Hogwarts Legacy: The Price of Power

The Return of Nana Hughes

Dracaena, Sebastian and Ominis entered the familiar village, breathing deep of the fresh air, laden with pleasant scents of lilac, primrose, crocus, hyacinth, peony and more. Those same flowers spilled from the gardens of the rough stone cottages they passed, tumbling from hanging baskets swinging above painted doorways, and Dracaena raised a hand to Mr Modcart as he heaved crates of produce back inside his grocery. He balanced the crate on his hip and waved back, his bushy moustache ruffling, the amber sun shining on his bald pate.

The sun was just beginning to lower in the west, changing the colour of the sky from a bright blue to a softer hue tinged with purple, the reddening star casting washes of fire over the scant clouds above. Dracaena increased her pace as they rounded the bend, Gran's thatched cottage coming into view, flowers running rampant and untamed in her garden, flowing over the flagstone path as she hurried up to the door, her boyfriends hot on her heels.

"Are we still keeping magic hidden?" Sebastian asked.

"Shh! Of course we are, we don't want to give Nana a heart attack," Ominis hissed, as Dracaena grasped the handle and shouldered her way inside, stumbling as Sebastian removed the featherlight charm from her suitcase.

Gran was at the stove, and scents of a glorious, homecooked meal rushed over Dracaena in a warm wave as she entered the kitchen. Gran spun around, clad in her usual bright and mismatched garb, her beaded necklaces rattling as her face split into a welcoming smile.

"My darling! There you are!"

Gran dove across the kitchen, yanking Dracaena inside by her ears and planting a smacking kiss on her forehead.

"Sweetheart! Poppet! So good to see you both!" She flung Dracaena bodily to one side and hurled herself at Ominis, who staggered, dropping his suitcase to hug Gran back with just as much enthusiasm, laughing. Gran put Ominis down and turned to Sebastian throwing her arms around his neck, laughing delightedly when he stood up, lifting her off the floor in one of his famous bear-hugs.

Sebastian caught Dracaena's eye, winked, then conjured a bunch of bright daffodils behind Gran's back, presenting them to her with a flourish when she let him go.

"For you," he said, with a ridiculously formal bow.

"Oh, they're beautiful!" Gran cried, holding them up to her nose and closing her eyes rapturously. "Come in, come in!"

"Creep," Ominis observed, as Gran rushed off to find a vase. Sebastian chuckled.

"Just because you didn't think of it first," he said, poking him in the ribs and making him squeak.

"How come you never gave me flowers?" Dracaena asked, pouting.

Both Sebastian and Ominis froze, looking alarmed, before she burst out laughing.

"I'm joking! Honestly, you two." She moved closer to them under the pretence of collecting her suitcase. "You're both more than enough for me. I love you without all the unnecessary gifts and things."

"You too," Sebastian breathed. He leaned in, his lowered gaze on her lips, then straightened quickly as Gran came bustling back to them, grinning widely.

"Go on and put your things upstairs you three, I'll pop the kettle on," she said, beaming. "It's much the same as it was over Christmas, Ominis, though there is a new rug, so be careful of that. Oh, it's so lovely to have you all back here, it's been so quiet without your wonderful racket!"

"We shall endeavour to be extra noisy for you then, Nana," Ominis said, with a light laugh. Sebastian caught Dracaena's eye and smirked, and she flicked his ear as they made their way upstairs, dragging their suitcases and tumbling into her bedroom. The three beds stood as they had before under the slanting ceiling, Ominis and Sebastian's closer together on the opposite side of the room to Dracaena's. She noticed that Bear-Bear was still tucked under Sebastian's duvet, and she smiled, her expression softening as she noticed a new teddy bear almost hidden amongst Ominis' pillows.