Thicker Than Water: Year Six

Chapter 7 - The Wonderful Weasleys

Back at the Burrow, Ron was playing keeper and Ginny, chaser. Ron was a more confident player after his last game at school which helped win the Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor. He felt that daily summer practice could only help keep his defensive game strong for the coming season. Ginny gave him a run for his money, proving to be an even better chaser than seeker. The fact that Harry wouldn't be on the team this year hit Ron hard.

When they landed, Ron came inside for a shower and snack then eagerly went to write a reply to Hermione's last letter. She had stayed at Grimmauld Place with them for a few days after Harry's funeral before returning home. Another couple days had passed before the new wards at the Burrow were installed and tested, and the Weasley family returned to their home.

Ron and Hermione's correspondences initially hinged on mutual concern about Harry. Though his letters weren't curt or depressed, he generally sent a minimal of information and generally stuck to the "I'm doing okay" line. About the upcoming academic year, Harry remained frustratingly vague; he merely assured them that he would be receiving the practical schooling he needed and might be around for a visit in the autumn sometime.

In addition to worrying about Harry, Hermione wrote all about the books she read, summer essays she had completed, the outings and miscellaneous muggle-activities she attended with her parents. Ron wrote back about quidditch, his lively family, and various rumours that drifted in from the Ministry via his father. When Hermione wrote a long letter about her 12 OWLs and career prospects, Ron pointedly skipped a reply on the subject. His eight OWLs were quite good enough for him, but in anything academic he couldn't compete with Hermione.

So the vacation progressed, and Hermione's parents allowed her to finish her summer with the Weasleys. Much as she loved her family, Hermione found it increasingly difficult to be separated from the wizarding world for a whole season. Additionally, she hadn't told them the truth about Harry, and her parents spent the rest of the summer treating her as somebody who had just lost her best friend. Hermione justified the lie by telling herself it was to protect both Harry and her parents, but the charade certainly became trying after a while.

*

The Weasleys and the Grangers met after lunch in the Leaky Cauldron. After the hubbub of mutual greetings, Hermione's father pulled her aside and gave her some money, her mother ready with some last minute advice on various matters before the start of the school year. Mr. Weasley, meanwhile, arranged with Tom to store Hermione's trunk and travelling bags in a side-parlour until they returned from their afternoon shopping.

They finally made it into Diagon Alley, heading first to Gringott's to get money for the school supplies. Hermione had to exchange her muggle currency, so Ron and Ginny offered to stay at the counter with her while their parents went down to their vault.

Ron was feeling very awkward around Hermione. When they had been worried about Harry after the explosion earlier in the summer, it had seemed quite natural to take her hand or put his arm around her shoulder. Those intimacies helped them both cope with terrible situation and the awful feelings that came with attending Harry's mock funeral. Now, with no actual reason to offer that physical contact, Ron found he really wanted to.

He was relieved by - and even a bit jealous of - the growing friendship between Hermione and Ginny. The two girls would link arms or lean in close to whisper about any of a number of things that caught their eyes, from new fashions in store windows to a particularly funny-looking goblin that walked by them at the bank. With a pang, Ron realised that he missed Harry even more than usual, wishing he were around to share impressions with or at least to laugh at the two girls.

After a fitting for new robes and purchasing necessary school supplies, the adult Weasleys split up to finish a few errands. The three youth decided to visit Fred and George's store, and all agreed to meet at the ice cream shop in an hour.

Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes had an unspectacular location wedged in between an apothecary shop and a milliner. When they walked into the store, however, the interior more than made up for the lack of glamour of the site. The walls of the narrow shop were stacked high with various products the twins had developed: trick hats and wands for practical jokes; questionable school supplies such as the skivving snackboxes and various magic quills or ink; a showcase of magical sweets for all occasions; and a neatly arrayed display of new products at the counter.

When they walked in, George was stocking the shelves as Fred served a group of mesmerised teens. They smiled their acknowledgements warmly, while Fred waved Ginny over to demonstrate the new Nasty Nose Noodles to his customers. After looking around for a while, Hermione and Ron said goodbye, and went outside to wait for Ginny.

