Chocolate & Pumpkin Ice Cream

"Ginny, you're running around like a headless chicken!" At Hermione's words, Ginny stopped pacing.

"I can't help it!" she protested. "The wedding is set for the beginning of March and it's nearly the middle of January! We're never going to be ready in time."

"Yes, you will."

"No, I won't."

Hermione rolled her eyes. Ginny was certainly over exaggerating. They had already sent out invitations, sorted out a venue for the wedding reception, booked the church, picked dresses for Ginny and her bridesmaids as well as suits and dress robes for Peter and his ushers as well as numerous other things Hermione didn't even want to think about. When she got married, she was going to keep it simple.

Of course, that was what Ginny had said.

No-one yet knew about Hermione and George's engagement. They had decided to keep it to themselves for a while. Luckily this was significantly easier than keeping their relationship a secret had been.

"What's the problem now?" Hermione asked.

"The flowers."

Ginny began pacing the living room of Hermione and George's house again. "Peter doesn't know what colours he wants."

Hermione thought about this for a moment. "Ginny," she said slowly, "isn't Peter colour blind?"

The redhead nodded. Then it dawned on her. "Oh." She blushed. "I should have remembered that, huh?" Hermione nodded, and Ginny collapsed onto the sofa beside Hermione. "Am I annoying?" she asked earnestly.

"Are we talking about now or all the time?" asked Hermione with a grin. Ginny frowned at her and Hermione laughed. "You're not annoying," Hermione explained. "just, um, enthusiastic, I suppose."

"That's code for annoying, isn't it?" asked Ginny.

"No!" For a moment Hermione was quiet. "Do you want something to drink?"

"It's ten o'clock in the morning, Herm."

Hermione was wondering if she should have said that Ginny was annoying. She certainly was today. "I meant tea or coffee."

"Oh." Ginny blushed at her mistake. "Um, neither; I'm not thirsty."

Not quite sure what to turn the conversation to (and not wanting to discuss weddings again in case her and George came up for she was sure she wouldn't be able to keep it a secret for long), Hermione said, "Do you want to see the nursery?"

Ginny was up the stairs before Hermione could even stand up. When Hermione finally made it up the stairs, Ginny was stood impatiently outside the room George and Hermione had set aside as the nursery. Hermione had locked it so that no unwelcome visitors (e.g. any of George's siblings or his mother) saw it before it was finished.

They had finally completed it a couple of nights before. When she unlocked the door, Ginny gasped.

Since they did not know the ender of the twins, the walls had been painted a rich cream colour with the furnishings in deep red and gold. There were two cots, and an assortment of soft toys were on a shelf above the bookcase which was already full of children's books, both Muggle and Wizard.

"For your little Gryffindors, I suppose," remarked Ginny, gesturing towards the red and gold curtains.

"Of course," Hermione told her with a grin as the youngest Weasley picked up a book that was lying on top of the bookcase rather than in it. She held it up reading the cover: A Thousand & One Perfect Baby Names.

"Having trouble on deciding a name?" she asked.

Hermione shook her head. "We've got plenty of names we like, it's just that since we don't know if they're boys or girls we haven't decided yet."

Ginny began to flick through the book. "How about Eugene?" she suggested.

"Are you serious?"

The red head grinned, shaking her head, and Hermione gave a sigh of relief.

"Good."

The only children present were Alexander (who was now walking rather unsteadily) and Anastasia, Percy and Penelope's daughter. After Alexander had successfully managed to topple a vase of flowers in the kitchen, he had been handed over to Arthur Weasley who was busy tending to the garden.

All of the 'Weasley Wives' were congregated in the kitchen of the Burrow, for reasons as yet undisclosed to them all. Molly had simply owled them and asked them to come. When someone like Molly Weasley orders you to come, you come, regardless of any other plans.

"Do we really have to be here?" asked Amanda. "I've got a really bad back." At this she received sympathetic looks from at least half the women around the table, all of whom had suffered in the same way during the later stages of pregnancy.

Amanda and Ron's first child (Ron was still antagonising her by suggesting Chudley as a name), was due a couple of weeks before Hermione and George's.

