The weather turned cold, and the trees were bare of all leaves. When the wind blew, it howled and chilled passers-by to the bone. The holiday season was rearing its head, and Molly had 'invited' everyone over for the week of Christmas, but they all knew that the invitation was required.
"Come on, you lot! We're going to be late!" Hunn shouted from the fireplace, straightening her sweater dress as she waited.
Bill came to stand beside her arm-in-arm with Fleur, "We're ready," He said, smiling, and Fleur nodded in agreement.
Hunn shook her head, "I wish your brothers were," She glared at the twins and Charlie as they came waltzing out of the library, "We let you lot stay here to keep you away from the grandbaby questions we all know Molly has waiting for you, but that doesn't mean we can be late," She scolded.
"She's just as bad as Mum sometimes," Fred muttered as he approached.
"What did you say, Fred Weasley?" Hunn asked, tapping her foot with narrowed eyes.
"Nothing, dear! Nothing at all." He smiled with wide innocent eyes, kissing her cheek.
She huffed, "Remember, I have excellent hearing," She turned to Charlie and smiled, "Besides, Charlie here heard it all."
Charlie's eyes widened, and he looked away from her sweet gaze, not wanting to be put in the middle of anything.
"Ha!" Fred laughed, "Charlie is my brother he would never rat me out."
"Charlie?" Hunn prompted, turning her puppy eyes up at him.
Charlie sighed, raking his fingers through his shaggy hair, "He said you were just like Mum sometimes."
Fred gaped at his brother, and Hunn pinched him, "You did not say I was just like your mother!"
Fred rubbed his arm and ignored her, "How could you, Charlie? We're brothers."
Charlie raised his hands in defense and stepped back behind Hunn, "I'm more frightened of her than you."
George laughed as Hunn hooked her arm with Charlie, her best friend, and stepped into the fireplace, disappearing from her fiance in waves of green flames. George clapped Fred on the back, "I don't know what you were expecting, mate. They bonded over dragons in Romania. You've got nothing on that," He laughed, stepping into his green flame and shouting for the Burrow.
Fred huffed about his brother being a traitor before stepping into the fireplace and joining the rest of his siblings in the kitchen of the Burrow. He walked right up to Charlie and pushed him lightly out of the way, taking Hunn around the waist and kissing her neck, "You're nothing like Mum," he whispered apologetically.
Hunn ignored him but smiled slightly as he pouted, desperately wanting her attention, "I'm sorry," He groaned, hiding his face in her neck.
She turned into his arms and kissed his chest, "I know you are, and I am like Molly. She's strong and badass. You should be happy I'm a little like she is."
Fred nodded and kissed her lips lightly before being pulled into his mother's arms, where she smothered him in a hug before pushing him off to the side and enveloping Hunn and George in her arms.
"Oh, I'm so happy you could all make it. Ron, Harry, and Hermione are all staying at school over the holiday, and I didn't want to be alone on Christmas."
Arthur walked in and frowned jokingly, "What am I, then?"
"Oh, hush, Arthur," She waved him off and kissed his cheek.
He blushed red at her affection and followed her into the dining room, where Molly had set up dinner. He ushered everyone into their seats, and Molly chatted about Charlie's love life, thoroughly distracted from talking about grandchildren for now.
"Charlie, why haven't you brought home a girl? Your brothers all have someone, even your sister!" she scolded him, sounding more sad for him than upset.
"Mum!"
"Charlie, you can't spend your life with dragons."
He groaned, and his head fell back, "Muuuuuum."
George giggled, and Hunn nudged him, "Shhh."
"George! Tell him he cannot spend all his life with dragons! You have Hunn, and she's sweet as pie."
Charlie and Bill stifled their laughter behind coughs that sounded more like choking gnomes. Molly turned to them with her eyes narrowed before she turned to the twins and Hunn with a smile, "Have you set a date for the wedding?" she asked the three of them, eager to begin planning.
Fred and George looked at each other, having never even talked about it, and then looked to Hunn for the answer.
