The Importance of Being Different

Anne woke up to having something slightly heavy land on her.

“Woah there princess!” chuckled Irwin.

“Morning Daddy!” beamed Olivia.

“Morning little one,” said Irwin shaking his head.

“Do you think Mummy’s awake?” she asked.

“Well there’s only one way to find out,” he whispered.

“Tickling!” yelled Irwin and Olivia.

“Don’t you dare!” said Anne turning over.

“Alright fine,” she sighed, “I’m awake!”

“What I want to know,” said Irwin as he pulled Olivia under the duvet with them, “what is the cause of this alarm clock this morning?”

Olivia snuggled between them under the covers.

“Is there something special you’ve forgotten to tell us about?” asked Anne curiously.

“Don’t you know what today is?” asked Olivia crestfallen.

“Let me see,” muttered Irwin, “is it Wednesday?”

“No, it’s not Wednesday, it’s a Saturday,” said Anne.

“So it is,” he nodded.

“Well seeing as she’s so excited, it must be something important,” reasoned Anne, “is it somebodies’ birthday?”

Olivia shook her head

“No that was in September,” said Irwin.

“We must be forgetting something,” said Anne trying to think.

“You’re just being silly,” giggled Olivia.

“I know!” said Irwin.

“It’s Christmas!!” they said together.

“Has Father Christmas been?”

“We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?” said Irwin as he got out of bed.

Irwin fetched his dressing gown from the back of the door and picked up Olivia.

“Surely a big girl of seven is too big to be carried?” he groaned as he picked her up.

“I’m not that big, am I?”

“You will never be too big, my little princess,” said Irwin as they headed down to the sitting room.

“Presents!” exclaimed Olivia.

“There’s only the things from Father Christmas, and Mummy and Daddy now, you’ll get the rest of the presents later,” said Anne

“That’s ok,” said Olivia.

“Kreacher!” Irwin called as he put Olivia down by the tree.

“Merry Christmas Master Irwin.”

Kreacher was wearing a clean apron and a Father Christmas hat.

“Merry Christmas Kreacher,” chuckled Irwin as he passed Kreacher a small parcel.

Anne and Olivia also passed him wrapped presents.

“For Kreacher?” he asked somewhat confused.

“Are you or are you not a member of this family?” asked Anne.

“Well go on, open them,” said Irwin shaking his head slightly.

Kreacher opened Olivia’s first.

It was a homemade Christmas card covered in glitter and a handmade Christmas wreath for his bedroom door.

“I made them in school,” she said proudly.

“Thank you, Mistress Olivia, they are beautiful.”

Irwin had bought Kreacher a new set of cookbooks he’d been looking at. That only left the present from Anne.

She hoped he’d like it, but she wasn’t sure if he would or not.

Kreacher took the paper off the last present and found a moving photograph in a frame.

It was a picture of them all sitting in the garden last Summer.

Kreacher was sitting in the grass talking to Olivia as she made daisy chains. Anne and Irwin were sitting at the garden furniture next to them.

Anne was wearing a pair of sunglasses and eating a bowl of strawberries, and Irwin was trying to steal one, so Anne was having to swat his hand away.

Kreacher was staring at his picture in shock.

“Do you like it?” Anne stuttered.

“Like it?” Kreacher stammered.

“Kreacher has his own family portrait,” he exclaimed holding the frame to his chest.

“Well you are part of this family,” Anne pointed out.

“Thank you, thank you mistress Anne,” said Kreacher before rushing over to give her a hug.

“Um that’s ok,” she muttered patting him on the back.

“Ok Mummy next,” said Irwin passing Anne a few parcels.

Irwin had got Anne a few books as usual but there was a small box on the bottom.

“I didn’t know what to get you, we have so much money you can buy literally anything in the world that you want.”

Anne looked at the small box that Irwin had given her.

She unwrapped the box and opened it. There was a vintage bronze necklace, there was a flower with a pearl in the middle.

“I thought it might go with your ring, they’re both flowers,” said Irwin as he put it on her.

“It was my Mum’s and before that, it was Granny’s, and it was her mother’s before that.”

“Shouldn’t this be Aislynn’s?” asked Anne as she touched the necklace.

