Celia I A Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter Forty - Another Weasley

21st August 2004:

I looked at the man staring at me from the end of the aisle and smiled wide. His red hair shone in the setting summer sky and I forced myself to keep the tears at bay, as I let go of the arm holding onto me and stepped next to my best friend, holding her little one tightly.
The role of maid of honour had once more been given to me, alongside Ginny. But her hands had been so full with their new addition to the family, that I had happily done the majority of the work. George smiled at me from next to Ron and I observed his brother's eyes slowly fill with tears as he stared transfixed to his soon to be wife walking down the aisle. James wriggled in his mother's arms, his face threatening to cry, so I started to make funny faces at him, hoping he would calm down.

"You know there's gonna be some weird pictures of you making faces at the baby." I move around to face the voice speaking to me after the ceremony was finished and smile widely as Luna walks up to me.
"You saw that, hey?" I ask, cringing with embarrassment.
"You were really good with him, have you talked to George about kids?" She asks, smiling at me as she caressed her own protruding stomach.
"We've talked a little about it, but nothing serious just yet." She nods and smiles at me as Neville walked over and placed his arm around her waist.
"I heard there's another book on the go." I nod at him and glance over to George standing with his brothers; he could never keep a secret.
"It's only the beginning, but I've signed with a new publication and they were desperate for me to start writing as soon as possible." They both beam at me with happiness and I couldn't help but feel a slight twang of jealousy with their upcoming little one.
"Well, I'm glad you got rid of Skeeter, she was never good for you." I nod in appreciation to the couple.
"Thank you. I can't believe how close you are now!" I state to them, knowing that she was due at the end of the month.
"I know, I'm just so glad Sprout hasn't left just yet. I hope you don't mind waiting on the promotion for another few months, Celia." I nod and wave him off, knowing that he needed to spend time with his family.
"Oh don't even stress, I'm not sure I'm quite ready for the responsibilities of Head of House just yet anyway. Another few months won't hurt to learn more from Sprout." He smiles at me in appreciation and I wave goodbye as they walk over to the tables.

Once George and I had come back from our travels, a new publishing company whom were desperate to work with me had approached me, and I couldn't have been happier to accept them. The new book I had decided to focus on was a more fictional approach and had infused the work I had been doing on my own emotional attachment to the death of my brother. McGonagall wanted me to take over from Sprout at the start of the next school year once she decided to retire, but with Neville taking paternity leave with Luna, Sprout had decided to stay on and take over his classes until he came back in the Spring. I was grateful to this as it meant I could spend my free time focusing on the book instead of overseeing the entire Hufflepuff cohort. But once the spring arrived I was excited to begin a new career journey, knowing that I would probably be done with my writing.

George had been busy expanding the business, as the addition of Hogsmead had been a huge success. He had decided that Brighton was the next move after the second store in London had opened, as Nick and Dean's restaurant was still going strong.

Speaking of Nick, he and Dean walked over to me, both of them beaming with excitement.
"What's got you all amped up?" I asked him, grabbing the drink from his hands and embracing him.
"We just got the best news!" I raised my eyebrows as he brought the letter up to me and his smile grew.

'Congratulations Mr & Mr Reynolds-Thomas, we have reviewed your application for adoption and have accepted. Please be ready for more information in the upcoming days.'
I couldn't stop the squeal out of my mouth as I embraced the both of them and gained the attention of those around us.
"You're going to be parents!" I shout at them, spilling my drink through my excitement.
"I know!" Nick shouts back at me and I fail to keep the tears in.
"Why are you crying? I should be crying!" Dean states, laughing at me as I wipe the tears from my eyes.
"I know, I'm sorry. There's just so much excitement going on at the moment!" I state, laughing as I start to get embarrassed with my emotion.
"I think being around little James is making you clucky, Ceils." Nick jokes and I sigh, knowing he was right.
"It seems that it's made George pretty clucky too." Nick continues, pointing out the little boy playing with his uncle, chuckling as George threw him in the air.
"He loves that kid like it's his own." I state, not able to stop the smile forming on my face as I stared at the two of them.
"Have you talked more to that specialist from last year?" Dean asks, grabbing another drink for me and handing it over.
"Thank you, and no. She said she would contact me when she had more information on a new trial she was working on. But I don't think I'm ready quite yet for all of that. I want to make sure George and I have experienced more before we look into it." They both frown at me and I roll my eyes in reply.
"You don't know that anything would happen." Nick states.
"Exactly, I don't know what will happen to me. I'm just being realistic." They both sigh and I walk towards the group with them.

