Chapter 1
Molly had always loved real fairy lights on the Christmas tree.
Their set were a million years old and secondhand too. They had noticed that the fairies were dimming last year. Fairies didn’t live forever after all. It was still shocking when they didn’t light up this year. They were gone. Arthur had noticed Molly did her ‘everything is great!’ smile. It was reserved for when she’s putting a brave face on things. It didn’t reach her eyes. Arthur didn’t like it but it was Molly’s way. He had never commented on it but seen it many times over the years. It was a comfort to know that the real ones had always outweighed this one.
“Never mind, a couple more decorations and you’ll barely notice it!” she said brightly.
They could never afford new ones. She hadn’t said anything about it and he knew she never would. However Arthur thought he had found the perfect solution a few days later. While on one of his trips into the local muggle town. Molly didn’t really approve of the trips so Arthur decided not to worry her and just said he was going for tea at Mr Lovegood’s place over the hill.
It was a week before Christmas and the kids would arrive back from Hogwarts tomorrow. It would be one of his last chances of the year for a special jaunt. He had already got Molly a lovely scarf for Christmas but he couldn’t resist a box that said ‘fairy lights’ in the newest shop in town. The shop was full of interesting things, Arthur was filled with awe as he wandered around the shop. He held the box closely to him and decided that it would be the best thing to surprise Molly with them.
He was very pleased with himself as he got back into his car. The car was another thing that Molly wouldn’t like. She said it’ll be too dangerous but really Arthur thought there wasn’t too much to it. It was very rare that he ran over anything these days. He would have liked to show Molly how much that he’s improved but he knew his Molly. It wouldn’t go down well. He would just put the car in the shed until next time.
The house seemed quiet so he was getting very good at being sneaky to get the car back into his shed. He placed the box on his worktop. His workshop was full of muggle things. He had been taking apart a scalextric set recently. The set was a birthday present to himself from one of his previous town trips. He ripped open the box. Inside he found a very long piece of green string with little bits of plastic hanging off it. He was rather disappointed. No fairies in sight.
“Arthur, is that you?”
It was Molly calling him. Perhaps he wasn’t as sneaky as he thought or perhaps the clock in the kitchen had given his location away again. The clock was most unhelpful when he was trying to be sneaky. He would have to leave the ‘fairy’ lights for another day. Maybe he could ask Harry to help him. Harry would probably know about muggle things like that.
“Yes, it’s me!” He called back enthusiastically.
He remembered to lock the shed and walked over to the house to join Molly.
A couple of days later and the house was fuller than ever before. The house was very noisy and Arthur enjoyed the company. He had been thinking about the fairy lights again. They had stayed on his work bench since he had come back from town. He had enjoyed catching up with the kids since they had been back. He wanted to get hold of Harry on his own though.
“Harry, just the man I wanted to see!” he said as Harry had wandered by alone for the first time in days, “I’ve got a little secret that I need your help with.”
Harry looked a little alarmed but followed Mr Weasley towards his shed without question. Mr Weasley was pleased to see no-one seemed to have noticed them exiting the house. He flicked his wand as a light appeared and the shed closed itself.
“There is certainly a lot of stuff in here,” Harry said as he took in his surroundings.
Arthur was so used to his shed so barely noticed the chaos of discarded parts that littered the area. Harry seemed to be looking at something that Arthur had forgotten what it was already. It happened a lot when he was investigating new items. It appeared to be black clog. He would work it out later.
“I brought these recently and I don’t understand how they work. What do you know about fairy lights and why are they called fairy lights when there aren’t any fairies?”
“Muggles don’t know that fairies are real. They’re called fairy lights because it’s what muggles think a fairy might look like.” Harry answered.
Of course, muggles are always trying to recreate magic even if they didn’t realise it. It was so sImple. Muggles are such funny creatures sometimes. Always coming up with something. That didn’t explain why they didn’t work though. Arthur wanted to get them working. Arthur thought that Molly may appreciate them even without the fairies.
“Well, the fairy lights won’t work because you don’t have a source of electricity here. I’m not sure if sockets work with magic. I think you could probably get battery powered ones,” Harry explained helpfully.
Interesting, very interesting.
“Tell me more about batteries! What’s a battery?”
Harry seemed to know quite a bit about batteries. Harry said that he thought they could get a battery in the local town. Perhaps Arthur would make another trip out. Perhaps he would take Harry too. Apparently there were lots of types of batteries. Mr Weasley thought it was best to swear Harry to secrecy as they made plans to go out the following day on their quest. Molly would be busy with lots of baking the next day as Christmas was nearly here. Molly’s annual baking day was a favourite of Arthur’s as the house smelt amazing.
They decided to get the bus in the end. Arthur loved the car but honestly he was never getting the car past a full house hold. He didn’t need another Fred and George blackmail situation again. They have to walk a little way for the bus but Harry seemed to be up for it. He found Harry’s help invaluable and they had soon found some battery powered ‘fairy’ lights. They could head home. Arthur was very pleased to sink into his favourite seat when he got home. The house smelt like Christmas. Molly’s baking had filled through the house and he was able to watch the kids play quidditch in the garden in the afternoon. Simply marvelous. He could set up his surprise tomorrow. It’ll be just in time for Christmas day.
Molly was an early riser so it was very difficult not to wake her up as he slipped out of bed. But after all, he was good at being sneaky. The surprise was ready. He popped the fire on and he was ready to wait for Molly to show her their lovely lit up tree.
“Arthur, what are you doing up at this time?”
Arthur must have fallen asleep by the fire. He had no idea what time it was.
“SURPRISE!” he yelled, rubbing his eyes.
She was staring at him like he was quite mad. It wasn’t an unusual look for her but he gestured over to the Christmas tree which was now lit up with two strings of muggle fairy lights. They were just as bright as the fairy lights. They twinkled happily. Arthur had been pleased with the effect. Molly’s face spread into a smile. The best kind that reached her eyes. A bubble of laughter played on her lips.
“Oh Arthur, the tree looks beautiful,”
She brought him into one of her famous hugs. He lent into her hug and brought her closer.
“The best part is that they’ll never die either, we can just replace the battery!”