Family Flight Solo

The only accurate word for how Avis felt at the moment had to be bursting. Bursting with excitement about making the Quidditch roster, bursting with questions about Da after the holiday break fiasco and bursting with worry about her first official practice the next day.

Luckily, her older brother Will could clearly see that his sister was a ball of nerves and had decided to schedule a training session for the two of them. The sixth year, who usually played Beater for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, was out for the season with a severe concussion after a mishap with a pair of Slytherin Chasers (during and after the match) but the siblings figured that if he could balance on a broom, it wouldn’t hurt to catch a few quaffles.

So Avis found herself humming a familiar Irish tune and absentmindedly drumming her fingers on the railing of one of the spectator stands, waiting for Will to show face. He’d said 7 before breakfast and here she was, 7:15 and still waiting. Maybe another concussion won’t hurt him too much…

Fortunately for Will’s sake, Avis’ murderous thoughts were interrupted as a boy with a mess of dark hair and twinkling blue eyes strode out into the training pitch, his Silver Arrow perched on one shoulder and a large duffle bag in hand. Avis couldn’t help the grin that slide onto her face as she got up to greet him.

“Mornin’ Bird,” he chirped at her, using the endearing nickname he’d used since they were little. She rolled her eyes at the term.

“You’re late, you oaf,” she replied with her own nickname as she matched his long stride with her own hurried steps.

“Nah the student should always be at training before the coach. You’re early! Well done,” he chuckled, ruffling the top of her dark head with one palm. She made a face at him as they came to a stop in the middle of the pitch. The girl smoothed out her mussed ponytail before mounting her Comet 180 and looking up at her brother expectantly.

“Right,” he said, zipping open his duffle bag. “Was thinking we’d start with a simple fetch drill and work our way up to passing, aye?”

Will pulled a familiar red ball out of the bag but said it aside to reach back inside for a Muggle tennis ball. Without warning, his wand appeared in his hand and her brother was saying the incantation for the Levitation Charm before Avis could think. Will sent the tennis ball flying and Avis, barely on her broom, shot after it, chasing the tiny green ball down and snatching it out of the air. Slowly, she circled back and dropped the ball into Will’s waiting palm. “Good. Smoother deceleration next time,” he instructed and Avis nodded obediently. The girl considered herself decently independent and usually had trouble submitting to orders, especially from her older siblings, but when it came to Quidditch, Avis knew it was important to listen to those with more experience than herself.

The pair went through the warmup drill for a good 20 minutes, Will progressively sizing the balls up as they went until Avis was playing fetch with an actual Quaffle. She felt less sluggish each round and by the time they finished the drill, her body was alive with adrenaline. It was cold and dark that January morning but Avis could hardly feel the chill through her thick hoodie paired with the natural warmth that came with exercise.

Drop drills came next. Essentially, Will would fly up several meters and drop a quaffle for Avis to dive for. The girl had done the simple drill a million times with her brother training back home but the rush from a good dive never got old. She shot into the air, a few meters above Will, and gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up… until she saw the second ball in his other hand. He gave her a gloating smirk which Avis wanted to wipe off his face and shove right up his… she shook her head. Can’t lose focus. Not in front of her older brother.

“Our Quidditch team adds a second ball to this drill, sometimes three, so you’re gonna have to get good at this. It’s routine for Ravenclaw Chasers,” he said with a wink and held up a ball to drop. Avis sighed and tightened her grip on her broom.

As the first ball dropped, the girl started forward, diving after the red object with full force. Catching it handily, she looked back up for the second ball… only to see it dropping past her and hitting the frosted grass below with a whump. She groaned, floating back up to her brother after retrieving the dropped ball and returning it to him with a sigh.

“Didn’t know you’d be dropping it that fast,” she grumbled but took her place above him once more. Will laughed and Avis could see his breath float out of his open mouth in a cloud.

“Then it’s a good you’re doing it with me and not your captain!” he chuckled and raised the ball before Avis could get out a good retort. Instantly, she locked back in, making a quick plan in her head to turn mid dive after she’d caught the first quaffle. Two balls in this drill was hard but genius, really. It required precision, a quick reaction and a plan mid flight which were all important skills that were required of a Chaser.

Grudgingly, Avis repeated the drill and after fumbling the second quaffle, she managed to catch both in the third round, letting out a cheerful whoop that echoed across the slowly lightening training pitch.

She pulled up next to brother, proudly handing him the quaffles, a sheen of sweat glistening across her forehead.

“Did it,” she chirped with a smirk. Will nodded.

“I saw. Now do it 7 more times,” he instructed patiently. Avis took a steadying breath, holding back the complaint that was bubbling against her lips and took her position for the fourth time. This was going to be a long morning.

. . .

After 7 more rounds of dive drills, a failed attempt at catching a third ball and a few sets of practicing passes, Avis was worn out and her stomach was eating itself.

The two siblings found themselves meandering back through the pitch, brooms sling over their shoulders and duffle bag in tow. Avis glanced up at her brother. Besides a few snarky remarks and jokes, he’d been strangely quiet during their training session and the girl couldn’t help but wonder if it was because of the news about Da the family had received only weeks before.

Will’s youthful face was serene but a tick in his eyebrow told Avis he was stressed. Light peach fuzz coated his jaw as if he’d neglected to shave since the incident and now that she was looking closer, the eyebags under his eyes were much more prominent than usual.

“What?” Will questioned suddenly, breaking the silence. Avis met his eyes and looked away with a sigh. Mam, Prim and herself had taken the news in their separate ways but Avis could tell it was weighing heavily on her older brother. After all, out of the three siblings, he’d known Da the longest.

“Are you… ok? Y’know, what with Da maybe being out there and… all that,” the young girl asked, stumbling over her words. Will blew out a breath in response, his eyes widening for a moment. He gazed ahead of them, suddenly lost in thought.

“Dunno, Bird. I-“ he paused for a moment before speaking again, this time his tone a bit softer,” I’ve been angry at him for a long time… for just disappearing on us like that, but now knowing he’s out there, maybe wanting to come home, maybe in danger… I feel a bit guilty for holding a grudge,” the boy said, the faraway look still in his eyes. Avis nodded solemnly. It wasn’t often her older brother showed vulnerability. He’d always been the family clown, always ready with a goofy smile and a mood-lifting joke, but now she was seeing her brother in a different light. Avis had no idea what to say so instead, she patted his shoulder lightly and slipped her skinny arm through his bigger one.

“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know,” she replied, her voice close to a whisper. Will looked down at her and gave her a sad smile.

“I know, Bird. I know.”