Hunn nodded, smiling at Molly, "I was thinking about August this coming summer."
Molly beamed and clapped her hands! "Ohhhh, a summer wedding! We have to start planning!"
Bill coughed, and all eyes turned to him, "Fleur and I have been seeing each other for some time, and we've decided to marry."
The room went quiet, and Molly seemed to freeze, "Marry?" she stuttered, her eyes wide and her mouth agape with surprise.
Fleur smiled, "Jesss. Ve vere thinking of a summar vedding as vell. That is if you don't mind Hunn?" she asked, smiling sweetly.
Hunn shook her head, "No! I don't mind at all. I was thinking of having it in early August after we get Harry to the Burrow for the summer. Did you have a date in mind?"
Fleur beamed, "Jesss! Ve vere thinking late August vhen ve could have the whole family there vith us!"
Hunn nodded, "We can plan together! We can have everything set up from our wedding and use it for yours, too!"
Fleur beamed, and she and Hunn chatted like old friends about wedding details as Molly stared off into space, and the twins sat there stunned.
"Did you know she had been thinking about all this?" George asked Fred watching Hunn chat about all the details. He became even more confused as Hunn listed specific shops and colors she liked for the wedding.
George shook his head, "Nope, I had no idea she was even thinking about it yet."
Fred smiled, "I guess we're getting married this summer!" he cheered, clapping his hands and hugging his brother.
Arthur stood and hugged his boys, "My boys are getting married. I can't believe it. I swear, just yesterday, you were riding around on a toy broom with your Mum shouting at you for knocking over the lamp in the upstairs walkway," His voice seemed to break, and he smiled with so much love, "I'm so proud of you all."
Bill was pulled into a hug when Molly dabbed at her tears, "Married, Bill? You don't think it's too fast?" she whispered in his ear.
He smiled at his Mum and shook his head, "We've been seeing each other for a year, mum," He took a deep breath, and the room grew tense, "With the war going on, we don't know how much time we have left. So, we decided to marry and make the most of our time together," He told her, pulling Fleur into his arms and lovingly kissing the top of her head. She looked up at him adoringly, and the love shined brightly in her eyes.
Anyone with eyes could tell she loved him.
Molly nodded and gave a half smile, "Come girls! We have weddings to plan!" She waved them along to the living room and left the men alone.
"Thank God Mum stopped interrogating me," Charlie sighed with relief, sinking into his chair.
Bill grinned, "Don't think you're safe yet, brother. I heard a rumor about a feisty little thing you've been seeing on the reservation," he teased, "care to explain?"
Charlie sat up straight, "How in the hell did you hear about that?" he shouted softly, not wanting his mother to hear.
Bill shrugged, and the Twins leaned in closer as their father poured them all a round of Firewhiskey to hear the details, "I have my ways. Now spill."
...
Fred and George woke before everyone in the Burrow. Not difficult when they had become used to a bigger bed that fit the three of them, and they had been forced to stay the night in their room with their small beds pushed together. Their feet hung off the end the entire night as Hunn slept between the two of them, curled up under the covers.
"Happy Christmas!" Molly shouted excitedly throughout the Burrow, waking everyone from the lower levels to the top.
George hopped out of bed, not nothing with a good morning, and raced down the stairs. Hunn rolled over and groaned, cuddling up next to Fred for warmth, "You'd think he was twelve running to open presents."
Fred snorted and rolled deeper under the covers, "You think he's running to open presents?"
Hunn let out a small laugh, "You're right. Knowing him, he's probably running to eat whatever beautiful feast your Mum made."
Fred went still, and in the next instant, she was being pulled through a small space with a crack, and she was standing in the kitchen frightened for dear life and hanging onto an eager Fred. Her head was spinning as Fred plopped into a chair next to George and started loading his plate with eggs and sausage, "Fred Weasley! You did not just apparate me into the kitchen!" she shouted, feeling nauseous and dizzy.
He looked up at her with a mouth full of food and looked sheepish, "Couldn't just let George get allthegood stuph," He mumbled with food in his mouth.