Talk of Fred and George's store soon ground to an awkward silence, when they heard an ethereal "hello," and Hermione gave a startled jump as she turned to see who it was. Luna Lovegood stood beside them, looking as if she had arrived there quite by accident.

"Oh, hi Luna. How was your summer?" Hermione asked politely.

"Yes," snickered Ron, "did you find any Crimp-Headed Snorks in your travels?"

Hermione shot him a look for his rudeness, while Luna gazed with unblinking pity at Ron. "No, we didn't find any Snorkacks at all. They've probably migrated further north at this time of the year. We did find some amazing fossilised prints made by the Great Northern Trilobial Jags, though. They caused quite a stir in the archaeological community - our specimens appear to be thousands of years younger than the assumed extinction of the Jags. Daddy's sent the fossils in for carbon-dating; he's planning to write a paper about them for Wizarding Archeology."

Hermione was staring at Luna as though she just didn't know what to make of the girl, and Ron's mouth hung open. He quickly closed it and replied, "Oh, that's nice."

Then, seeing Ginny step out of the shop, Ron waved over to her and apologetically said to Luna, "I'm afraid we have to be going."

"Yes, I'll see you around," Luna answered but, before they could take a step, she continued to speak. "I was sorry to hear about Harry. You two were quite close to him, weren't you?"

Hermione looked up in surprise, and Ron appeared to be quite taken aback by the question. They hadn't seen any other students from Hogwarts over the summer, and weren't yet prepared to receive consolation over his untimely death, especially when he was alive and well.

Ron looked away, and Hermione tried to put on a convincingly pained tone. "Oh yes, it's been quite difficult, really, to lose him that way to Voldemort."

Luna was looking down at the sidewalk, and didn't appear to have taken in the light conversational tone of the statement. "I guess he's with his Godfather now," she said, her voice heavy with real grief.

The two Weasleys and their friend all looked at Luna with great uneasiness. Then they quickly parted ways with the girl, unable to stand the discomfort of the farce any longer.

*

Luna wandered through Diagon Alley flushed with emotion, not interested in returning to her father's offices at the Quibbler. Passing by a small clock store, Luna halted at the many chimes and cuckoos as all the clocks struck four. She stood for a while absorbed in the cacophony until the noise died down. Remembering that her new friend, Fleur, was off work at four o'clock, Luna headed towards Gringott's Bank. Sure enough, a few minutes later Fleur appeared at the main doors and descended the stairs.

When Fleur walked down the alley in her direction, Luna stepped up and asked if she wanted to come to a nearby café to sit and have a coffee. Fleur shook her head impatiently, but invited Luna up to her flat instead. The walked up into a compact, modern looking studio apartment, with a couple of floor to ceiling windows overlooking Diagon Alley. Fleur bustled around, unloading her work bag, sorting through mail and activating the espresso-maker with a flick of her wand.

Luna wanted to tell the young woman the highlights of her trip to Sweden, but Fleur had begun to pace her apartment in apparent agitation. "Did something happen today, Fleur?" the girl asked.

"No, no, nothing at all. He's never around, and now I have to make an appearance and act nice around them and we don't even spend time together anymore...!" raved the young woman, her shiny silver hair whipping behind her as she abruptly changed direction again.

Luna walked over to the kitchenette, rummaged around the cupboards until she found a small mug, and filled it with espresso. Wrinkling her nose in distaste - an herbal infusion with camomile would be much better for this sort of thing - she intercepted Fleur and handed her the coffee, forcing her to sit down.

Fleur took a sip. Luna looked at her curiously and asked, "Have you told him - Bill - about the baby?"

"Yes," Fleur sighed. "Yes, but he's so busy these days, fighting to save the world from that evil wizard and his followers. I told him, and he's happy, but... the dangers - every day, I don't know where he goes or when he'll be back. At least he comes home almost every night now!"

Fleur looked into her mug disconsolately, and Luna thought of the terrible explosion that took Harry's life, and the lives of his family.

