The Half-Blood Diaries

Chapter 7

Ricky 3rd

After they were done with breakfast, Ricky decided that it would be a good idea to clean the house before having to take Callum back home. Ricky really just wanted help with it because he hated cleaning. Especially his own messes.

"Rickyyyy", pouted Callum. "This is nastyyyy".

"Sorry bud. next time I'll make sure not to set off a dung bomb," he said, apologetically. 

Callum just rolled his eyes. Clearly, he was used to this from his parents. He went around the house helping Ricky clean up their mess. That included last nights shenanigans because Ricky was too tired to clean up. There was popcorn all over the sofa and the carpet. 

'Must have been because it was dark', he though. 'Definitely not because we are nasty, gross, pigs'.

Callum must have been very  used to cleaning up magical messes because they had finished cleaning within half an hour. It would have taken three times as long if it were done by Ricky alone. Living with pranksters had taught his nephew well. 

'There goes another thing that the Marauders have contributed to the world', Ricky thought.

As soon as the last of the mess was picked up, Steve's Patronus came through the wall of the sitting room.

"We are on our way home and we would like our child back if you please", it said in Steve's voice.

Callum chuckled and looked over to Ricky. 

"Direct yourself up the stairs and get your belongings," Ricky said in his posh voice. "Start thinking about your prefered method of travel sir: Floo network or apparation."

He watched Callum run up the stairs. He knew he was excited to go back home even though they had had a great time together at his house. Callum came over often enough that it didn't upset Ricky that he was ready to go. 

It didn't take Callum long to get his stuff ready since it was only a weekend away from home. When he got down the stairs, he ran up to Ricky ready to pick how he wanted to travel.

"I think we should Floo. I might have had too much chocolate last night and I don't want to be sick if we did apparation," said Callum.

"I think that is a magnificent idea chap," as Ricky tipped an imaginary hat towards his nephew. They went over to the fireplace and got the powder ready. Ricky told Callum to go first and since he had done it before, there was no need for Ricky to worry that Callum would get lost. 

Callum got into the fireplace, grabbed a handful of powder and yelled very clearly:

"Johnson-MacMillan house!"

Ricky watched as Callum disappeared in a puff of green flame. Now it was his turn. He stepped into the fireplace which had just been occupied by his nephew, grabbed the powder, and repeated the destination that Callum had. 

When he opened his eyes, Ricky found himself in his brothers sitting room. He gave a little cough and waved away the smoke. He looked around and saw Callum to the side of the fireplace, patting down his clothes to get rid of the soot.

"Helloooooooooooooo" Callum was saying. Ricky looked around and didn't see anyone in the house.

Ricky decided that he would send a Patronus back to contact Steve and Eric. He sent it off with the message: "I am at your house with Callum. Where are you? I thought you said you were on your way home."

Callum watched as the Patronus disappeared through his door.

"We'll just wait here until they get here or we hear word back," Ricky said to Callum.

They sat, twiddling their thumbs and waiting for their family.