Rating:
G
House:
Astronomy Tower
Ships:
Hermione Granger/The Weasley Family
Characters:
Molly Weasley
Genres:
General
Era:
Harry and Classmates Post-Hogwarts
Spoilers:
Goblet of Fire Order of the Phoenix
Stats:
Published: 12/03/2005
Updated: 12/03/2005
Words: 1,089
Chapters: 1
Hits: 369

Molly

Viviannetta

Story Summary:
The Weasley family, Harry and Hemione gather to celebrate Hermione's birthday.

Chapter 01

Posted:
12/03/2005
Hits:
369


Molly stood at the kitchen window, around her dinner for ten was preparing itself. The clink of knives and the slop of stirring spoons had lulled her into a sort of trance. In a second the kitchen clock would let her know that the potatoes needed turning but for now she was free to watch her family on the lawn.

Molly watched the lone brunette head bobbing among the six red ones. Hermione had taught them all a Muggle children's game, Stuck in the Mud, which seemed to involve nothing more than alternately running and standing still. Fred and George had begged to be allowed to spice things up using their wands but Hermione had insisted on all wands being left to one side.

Fred and George appeared to be chasing the others. They had managed to back Hermione into the corner by the chestnut tree. She was panting slightly as her eyes darted from one twin to the other. Suddenly she made a dash for the small gap behind the tree, but George moved faster and encircled her from behind, catching her close to him. Hermione looked up at him, laughing and he grinned down at her before following Fred after his other siblings.

Molly's heart jumped; quickly she counted the red heads. It was taking all the attention of the twins to pin Ginny to the ground, Ron was running towards Hermione and Bill and Charlie were taking a moment to catch their breath a few metres from the window. Percy wasn't there.

The relationship between Percy and his parents had been strained throughout the war. Tempers had been wearing thin and there had been no real chance to rebuild the ties, which had been torn following the re-birth of Lord Voldemort. But a mother's love remains strong and Molly could not bear to think of Percy being gone just when they thought they were finally safe and could at last think about re-establishing the bond.

But he was there, seated on the old swing, hanging from the apple tree. He wasn't swinging, he never had, he was just sitting there reading a book, it looked like Hogwarts: A History, it had always been his favourite, and Hermione's. They'd been talking together recently about contacting the publishers, about writing a new chapter in Hogwart's history, re-telling their own experiences.

The kitchen clock cleared its throat and reminded her that the potatoes needed roasting not toasting, flicking her wand in their general direction she watched them turn themselves over. Then she looked around to see how the rest of the meal was getting on. The spoons had stopped, so had the knives. Muttering to herself in annoyance, Molly flicked her wand around and vegetables started jumping into dishes and spinning to the stove. Water poured to join the vegetables and a further flick set it boiling.

The meal would be ready soon. She really should call the boys in to help, but she couldn't bear to break up the scene in the garden. They all looked so happy and carefree, acting like the children they should have had a chance to be for once.

Smiling, Molly started gathering cutlery and crockery from around the kitchen, piling it neatly on the worktop, ready to be taken to the table in the garden. She glanced at the kitchen clock, feeling the familiar jolt of relief when she saw her husband's hand pointing to Work. Just two months ago the hand would have been stuck on Mortal Peril, now the clock was happy to inform her of physical whereabouts and nothing more, causing no more worry than whether Arthur would be home for dinner or not. He had promised to be home on time today, bringing Harry with him. They wouldn't miss Hermione's birthday dinner.

Hermione.

Molly's eyes drifted involuntarily to the window again. Hermione had grown into a beautiful young woman. If she was happy, as she was now, it was impossible to keep your eyes off her. She had become an integral part of the Weasley family, a member in everything but name, and one of Molly's deepest desires was that Hermione would accept the name as well in the future. Hermione as her daughter-in-law was one of Molly's fondest daydreams, although she had never been quite clear which of her sons Hermione would marry. Ron was the obvious choice, of course, with their long-standing friendship. But Hermione and Percy seemed so well-suited at times, they had so much in common. And she knew that Hermione had always had a soft spot for both twins, despite frequent mutual exasperation. Bill and Charlie were perhaps slightly too old, but then Hermione was very mature for her age.

"Mum?" Percy had appeared in the doorway. His freckled nose had a hint of pink about it, reminding Molly that they would need some sort of shade by the table.

"Do you need any help?" Percy's clipped, precise tone drew her swiftly back to the kitchen. Looking around she saw that it was time to start dishing up, regardless of her husband's absence. She knew he wouldn't be long.

Percy had already left with the tablecloths and a second later a flushed and radiant Hermione appeared in the door, followed by Ginny to collect the plates and cutlery. The other boys were following slowly but now the game had been broken up Molly had no qualms about shouting at them to hurry up.

A minute later when first Harry and then Arthur arrived in the fireplace the kitchen was a hive of activity. Fred and George each had a pan of potatoes that they were mashing with gusto, Bill was slicing a huge chicken pie, and Charlie was carving a large joint of roast beef. Percy was arranging vegetables in dishes for Ron to carry out to the garden where Ginny and Hermione were arranging the table.

Molly broke off from tossing a large bowl of green salad to kiss her husband and hug Harry.

"Just wash your hands quickly before dinner," she told them. "There's no time for anything else. No problems?"

But she wasn't really listening for an answer, she was just glad they were all back together safely. Soon she was shooing them all out into the garden and to the table, only Arthur was allowed a detour - to the shed, to get a pair of Muggle sunshades. She paused in the doorway of the kitchen, checking that nothing had been forgotten, then turned outside to join her family.