“The necklace wasn’t Gwen’s it was my Mum’s; she didn’t have any daughters. Dad and I thought you might want it.”

“It’s beautiful,” said Anne pulling him in for a hug, “I love it.”

“Not as much as I love you,” he said pulling her in close.

“Can I give my present now?”

“Of course, Livi,” beamed Anne.

Olivia passed her a very strangely wrapped parcel.

“Be careful it’s fragile,” muttered Irwin as Olivia passed her the present.

Anne took the parcel gently from Olivia and unwrapped it carefully.

She found a flowerpot, full of dirt with a little sprout popping up out of it. The flowerpot had been hand painted with tiny flowers.

“Daddy helped me plant it, but I painted the pot on my own.”

“I supervised but she did all the painting,” nodded Irwin.

“It’s a Lily, like your Mummy, Uncle Remus told me about her and how much you look like her.”

Anne carefully passed the flowerpot to Irwin who was sat next to her on the sofa.

She looked into space for a moment.

“Are you ok Mummy?” she asked nervously.

“It’s perfect,” she said pulling Olivia in for a hug, “I love it.”

“Ok,” said Irwin, “Daddy next!”

Irwin had a new tie from Olivia that Anne had helped pick, and a new set of books on Potions from Anne.

“And I think that’s everyone isn’t it,” said Irwin getting up to go and get dressed.

“No!” protested Olivia, “I haven’t had any presents yet!”

“What?” said Irwin in a tone of mock surprise.

“I wonder who that large stack of presents might be for?” asked Anne.

A grin flashed onto Olivia’s eyes so big it carried through to her eyes.

“Go on,” chuckled Irwin.

She dived over the tree and pulled out the biggest present she could find.

“A girl of my own heart,” said Irwin shaking his head.

Olivia ripped the wrapping paper off and found a miniature potions kit.

“You can’t make anything serious on it,” said Anne as Olivia looked at her little cauldron, “but I know you like watching Daddy and me when we’re making potions.”

“You don’t have a wand or anything so all you can really do is a form of cooking,” said Irwin, “but potions is really just a type of cooking in the end.”

“It’s really cool,” said Olivia as she looked at her tiny set of scales.

Olivia opened the rest of her presents, there was some magical and some muggle toys. Her favourite toy was a fluffy toy unicorn, which could fly around the room.

“Only one left,” said Irwin as Olivia pulled out the final present.

Olivia was now sat on the floor of the sitting room surrounded by a vast mountain of multi coloured wrapping paper.

She lifted the last parcel onto her lap.

“It’s heavy,” she groaned.

“Well go on princess, open it up!”

Olivia pulled the wrapping paper off of the parcel and found a large book.

“Tales from Welsh Mythology,” she read off the front cover of the hardback book.

“There’s all sorts in there,” said Irwin, “beautiful princesses and fearsome dragons.”

“Magical wizards and daring nights,” nodded Anne.

“Like Merlin?” she asked.

“Exactly like Merlin,” agreed Anne.

“Now then my lovely girls, why don’t we go get up?”

“Do we have to?” groaned Olivia who wanted to read her new book.

“It’s nearly ten o’clock,” said Irwin, “we’re due at the Weasley’s in an hour.”

“Can I wear one my new princess dress?”

Olivia had gotten a velvet long sleeved pink dress like Sleeping Beauty’s for Christmas, which matched her cloak.

“Of course, sweetheart.”

“Kreacher should go check on the mince pies,” said Kreacher getting up to go and pack the food for the Weasleys.

There was going to be thirty-three people there it total, so Anne and Olivia had been helping Kreacher bake enough treats for everyone, mince pies, Christmas cake, gingerbread men, shortbread biscuits the lot.

Anne went upstairs to go and get dressed. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a light blue cashmere jumper.

“How you doing?” muttered Irwin as they got ready.

“I’m fine, I’m just a little bit...”

“Nervous?” he finished.

She nodded.

“Well I can’t say I’m surprised, there’s going to be thirty-three people there and you don’t like crowds.”

“Thirty-three of my closest friends and family,” she pointed out.

“Are you sure you’re up to this?” he asked gently, putting his hands on her shoulders.

She nodded firmly.

“Ok don’t forget to take this before lunch,” said Irwin passing her a bottle of potion.