"Yes, we do." Molly was adamant about that. "Now as I'm sure none of you are aware, it is Arthur's sixtieth birthday in July."

"It's only January, Mum," pointed out Ginny. "And why are you telling us?"

"Because I want to have a party for him." She looked around the table, an apologetic smile on her face. "I'm sorry ladies, but if I asked my sons, your husbands..." Hermione cleared her throat at this, and she heard Meredith giggle slightly. Molly just frowned. "Or partners," she continued, "nothing would ever get done."

For over an hour they discussed plans for the party, even though it was several months away. Then again, if they were to do a party such as the one Molly was suggesting, it was going to take all that time to organise it.

When Molly finally allowed them to leave, Katherine was the first to stand up. "Does anyone else want to go to Diagon Alley? I could do with some ice cream right about now."

A hush fell over the women. Even baby Anastasia, who had been gurgling, was quiet.

Katherine's face fell. "Oops."

Hermione watched with amusement as Katherine was nearly knocked off her feet by the force of Molly's hug. "Why didn't you tell us?" Molly demanded.

"Because I promised Fred I wouldn't!" Katherine protested. "Blame him, not me!"

The look in Molly's eyes told them all that Molly planned on doing just that.

"I'll come with you," said Amanda quickly, trying to save Katherine. It worked.

"So will I," volunteered Hermione. Katherine managed to get Alexander from Arthur before Molly started knitting baby booties.

The January sales meant that Diagon Alley was teeming with Wizards and Witches of all ages, just as it had been before Christmas.

Because of the exceptionally cold weather, Florean Fortescue's was nearly empty. Hermione figured that it must be his slow time of year. Nevertheless, the three of them (and Alexander) weren't deterred and ordered their favourite flavours.

"Peppermint?" asked Hermione eyeing the contents of Katherine's bowl. "A girl?"

Katherine nodded. "I hope so. It'll be nice to have one of each."

Amanda snorted. "Ha! One of each? I believe three is a minimum requirement for the Weasleys."

"Hermione's almost there then," commented Katherine, gesturing with her spoon at Hermione's bump.

"Hey! I want a big family," Hermione protested.

Amanda raised an eyebrow. "Really?" Hermione nodded. She hadn't even told George this, but it was true; she did want a large family.

"How big is big?" Katherine asked. "I mean, Molly had seven children. Do you really want that many?"

Hermione shrugged. "I dunno. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see." Katherine let out a low whistle of admiration at this.

"Good luck to you," she said, giving Hermione a mock salute.

"How would you cope?" asked Amanda nervously, tucking a stray piece of hair from her ponytail behind her ear. "I'm worried about having one."

"You are?" Hermione was surprised. She had thought Amanda was well prepared. Amanda nodded.

"Of course! I'm an only child," she explained. "I've never even babysat." She looked almost tearful. "I don't think I'm going to be a very good mother."

"Of course you will," Katherine sat shortly. "You're great with Alexander."

"Yes, but he's not mine. I can give him back at the end of the day!" Amanda bit her lip. "I'm not exactly looking forward to the birth, either."

"Who does?" countered Katherine. "You should really speak to Molly if you're worried - she has a lot more experience than me." Amanda smiled nervously at this.

"I suppose." She didn't sound too confident, but that was only to be expected in Hermione's opinion. Ron had once revealed to her that Amanda found her mother-in-law intimidating. Most people would, Hermione decided. Raising seven children and being married to someone as unusual as Arthur Weasley had turned Molly Weasley into a force to be reckoned with.

After scooping up another spoonful of her peppermint ice cream, Katherine added, "And you've got all of us to help you as well." By 'us' Hermione decided that Katherine was referring to the rest of the 'Weasley Wives'.

"At least you don't have to worry about possibly going into labour at Ginny's wedding," Hermione reminded her. Because of medical problems, Amanda had been advised to have a caesarean section by the doctors and a date had already been set.

"Do you really think that'll happen to you?" Amanda asked with a raised eyebrow. Hermione shrugged.

"I dunno." Taking the last bite of her ice cream, she added, "I really hope not!"