Chapter thirteen

Nell blinked. "Oh," she said blankly. She looked up and met Mrs. Weasley's shocked gaze. For some reason, the headline suddenly struck her as the funniest thing ever, and she broke up laughing. It was a lovely release, and after a moment, the Weasleys joined her. She refused to think about the more serious implications just then, enjoying the humour.

They were still chuckling when Harry came dashing back into the kitchen. "Nell, I flew! And Ron says I'm really good at it! Come watch me, and maybe you can have a go!" Harry grabbed Nell's wrist and began towing her out into the yard. Nell obligingly followed, rather eager to see a flying broomstick.

She was less eager when she saw the Weasley children fearlessly swooping around the sky, performing acrobatics more metres off the ground than Nell was quite comfortable with.

Harry dashed to a broomstick lying innocently on the ground, stuck his hand over top of it, and said firmly, "Up!" The broom thumped into his palm and he threw a leg over it. Before Nell could logically explain why flying on a flimsy piece of wood required care, supervision, and safety harnesses (or even shout "No! Don't!" which was her first instinct), Harry was in the air.

Even in her alarm, Nell could tell that Harry was a good flier. He seemed at home in the air, joining the Weasley children in their swoops and turns. His laugh rang out, and from the ground, Nell saw the broad grin spread across his face.

She melted. Suddenly, flying didn't seem quite so unreasonable. Not for the world would Nell keep Harry from doing this, if he kept that smile on his face.

Nell was rapt, gazing at the sky. After what seemed to be only moments, Harry landed.

"Would you like a go, Nell?" he asked politely.

"Oh, no, Harry," she hastily said. "Thanks, though!"

"Sure?" he asked. "Here, give it a try."

Nell hesitantly held her hand over the broom as she had seen Harry do, and said firmly, "UP!"

Nothing happened. One of the twins, flying overhead, shouted down, "Muggles can't fly, Harry!"

He looked downcast. "I wish you could fly, Nell," he said. "It's such fun."

"Oh, I imagine I'll get by," Nell said briskly. "Meanwhile, get yourself back on that broom."

Harry grinned and leapt back into the air, only mounting his broom once his feet were off the ground.

Nell snorted. Show-off. She grinned, and watched Harry for a moment longer before turning to return to the house.

Nell had only just returned to the kitchen when her mobile rang, and she fished it out of her pocket. Glancing at the display before popping it open, she sighed. She knew what was coming.

"Nell, for god's sake! You keep disappearing on us. Where are you now, and what's going on?" Emma's voice was shrill with indignation and alarm.

Nell could see Mr. Weasley staring at her in utter fascination. "Er, Emms, this isn't a great time. I'm safe, Harry's safe, but we had to do a runner for a bit. Is something wrong?"

Emma sighed huffily. "This is so unlike you, Nell."

"Never had a kid before, did I?" asked Nell wryly.

"Well, no," admitted Emma. "But still! We worry, you know that."

"Oh, Em, I'm dreadfully sorry. But I don't know when we'll be able to come back. I have a draft of my thesis to take in to the uni in the next few days, so I know I'll be in town then. Maybe we can meet for lunch?" Nell winced at the paucity of the suggestion, but Emma met it with apparent relief.

"Wonderful! That will be great, fine. I just want to know you're doing all right with Harry. And everything." Emma's voice had gone deliberately vague.

Nell turned her back to Mr. Weasley in an attempt at discretion. "You know I'm over Cecily. This has nothing to do with her, I swear."

Emma sighed. "Are you sure, love? I mean, you did say something about leaving town after everything that happened."

Nell blushed, glad that Emma couldn't see the flush. "You know I was right pissed when I said that," she hissed. "Besides, it's ages ago."

"Oh. Of course. Good to hear it," said Emma noncommittally. Nell wasn't quite sure that she believed her, but she was ready to drop the topic as well, and moved on to finalising their plans to meet.

When Nell rang off and closed the phone, she turned back around. Mrs. Weasley had long since busied herself elsewhere, but Mr. Weasley was still staring at her, enraptured.

No, not her. Her mobile phone.

"I thought fellytones had wires and things," said Mr. Weasley, inspecting the mobile in fascination.

"Oh, some of them do. But this kind is made to be carried around, and wires're scarcely practical, are they?" replied Nell.

"But how does it work, then, without magic?" persisted Mr. Weasley.

"Do wizards have mobile phones or anything like them?" asked Nell in response, avoiding an explanation that she wasn't sure she felt able to give.

"No-o, I don't think so," said Mr. Weasley, giving it a bit of thought. "Fascinatin' creatures, Muggles. Very inventive."

"Um, people?" asked Nell.

"Eh?" said Mr. Weasley, still engrossed with the 'phone.

"You mean, 'fascinating people,' right? Not creatures?" explained Nell.

He looked up. "Er, right, of course. People."