Anne nodded and went downstairs to help Kreacher pack up all the food.

She started to feel slightly sick as she walked into the kitchen, but she gulped it down. Possibly helping with the food wasn’t such a good idea, she went to start gather all the bags of presents instead so that they were ready to leave.

“You ready Annie?” asked Irwin as he came into the sitting room.

“Don’t worry I’ll get those,” he said gently taking the heavy presents bags from her and shrinking them.

“You got everything Kreacher?” asked Irwin before putting all the tins of food in a bag.

“Can you carry this for me princess?” asked Irwin, handing Olivia the heavy bag of cakes and treats.

“Yep,” she nodded carrying the bag with both hands.

“Ok we’re ready to go then,” said Irwin as they all grabbed their cloaks and headed out of the house so that they could apparate to The Burrow.

Anne took hold of Olivia’s hand firmly and side-apparated with her to The Burrow.

Anne felt slightly queasy as she arrived at The Burrow, but she had always felt a bit funny after apparating.

“You ok Annie?”

“Hmmm,” she muttered as they walked towards the house with Olivia and Kreacher.

Arthur and Bill were setting up a marque in the garden, and Charlie and Percy were getting out all the tables. There was so many of them that they were having to eat outside, keeping warm with enchanted braziers.

“Irwin!” called Arthur, “give us a hand, could you?”

“Sure thing,” said Irwin, “just let me take these in first.”

Irwin took the bags of presents inside and unshrunk them putting them with the rest of the bags of presents.

“Hello Aunty Molly!” said Olivia as they went into the kitchen.

“Hello Olivia,” beamed Molly giving them both a hug.

“What have you got there?” she asked as Olivia passed her the bag.

“Kreacher has been baking,” nodded Kreacher, “would you like some help preparing the rest of the food?”

“If you’re sure you don’t mind, feel free,” shrugged Molly.

Anne left Olivia in the kitchen with Molly and Kreacher.

Ginny and Fleur were sitting in the sitting room chatting whilst they waited for everyone else to arrive.

“You like fine Fleur.”

“Ha, you say that now,” muttered Fleur shaking her head, “but in five months non, I shall be enormous.”

“It’ll all be worth it when the baby arrives though right?”

“Naturalment,” nodded Fleur, “but I hope it doesn’t ruin my figure.”

“Nothing could ever ruin your figure Fleur,” said Anne shaking her head slightly as she sat down.

“I can’t believe we’re having so many people round,” said Anne.

“We’ve got a lot to celebrate,” said Ginny, “the wars over properly now all the Deatheaters have been rounded up, Irwin and you got married, Harry and I are engaged, Fleur’s expecting, Percy and Audrey got married last month.”

“Not to mention,” said Fleur, “it’s your goddaughters first birthday today.”

Anne couldn’t believe that it was a whole year ago that she had been in the hospital with Remus and Dora, and baby Hope had been born.

“Still this many people,” sighed Anne getting up from the sofa.

“It’ll be fine,” said Ginny getting up to try and follow her from the room.

“Leave her be,” said Fleur.

Anne headed out into the garden where they were trying to set up the tent and the tables for the huge lunch once everyone arrived.

She did up her cloak slightly tighter around her and pulled on her hood as she sat down on a stone wall.

She watched from the wall out of the way as first, the Scamander’s, then the Granger’s, Luna and Xenophilius Lovegood and then the Lupin family including Tonks’ mother Andromeda arrived.

Irwin had already noticed that she was there but decided to give some peace and quiet for a bit, it was going to be a very long day.

“Hey little Sis,” chuckled Harry sitting down on the wall next to her.

Harry had just arrived with Sirius, Jack and Dobby, the last of the guests.

“You alright?” he asked putting an arm around her.

“Yeah, there’s just a lot of people here today.”

“There aren’t that many,” said Harry.

“There’s thirty-three,” she said looking at him.

“Wow,” muttered Harry impressed, “you’ve got thirty-three friends, who knew?”

Anne glared at him slightly.

“Come on,” said Harry chuckling and getting off the wall, “we need to get a move, or they’ll start without us.”

Harry and Anne walked further down the garden where the huge Christmas dinner was set up.