George laughed around a mouth full of crumpet and eggs, "Should ave jus carried er down."
"Carried me down? No, you should have woken me up with a kiss on the cheek and let me get dressed, you dunderheads!" she scolded, sitting in a chair beside George, "Ugh, I feel ill now."
Molly pranced into the room and set a cup of tea in front of her, "Here, drink a cuppa. It'll help settle your stomach."
Bill, Fleur, and Charlie walked down smiling, chipper, and bright as the morning sun as they sat down across from Molly and Arthur.
Hunn sipped her tea and listened to them chatter away as her stomach refused to settle. George rubbed her back and whispered sweet nothings in her ear around his mouth full of food. He slid a piece of toast covered in jam in front of her, "Eat, Love. You can't go without," He reminded her softly.
Angrily, she nibbled on the corner of the toast and rested her head on his shoulder, nearly falling asleep.
"Come on, you lot, we've got presents to open," Bill reminded them, gracefully pulling Fleur to her feet.
One by one, they followed him into the living room until only George and Hunn were sitting at the table, "You alright now, babe?"
Hunn nodded and stood using his shoulder for support, "I'm fine, sweets," He hooked his arm with hers and led her into the living room, where she sat on Fred's lap and watched as they passed around the gifts wrapped in shiny foil.
Molly passed Hunn a small squishy package wrapped in royal blue wrapping, "Here you are, dear," She smiled brightly and waited for her to open it, watching carefully for her reaction.
Hunn peeled back the paper and revealed a soft blue and white knitted scarf. She lifted the material out of the paper, and the wool felt soft and silky in her fingers. She wrapped it around her neck and hugged Molly, "Thank you. It's absolutely beautiful."
Molly dabbed her eyes and turned to hand Fred and George their package just handing them over to let them sort out who's was who's.
Fred handed George the package his mother gave him when she looked away. They tore the paper away to reveal red sweaters with their significant F and G knitted in gold. They pulled them over their head and smiled at their Mum, "Good thinking, Mum."
"Ours from last year was getting a little snug," Fred finished grinning.
"Oh, hush," She said, waving them off.
They sat with each other around the fireplace, chatting and drinking warm chocolate milk and tea all night. When Arthur and Molly went off to spend time alone, Fred pulled Hunn closer, and George snuggled into them both, holding her feet in his lap.
George whispered softly to her, "We have something for you."
"We thought we should get you something special," Fred continued.
George smiled and rubbed her feet firmly, "After everything. We want to keep showing you how much we care."
"We also want to tell you how much we still want a family with you," They said together.
Her heart clenched, and her eyes watered, "I don't know. It was not long ago I was six months pregnant and feeling our baby move. I couldn't go through it again. It would hurt too much," She whispered as her voice cracked and broke.
"We're not saying now. Just in the future."
"We want to have a big family made of little know-it-all wizards and pranksters that turn our hair grey daily."
Hunn started to cry, and she hid her face in her hands. They squeezed her tight before letting her go.
"We got you this," George said softly, holding a package out to her.
Fred tilted her head up, "Open your eyes."
When her eyes opened, they held a small pair of shoes out to her. The shoes were made of blue glass and were engraved on the side: 'Leo Weasley, we hold you in our hearts and your magic in our souls.'
Her heart couldn't take it anymore, and she cried into George's shoulder, "That's brilliant. You two are amazing," She peppered them with kisses and squeezed them close to her breast, "I love you both more and more every day."
George smiled, and Fred held the shoes out again and dangled them on a thin liquid like a chain. George took one end and Fred the other, and they hooked it and nestled it around her neck to rest in the hollow of her throat.
The necklace was what she needed. It gave her a deep, visible connection to remember her baby. Her heart thumped, and her head filled with wonder as she held her men close.
"We'll never forget about him, sweetheart. We carry him with us everywhere."
"We know it's tough to think of ever trying again..."
She took a deep breath and smiled, "I want to try again. I don't want to forget about him. I can still remember him kicking every morning..."
