Ice creams at Florean Fortescue
On the first day of september of 1982, Molly Weasley saw her eldest son Bill take the train to go to school for the first time. Her eyes filled with tears, a mixture of sadness and joy, knowing that her baby was growing, but also leaving her side.
The feelings didn't last much longer.
At the exact same time that the Hogwarts train left the platform, her youngest kid, a beautiful 1-year-old girl, started uncontrollably crying. She needed a changed.
In his father's arms, her 2-year-old boy, Ronald, was asking for ice cream, while his older brothers were fighting in the back.
âLet's go to Florean'sâ her husband Arthur said. âChange Ginny in the restroom while I buy ice cream for the boysâ.
When Molly came out of the restroom with a much happier baby, she saw her family at the large table on the terrace. Ron was on his father's lap, barely able of eating his chocolate ice cream without making any mess. Her twins, two mischievous four-year-old redheads, laughed at the jokes her second oldest son, Charlie, was making, and her son Percy was reading a book while carefully eating a plain vanilla cone.
In the sadness of the day, a little smile appeared on Molly's face, as she saw her husband handing her a glass of strawberry ice cream, her favorite.
On the first day of september of 1983, Molly Weasley watched as her 12-year-old boy got on the Hogwarts train, with his Gryffindor badge on his bag and a couple of friends.
Her little Ginevra was already walking, and the twins were taking turns in making her fall. As the train left, and she began to worry about all the things she had to do back home, her little Charlie shaked her hand.
âMommy, are we going to Florean's like last year?â.
On the first day of september of 1984, the Weasleys were saying goodbye to two of the pack. Charlie's first day of school was what everyone talked about for weeks.
While her eight-year-old Percy was prouding himself about being the one in charge now, Ron and Ginny were crying because no one was going to teach them how to ride a broom, now that Charles was gone.
In the midst of the chaos, one of the tumultuous twins, Fred, the older one, took her hand and said âMommy, can I try the Butterbeer ice cream this year?â.
On the first day of september of 1985, nothing had really changed.
Ron was starting to be as tall as the twins, which bothered them endlessly, and at his tender five years he was already reading. Right next to him, looking at Bill putting on his coat, Ginny had two red pigtails and was currently obsessed with the color pink.
The twins, now seven years old, discovered that they loved making their little siblings laugh, and they also discovered that their favorite way of doing so was hiding Percy's glasses. But they were also different from each other, cause when Molly ask them about the glasses, George broke more easily.
Percy was also getting taller each day. He was asking his brothers about things he had read in their old school books, and he was mad that he had to wait another two years for his chance.
Charlie was talking non-stop about the forbidden forest, which she, Arthur and Professor McGonagall had prohibited him to go several times, and was planning to apply to the Gryffindor team. Bill was already fourteen years old, he was now taller than she was, and had apparently discovered girls, much to Molly's discomfort.
But one thing hadn't changed. On their way out of the station, no one doubted this time that they were heading to the ice cream shop.
On the first day of september of 1986, Bill Weasley was rocking his new Prefect badge, like any other Weasley in his fifth year of school, and Charlie was excited about his new class of Care of Magical Creatures.
She soon realized that they were trying to leave quickly, ashamed of being kissed by their mother in front of the whole school.
At the thought that her beloved children were becoming typical teenagers, she remembered that she had five other babies begging her for more hugs. And in the sadness of her morning, when they arrived to Florean Fortescue ice cream shop, she realised that the table they always used had a small sign that said "The Weasleys".
On the first day of september of 1987, Percy Weasley was getting ready for his first day of school. He was already in his robes, which he insisted on putting back in The Burrow, and the twins mocked him all the way to King Cross.
While watching Percy getting on the train, shy and anxious, she saw her four younger children running races to the back of the platform. For the first time in five years, noticing that the children at home were less each year, she thought that maybe she enjoyed the trip to the ice cream shop more than them.
On the first day of september of 1988, Molly was crying.
