A/N: I almost didn't post today because of my gigantic pile of homework and tests I need to study for, but whatever. And to Marciabarcia, you were right about who was laughing (the first person you typed). :) I had a bit of writer's block wen typing this chapter, so I know it isn't so great.

Disclaimer:I don't own anything dealing with 'Harry Potter.'

At first, Rose thought it was Hugo; why wouldn't he laugh? But it didn't sound anything like Hugo's laugh. Slowly she turned around and her eyes widened. He was laughing?! First smiling and now this?!

He's so brave the mushy part of her thought. She looked over at her mum . . . who still looked angry. Mum! Don't kill him! But that wasn't on Hermione's list. Soon she was laughing too and more people joined in when they were sure she was actually laughing and not laughing to trick them so she could begin yelling.

"And what exactly was the point of that, Hugo? Al?" Hermione asked when she had stopped laughing, a smile on her face.

Hugo was enjoying himself very much. He had fallen to the ground from all of his laughter and was currently on his side, still laughing. "You – You tell her, Al," he managed out between gasps of air. "You tell her!"

Al opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Hugo. He had stopped laughing long enough to climb on his feet, but when he saw his mum, the chortles were back and he fell back down, gasping something along the lines, "It went plop!" Al burst out into fresh chuckles at Hugo and began to explain.

"Well, we just wanted to play a prank on James. We hadn't expected those two over there –" he pointed to Ron and Harry – "to go out and get more whipped cream." He shrugged and grinned. "But that was really funny." James huffed from where he stood.

"And what did I do to deserve getting pranked?" Al shrugged again.

"What did anyone do to deserve being pranked?" James nodded; he did have a point.

"Hermione?" Ginny asked suddenly.

"Hm?" Hermione turned to her sister-in-law and closest friend . . . and was met with a face full of cream. Ginny smiled.

"I found the counter charm you put on the cans." And the whipped cream was flying everywhere once more. Rose was laughing as soon as she heard another faint pop. She scanned room and saw her father and uncle had once again disappeared and her mum wasn't present either.

What's the big idea? She had begun to think before they returned. And they weren't carrying empty hands.

"Are those –" she began.

"They got cherries! Hit the floor!" he cried with a big smile. Then he actually fell to the floor and tackled his dad to ground before he grabbed a handful of cherries and began throwing them at him and Uncle Harry. Rose was laughing – so hard she had to hold a stitch in her side – at how crazy Hugo was, but helped him nonetheless. Ron was in tears at Hugo's antics and the plastic container with the cherries had fallen from his hand, littering the floor. She stooped down to grab some and threw them at anyone near her.

The little cherry/whipped cream battle went on for about ten more minutes until the Malfoys announced their leave.

"Sorry, but we should be going now; we have to clean ourselves up, of course," Draco said with a small smile." Rose hung back a little while everyone bid them a farewell. She smiled awkwardly as Astoria came over and gave her a little hug. Soon after Draco came and gave her a hug, too, so she moved forward a bit to where Scorpius was. Maybe he'd give her a hug like his parents.

Stop getting your hopes up high, Rosie dearest her mind told her.

Rose looked on as Scorpius gave Lily a hug and shook hands with her uncle.

I should've thrown some cherries at her she thought sourly. Scorpius turned and came face to face with her. He blinked once or twice and Rose was sure he was going to raise his arms to hug her. Sure enough, his arms twitched as though he were going to bring them up, but remained at his side as if he thought better of it. He gave her a reassuring smile and left to hug Ginny.

The smile that she had returned stayed on her face as understanding flowed around in her mind.

He was just . . . shy was the first excuse that popped in her head. He wasn't as shy as when he was putting his hands all over your youngest cousin.

"Stupid contemptuous thoughts," she muttered to herself as the smile slid off. She looked up when she heard the door close and saw that the Potters were still there. On the slight depressed side, Rose sighed, pulled the rubber band off of her wrist and pulled her hair up.

She heaved herself in a chair and watched as her parents talked. By the kitchen door, she could see James, Albus, and Hugo talking – more prank ideas was what she was betting on.

Wait a sec, where's Lil –

"Hey, Rose!" Lily smiled and sat in a chair next to one of her older cousins.

Rose hoped the smile she put on didn't look too strained. "Hey, Lily." Lily's mouth opened, but Albus swooped over.

"Hey, Lily, can I talk to Rose for a moment?" Lily looked inquisitive, but nodded and left as her big brother took her seat. He had a knowing smile on his face that made Rose cower. Did he know of –?

"I know," he said as if he were reading her mind.

"Know what?" she asked.

"I saw that look on your face when Scorpius didn't hug you back. And I know," he said with that smile that made Rose cower back more.

"Wait – you were on the other side of the room!" she remembered. Al shrugged.

"Unlike my dad, I have great eyesight." He smirked jokingly.

Rose glanced at him. She wasn't giving in so easily. "You know what?"

Al gave her a look that said 'You're still playing dumb?' "If the look you had didn't scream 'hug me! Hug me!' then I don't know what does," he remarked and grinned when he saw her gaze at him alarmed and look around them to see if anyone had heard. "It's okay, your secret's safe with me." Then he put his finger up to his mouth. Rose smiled and gave him a hug.

"This is why you're 88th on my favorite cousins list," she said.

"Really? You actually have a list and you rank us – wait, do we really have that many cousins?" Rose put her finger up to her mouth as he had and smiled as he good-humoredly shoved her.

A/N: The rubber band makes a comeback from Chapter One! I know this chapter was pretty short, but don't think the story's completed; I still have one more chapter. :) And sorry for the lack of Hugo in this chapter; he'll be back in the next chapter. :) Would love it of you review even if it's to tell me about mistakes of how bad this story is. :)

--~~ Sparkly S ~~--