Favourite
ii. uncle
Every holiday, Hugo perches on the rocking chair near his grandparents' fireplace, patiently watching all his relatives tumble out of the stone hearth. Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur are always first. Uncle Bill always walks out with a crooked a smile and a hair ruffle for both him and his father. This year, Aunt Fleur walks out with baby Louis in her arms, a little doll with a puff of blonde hair. Victoire (old, elegant, responsible) glides out with Dominique (everything opposite) who is complaining quite loudly. Victoire pinches his cheek and Dominique coos over his curly brown hair; in response, Hugo scowls and crosses his arms defiantly. He is not a baby. The first Weasley family drifts into the kitchen.
Hugo rocks back and forth in the chair, waiting.
Uncle Charlie is next, accompanied by his girlfriend Padma Patil. "Hi, Uncle Charlie! Padma!" Hugo flashes the exotic couple with a shy smile. Grinning broadly, Charlie picks him up with his strong, protective arms and swings him around: Uncle and nephew laugh and roar with delight. Padma (should he call her Aunt? Miss?) greets him gently and slips him a few chocolate frogs and a hug, before following Charlie into the growing throng of Weasleys. Hugo Weasley nibbles secretly on a chocolate frog, hoping to Merlin his Mum wouldn't find him. (She didn't approve of sweets before dinner.)
The rest of the family suddenly appears in a cloud of loud chatter and wet scarves. Cousin Teddy and Victoire make a beeline for each other; Hugo makes a disgusted face. If Uncle Bill only knew what they were up to in broom closet… The little Weasley waves at James, who gestures to his bag of dung bombs with a wink. His younger brother, Albus, merely shakes his head and sighs, putting his nose back into his book. Idly, Hugo wonders if Albus was trying to read in even the Floo. Lily Potter bounces out of the fireplace and wraps him in a huge hug. Hugo squirms away from his cousin and glares at Aunt Ginny who is giggling. Lily makes a face and runs to Hugo's sister, Rose, to talk about "girl stuff." 'Sounds dangerous,' Hugo thinks with a shudder. Uncle Harry is chatting with Aunt Luna – who looks strangely large to Hugo – and Uncle George. Hugo's small chest swells with pride. Not everyone has such a warm, loving family.
Then he frowns. There is still someone missing and Hugo feels suddenly sad. Hugo's stomach growls loudly. Maybe he can wait just a tad longer—
"Hugo Arthur, your dinner is getting cold!" Mum bustles into the room, arms akimbo. "Aren't you hungry?" She gives him a dubious look. Hugo sits still in the rocking chair, stubbornly watching the fireplace. "He isn't going to come, you know," she says quietly, kneeling beside him, stroking her son's brown curls gently.
"He promised." Hugo aims a reproachful look at his mother. Clearly, she did not that promises were unbreakable... right? The small boy quashes his scepticism and turns back to watch the hearth. His stomach protests his decision with a rumble. Hermione Weasley sighs. He, almost unfortunately, inherited her stubbornness. Seeing his determination, she doesn't have the heart to tell him that words of promise were simply just that – words.
"If you don't come to dinner soon, Rose will get the first, and the biggest, piece of your grandmum's apple pie," she threatens, trying to distract him.
"Muuuuummmm! You wouldn't do that! That's always my piece!" Hugo objects, but his mum stands firm. Tears abruptly fill his eyes. It isn't fair! He falls silent for a moment, as if considering the options. Then, shrugging unsurely, he slides off the chair and follows Hermione into the kitchen (laughter, warm, together) with lowered eyes. Hugo sends one last, tearful look to the cold fireplace.
At dinner, Hugo only plays with the food, listlessly.
-
The entire Weasley clan lounges in the sitting room after dinner, filling it with bright banter and running children. Hugo sits on the fireplace, chin resting on his hand. Lily attempts to coerce him into a game of pretend, but Hugo really doesn't feel like playing the puppy or Daddy or whatever else humiliating Lily has in mind. Sullenly, he guards his position on the hearth. He doesn't understand how everyone can just sit around as if everything is just wonderful.
After dinner, his mum pulled him aside. "Not everyone is fond of him as you are, darling," she whispers, attempting to explain. "They don't really expect him to come."
"He'll come, you'll see!" Hugo responded hotly.
That had been two hours ago. Hugo, disheartened, trudges past his chatting uncles and gossiping aunts and to the peace of the empty kitchen. He watches the Family Clock, with its many hands. In Transit. In transit, where? For how long? Here? Abruptly, little Hugo hears the fireplace roar to life; he rushes to the sound.
A tall, gangly figure unfolds from the hearth. He looks absolutely exhausted, with sloping shoulders and lines already pinching the corners of his eyes and mouth. Hugo brightens immediately and throws himself at the cloaked figure. "You didn't forget!" he cheers, burying his face into the cloak that smells of pine and spearmint. Percy Weasley takes hold of Hugo's shoulders and kneels down to eye level, hazel meeting bright blue. Uncle Percy looks strained and worn, spectacles sliding down his nose, but manages a genuine smile.
"How could I, Hugo?" he asks, cuffing his nephew gently on the head. "You're the best nephew there is!" Hugo nods emphatically. No one else treats or teaches him like Uncle Percy! Percy looks to the kitchen. "You missed dinner for me?" His uncle's expression softens and something – gratitude? love? – flits across his face. Hugo nods, feeling a bit shy and flushes when his stomach growls thereafter. Percy chuckles, "Let us go, then. Want a ride?"
"Yeah!" Hugo answers eagerly, wrapping his arms around Percy's neck. "Let's go!! And can we play chess afterwards?"
"Of course, Hugo. I hope you have been practising with your father! I'm not going to hold back on you," Percy says jokingly, the corners of his mouth turning up into a smile. Uncle Percy grunts a little as he stands and walks slowly to the kitchen.
Every single family member simply watches in wonderment.
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Author's Note: Yes, a tad long, I know! I couldn't help it! I might do a second chapter later on to further explore the relationship between Uncle Perce and Hugo, just because it can be so interesting. I do hope you enjoyed! Reviews, of course, are always welcome.