"They're here!"

Marius and Alberto ran to the window as Max gleefully shrieked. The three boys squeezed their faces together, somehow all determined to take a peek before they opened the door to greet their parents, even though they could just do the latter right away. Mum and Dad were getting off the taxicab, and Marius could see Mum telling the taxi driver something while Dad held the little bundle in his arms.

"Oooh, it's so tiny!" Max squealed.

Marius shook his head. "It's not an it, it's a he. You know his name's Hans."

The six-year-old gave a happy whoop, clearly not listening to his eldest brother. He ran to the front door, having a difficulty in his attempt to open it, and Alberto came to his rescue after a delight giggle. Max was the first to go out, followed by Alberto, and Marius was the last - coincidentally from the youngest to the oldest.

Hearing the sound of the door opened, Dad and Mum turned around, their faces lit up as eyes met their first three children. "Hello, kids!"

"Mum! Dad! Welcome home!"

Max gave them both a quick hug before thrusting his beloved teddy bear to Hans' face. "Look, Patti! A new little friend. You two can play together."

Alberto peeked at his youngest brother, his beautiful black eyes brightened. "Can I hold him, Dad? Please?" he gently asked. However, Dad apologetically shook his head. "I'm sorry, dear," he told his second-born. "But you can in a little while, after he gets a bit older." Always the good son, the ten-year-old nodded dutifully.

"What about Marius?" said Mum. "I believe he's big enough to hold a three-day-old."

The Hufflepuff held his breath. He was slightly nervous, afraid that he might drop his brother, but happy. Just exactly like the day he had Alberto on his lap for the very first time, and then repeated on the moment he first held Max. As if by instinct, though, Marius extended his arms, and the next thing he realised, Hans was in his arms.

Hans. His youngest brother.

Support his head, Marius's brain whispered, reminding himself.

The twelve-year-old was still in awe when he heard Mum's voice, earnestly speaking, "He's definitely going to be a wonderful big brother. All of my children are."

"Oh, they already are wonderful big brothers," Dad agreed.

Marius beamed. For the umpteenth time, he felt he was the luckiest kid alive to have such a family. To belong to such a family. His soft brown eyes looked right and left, from Mum to Dad, from Alberto to Max. At last, they found Hans'.

"Welcome home, Hans," he whispered gently. "I'm your eldest brother Marius. I love you, I love just as much as I love Mum and Dad and my other younger siblings."