"We know love, and he will always be my little kicker. He practically slept on your bladder."
"And remember who you have to climb over to get out of bed," George laughed, stroking her hair out of her face.
"I took a foot to the chest one morning. You were really in a rush that day," Fred added, rubbing the spot in memory.
Hunn blushed and looked away, "It was your child's fault for sleeping on my bladder, so don't blame me."
"No one blames you. We want a chance to go through it again."
Her head hung low, and for a moment, she thought about it, "What if we start trying after the war? After we win," She suggested, taking their hands.
They looked at each other and nodded, "I think that's fair."
"Don't want to bring a child into the middle of all this shite."
She nodded. When this was all over, they would start their family. For now, they needed to fight. The fireplace grew hot and green, and McGonagall stepped out of the flames with a grim look on her face.
"Ms. RoseSinger, we need you."
"What, why?" Fred interjected protectively.
McGonagall gave him a look and returned her eyes to Hunn, who was still sitting on his lap, "Severus had been injured, and because Poppy has gone to see family, we need you to treat him."
Hunn hopped to her feet, feeling a little light-headed, when George grabbed her by the elbow to help her regain her balance, "Let me get my runners. I'll be right over."
"Please hurry. The floo is open to you. It will take you into Dumbledore's office. Severus is there."
McGonagall went the way she came, and the twins grabbed her things as she slipped on her shoes. The three of them stepped into the fireplace, and in a puff of green fire and a small cloud of smoke, they were whisked away to Hogwarts.
When they stepped from the hearth, she nearly lost her toast and tea as her head adjusted to being on flat ground again. George and Fred held on to her until she could stand on her own. They looked around and saw McGonagall and Dumbledore sitting on the floor, murmuring with their heads bowed. As they approached, they saw Snape on the floor, bloody and broken.
"Bloody hell," George gasped, sounding like he would be sick now.
"What happened to him? Did he make a snarky comment to Voldy?" Fred teased cocking his hip.
McGonagall glared daggers, and Fred instantly shut his mouth and stood off to the back. Hunn approached silently, "What happened?"
"Don't exactly know. He came stumbling in, looking like this. He collapsed right here on the floor."
Hunn knelt and pulled her wand from her sleeve. She started murmuring spells under her breath, diagnosing the problems one by one until she got to his abdomen, "He's bleeding internally. I need a pain potion," She looked up to Fred, "Get the daydream potion and a bezoar. It'll keep him distracted while I work."
Without a word, Fred nodded and disappeared into green flames. Hunn ran her wand over his head and murmured an incantation to lessen the swelling.
"McGonagall, can you get me a pain potion, some cut and bruise salve, and whatever else you think may be helpful?"
She nodded and ran off out of the office. Hunn started doing the work she could, and when Snape started to fade in and out of consciousness, Fred appeared from the fire and dropped to his knees to hand her the potion and stone she had asked for.
Snape started to mumble and groan, but Hunn forced the daydream potion down his throat and gurgled as he tried not to swallow. Moments before he succumbed to the potion's effects, he looked at her with wide eyes and faded into his dream.
When McGonagall rushed back into the room, she also forced the pain potion down his throat and went back to work. Hunn had to close the internal damage, nearly blind and by the feel of her magic alone. Eventually, the bleeding was controlled, and over the course of an hour, it stopped.
Applying the salve, she mended his broken arm, closed his cuts, and lessened his bruising with the salve. He opened his eyes nearly an hour after she had finished healing him.
"What is this lot doing here, Albus?" he groaned as he tried to sit himself up.
"This lot, Ms. RoseSinger in particular, used her abilities to bring you back from the brink of death."
"She healed me?" he drawled, sounding doubtful.
Dumbledore nodded, "Indeed."
"At least she's somewhat competent, unlike Poppy, who just forces it all down your throat and lets you suffer in pain as she does her work."
George snickered and wrapped her arms around Hunn's shoulders.
"Weasley, is there something you find amusing?" Snape growled.
