AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm back, everybody! I'm sorry for the super long absences; I just seem unable to stick to a schedule. I love working on the Fanfic when I get into it, and I hope you will all still enjoy reading it (even though you may need a refresher on the events of the other chapters). I worked really hard on this one and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Thank you to everyone who favorited and alerted last chapter; I really appreciate it and it's great to see all the Fanfic emails in my inbox Special thanks to my reviewers, chelsietoo, scrappy8, cardgirl91, pizziagirl, SiriusBlackCat, boredperson7, and Lunalovegoodfan. I was a little sad we didn't get as many reviews last time; I hope we can get to at least 10 next time! So I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and it will make up for my absence.

"Teddy, mate!" Harry exclaimed jovially. "Nice to see you again! You haven't popped round in weeks! Ginny was beginning to worry! And the boys have been asking after you their entire holiday. I kept telling them we'd see you at New Years, but they were having none of it! They want to play Quidditch in the snow, or some other crazy plan. Lily misses you too, of course. She wants to know when you and Victoire will be tying the knot!"

"Blimey, Harry, I'm only twenty-one! I've got to have my fun first, eh? Speaking of which, I haven't popped round because Victoire and I have recently had a bit of a…scare, I suppose we'll call it," Teddy said, blushing scarlet.

"Oh? And what occurred during this 'scare'?" Harry asked, a knowing smile on his face.

"Well, it was actually quite similar to one you and Gin had about…five months ago, I'd say," Teddy answered, smiling sheepishly.

"And?" his godfather asked expectantly, staring at Teddy.

"False alarm, thank Merlin. I'm not ready to be a dad quite yet! Someday, but not now. Especially not if my kid would be anything like these two buggers," Teddy exclaimed, grabbing James and Albus in double headlocks as they tore into the front hall. James, at fourteen, was still a head shorter than Teddy, and tried to escape to no avail. Albus just laughed, punching his 'brother' in the side and trying to wriggle free. Teddy released them a moment later, and James reached up to muss Teddy's violent green hair.

"You finally came! Where the bloody hell –"

"James Sirius Potter! Language!" Ginny said, whipping him with a dishtowel as she walked in from the kitchen. Changing moods quickly, she turned to her adopted son. "Teddy, dear, so nice to see you! How are you! How's Victoire?"

"Oh, I'm fine, Ginny. Victoire is just…lovely," he said, exchanging a knowing look with Harry.

"Teddy Lupin! I'm not stupid! If you've gotten my first niece pregnant, just be aware that Bill will kill you and I'll be quite upset!" Ginny said.

"Don't worry, I haven't done it…yet," Teddy said. "How are you feeling these days? How're the babies?"

"Oh, I'm feeling all right. I can't sleep at all, but I've figured it's just practice for having newborns again so I'm making Harry stay up with me! Isn't that right, dear?" Ginny said, the corners of her mouth turned up in a slightly evil smirk.

"Yes, yes, that's been really lovely. Haven't slept more than four hours since before the holiday!" Harry said.

"Yep, I'm not going to be having kids anytime soon," Teddy winked. "So, what's up with you chaps today?"

"We're going to play snow Quidditch! Dad's invention," Albus said. "And we're teaching Lily to Keep! D'you want to join us?"

"Sure guys! I've come for a proper visit and chat today – no more stopping off on errands to London! We've got to catch up! I'm so excited about the twins, too, so I wanted to come see you, Gin! I can't believe they're almost here. Maybe my kids will be able to grow up with them! Or at least look up to them," Teddy said as he smiled at Ginny.

"Edward Remus Lupin! Children are a long way off for you! We need you to dote on ours until they grow up," Ginny said. "Then you can have your own."

"Whatever you say, Gin," Teddy laughed. "LIL! I'VE COME FOR A VISIT! COME PLAY QUIDDITCH WITH US!" Lily darted up from the basement and jumped on Teddy's back.

"Hi, Teddy! How're you? How's Victoire? Are you getting married soon? Can I be in your wedding? Will you make your hair go purple?" she asked, clinging to his neck. He laughed and began to answer her rapid-fire questions, zooming out to the garden, still carrying her, with the boys trailing closely behind.

"He's so good with them!" Harry said, watching them go.

"Oh, I know, he's wonderful," Ginny said absentmindedly as she returned to the kitchen.

