"I'm gay."
Woah, wait, back up, what? Did I hear that right? I can't be sure, can I? No, I think I heard that right. But he's dated so maybe girls, ever since his second year. Even more since he went all Gothic, I guess that's a big turn on to some girls, dunno why though. He hangs out with his dorm mates and friends, who are all just as dark and moody as him. It's strange because at home he goes right back to our caring adorable Hugo again, he manages to keep the act up at school though.
We're not sure why he went all gloomy at the beginning of his third year, it just sorta happened half way to Hogwarts, he comes to say hi to the rest of the family like always, except this time he's wearing black under his school ropes instead of the standard white (still not sure how he got away with that), his hair darkened to an almost black version of his natural Weasley red, with his collar popped. He even went as far as to send his friends off, before shutting the door to the compartment and pouncing everyone with hugs. It's like his caring about anything besides Quidditch is turned off whenever there's anyone that's not either family of a close family friend around. It's like Hugo was two different people, Home Hugo and School Hugo. Completely. Different. People.
Hugo was going into his 4th year now. One full year of gloomy goth, I really hope the trend doesn't keep this year. We just got back from Hogwarts this afternoon, went to The Burrow for the start of summer dinner (more of a fest if you ask me). After we got back everyone went straight to bed, that is, until a few minutes ago when Hugo slipped into my room and asked if we could talk. Hugo and I are really close for siblings, we still fight, but we love each other more, so of course I told him to spill it, even though it's one in the morning and I'm extremely tired You're welcome little brother. Hugo had closed the door behind him, walked to my bed and slipped into the spot under the blankets I'd made for him. He was now staring at me with a worried and concerned expression.
Oh. He's probably waiting for me to answer him.
"Uh..." was my intelligent reply.
"Rose."
I stare at him.
"Rose," he says more sternly.
I continue to stare.
"Rosie!" He all but shouts.
I reach over and cover his mouth with my hand, "Hugh! Be quiet! You'll wake mum and dad!" I whisper shout at him.
Now it's Hugo's turn to stare at me.
And I stare right back.
And he stares.
And I stare.
And he stares some more.
And I keep staring.
And he's staring.
And then I pounce on him.
I push off the bed and fling myself at him, engulfing him in a hug. Knocking us both off the bed and onto the floor. Where I continue to hug him.
"Eh-Rosie-Can't, ah-breath." Hugo wheezes out.
"Oh, eh, sorry," I untangle myself from him and sit up, Hugo follows suit.
And we're staring again. This time Hugo interrupts the staring contest.
"So, um, you're okay with this?" he asks awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.
"Huh? Okay with what?" I ask stupidly before I remember what this whole thing was about, "Oh, oh yeah! That! Course I'm okay with it, Hugh. We're family." I punch him lightly in the arm, "Brother and sister, why wouldn't I be okay with it?"
Hugo takes in a deep breath before speaking, "Well, it's just... I didn't know how you'd react. If you'd hate me. That's why I haven't told anyone yet. You're the first one I've told..." he trails off.
I feel like part of my heart melted right there and then. Merlin, when did I get soft? I'm not normally like this, I'm the tomboy who wrestles with Fred and James and Albus and Hugo And Louis. Lily, Dominique, Victoire, Roxanne and Alice are the girly, swoony, heartachey type. But this is Hugo, I'm allowed to get a little emotional for the kid.
I reach out and pull him into a tight hug, "Of course I'm okay with it, again, why wouldn't I be? I still love you, you're still my brother. And I am honored to be the first person you told. When are you going to tell the rest of the family?" I ask, letting go of him.
"Never?..." Hugo said questioningly.
I glare at him.
"August 10th? Maybe a little later. When everyone's at The Burrow at least," Hugo stated as if he had it planned. He probably did, "you think they'll be okay with it?"
"I'm sure of it. Maybe you should tell mum and dad a little sooner? Get the hard part over with?" I suggest.
"Yeah, that's probably for the best. How about at lunch tomorrow? We're having a picnic with The Potter's right? I'll tell them too. That'll be five less people to tell at The burrow." Hugo was grinning from ear to ear now, probably relieved at having a plan.
"Yeah, that sounds great. If you need any help, you know who to call on." In all honesty, when I said 'sooner', I meant, like right before we leave but Hugo seems to like this plan. And it gets everything done a little easier, so I guess it's a fine plan.
"Great, thansk, Rosie!" And more hugging ensued.
Hugo and I ended up sleeping in my bed together that night. Like we used to when we were little and one of us had a nightmare or if we just missed each other.
I woke up to the sound of mum yelling "Ronald, get the camera! Quickly!" and then a high pitched mumish squeal and an 'awwww'ing noise. I'm just going to go back to sleep and pretend I never woke up.
