Elliot had been worried when Lauren and Charlie had stayed behind to talk. Although he allowed Arthur to take him to see the flying, his enthusiasm was tempered by his concern. So he was beyond delighted to see his parents coming back to the group, hand in hand. He watched silently as his Mummy talked with his Nanna and, while he didn't understand why they were talking about rings, he was happy when Lauren stepped away from Molly and, suddenly, she and Daddy were embracing.

As Charlie cupped Lauren's face in his hands and kissed her thoroughly, the entire group apparently wanted to share their delight in the news of their commitment. Wary of Molly's ire, they limited themselves to cheers, whistles and whoops at the kiss. Filled with his own joy at the scene, their son clapped his hands together and shouted an exuberant, "yes!"

As Elliot shouted, he gave a little bounce and, much to the surprise of those around him, a small, translucent dragon appeared to jump from his fingers. Elliot opened his arms and watched it fly through the air with joy, before running after it.

Hermione was the first to speak, but Fred was the fastest to react. By the time she had finished asking her husband – in a rather astonished voice – if he thought that the dragon could possibly be a patronus, Fred had grinned, raised his wand, remembered his wedding night and cast his own. His hyena charged forth and engaged the silvery dragon in a chasing game, further delighting Elliot.

"Inardoe has a friend!" Elliot told Hermione, stopping in front of her but not taking his eyes off the dragon. George had the presence of mind to lean over and gently poke Charlie in the side. Charlie pulled back from kissing Lauren and then, also startled by what he saw, draw Lauren's attention to the scene too.

"Is that Inardoe?" she asked her little boy, who eagerly nodded.

"He came out of my fingers," he said, looking at his tiny hands in wonder before turning his attention back to the dragon and reaching out his arms just as he did when he wanted Lauren or Charlie to pick him up. Inardoe, who was by now fading, rushed towards Elliot, wings outstretched as if readying himself for a hug. Elliot returned the gesture and then threw his arms around his body as the dragon form apparently crashed into his chest and then dissolved into thin air, leaving the tiny wizard with a beatific expression on his face.

"Well I never…" Molly's voice was quiet; reverent. Slowly, she turned to Harry. "You're the patronus expert…" She tailed off.

Harry shook his head slowly. "I've never seen anything like it," he said, breaking into a smile when Elliot looked at him, a question in the little wizard's eyes. "You're very clever," he told the child.

"I don't know how…" Elliot said, looking closely at his hands.

"That's okay," said Harry, his voice reassuring. He knelt down in front of the little boy who he hadn't really had a chance to get to know yet. "I did stuff like that when I was growing up and, most of the time," Harry confided, "I don't know how I did it either." He shrugged and then smiled.

"Really?" asked Elliot and Harry laughed and nodded. He cast a quick glance at Hermione, who raised her eyebrows in a smile, remembering the first time that Harry had cast a patronus. She still hadn't completely got her head around how that had all fitted together.

Molly also crouched beside her grandson, giving Harry a smile as she accepted his hand to steady her. Of all of those present, she was the one most used to discussing accidental magic with children. "Well," she said, matter of factly, "it's because you have magic, dear. And when you're bigger, you'll go to Hogwarts Castle on the train and the teachers will help you learn to use your magic. But sometimes, when you're little, magic just bursts out of you. It happens when you're really happy or sad. And it's OK. We've all had it happen," she reassured him, waving her arm around to indicate her family, and several of those present nodded.

Molly moved closer and whispered something into Elliot's ear. His eyes widened and he looked at his father. "Did you really?" he asked, and Charlie laughed, looking at his mum.

"Probably," he said, with a laugh and a shrug, striding over and picking up his son for a hug. He didn't know what Molly had told Elliot, but it had had the desired effect. "Now," he added, "shall we go and sit near the train again? We can tell you about the real train, if you like."

"Can I go with him?" Elliot asked, pointing at Harry, who still stood nearby.

"Of course." Charlie stepped closer to Harry, whose hands moved in a slightly uncertain reflex action when Elliot leaned away from his dad and held out his arms to Harry. The dark-haired wizard reached for Elliot and, used to being carried in many different positions, the toddler quickly looped his legs around Harry's body, which gave the wizard a bit of a clue. He adjusted his arms in the way that he had seen Charlie do. Hefting the small boy up, so that he was more secure, Harry decided to check in with Elliot.

"That okay?" he asked Elliot. "I've not had much practice carrying little people." His voice caught, remembering the last time he had held someone of this size and weight in his arms. Dobby.

Elliot nodded. "That way," he pointed, showing Harry exactly where he wanted to go and chattering away about the chickens, which at least brought Harry's mind back to the present.

When Charlie and Bill's laughs rang out like an echo of each other, it had nothing to do with Elliot's bossiness. It was the look on their sister's face, as she gazed at the sight of Harry with a tiny redheaded child in his arms. George and Fred soon caught on, and joined in.

