Ch. 5 She went too far this time

An hour later, with a messy spouse and two even messier children, Ron and Hermione Weasley returned home, worn out from another fantastic Sunday brunch at his parents' house. Ron and the kids were laughing so hard that it was almost impossible to stand up straight. His wife, however, was an entirely different affair.

"Rose, Hugo, go start a bath. Take those dirty clothes off, and I'll be back in the bathroom in a minute. I need to talk with your father."

They saw the look on her face, and scampered from the room without a retort. She heard two doors quickly close.

She held her stern appearance a few seconds longer before falling on the couch laughing hard. Ron joined her in the hilarity. His face was red as a tomato from stifling his laughter in front of the kids.

"Oh G_d, did you see Mum's face? I thought she had turned into a tomato!" bellowed Ron.

"Your poor Dad was in stitches. No wonder why he didn't try to scold you!" giggled Hermione. "I thought Fleur was going to strangle you, getting her new blouse soiled. I hope the gravy stains come out."

Ron was half off the couch from his laughter. "But did you see where I got Charlie with the caramel pudding from my plate? He looked better with it on his face than without it."

"But you looked so dashing with crème corn dripping off of your beard. I thought Percy would get involved before your Mum broke the affair up."

Tap Tap Tap

Ron looked up from the couch, trying to restrain his own laughter, when he caught sight of the owl with the red envelope attached to it. "Bloody Hell!"

"What?" inquired Hermione.

"I think Mum finally caught a breath. She sent a howler."

He walked to the window, and took the howler off of Aries' leg. He got a peck for his trouble before the Australian Screech Owl took back off from their window.

"Ruddy bird. You would get them an owl that doesn't like me."

Within seconds, the envelope immolated, and the banshee inspired voice of Molly Weasley could be heard for a city block if their cottage wasn't on twenty acres.

"Ronald Weasley, I am ashamed of you! Starting a food fight with children present. I am absolutely disgusted with you. You get back here now and apologize to the family for your sordid antics this instant! I raised you better than that! Do not make me come over there and deal with you in person!"

The howler disintegrated, and he was about to retort to his wife when he spied two sets of blue eyes looking back at him. His wife hadn't noticed yet, but the look of hurt on his kids' faces turned his embarrassment into anger.

"Bloody hell!"

Hermione started to castigate him further for his salty language, but looked at where he was staring. Two sets of beautiful cerulean blue eyes were staring up at them. Her eyes went as wide as a tea saucer. She scurried over to her two children, praying that they didn't hear their grandmother's howler for their Dad.

Hugo looked up, showing the same hang dog eyes that his father was famous for. "Mummy, why was Gramma Molly yelling? What did Daddy do?"

Hermione glanced back over her shoulder at her husband, hoping to stifle his commentary just long enough. She gave him a glare that kept him quiet. "Well, Gramma Molly is mad because Daddy accidently threw food at Aunt Fleur. She's probably mad because then Bill threw some creamed corn back at him, along with Uncle Charlie throwing food at Daddy too."

"But that was funny Mummy."

"Hugo, you know that throwing food at someone is wrong. Mummy said so," quipped Rose sounding dreadfully similar to her grandmother. "You've been put in time out when you threw food."

"It was still funny, seeing Uncle Bill throwing food at Daddy and Daddy throwing it back at him."

"It's still wrong and you know it," Rosie huffed. "Don't you listen to Mummy when she's talking about food at the table? She said that there are plenty of hungry people who would love our leftovers. We shouldn't waste food like that."

Hermione blushed, remembering that she scolded Rose a year prior for throwing away half a sandwich and a half eaten bag of crisps. There were times that her year on the run still haunted her and made her life a bit more problematic.

"But Gramma shouldn't have yelled at Daddy. It was an accident." Hugo seemed confused. "You said accidents happen and that if you say you sorry it's better."

"Gramma Molly is probably mad because we came home after the food fight instead of staying and helping clean up. That's probably it Hugo."

She glanced back, looking for any comprehension on her husband's face. All she saw were swirling storm clouds through his expression. He was fighting to keep his temper in check. His weakness was coping with humiliation. Being friends for twenty years on top of their marriage made her comprehension of Ron Weasley apparent. Learning to read Ronald Weasley and study him intimately made her understanding of his persona better, comprehending him so there would be less communication problems.

"Dear, why don't I stay here with the kids and give them a bath? I'll talk with Hugo and see if I can explain to him why throwing food is wrong, but accidents happen and being yelled at for them is wrong too. You go back to the Burrow and see about your Mum. How does that sound?"

He heard what she was really saying underneath it all. You go and deal with Mum. We'll stay out of your way.

She hadn't changed in years. If anyone could explain to the kids, it was her. His brilliant wife, defusing the situation before it became a problem for the kids, was protecting them the best way she knew how. They didn't need to hear the row that was about to happen. Hermione learned her lesson about her husband years ago. She didn't need to see a repeat performance from her husband with his mother.

He looked at her, and nodded. A quick hand signal – I love you – and he turned back to their fireplace.

He stepped to the fireplace, and threw in power, calling out his parent's home