Chapter Text
“Happy birthday dear Albus, happy birthday to you!”
The notes rang out through the Burrow, with family members young and old adding their voices to the celebratory din.
For his part, the birthday boy was rather in awe of the festivities. Last spring, James had been so proud to know all the words that he had sung it to himself, much to everyone’s amusement. But Albus listened in silence.
As the last chorus died away, Harry spotted the beginnings of a trembling lower lip and started forward, hoping to avoid disaster. But with her chaser reflexes, Ginny was there in a flash separating herself from the crowd of children already clamoring for cake.
“Mummy!” Albus raised his arms in surrender, as she extracted him from the high chair with practiced ease. With his chubby face and dimpled knees, he was still her baby and it seemed just yesterday that she had held him in her arms for the first time.
Planting a kiss on his forehead, Ginny murmured. “Let’s show these candles who’s boss, Al.”
Two candles, one for each of them. Together, they wished.
~
A couple of hours later and the sugar slump had set in. James was curled up in Ginny’s former bedroom. He and Freddy were listening to a colorful rendition of The Wizard and the Hopping Pot courtesy of Uncle George, fighting sleep in that futile way that toddlers do.
The Granger-Weasleys left not long after the plates had been cleared away, with a protesting Rosie in tow. Ron suggested that she was overtired, but an afternoon of polite refusals, unexplained absences and covert glances led Harry to suspect that that their swift exit had little to do with their daughter and more to do with a secret sibling.
Celestina Warbeck could be heard warbling on the wireless in the kitchen; though Angelina hated the singer, her tunes had a calming effect on Roxanne. Bill and Fleur had just disappeared through the Floo Network with the girls, taking Molly with them for a sleepover. Audrey and Percy said farewell too, with talk of lesson plans and reports.
Though initially distraught at his cousin’s departure, Albus had cheered up immensely at the sight of some brand new building blocks. After completing his tallest tower to date, the toddler fell asleep, exhausted by all the excitement.
Now he lay snoozing in the armchair opposite the fire, while his parents shared the sofa. Breaking the comfortable silence, Ginny whispered. “You never asked me what I wished for…”
Harry eyed his wife in disbelief, wondering how she could be so ignorant of the most basic principles of magic. “It won’t work if you tell me!”
Ginny laughed, leaning in so that her breath tickled his ear and his nostrils were filled the beloved scent of flowery perfume. “Let’s see about that, shall we?”