A/N: Hello, my dear readers! I wanted to say THANK YOU so much to all my reviewers of this story for being so kind a supportive. I hope you grow to love this pairing as much as I do! I apologize for the lack of posting, but I haven't been any fanfic at all since October. I you want to hear my excuses, I'll put them on my profile, but know I'm sorry.
Anyway, the chapters of this story won't be very long; they're just meant to be snapshots of how things are between Hugo and Lily. I should get another out before the end of the month. All feedback is appreciated! Candy cane cookies to all my reviewers!
"Hugo!"
Spinning around so fast he nearly toppled over, five-year old Hugo Weasley looked at his mother with wide, innocent eyes. Next to him, his cousin, Lily, shot a quick glance over her shoulder towards her aunt before turning back to her make-believe stove, waving her arm. The pale stick in her hand may not have been a real wand, but it worked perfectly well in the four-year old's opinion.
"Time to come inside; it's getting dark."
"But mum!" Hugo protested, tugging on Lily's arm to try and get her to help him argue his case. The redhead shrugged him off though, still busily directing imaginary ingredients into her big pot, humming like her grandmother as she did so.
"No buts," his mother said automatically.
"Can't I stay out with Lily?" Hugo begged . " Please?"
"Lily should come in, too," his mother replied.
"But Auntie Hermione!" Lily whined, suddenly and urgently joining Hugo's side now that it concerned her directly.
"No buts," Hermione repeated firmly. "Now in you go."
Grumbling, the two cousins slowly made their way back to the house, exaggerating every heavy step. Halfway there, Lily grasped Hugo's hand and pulled him closer.
"Maybe my mum will let us have some biscuits and milk," she whispered, already getting excited about the prospect.
"Maybe," Hugo echoed, not celebrating the possible treat quite yet. Nevertheless, when Lily started to scurry faster, he sped up as well.
"Ugh, I hate Ancient Runes," Hugo complained, collapsing into his favorite red chair in the Gryffindor common room. Lily dropped into his lap from the side, hanging her legs over one of the arms of the chair and draping her arm across his shoulder. The fifteen year old boy grunted once, shifting his cousin slightly to the right.
"I told you not to take it," Lily reminded him.
"It's not so bad," Will argued. The blond-haired boy was Hugo's age, but he had become good friends with both of the Weasley cousins over the past few years. "It's not every that difficult."
"Maybe for you," Kat said, dropping her bag to the floor next to couch before sitting down next to the blond. "I think it's almost as hard as Arithmancy."
"Arithmancy is a lot easier than Ancient Runes," Hugo declared. Before he could even finish his sentence, however, more than a couple of mouths opened in protest, each saying something along the lines of the Weasley boy being insane and Arithmancy being concentrated horror. For a few minutes, the five friends discussed their classes, mostly sharing grievances.
"Okay, can we change the subject now?" Georgia suggested. "Classes are finally over for the weekend."
"Agreed," Lily replied. Looking mostly at Hugo, she then asked if anyone in the group had made plans for the weekend. The other two girls shrugged noncommittally, nonverbally answering in the negative.
"I still have to finish that paper for Flitwick," Will admitted sheepishly, struggling to repress a slight grin as Kat rolled her eyes. "I'll probably hit the library tomorrow morning."
"I might join you," Hugo announced. At Lily's curious glance, the boy diverted his eyes as his cheeks and ears reddened ever so slightly. "I was thinking of getting a head start studying for the O.W.L.s."
"Already?" Lily asked, the disbelief in her tone echoed in the looks their friends also shot the boy.
"Well, Rose said I'd better start soon!" he said defensively. "Last year she started preparing in October. It's the middle of November now, and if I want to get half as good of notes, I better hurry up."
"No offense, but your sister's kind of crazy," Georgia said, not for the first time.
"Crazy smart," Kat said, her voice betraying her envy.
"And just insane," Lily murmured so only Hugo could hear her, good-naturedly sharing a small smile with her cousin as she thought about the fiery redhead.
"Don't I know it," he replied softly in her ear. "She's just like mum."
Lily laughed, scooping her strawberry blonde hair around to the left side of her next before she let her head rest on Hugo's shoulder. The other three Gryffindors had continued conversing among themselves,
"If it weren't for those two, I never would have taken Ancient Runes in the first place," he moaned.
"Aw, my poor Hugo," she replied with mirth, her smile widening when he sent her an annoyed look. "At least after this year you never have to take the class again."
"True," he admitted, cocking his head to the side while he thought about how marvelous it would be when he was finally done with Ancient Runes. "After my O.W.L., I could die happy without seeing another rune of any kind. Ever."
"I'll make a mental note of that," Lily teased.
"Do!" he commanded, facing her with a serious expression. "I'll put you in charge of keeping me away from runes of all sorts."
"Oh, I don't know about that. Sounds like I'd be real busy."
"It would be a life-long position," he admitted. "Would that be a problem?"
"Spending a lifetime with you?" Lily said with a smile. "It doesn't exactly run contrary to any of my current plans."
"Excellent."
Content, the fourteen-year-old girl leaned against her cousin again, merely listening as he rejoined the conversation with the others. After an hour or so, Hugo's hand came up to rub slow circles on her lower back.
"You going to fall asleep on me again?" he murmured in her ear.
"Nun-uh," she mumbled, eyes half-closed. "I'm good. Not even tired yet."
"Liar," Hugo replied, sending her a half-grin, half-smirk. Channeling her inner adult, she maturely stuck her tongue out at him in response.
"I need food," she declared suddenly, knowing that substance would help her stay up a little longer. "Let's go visit the House Elves."
"I don't want to," Georgia complained, her words muffled by the fact that her head had fallen into her cupped hands as she set her elbows on the small table in front of them.
"Me neither," Kat said. "I don't want to get up. I'm too comfy right here."
"So I make a good pillow after all?" Will asked, the amusement evident in his voice. Looking up at Hugo, he rolled his eyes good-naturedly when the dark-haired girl curled against his side swatted his head.
"I'll come, Lily," Hugo offered, having already known that he would get roped into coming along even if he didn't volunteer. Nevertheless, Lily smiled brilliantly at him and jumped up off his lap.
"Maybe we can get some of those biscuits!" Lily exclaimed joyfully.
"Maybe," Hugo echoed. Down in the kitchens, the elves did happen to have Lily's favorite kind of biscuits, along with many other delicious treats. By the time the two cousins returned to the Gryffindor common room, however, their three friends had all fallen asleep. After shaking them awake long enough to guide them upstairs, Hugo and Lily met down in front of the fireplace again, sharing the snacks and drinking butterbeer until the flames died. As the embers glowed softly, the two continued to talk quietly, curled up side by side in the red armchair. Although they both had stiff necks in the morning when they woke up to the sound of students charging through the common room on their way to breakfast, neither regretted staying up late or accidentally falling asleep together.
