Rhett sighed as he shoved the last of his clothes that he would need for the weekend in his rucksack.
"Look on the bright side mate," Jacob said while reading a Quidditch magazine on his bed. "Flitwick has exempted you from writing that essay. If only McGonagall were as nice."
Rhett snorted and smiled at Jacob's attempt at cheering him up.
"I think this is the first time that I would prefer an essay to what's waiting for me at home." Rhett said truthfully.
Jacob looked up from his magazine and blew out a huff of air. He climbed off the bed with a groan of the springs and went over to put an arm around his best mate.
"Listen," he said, "I wish I could make it easier, and that my effervescent charm can't make everything better," Rhett snorted "but don't let anyone get you down. You're worth twice those idiots who keep running their mouths about your family, the press, and especially those fucking vampires that ruined your sisters life."
Rhett swallowed and nodded. "Okay."
Jacob patted him and nudged him. "Good luck, yeah?"
After a final goodbye between the two friends, Rhett closed his suitcase and hauled it down the stairs. He waved goodbye to a couple more of his friends in the common room before heading out and going in the direction of the Headmistress' office. Thankfully, it was an eventful journey since it was a Saturday morning and most people where in the Great Hall, outside or in their common room.
"Hey," Emery muttered when Rhett approached the entrence to the office where Emery was already standing.
"Hi," Rhett responded. "What's the password?"
The gargoyle guarding the office jumped aside and the two Weasley climbed onto the revolving staircase. There was a palpable silence. Neither of them wanted to talk about the huge elephant in the room which was what was waiting for them at home in Bath.
Eventually, after a long talk with McGonagall and the vanishing of their trunks, Rhett and Emery stepped into the fireplace, one after the other, said their home address, and were whisked away to their house.
Rhett shot out of their own fireplace, coughing up soot. He'd never like travelling by floo. Standing up and brushing his robes of the black powder, he saw his father already embracing Emery, despite the ash covering her clothes as well.
"Hey Dad," Rhett said, hugging him quickly as well.
"'Lo, Rhett." he said in the familiar voice that Rhett had come to miss in light of recent events. He smiled at his children warmly.
"Your mum's nursing Damien right now, she'll come down later."
Rhett shrugged and and Emery nodded in response. They all knew exactly what was causing the awkward tension in the room, but it was not the time to talk about it.
Not when they had those few precious moments where they could pretend to be a normal family