"Ginny! Come back here for a minute. I wanted to discuss something with you," Harry said.

"What's going on?" Ginny asked, walking back towards him.

"Well, Teddy's always been a huge part of our family, and though he's not our son, my role as godfather to him has always been really important to me. That's why I think it would be really nice if we asked him to be the babies' godfather. He's twenty years old now, which is older than when I became his godfather, and I think he's mature enough to handle it," Harry said hopefully, turning to his wife for approval.

"Oh, Harry, that's such a sweet idea! You should ask him today!" Ginny exclaimed. "I'm sure he'll be thrilled!"

"So you agree?" he asked excitedly.

"Of course! That's perfect! Teddy's like a son to me – I can't think of anyone better to be my babies' godfather," Ginny said.

A little over an hour later, Teddy and the children emerged from the back garden out of breath and with cheeks flushed from the cold. Lily had taken up her position on Teddy's back again, hands clasped in his now-lavender hair.

"Your daughter is one of the most brilliant Keepers I have ever come across in my life!" Teddy shouted to Harry. Lily beamed at her father from her perch.

"Daddy, James and Al and Teddy all were shooting at me but I just saved them all! Right, Teddy?" she asked, looking to the older boy for confirmation.

"You sure did, Lil!" Teddy said, spinning her around and then setting her down in front of her father.

"Well, I wouldn't say all of them," James interjected. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. It's not like she's gone pro or something."

"James, just let her have her fun," Albus said to his older brother.

"I'm going to try out for the Quidditch team just like you next year, Jamie! You should try out too Albus," Lily said. "You're a great Seeker!"

"I know, everyone keeps telling me that," Albus said. "But I've told you all a thousand times that I don't want to play in front of the entire school. I don't like doing things like that!"

"But Al, if you would just try it out," Harry began.

"Lunch, everyone!" Ginny shouted from the kitchen. "Come on in!" Albus eagerly raced away from the conversation and grabbed a plate from his mother.

"Cheers Mum!" he said, filling his dish with the spread that Ginny had prepared in honor of Teddy's visit. James and Lily were quick on his heels, but Harry pulled Teddy back as he moved to follow the children.

"Can I talk to you for a second, Teddy?" Harry asked as he motioned to his office. "We could go in here?"

"Sure, Harry," Teddy said, following his godfather into the room. Harry shut the door and gestured to a chair. Teddy took a seat and looked expectantly at Harry. "What's going on?"

"Well, I wanted to ask you something," Harry began. Teddy nodded and Harry continued. "Teddy, you were only six when James was born and nine by the time Lily came around, but you've always served as a role model and a sort of older brother or father figure to our children. Ginny and I feel that your relationship with them is really important for their development and that you've had a wonderful influence on them. So, now that you're twenty, we feel you're ready to have an even bigger part in the new babies' lives. I'd like to ask you to be the twins' godfather." Teddy's jaw dropped, and he didn't speak for a moment.

"Blimey, Harry! Godfather? That's – why that's a big deal isn't it! I don't know what to say," Teddy said.

"Will you do it?" Harry asked.

"Of course! I'm honored that you asked me, really honored," Teddy said. "You don't know what an important role you've played in my life. With my mum and dad gone, you and Ginny saved me, Harry! Your house has been my haven for my entire life. It would be an absolute privilege to give that sort of guidance to your twins. I won't let you down, I promise." He stood, and Harry pulled him into a big hug.

"I love you, Ted," he said softly. "Your parents would be so proud of the man you've become."

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December 31st, 2019, three days after Teddy's visit, the entire extended Weasley clan converged on The Burrow for a rousing New Year's celebration. For the family, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were not simply for celebrating the new year, but also a time to remember the loved ones they had lost to the fight with Voldemort and commemorate them as the living moved on to another year without them. Though they also celebrated the deceased on the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, that was a more somber time, when tears were shed anew for the lost lives. On New Year's, George lit off a spectacular fireworks show which culminated in all of their names being shot into the sky, and shy Mr. Weasley made his annual speech to the family. It was the only time the patriarch ever spoke in front of everyone, but as he put it, "If Fred were here, he'd be laughing and shouting the entire time, and I feel it's my duty to become him for one evening a year." Mrs. Weasley cooked a delicious spread, and the twelve cousins, plus Teddy, spent the entire day dashing about in the snowy garden and getting into loads of mischief. It was, as George put it, "a very Freddish celebration" and "the perfect way to end the year," according to Mrs. Weasley.

