Okay, a few things to say: Firstly, A Disclaimer: his world and these characters belong to J.K.Rowling not me. Secondly, Credit for this idea goes to Bartimus Crotchety, a great fanfic writer who encouraged me to think more about Hugo and suggested some of what happens in this story. and finally, Dedication goes to my little sister, whose character is much like young Hugo and who always tries to save the world.


The Plight of the Pygmy Puffs

Chapter One:

Lily Potter and Hugo Weasley were the youngest of a large and exuberant extended family. Being the youngest meant being constantly thrown together to play and to preferably stay out of the way of 'the big kids'. Though quite different in character Lily was the spitting image of her mother, small with fiery red hair and big brown eyes. Hugo was the same of his father though his eyes were brown, and Grandma Weasley would often comment that seeing them playing in the garden was like seeing the clock rewound.

The two cousins were inextricably joined at the hip, creating a strong friendship and plenty of chaos. Hugo always had some harebrained scheme for justice up his sleeve; Lily went along with all his plans quite happily and was the only person who could ever really calm him down.

Hugo tiptoed swiftly down the hall, stopping sharply as voices approached. He felt Lily's hand enclose his wrist, pulling him behind a door before they were spotted. Both stood perfectly still, waiting until the voices had passed by, "The costs clear." He murmured peering cautiously through the keyhole. "Ready?"

"Aren't I always?" She replied flippantly, and he could hear the smile in her voice. They continued their journey, pausing only when they reached the stairs.

"The third, fifth and eighth step creaks." Hugo reminded her. She rolled her eyes at him to show she remembered and very slowly they descended, climbing carefully over the specified steps. Once at the bottom they both dashed to the closest door and slipped through into darkness.

"Remind me why we're doing this again?" Lily asked patting the wall in search of a light switch.

"Because we can't stand by while they get away with this sort of behaviour! It's inhumane!" Hugo exclaimed as light flooded the room revealing a cluttered garage.

"It's almost as bad as Granddad's." Lily commented looking around as Hugo spread a long white sheet over the ground. "Yeah Mum's always going off at Dad for not cleaning it. He says he's saving it for a punishment when Rosie or me do something really bad." Lily laughed, "So…what now?"

"Well I'll write the slogan and you do the picture? You're a lot better at drawing than I am."

"Sure. If you did it they'd probably think it was a beetroot or something."

"That tin should have purple I think." He said ignoring her comment and pointed at a paint can to her left. She promptly dragged it over and after a few attempts he managed to pry it open. She straightened up, readjusting her ponytail slightly. "So where do you want it?"

Hugo stood next to her as they regarded their blank canvas, "Well I could write that way." He suggested, gesturing vaguely at the sheet.

"Sure. Then if I do the picture there, and the symbol there."

"Yeah, yeah that should be good. So we've got purple. I think there's red over there too." He dragged over another can and surveyed the room, before spotting the rest of the paint tins. "What colour should I write in?"
"Can't go wrong with black." Lily said settling herself down cross-legged and reaching for the paintbrush.

They worked consistently for an hour, conversation flowed as it always did with them; an endless stream of half-finished sentences that only they could follow.

Lily was putting the finishing touches on her painting when the door handle rattled. Hugo jumped up, "Quick!" he said, and hastily dragged her to her feet, knocking over the purple paint tin in the process. Thick paint began to spread across the floor.

"What are you two doing down here?" a voice came from behind them. Hugo heaved a sigh of relief, "Oh Rosie. It's you." He released the vice grip on Lily's arm and she moved the sheet out of harms way, only one corner had turned purple.

Rose laughed at the sight of them; Lily's hair was falling out of it's tie and had purple paint streaked through the ends. Red paint was smeared across her cheek. Her dress, which was dark blue, had both purple and red splotches along the hem and a black hand print was on her arm. Both Hugo's hands were completely covered in paint from when he'd dropped the paintbrush in the tin and as a result everything he'd touched left a trail of black paint, his tee shirt, his face and of course Lily's arm.

Rose repeated her question, eyebrows raised in a very Hermione look.

Lily smiled at her, "We're making a banner of course."

"What is it this time?" Rose asked as she peered around them to read the sheet.

"Free The Pygmy Puffs? What no acronym?" she laughed. "You two are so cute. I remember how much you love playing spew games Hugie." Hugo scowled at her.

"So who are you saving the pygmy puffs from anyway?" Rose asked ignoring his protests of being ten whole years old and no longer a child.

