#13 The Burrow | Home for the Holidays

Home at last! Martha enjoyed her time at Hogwarts, but nothing beat being back in these all too familiar surroundings. Most of the animals she recognised too, but she didn't recall having ducks when they last left for Hogwarts. They must have only hatched while they were away at school, given that they were basically duck shaped ducklings.

With instructions to not leave either their luggage or socks lying around the house. She was very intrigued about what her father may have in the garage this time. It seemed as though Amy was asking all the questions, but if they wanted a closer look at this machine, they would have to do so while their mother's sharp eye wasn't on them. In other words, it was unlikely.

"It's good to be home", Martha instead responded to her mother's next words. After that, she left her to start making dinner and followed Amy upstairs with her own trunk. She couldn't help but notice the smirk on her sister's face and grinned at her.

"You're going to the garage, aren't you?", she spoke in a manner that wasn't quite as accusatory as it may have otherwise been perceived. "I wonder what dad's working on this time. Sounds like mum is as disapproving as ever!", she then added as she began to unpack her own stuff. She was looking forward to dinner, as although the house elves at Hogwarts often outdid themselves, nothing beat a home cooked meal.

What made her think that indeed? She had intended to unpack and then maybe go see what their father had been working on this time. Alas, it seemed as though he sister was as impulsive as ever and after tossing her scarf around her neck, asked if she would see her there.

"I just want to finish unpacking...", she began, but it seemed as though Amy had already left. Oh well, she thought as she made sure to take her time putting her own clothes away neatly. For all they looked identical, it seemed that in some ways they were actually opposites. Not that twins had to be a carbon copy of one another. That would be creepy.

After she did so, she pulled on her own scarf to see if it was too late to catch up. She would hardly be surprised if their mother was no guarding the door, although the dinner wouldn't make itself. At least, not entirely, she thought as she made her way downstairs. She too fully intended to investigate her father's antics, but she would be a little more covert about it than her sister.

Amelia had made her way into the garage and was looking around with awe. She was careful not too touch anything to dangerous looking, cut did let her fingers slide over an object made of plastic that was curves slightly and had a cord connecting it to something else with numbers.

"So, Dad, what are you working on?" She asked as she walked over to him and looked the newest project he had. She didn't make a comment on cleaning up after dinner. She didn't mind doing that in order to spend time in the garage with him.

They could name the new ducks? She would have a think about that one, as so many potential names ran through her mind as she followed Amy upstairs to unpack her trunk. In truth, she had almost forgotten just how many animals they had, and how much she missed them as well, so she could share some of her brother's friend's joy.

She felt a little bad that the first (well, second) thing she did was go against her mother's wishes, but she always felt the need to tag along with her older twin. Mostly to try and keep her out of too much trouble, although she couldn't deny that she too was a little curious.

Thankfully, their father seemed more amused than mad, although he did impose a condition of entry. Martha felt as though helping their mother clean up after dinner was a given, not something that had to be imposed, but still she chose not to push her luck too much and remained on the threshold. She watched as Amelia made her way in, thankfully not touching anything as she asked what he was working on this time.

"I was going to help mum anyway, but yes, I was curious too!, she admitted as her eyes fixed on the box like machine. "Oh, are those bubbles? I'd heard that muggles had bubble machines, but I didn't think they looked like that", she commented as she wondered why it had such a large, round window on the front. Was that so they could watch the bubbles? She did rather like bubbles.

Alan smiled as Amelia asked him what he was working on; a question that always rose his spirits.

'This here is supposedly what Muggles use to wash their clothes,' he explained, gesturing to the box-shaped machine. 'I haven't the foggiest how, but they can tell it to do things a certain way and when to start or stop. Ingenious, really.' Alan shook his head, excitable but thoroughly stumped by the non-magical complexities of it.

He gave Martha a rather endearing look, when she said she was going to help Molly clean up after dinner anyway.

'Bubbles, indeed.' Alan stared at the machine again. He nudged it with his foot, and it burped bubbles at them. 'A bubble machine? Oh, I must track one of those down as well. I wonder if there's a similarity in their makeup?' He frowned, getting lost in theories and schemes for a moment.

Meanwhile, Molly was setting the table for dinner. It turned out to be later than planned, giving the kids a chance to settle in and for Tobias to show his friends around. When Jonathan and Ryan presented her with the handmade Christmas card, she was so touched by the gesture that there was a hint of tears in her eyes.

'Oh, this is so lovely. Thank you.' Molly gave each Ravenclaw boy a brief, warm hug. She then placed it on the fridge via magic, proudly showing it off. She gave Tobias a warm look as well, pleased that he'd befriended two who were such polite and kind kids.

However that had happened...

'Would one of you be a dear and let the others know dinner's ready?' Molly added. 'They're all in the garage, I suspect. Don't go in, just give them a shout.' She shook her head in disapproval, though sighed as it was to be expected and of course she hadn't missed that detail.

Sneaky teenagers was a giveaway.

She busied herself with placing a lot of food on the table -- roast chicken, steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes, boats of gravy, and a basket of freshly-baked rolls. It was more than enough for six people, encouraging full plates and the possibility of seconds.

The kids could sit wherever they please, as there were many chairs to choose from on either side -- with Molly and Alan's seats reserved at either head of the table. Though it was polite to wait for everyone, they weren't required to and could dig in whenever they wanted. They'd surely be quite hungry by now.