"You next then, Harry," Fred teased. Harry turned and grinned, as oblivious as ever to what was happening. He could only assume that they were talking about quidditch.

Fred and George hung back slightly as the group walked back towards the firepit. "Can't believe I'm going to be an uncle," Fred said, using the opportunity to check in with his twin. He was relieved when he felt George's excitement through the bond. "And Angie?" he asked.

"Nervous, and a bit surprised, but thrilled." It was Angie herself speaking; she had come up from behind and fastened herself to George's side, sliding her arm around his waist. George put his own arm against her shoulder and pulled her close to him as they walked.

"You know it's sort of mine too?" Fred asked.

"Come again?" Angie looked up at him, a laugh already on her lips. "I'm pretty sure I'd have noticed if you were there on my honeymoon, Freddie!"

"Hermione told me. Love!" he called to his wife, wanting her in this conversation. "Tell Angie why the baby's sort of mine too?"

"It's not yours in an ownership sense," Hermione said, and Lauren also turned and laughed, having realised where this conversation had probably stemmed from. She was interested in what and how much the magical members of her family knew about science, given that its laws weren't as relevant or fixed in their world. "But the fact that you and George have the same DNA – which I've told you about – means that, biologically, no-one would be able to tell whether you or George were the father of mine and Angie's babies."

"See," Fred said to Angie. "Mine too." His tone carried a finality that made her laugh.

"Okay," she said. "I'll remember that when we're really tired at four a.m. and it does a pooey nappy. That's when it'll be yours."

Fred grinned. "I don't mind," he said. "I like 4 a.m. And there must be a pooey nappy charm. Can't believe someone hasn't invented that. I'll ask mum. And if not, I'll invent one."

"Oh Gods," said Hermione, watching her husband stride off towards Molly and muttering about vanishing spells. "Now she's going to think we're pregnant as well, or wanting to be!"

George laughed softly and then leaned down to Angie, placing a careful kiss on her temple. "She won't," he reassured Hermione. "She knows he gets overexcited about everything, love."

As they watched the conversation between Fred and Molly, all three of them laughed together. Molly lit up at the idea of teaching Fred some parenting charms and was nodding vigorously while showing him a couple of wand movements. By the time they had reached the fire circle and settled back down on their blanket, he was jogging back with an announcement that he was all set and ready to help.

"So now we just need you to contain your excitement for nine or ten months," Hermione teased him. But then, when George and Angie had turned to accept a few more belated congratulations from other members of the family, she whispered, "next weekend, shall we go into town and buy them some things? Muggle things, I mean." Fred's eyes lit up. "Everyone else will get them magical things and quidditch outfits. I'd like to get them some muggle clothes and toys for the baby."

"Brill," Fred said, taking the fact that most other people were distracted as an excuse to gently push Hermione back into a beanbag and snog her thoroughly. For reasons that he didn't fully understand, even just thinking about his future niece or nephew made him want to take Hermione straight home to bed and make a baby with her as well. Hermione smiled into his kiss when she sensed his thoughts, and sent him the mental picture of a calendar; the pages turning for more than a year to remind him of her need for time. "I know, love," he said, "but you can't stop a man from dreaming."

"When you have perfected changing pooey nappies for Angie's baby," she whispered, so that no-one else would hear, "then we'll talk."

"Deal," he said. "And in the meantime, we'll practice…"

George had heard though; the pictures and emotions that he sensed through the twin bond confirming the words he had missed, and he whispered to Angie. "Fred has to learn to change nappies before he can be a dad."

"That's handy," she said, with a soft laugh. "We'll have to make sure we get in before Fleur does."

"No worries about that," George replied, flattening his hand over Angie's tummy and then caressing her belly button through her top with his thumb. "Fleur's not having his baby," he joked, and they both laughed. George pulled Angie closer to him; their bodies pressed together on the blanket. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, soppy bollocks."

"Tea! Hot chocolate! Firewhisky!" Arthur's voice wasn't that loud, but it served to gently break up the various kissing couples and chatting friends who were scattered around the fire circle. He had wanted to take his train back to his shed before the fire was lit, so had told Molly to stay put; he would bring the drinks on the way back. Molly was chatting to Ron and Harry while watching Percy use the dinner plates as kindling to start a small fire.

"Just for a half hour of cosiness," Percy had said, when his mum had warned him not to pile too many logs on.

"Okay then. I'm sending you all home after this," Molly announced, as drinks were handed out. "We've all got a busy day and a long evening tomorrow. Unless…" she caught Lauren's eye and had a silent conversation with the young woman, who nodded eagerly and gratefully when she caught Molly's drift and remembered the older woman's earlier invitation to keep Elliot for the night. "Would anyone like to sleep with Bryan and help get the chickens up in the morning?"

"Me!" Elliot twisted around immediately from his position, scrambling over to sit in Molly's lap when he saw her smiling.

"Night then," Charlie joked, grinning at the back of his fast-disappearing son. "We'll see you sometime tomorrow."

