teaandsympathy | Hallowe'en at The Bower

Current Location: The Bower

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Hallowe'en at The Bower

Molly and Charlie had been busy. The cottage had been what Muggles call a fixer-upper to begin with, and it had taken time, work, and more than a little magic to turn it into a place that not only suited them, but felt like home. It was the sort of project that could have - and likely would, if Molly guessed right - continue for months and months. But it was often easier to work with a particular deadline in mind, and a Hallowe'en feast had seemed a good one to work toward.

They'd let everyone they knew know there would be a housewarming on Hallowe'en - some in person, others by the telephone Molly still wasn't all that comfortable using - and that the more, the merrier. Even Draco had been invited, although Molly doubted he would come.

When the holiday arrived, The Bower was ready for their guests. A fire crackled in the fireplace, and Molly had put Charlie in charged of decorations while she bustled about the kitchen where a half dozen things were going on at once: pumpkin stew being ladled into a giant pumpkin, carrot cake in the oven baking, dishes were washing themselves as quickly as Molly used them, and she was busy chopping vegetables to roast.

Various snacks were already set out on one end of the farmhouse table, and there was a bowl of candy by the door, although with the Muggle-repelling charms, they didn't expect trick-or-treaters who wouldn't be coming anyway.

Still, a bit of candy never hurt, did it?

~*~*~

Charlie, with a touch of whimsy, charmed several, small, floating pumpkins to hang about, guiding guests through the living room and into the kitchen. Each pumpkin bears a charming grin and a glimmering candle within; he's also cast a charm so that their home smells like the woods surrounding them, with a pinch of cinnamon and caramel apples tossed in for good measure. He's purchased some Muggle decorations of cut-out cats, skeletons, and, yes, witches, to place upon the walls, charming them to blink and smile as each guest passes through the house. Not an over abundance, but enough to emphasize the cozy nature of the place.

Of course, he jokingly brought up a chair into the air, as a reminder to the duel he'd had with Bill back at the Burrow, but one look from Molly was enough for him to cease those antics with a sheepish grin, even as he eyed the Muggle candy by the door with a look of distaste. What he wouldn't give for Honeydukes to magically appear one day.

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Ron had thought it was mental that his Mum and brother were living in those weird flats in the city from the beginning, so finally having them nearby was brilliant as far as he was concerned. There was a time when he was glad to be away from home-- after he'd moved out of The Burrow-- but in Darrow, he couldn't help but want to keep his family close. And with the baby on the way, it seemed all the more important.

Halloween was just about the perfect time for there to be a proper housewarming as well, and Ron was glad he'd been able to trade to get the night off work for family, friends, and food.

Mostly for the food. Nearly a year without his Mum's cooking had been way too long.

Even though the cottage itself was vastly different, there was something about the atmosphere of The Bower that felt distinctly like home. Hermione couldn't keep a smile off her face as she stepped inside, shivering at the sudden change in temperature from the chilly autumn winds outside to the roaring warmth of the cottage.

Ever since learning about the baby, Hermione had been prone to staying closer to Ron's side when they were in the same room, a hand gently wrapped around the crook of his elbow. Far from being nervous, the tension that Hermione felt was of barely contained excitement. This was a journey that she was eager to take by Ron's side, and the closer she could remain to family, the better still. The dress she wore easily masked the changes to her body, but at eleven weeks along, Hermione was already beginning to show, and her physician had reassured her repeatedly of the baby's good health.

"Should we...?" Hermione asked quietly, smiling as she nodded in Charlie's direction. She knew that she wanted to speak with both Charlie and Molly together. To make the happy announcement to the whole family at once. She waved as they drew close, expression taking on just a hint of shyness.

It'd been a nightmare, having to keep their secret as long as they had. Ron knew that Charlie was probably wondering what'd gotten into him, and he'd barely been able to look his Mum in the eye. It was lucky that he hadn't been able to see his family as much as he would've liked to, due to work, because otherwise he didn't think he would've lasted until now.

But they'd talked about it, how tonight seemed like a good time to finally come out with it, and even though Ron was nervous about it, he couldn't help but be excited as well.

"I think I'm going to end up telling someone by accident if we don't," Ron replied, his voice quiet as well, and he placed his hand over the hand that Hermione'd put on his arm, not sure if the reassurance was for her or himself that this was going to go alright.