"Somebody has to fight those battles, you know," she said, thinking back to the night spent duelling with Death Eaters at the Ministry of Magic. "He will make you proud, and so will your son: they are both very strong, at least, the baby is."

Looking up with eyes large and round, Fleur asked, "How do you know? That it's a boy, I mean?"

"I can feel his spirit growing from here," Luna said. She reached over and put her hand over Fleur's still-flat stomach. "He will be strong, your son; there is something very special about him. His blood..."

She withdrew, and smiled over at Fleur who had calmed down tremendously at the younger girl's reassuring words. Though they sounded fantastic, like a premonition, both knew that people could channel spirits and even act as mediums for things that could not be seen, sometimes not even imagined. In this way, both Fleur and Luna were very well suited to their new friendship, mutually taking the same things for granted.

"I am going to have dinner with Bill's family tonight," said Fleur flatly.

"Ah," Luna replied perceptively, patting the young woman on her shoulder. "It can't be all bad, you know. I'm sure they'll be very happy for you."

They were interrupted by the front door opening and Bill walking in, looking tired. He looked at Luna, then at Fleur then back at Luna again. Fleur had begun to cry, sniffling quietly with a few tears rolling down her cheeks. In a concerned tone, he asked, "What's going on? Is everything all right, Fleur? Who are you?"

"Hello, I'm Luna Lovegood," Luna said cheerfully, answering his last question. She then motioned towards Fleur, and continued to speak. "She's worried about seeing your family tonight. I told her they would be okay, they'll be happy about the baby."

Bill turned to Fleur, "You told her? We haven't even told our families yet!"

"I didn't tell her - she already knew!" Fleur snapped at Bill, her Veela-temper baited by his tone. Then her voice changed and she began to cry harder. "We're going to have a son, Bill! Luna says it's going to be a boy!"

Luna smiled up at the tall redhead, and gave him her heartiest congratulations. She then said it was time to be going, and gave Fleur a reassuring hug. As Luna floated out the front door, Bill stared at her, a puzzled look still on his face.

*

Dinner at the Weasley's that night was its usual riotous affair. Hermione was welcomed back and warned by Ginny to watch where she sat. Fred and George would be arriving home soon and had developed a new gag that made whoopi-cushions seem innocuous. Arthur Weasley announced that Percy had approached him at work, and requested a private talk; he and Molly would be meeting Percy for dinner later that week.

As the younger Weasley children hissed nastily about Percy's sudden change of heart, Bill and Fleur walked in. Hermione was relieved to see that Ron actually acted normally in Fleur's presence now. Fleur looked decidedly uncomfortable at the Weasleys, but was soon engaged in an animated conversation with Fred about living in Diagon Alley.

"It's just wonderful being near all the shops, and running out whenever you need something. It's also so convenient to be within walking distance to work. Imagine living far away and having to apparate to work every day - I'd certainly miss the fresh air and exercise of walking to work," she said.

Fred told Fleur that he and George were in the market for a two-bedroom apartment in Diagon Alley, and that she should let them know if she heard of anything. "So far, all the places we've looked at have been way too expensive or else so small, you could hardly swing a kneazle in them."

Ginny was just confiding in Hermione that she had broken up with Dean, when Mrs. Weasley called them all to dinner on the patio. The two girls sat down near one end of the table and Ron practically elbowed Fred and George out of the way so he could claim the seat on Hermione's other side. The twins began to snicker, and Ron's ears turned pink.

Fleur had started off hungry, but lost her appetite when a wave of nausea unexpectedly overwhelmed her. Noticing Mrs. Weasley's attention to everybody's plates, she just picked at her food and declined a second helping, saying, "This English food just sits too heavily..."

As they were all finishing the pudding, Molly Weasley leaned back contently and cast an adoring eye on her family, most of whom were assembled and well-fed around her. Her look settled on Bill last, and she asked Fleur conversationally, "Wouldn't he be so much more handsome if he were clean cut?"

"Mother!" snapped an exasperated Bill. "I'm nearly 26 years old - lay off about my hair already!"