At 2:30 on the dot, only half an hour late, the Potters arrived in the Burrow fireplace and joined a party already in full swing. Red-headed Weasley's (and the odd blond or brunette) were at every turn, holding plates of appetizers, chatting, hexing cousins, and having a general good time.

"Mum! Oh, hi, wonderful to see you," Ginny exclaimed, grabbing Mrs. Weasley in a tight hug.

"Darling! You don't visit me enough! I've got to check up on those babies," her mum said, laying a hand on Ginny's belly. "How are you and the little angels? Are you eating enough? And you're not doing any housework, are you? Because you know that's bad for you! And you've got…"

"Mum! I've already delivered and raised three children. I think I'm slightly informed on the subject of pregnancy," Ginny said.

"But Gin! You've never had twins before," Molly began. "It's just a totally…"

"Hi, Molly!" Harry jumped in, striding into the room after greeting Ron and his brothers-in-law to save Ginny from her mother. Ginny shot her husband a thank you look and hurried out of the room. She entered the living room to a chorus of greetings as everyone rushed to fawn over her baby bump.

"Ginny! My, you are getting so beeg," Fleur observed, placing a hand on Ginny's stomach. At twenty-one weeks, Ginny's bump was very noticeable under her flowing robes, and many of her sisters-in-law surrounded her and guided her to a seat in the Weasley's most oversize couch. Someone placed a mug of cocoa in her hand, and Ginny put her feet up on an ottoman that was pushed underneath her. The women took seats around her.

"Merlin, I could get used to this!" Ginny laughed as she gazed around at her 'staff.' "This is just like when you were pregnant with Victoire, Fleur. It's like you lot have never seen a pregnant woman before! Although it is nice to put my feet up. The other day some Muggle congratulated me on my impending delivery! I responded, 'I'm only twenty-one weeks, but thanks 19 weeks in advance!'" The crowd chuckled as several children tore through the room. The oldest Weasley cousin was Victoire, aged 19, and the youngest was Hugo, who was eleven and just a month younger than Lily. With such a big crowd, the different ages tended to group up, getting into loads of mischief along the way, especially the younger sets.

"Mum! Where'd you get that cocoa?" James asked as he ran past.

"Oh, I don't know darling. Try the kitchen perhaps," Ginny answered.

"Can I just have yours? You don't need any cocoa! Haven't you gained enough weight?!" her son exclaimed.

"James! Merlin, no! I'm bloody pregnant, thank you. How unforgivably rude! Go play with your cousins," Ginny retorted.

"Right. Sorry. Cheers, Mum!" he said, dashing off to catch up with the pack again. Ginny shook her head ruefully. The boy will never learn any tact, no matter how I push, she thought.

"So, Gin, how are you feeling?" Hermione asked, taking a seat next to Ginny.

"Oh, I'm all right. Been having some mood swings. I think Albus is frightened of me. He found me sitting in the bedroom yesterday, crying over a box of biscuits and a photo album from when Lil was a baby. And when he asked me what I was doing, I just yelled to get out and that no one understood anything! I apologized later but I think he was quite scared," Ginny said. Hermione laughed at her sister-in-law and they began an animated chat.

"Oi! Albus!" Harry shouted from the kitchen. "What the bloody hell are you doing?" Albus looked up from the corner where he, Rose, Lucy, and Fred were crouched furtively, discussing something under their breath. Albus shot a glance at his dad, before waving off the cousins.

"Nothing Dad!" he answered, before running off after his cousins. Harry laughed at the secrecy but resolved to keep an eye on his son as he watched the boy go.

"Uncle Ron! Uncle Ron!" Lily shouted excitedly. "I just took a chocolate frog out of Grandma's candy dish and I got your card!" She ran to her uncle to show him his picture, waving excitedly from the card as his flaming red hair caught the light in the photograph.

"Ah, my finest hour," Ron rhapsodized, taking the card and gazing happily at it. "I remember when I found out that they were putting me on one…" Ron sat down and began to recount one of his favorite tales to his niece, embellishing heavily (as was his usual style). Harry laughed and kept walking, enjoying casual exchanges with the family. An aged Celestina Warbeck warbled through Mrs. Weasley's old radio as the matriarch worked the room while simultaneously magically chopping vegetables in the kitchen. As Harry looked around the crowded house, he was struck once again by his unbelievable luck, his unfathomable love for the family whom he had adopted and who had adopted him.

