The Big Five O

                                    

                                          
There was a whooshing noise behind Rose, a flutter and, when she turned around, Harry was stood in the Burrow's fireplace.
                          
"Surprise!" Came an array of voices, as people sprung up from hiding places all around the living room. 
                          
Harry was taken aback and laughed as he stepped out of the fireplace, hugging Ron and clapping him on the back a few times. He turned to Hermione who kissed him on the cheek and then to Ginny who gave him a mischievous look. He smiled at her. He could tell that she was proud of herself, for having pulled the wool over his eyes for a good few months. Harry kissed her before turning to face the room.
                          
The living room was full. It was crammed with people. He could see his children, his nieces and nephews, old school friends with their own families, his in-laws, colleagues, members from the Order, members of the old DA. He had to stop himself from shedding a tear. Harry Potter, the boy who grew up an orphan, unwanted, suddenly became aware of how he had more family, more friends, than he knew what to do with.
                          
"So you're not printing a story then?" Harry asked as he looked over to Rose.
                          
"No. But I'm telling you now, that is the longest interview I've ever had to do and, to be honest, with the amount of questions I asked you, you're probably set for the year. You've got all your Prophet interviews out the way in one go,"
                          
"Well, that's alright then, isn't it?" He laughed as he was ushered out into the marquee. Slowly, everyone filtered out as well.
                          
When it was just the two of them in the room, Rose turned to her husband.
                          
"Harry knows. About the twins. I told him." 
                          
"What? Rose, what happened to keeping it to ourselves? I have been begging you for weeks to let people know and you just spill the beans?"
                          
"Look, I had to distract him. He was trying to leave, to come here. I knew you wouldn't be ready and so I - I said the first thing that came into my kind. I blurted it out before I could stop myself." She sighed. "I'm sorry."
                          
"It's alright, Rosie," he said, lacing their fingers together, "though, this does mean now that we can tell people."
                          
He gave her a cheeky smile, to which she rolled her eyes.
                          
*          *          *
                          
Underneath the marquee, there were circular tables, each of them full. Too many people were sat at them, barely with enough room for their elbows. People were standing in huddles, not lucky enough to have gained a seat. More and more kept arriving, each laden with presents or food.
                          
Music was playing from a large gramophone at edge of the marquee. It was sat on top of a table that was covered with glasses and bowls of punch.
                          
Scorpius caught up with his father at the table, as he was pouring drinks for people.
                          
"Dad? Are you alright?" he asked.
                          
"Yeah I'm fine. It's just - the people here. Some of them, they - they haven't forgiven me," Draco replied, his voice lowered. Scorpius looked into his father's eyes and saw something he hadn't seen in a long time. He saw fear. Scorpius sighed.
                          
"Dad, just relax, okay? Have some punch. You're not gate-crashing. You were invited. Ron, Harry and Hermione want you here. Otherwise you wouldn't have got an invitation. Believe me, no one's going to try anything. Not while the three of them are here." 
                          
Draco reluctantly nodded and clapped his son on the back. He needn't have worried. The fact that Draco Malfoy was there didn't bother anyone. If Harry Potter could forgive, and be friends with, Draco Malfoy, then anyone could. The only person who hadn't forgiven Draco was himself. Though, Draco didn't know this and it took at least a couple of hours for him to feel at ease.