"Nothing. That's just the first compliment I've ever heard you give."
"Wasn't a compliment. Just stating her skills aren't nearly as bad as they could be."
Before George could snipe back, Dumbledore cut him off, "Minerva, could you take Severus to his courters to rest."
"Of course," She replied, levitating Snape off the floor and into the air as she walked out of the office.
"Ms. RoseSinger, I cannot express my gratitude for you coming here on Christmas day to help Severus."
"It was nothing, Professor."
"Indeed, it was something. He was gravely injured after a meeting with Voldemort. It did not go well."
"It's fine professor. I'm always happy to help The Order," Fred and George nodded in agreement.
"If that is truly the case. I have something I wish to ask of you."
"Anything."
Dumbledore looked at them over his half-moon spectacles, "Would you be willing to stay here full-time to help Poppy in the hospital wing? She is getting on in her years and though she is extremely capable. Dealing with these situations can be quite distressing. We will, of course, pay you for your time."
"No," George and Fred said together.
Her head snapped up to them but they didn't look down at her, just continued to stare at Dumbledore.
"I see your young men here are against it."
"These young men don't have a say in what I do."
"Would you like to take the position then?"
They all looked at her, and with a moment of thought, she shook her head, "No, sir. I don't feel I would be the right fit here at Hogwarts after everything that's happened here."
Dumbledore nodded and stroked his beard, "Maybe we can have you do something different then? From the comfort of your home?"
"Sure. Anything I can do to help."
He nodded, "Would you be willing to help us by putting some emergency medical kits together? For situations like these?"
Her face lit up, "Of course I can do that!" She was practically bouncing on her feet, "How many would you like?"
"One for every member of the order and a few extra for the safe houses. Let's say about forty for now. I would like Harry to carry one around as well."
"Of course, I'll start right away tomorrow!
"Thank you, my dear. Just send them by owl when you're finished; we will compensate you for your work. It won't be much, but it'll be all we can do."
"That's fine, professor!"
"Well, I dare say it's getting late. You best return home now. Enjoy the rest of your Christmas."
The twins rushed her into the floo, and then they were off in a burst of green flames.
...
"Severus!"
"How often do I have to tell you not to call me that," He badgered.
"As often as it takes because you're no longer my professor. Just stir the potion before it burns!"
He moved to stir the potion counterclockwise and gave her a look of pure loathing. "This is the last batch we need to make. Correct?"
Hunn nodded, "Yeah, this last batch will finish the last twelve orders, and then we're done, and we'll never have to work together again."
"Thank heavens. I never knew you could be such a dictator behind a cauldron."
"I am not a dictator. You're just lazy, and I must keep reminding you that stirring a cauldron with a wand is not the same as stirring with your hands."
"It is the same."
"Is not. The results are different."
The hours passed as they bickered and bottled potions. Severus cleaned up after himself even when he didn't spill a drop.
Still, he bickered with her and cleaned the counters and caldrons with a wave of his wand. When they were finished, he gathered the kits in his hands and gave her a curt nod before disappearing.
She cleared the room and emerged from the back into a busy shop.
"Oy!" George screamed, "You can't get out of here by shoving products into your trousers!"
Fred waved his wand, and the product that the young boy tried to get away with lifted against the seat of his pants and carried him through the room until he landed at their feet.
He looked up at them wide-eyed.
The trick flew out the bottom of the boy's trousers and landed in George's hand, "You can't steal from us. We're the kings of stealing."
The boy started to cry.
"Oy. Don't cry. We're not gonna turn you in, but if you want something, come to us first and see if you can work it off. We can always use some help," Fred told him sternly.
The boy stopped crying and wiped away his tears, "Really? You're going to let me go?"
George nodded, "We are."
"But you have to promise never to steal from us again."
"Or any other shop!"
"Ask for help before you just try to take it."
The boy nodded, "Thank you, misters," Then he ran out the shop door and down the alley.
Sneaking up behind the twins, Hunn wrapped her arms around their waists as she drew their attention with a cough.
