Using the prompt 'kitchen'

Chapter Twenty-Six

Within seconds, the serenity of Grimmauld Place was replaced by yelling, shouting, laughing and cheering. Hugo's cousins were home. He had been expecting this day for a while now, but now that it was actually happening, he wasn't really sure what to make of it. All three of them were smiling as they shouted stories at their parents – each trying to be heard over the others.

"... and then Thomas just did this amazing flip out of nowhere and he had the Snitch right from under Zabini's nose. It was amazing. You should have been there, Mum!"

"Professor Longbottom told me I had a real knack for Herbology. Nobody's ever told me that before... for any subject, Dad!"

"I can't believe he did that! He's totally lost the plot, Mum. It's kind of scary."

James – the first one through the door – dumped his bag and trunk in the hallway, giving Hugo a wave. "Heya," he said. "How are you, mate?"

Hugo shrugged. "Good," he replied. The news of his parents' murder case had made him good. Before that, he had been less than good.

"Great!" James replied.

"James Sirius! Is the hallway where your things go?"

James turned to face his mother. "Mum... I just got home," he complained. "And you're already on my back!"

"This place has been relatively tidy for the past few months. I will not have it destroyed in a few minutes."

James let out a loud, irritated sigh before picking up his bag and trunk and hauling them towards the stairs, muttering something under his breath as he did so. Hugo noted that Ginny seemed unperturbed by this behaviour and it reminded him of his own mother. Parents were good at not letting things like that bother them. He and Rose needed to take a page out of their book.

Albus and Lily followed their brother straight up the stairs to their respective rooms, and Hugo followed upon Lily's request. The two cousins had shared one or two letters over the few months they were separated, but it wasn't the same as actually seeing her again. Even though she was his cousin, Lily was basically Hugo's best friend. They had known each other since birth, they were in the same House and year at Hogwarts. It was only natural that they stuck together.

Lily's bedroom had remained firmly shut since she returned to Hogwarts, except for the odd occasion Ginny or Harry had needed to go in. Even though he had spent many a time in there before, Hugo felt rather uncomfortable about entering on this occasion. It was the longest he had been apart from any of his cousins his whole life and that felt strange. Unnatural, almost. He didn't know what to say.

He stood in the doorway as Lily placed her trunk carefully against her wall and opened it. She smiled at Hugo. "Hi," she said.

"Hi," Hugo replied. Never had he felt so awkward around his cousin before. Something wasn't right in all of this. Maybe he had just become so used to them not being around that it was going to take some time to get used to having them around again.

"Come in," she said. "We haven't talked in ages."

Hugo entered her overly-Gryffindor-decorated room and sat on her bed. Even her doona was maroon and gold. The Potters were proud Gryffindors – that was for sure.

"I don't know what to say," Hugo confessed, looking anywhere but at her. "I mean, it feels a bit awkward, doesn't it? I spent the last few months living in your house, while you were at Hogwarts."

Lily didn't answer straight away. Instead, she dug through her trunk for something, eventually pulling out a neatly folded Gryffindor scarf. Getting to her feet, she took it over to her bed and sat beside Hugo. She handed him the scarf.

Hugo frowned. He already owned a scarf and he was about to tell her so, when he realised she had only used the scarf as wrapping for something else. "What is it?" he questioned, accepting her offer.

"Open it and see," Lily told him cheerfully.

She waited patiently until Hugo had completely uncovered what was underneath. He sucked in a breath as he distinguished what was sitting in his lap.

"Do you like it?" she asked.

Hugo had no reply. To what extent had Lily gone to, to get this? Surely, she would have had to break many rules to get it to him.

"Your letters sounded really sad," Lily continued. "And, we kind of felt bad going back when you and Rose couldn't. This is from all of us – me, Al and James."

Hugo ran his finger over the vintage frame with the Hogwarts emblem on it. So many times he had walked past that photo, admiring it with pride. There were his parents, on display for everyone to see, to know what they had done. Harry was with them too and they were all smiling and waving at the camera, opening Hogwarts after it was repaired. Until now, it had sat on the wall on the third floor. He smiled. "Thanks," he said. "But, how did you get it?" He didn't want his cousins getting into trouble for some silly photo.

Lily seemed to understand. "We didn't steal it," she assured him. "James asked Professor Longbottom if he could have it to take to you. Professor Longbottom thought it was a brilliant idea, though the decision did come down to Professor Gimp, of course. He was a little harder to convince, so James got Dad on the case." She beamed proudly. "Dad said he thought it was also a brilliant idea, so Professor Gimp let us take it, though he still didn't like the idea."

Hugo smiled down at his happy, younger parents. "Thanks," he said again.

