The beginning of the year had started off great. After a trip to Egypt had done him good. It seemed that his vacation with Bobby was much needed. Sadly once they had gotten back home and to the castle it was a like a smack in the face. Hugo sank back into himself and resorted to only kissing the Longbottom boy in private, not holding hands and eventually it broke them down.

He didn’t know what he was doing anymore. Maybe it was a mistake to actually give in, just a phase. That was what people said about boys his age right? He was relieved when the winter break came around. It meant that he could get out of the Gryffindore tower. He wouldn’t have to see the Longbottom boy walking around the common room anymore.

The days at home weren’t exactly the best. Sure it was great to see his parents. When all they would do was ask about school though. Hugo would just shrug and mumble through some dull details. Rose was still at Aridorn so of course he couldn’t just avert their fire to her.

That morning he woke with a sigh. Maybe he could go hang out with Lily at the Potter house? She was probably spending time with Scorpious on the break. He kept forgetting that just because he was single didn’t mean everyone else was.

After taking his sweet time showering and tugging on a sweater and some pants he walked down stairs. “Hugo dear, you should take some of these gifts over to your Grandma Molly’s so we don’t have to deal with all of them on Christmas,” his mother called out to her son.

“Oh okay Mama.” That could be a good distraction, and hopefully his grandma would be too busy shoving food in his face to ask him a million questions. Hugo gathered up the gifts that were already wrapped and ready he stepped up to the fireplace with a handful of green powder. After saying the where he would like to go and throwing the powder down Hugo was gone in a puff and on his way to his Grandma Molly’s.

Hugo liked being in the cozy home. There was normally a gaggle of relatives going in and out, food always cooking and plenty of love. The abundance of family and caring almost made up for the fact that he had never had the chance to meet his mother’s parents. Hugo knew that was a sore topic for his mother and heard this or that version of the story but never thought it was a good idea to press his mother about it.

He ended up in the house that was already a buzz with this or that object floating about and delicious smells coming from the kitchen. Hugo coughed and shook off the rest of the floo powder. “Grandma,” He called out walking into the living room with the bag of gifts. ”Hugo baby come here let me give you a hug.” He laughed and set down the bag going over to his grandmother and wrapping his arms around her placing a quick kiss on her cheek. ”Look at you they much be feeding you well at that school.” She mentioned looking him over. Hugo just shook his head. “I have a bag of gifts should I just set them under the tree?”

”Oh yes baby, I am getting some dinner ready please hang around and join us, your cousin Roxy is around here somewhere, you two can catch up!” Her smile was a mile wide as always, her wand waving as everything flew about the kitchen getting the food ready. “It smells great I think I will stick around thank you Grandma.” He kissed her cheek one more time before moving the presents to under the tree where there already was a pile of festively wrapped gifts.

He stood and looked around. Roxy he hadn’t seen her in what felt lake ages. Where about could she be? He walked around the house before spotting familure red hair outside. Where as in this house the shade was far from sparse but according to the clock he glanced at only him and Roxy were about at the moment so there was a good chance that it was in fact Roxy.

Hugo stepped out into the back yard, snow crunching in his shoe. “Hey Roxy,” He called out to his older cousin and smiling. There seemed to be this or that rift between the cousins, a lot of those feuds involving his own sister. Hugo liked to stay neutral. Hugo knew better than to get in the line of fire of one of his female cousins.

Family was a great thing to have. And Hugo knew he was lucky to be part of the family that he had been in. With the recent years and everyone growing up he had been doing a pretty bad job of keeping in contact save on holidays. Hugo would often promise himself that he would visit this or that relative more, but time just whizzed by and he never did. Save Lily.

Lily was his best friend. They were practically attached at the hip around the halls of Hogwarts. So of course the Potter side of the family saw a whole lot more of Hugo than the rest.

“Roxy!” He called out holding his arms out as son as she started to run towards him. He wrapped his arms around the girl securely in a hug when she jumped into his arms. Thank goodness for the recent developments of his muscles and addition to his height. “Oh ah thanks.” A light blush dusted his cheeks.

He kept insisting it was just a hair-cut and a little bit of working out, that was all. Then again Roxy hadn’t seen him sense he was pretty scrawny and had a mop of curls on his head. After she had gotten down he took a step back. “You look pretty great too!” All the girls in his family were flawless and he would fight anyone who said otherwise.

“About time too!” He chuckled. Being one of the youngest of course only up until recently had he been able to boast about finally being on the taller side of the family. Hugo was finally able to stand at his father’s side and be the same height. No more little Huey.

Hugo Scratched the back of his head. That was a loaded question. “Not too bad, just had my nose in books for the past couple a months.” He shrugged. Hugo had been focusing on school more to avoid Bobby. “That and just hanging out with Lily when my brain turns to mush and I can’t focus on books anymore.” He laughed. “How about you? New Zealand seems to be treating you well.” Yes he wanted to know how Roxy was doing, but more he wanted to get the conversation off himself. Most of his family had no idea that he was having an inner turmoil with his sexuality. Let alone had been dating a boy for the past half a dozen months.

Hugo let out a small chuckle at his cousin’s twirl. He wished that he had the same confidence. Hugo was still awkward, getting used to himself. And this whole sexuality issue didn’t help one bit. When he had been in the relationship with Bobby, Hugo had started to gain confidence but of course that all crashed when he was broken up. Even if Bobby promised that is hadn’t been anything that had to do with them growing up and all that. It was just that Hugo was a coward. Of course the long bottom boy didn’t say it so harshly. Hugo knew though.

“Uh no I’m not,” he then admitted. Of course his father had tried pushing it. Even more so recently sense he had bulked up. Hugo just wanted to stick to books, but watching a good game was always a fun time. “I’ve heard you started strong this season though.”

With a grin Hugo shook his head. “Tell that to my mother.” Even she had been a bit of a trouble maker. Of course with his father and uncle Harry around it was a wonder that his mother made it out of school with the impressive scores she had. Hugo didn’t seem to take as naturally to everything but still was a good student. With the help of Lily he kept a balance. Some pranking here and there and nights of parties.

A small flush crossed his cheeks with she mentioned the idea cuties. The blush deepening when Roxy added professors. Messing around with a professor? That seemed just ridiculous. His mouth dropped open a little. “Something…oh no.” Hugo rubbed the back of his neck. “I tried the long term thing for a little bit but it didn’t seem to be for me ya no? At least not yet.” Coming clean about Bobby now seemed silly. Besides most of his family knew him as a serial dater anyway. “So a visit sounds pretty choice.”

Hugo grinned fallowing by Roxy. “One of those parties sounds like a blast too.” It would also be nice to get the lay of the land. Hugo wasn’t sure what he was going to do once he left Hogwarts. Aridorn, so far, seemed like the best route. Lily had her piano, and Ella had her ballet. He just had his books and not real direction.