Ficlet: Over Onions
Title: Over Onions
Word Count and Rating: 612, G
Summary: Molly may see what she wants to see, but Arthur sees deeper layers.
Notes: Written for Round 2 of the_ass_fest's Winter Shorts exchange, prompt "onions, punching, giggles" given by dora_the_nymph and my 100quills table, prompt 022 Denial.
“What are you doing, Molly?” Just outside the kitchen doorway, Arthur came up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her middle.
“I'm supervising the children,” she answered, a smile in her voice.
Always the heart and soul of the Burrow, the kitchen was once again filled with teenagers, chatting and giggling as they pitched in to prepare a feast for the extended family. Roxanne and Rose were peeling sprouts at the table, while Albus and his guest Scorpius Malfoy chopped onions by the sink. Perched on the counter closest to Scorpius, Lily polished the ancient Weasley family silverware with a “Mrs. Frisbee's Clean-All Cloth.”
Molly sighed in contentment and nestled her head under her husband's chin. “It's wonderful to have a full house again,” she murmured. “I so love the holidays.”
“I know,” Arthur hugged her gently and pressed a kiss to her once vibrant hair.
Together, they watched Scorpius put his knife down on the chopping block and use his upper arms to wipe tears off each cheek.
“And you said your glasses would protect you.” Albus shook his head in pretend dismay as he wiped his own onion-induced tears on a dish towel.
“Well, I lied. Or maybe,” Scorpius grinned, “Malfoy eyes are simply no match for Weasley onions. Look at this thing!” He reached across Albus and fished an onion the size of a Quaffle out of the bowl by his elbow. “I think your grandmother could teach Professor Longbottom a thing or two.”
Arthur felt Molly nod approvingly at the compliment.
“He's a nice lad, isn't he, Arthur?” she whispered, leaning back to smile up at him.
“He seems to be, yes.” Between their memories of the War and the years of bad blood between the Malfoys and the Weasleys, it had been difficult for the entire family when Albus became such good friends with Scorpius. Arthur had to admit, however, that the boy was polite, kind-hearted, and, most of all, appeared nothing like his grandfather.
Reading her husband's mind, Molly sounded like someone unsure if she was bearing bad news or not as she said, “I suspect our Lily might have a little crush on him.”
Arthur's eyes widened in surprise. “Lily?” He glanced across the kitchen in time to see Lily roll her eyes at something Scorpius said and try to flick him with her cleaning cloth. Albus threw a handful of onion skins at her in retaliation.
“She's so giggly and talkative around him and smiling all the time.” Molly counted points off on her fingers. “She invents little reasons to touch him. She even volunteered to polish spoons when I told her Scorpius would be helping Albus in the kitchen. Lily never volunteers!”
While Arthur pondered this silently, he watched Scorpius take Albus's hand and bring it to his own face, wiping his tears on Albus's sleeve before theatrically pretending to blow his nose. The girls' giggles filled the room as Albus squawked and descended upon Scorpius in a flurry of mock-punching and grappling. They wrestled a little too close to Lily, who squealed and planted her foot against Scorpius's hip to push them away.
“See, Arthur?” Molly nodded knowingly at their granddaughter's pink cheeks and shining eyes. “The signs are there if you know what to look for.”
The boys wound down, and Albus pushed Scorpius's glasses back up to the bridge of his nose before whispering something in his ear.
“We might be witnessing the start of young love right here in this kitchen,” Molly gushed.
Arthur watched his grandson and his grandson's best friend smile at each other. “Mollywobbles, I believe you may be right.”
Word Count and Rating: 612, G
Summary: Molly may see what she wants to see, but Arthur sees deeper layers.
Notes: Written for Round 2 of the_ass_fest's Winter Shorts exchange, prompt "onions, punching, giggles" given by dora_the_nymph and my 100quills table, prompt 022 Denial.
“What are you doing, Molly?” Just outside the kitchen doorway, Arthur came up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her middle.
“I'm supervising the children,” she answered, a smile in her voice.
Always the heart and soul of the Burrow, the kitchen was once again filled with teenagers, chatting and giggling as they pitched in to prepare a feast for the extended family. Roxanne and Rose were peeling sprouts at the table, while Albus and his guest Scorpius Malfoy chopped onions by the sink. Perched on the counter closest to Scorpius, Lily polished the ancient Weasley family silverware with a “Mrs. Frisbee's Clean-All Cloth.”
Molly sighed in contentment and nestled her head under her husband's chin. “It's wonderful to have a full house again,” she murmured. “I so love the holidays.”
“I know,” Arthur hugged her gently and pressed a kiss to her once vibrant hair.
Together, they watched Scorpius put his knife down on the chopping block and use his upper arms to wipe tears off each cheek.
“And you said your glasses would protect you.” Albus shook his head in pretend dismay as he wiped his own onion-induced tears on a dish towel.
“Well, I lied. Or maybe,” Scorpius grinned, “Malfoy eyes are simply no match for Weasley onions. Look at this thing!” He reached across Albus and fished an onion the size of a Quaffle out of the bowl by his elbow. “I think your grandmother could teach Professor Longbottom a thing or two.”
Arthur felt Molly nod approvingly at the compliment.
“He's a nice lad, isn't he, Arthur?” she whispered, leaning back to smile up at him.
“He seems to be, yes.” Between their memories of the War and the years of bad blood between the Malfoys and the Weasleys, it had been difficult for the entire family when Albus became such good friends with Scorpius. Arthur had to admit, however, that the boy was polite, kind-hearted, and, most of all, appeared nothing like his grandfather.
Reading her husband's mind, Molly sounded like someone unsure if she was bearing bad news or not as she said, “I suspect our Lily might have a little crush on him.”
Arthur's eyes widened in surprise. “Lily?” He glanced across the kitchen in time to see Lily roll her eyes at something Scorpius said and try to flick him with her cleaning cloth. Albus threw a handful of onion skins at her in retaliation.
“She's so giggly and talkative around him and smiling all the time.” Molly counted points off on her fingers. “She invents little reasons to touch him. She even volunteered to polish spoons when I told her Scorpius would be helping Albus in the kitchen. Lily never volunteers!”
While Arthur pondered this silently, he watched Scorpius take Albus's hand and bring it to his own face, wiping his tears on Albus's sleeve before theatrically pretending to blow his nose. The girls' giggles filled the room as Albus squawked and descended upon Scorpius in a flurry of mock-punching and grappling. They wrestled a little too close to Lily, who squealed and planted her foot against Scorpius's hip to push them away.
“See, Arthur?” Molly nodded knowingly at their granddaughter's pink cheeks and shining eyes. “The signs are there if you know what to look for.”
The boys wound down, and Albus pushed Scorpius's glasses back up to the bridge of his nose before whispering something in his ear.
“We might be witnessing the start of young love right here in this kitchen,” Molly gushed.
Arthur watched his grandson and his grandson's best friend smile at each other. “Mollywobbles, I believe you may be right.”