"Why? What in the bloody hell do you need the camera for?" Dad yelled back from somewhere that sounded like downstairs.
"Your children, Ronald! They're adorable." Mum answered, still in a hurry to get a camera. I rolled over snuggled into my blanket, I am determined to get a few more minutes of sleep, maybe an hour.
"'Mione, they haven't been adorable since before they started talking." Dad said from what sounded more like the hallway now. There was a skidding noise, "Oh. Awww, " I wish they'd stop talking, I'm almost asleep.
"Yes, now let me see the camera." Mum said. Shhh
There was a flash. I sat straight up in bed and looked around me, I registered my parents standing at the door, mum blowing on and waving a picture that had just come out of our old muggle camera that had been charmed for wizard photos and dad looking over he shoulder. I saw Hugo lying beside me, half asleep.
"Was'happenin'?" he mumbled.
"We were just getting a picture of our two lovely children sleeping in the same bed look they haven't done in ages." Mum cued, but Hugo had already fallen back asleep.
I glared at them. Dad at least looked a little sheepish, unlike Mum who just kept with the smiling and cuing over what was no doubt her new favorite picture that she would frame and put on the mantle. Great.
I shifted causing Hugo to stir and wake up again."Alright, there's breakfast downstairs, you two've got an hour before we're off to meet Harry and Ginny at the parrrrk," Dad ended in a yawn.
"Wha' time is it?" Hugo asked sitting up.
"10:30. One hour. Be ready," Mum said and ran off no doubt to find a frame for her precious photo. I should find a way to 'accidentally' set fire to it.
I looked at Hugo who'd gotten out of bed and was headed to the door and then to Dad who was smirking and seemed to be dressed already. I slowly got up and walked past him and down the stairs, following Hugo to get breakfast.
After I'd had breakfast, taken a shower, and gotten dressed, I found myself on the couch, tying my shoe when Hugo sat down next me, and mouthed "thank you". I smiled and nodded. Hugo kissed my cheek, got off the couch and headed upstairs, probably to get dressed.
I noticed Dad standing by the door with a questioning look, "It's nothin' important. Not really, not right now anyway." I answered his unasked question. I left the room to find Mum, to ask her if she knew were my 'R' jumper was in case it was windy out, before he could start actually questioning me.
I noticed Hugo looking a bit queasy as we were walking to the park a few blocks away from our house in the Muggle neighborhood we lived in. I took Hugo's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before whispering "It'll be fine."
"Thanks, Rosie." He gave me a small smile.
Good luck, little bro.
We'd taken a seat at a picnic table in the park and were waiting for the Potter's to show up, we'd shown up almost ten minutes early. Hugo was fidgeting in his seat next to me, toying with a bit of chipping paint. Mum was trying, unsuccessfully, to wash nonexistent dirt off Dad's nose. And Dad was slapping her hand away across the table from me. I sat quietly, awaiting my best friends in the whole world, Albus and James Potter. Albus and James don't always get a long but when they do it's the most fun you'll have in awhile. I wish I hung out with Albus more but sometimes I just can't, it's not that I don't like him as much as I like James, it's just that he's always hanging around Scorpius Malfoy. And I despise Scorpius Malfoy. He's an evil, slimy, Slytherin.
Not that I have anything against Slytherin's. Albus is a Slytherin and I love him to death. It's just that Malfoy is the worst kind of Slytherin there is, probably the worst there ever was. He's arrogant, he thinks his better then everyone else, he practically lives to make my life a living hell, and let's not even talk about how he treats girls (his "fan club"). I for one, am looking forward to a Malfoy free summer, I won't have to deal with him until September. Merlin, I hope we don't have to patrol together this year...
Ehhh, why can't they just get here already? I cross my arms on the table and lay my head down. Brilliant, I'll just take a nap.
I was almost a sleep when-"Rosie!" and then I'm pulled out of my seat, by what I assume is James, and am being spun in circles.
"James! Merlin! It's been less then 24 hours since you last saw me! Literally last night, James!" my yell is muffled by his chest.
"Oh, but I missed you, Rosie." James laughs and tightens his hold on me.
"James, I'm pretty sure it's my turn now." I hear Albus say from somewhere behind us.
"Right, fiiine." James puts me down and back away with his hands up. I turn around to be immediately pulled into a hug from Albus.
"Hey, how's my little Snake?" I whisper into his shirt. "Been causing trouble?" I joke.
"You know it." Albus laughs and passes me off to Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry, they both hug me and then make their way to Hugo where Lily has already stationed herself.
