As Dreams Take Flight SOLO COMPLETED

A continuation from "All She Could Ask For".
23 December 2019

She had so many questions.

It wasn't as if Koko didn't know she was an inquisitive individual. She'd always wondered about things. But this was more than wondering if cats really loved you or only wanted food. No, this was different. Why was her Leblanc aunt - who, compared to the rest of the Leblancs, didn't despise her as much - choosing to spend time with her? Vienna could have been lounging around the house with Holmes and Charlie, or perhaps she cold have gone with the oldest Leblanc woman, maybe Christmas shopping.

She maintained a quiet demeanour as the duo walked through the crowded streets of Diagon Alley. Koko remembered her first time here, how she'd had to buy things on her own because her family had been busy with Holmes and Charlie. This would - hopefully - be a memory filled with more joy. Vienna was practically buzzing with energy next to her, asking questions that Koko was thankful she could nod or shake her head in answer to.

She took another glance at her aunt, and like with Rosalie, she noticed how people would be able to see their blood relation instantly. Koko looked more like a Leblanc than a Lark or a Riddle. She didn't have Henry Riddle's flaming red hair or Esme Lark's raven locks. She had the Leblanc golden tresses. Koko had only inherited one thing from her mother, or so it seemed: her amber eyes. She resembled Rosalie a bit more, she thought, narrowing her eyes as she scrutinised Vienna's slender frame.

Koko was not fully aware of her surroundings when she came to an abrupt stop, nearly running straight into her aunt. Her breath hitched in her throat and she swallowed as she realised what she'd nearly done, and her hands found their way behind her back. The girl's stance shifted awkwardly as she glanced up at the older woman, the grimace on her face conveying her unspoken apology.

"Ma chérie, don't frown! It's nearly Christmas!" Vienna's pale eyes glittered, and her smile was wider than any Koko had ever seen before. Koko's lips twitched, a smile of her own threatening to form at her aunt's words - 'Ma chérie.' She'd not heard words of endearment often, especially not in French. Hearing such an affectionate phrase, especially in the language of love, had a surprising effect on the girl - she was fighting back a smile.

Perhaps she quite liked these words of affirmation.

"Oh... Of course, Aunt Vienna. My apologies." Koko tried in vain to keep her speech as quaint as possible, but she wanted to say more. It sounded choked, how she had abruptly ended her sentence with, 'My apologies'. The shame was renewed; perhaps Vienna had wanted her to talk. That same sense of shame was diluted, however, when Koko remembered those two words. Ma. Chérie. A warmth burst in her chest, and a shy smile grew on her lips, replacing her half-grimace from before.

Vienna gave the girl an odd look, furrowing her brow and moving her lips. No sound escaped. Koko's pale hands brushed a strand of golden hair from where it had escaped from behind her ear, and she glanced up at her aunt once more. Vienna's complexion was somewhat paler than usual, as if she'd blanched at Koko's words. Her eyes were narrowed, her cerulean gaze full of worry. Koko couldn't figure out what the woman was worried about, though. Vienna was always full of life, never worried, never upset. Had Koko upset her?

Seeing as how her grimace had set her aunt off, Koko kept the smile on her face, although it was likely the light was no longer reflected in her eyes. "Where are we heading?" she questioned after a moment, her tone light and weightless in contrast to the depth her amber eyes held. "Will we buy gifts for the rest of the family?"

Vienna chuckled, a warm sound that brought Koko's smile to genuineness once more. "If you would like to," she responded, her voice having an edge of laughter to it, but not cold laughter. The warm laughter that children made the sound of while playing with a cat, or perhaps a dog. Both types of animals were quite nice, and they brought smiles to the mouths of even the most unpleasant children. "But," Vienna added with a warm smile, "I decided we should come here for you, chérie."

Anything else would have been expected more. The Leblancs hadn't done much for the Wreath children. Yet Koko found that this was just as welcome. Vienna's hand rose, and Koko let her gaze follow it until it stopped. There, right above her, was a sign that read 'Quality Quidditch Supplies'.

Koko's simper grew into a wild grin. "Oh, tata," she exclaimed, "I... I have already got a broom!"

Vienna merely shook her head at the child, blonde curls bouncing in the bitter wind. "And I believe you deserve an upgrade. Come on, let us enter."