"You have to show Rose too, though. It's for both of you, but I wanted to give it to you first. I know Rose hasn't been very nice to you lately."

Hugo shook his head, telling her it was nothing. "She's been nice to me," he said. "It's your parents who had been suffering, but I think she apologised. They've been on good terms lately."

"That's good," Lily replied. "It's sad when Rose gets like that."

Hugo nodded. It was sad. "But, she's just sad," he told her. "She misses them."

Lily didn't say anything for a moment. They both looked down at the frame. She then returned her gaze to Hugo. "I miss them too, you know," she said. "I want the person who did it to be caught. Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione were the best."

"They were the best," Hugo agreed sadly. "But, she has been caught, Lily. She's being held at the Ministry. Her trial is in four weeks. Mr Malfoy told us."

"Scorpius' dad?" Lily questioned, sounding genuinely surprised. It made Hugo realise that although he thought his aunt and uncle had been keeping things from them, it was apparent they hadn't told the others anything at all.

"Yeah," Hugo said. "Scorpius made him help, apparently. He wanted to do something and that was the best he could do, apparently. It's all to do with Rose, of course."

Lily giggled. "Do you think they'll get married?" she wondered, and Hugo could just hear Rose's reaction to such a statement. She'd go on a defensive spree, giving every reason she could think of as to why she didn't like Scorpius in that way.

He shrugged. "Maybe one day," he said. "But don't tell Rose that."

"I think they will," Lily replied dreamily. "They love each other."

Hugo thought that might have been pushing it, but he didn't say anything. Ginny knocked on Lily's door.

"Grandma Weasley said she wants to cook you all a welcome home dinner tonight, so we're going to the Burrow later on, okay?" She looked down at the photo frame still in Hugo's hand. "Ah, you gave it to him, Lily?" she questioned. "What do you think, Hu?"

"I love it!" Hugo replied truthfully. He was already thinking of where he was going to put it in his room.

After his response, Ginny was silent. Her expression became vacant and her eyes unfocused. Hugo shared a look with Lily.

"Um... Mummy, are you okay?" she asked.

Ginny shook her head, snapping herself out of her daydream. "Oh, yes, I'm fine, Lily," she replied, watching Hugo with sudden great interest. "It's just, when you said that, Hugo, you... you sounded so much like your dad. That's all." She smiled again. "Be ready by five, okay?" She left the room without another word.

"Has she been like that a lot?" Lily questioned.

Hugo shook his head. "No, not at all," he said. "Did I really sound like Dad?"

Lily shrugged. "I don't know," she admitted.

Hugo hoped so. If he could turn out anything like his dad, that would make him really happy. He just really wished he had inherited the Weasley talent at Quidditch. Maybe then, he'd make the team.

"Come on, let's show Rose," Lily said suddenly, jumping to her feet. "Do you think she'll like it?"

Of that, Hugo wasn't sure. These days, Rose was so unpredictable. It would depend on what mood they caught her in, because if it was the wrong one, then there was no way in the world Rose would appreciate such a thought.

OOO

It was a bit overwhelming seeing all the family cramped together in one tiny kitchen. It had happened on many previous occasions, but it had been a very long time since all the family was there... well, all the family that was still alive, anyway.

Besides Molly and Arthur, Harry and Ginny, Hugo, his sister and three cousins, there was also Percy and Audrey with Molly and Lucy, Bill and Fleur with their three children, as well as George and Angelina with Fred and Roxanne. When he arrived, Fred was jumping up and down on a chair and Molly had to use a suspension charm so he landed softly when he stumbled on his own feet.

Even Hugo's Uncle Charlie was there with more scars than he remembered. Every time Hugo thought it would be a brilliant idea to work with dragons, he remembered his uncle and decided creating his own spells was the way to go. He really didn't want to end up looking like Charlie. He looked about ten years older than he actually was.

"Oh, how are you all, dears?" Molly asked, hugging each of her grandchildren in turn. Though, Hugo thought she stayed with him and Rose for just that little moment longer. Hugo appreciated it.

"We're good, Grandma," Lily replied cheerfully.

Molly smiled. "I bet you all are. You've finished another year of school. Only five more to go, darling."

"Only two for me!" James cut in. "Thank Merlin my OWLs are over and done with, by the way. That was a nightmare."

"What are you talking about?" Albus replied snidely. "You were too busy snogging Jasmine Finnigan to study for them."

"You what?"

Everyone turned to face Rose, who was now glaring at James. Hugo sighed. Here we go, he thought.

"Al..." James moaned.

Albus' face turned rather red. "Er... sorry," he said. "Slipped out."

"You're dating Jasmine?" Rose questioned, her eyes not leaving James'. Hugo could see her trying to contain herself. She really was trying, he realised. She really was trying not to lose her temper.

