Kingsley sat back in his chair and patted his over-stuffed belly. "Andromeda, Molly, I think the two of you outdid yourselves this evening."

"Hear, Hear!" other voices echoed his resounding sentiment.

Andromeda smiled at the head of the table, watching Kingsley rub his stomach in appreciation. It was a standing date, for the six of them, on New Year's Eve. But it was also the first one where her beloved grandson wasn't with them. Fleur Weasley offered to babysit the handful of a grandson for the evening so she could enjoy the company of adults.

Pomona Sprout handed over the platter of scones to Andromeda and she took a bite. "Did you bake these? They're so flaky."

Pomona smiled. "I did before I came over. I used some goat's crème and some dried berries to make it taste just so."

"Well, they're delightful."

Pomona turned and saw her goblet of elf-made wine was refilled. "Thanks Minerva."

"You're welcome. I don't want it to go to waste tonight, seeing as it was bottled in 1962."

"And it's not like I'll drink any of that. Not a drop for me," Molly smiled over her glass of cider. "It's a shame that I'm allergic to it. I can drink the muggle stuff that Hermione brings over sometimes, but there's just something in the elf-made wine that makes me act like a bint."

"And it's not like you've ever done that, have you?" Arthur cheeked next to her.

"I haven't in decades, Arthur. I think the last time was before we started dating."

"Then my memory must be fading, because I seem to remember you giggling like a school girl when we were playing in the kitchen while you were baking biscuits before Christmas."

Molly blushed at the other's laughter. "You weren't supposed to mention that," she muttered quietly.

"Molly, you're among friends. We know that you love Arthur. Playing after so many years of marriage is to be cherished and celebrated. Right Minerva?"

"Oh, most certainly. There's times where I miss the quiet morning with Stone, drinking tea and reading the morning Prophet. And there are others where I miss his belly busting laughter. Kingsley, down at the end, is reasonably close to his bellylaughs."

"Stone was a fine Director, Minerva. I'm glad I got to work with him when I was starting out, and then for him when he was promoted. I learned quite a bit about Law Enforcement from him." Kingsley raised his glass. "To all those beyond the veil, we salute you, and to those who are still here, may we keep drawing breath."

"Here, Here," the gathering intoned in reply.

"It's so quiet tonight with just us."

"Fleur offered to keep my grandson for the night. I thought it was most generous of Bill and Fleur to have the kids for themselves."

"So how are the kids?"

"Victories is being her charming self, when Fleur is around. But when Fleur is tending to Dominique, she's a handful. It's a learning curve for all kids who have siblings."

"At least it's Fleur and not Hermione or Ginny giving you more grandkids yet."

Arthur cringed over that comment. "Oh there's more going on than we've shared. It seems that Ginny and Harry eloped about 10 days ago."

"You're joking, Arthur. You can't be serious."

"On the contrary, ladies – It's entirely true. And we have Andromeda to thank for it."

"Me? What did I do?"

"You told Harry about your elopement to that little village in Cumbria. Well, they did that too, dragging Ron and Hermione with them as witnesses."

"When?"

"Remember that row they had a couple of weeks ago, the one that made the papers?"

"I do. It seemed entirely out of character for Ginny to even contemplate having a relationship with Draco Malfoy. As I recall, disdain was the nicest they were towards one another."

"Well, after that mess, they had a huge row and they thought that the best way to settle it after a couple of days was to go elope."

Kingsley started laughing. "Please tell me you're not upset still?"

"Wouldn't you be? Couldn't they wait until the summer when they were originally planning on getting married? Ginny denies that she's pregnant but I'm not so sure."

"Do you really think Ginny's ready to hang up her broom? She loves playing Quidditch. And this year is the Quidditch World Cup. There's no way she's missing her chance to fly in that. So no, she's not pregnant."

"Do you really think that, Kingsley? That she just up and eloped with Harry, calling off their wedding, just to placate him?"

"I do because since he's been back in the office, he's been a changed man. You might think otherwise, Molly, but marriage has done Mr. Potter quite well."

"But it's just not right, eloping like that. They're supposed to have gotten married this summer, at the house, with the family there."

Pomona spilled some of her wine, laughing heartily. "I seem to recall that you did the same thing once you and Arthur left school. Didn't you have Bill within two years of leaving Hogwarts?"

