November 1974
To say she wasn't enjoying this would have been a giant lie. She didn't usually revel in the torture of her friends, but Dorcas was putting on the most wonderful show. Emm should have known she'd put up some resistance, but the look she was giving her right now was dark. It made Emm want to laugh a bit.
She'd been trying to talk her into this for months though, so laughing would not be the best course of action. She had worked to make it as painless as possible for Dorcas; she'd made sure to bring her out when no team had practice scheduled, left Mary and Marley up working on an essay, and asked Remus to otherwise occupy his ridiculous friends lest they distract her and she lose Dorcas. So, yes, she'd worked hard for this.
"Emmeline Vance, I am not getting on that thing." This was the third time Dorcas had said as much.
Emm ignored her and steadied her broom three feet above the ground in front of her. "You promised to humor me."
"I am humoring you, just by being out here."
"Dorcas, this is an important skill to have. I can't believe you don't know how to ride a broom." She stroked the newly polished wood. "What sort of witch are you?"
"One who will apparate when the time comes."
"You can't apparate everywhere. You need to know how to fly a broom!"
"No, I don't."
"Yes, yes you do."
They stared each other down for a few minutes before Emm finally broke away. Dorcas would win their staring contest, but Emm would win this war. "I'm going to get you on that broom, Dorcas Anita Meadowes. The sun's going down and you can either ride with me, or ride alone."
She stood just behind her and drew herself up to her full height, which was really no more than two inches taller than Dorcas.
She wasn't going to intimidate Dorcas, ever, but Emm was determined and she knew it. A proper Ravenclaw would realize it'd be easier to just let her win this one. Dorcas was a proper Ravenclaw.
"Come on, you can ride behind me. Before it gets too dark and my eyesight becomes compromised and I crash into the Whomping Willow."
Dorcas punched her. She got on anyway and gripped Emm tight enough to hurt. "Dork, you're killing me here. Loosen up."
"No, I'm not falling off this bloody thing, Emmeline."
Emm turned to look at her and smiled. "Dork, really, do you think I'd ever let you fall?" The dark look remained.
When Emm kicked off Dorcas knocked the breath out of her and she had to forcibly pry her arms loose. "Relax! Merlin, Dork, relax."
She took her around for a few, low, laps around the pitch. The second set was higher, faster. And the third set was even higher. All the while Dorcas muttered darkly into her ear. Emm ignored her and continued to try and instruct her on basic broom handling.
They were coming in for a landing when Emm simply couldn't resist herself. "Dork?"
"Yes?"
"I love you. I'll make this up to you."
"Wha-"
Her question was cut off when Emm barrel-rolled twice. Dorcas' shout made her ears ring and Emm was forced to follow her up to the castle apologizing all the way. Between laughs.