"Um... kind of," James mumbled.

"But she's... that's..."

"That's great news!" Molly cut in, throwing her arm across Rose's shoulder. "It's great that you're happy, James," she continued. "Now, Rose, dear, would you mind helping me with dinner? I think I've gone a bit over the top and there is no way I can do this all by myself."

That was a cue for everyone else to leave, less they wanted to be coaxed into helping, too. They shuffled silently through the door and into the large backyard.

"Who's up for a good, old fashioned game of Weasley Quidditch?" George asked with wide eyes. He looked hopefully around at the large group of family members.

"I am," James said. "Usual positions?"

George nodded. "Most definitely, Jamsie-boy! You Keeper, Harry and Charlie Seekers, I'll be one Beater, Ginny, Ange and... Lucy... Chasers. That leaves a Keeper, three more Beaters and three more Chasers..."

Hugo swallowed. He was normally stuck being a Beater in these games, but what he really wanted was to be Keeper. That was normally his dad's job, though.

"I'll be Keeper." He said it so quietly that it was practically inaudible to those standing any more than one foot away from him.

No one said anything straight away, but eventually, George gave him a huge grin. "Excellent!" he said. "Al and Lily, do you want to be Chasers?"

Albus groaned. "I'm always Chaser," he complained. "Give Molly a turn."

"No way!" Molly argued. "I'm a Beater... as always."

"Dom and I will be the other two Chasers," Victoire interrupted, seeming to sense an argument coming from Molly. "Al and Lou can be the other two Beaters."

George shrugged. "Suits me, but Al, I really think you'd make a better Chaser. Don't you play it for Gryffindor?"

"Yeah, but I'll give Beater a go," he said.

"That leaves Rosie, Bill, Percy and Fleur... Oh, and Audrey, but..."

"I'm more than happy to sit this one out," Bill said. "And, you know how the other three feel about Quidditch. I doubt they'll put up a fight."

"We need a ref, though," George replied. He looked pointedly towards his brother. Bill sighed.

"Alright," he relented. "I'll be ref. We need someone to keep you all in check."

After the teams were finalised (Hugo was with Ginny, Lily, Victoire, Albus, George and Charlie) they went to the shed to retrieve all the brooms. Hugo was always amazed as to how many were actually in there. A lot of them were older than him, but they still did their purpose for backyard Quidditch.

George and Harry had been nominated captains this time round, so they each led their teams onto the homemade pitch. Hugo mounted the old Cleansweep Six and flew over to the three goalposts. They were simply hoops floating in mid-air – enchanted by Ginny to stay up there.

Hugo beamed. For so long he had wanted this job, but he had missed out at both Hogwarts and with his family. Hugo wasn't a bad Keeper, but there was always someone better than him. Like James. But, of course, James was the son of Harry and Ginny Potter. Quidditch talent seeped through him. Albus and Lily were both relatively good players, too. Hugo was never even going to be considered as Gryffindor Keeper until James finished school. That was two years away.

His dad was always the other Keeper. Hugo didn't mind that, of course. He looked up to his dad. His dad had helped him practice, had taught him many things. But now it was Hugo's turn to shine – even if it was just a backyard game with his family.

From below, he saw his grandmother and sister emerge from the kitchen. Rose never joined in. She hated everything about Quidditch – an attitude she had inherited from their mother, just ten times worse. It didn't seem to matter that everyone around her loved it. It probably made her more determined to hate it. But, nevertheless, Molly summoned some chairs and they both sat on the sidelines to watch.

Percy never joined in on the matches, nor did Audrey. But Audrey had a reason. She was a Muggle. She couldn't play Quidditch. Still, she was fascinated by the idea of it and enjoyed watching it.

Fred and Roxanne were too young (despite begging their father to let them play) and Arthur and Molly were too old. Fleur apparently thought herself above the game of Quidditch. She'd never join in either, though she had no problem with her husband and children playing it.

"Go, Hugo!"

Hugo looked down again to see his sister waving up at him. He waved back. "I'll try my best!" he called back.

"You'll do wonderfully, dear," Molly replied. "You have your father's talent."

Now, swelling with pride, Hugo braced himself as Bill released the Quaffle. He watched from his end as Ginny snatched the Quaffle from mid-air and zoomed down the end James was Keeping at. Even though she had retired from professional Quidditch many years ago, she was still very quick. She hauled it to Lily who was waiting near the hoops and with little effort, the youngest player on the pitch had gotten it past her brother.

James swore loudly – which Ginny scolded him for – and they were off again, this time coming Hugo's end.

