Love, Actually

Pairing: Ron/Lavender

Word Count: 517

Written For:

- February Event: (title) Love, Actually, (dialogue) "I love you." / "I love you more." / "Not a chance. I'm bigger, I can contain more love."

- Chocolate Frog Cards: Lobalug (challenge): Write about someone who isn't very clever, but can be dangerous.

- Gringotts Prompt Bank/The Inbetweeners: (Word) Intelligent, (Object) School Tie, (Word) Freak

- Word Prompt Express: get

"Come on, Hugo," Ron called back to his youngest child, who was lagging behind. He, Ron, Lavender and Rose were back at King's Cross Station after the Christmas break, and Hugo was the only one who didn't seem at all interested in returning. Rose had already spotted her mother, Hermione, and whizzed through the barrier, leaving Lavender and Ron with Hugo. "What's up with you? Last Christmas you couldn't wait to get back to school."

Hugo shrugged before stopping where he stood, and lowering his gaze to the floor. Ron furrowed his brow at his son, before shooting a glance at Lavender. She shrugged, just as confused as Ron was.

"Hey, what's wrong, kiddo?" Ron gave Hugo a pat on the shoulder, and Hugo looked up with tears sparkling in his eyes.

"I don't want to go back there!" he cried indignantly. "I'm sick of everyone making fun of me."

Before Ron could respond, Lavender crouched down so that she was at Hugo's height, and pushed the mop of shaggy brown hair out of his eyes. "Who makes fun of you, sweetie?"

Hugo shrugged. "Loads of people. They call me names like 'freak', and make fun of me because I'm not as intelligent as Rose and Mum."

Lavender repressed the urge to laugh a little at Hugo. He didn't realise how much of a wonderful young man he was turning into. "Listen," she started, lowering her voice. "I was never that smart at school, and neither was your dad."

"Watch it," Ron interjected warningly, but he was grinning.

"I never let people make fun of me. Do you know what I did?"

"What?" Hugo asked, his eyes wide and earnest.

"Give them a good old punch on the nose!" Lavender rubbed Hugo's shoulder enthusiastically, and slowly a smile spread onto his face. She reached out and began to straighten his school tie. "Unless it's a girl, of course. In which case, send them Rosie's way - you know your big sister always looks out for you."

Hugo nodded. "Thanks, Lav," he exclaimed, throwing his arms around her in a brief hug. He beamed up at Ron before hurling himself in the direction of the barrier. Ron helped Lavender up, smiling.

"I don't think you should be telling my son to be going around hitting people," he muttered good-naturedly. "I don't think my ex-wife will be pleased."

"Oh, he needs some survival skills," replied Lavender, pressing a kiss to Ron's cheek. "Not everything can come from a wand, you know."

"You're quite scary sometimes, you know?"

"But you love me," Lavender giggled.

"I do," Ron whispered, moving the kiss to her mouth. "I love you a lot, actually."

"I love you more."

"Not a chance," sniggered Ron, dragging Lavender over to the barrier so that they could make their way through and see Hugo and Rose off. "I'm bigger. I can contain more love."

"Whatever you say, big guy," joked Lavender, prodding Ron in the stomach. They took each other's hands and sped through the barrier, ready to watch Hugo and Rose head back to Hogwarts.