Bill, taller than his father, was starting his last year of school as Head Boy. Charlie, with the tan of the summer, had been named Gryffindor Prefect and captain of the Quidditch team. Percy, as tall as Charlie, was inquiring him about his new Prefect badge, and ordering the twins to keep quiet.
Ginny was crying too, because Ron had thrown her little Witchy Doll onto the train tracks.
So with the crew of seven; Molly and Arthur, the children, and Ginny's now one-eyed doll, they made their way to the ice cream shop on Diagon Alley.
On the first day of september of 1989, the Weasleys made their way to King Cross as a family of eight for the first time since 1982.
In one year, many things had changed.
Bill had left Hogwarts early in June, and was now in Egypt working for Gringotts. Charlie was only getting stronger, with his hands covered with scars and bruises that never seemed to disapered.
Percy was starting his third year at Hogwarts. Now taller than Charlie, for much of his brother's discomfort, he was upset with his little brother Ronnie, who beat him in chess the night before.
As for the twins. Good God, Molly was hoping they were going to cause less trouble at school than at home, now that they were starting their first year. Charlie had promised her that he was going to keep an eye on them, but Percy had proposed that she put a bell around their necks.
When the train left, for the eighth time in the last couple of years, with four of her seven children, she felt bumped. Less trouble in the house, less noise, but also less laughter.
"I bet you're excited that we're going to save the money for two ice creams," said eight-year-old Ginny Weasley, glued to her left hand. With her long hair, she was starting to become a beautiful girl.
âI can eat the portion of Fred and Georgeâ Ron replied, with a youthful smile and tied to Molly's right hand.
Molly held her younger children tightly, and as they headed to their usual table, she wished with all her might that the two would never grow up.
On the first day of september of 1990, Arthur Weasley fought early in the morning with his couple of twelve-year-old: they enchanted all of Percy's robes to say âGryffindorkâ.
In his last year of Hogwarts, Charlie Weasley was deciding between applying to the national Quidditch team or majoring on Care of Magical Creatures. Molly wanted him to apply to a job at the Ministry, Charles didn't talked to her for a week.
Percy was talking non-stop about the crucial steps to becoming a Prefect next year, and was worried about Fred and George's reputation ruining his shot.
In the midst of the chaos, Ron and Ginny were secretly relieved by the start of the school year. Soon they had become accustomed to the tranquillity of two children at home, and enjoyed being pampered by their mother.
The train left faster than Molly anticipated, and while she tried some of her strawberry cone and listened to her little ones talking, she wondered if Ron knew it was his last time at the ice cream shop.
On the first day of september of 1991, Ginny Weasley had cried all the way from The Burrow.
Apparently, being the only one at home didn't sound so fun anymore.
Molly had also cried, the day before. Her little baby boy was starting school, and her other little baby boy had left the country to study stupid dragons on stupid Romania.
Percy was proclaiming his new status as Prefect in front of his classmates, the twins were trying to make Ginny laugh while promising to send her a school toilet, and Ron was worried about the house selection ceremony.
A little boy, with the darkest of hairs and broken glasses, seemed lost among all the novelty, but Molly lost sight of him in the crowd while trying to clean the dirt on Ron's nose.
When they arrived at Florean's, Ginny had already stopped crying, but Molly understood that her girl was right. For the first time, sitting alone with her daughter next to her, she thought that the table on the terrace of the ice cream shop was a little too big.
On the first day of september of 1992, the Weasleys arrived late. The children kept forgetting their things at home, and between the stress of the day and the arrival of Harry days before, Molly had not had time to process the meaning of the day.
Ginny Weasley, her youngest kid, was starting school. She ran to the other side of the platform, rushing her children to get on the train, so stressed that she didn't realise that one of them was missing.
And soon enough, the Hogwarts Express left the station. She no longer had kids by her side, and she realised that she also didn't had the need to go to the ice cream shop anymore.