Leaning over, Fleur whispered in his ear, "I know how we could make her forget about your hair!"

Bill gave a strangled smile, the warmth caused by her closeness dissipating into turbulence instead. He took the hint, though, and started banging on a water glass with his fork.

The table's occupants were still settling down when Bill cleared his throat, and blurted out, "Fleur and I have a little announcement: we're going to be parents!"

Complete silence blanketed the table, Fred and George's mouths hanging open, Ron and Ginny's eyes wide. Mr. Weasley was the first to recover from the shock and, as he began to congratulate the couple, a chorus of voices joined in.

"Are you serious, mate?"

"Good on you, brother!"

"Congratulations Bill, Fleur!"

"Mum's going to have kittens - aren't you, Mum! Mum?!"

Bill turned to look at his mother, the whole table following suit. "Mum? Mum!! Are you okay?!"

Mrs. Weasley had fainted.

*

If Bill and Fleur thought their announcement would cause Mrs. Weasley to lay off Bill's appearance, they obviously hadn't counted on -

"A great big, beautiful wedding!! We could have it right here, in the yard. I'm sure your father's cousins on the mainland will come... September would be such a lovely time of the year to be married!"

"No!" bellowed Bill. "No, and no, and no again! Fleur and I are totally committed to one another and we don't need a wedding to prove it! We're already living together - doesn't that count for something?"

"You're what?!" Ron rounded on him. "Since when are you two living together?"

"Good morning Ron!" snapped an irritated Bill. "I gave up my apartment this past spring - what constellation are you living in?"

The much shorter Ginny towered over her oldest brother in a most Mrs. Weasley-like rage. "Well, Bill, if you had bothered to tell us..."

"It isn't my fault if you two don't keep up with what's going on in this family while you're at school!" Bill fumed.

He was interrupted by Mrs. Weasley, who diligently returned to the original point. "What do you mean, you aren't planning on marrying her?!!"

Fleur and Hermione had wisely retreated a good distance, where Hermione was inquiring about the due date.

"I estimate it should be late winter, the end of February or early in March," Fleur said. "It will be nice having a baby in the spring."

Bill finally extricated himself from the rest of his family and made his way over to Mr. Weasley, who was standing alone near the doorway surveying the chaos.

"Congratulations, son! I'm happy for you both, I really am. Fleur's a wonderful girl!" said the older man with a smile.

"Thanks, dad, I appreciate it." Bill hesitated, then asked in a low voice, "Could you tell me, dad, is it normal... I mean, Fleur's terrific, but lately she's been kind of... moody, you know."

Mr. Weasley's hearty laugh rang through the room. "Welcome to the club, my boy! I've been through seven pregnancies - and lived to tell the tale!"

Just then Mrs. Weasley gave out a huge gasp, and covered her mouth with one hand. "Oh my gosh! I have to owl Charlie right away with the news - and Percy, too, he'll have to be told!"

"Don't worry about Charlie, Mum!" Bill called out. "I told him when we met earlier this week."

"What? Charlie was here and he didn't come to see us?" Mrs. Weasley's voice had taken on a grievously injured tone, her eyes tearing up.

"No, mother, I was in Romania for one night," Bill replied, then turned to an indignant Ron. "And don't get started about my not sharing information again! It was Order business and, as such, I'm entitled to practice some discretion!"

Fleur decided the time had come to rescue Bill. She walked over and linked her arm through his, yawned and said, "I'm getting very tired, perhaps we should head home. Thank you for a nice evening, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley!"

"That's Arthur and Molly to you, my dear!" Mrs. Weasley sniffed emotionally, reaching out to embrace Fleur.

On their way to the fireplace, they were intercepted by George and Fred who wore matching mischievous grins, and reiterated their congratulations. Bill wanted to ask what they were grinning about, but Fleur pulled impatiently on his arm. A quick floo later, they had arrived back at their Diagon Alley apartment.

"Well, that didn't go too badly!" Fleur said reassuringly, as she walked towards the bathroom.

"Merlin help me!" groaned Bill, and he collapsed onto the bed.