QLFC : Round 7

Position : Seeker

Team : Kenmare Kestrels

Prompt : Domestic Bliss/A Slice of Life/Daily Life

Word count : 1004

One Sunday evening, once the Weasley children and grandchildren had gone home after the weekly lunch, Molly and Arthur were alone in the Burrow again. They were used to spending time just the two of them, but Arthur knew Molly did not like the sudden void... After so many years together, you knew when the other was not at their best. That was how he got an idea that would surely make her feel better.

As she started to busy herself in the kitchen, he went to fetch a pack of post-it and two pens.

"Come sit with me for a second, Mollywobbles…" he asked, as he sat down at the kitchen table.

"I've got to tidy up, Arthur…"

"Come on, we can do that later. Sit…"

"What's going with you now…" she grumbled, but still took a seat in front of him.

He could not help but smile at her intrigued expression. She was practically bouncing, and she reminded him of a younger version of her. At Hogwarts, she had been one of the most enthusiastic and strong-willed students. Ginny took a lot after her, and so did many of their granddaughters. And despite the hardships they had gone through together, the years had not taken away her beauty and her spirit. In some ways, she was still her seventeen-year-old self, and he loved her even more for it.

"I want to play a little game," he chuckled.

"A game?"

"A gossip game! Let's each write three things we heard someone talk about today…"

Molly looked at him incuriously.

"What are you on about?"

"We've got a crazy family and I'm sure we both heard things the other didn't! I want to know what's going on with everyone!"

"Oh well, why not…" Molly finally relented.

Without exchanging any more words, they each took a few post-it and a pen, and started writing. Fifteen minutes later, six post-it were lined up on the table.

Bill and Fleur have a bet going on the sex of Vicky and Teddy's baby – if Fleur is right and it's a boy, Bill owes her a two-week holiday in France. If Bill is right and it's a girl, he's in charge of their next family holiday.

Hugo is convinced Rose and Scorpius are secretly dating, and Ron almost fainted when he told him. Rose denies it, but even Albus hinted it might be true. Hermione's first reaction was "do we need to get you on the pill?"

Lucy announced she was in a relationship with a Hufflepuff, one year above her.

Percy is thinking about running for office, but he hadn't told Audrey yet. He told Hermione and Harry and she overheard.

Teddy was complaining about walking in on Harry and Ginny in Harry's office. I quote, "I've been scarred for life".

James and Fred have apparently been seeing the same girl for the past month without knowing it.

"IN THE AUROR OFFICE? Have they got no shame?" Molly cried out.

Arthur chuckled and shrugged, as if to say that it should not surprise her that much. Harry and Ginny were known as the couple who got walked in on more often than the rest. It was somewhat cute when they were still teenagers, but as parents, it was simply shameful now…

"And I can't believe Hermione talked to Rose about contraception in front of people! What is it with this family talking about inappropriate subjects?!"

"So, we do think Rose and Scorpius are really dating?" Arthur asked, trying to steer her away from that topic.

"If they are not, I don't know what they are waiting for! The boy is crazy about her!" Molly exclaimed, rolling her eyes.

"Well, if they are anything like Hermione and Ron…"

"Merlin, I hope not."

"Even little Lucy got a boyfriend…" Arthur said, frowning a little.

"What did Percy say about that?" Molly asked eagerly.

"Eh, after Audrey heard him talking to Harry and Hermione, he did not really have a leg to stand on… You should have seen that… I've never seen her so angry at him. She was going on and on about how he already does not have time for anything other than work…"

"Where on earth was I?"

"Probably still in the kitchen."

"Was it that serious, though? Are they going to be alright?"

"I think so. My guess is that she was just angry because she was blindsided. She knows what kind of man she married, doesn't she? And she always supported his ambitions."

Arthur picked up one post-it and read it again.

"What about James and Fred? Is everything fine between them?"

"You know them!" Molly responded, her lips pressed tightly and her tone suddenly icy. "It wasn't anything serious. They were a bit weirded out at first, but then Charlie told them it happened to Bill and him once, and they just laughed it off!"

"Merlin, I had forgotten about that! What was her name again?"

"Veronica something? And while we're talking about Bill… Can you believe I had to tell off two grown-ups because they were betting on their grandchild's sex…"

"About that…"

"Arthur! Tell me you didn't!"

"Well… The whole family might have joined the betting pool…"

"What is wrong with all of you ?!"

Her husband did not respond but started laughing. Their eyes met, and suddenly, Molly was laughing too.

"Our family is crazy…" Molly mumbled fondly, lightly shaking her head at their antics.

Arthur grabbed her hand and squeezed it lightly. They shared a smile, and he couldn't help but add: "That's the best part, Mollywobbles, that's the best part…"

At that moment, Molly thought she was lucky to have him. In the midst of all this craziness, he had always been her rock. The one she could count on every second of every day, if only to make her laugh when she got in her own head. She liked taking care of everyone, but sometimes, she forgot about herself. And he always made sure to take care of her.