Hugo was physically shaking as he sat at the kitchen table with his parents. It was a Saturday morning in August and the Weasley family were impatiently awaiting Hugo's NEWTs results. Rose was perched against the counter, in one hand was a large mug of coffee and in the other was Heat magazine. Hugo wondered how she could be so calm when his legs felt like jelly. His mother was twisting and tearing at a piece of kitchen roll as she watched for the delivery owl to arrive, she was tapping her foot against the table leg. His father kept making tutting sounds and sighing as if he was going to say something but at the last second decided against it. Hugo didn't know where to look, he'd left his contact lenses out, so even looking out the kitchen window for the blasted bird was no good. Outside just looked like a bluish, brown blur.
"It's here, it's here!" squealed Hermione, knocking over her own cup of coffee.
"Ruddy Hell!" Ron cried as the scolding hot liquid dripped onto him. With seeker like reflexes Rose rushed to the window to let the bird sail through. A warm breeze fluttered in after it, Hugo could smell the blossom from the pink covered tree in the front garden. It was sickly and sweet and made his stomach drop even further. The bird circled the kitchen table above the other three's heads then dropped the envelope, it didn't even wait for a treat. Rose slammed the window shut and took her place next to her dad in the spare seat.
"Openitopenitopenit!" Hermione squeaked pushing the envelope into Hugo's now clammy hands. Ron shushed his excited wife and the rest of the family waited with baited breath as the youngest Weasley tore open the letter which contained his future. Pulling out the cream parchment from the envelope Hugo unfolded it and began to scan through it. His mother looked like she was about to burst, compared to his sister whom he knew wanted to go back to bed.
"OK," he began. "Muggle Studies and Herbology I got O's,"
"That's wonderful his first O's!" his mother was clasping her hands over his father's fearing that she would miss something important if she let go. "and..." drawing in his family as the suspence heightened.
"Go on," his mother encouraged.
"Well, the rest are A's and one P." Hugo felt a sigh of relief wash over him. The wait was over and to be truthful he had done better than what he deserved. There was a tangible pause in the kitchen until his father broke the silence.
"That's brilliant Hugo! Didn't think you'd pass that many. After all the bloody parent teacher meetings me and your mother had to go through for your bloody behaviour. I'll never get over those O's, though albeit one in Muggle Stud- Aww!" he gasped rubbing his now sore shin.
"There is nothing wrong with that! Well done darling I'm so proud what was your P in?" Hermione asked in a way so that it did not appear her heart was breaking over the one failing grade.
"Defence Against the Dark Arts." Hugo replied, waiting for a telling off. He lifted his handsome head to see the loving faces of his parents despite his previous record at school. He shrugged in a 'what can you do manner.' Rose got up scruffing his hair up as she past.
"Well done H, I knew you could do it." Hugo took that as the best compliment ever and for the first time that morning felt himself really smile. The weight that had been burning into his shoulders had been lifted, the muscles in his neck and arms relaxed and feeling returned to his jelly-like legs.
"This calls for a celebration," Hermione pushed herself away from the table, "should we have dinner somewhere tonight? What about 15? Jamie's ever so lovely I'm sure he could fit us in, we'll bring Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry, make space for Albus, James and Lily. And of course we'll invite Scorpius and Draco he'll probably want to bring his wife so I'll need another place for them. I could even see if Luna wants to come, she can bring the twins!" his mother looked so happy writing out an invitation list and already making calls that Hugo didn't have the heart to tell her that he just wanted a quiet night in. Ron sighed again and looked at his son, they both shared a knowing glance, Hermione had set herself a mission and no-one would stand in her way till it was complete. It was safer and less hassle if the males just took a step down and left everything to her. "I'm sorry dear, do you want something to eat? You have been awfully quiet this morning but now that it's over....?"
"Sure mum, can I have a fry up?" knowing that eating would make his mother happy. Hugo's stomach still had a few knots floating around but he decided to eat through the discomfort. Hermione beamed even more as she gushed around the kitchen throwing oil into the frying pan. With a flick of her wand eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes and mushrooms came flying out of the fridge. Hermione expertly ripped the fat from the bacon and threw it in the pan with the sausages a few more wand strokes and the tomatoes and mushrooms fell apart perfectly diced. Hugo had to admit his mother was talented, but also slightly neurotic but perhaps that was what his father needed? The warm smell of bacon and sausage frying made Hugo feel a little queasy, just eat through it he thought as the plate was happily plonked down in front of him. His father started to fill his face making small talk about Chudley Cannons and how Ginny was doing being assistant coach to the England team and how maybe this year they'd beat the bloody Bulgarians. Hermione tried to diffuse the tension but ended up accused of being a traitor to the Country and everything English. Hugo pushed the remainder of his breakfast to the left side of his plate. It gave the impression that he had eaten more than he actually had. Excusing himself he made his way up to his bedroom in the attic.
"Jurassic Park," he said, the hatch lowered and a silver set of ladders slid down. Hugo gripped the sides and climbed up into his room. This was his favourite room in the house, the morning sun wasn't very high and it was still cool. Large bay windows took up most of the left hand side of the wall which lead out to a small roof top terrace. The walls were green and mocha with his bed in the corner. At the bottom of his bed was a miniature functioning Amazon rain forest, in a glass biosphere. Hugo had been attending to it since he was twelve it was his baby. He tapped the glass with his wand and watched as a swirl of white fluffy clouds appeared and started to darken. Suddenly the tiny heavens opened torrential rain began to flood the Amazon mini basin. After a few moments it stopped. The Cecropia Trees glistened after their shower, the rich green of their finger shaped leaves reflected from the rain droplets in the early morning sun. Perfect miniature replicas lined the small river that ran through the bio sphere, and if he put his face nearer to the open top he could feel the intense humidity radiating upwards, when he was happy that all was well he switched on his PC and began to type.