AN: please make note of my "goof" in the last chapter. The date was supposed to be October 30, 2011.

my bad... that's actually the date for this chapter. It's also Glinda's first visit to the Burrow.

the usual disclaimers apply.

CHAPTER 24

Sunday October 30, 2011

"I think I owe Dean Thomas, big time," I remarked as we read Dean's article over coffee and scones for Sunday breakfast. "Maybe I should send him a six pack of coke, he really liked it when he tried it."

"Sounds like a brilliant idea, love," Charlie agreed. "It's a great article."

"Hopefully, it'll defuse the garbage that Skeeter wrote."

"It should, Skeeter's got a reputation for lies. I remember some of the codswollop she wrote about my family after the war. The woman's a menace. Mum absolutely despises her. She owled me right after the article came out, she was furious that anyone would print something so monstrous about her family. Mum's really looking forward to meeting you, by the way"

"Great," I said, trying to sound enthusiastic about meeting Charlie's parents for Sunday dinner.

We'd actually had the weekend planned for a while. As Monday and Tuesday classes were cancelled for the Halloween holiday, Pitch and I were spending our long weekend with Charlie, and his small menagerie. Binks and Ruby had been joined by an orphaned squirrel baby Rosie had named Leopold. At first Charlie was a bit worried that Ruby would see the newest arrival as a light snack, but she seemed to accept the little fellow as a new member of the family. Binks, Pitch, and Leo got along famously, Charlie theorized that the fact that all three animals were quite young made it easier for them to get along, like any other trio of active toddlers. We'd apparated to Charlie's flat from Hogsmeade on Friday afternoon, we spent Saturday in Diagon Alley looking for appropriate clothing for me to wear, to the Ministry Halloween ball. I honestly would've rather spent Halloween at Hogwarts but Minerva said that going to the ball would another chance for me to make a good impression on the world, so I agreed to go. I did envy Charlie and his classic black dress robes, although, Madame Malkin was quite pleased to be dressing half of a "famous" couple, I was pretty happy with what she came up with.

"Mum said dinner would be ready around two."

I looked at the clock on the mantle, it said 11:45. "Great, that will give us time to get some flowers for your mom," I suggested.

"She's going to love you, with or with out flowers," he assured me.

*****************************************************

I honestly think that The Burrow is one of the most magical places in the world. Charlie had told me about his childhood home, and I'd been sure he was exaggerating. I was wrong. Molly and Arthur were waiting for us at the front door as Charlie drove the motorcycle up the driveway to the front of the rambling building. I'd had to study muggle physical science in university, I think that house would've given my professor a stroke. The house defied gravity. Charlie parked the bike, and led me to the front door where his parents were waiting. I smiled nervously at the older couple, I saw both of them in their son, although, Charlie did favor his mother.

"I'm pretty sure I didn't raise an imbecile," Arthur said, smiling at me. "Introduce us, Charlie."

"Sorry Dad," Charlie said blushing, and nervously running a hand through his hair. "Mum, Dad, this is Professor Glinda Goode." He turned to me and said, "Glin, This is my parents: Arthur and Molly Weasley."

"How do you do Mr and Mrs Weasley," I said, offering the bouquet of fall colored flowers I'd made Charlie take me to the muggle flower market to find.

"Oh, how lovely," Mrs Weasley said, with a delighted smile, "please dear, it's Molly and Arthur." She pulled me into a motherly hug. I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself. Charlie just grinned at me.

We heard a high pitched squeal come from the kitchen. Dominique ran through the door way and jumped on Charlie. "Hi Uncle Charlie."

"Hey Dommie,"Charlie greeted her, looking a bit confused at the little red-headed monkey using him as a jungle gym. "What's up?"

"Mummy's at St Mungo's, she fainted this morning. Daddy went with her, I get to have lunch with you and miss Glinda. Hello, miss Glinda! I'm not worried about mummy, she'll be just right."

"I hope it's nothing serious," I said to Molly and Arthur.

"We certainly hope so dear," Molly said, "why don't you come inside and we'll have lunch."

*******************************

Bill and Fleur arrived by floo network to pick up Dominique as we were sitting down to lunch.

"That was mercifully quick," Molly remarked, as they met us in the kitchen, "we're just about to sit down, is everything all right dear?" she asked Fleur. I'd seen some absolutely beautiful women in my time, but I think that Fleur Delacourt Weasley was probably the most beautiful woman I'd ever met.

I saw immediately where her girls got their looks from.

"Everyzing ees wonderful," Fleur stated in a light but obvious French accent. Bill, should you tell zem or shall I?" She asked her husband, who was grinning ear to ear.

"I think you should tell them, darling." Bill replied, with a chuckle.

Fleur didn't waste any time. "We are pregnant, AGAIN! Zere will be a new Weasley in March" she announced to the world. Everyone cheered. Our afternoon lunch turned into an impromptu party.

"May I owl Victoire, tonight?" Dommie asked her parents as we finished desert.

"I sink zat would be a formidable idea," Fleur agreed. "So, Glinda," she then turned to me. "How do you like England?" she asked.

"It's an amazing place," I answered her. "I feel very at home here," I said, glancing at Charlie, who was in a deep discussion with Bill about the Quidditch game scheduled for November first. We have Quidditch in America, but I'd grown up rooting for the Sox.

"Bill tells me he 'as never seen Charlie so 'appy," She said.

I wasn't sure what to say, I just smiled like an idiot.

*********************************

"I told you they wold love you," Charlie said to me, as we were curled up in bed, that night.

"Your father couldn't stop asking me questions about the States. He was really excited when you told him I was muggle born."

"I hope he didn't drive you too bonkers, Glin. He loves anything to do with muggles, and you represent an entire different country to him. Mum's been worried about him since he retired from the Ministry last year, he's been really bored."

"I'll have to get some books for him then. I think I have a few I could lend him. Heck, I have a bunch in storage back in Boston, maybe, I'll send for some of them. I'm actually thinking of looking for my own place in Hogsmeade, I wonder if anyone is renting. I don't mind living at the school, but I think I'd like some privacy, and I miss having my own kitchen."

"If that's what you really want, you should go after it." I felt Charlie's running up my thigh, my guess was that he'd had enough chatting.

"Do you EVER get tired?" I chuckled.

He flipped me on to my back, and said "not with you, Glin." He kissed me, he tasted of the chocolate and spiced mead we'd shared earlier. He started kissing my neck, and we were done talking for the night.

AN: sorry it's taken so long for me to update, life 's been interfering with my creative muse. Next chapter is going to be the ball, it won't be nearly as fluffy as this.