At precisely six p.m., the family sat down to a sumptuous feast prepared by Mrs. Weasley (with a little help from some assistants). Hermione and Ginny had decorated the snow-covered garden with gilded streamers in the barren trees, twinkling lights overhead, and roaring fireplaces to warm the cheery group at every turn. The massive tables were covered in maroon tablecloths as homage to the Gryffindor tradition, and the middles were piled high with roasted turkeys, every vegetable imaginable, salads, puddings, and much more. Next to Harry, Ron rubbed his hands together delightedly as he waited to be given the go-ahead to start eating. But before they could begin, Mrs. Weasley lifted her glass and tapped her fork against it gracefully. When that failed to quiet everyone, she let out a shrill whistle and shouted, "BE QUIET OR NO ONE IS GETTING ANY DINNER!" The family was effectively silent after that, and Arthur Weasley stood, prepared to make the traditional pre-dinner speech.

"Well, I'd like to wish everyone a happy new year, first of all," he began, looking a bit nervous as he stared at the faces of all his family, twenty-five strong including Teddy, smiling back at him. Come on, Arthur, it's just your kids and grandkids. They want to hear you speak. Buck up!, he thought to himself. He continued after his mental pep talk, "I think it's going to be a great one for everyone in the extended Weasley clan! We'll have a Hogwarts graduation, as lovely Dominique leaves school and joins the workforce. I'm so proud of our second-eldest girl! We have a bid for Minister of Magic to work on, and I hope we'll all campaign for Perce to get the job. I hope everyone in the family will be busy working and learning and upholding the name of Weasley by their contributions to society. And of course, we have the arrival of two new members to look forward to in April or May. And that, my friends, is something to celebrate. A toast – to 2020! Who would have thought we'd make it this far? I'm so thankful to all of you who helped to save our world, and so grateful to have my many wonderful grandchildren around me as I get on in years. I miss my son Fred, my many friends like Remus and Tonks, Alastor Moody, and all the others who perished. I miss them and long for them every day. But as we move forward into a new decade, now well past the 20th anniversary of the battle that changed all of our lives, we must learn to live without them but never forget them. I'm satisfied with all my many blessings, and though we've all suffered through many sorrows, it's time to rise and enjoy our lives and reach for our goals. Cheers to the greatest family there ever was!" And with that, Mr. Weasley raised his glass and motioned for his emotional family, several of whom were already crying, to do the same. Everyone stood and clinked their glasses, and the merry mood was restored to the family table.

"Now, as is the tradition, I'd like to go around the table as we feast and share our New Year's resolutions," said Mrs. Weasley. "I'll begin. My resolution is to finish the cookbook I've been working on since you lot were small, and see it in the window of Flourish and Blotts!" A rousing chorus of cheers, applause, and "Go Mum!"'s were heard around the table.

"I'll go next," Mr. Weasley said. "My resolution is, as always…"

"To find out how airplanes stay up," chorused the family, laughing.

"Precisely! You lot know me so well," he laughed. "Alright, Bill next." He motioned to his son, who was sitting at his right hand.

"Well, my resolution is to shield my girls from any young men who come calling after them," Bill said, playfully teasing his girls and giving Teddy a faux angry look. The table erupted in laughter, save for Victoire who glared at her father. "Only joking, dear, only joking!" he added.

"My rezolusheen eez to earn a promotion to 'ead of the Department of International Magical Coop-erasheen," Fleur said with a smile. They continued around the table, with serious and silly resolutions depending on the speaker.

"My resolution," George said, pausing dramatically for effect, "is to stop making vulgar noises at family functions." After this statement, he let out a whopping fart sound, to the extreme amusement of the children clustered around the table and to the chagrin of his wife, who cuffed him across the shoulder. "Ow! Merlin, Ange, it was a joke!"

Percy spoke next. "I personally resolve to organize my desks at work and home, as well as oversee the organization of each person under me at the Ministry, in order to improve the overall workings of my life and the government." He puffed out his chest proudly, though his family looked slightly sickened. "He's still such a prat," Ron whispered to Harry. Harry nodded his assent, while smiling through clenched teeth at his overzealous brother-in-law. Several of the Hogwarts students resolved to do better in certain hated classes or to behave better for certain hated teachers.