"We did. We graduated in '68 and had Bill November 1970." Molly looked at her glass of cider before looking at the ladies across the table from her. "But we eloped because we didn't have a lot of money. And that was fine for us. But Harry and Ginny are well off, separately and together. It's not like they couldn't afford a wedding. Even we can afford it, now, after the kids have been helping out so much."

"So what's the complaint, Molly?"

She swirled her glass and took a sip. "I guess I expected my little girl to be more traditional, like the others. I didn't expect her to run off like I did." She looked up and saw Minerva's stern features, smiling. "I didn't think she'd take after me that way."

"But they are married, and bonded. I don't see the problem."

"You tell them, Arthur. I'm ashamed about it." Molly said quietly to her husband sitting next to her.

"Oh, Molly just made Ginny promise that they'd go through the wedding, again, this coming summer, like they planned." Arthur gave his wife a sideways look. "That was the price she exacted for them running off like two schoolchildren, being irresponsible."

"But that's silly. They're married and bonded."

Molly looked at the head of the table. Andromeda was wearing a smirk. "I was upset at them for being so impulsive. But I can't back away from it now. Ginny's excited about the official wedding, and it's all to placate me."

"At least you didn't do what I did, Molly. Ted pulled his wand on my parents when we announced we were married. I thought my father was going to birth dragons." She smiled. "But my Ted, and Dora were worth it. I don't regret doing it."

A chair scrape announced Kingsley's departure. "I'd love to stay and talk longer tonight, but duty calls. I have a function to attend at 10pm sharp and have to show my ugly mug there." Andromeda stood up and made her way to the end to the table. "So glad you came tonight." She kissed him on each cheek. "Do behave tonight."

"It's a Ministry function and I'm expected to be there and listen to drunken bureaucrats try to worm their way into my good graces. At least your Sons are off duty tonight. Christmas and Boxing Day were bad enough."

Kingsley came around and hugged the rest of the ladies and slapped Arthur on the back. "See you at the office next week, right?"

"Of course. Grandkids are expensive, don't you know."

Kingsley laughed. "I leave those to you, and Andromeda."

The remaining members of the dinner party watched him depart via Floo back to the Minister's office.

"He'll never get married."

"No, he won't. He's married to his duty. Terribly English, I reckon."

Minerva poured more wine for herself and Pomona sitting next to her. "Any more for anyone else?"

"No, I reckon we'll shove off too. Molly has the grandkids tomorrow and since it's January, they'll play in the house, much to her chagrin."

Arthur stood up first before pulling the chair back for his wife. "And besides, it's New Year's Eve. She wants to listen to Celestina on the wireless."

"I do wish she'd have some better songs. I can't stand what she sings now."

"I bet if we got you inebriated enough on this wine, you'd not mind."

"Silly bints!" Andromeda laughed at her friend's antics. "Nights like this are when I miss Ted. We wouldn't do all that much but it was more than enough."

"Please. We don't need to hear anything about that husband of yours." Pomona took another drink from her glass of wine.

Andromeda picked up a scone and flicked it at Minerva. She caught it in her left hand and bit into it. "Bet you didn't think I was still that sharp, huh?"

"Witch." Andromeda was smirking.

"Hag." Minerva was holding back a laugh.

Arthur and Molly laughed at the ladies at the table. "And on that note, we're leaving. Don't throw too much food around tonight, alright?"

"No food throwing, but we might have to crack open another bottle of red wine. Pomona brought Port for us now that you're leaving."

Molly laughed. "Rather port than brandy. She can't keep from singing Warbeck while pissed on Brandy."

Arthur picked up a handful of Floo powder. "Enjoy the wine, ladies!"

"Thanks for coming over." Andromeda waved from the table while trying not to slosh her wine on the linens.

Arthur disappeared in a flash.

"No more babies, Molly."

"Oh no. Grandchildren I can give back are more than enough." Molly waved. "I'll bring Teddy over Thursday evening for you. You should have a good break."

"Thanks Molly!"

The other witches waved while Molly disappeared in a swirl of green flames.

She stepped out at their humble home and into Arthur's arms. "Home at last," he said quietly before enveloping his wife in a hug. "That was fun."

"It was but I'm happy to be home with you, too."

She looked up and was greeted with a sensual kiss. "Music and dancing, my love?"

Molly smiled. "Let's skip the music and get straight to dancing." She pulled his hand as she walked towards the stairs. "I seem to be in need of my husband's attention tonight."