They lifted their arms and looked down between themselves.
"Hello," She smiled up at them.
"You know Fred, I never realized how short she really is."
"Neither did I, George."
George placed his hand on the top of her head and brought it back to his body. Her height came up to his mid-chest. "So tiny," He whispered.
"Haha. I'm not that short."
"You really are," Fred told her, grinning
She crossed her arms and glared, "Am not."
"Your height is giving you away."
She waved her hand in front of their faces, "Yeah, whatever."
"Yes, whatever, indeed."
"Are you done making potions?" George asked, lifting her onto the counter
She nodded, "Yes, Severus and I are completely done until they need us to make more."
Fred shivered, "I hate when you call him that."
"Severus?"
"Yes, that," George agreed, shivering with fear.
"That's his name."
"Yes, but he still acts like our Professor."
She laughed and pinched his cheek, "Are you afraid of Severus Snape?" she taunted cutely.
George looked at Fred, and they rolled their eyes, "Afraid of that old git?"
"Never!" they shouted, causing several patrons to stop and stare.
The door behind them closed loudly, and when they turned to see what happened, Severus Snape loomed behind them and glared.
"Weasley's," He growled.
Fred and George stepped back and pushed Hunn back onto her feet and toward the angry man in black.
"Hello, Severus!" she beamed.
He rolled his eyes and glared, "The headmaster has sent me back with an invoice for the deposit into your account at Gringotts," He thrust a paper into her hands and turned to leave.
Her eyes widened at the amount, "Severus, this is a mistake!"
He looked over his shoulder at her and shook his head, "He's paid you for the supplies and for your effort. It is what you deserve," Without another word, he walked into the back room and disappeared once more.
"Holy shite," Fred exclaimed, looking at the number.
"Dumbledore paid you that much?" George asked, taking the paper into his own hand, closely examining the number as if looking for a forgery.
"You are one rich woman."
She laughed, "No, we are a little rich, but I was thinking of spending this money right away..."
"On what?"
"A house."
"A house?" Fred asked, looking away into the distance.
She nodded.
"I think that would be a good idea," George agreed, deep in thought.
"Really?" she whispered, feeling excited.
Fred nodded, "Yeah, I think it's a good idea. Living above the shop is nice, but it means that we're always at work."
"Yeah, and as much as I love this shop, things won't always be so great around here," George added, rubbing the back of his neck.
"What do you mean?"
"You got attacked down the alley," Fred pointed out.
"And?"
"Well, this war is getting worse every day, and we don't know how long it's gonna last."
"Oh. Maybe we should get away."
"Where to?"
"Maybe out in the country?"
"Away from everyone?" Fred asked, pulling her into his arms.
Hunn nodded, "Yeah, it would be a good place to hide if things get really bad."
George kissed the top of her head, "Alright, we'll close the shop up tomorrow, and we'll start looking for houses."
Fred agreed and held her tighter, "I hate thinking about how you got hurt."
Hunn rubbed his back and soothed him, "I know. I do, too."
George joined their hug, "We're okay now, though."
Hunn grinned, "Yeah, we are."
Fred smiled at the two most important people in his world, "We'll always be okay."
"As long as we're together," Hunn agreed.
Someone tapped George's shoulder, "Hey, how much is this?" a young boy asked, holding up a trick wand.
Fred looked down at the boy, "Can't you see we're having a moment?"
The boy shrugged, "I just wanna know how much this wand is."
Hunn laughed, "It's two Galleons."
The boy gave her the money and ran off with his new toy.
"Little wanker doesn't know when to leave people alone."
"What if we were talking about something important?"
Hunn shrugged, "That's just how kids are, loves."
George's eyes widened, "All kids?"
Hunn nodded and grinned mischievously, "Pretty much. Don't you remember being a kid?"
They both froze and stared at her. "Good thing we're waiting on kids this time," Fred said quietly.
"Any kids of ours are going to drive us bonkers," George agreed, shaking his head at the thought.