"Hey babe." George greets me as I walk up to him and he places his arm around me.
"Hey." I whisper, kissing him gently on the lips.
"Have I told you how beautiful you look yet?" I laugh quietly and lean my head on his.
"About a million times, but you can say it again." I joke, our eyelashes fluttering against each other.
"Well, you're the most beautiful women in this room that's for sure." He states and I laugh again.
"Don't say that in front of Hermione, it's her big day." I state a little louder, straightening up and greeting the newly married couple as they walked towards us.

Hermione looked gorgeous in her simple gown, the dress framed her curves beautifully and the skirt flowed as she moved across the floor. The rest of the family walked over to us and as they approached, we all crowded around together.

"I can't believe my little boy is married!" Mum squealed as she embraced the both of them. I gigged into George's arm as I watched his brother's face glow red from the attention.
"It's good to see you both so happy." Charlie states, walking over and hugging the two.
"Thanks bro." Ron replied before we all gathered around for the photos.
"I can't thank you enough for taking the brunt of the work, Ceils." Ginny murmured to me as we all posed for the photos.
"Don't be silly, you already had your hands full with this one." I state, pinching James' cheeks as he squealed up at me.
"He's definitely been a hand full, that's for sure. I'm so grateful that you are all so willing to help us out." I smile and grab him from her as they asked for immediate family photos.
"What are you doing?" Hermione frowned at me and I smile in ignorance.
"I'm not immediate family." I state, standing in confusion.
"You're an idiot. Nick can you take James for a second please?" They all laughed at me as I let Nick pick up the child and I was whisked into the photo.
"We've been friends for over a decade now, Celia. I would have thought you'd understand you're more than a friend by now. Plus, you're basically married to my brother." Ron states, as the others agree with him.
"I know... I just do it automatically." I reply, embarrassed.
"Well, you need to stop. Especially since you're one of my child's godparents." Harry states, rubbing my arm in response.
"They're right babe." George states, pulling me towards him and we pose for the pictures to be taken.

"I can't believe how lucky I am sometimes, to have a family like this." He nods and places his head on top of mine.
"Isn't that the most adorable kid ever?" He mumbles. I could tell he was staring admirably as his mother held his nephew in her arms, proudness radiating from her.
"Oh! Nick and Dean's adoption got accepted!" I blurted out as I realised I'd forgotten to tell him through all of the excitement.
"Really? That's so exciting for them." He replied, standing back and turning me around to face him.
"Yeah, it's got me thinking..." I start, watching his eyes light up with my words.
"What's that?" I grab a glass from the waiter walking around and take a sip, as we walk over to the edge of the dance floor and the crowd begin to dance.
"Well I mean; there's a lot of pregnancy going around at the moment." I continue, smiling as Dad began to do some weird dance with the boys.
"There really is." He replies, laughing slightly.
"And Harry mentioned ages ago about adoption and now with Nick and Dean going through with theirs... I just thought." I stopped as George stared straight at me, his mouth forming into a huge smile.
"Are you suggesting what I think you are?" He asks and I couldn't help but smile back at him, as the contagiousness of his rolled off on me.
"Maybe... only if you think we could do it." I state, defensively.
"Of course we could! I think that's the best idea ever." He shouts at me as he picks me up in a hug and I laugh in glee.
"We're going to do this then?" I ask as he puts me down.
"Yeah, we're so ready to be parents. You're going to be an amazing mother."
"You're going to be the best dad." I reply, holding him tightly as I close my eyes.

The dream he'd had all of these years would finally be coming true... and it was now completely my dream too.