Arthur Weasley, 4 years old

Update: Everyone has been so NICE about this and everyone just loves the little boy. Here's the link to what the original photo looks like. Thanks again for stopping by!

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Created for Blue-nadir's Time Warp Showdown. This is my first ever participation in such a thing, so I'm SO excited to have been able to think of something do-able. Of course, I have the flu and am still a Photoshop newbie, so I am well aware that this could have been a LOT better. That said, it was tons of fun to do. I choose the name "Athena" for Arthur's Mum as it is the name of someone very dear to me. I've read that he had two brothers, but don't remember it from canon, so it may be a falsehood. We know Arthur's birthday to be 6 February, but the year has never been given. I estimate him, based on the eldest Weasley's age, to have been born around 1949 or 1950.

The letter reads:

12 February 1953
Dear Memoria,

What a delight it was to receive your package! Letters, gifts for all & quite the birthday gift for Arthur. . . more on THAT later! Oh, how I do miss you, dear sister. Why did you let Siegfried drag you across the Ocean? It was extremely selfish of him, and I want you to be sure you tell that husband of yours my complaint. Arthur's birthday party was not nearly so exciting without you to bring it alive. Though his gift. . . well, you do spoil him, sister, dear!

Launcelot & Gawain are sending you their own letters to say thank you for their gifts. They both went visiting friends that very afternoon, carrying their new American quills of Eagle feather so they could boast of what Auntie Mem sent them from the States. You spoil them, too, Mem! Such gifts when it’s not their birthday. . . ! If I’ve heard, “Oh, they’re all the rage in the States” once since the gifts arrived, I’ve heard it a thousand times!

Speaking of birthdays, that brings me to Arthur’s gift. Oh, Mem! What am I to do with you? You are encouraging Arthur’s interest in Muggle objects to such an extent that I’ll never be able to break him from the fascination. Muggle playclothes and a Muggle “film” camera?!?! Of all the things, Mem! Sometimes I despair of you! A puffskein or a new robe (the way he wears out his robes at the knees and hem is simply a disgrace to the whole Wizarding world!) or even candy, for Merlin’s sake, would have been better. His father was fit to be tied & it’s only due to the love he bears his sister-in-law that he allowed Arthur to keep them. He grumbled all the way to the Ministry, “. . . what would people think. . .” “...respectable Wizarding family... ” “Demmed Mem & her demmed sense of humor” (don’t think me horrid for repeating that bit Mem, but knowing that sense of humor as well as I do, I thought you’d enjoy it).

But, Arthur does so love his Muggle gifts, and though I wouldn’t tell Reginald, he does look adorable in the playclothes. I’ve enclosed a blurry Muggle photograph of him wearing his Muggle clothes & playing with the new puppies (maybe these playclothes are NOT such a bad idea, sister) & looking sublimely happy as only a 4 year old can while playing in the dirt with a litter of puppies. Using that Muggle camera was quite odd. Taking the “film” to be “processed” was even stranger! How unreal, still & blurry they turn out! Arthur has taken several photographs as well, mainly of the puppies, though he did manage a nice one of my feet. He is now standing over my shoulder asking me to “tell Auntie Mem this” and “tell Auntie Mem that”, so I shall transcribe what he has to say for a moment.

“Auntie Mem I love you. You are my favorite-ist auntie even if you are the only auntie I have. I love my birthday gift. It was the best gift ever except all the gifts from Mummy. Daddy said a bad word about you when I opened my present and Launce and Gawain laughed but I pretended that I didn’t hear because I love you more than anyone else except for Mummy and Sasha the dog who just had puppies.”

Oh dear, to think that is my child. I sent him away before he could wax any more eloquent.

Now, that the “duty” part of my letter is over (as if writing of my boys could ever be duty!), I shall proceed to the more fun part--MY gift! Mem! You shouldn’t have! This robe must have cost more than I wish to think about! It is so luxurious feeling. And so short! I can’t believe robes are being worn so short nowadays. I can just hear me, when one of the crows raises an eyebrow at my new attire, saying “it just got here from New York City, can you believe the new styles they’re wearing in the States?!” I shall be just as bad as Launcelot and Gawain boasting to my neighbors!

Don’t let my comments, or Arthur’s, concern you in regards to Reginald. I noted that he carried his new quill (from the Demmed Mem) to the Ministry that very next day. I can almost here him say, when it’s pointed out by a colleague, “ah yes, my new quill; gift from m’sister-in-law in the States. Apparently this Eagle feather is all the rage over there.” You know what he can be like, don’t you Mem! I do love him, but he can still be an ass.

Now, I’d best close this letter for now, or I’ll use up another sheet of parchment and that will never do! Write as soon as you get this owl! your loving sister, Athena Weasley

sources used:
original family photo;
quill stock from Smokerscoughjoe;
house stock from Xdeadlyxsinsx-stock;
default Photoshop brushes and textures;
Nora Casual font;
my husband's encouragement, critique and assistance