“Anyway, the new Lightning Strike 2016 is far superior to the old Firebolt series. The tail sweep even accelerates you five times faster --”
“Bollocks.”
“Oh? You think you know more than me just because --”
“I know because I’m not dense, Hugo. The original Firebolt was a class all it’s own. You can’t get that style of woodwork anywhere anymore. It had character.“
It was clear to Hugo that Lily had not picked up these convictions on her own. He watched her get up and pick her away around the little roof of the broom shed where they’d sat, summer sun filtering through the leaves on the tree branches. As she balanced on one foot, arms spread, something flickered inside him. The words were out before they’d properly gone through his head.
“I dare you to walk the ridge line of the roof.”
Their Dares were something they’d been doing since they were small. They were usually harmless, trivial sorts of things, resulting in embarrassments and rarely real risk. Lily’s were always worse than his, and she also was less likely to back down.
She looked at the ridge, sharp and steep and falling apart. This was the shed where her mother and his father had kept their quidditch supplies as children, and now mostly held garden tools.
“Fine.” She cleared her throat as though in preparation. Hugo watched her step up to the end, his breath baited. It was too far to the ground; that was the problem. He should call it off now, but it was too late. He’d look weak and stupid, like he’d tried to make her do something that was too dangerous. Like he’d wanted her to get hurt. She didn’t have to do it – it was her choice.
But that was the thing -- once either of them was locked in a Dare, there was no choice.
She was doing well. She held her arms wide, only wobbling a little as the breeze kicked up and blew her hair across her face. They’d both taken off their shoes before climbing up, and that helped. She was almost to the end -- Hugo sucked in his breath even more --
“HEYLILY!”
The shout rent the air, throwing off all balance Lily possessed. It happened too fast; she slid sideways, tumbling, straight off the edge and landed with a sickening thump. Hugo scrambled to the side, hanging off in horror. She looked entirely alive, but she didn’t move, her breath coming too quickly.
It was Louis who had shouted, having walked by at the exact opportune moment, trying to be funny, not thinking it through. His loud swear, mingled with a panicked apology, brought the attention of Teddy and Victoire, who’d been lounging under a tree looking at summer homework.
“All right, Lilypad?” Teddy knelt beside her, examining her limbs for broken bones. Lily’s face was stunned and precarious, like she wasn’t sure if she should cry.
“Hmmm.” Teddy turned her scraped knee from side to side, his brow knit. “Skinned knee. Perfect target for infection. Looks like it could be fatal.”
Lily gave a sound between a sniff and a giggle. Teddy scooped her up in his arms and started toward the burrow.
“What do you think, Lil? You going to make it? Lots to live for, you know. School, next year. That new broomstick you tricked your parents into promising you…”
Lily’s eyes brightened, her face transforming into dreamy pleasure. “Your wedding to Victoire...!”
Teddy immediately clapped a hand over her mouth, stepping to distance himself from his girlfriend, whose mouth had dropped open in shocked delight. No one had ever voiced this possibility aloud in their shared presence. Nor had the topic been mentioned between them, even privately.
“Ah – the kid’s brains have been addled, she doesn’t know what she’s saying!” Teddy exclaimed over Lily’s furious giggling, his hand still covering her mouth.
The entourage entered the kitchen where Molly and Ginny were having tea. “Well Ginny, you can cancel that enrollment with the muggle comprehensive you’d lined up,” Teddy said, discarding Lily unceremoniously on the table. “No more doubts about this one’s magical abilities – a fall from the broom shed should’ve broken an arm and a leg. All she’s got is a skinned knee!”
He was rather delighted about the whole thing.
The rest was a rapid exchange between Lily and Ginny.
“How did you fall?!”
“Hugo dared me! I didn’t have a choice!”
“You always have a choice, Lily!”
“I didn’t – that stings! – do you think Teddy and Vi will make me flower girl?”
“What?”
“MERLIN’S PANTS LOOK AT THE TIME, LOTS OF HOMEWORK TO DO!” Teddy suddenly loped for the door. “Come on, you lot, back out into the sunshine!”
And the door closed, leaving Victoire on the inside. She pulled up a seat at the table, reaching for an empty teacup.
Ginny raised her eyebrows questioningly. Vi turned scarlet, looking pleased, and shrugged.
“Lily knows things I don’t.”
Ginny sighed, running a hand through her daughter’s hair, tangled with leaves.
“At least I can cancel that admission at the local comprehensive. And something tells me the Sorting Hat won’t have any doubts about where to put you...”
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