The girl complied with her relative's wish, though it would have been a lie to say that it weren't her own wish as well. Koko had an affinity for anything Quidditch, and striding into Quality Quidditch Supplies with some galleons she'd saved? This happened to be a dream come true. Perhaps she'd actually dreamt about it, she thought as she followed behind Vienna, gazing at the shop's windows and the brooms on display. Koko had never been very great at remembering her dreams.

The amount of brooms resting on the walls was utterly breathtaking. Koko could immediately recognise the Nimbus 1700, a mirror image of the broom she currently owned. Her gaze caught on the Nimbus 2000, and then the Nimbus 2001. Both were sleek and elegant, and her breath caught in her throat as she gazed at the instruments. To her, brooms were instruments. It depended on the player how they worked. The Nimbus 1700 had been Vienna's - why exactly had she given it to Koko? - and hadn't felt right. Had Vienna known that?

The child glanced back at her aunt, whose expression seemed to urge her to browse. Okay, that was fine. If anything, Koko was looking for something that felt right, preferably to the touch. She didn't want one of the Professional Team brooms, though she was in awe of the Starsweeper XXI. Hadn't the USA team used it a few years back? She moved closer, trying to get a better look. As Koko ran her fingers lightly over the golden-coloured broom's shaft, she felt her eyes widen a fraction of a centimetre. She found the price tag and turned it over in her hand so she could read it: 370 Galleons. Koko let out an audible gasp. 370 Galleons, also known as No Way!

She would not be making Vienna buy her that broom, and that was if Vienna had even wanted to buy Koko a broom in the first place. Koko's dark green coin purse was heavy, yes, but only from the amount of sickles. She preferred to pay in sickles. She had about thirty galleons in it, though, and that would not be enough to buy much.

Her gaze next caught on a broomstick labelled Swiftstick. It didn't appear all that new, sporting an older design than the brooms in the Nimbus family. She ran her hand over it and immediately drew it back. The broom had great craftsmanship, but it felt like it would break under her hands, or perhaps fall off its pedestal. It felt as if it had a mind of its own, and Koko enjoyed the prospect of control. The Swiftstick was a no.

The renowned Firebolt was the next apple of her eye. The girl ran across the shop to view the broom, and it certainly lived up to all the hype. She ran her hands along the broom's shaft, revelling in the smooth feeling. The broom was sturdy. The broom felt strong. The shaft was smooth, but her hands didn't feel as if they'd slip off. The price tag, however, was the selling point - quite literally. Koko's eyes flew open from their previously narrowed position, and her hands flew off the broom. 575 Galleons. That wasn't known as 'no way'. That was known as 'absolutely not!'. Perhaps this broom was renowned and full of fame, but nearly 600 Galleons? That was quite excessive!

Koko's feet nearly slipped on the wood of the shop's floor as she slowly backed away from the Firebolt, resisting the temptation to beg her aunt for it. Goodness, Koko was tempted to crawl to Vienna on her knees. She knew the Leblancs had more than enough money to purchase a broom as expensive as the Firebolt. She stopped in her tracks, however, when a flash of silver caught her eye. Silver, one of the Slytherin colours. Perhaps that was a sign?

Her feet knew where to go, and they led her forward until she could see the beauty right at eye level. It should not have been legal to create such a regal broom, a broom with so much magnificent promise. It shone. It was called a Silver Arrow, according to the label, and it certainly seemed to live up to its moniker. The broom seemed as if it'd fly through the air with the precision of an arrow, and it was, well, silver. And shiny. Koko, like Charlie, admired objects which boasted of a sheen that shimmered in the light.

She ran her finger along it, mostly searching for the price tag but also allowing herself to get a feel of the broom. Yes, this would be the winner of the competition. She'd decided when she read it was handmade and could reach 68 miles per hour - just how fast was that? She reckoned it was quite speedy. Koko flipped the price tag over and narrowed her eyes, reading it. Her pale pink lips twisted in a smirk when she read it. Only 60 Galleons! This broom was meant for her.

Koko lifted it off the pedestal, fantasising about how her teammates would react when she entered the Pitch next game with a Silver Arrow. She would look amazing. They'd all look to her - hopefully - and perhaps the broom's shininess would reflect sunlight into the evil eyes of incoming Chasers. Koko's voice was light and full of Christmas cheer when she brought the broom to Vienna, her smirk back to a soft simper. "Tata," she said softly, the excitement barely contained, "I think I've decided."

Translations:

Ma chérie - My dear

Tata - Auntie