Favourite
iii. colour
Hugo is home for the holidays, his first holiday of his first year. Walking out of the kitchen, he balances a ham sandwich in his hand, a plate of cookies in the crook of his arm, and a glass of milk in the other. He always needs a snack when reading. Nearly dropping his precious snack, Hugo unsuccessfully fumbles with the door to the library. Then he hears voices.
"I can't believe that he –" Dad.
"Ron, for Merlin's sake. A lot of good people—Honestly, I don't know why you still cling to your absolutely antiquated preconceptions." Mum.
"But, he's a Hufflepuff!" Ron Weasley sputters.
"He has good marks, he has friends… he's not socially incompetent, or anything, Ron. I can't believe you!" Hugo can almost see his Mum shaking her head incredulously.
Hugo blinks for a moment. They only could be talking about him. Right now, Hugo is the only Hufflepuff in the Weasley clan. He backs away from the library, back into the kitchen and to the table. The plates clatter onto the table. Hufflepuff wasn't a bad house, or anything. Not a house of the duffers, the oddballs, and the socially awkward. There were a few odd ones out, but even they were nice folk. Hugo takes a bite of the sandwich. 'Not enough mayonnaise,' he notes, chewing.
His Dad was strange like that, sometimes, clinging to certain ideas. Hugo swallows. But does it mean that his father isn't proud of him? This worries him a bit; he admires his Dad immensely. Ron Weasley was sparse with the compliments and had a difficult time expressing them, but it just meant more when he did. A frown creases Hugo's brow.
The Library door opens, and his parents stomp out. They both halt abruptly, seeing him at the table. Hugo is almost finished eating. He carries the dishes and puts them in the sink.
"I like being in Hufflepuff," Hugo comments, brushing past them. Ron and Hermione trade glances. Ron's shoulders fall.
For the next week Hugo only wears yellow and a frown.
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Author's Note: It's been a while, but the recent trailers for Half-Blood Price are enough to spur my creative writing.