Pride and Porridge

[Morwenna Skeeter]

The morning sunshine was steaming through the bay window of her dining room, the rays not quite reaching them where they were sat taking breakfast but already she knew it was going to be another warm day. Opposite her Mason tucked into his food and she tried not to watch him too closely less he notice her. The arrival of the post helped.

After the usual flurry of feathers Morwenna wiped her knife on the bit of toast in front of her and then used the clean blade to cut through the envelope the owl had delivered her with her morning paper. It was Martha's writing, she was quite sure of that after so many years, and written in Martha's neat loopy script was:

...so happy Tony's home, don't tell the others, but I think his absence makes me want to cuddle him up more!...

Morwenna smiled and looked over the top of the letter at her own son, so recently returned and only temporarily with her but she knew precisely how Martha felt. He was taller than she remembered, although it was quite unlikely that he had grown again - perhaps she had shrunk?

"Aunt Martha and Uncle Max send their love," she looked over the letter as something occurred to her. "You'll be teaching Thompson and Tamsin won't you? Goodness, it doesn't seem quite real still!"

  

[Mason Skeeter]

Mason had never been a particularly early riser, especially during his school years, but after working on farms and in the agriculture industry for so long, he hadn't had much of a choice. Now it was habit and he rather enjoyed it. It wasn't as if he had any semblance of a social life right now to keep him out late. Hopefully that would change for the better this summer. Not that he was very actively participating in the season, as he had just recently gotten a new job, one that finally paid a bit better and he would have to get himself established before courting or anything like that. It wasn't stopping his mum though.

As he sipped at his tea, Mason took the morning paper as the post came in, the eggs and toast on his place very nearly devoured. One of the many benefits of still living at home was not having to cook for himself. Living at the school he would not have to do anything either where cooking was concerned. Mason wasn't a terrible cook, he was very good at potions after all, but after a long day it was nice to come home to something already prepared.

"Assuming they still take herbology." Mason smiled at his mother over the paper he'd just opened. While he wasn't entirely sure what years his cousins were in, but if they'd dropped the subject he wouldn't have them any more. It would save some awkwardness that was for sure. "I haven't seen them in a while, any of them, it will be good to see my cousins around again." He added, knowing his mother was all about family. "I'm looking forward to the start of the term, I have to get some lesson plans and a syllabus in order, but I don't think it will take all that long." He assured her. Teaching had come quite naturally to him and he was excited to give this career path a chance, considering what he'd been doing since graduation.

  

[Morwenna Skeeter]

Each and every time Mason alluded to his new position at Hogwarts Morwenna felt an involuntary shudder of pride rack through her body. She contained herself better now that she had had enough time to adjust to the situation but when her boy had come home after so many years away and announced that rather than returning to some far flung corner of the world he would instead be taking up residence at Hogwarts she had been unable to stop the outpouring of relief and happiness at the thought of having him so close. Not being naturally demonstrative she had the feeling that her uncharacteristic abundance of emotion had rather embarrassed him after a time so she at least tried to keep the extent of her joy to her letters to Martha. Still, she couldn't help the small smile that came to her face when her mentioned lesson plans and syllabuses.

"I wouldn't like to comment never having taught a thing to anyone."

Apart from her attempts to impress upon Martha why it was sometimes necessary for a woman of their class to find work, if only for the sake of her own sanity, but that lesson had failed to take root so it scarcely counted. She thought back to her Professors at school and how foreboding they had seemed and struggled to imagine her little boy being quite the same. But he would be soon enough and a whole generation of children would be looking up to him and hanging on his every word.

"I'm sure at least one of them will take it. Martha's always been green-fingered and luckily for them," she smiled slyly as she sipped her tea. "They take after her as much as Max."

Reaching for her newspaper she put Martha's letter aside, hoping she had time to reply before she left for work but knowing it was unlikely. The front page was cluttered with all things Quidditch and a memory was sparked.

"Are you going to any of the matches by the way? Martha was telling me she bought some tickets."

  

[Mason Skeeter]

"You taught me plenty." Mase pulled a face when she chose not to comment. That's what mothers did after all and Mason knew he had learned quite a bit from his own. Morwenna Skeeter was a force to be reckoned with and he enjoyed that about her.

Laughing when she continued about his cousins taking herbology, Mase wasn't quite on the same page. In all honesty he was kind of hoping they had lost interest in the subject. It would be nice to see them around school, sure, but having them in class, would be a little awkward; or at least he thought so. It would be strange to be a legitimate professor to your own family.

"I'm sure you'll ask her in your next letter." Mason knew his mother well and that she would no doubt, be very inclined to ask his aunt if any of her children would be taking his class. At least if he knew ahead of time, he would have time to prepare. Perhaps he would speak with whichever of his cousins did take his class beforehand. He didn't want them thinking they could skate through his class just because they were related, not that he assumed they would think that anyway. That was why it was so awkward.

The question of quidditch came as a bit of a surprise to him. He'd shown an interest in the sport in school, but never quite had the talent for it. He was a devoted house supporter though and went to all of the matches at school. "I hadn't thought about it, but I suppose I might try and catch at least one of them. Did you want me to get tickets for us?" He asked slowly, unsure as to where his mother was going with that.

  

[Morwenna Skeeter]

Morwenna had made her mental note to ask Martha in her next letter and put that matter from her mind. Why they still sent letters when they lived only a few streets away Maxwell apparently found baffling but then he was a man and simply didn't understand how nice it was to look forward to something like a letter, no matter how silly or frivolous it was. She was a busy woman after all and didn't have time to sit with her head in the fireplace just to ask a simple question!