There was five huge table pulled together which were heaving under the weight of all of the food. There were only two places left, one next to Ron and the other at the end corner of one of the tables next to the newest member of the Weasley family Audrey.

“Hi,” said Anne nervously as she sat down.

Irwin looked over at Anne and mimed drinking a potion.

Anne nodded and pulled the anti-nausea potion out of her cloak pocket and downed it.

“Hello,” said Audrey.

If possible, Audrey seemed to be even more nervous than she was.

“I had no idea Percy’s family was this big,” she said shaking her head slightly.

“They’re not all related to Percy,” Anne pointed out, “only the red heads, and Landon, Rolf, Irwin and I are Scamander’s not Weasleys.”

“I think you’ve somehow made this more confusing,” sighed Audrey laughing slightly, passing Anne a fully loaded plate of Christmas dinner.

Anne didn’t really eat any of her dinner, even having taken the potion she didn’t like eating much, she never did at big parties like this.

After Christmas dinner they started to clear things away, the tables needed taking down, the plates taken inside, and the marque needed sorting out.

Anne went inside with Irwin where Olivia was sitting in the living room with Jack, Averett, Aislynn, Luna and Ginny.

“So how goes Hogwarts?” asked Irwin flopping down on the sofa next to his twin siblings.

“It’s great!” said Averett.

“The library is so huge,” said Aislynn.

“And the ghosts are awesome,” nodded Jack.

Averett, Jack and Aislynn had just finished their first term at Hogwarts. Averett had been made a Hufflepuff, Aislynn a Ravenclaw and Jack a Gryffindor.

“It’s so cool,” continued Jack, “I get to hang out with Kevin all the time, we get to share a dorm and everything!”

“Here’s an honest question for you Ginny,” said Harry who had just joined them with Hermione and Ron, “what’s worse, having Neville or your Dad as a Professor?”

“Seeing Dad around the school is a bit weird, but I don’t actually take his class, so definitely Professor Neville.”

“I like Professor Weasley,” muttered Luna, “his class is fascinating.”

“I want to take Muggle Studies when I get into third year, it sounds really cool,” said Aislynn.

“Yeah, we get to find out how all that cool stuff in Anne and Irwin’s house works, like the television and light bulbs.”

“I’d like to take that subject,” said Jack, “Professor Weasley seems really cool, but there wouldn’t be any point because I’m a muggleborn so I already know all about that stuff.”

“Are my ears burning?” asked Arthur coming back into the sitting room with all the others.

“Yes Professor,” said Irwin, “we were talking to your prospective students for in a few years.”

“Who wants to open up some presents?” said Sirius.

They all somehow managed to squash themselves into the sitting room. Some people were leaning against the wall, others were sitting on the floor, some people were sitting on other’s laps.

Olivia was sat on Irwin’s lap, and Anne was sitting on the floor leaning against Irwin’s legs.

“Before we get started,” said Irwin, “I know we’ve all had a busy year, a lots happened but we’ve got even more news.”

Everyone in the room turned to look at him.

“Irwin and I went to St. Mungos yesterday, we’ve been trying for a while and we were worried that something might be wrong.”

“You’re ok aren’t you sweetheart?” asked Remus panicking slightly and getting up from where he was leaning against the wall.

“Let them finish Remus,” said Tonks.

“She’s fine,” chuckled Irwin, “we’re just going to be in for a very long seven months.”

“I knew it,” muttered Sirius putting his head in his hands, “she’s ill isn’t she, only got seven months to live.”

“I’m fine Sirius,” Anne assured him, “I’m pregnant.”

“You’re not?” asked Gwen.

“She is,” nodded Irwin.

“Am I going to have a little brother or sister soon?” asked Olivia turning herself around to face Irwin.

“Yes, little princess.”

“I’m due in late July,” said Anne, “we only found out yesterday.”

“And we haven’t told you the best part yet,” beamed Irwin.

“There can’t be more!” exclaimed Rolf who was leaning against the coffee table his arm around Luna.

“We’re going to be having triplets,” said Irwin.

“You’re joking,” said George.

Harry and Sirius’ mouths had dropped open.

“This has got to be the best April Fool ever,” chuckled Jack.

“Because it’s four months early,” agreed Averett.

“He’s not joking,” said Anne, “Irwin and I are having triplets.”