The Marriage Decree

Chapter 130: A Child

"Oi, Ron, are the signs ready?" George shouts from the top of the stairs, where his shop turns into his and Angelina's flat.

"Yeah, I'll set them off at eight," Ron calls back in boredom as he flicks through the latest Chudley Cannons Annual.

George gallops downstairs a few minutes later, ready to start the day in his typical colourful trousers and robes, and his hair lightly gelled back. He stands eagerly at the door, staring out to the empty street of Diagon Alley. "Today is going to be a great day," he mutters to himself, tapping his chest three times where Fred's Weasley clock hand hangs on a chain, always close to his heart.

At eight o'clock, the clock above Gringotts Bank chimes eight times, and George throws the doors of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes open, running outside to watch the windows. On cue, large signs unravel from the ceiling, along with red and gold confetti, which rains down like a magical snow globe. The whole display informs any passers-by that a 'back-to-school' sale is happening for one day only inside.

By noon, George's shop is so full of Hogwarts students stocking up for the next term at school that Ministry Officials are posted at his door, keeping an eye on the shop. The Ministry, shops, and Hogwarts are some of the only places where it's impossible to stick to the new rule of seven. It had been Ron's idea to fill the shop up with customers so George could sneak upstairs with his friends to talk to them about restoring the Order of the Phoenix.

George is stood at the tills, keeping an eye on everyone. At ten-past twelve, Angelina enters with baby Fred in a pram. Behind her are Alicia and Katie with her husband, Aster Edging. George greets his wife with a quick kiss, smiling at his sleeping son.

"I'll head up, meet you up there," Angelina tells him, levitating the pram up the stairs, their friends following after her.

Five minutes later, Lee Jordan and Oliver Wood arrive. George greets them with hugs, side-eyeing the Ministry Officials to ensure they're not weren't watching as he ushers them upstairs.

"Thank you all for coming," George smiles, clapping his hands excitedly.

"I'm not sure why I'm here," Aster Edging states, awkwardly stood behind where Katie is sat.

"Because Katie says you're cool, and you seem down with taking down the establishment," George states.

Aster glances down at his wife, "Is he serious?"

"Not usually, but I'm guessing he is right now. What's happening, George?" Katie asks. "It's twenty-past noon on a Wednesday; most of us are skipping lunch to be here." She adds.

All their friends now worked within the Ministry. Katie in the Department of Trade, Alicia in the Department of Media, Aster worked in the Department of International Trade, and Oliver Wood, after retiring from a brief quidditch career due to an injury, had joined the Department of Magical Games and Sports, where Lee Jordan also worked.

"I know, and I'm thankful. This is important." He thanks them. "So, you know how we all despise Minister Shacklebolt, right? For forcing us to marry and reproduce, for not taking the new Death Eater movement seriously, and now for this rule-of-seven." George explains.

The majority of the room nods or hums in agreement, except Oliver Wood.

"I didn't realise we hated him. I mean, besides all that, he ran the Order and helped take down Voldemort." Oliver states.

"Yeah, but since then, he's gone power-hungry. I've heard rumours that he's practically living in his office; he's completely paranoid. He's worried the rest of the world is against him because they wouldn't sign the trade deals. Then Hermione and Draco got MACUSA to sign them; now he's paranoid President Harris is plotting against him." Alicia explains, very knowledgeable since she works directly under Poppy Montgomery, the Head of the Department of Media.