the_debt_of_time

Mia smirked at the man. "Overjoyed?"
"After the twins?" Arthur weakly laughed and ran a hand through his already
thinning hair. "I have to admit, I'm a little relieved. I don't think any of the older
boys ever caused such a fuss." He yawned, clearly exhausted from having two newborns
back home, not to mention Bill and Charlie who, according to Arthur, were entering a
trouble-filled stage of life, breaking everything in sight and picking on their younger
brother, Percy. "I honestly feel terrible that I'm not there with her all the time to help."
"You're a good man. From what you've told me about her, I'm sure Molly will get
along just fine. Maybe bring her home some flowers."
"Flowers?" Arthur chuckled. "Haven't you heard? I've got five kids to feed. No spare
Sickles for flowers."
"Are you a wizard, or aren't you?" Mia rolled her eyes and picked up a spare bit of
parchment, rolling it up and then waving her wand over the top. The paper melted away,
curling in on itself only to reveal a purple orchid that bloomed from the twisted parchment.
"Brilliant." Arthur gave her a lopsided grin that was almost identical to Ron's. It
made her heart ache just a little. Growing up with James and Lily made her feel like Harry
was always somewhere nearby, but Ron had been sorely missing. Until Arthur had walked
into her office, she was all but certain she had forgotten what Ron looked like.
"Can you do carnations?"
"Hmm?" Mia looked up, pulled from her thoughts. "No. My mum always said that
carnations were cheap."
Arthur nodded thoughtfully. "Shame I can't transfigure a vacation. I think
Mollywobbles could use one. Feels like she's been pregnant since we graduated Hogwarts."
Mia very slowly raised an eyebrow. "Really now? Since Hogwarts?"
She could not possibly imagine interacting with Arthur and Molly at Hogwarts and
was glad to know that they had graduated before the Marauders arrived at school. It was
already strange enough to know Arthur at this stage of life, but to witness his courtship of
Molly Prewett would have been incredibly awkward.
"Oh, not quite. We married straight after school, of course, but little William didn't
come along for another year or so," he explained. "We were very careful with the charms
and potions there... in the beginning."
"Smart man."