Lily is the definition of girly, frilly dresses and hair bows. Makeup and high heels. Our guess is she got it from spending so much time with Victoire and Dominique when she was little because she sure as hell didn't get that from Aunt Ginny. Lily doesn't even play Quidditch, it was a big shock to Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry, James and Albus play though, so that sort of made up for it. Lily was also somewhat boy obsessed, or as much as you could be a 14. She was, coincidentally, part of "The Whore Horde" (Slags for short), aka: Malfoy's Fanclub, sigh.
And that's when I saw him, the most beautiful being to walk this earth (that was sarcasm in case you missed it). Scorpius Fucking Malfoy, standing off by a tree, seeming as though he'd stopped there whilst everyone else did their hugging.
"Ehh! Albus!" I spin to face Albus and glared at him, "Why? Why would you do this to me!?" I cry dramatically.
"Huh?" Albus seemed confused. I pointed to the tree, "Ohhh, that. Sorry, Rosie. His parents went to France. He's staying with us." He said as if it were no big deal. Great, and now the ferrets coming over here.
I grabbed James and buried my face in his shirt, "Jamie, how could you let this happen?" I asked into his shirt.
He put his arms around my shoulders, "Trust me, if I had a choice he wouldn't be here," I looked up to see him glaring at Lily, who was staring dreamily at Malfoy. "he's a git."
"Hey, there, Rosie," Malfoy says having reached us and I pick my head up off James chest and glare at him, "Miss me?' He smirks. I hate that smirk.
"Don't. Call. Me. Rosie." I say warningly.
"Right. Right. Weasel it is then."
After we're all seated at the table, Aunt Ginny unpacks the picnic basket and there's mindless chatter for about ten minutes. Then I feel something hit my leg under the table, I look up to see Malfoy smirking at me. I kick him back. Harder. Malfoy seems to take that as a challenge and kicks again. I really hate this guy.
I stand up, lean over the table and glare at him, "You, are a slimy bastard!" I shout in his face. Something about Malfoy sets me off easily. That's probably a bad thing.
"Rose Jean Weasley! Language." I heard Mum say.
Malfoy just keeps smirking, apparently proud of himself for riling me up. Twat.
"Uhh! Stop smirking already!" I demand.
And his smirk just gets bigger. Does he get off on this? He probably does... ugh!
Malfoy stands up and leans across the table, inches from my face, and whispers so only I can hear, "Aw, Weasley, I know you love me, but you don't have to act out to get me to smile, just ask next time." He reached out and patted my cheek before sitting back down and continuing to smirk. Who does he think he is?
"Ahhhh!" I hit the table with my fist. Bad idea, pain shoots up my arm. "Fucking hell! Bloody fucking hell!" I yell as I rub my hand wildly. "Fuck-"
"I'm gay!" Hugo shouts from where he now stands.
Silence. Complete silence. Everyone looks shell shocked. Well, almost everyone. I knew it was going to happen, and Lily's beaming at him. What?
"Well, I knew that." She says as if it's obvious. And then everyone's yelling different things, back and forth trying to be heard. I can't understand any of it. All I can think is Lily knew?
"Hugo! You said you didn't tell anyone else!" I shout over everyone else.
Hugo just stands there, staring into space. Lily speaks instead, "He didn't tell me. I guessed!" she says happily.
Now I'm even more confused, "Wait, how did you guess? I'm his sister! I live with him! And I still didn't guess it!"
"Yes, well, Rosie, your gaydar sucks, to put it bluntly." She said 'kindly'.
"It's not that bad!" I defend, still slightly hysterical.
"Yes, sweetie, it is. Remember that time in Muggle London when you went to talk to that really fit guy-" I cut her off before she could finish.
"I don't think that's important!" But it's too late because Albus and Malfoy have already broke into laughter. I glare at them.
"My Rosie talked to a boy?!" Dad asked, outraged.
"I don't think that's the point here, Dad," Hugo had snapped back to Earth, "the point is that I like boys."
"Yes, Hugo. That's all find and dandy and we still love you, yeah. But I really think we need to focus on keeping boys away from Rosie."
"I really don't-" I started but Hugo cut me off.
"You mean you're fine with it? All of you?..." He asked, unsure.
"Of course, honey." Mum says walking around the table to hug him. There are murmurs of consent to her words and congratulations around the table. I smile to myself. Everything's fine, just like I said. And then there's Malfoy, who's decided this is a great time to stand up and speak.
"So, is this a good time to mention I'll be staying at The Burrow with you guys?" He asks innocently, sending a smirk my way. James, Albus, Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny don't make anything of it, they probably all already knew. Hugo sends a worried look my way. Lily beams at Malfoy, probably already planning on cornering him. Dad is the only one who looks as shocked as me.
"What?" We both get out at the same time.
Kill me now.