"I'm not sure they'd forgive us if we simply let the announcement slip by accident," Hermione laughed, briefly rising onto her toes and pressing a quick kiss to Ron's cheek. "Just remember, it's not that we didn't want to tell them immediately, but... we wanted to make sure everything was going well with the baby, and it took some time to grow adjusted to the idea ourselves." Hermione couldn't help but wonder if her explanation was more meant to calm Ron's nerves, or instead to address her own.

A part of her, though small, was worried about the type of reaction they would receive. While her relationship with Ron had spanned many years, there was now hardly any time at all to adjust between married life and life as parents. But ultimately, the prospect of bringing a baby into the family could only be a happy one, Hermione thought.

"But we need to tell them together, otherwise Charlie is sure to think that we're pulling his leg," she added, before squeezing Ron's arm and smiling as they made their way to Charlie's side. "Charlie, the house looks absolutely lovely."

Charlie's just finishing magically carving a non-moving pumpkin into the shape of a snitch when Hermione and Ron reach his side. Turning with one last swish of his wand, he beams at them both, delighted to see them again. It certainly does feel as though it's been quite some time.

"Well, if it isn't my two favorite newly weds," he says, pulling them each in for a quick hug, before glancing at the pair of them. "And thank you! I tried to liven things up with a repeat of that epic table and chair duel Bill and I pulled off years ago but..."

He shrugs with a theatrical flourish. "Bill isn't here, so it kind of loses its charm, you know?"

"And mum intervened, of course," he adds with a wink and a chuckle. "Now, you both look like you have a lot on your minds! Which won't do if you're trying to fill your stomach's with mum's cooking, so let's have it then! Spill!"

Ron was a bit upset that he'd missed that. Remembering Charlie and Bill and their furniture duel just made him wish for the days when evenings like this would dissolve into Quidditch matches at the Burrow. Not only did they not have any brooms, but there weren't nearly enough of them who even knew how to play to suggest it.

"Don't think it's the same to charm a chair to run into the wall," Ron replied with a nervous laugh, only because his brother had picked up on the fact that he and Hermione had something to tell at all. Maybe it was the fact that he'd spent so long trying to look like he didn't have a secret, that the moment he knew they'd finally be coming out with it, he'd dropped all pretense. Mostly he was stuck hoping everyone else would be as chuffed as he and Hermione were.

"Have you seen Mum?"

Charlie perhaps should have waited for Ron to arrive before making a second attempt with the chair; the pair of them could at least enjoy a little fun together before mum stepped in and made threats, waving her own wand in the air. Still, it's enough to have Ron here now; maybe they could get into some mischief later.

"No, no, definitely not," Charlie agrees with a chuckle of his own. He raises an eyebrow at the obvious nervousness in his brother's voice, wondering what it is that has him wound so tight. He glances between him and Hermione,

"She should be in the kitchen still, last I checked," he tells them, amusement flickering in his eyes as he stares at the pair of them. "But you're definitely hiding something. Come on, out with it."

"Let's head to the kitchen, then, and see if she needs any help. And maybe Ron can share what's been preoccupying him these days," Hermione said, offering an easy smile. Between the two of them, she knew that she was better at keeping her composure, and perhaps it wouldn't be too obvious that the secret was both of theirs if she deflected to Ron himself. It wasn't that she minded the thought of Charlie guessing the truth before they were able to share — far from it. But Hermione liked the thought of sharing the news with the entire family at once.

She squeezed Ron's hand in slight apology.

"I'm so glad that the both of you decided to take up residence close to the Nook. I know that it's possible to Apparate from place to place, but I've always loved the thought of having family as close neighbors. Perhaps because I spent so many years away from my own parents. I don't want to spend any more time apart than necessary."

Rounding into the kitchen, Hermione's expression brightened as they entered the room. "Everything smells wonderful, Mrs. Weasley. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Molly tried to remember the last time her children sought her out as a group to offer to help for a party. Usually she had to hunt them down and put them to work. They were usually up to something when they started moving around in packs, she'd found.

But she looked around the kitchen as she wiped her hands on her apron. Everything was going smoothly just then, so she shook her head, although she couldn't keep the smile she wore from growing at seeing the whole of her family that was in Darrow all in once place, and under their new roof. "Not just now, dear. I've got things in hand for the moment. But thank you."

"Have you got a minute, though?" Ron asked, because he knew that his Mum was likely busy, even if she had everything under control at the moment— though he still wasn't convinced that she wasn't about to find something for both him and Charlie to do— and wanted to make sure they had her full attention.

"We've got something to tell you both."

That probably sounded a bit more ominous than Ron intended.

