This is part 2 of my 5 part short story. Hugo is about 9 and Roxanne is 8. Read and Review! I hope you enjoy!
Oh, and this should be a no brainer, but I don't own Harry Potter! Though I wish I did.
"Come on, Alby," James pleaded. "Let me have a go."
All the Weasley/Potter children were at their grandparent's house, celebrating Uncle Harry's birthday. Grandpa Weasley had dug an old muggle kite from his collection in the shed and Aunt Hermione had taught them all how to fly it. The younger cousins were all taking turns flying the kite while the adults stood around in the back where the food was and chatted about grownup things.
Albus handed over the kite to James and the older boy grinned. Roxanne was sitting on the grass beside the two boys, having just finished with her turn. Rose was inside the house with Molly and Dom, talking about all the things they had learned at Hogwarts that year. Of course, Rose wouldn't start her first year until September, but she had inherited her mother's brain, and as such, was interested in what the other cousins had learned.
"James!" Alby suddenly yelled. Roxanne looked up. A strong breeze had swept through and, surprised, the boy had accidentally let go of the string. The kite was falling now, being blown towards a group of tall oak trees nearby. Roxanne watched with a sinking feeling as the bright red toy ran straight into the upper branches, getting itself lodged in the nearest tree to them.
"I'm sorry," the boy apologized. "I didn't mean to let go. It surprised me."
"It's ok, James," the boy mumbled. But they could all tell he was upset.
"Let's go get it back," Roxanne said excitedly, jumping to her feet and making her way over to the tree.
"Get it back?" Hugo asked. "Roxy, you can't be serious."
The eight year old glared at her cousin. "Sure I am. All one of us needs to do is climb up there and knock it out of the branches. It isn't that tightly lodged."
"I'm not going up there," Albus stated. "I'll only end up hurting myself."
"I don't think I'll be able to get high enough," James commented. "The upper branches won't hold my weight.
Hugo sighed. "I'll get it." He took a step forward, but stopped when he heard Roxanne snort. "What?" he asked, "don't you think I can get it?"
The girl shook her head. "Nope. I don't. In fact, I think you'll stop partway up and won't be able reach it. And then I'll have to go up there and get it for you."
She watched as the boy rolled his eyes. "I highly doubt that."
"You want to bet?" she challenged. Hugo grinned. She knew how much he loved a challenge.
The older boy grinned and both Albus and James groaned. They, along with Roxanne, knew this wouldn't end well. "You're on. I bet that I will either be able to reach the kite and get it down, or, in the event that I fail, you also won't be able to get it down."
Roxanne smirked and held out her hand. Normally she would argue with Hugo about betting on two different outcomes, but she was certain she could win this. "Deal. Name your terms."
Hugo frowned slightly, then grinned like a madman. "The looser has to give the winner the other slipper."
Roxanne nodded and the two shook hands. This was her chance to finally get both of the slippers. Ever since her dad had split up the present, giving one to each of them, she and Hugo had tried almost everything in the book to try and get the other to give up their prize, but so far had been unsuccessful.
The young girl watched anxiously as Hugo began to climb the tree. He got higher and higher, his feet as sure as ever. For one moment, Roxanne thought he would actually reach the kite. That is, until, he got to a certain point about ten feet under where the kite was located, where he couldn't get a good enough hold on the branch above him. Every time he would try, the branch would begin to bend under his weight and he would be forced to let go.
"I still don't think you can reach it," he called down, finally giving up. "Not without breaking your neck."
Roxanne smirked and began her climb. In only a few moments, she was level with Hugo. Giving him a sweet smile, she reached for the next branch and hoisted herself up. As she climbed up the next few branches, she felt confidence surge within her. That confidence began to diminish when she realized that there were no more branches that would hold her weight. Gritting her teeth, the young girl stretched as far as she could, her fingers just brushing the red material. Roxanne made sure she had a firm grip on the branch above her before she jumped up slightly, knocking the kite from the tree and to the ground.
Her heartbeat spiked as her feet landed back on the tree branch. It swayed with the impact, but did not break. Once she had calmed down a bit, the girl began her descent. Once the kite had been free, Hugo had begun climbing down, and as a result, he was already on the ground when she leapt out of the tree.
"I believe you owe me a pink fuzzy bunny slipper," she said, grinning ear to ear.
The boy scowled. "I'm not giving it to you," he huffed.
Roxanne narrowed her eyes. "That's not fair!" she stomped. "You and me made a bet! And you lost."
"Roxanne," James said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Calm down. Hugo will give you the slipper." Hugo looked at his cousin with wide eyes, about to protest, but James continued on. "Come on Hugo. It's just a lousy slipper anyway. And it's pink. You don't really want it. And it's not cool to go back on your word. You two shook hands."
And Hugo, who looked up to James so much, finally consented. Who was he to be seen as 'uncool' by the great James Sirius Potter?