"I resolve to stop sneaking down to the kitchens for midnight snacks and stop being fresh to McDougal," James said, referencing the Potions professor, his most hated teacher. "Like father like son, eh?" Harry whispered to Ron. The latter laughed and nodded. "James Sirius Potter! You sneak down to the kitchens? I am a PREFECT for God's sake! Are you trying to turn us all into a laughingstock? Merlin!" This from Molly, a chip off of Percy's old block. The family giggled again, though Ginny looked chagrined at her eldest son's less-than-stellar behavior.

"I'm going to try to help Mum as much as I can when the babies come and make better marks in Herbology, because I think Neville's making a pet of me even though I'm not very good," little Lily said. The family exclaimed over her sweetness and helpfulness, and she beamed happily.

"I resolve to stop eating so many sweets!" Albus exclaimed shortly as his parents laughed. "You're a growing boy! Eat whatever you want!" Molly retorted, shoveling some pudding onto her grandson's plate.

"My resolution is to finally beat Ron at wizard's chess!" Hermione said. "It's my one downfall."

"You'll never beat me!" Ron crowed. "My resolution is to maintain my undefeated record at wizard's chess! Oh, and to train that damn cat you bought, Mione."

"Ronald! Language!" his wife responded, smacking him lightly.

"Merlin! Why are the men in this family always getting hit!" Ron wondered.

"It's because you're whipped, mate," Harry laughed. His chuckle died in his throat, however, as he received a slap from both Hermione and Ginny for that one. "Well, maybe we're all whipped," he added. "Anyways, I resolve to finally finish cleaning out the basement like Ginny's always nagging me to do, and to help my son make the Gryffindor Quidditch team." He smiled at shy Albus, who ducked his head and began to eat quickly, shoving food into his mouth and avoiding the probing eyes of his family members.

"Alright, we're down to you, Ginny! What's your resolution?" Mrs. Weasley asked curiously.

"Well, I just don't know," her daughter responded. "I feel like I've already got everything I want! Wait, I've got it! My New Year's resolution is to lose the baby weight!" The table fell to laughter, and finished out the meal happily chatting.

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"TEN! NINE! EIGHT! SEVEN! SIX! FIVE! FOUR! THREE! TWO! ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!" The Weasley-Potter clan stood in the garden, adults with graceful flutes of champagne and children holding Butterbeer in fancy glasses. They toasted and drank to health and happiness in 2020, ringing in a new decade that would hopefully bring good fortune to the family. George raised his wand to the sky and set off a neon burst of fireworks, pink wheels, orange dragon-shaped sparklers, silver star rockets, blue spirals and more. As always, the second-to last effect to fly across the sky was Fred's Basic Blaze Box, the first firework his brother had invented. Finally, he lifted his wand a last time to float the names of the departed into the star-filled sky – Fred, Moody, Remus, Tonks, Lily, James, Sirius, Dumbledore, and all the rest. The children looked toward the sky with respect, wondering about the people they had never met but their families mourned for at the beginning of each year. The adults were quiet, reminiscing about times long passed. Ginny wiped away a tear, and Harry put an arm around her, pulling her close.

"Still so hard to believe that they're gone," she said, stifling a sob.

"But life goes on," Harry responded, rubbing her swollen belly. "We'll never forget them, but life goes on." She nodded in agreement.

"WE LOVE YOU! WE'LL NEVER FORGET YOU!" George shouted to the sky. The rest of the family followed suit, and in that moment, they were sure that their loved ones could hear them. Harry hugged Ginny tighter as Hermione and Ron clasped hands, and Hermione took Harry's hand on the other side. The trio was older, but the bonds were unbreakable. They only grew as each new member joined them.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Next up I'm planning on Ginny's baby shower and some more prep for the babies' births. As always, remember to favorite, alert, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, review! Con crit, baby name ideas, ideas for new chapters, thoughts on this chapter, etc. are all welcome! Feel free to still vote in the baby name poll on my profile page, and suggest some more names if you feel like it. Like I said at top, I love seeing Fanfic emails in my inbox, and reviews really propel me to write more! So thanks again for reading, thanks in advance for reviewing, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'll have the next one out soon. I love all of you readers! -Lily