Hermione resisted the temptation to laugh at Ron's phrasing. Somehow, the moment felt all the more tense now that they had the attention of both Molly and Charlie, and Hermione squeezed Ron's hand again, briefly ducking to press her cheek against the curve of his shoulder.

"It might be better not to be maneuvering anything around for this, yes," admitted Hermione, though she did her best to keep her expression warm and welcoming. She didn't want to scare either Molly or Charlie, but the moment required their attention.

Hermione brushed her thumb along the side of Ron's palm, then looked over her shoulder at the kitchen counter. "Maybe we can all sit down?"

"Always with the flair for the dramatic, eh, little brother?" Charlie grins teasingly at Ron as he makes his over to the counter per Hermione's suggestion. He opts to sit on the edge of it instead of a chair, letting he legs swing off the side. Likely, his mum will protest and make him take an actual seat, but for the moment, Charlie's content to remain as he is.

He keeps his gaze focused on the pair of them, an inkling of a suspicion beginning to unfold in his thoughts. He doesn't dwell on it, though; he wants to hear Ron and Hermione's news from them aloud.

"I feel like the cat just about to expire from curiosity," he tells them, eyes twinkling.

There was a hint of frown as Charlie made himself comfortable on the counter instead of a chair, but Molly was far too curious what Ron and Hermione could have to discuss to scold him properly. A flourish of her wand drew four chairs closer; he could make his own inferences and they could all get comfortable.

Or as comfortable as they could while waiting for Ron and Hermione to share their news. "Well don't keep us waiting," she urged as she took a seat.

Charlie'd taken a seat, and his mum had taken a seat, and really, there wasn't anything stopping Ron from coming out with it now. Though, he felt as though he'd built it all up too much now. Maybe though, this was something meant to be built up. It was something massive, and he and Hermione's lives were about to change. There was no reason to think their family wouldn't be happy for them.

"Sorry we're being so formal about all this. Bloody hell, you'd think one of us had caught the wrong end of a curse and was dying," he said, and then squeezed Hermione's hand just a bit and breathed in, "We're going to have a baby."

Once he'd said it, felt like a weight had been lifted, and couldn't hold back a grin any longer. "Hermione's pregnant."

Hermione breathed in deeply as Ron made the announcement, feeling butterflies in her stomach as she gave his hand a squeeze in return. What she couldn't contain was the smile that spread across her face, excited and impossibly grateful that the baby was growing well, and that it would have such a loving family around as support. Hermione ducked her head shyly, biting down on her lip.

"I know, it must seem sudden — it felt sudden to the both of us, as well," Hermione said, trying to fight back the tears that were already forming in her eyes. While the first several weeks hadn't come with very outwardly noticeable changes in her physique, the emotional rollercoaster was certainly great.

"But we had our first check-up with the doctor a while ago, and everything seems to be going well, so... we wanted you two to be the first we announced the news to," she added, cheeks pleasantly flushed as Hermione looked between Molly and Charlie expectantly.

Charlie lets out a loud whoop, raising his arms in the air in a celebratory gesture and promptly falling off the counter in the process. He manages to pick himself up quick enough, though, and rushes to hug both his brother and Hermione.

"Bloody hell, you two are fast. That's brilliant news, though," he tells them, ruffling Ron's hair for good measure and squeezing Hermione's shoulder with affection. "You two are going to be amazing parents. And I'm going to spoil my new little nephew or niece rotten, I can tell you that right now."

Molly didn't say anything at first, although as she all but surged from her chair to pull Ron and Hermione into an enthusiastic embrace, she had a passing thought that having taken a seat was a waste.

And maybe she was getting used to the idea of them not being children any more, since the feeling they were too young didn't hit until later.

"Oh! I'm so happy for you," she said, pulling back to look Hermione over with the experienced eye of someone who knows a thing or two about pregnancy.

Hermione broke into a relieved laugh at once, allowing herself to be pulled into an embrace, and feeling her vision already swim under the threat of tears. More than anything, she knew that whenever she had children, she wanted them to be part of a warm, loving family, and it was a relief to know that even now, her child was surrounded in that effusive warmth. The same that had drawn Hermione to the Weasleys as a family to begin with.

"Thank you," she said, her voice wavering and brows knit in frustration as she tried to keep her voice steady. But perhaps that was the best type of problem to have, being overwhelmed with happiness and optimism. "I can't even begin to express — how glad I am — how happy it makes me to have all of you here, how fortunate I feel to have Ron by my side. I've always wanted to start a family, but growing up, I never could have imagined also having the type of love all of us share."

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Hallowe'en at The Bower

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