Here is the next chapter! Just a quick note, the Weasley family is here in full, but some of it is slightly AU, for obvious reasons.

Also, I know nothing about politics or economics. Just a warning.

Chapter 5

Christmas day dawned crisp and clear, the sun struggling over the horizon. Billy was up at first light, and ran straight across the room, stocking in hand. Harry was still asleep on the temporary bed their parents had set up (his old room having been converted into a second study). He jerked awake as Billy jumped on him, grunting in pain.

"What the… Billy!"

He laughed.

"Merry Christmas, Harry!" he said. "Look, stockings!"

Harry sat up, fumbling for his glasses on his nightstand.

"Oh, to be eleven," he muttered, and Billy laughed again.

"Don't be such a misery-guts."

"Billy, it's too early for this. Go back to sleep."

"Alright."

Billy pulled back Harry's duvet, and crawled underneath, curling up at his older brother's side. Harry groaned, but wrapped his arms around him anyway.

"You're really too big to do this now," he yawned. "You're gonna push me out of my own bed."

"It's my room."

"I really don't care at the moment. You're not too big to be tickled."

"No! Harry! Stop it!"

He squirmed around, trying to avoid his brother's unforgiving fingers. His laughter brought Emily to their door. She yawned widely, and sat on the end of the bed.

"You're making a right racket," she observed sleepily.

Eventually the whole family was awake, and they ate breakfast before opening presents, enjoying a quiet Christmas morning with just their little family. Eventually though, it was time to go to the Weasley's.

"The Burrow!"

As soon as Billy stepped out of the fireplace he was assaulted with noise. The house was full of people, most of them with red hair. Harry had told Billy about the Weasley family many times, and now he was looking at them, trying to tell which was which.

Firstly there was Mr and Mrs Weasley, that much was obvious. Then there was the eldest son Bill, his wife Fleur, and daughters Victoire and Dominique. Then there was Charlie, who had come home from Romania. Next were Percy, his wife Audrey, and their baby daughter Molly. The twins were there too, Fred had one arm around his wife Angelina, whilst a tiny Roxanne toddled around. George was chasing her, whilst his own girlfriend stood by, laughing. Ron was there of course, with his wife Hermione. She was surrounded by women, who were all cooing appreciatively over her swollen stomach.

Finally there was Ginny, and she threw her arms around Harry, kissing him. Billy hopped from one foot to the other uncomfortably. Then he spotted something glittery on Ginny's hand, and gasped.

"Harry!" he whispered urgently, tugging his brother's sleeve. "Harry!"

"What is it?" he hissed, turning away from her momentarily. Billy checked that nobody was listening in.

"You're going to marry Ginny?"

Harry did a double-take and then sighed. He dragged Billy to the edge of the crowd.

"I forgot how sharp you are," he sighed. "Please don't say anything, we're going to announce it later."

"I promise."

"Good boy."

He ruffled Billy's hair, and Mrs Weasley began calling people to sit down for dinner. Billy lagged behind, feeling a bit out of place, until Harry beckoned him to a seat between him and Fred. Fred beamed at him as he sat.

"So, you're little Billy!"

"William," said Billy absentmindedly.

"What?" asked Harry, surprised. Billy blushed.

"Sorry," he said. "They call me William at school. I guess I'm used to it now."

Harry shrugged, and began piling food onto Billy's plate.

"Ah," said Fred. "So you're at Hogwarts now? Do you like it?"

"It's brilliant! They posted the marks for the winter term, and I came top in Transfiguration and Potions!"

"Potions?" asked Fred in surprise. "Well, each to their own…"

Beside him, Roxanne began to kick up a fuss, and Fred turned his attention away. Instead Billy began to listen to Percy, who seemed to be boring half the table to death.

"I told him I would have the report on his desk by the time the New Year comes around. I know it's a bit earlier than he expects, but it really is of vital importance. The new tax reforms will completely revolutionise the finances of the state…"

Billy resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"… and it will benefit the economy greatly…"

"It won't be passed," interrupted Billy. "They'll never get the Bill past the Wizengamot."

Silence fell over the dinner table, and people turned to stare as Percy gaped at Billy. He was evidently unused to having his views challenged.

"Peter Toggle," he said haughtily. "Has some innovative ideas, which are bound to be implemented…"

"He wants to introduce a welfare system similar to the one in the muggle world. However, the ministry just doesn't have the resources or the money. For Toggle's plans to work, they would need to find an extra ten million galleons per annum."

"He has already outlined where savings could be made…"

"Yes, but they won't be enough."

"… and he has suggested a new rate of taxation that would bring in over eight million galleons more per annum."

Billy laughed outright at this.

"So he wants to tax the rich more. Tell me, Percy. What is the Wizengamot?"

He stared at him like he was stupid. Billy continued.

"For the most part, they're a collection of doddery old men. However, they also possess around what is estimated to be half the wealth of the wizarding world. Do you really think they will allow the bill to be passed, knowing that they will be taxed even more stringently as a result?"

Percy was red in the face, conceding defeat.

"Billy," began James. "Where did you learn about that?"

"People were talking about it in the common room. Also Anthony Piper, my mentor has been teaching me about the Wizengamot."

"Piper…" mused Ron. "Isn't he in Slytherin?"

"Of course he's in Slytherin," he said. Most of the Weasley family turned to stare at him as the significance of what he had said sunk in. James and Lily were looking distinctly uncomfortable. Harry got to his feet.

"While we've got everybody's attention," he said. "We have an announcement to make."

Ginny stood up next to him, and took his hand.

"Harry and I are going to be married!"

And Billy was forgotten once more in an outcry of excited noise.