"Uncle George." Lily replied cheerfully as Hugo began clearing away the paint, glaring every now and then at Rose.

"We're going to protest outside the shop tomorrow."

"Really?" Rose asked with an indulging smile. Though only two years older she, and all the other Weasley children, had a habit of treating Hugo and Lily as if they were very small children instead of ten.

"Yeah really. Mum's already said she'll take us into Diagon Alley." Hugo asserted, "It's not a game you know."

"Hugo, are you sure that's is a good idea? He's our uncle. Plus Dad'll be furious, especially if it makes the paper."
"Their treatment of Pygmy Puffs is horrendous, the poor little things deserve to live a full and happy life not be shut up in a box until some sticky fingered kid comes along and tortured it for the rest of it's short life!" Hugo retorted. "It should be in the paper! Everyone should hear about it!"

"You know perfectly well that's not what they'll write. It'll be Mutiny in the Weasley Household or some such rot. They won't even mention the pygmy puffs."

"It is my duty to do what's right." He said stubbornly. "Especially in my own family." Rose bit her lip, remembering the previous summer and an incident with Grandma's garden gnomes. She gave Lily imploringly look. "You two are sure about this?"

Lily shrugged apologetically, "Maybe Aunt Hermione will finally get the garage cleaned."

Rose sighed, "Fine, but let's get you two cleaned up shall we?" Lily and Hugo looked at each other and giggled. "Come upstairs." Hugo angrily objected to leaving his banner where it could be sabotaged.

He was interrupted by Lily's mother, "What on earth have you two been doing now?" Ginny stood in the doorway looking amused. Lily skipped over to her, "We're protesting again."

"Lily!" Hugo hissed, she stuck her tongue out, "Mummy won't care."

"Aunty Ginny, could you help me get these two cleaned up?" Rose, ever sensible, asked. Ginny pulled out her wand, and vanished the paint, including what had been spilt.

"Lily, we have to go now honey. Verity just floo-ed. James is in St Mungo's again."

"Okay, I'll just grab my stuff." she skipped off upstairs closely followed by Hugo.

"You'll come tomorrow?" He asked standing in the doorway of his room as she collected her bag and jacket.

"Of course." She assured him.


After Lily had gone, Hugo roped his sister into helping him put away the rest of the paint and carry the banner up to his bedroom, "Did you learn a drying charm at Hogwarts?" He asked hopefully.

"Hugo. I only just finished my first year! And I'm not allowed to do magic outside of school anyway." She reminded him, before heading off to her room.

Hugo sat down on his bed and waited for the paint to dry. He wasn't the most patient of children and after a few minutes of fidgeting he went stood outside Rose's door, "Rosie?"

"What?"

"How long does it take paint to dry?"
"I don't know."
"Well how long do you think it takes?"

"I have no idea Hugo."

"Guess."

"I DON'T KNOW!" She yelled in frustration, "Ask Mum."

"Fine." He stalked off. After a few minutes of searching he found her in what was referred to as Mum's Library. She was sitting in an armchair reading a very large and dusty book.

"Mum?" She didn't reply.

He tried louder. "MUM?"

"Just give me one minute Hugo." She murmered without looking up. One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, four Mississ… "Mum?" She closed the book with a sigh, "Yes Hugo?"

"How long does it take paint to dry?"

"Well you know it really depends. Why?"

"No reason." She looked at him in disbelief.

"Honest Mum." He said looking up at her innocently. She raised an eyebrow but dropped it.

"You'll still take me and Lily to Diagon Alley tomorrow?" He asked anxiously.

"Lily and me." She corrected, "But yes I will as long as Ginny and Harry are okay with it. Where is Lily anyway?"

"Aunty Ginny picked her up. James is in St Mungo's again."

"Oh dear I hope he's alright." Hermione looked concerned.

"Well Aunt Ginny didn't seem too worried. He was probably trying untested products with Fred again." Hugo speculated. It had long been James and Fred's favourite holiday activity. One which, no matter how many precautions Uncle George put up, they managed to do every single summer.

"Probably," she assented before checking her watch, "Do you want some lunch?"

His stomach growled in reply causing them both to laugh. "Well go call your sister."

"ROSE. LUNCH TIME!" He yelled. His mother sighed, "Honey when I said call your sister I meant go fetch her. I could've yelled from here."

"Sorry mum." He said automatically, and headed to the kitchen.


Well I hope you all enjoyed it. Another chapter should be out soon. Please review and leave your thoughts.

xox Gilly