Gambling with Granddad

"Are you sure about this Molly? I mean, it's been years since we've had kids here."

"Oh for goodness sake Arthur, Donald's four years old. Toilet trained and everything. Besides it's just while Hermione's in the hospital."

"Yeah, of course." Arthur Weasley picked up the Daily Prophet and helped himself to a slice of toast. He was right, it had been many years since there were kids in the Burrow. Arthur was looking forward to seeing his grandson, he reminded him of Ron at that age, except Donald was much brighter. Ron had asked them to look after Donald while Hermione was in labour. They had been expecting for a while now.

As Arthur went to pick up his coffee mug, he heard a car outside.

"They're here Molly," he said as he made his way to the door. Ron parked the blue Ford Anglia in the driveway. Arthur smiled as he remembered the day Harry and Ron retrieved the car from the Forbidden Forest. It had taken some time to tame the car, but it didn't run over people's toes as much as it used to. Arthur had given Ron the car when Hermione found she was pregnant again. She refused to travel by Floo Powder or apparate in case the baby was harmed.

Donald opened the passenger door and ran up to his grandfather, who scooped the four year old up in his arms.

"How are you young man?"

"Good. I'm going to be a big brother!"

"You're going to be a big brother!" said Arthur in mock surprise, making Donald laugh. Molly came out, took Donald from Arthur and showered his little face with kisses.

"How's my big boy?"

"Alright, I'm going to be a big brother!"

"You certainly are! Grandma's making some fudge, would you like to help?"

"Yaay!" was Donald's answer. Molly and Donald went inside. Arthur greeted his son with a hug.

"How's Hermione?"

"Well, she's okay, but the mediwitch says she could very well be there overnight before the baby comes. Are you sure you don't mind taking Donald?"

"Of course not, you know he's welcome."

Ron took Donald's small suitcase from the boot and brought it inside. He found Donald kneeling on a chair next to his grandmother, covered in flour. Charlie came shuffling down the stairs, still in his pyjamas.

"Hey Charlie," said Ron.

"Daddy, hay is for horses!" scolded Donald. He'd got that from his mother.

"Hello Ron," Charlie spotted Donald and ruffled his hair, "hello sport, how's my little nephew?"

"OK, I'm going to be a big brother, Uncle Charlie!"

"Oh, speaking of which, give Daddy a hug. I've got to go see Mummy." Donald climbed down from his chair and hugged his father.

"Will you call me when the babies arrive?"

"You bet I will," he looked at his parents, "Donald thinks it's going to be twins."

"But it is going to be twins!" said Donald indignantly. Arthur bent down next to his young grandson.

"Tell you what Donald, how about a bet? If it's twins, Granddad will give you a galleon. If it's not twins, you draw Grandma and Granddad a new picture for our wall." Donald accepted this wager.

They all went outside to wave goodbye to Ron. When Molly and Donald had finished making fudge, Charlie reappeared fully dressed.

"Oh Charlie, I hate to ask you, I mean I know how busy you are, would you mind de-gnoming the garden? Some more got in this morning."

"No problem mum, anything to put off writing this speech." Charlie was back in England for a conference on dragon breeding habits.

"Can I help?" asked Donald eagerly. He had seen his father de-gnoming their garden but his mother had always said he was too young to do it.

"Sure, come on sport,"

Donald spent the next hour trying to catch his own gnome. When he finally caught one he swung it around so much that he got dizzy himself. Luckily Charlie stopped him from falling backwards after releasing the gnome. Molly called the two of them in for dinner. As they ate Donald told them all about how he had caught his own gnome and thrown it really far. Arthur was impressed; when Ron and the others were young they had to use de-gnoming as a punishment. Donald seemed to enjoy it.

After dinner Charlie made a start on his speech. Donald found one of the dragon text books and couldn't help asking his uncle about all the different types. Charlie showed him a picture of a Hungarian Horntail and told him about the time Harry had confronted one. That was so long ago now.

Donald spent the rest of the afternoon playing outside on his toy broomstick. Before long it was Donald's bed time. After having a bath, Molly tucked him in.

"Did this used to be Daddy's room?" asked Donald, looking at all the Chudley Cannons stuff.

"Yes it was. Your daddy used to sleep in here, so did your Uncle Harry during the school holidays." Donald looked up into her kindly eyes.

"Grandma, do you think I'll be a good big brother?"

"I think you'll be a wonderful big brother dear. Now you get some sleep." That night Donald dreamed of the new baby, or babies, and all the fun they would have together. His father hadn't really filled him in on the less fun aspects of having siblings.

Donald woke early the next morning. Putting on his slippers he ran downstairs to find his grandmother already making breakfast.

"Hello dear, would you mind waking your granddad up? Gently, remember."

Donald smiled. In the past he had a tendency to wake people up by jumping on them, especially on Christmas morning. He ran up to Arthur and Molly's room to find his grandfather fast asleep. He shook him gently, eventually waking him up.

"Granddad, Grandma says it's time for breakfast!" Donald ran back downstairs before his grandfather could fully regain consciousness. When Arthur got into the kitchen Donald was already half way through a bowl of porridge.

"I was having a wonderful dream," said Arthur as he yawned, "then some cheeky monkey woke me up!"

"That was me Granddad!" laughed Donald. Breakfast was interrupted when Ron's head appeared in the fireplace.

"Daddy! Daddy's in the fire!" Everyone crowded around. Arthur remained in his chair, he was too old now to be rushing around.

"Hello dear, how's Hermione?" asked Molly. Ron seemed pale, at first he looked upset, but it was fatigue.

"She's fine," he turned to Donald, "and so are your little brothers Donald. Turns out it was twins!" While Molly and Charlie congratulated Ron, Donald strolled up to his grandfather, his hand held out.

"I believe that's one Galleon please, Granddad."