A/N: Arabella and her brother try to bring out her magical ability. Andrew is a year older than Arabella.

Submission for:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): History of Magic Assignment #8 - Write about a Squib's attempt to gain magic.

The Start and Stop Challenge: panic

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.


"This isn't going to work!" Arabella screamed out to her brother from the high branches of the tree in their backyard, the panic clear in her voice.

"Yes, it will," her older brother, Andrew, shouted back from the ground. "Jump!"

She shook her head quickly. "No, I've changed my mind. I'm coming down," she said as she stepped carefully back on the branch towards the tree's trunk.

"Don't chicken out, Arabella," Andrew said. "Magic will come to save you if you're in distress. Falling from a tree will make the magic come out."

Her brothers never had to worry about their magical abilities. Andrew had shown his first sign of magic by lighting Mum's curtains on fire at five, while her younger brother, Adrian, had levitated a plate of cookies just last year. Arabella had shown no magical ability at all, which sparked their experiment this afternoon.

Arabella looked down from the dizzying height at her brother. It was true that she had heard about things like that happening to other boys and girls who discovered their magical abilities, but Arabella was seven now. She was much older than the age for her magic to show, and though her mother never liked saying it, Arabella knew what she was: a squib.

"Jump!" Andrew shouted again. "What's the worst that could happen? I'll catch you," he said as he held his arms out. Arabella however didn't trust her brother. There was no way he could brace her fall if her magic didn't work.

"No! I'm coming down," Arabella said as she took another step back blindly. But she missed her footing, causing her to fall out of the tree with a scream. She felt no rush or warmth coursing through her body but she did feel the pain shoot up her leg when she landed at the base of the tree.

"Arabella!" Andrew said rushing over to her. 'So much for catching me', Arabella thought as she tried to move her leg. She ended up crushing it under her weight when she landed. It was tender and bent at an odd angle before her.

Andrew looked at her slowly swelling leg and the tears in her eyes. All hopes of magic saving the day in times of distress were dashed. "I'll go get Mum," he shouted as he ran toward their house, the panic that had been in her voice now in his.