The Baby Project

Home For Supper

Scorpius could hardly believe it. The first part of the term was already over, and they were heading back home to the Manor. He and Hyperion had kept their promise to Ara and had made time for the three of them to be together. It ended up being a perfect balance of new and old friends. The boys were both glad when Ara had made new friends in their year. Marie had been a bit pushy with Ara, but she had held her ground, and now whenever they saw her, the three of them got nasty looks. They figured that they needed to be careful around the girl, and Ara was particularly careful whenever she was alone and saw Marie. Now that it had been pointed out, Ara always got the weirdest feeling when Marie was around, and it was highly unsettling. 

"What do you think Mother is going to make us wear to the ball this year?" Hyperion and Scorpius had always worn dress robes, but they were both hoping that now that they were attending Hogwarts, their mother would allow them to wear suits just as their father did. 

"I am not sure, Scorp, but I hope it isn't those awful dress robes again." 

"They are not that bad boys," Ara rolled her eyes. She didn't see the problem with the dress robes. All wizards wore them for occasions just like a ball. All except her father, it seemed like. He always had a nice suit on, and when more important people from the Ministry attended, he wore a tux. 

"That is easy for you to say; you don't have to wear one. You have always been allowed to pick out what you wear." 

"That is cause I am a lady," Ara smirked at the boys, and they all laughed. 

"We shouldn't get too ahead of ourselves anyway. First, we are going to be able to have supper at Mrs. Weasleys' for Christmas," Scorpius hadn't stopped talking about Mrs. Weasley's cooking since they had gotten to Hogwarts. The food was incredible. Everyone agreed on that, but Scorpius didn't think anything could rival her cooking. 

"Do you think Lysander is going to be alright? I mean, he is the only one in our group that stayed behind at the castle. How could Blaise and Luna leave for a trip at Christmas?" Ara had been so upset when he had told them. He didn't seem to mind, but Ara insisted to everyone he was trying to put on a brave face.

"Ara, he is going to be alright. He is going to have the library to himself. His room to himself. It is going to be the best Christmas ever. Plus, he told me that his parents wanted him to come on the trip, and he didn't want to go." Hyperion had already told Ara many times, but she didn't seem to believe anyone. 

"Well, alright. But we need to all send him something for Christmas," 

"We will." Scorp put his arm around his sister and pulled her close. She had become a different person since they started Hogwarts. She was less sneaky, though when she was, it was to the extreme. She was constantly worrying about everyone else, where before, she only cared for herself and her brothers. It was strange to the boys, and they wondered if this new Ara was still the person they had grown up with or if they were going to drift apart as they got older, took on new adventures, and shaped into new people. 

They sat through the rest of the ride in silence. Ara had fallen asleep on Scorp, and the boys didn't dare wake her. 

"My babies!" Hermione didn't care that people were staring at her on the platform or that she had ignored dozens of people while she was waiting. It was a perk that came with her title. All she cared about was hugging her little ones and being with her family again. 

Scorpius was the first into his mother's arms. He had missed her so much—morning chats with her, and the smell of her perfume. Hyperion was. Next, he knew that his mother needed a long hug from them, and he didn't disappoint. As was usual when it came to greeting their mother, Ara was last, but everyone, including Hermione, was surprised when she wouldn't let go of their hug. Hermione stroked her daughter's hair and picked her up when she heard the soft whimpers that indicated that her daughter was crying. Hermione would have never thought that her daughter would have a hard time away from home, and she certainly never received any letters that indicated so.