Pomfrey informed her and Mary informed George at once.
"Another baby?" he asked, just as excited as he had been about the twins. "Really? This is amazing! You're amazing." He kissed her deeply and she sank into his warmth just as the painted Fred came up behind them.
"Now don't start that stuff, that's how you got in this situation to begin with!" he told the couple, snickering.
"Sod off, we like children," Mary told him. They informed George's parents and old Eliasus when they went to pick up Fred and George II.
"Already another baby?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "You two are right at it aren't you?"
"Well, at least he gets it honest," said Mr. Weasley, pointing out that they had 7 children themselves. "You'll probably have to find somewhere else to live, though. The flat is hardly big enough as it is."
"Do you have any suggestions?" George asked his father.
"You could stay here," Molly offered.
"I'd rather not live with my parents," George said, rolling his eyes.
Mrs. Weasley narrowed her eyes, but didn't say anything. Mr. Weasley thought for a moment. "There's a place in the village near Eliasus's place if you want to be close. I don't think he'd mind seeing his granddaughter and great-grandchildren more often."
"We'll check it out," George told Mary. "But for now, I think we should get these two home and get them dinner." He picked up Fred and Mary scooped George II into her arms and with a kiss goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, they left for home.
George and Mary ended up moving into that house in the village and later into Eliasus's house when he died and left everything to Mary. Within five years of their marriage, Mary and George had produced 4 beautiful children: Fred, George II, Nymphadora, and little Remus. Ginny and Harry took a little longer, but produced James, Lily, and Albus; Ron and Hermoine created Rose and Hugo; Percy and Lavender were separated as they were unable to produce a child, but in Percy's second marriage to a muggleborn named Audrey, Molly and Lucy were born; Bill and Fleur had Victoire, Dominique, and Louis; and Charlie mated with Katie Bell to bring Garrett into the world.
Most everyone paired by the marriage law prospered and all the Wizarding community regained some population. Mary continued to teach Potions to Hogwarts students, and George's shop did extremely well and soon enough it was time to send their set of twins off to Hogwarts. Mary didn't worry though; after all, she would be there, and Weasleys tended to thrive, especially when they could find trouble.