Despite the tranquillity of the current moment Morwenna found her life rather full lately. With the Quidditch World Cup on the horizon every department of the Ministry had been busy but she and Maxwell had been especially against it as the three visiting teams had all been bringing creatures as mascots. Some had certainly been more trouble than others!

"I certainly think I deserve to join in the fun the amount of trouble the French mascots have given us!"

And it wouldn't hurt to get involved with something that seemed to be gripping the whole town with excitement. Every man, woman and child seemed desperate for tickets and Morwenna had never liked to think of her son being left out of anything.

"Yes, why not? Martha has tickets for the final so get two and I'll reimburse you."

She sipped her tea and sent her son a bemused smirk.

“Unless you’d prefer not to be seen escorting your mother?”

  

[Mason Skeeter]

Sipping at his tea, draining the cup, he poured more, adding a bit of milk before leaning back in his chair once more. Mason pursed his lips at his mother, the expression on his face clearly saying that he thought her statement ridiculous. He had chuckled however at the comment about the French mascots. His mother would know, considering her position in the ministry.

"I'll go this afternoon and get them." It would be nice to get out of the house, perhaps stop at the apothecary and see his old coworkers before coming back and diving right back into lesson plans. Mase found himself rather enjoying the planning aspect, even if it was a lot of work. He was the kind of guy that liked to be prepared for his life's endeavors and this was no different. He wouldn't be able to plan everything out, as he still needed to speak with Professor Prince about where he'd left off with the students last year, but he could get going on the first year curriculum.

"It's better than going by myself." He quipped back, a very similar smirk on his features. He'd inherited that from her and had no problems turning her wit back on her. Mase would not readily admit to being a mamma's boy, but underneath it all he was. With no siblings, he'd gotten the sole attention of his parents growing up and that meant a lot of quality time with his mum. Fortunately she had never smothered him (not too much anyway), so he was not one of those guys who was embarrassed to be seen with their mum. "It'll be good to see what all of the fuss is about." He added after another sip of his tea, looking at her over the rim of his cup.

  

[Morwenna Skeeter]

Morwenna was long since used to his mild teasing and rolled her eyes, giving him a slightly smile as she did so. It had been just the two of them for rather a long time – it wasn’t until Morwenna really thought about it she realised she had in fact been a widow for twenty one years now – and she could scarcely imagine the day when that would change. Because she knew in her heart that one day Mason would get married and leave this house and Merlin knew what she’d find to do with her time then! It wasn’t worth worrying about, she knew that logically, but nothing could stop her mind wondering to such things.

Then again, she might have died of this cold that seemed to be lingering endlessly by then!

“I remember the last time England had the cup. Your grandfather took us to see it even though we were absolutely tiny and all I remember is the Indians having the most fascinating clothes and the Norwegians getting extremely drunk.”

She smiled at the far off memory and wondered whether she still had the little programme her father had bought for her on the day somewhere in the attic. She didn’t remember being too interested as a child but it made her feel so terribly old to think that she’d been there at the previous World Cup and everyone was talking about this one as though the last was out of living memory!

“I don’t think I’ll be able to carry you on my shoulders somehow but it’ll be lovely in a way, sort of like passing on the tradition.” She pulled a contemplative face. “Assuming you take your child to the next one I suppose.”

  

[Mason Skeeter]

Watching his mum carefully as she went into one of her nostalgic modes, Mason could only smile at her. He enjoyed hearing her stories, that would never change. It was amusing for him to think of her as a little girl with her father at a quidditch match. "We'd be quite a scene if we attempted that." He joked. He was far past the stage of anybody carrying them on their shoulders, unless they were a giant! Then he would have to wonder how he'd gotten himself into that position.

It was hard not to roll his eyes at the quip about taking his own children to a game some day. At twenty-six he supposed he was ready to take a wife and while he knew he should probably start putting actual effort into it, he was't entirely sure he was ready. He had this brand new job to start which would occupy a lot of his time and he'd be up at the school most of the year. It was as good of an excuse as any to put off marriage for another year or two... maybe more. She would never give up the hunt though, that he knew. Mason would never be able to put it off indefinitely. Then again, who was he to deny her the joy of grandchildren anyway? It wasn't as if he didn't want to get married, he just doubted its likelihood in the next year or so.

"Mmmm traditions." He chuckled at her, unable to hold it against her. If there was one thing his mother was, it was persistent. If she had half a mind to see him married off and having kids, she'd do it. "Not a bad one to start I do suppose." He conceded after a moment with a genuine smile.

  

[Morwenna Skeeter]

As much as she tried to ignore the concern Morwenna couldn’t help but regret bitterly the fact that Mason had grown up without his father for the most part. Oh, he had been around until Mason was six of course but it wasn’t quite the same as his presence dominating her son’s life. He’d had Maxwell for an uncle of course and they’d always lived close to that side of the family but it still wasn’t enough. Being carried along by your father at a special event was a joy Mason would scarcely remember and it sometimes made her terribly sad.

Mason would do it one day though, of that she was quite sure. She knew perfectly well that he wasn’t likely to be married within the year and though she didn’t fool herself into thinking he told her everything about his life she knew there was no girl of note he was interested in. So she would wait – at least she was gratified in a slightly cruel way that even for all of Martha’s children she wasn’t a grandmother yet either.

“It’s entirely up to you of course darling,” she smiled and let the thought go for the time being, finishing her tea and neatly piling her correspondence on the side of the table where the maid would move them into her study later. It was time for her to head off to work really, as much as she would enjoy to spend her mornings leisurely with her son.

“Be sure to get those tickets won’t you? I certainly need a treat after so much damned paperwork!”