Elliot stopped in his tracks and then ran back to give both of his parents a kiss. Then he decided he needed to kiss Fleur and Angie's tummies and high five Harry before making his way to the sofa on which his grandparents sat.

"I have a question," Fred asked Lauren, loudly enough for everyone to hear. "And you're welcome to slap me if you think it's impertinent, but I'm genuinely interested."

"He really is," Hermione confirmed, having half an idea of where Fred was taking this conversation. "Fred has inherited Arthur's love for all things muggle. I suspect that's why he married me," she joked, and several people laughed.

"Gods, it's just as well there weren't more muggleborns in our year then," Molly said, looking at Arthur.

"I never had eyes for anyone but you, Mollywobbles, you know that," he said.

"I want to hear Fred's question," said Ron. Harry laughed quietly; they had been practising diplomacy and something that Kingsley called 'the distraction principle' in Auror training that week. He couldn't wait to tell everyone how well Ron had managed to apply their new-found knowledge in order to steer the conversation away from his parents' romantic lives.

"Alright," said Fred, equally keen to change the subject. He smiled at Lauren. "You didn't think we were being truthful about flying on brooms til today. So how did you think we were going to move your cottage?"

"Oh," she smiled back, unable to hold back a laugh as well. "Well … I can't say I had thought about it that much, but I suppose I imagined that you were going to drive or ride under it in cars, or maybe on animals of some kind, and use your wands to move it from the ground. I knew about disillusioning charms, so I thought it would be just a bit higher than the treetops and the electricity cables.

Arthur's ears had clearly pricked up at the mention of electricity, and he sat up straighter.

"Settle down, Dad," George said, making the others laugh. "Nothing to see here."

"Alright, so I have a question back," she said. "For anyone," she waved her arm expansively, "not necessarily Fred. Does the fact that broom flying is real mean that I'll one day get to fulfil my fantasy of riding on a flying carpet?"

Several of the Weasleys looked at Arthur, who pulled a face.

"Not in Britain, dear," Arthur said. "They're banned here, and that's partly my responsibility. Sorry!"

"But it's very possible elsewhere," Bill added with a smile. "Asia, for a start. Or Mongolia. You two should take a trip!"

Lauren turned to Charlie, eyes wide. "Can we?" she asked. "I mean," she clarified quickly, "not that I think I need your permission to go, but I'll certainly need your help to go on a flying carpet. Unless I persuade Hermione to go on holiday with me instead, but I don't know that Fred will go for that," she teased.

"Of course we can," Charlie said, before she had any other ideas. "In fact, once we've got this law sorted tomorrow, there are loads of things we can think about doing. We'll have the rest of the summer to play. We could go for your birthday," he said, and then looked horrified. "I don't even know what month your birthday is!"

"November," she told him.

"That's the month before mine," Charlie replied. "December the twelfth," he smiled, in answer to her raised eyebrows. "We'll go for our birthdays," he promised.

"That's a point, love." Fred's voice was soft in Hermione's ear.

"What?" she asked.

"It's not that long til your birthday, if I remember rightly," he said, nuzzling into her neck. "Isn't it quite soon after the school year begins?"

"September the nineteenth," she confirmed, and Fred nodded.

"And what would you like to do?" he asked, "or shall it be a surprise?"

Hermione turned and settled herself more firmly in Fred's arms, taking a moment to consider the question. "Take me somewhere nice for a long weekend," she said. "Somewhere romantic, where we have nice views and nice food and a really comfy bed…"

His hand was roaming over her tummy and hip, and Hermione felt herself getting turned on. "You liking that?" he said.

"I am." She leaned forward and the couple kissed deeply before turning back to the conversation, which had now turned to the plans for the next day and evening. Mugs and glasses were being drained and then levitated back onto the tray. Fleur was telling everybody that all the dresses and any robes that had been ordered were at Shell Cottage and that they were all welcome to arrive anytime in the afternoon to get ready. Then several conversations were happening at once; each of the Weasleys and their loved ones had a role to play, and this was their last chance to confirm who was meeting whom, and where, to set their collective plans in motion. Some of the plans were secret, and whispered, so as not to spoil Harry's birthday surprise. A sense of excitement and trepidation began to grow. This was the eve of the moment that they had been planning; building up to; waiting for. The chance to change the direction of their world for the second time in a summer.

Molly reminded them all not to forget Sunday dinner in their excitement, and Lee, Verity and Percy checked that everyone was set with the wand movements they would need. Fred and George announced that the shop would be closed but they would leave the roof garden unwarded for anyone who wanted to apparate over. And then Fred turned to Hermione, eyebrows raised, and they smiled with a shared thought. They would leave soon, so they could be together.

The fire crackled, the conversation and laughter flowed and Molly and Arthur smiled at each other. They both looked down at their beloved grandson, now nearly asleep on Arthur's lap, and then across at the two witches who carried their next two grandchildren. Life was good, and their fingers were crossed for the future. And, by this time tomorrow, they would know which way things had gone.