Written for Hogwarts Challenges and Assignments - Term 11, Assignment 10: Ritual and Ceremonial Magic, Task #1: write a fic featuring a parent and their daughter.

Word count: 495

Spider Fears

"Mummy!"

Angelina heard Roxanne's frantic shriek and immediately raced into her daughter's bedroom. "What is it, sweetheart?"

"There's a great big spider on my wall!" the little girl sobbed, and sure enough, Roxanne's finger was pointed directly at the largest spider Angelina had ever seen. It was nearly the size of her palm and had thick, hairy legs. Angelina was instantly reminded of Lee Jordan's friendly pet tarantula.

"It won't hurt you, Roxy," she said, making sure to keep her voice calm and even.

Roxanne wailed and hid her face under the covers. "Yes, it can! Fred said Teddy got bit by a spider once and he had to go to the hospital!"

Angelina stifled a smile. "To my knowledge, Teddy Lupin has never been bitten by a spider. I think Fred was probably messing with you."

"Was not!" Fred shouted from his neighboring room.

"What have I told you about eavesdropping, Freddie?" she called back, shaking her head.

"Sorry!" Fred yelled, not sounding apologetic at all. He had definitely picked that up from his father, she mused before turning her attention back to her daughter.

Roxanne's wide brown eyes and dark frizzy hair were now the only things visible over the edge of her pastel yellow blanket. "It's still there, Mummy!" she hissed.

"Yes, I can see that." Angelina sank onto the edge of the bed and gently stroked her daughter's hair. "Just try and ignore it."

"I can't!" Roxanne said tearfully. "It might bite me!"

"I really doubt it will bite you," Angelina insisted, "but if it's bothering you that much, I'll just take it outside. How does that sound?"

Roxanne gave her a look filled with wonder. "You can do that?" she asked, sounding as awed as if Angelina had just told her that she could have sweets for dinner for the rest of her life.

Angelina nodded vigorously. "I sure can. Removing spiders is like my superpower."

Roxanne let out a delighted giggle. "That's so cool!"

Angelina quickly summoned a clear glass and a piece of paper. She placed the cup over the spider as her daughter looked on, seemingly terrified and fascinated in equal measure. "You can do it, Mummy!" she cheered before diving under the covers again.

Having finally coaxed the creature onto the paper, Angelina hurried downstairs and out the front door. She released the spider onto a blade of grass, crumpled up the piece of paper, then headed back inside.

As she walked back towards Roxanne's room, her hand drifted towards her wand. While she could have used magic to immobilize or even get rid of the spider, she lived for those moments when she could model courage for her children.

"Is the big bad spider gone now?" Roxanne asked as soon as Angelina reentered her room.

Angelina smiled down at her. "The big bad spider is gone now," she confirmed.

A big, toothless grin finally appeared on the little girl's face as she said, "You're the best mummy ever."