Angelina wasn't a bad player either and she was coming quickly. Hugo saw her watching the right hoop, so he decided to go left, thinking it was a trick. But it wasn't. The Quaffle went straight through the right one – as it had looked.

Dad would have known that, he thought, containing his disappointment. At least he hadn't been beaten by Lily.

"Ten points all!" Bill called over a loud cheer coming from James.

"What the hell was that, Hu?" Lily accused. "It was pretty obvious Aunty Angelina was going there."

Hugo didn't meet her eye. "I thought she was bluffing."

"Aunty Angelina never bluffs," Lily said. "I thought you knew that."

No, Hugo didn't know that. He had spent his whole life playing Beater. "I'll know for next time," he said, and Lily was gone, once again in the midst of the action.

It went goal for goal for quite some time. Hugo managed a few lucky saves, but overall, he knew he was rubbish at the position. One moment James was making a magnificent – almost impossible – save and the next, Hugo had batted the Quaffle away awkwardly, only for Lucy to take it again and put it through the middle hoop.

He sighed as Ginny approached him. "It's just a game, Hugo," she said, seeming to sense his disappointment. "And a mediocre one at that."

Hugo shrugged. "I just..." He watched the game that was now up the other end. "Well, Dad... he put a lot of time into trying to help me become a good Keeper and today was my chance to prove myself... to make him proud. And I failed." He dared not look her in the eye.

"You didn't fail, Hugo," Ginny told him. "You've played magnificently. James is just a show-off. And... your dad was so proud of you."

Hugo chanced a glance her way, hope swelling inside of him. "You think?"

Ginny nodded. "Of course," she said, smiling at him. "What's not to be proud of? A young, talented boy like yourself... he was more than proud of you."

Hugo gave her a weak smile. "I just wish he was here to see, then."

"I'm sure that wherever he is now, he's watching you, Hu. He couldn't wait for the day you played your first Quidditch match as Keeper – which he was so certain you would one day do."

"Not when James is around."

Ginny chuckled. "Two more years, Hu and then you'll have it. I'm sure of it." She was silent for a moment before she leant forward on her broom. "Be ready, Hu. Angelina is coming your way."

And she was gone, too, and this time Hugo was ready for it. Angelina came towards him. She was going for the middle one because Hugo was slightly to the left. Just as the Quaffle left her hands, he darted right slightly and caught it with two hands.

Everyone erupted into loud cheering.

"Excellent, Hu!" Rose called from below.

"Fantastic save," Angelina replied, seeming rather impressed.

Hugo beamed, looking to Ginny. She smiled.

"See, I told you," she said.

Hugo threw the Quaffle back to an open Victoire and soon Hugo's team were leading sixty to fifty. And it ended there, because Harry had snatched the Snitch from above James' hoops.

"Yay, Dad!" James cheered.

They all landed on the ground and Molly got to her feet. "Dinner will be ready in a few moments," she told them. "Why don't you all get yourselves cleaned up and ready?"

The large family all began to make their way back inside, George taking all the brooms back himself. Rose joined him at the door, as did Lucy.

"You were great, Hu," his sister told him.

"Yeah, really good," Lucy added. Lucy was Hufflepuff's best Chaser, which was unusual, considering neither of her parents possessed any Quidditch talent whatsoever. "That last save was really awesome."

Hugo beamed. "Thanks!" he said.

"You looked like Dad out there," Rose continued. "A bit awkward, but really good at the same time. Mum and I used to always sit and watch and laugh at Dad whenever he played. But, in a good way, of course," she added quickly as Hugo opened his mouth to retaliate. "Just like you." She threw her arm across his shoulders. "They'd be proud, Hu. They'd be proud that we are still finding happiness in our lives despite their absence."

Hugo frowned. What on Earth had happened to Rose? Over the past week she had done almost a complete turn-around. He wasn't going to argue with it, but it was just strange. He actually liked this new Rose.

"I think they'd be proud of you, too," he replied as he made for the stairs that led to the bathroom. "They'd be proud that you were trying to control your temper."

Rose nodded. "Thanks," she said. "But hurry. You know what Grandma's like when you're late for dinner."

Hugo did know that, so with one last smile at his sister, he made for the bathroom, washing his hands and face quickly. For the first time in a long time, he actually felt at peace. His parents were gone, but there was so much more to life he had to enjoy. He was lucky enough to have so many people around him.

It felt good.

So, so sorry for the delay of this chapter. Joey got it back to me about three weeks ago and I was just really busy I couldn't find the time to update. And my other MCs - the next chapter of I Thought I Hated Her is with beta who is as busy as I am, and I haven't had time to really write for Precious Moments or Lives Entwined if you're following them, too. But I have a new chapter here, and I hope you like!