Pandemonium

Pandemonium

"Andrew, do you remember where I put your jumper from Grandma Weasley?"

"Muuu-uuuum, Gabby spit up on my new robes!"

"Are you sure I can't bring my broomstick, Dad?"

"Mummy, Mummy, I saw Andrew hide his jumper in the hall closet."

"Mum, Randy's being a snitch!"

"Am not!"

"Are so!"

"Both of you quit fighting. Ron, have you seen Chloe?"

Only one member of the household was nowhere to be found. Ron glanced around the hectic living room, then towards the stairs. There was only one place that Chloe could be. Hermione nodded for him to find their daughter while she got the rest of the family ready to go to King's Cross Station, and Ron made his way upstairs and all the way down the hall. He peered into the room that Chloe shared with Baby Gabriel, smiling as he knelt in front of a small storage place that the girls had claimed as their secret hideout.

"Chloe, I know you're in there. Why don't you come out so we can bring Andrew and Jared to the station?" A small sniffle answered him, and he tugged the door open, lying on his stomach so he could see Chloe.

"I dun wanna go," she stated stubbornly, lower lip jutting out in an exaggerated pout. Ron pouted back and tilted his head.

"Why not, love?" Another sniffle.

"'Cause if they go to school they'll have so much fun they won't want to ever come home, and they'll forget all about me, and they won't send me a toilet seat like they promised!" The last bit came out as a wail as the three year old burst into tears and curled up in a little ball. Ron had to keep himself from laughing at her mention of the toilet seat. The twins had obviously heard of it from their favorite uncles and had promised Chloe one to get on their mother's nerves.

"Aw, Chloe-baby," Ron crooned, sitting up and scooping her carefully from her hideaway into his lap. He held her close and nuzzled against her hair as she burrowed into his robes. "They won't ever forget you, I can promise you that. I'm sure if they can get away with it, they'll send you a toilet seat first thing. Maybe even from Moaning Myrtle's bathroom." That calmed Chloe's tears the slightest bit, and she peered up at Ron, sniffling.

"...You think so?" The stories about Moaning Myrtle were Chloe's favorites out of all the stories Hermione and Ron were forced to tell of their Hogwarts days. Ron smiled, tapping her on the end of her nose.

"Of course. And I bet if you ask, they'll write you letters all the time. I'll even let you borrow Pig so you can write letters back." A hint of a smile made its way onto Chloe's face and her blue eyes sparkled slightly. "So you think you want to come to the station and say goodbye to your brothers with the rest of us?" Chloe paused for a moment, thinking it over. Then she slowly nodded, climbing out of her father's lap and starting out the door. Ron watched her go, a wistful smile on his face. The house would be so empty when all of them were finally grown up... Hopefully they'd have a few grandkids to look after, though.

The children were almost ready to go when Ron came down the stairs, slipping up behind Hermione and kissing her cheek softly. She sent him the same brilliant smile he had fallen in love with, touching his cheek as she handed him the baby.

"Mum, I'm s'posed to remind you to take a picture," Miranda spoke up, earning a dirty look from her older brothers. There had been such a fuss over them when they got their letters, they didn't really want any more reminders that they were finally part of Hogwarts. Hermione already wanted to frame their letters, which Ron wasn't really opposed to, but he certainly would have been if he were eleven again.

"Great job, Randy," Jared muttered as Hermione dashed off to find the camera. Ron shot his son a look, arching an eyebrow.

"Just let her take one picture. It's your first year after all. You can't blame her for being excited." Jared rolled his eyes, but forced a smile as Hermione returned with the camera. She nudged Ron in behind the boys, levitated the camera and set the timer, moving in next to Ron. He wrapped his arm over his shoulder as the group smiled, a flash going off a moment later.

Thus started Andrew and Jared's farewell. True, they still had the entire trip to the station, then the time before the twins boarded the train, but Hermione was already beginning to get teary eyed. Her babies were growing up so quickly.

********

It wasn't until that night that Hermione broke down, whimpering and crying into Ron's shoulder as they lay in bed.

"I can't believe they're finally at Hogwarts. Our little babies." Ron ran his fingers soothingly through her hair, holding her close and letting her cry.

"They'll be fine, 'Mione... It'll be summer holiday before you know it, and you'll wish they were back at school." Hermione let out a watery giggle, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

"You're probably right. ...Do you remember when they were first born? They were so little and innocent looking."

"But we know better now." Ron grinned, kissing his wife softly. "...I love you." She beamed at him, snuggling close and sighing contently.

"I love you, too."

The End. Hoorah.