6The birth of pranksters
"Where is he? Where is the new baby?" Charlie asked hopping up and down in excitement. After hours of waiting in a dull room with no toys Charlie had been impatient for something to happen. Charlie had just been daydreaming of what would happen if a dragon suddenly attacked the hospital when the Weasley children had gotten the news of their new sibling's arrival. Arthur Weasley, the boy's father had just entered the hospital waiting room, and after giving his three children the thumbs up, he collapsed wearily on the uncomfortable chairs.
Charlie looked behind his father hopefully as if the baby would be following behind. It was not, disappointed Charlie turned his attention towards his weary father.
Charlie's two brothers were more restrained in their eagerness to finally meet their new brother or sister, but even they could not disguise the excitement at the thought of finally meeting their fourth sibling. The children crowded around their father and started badgering him for answerers.
"Well is it a boy, or a girl?" the oldest child, William asked. The children's father gave a small but no less loving smile as he let the older boy climb into his arms and onto his lap.
"No sister this time, boys." Dad said almost apologetically, "maybe next time."
All three boys' had wanted a sister very badly, almost as much as Molly herself. But despite none of them being female, Arthur vowed to himself, none of his children would feel lacking in anyway. It didn't matter to Arthur that his children where all boys. What mattered to him was how his family was raised; and he and Molly had plenty of affection and respect to give their offspring. Where his family lacked in money, they would make up with love.
Percy, the youngest child placed his thumb in his mouth and asked if they could see mama soon for he missed her very much.
"You may see mama very soon." Dad told the boys "The healers are just getting mama and the babies ready."
"Babies?" Charlie and William said together.
"Huh?" Percy said.
"Do you mean to tell me that mama had twins?" William asked shocked. William knew his mama's brothers were twins but he hadn't expected his mama to have two children. He thought there had only been one baby.
"Of course not," Charlie said "It's a joke. Right dad? It's April fool's day and so dad is making a joke."
Their dad just smiled and after getting up led the boys out of the waiting room and into the room that held a sleeping Molly and two perfect babies. He knew his older son's wouldn't except that there were two babies until they saw them for themselves.
Later as his family was examining its newest two members, Arthur found himself remembering another pair of twins.
Twins whose lives had been extinguished just weeks ago. What would the future hold for this new set of boys? Arthur didn't know, but he knew that if his sons were as loving and funny as Molly's brothers were, life would never be dull.