Learning to fly.
Harriet and Dianne heard the screaming ran out into the back garden. They saw Dudley clinging to the motorbike screaming, heading straight for the quidditch pitch, and the motorbike spiralling as it flew straight at one of the goals.
"Let go of the throttle!" Evan yelled as he chased through the house and into the garden. He spotted his wife frowning at him and the slight grin he was wearing immediately faded to a carefully blank face. "Crap." he muttered, when Harriet raised an eyebrow and shook her head. He was going to hear about this later. He looked up to see Dudley collide with the post with a crunch, much to the surprise of all the children playing there, and start to fall.
"Arresto Momentum!" shouted Harriet waving her wand as Dianne screamed.
Dudley's fall slowed and he almost floated to the floor.
Evan waved his wand at the motorbike and it vanished back to the driveway. He hurried over to where his wife was checking on Dudley. She had him conscious and sitting up, but he looked dazed.
"Is he alright?" Evan asked.
"I've healed a couple of bumps and bruises," Harriet said, glaring at him, "but he could probably do with a healing draught for his head. You can take him to the tower and get one while I fix the practice hoop. You might need one yourself if you don't rein it in."
"I didn't mean for him to get hurt," Evan said looking guilty, "it was just a joke."
"And you say the twins get it from my side." she said shaking her head. "Honestly Ev, you're supposed to be an adult."
Evan hung his head as Harriet scolded him. The twins were stood next to Max enjoying the show. One of them nudged him in the ribs.
"This is brilliant," he said when Max met his gaze, "I love it when mum moans at someone else."
"Yeah," said the other twin, "but she's the only one who can get away with shouting at him like that. Almost everyone else is a bit scared of him."
"I thought you said he was a softy?" said Max.
"He is at home," said the first twin, "apparently his dad was a scary guy, everyone just seems to assume he is too."
"Not that that's a bad thing," said the second, "people do what he says and don't give him any crap. Well, except Mum."
They giggled as a reprimanded Evan led Dudley, staggering slightly, to the left tower.
"Is Dad going to be okay?" asked Max.
"Of course," said Albus from behind him, "Mum can heal most injuries, years of practice she says, and what she can't fix Dad usually has a potion for."
"Is he a doctor or something?" asked Violet.
"No," said Albus, "he owns an apothecary, but it runs itself these days. He spends most of his time researching and creating new potions. He also does some work with the Auror's occasionally, he's a bit of an expert on dark magic, so is Mum."
"What's an Auror?" asked Max.
"Dark wizard catchers." said one twin. "Uncle Ron used to be one, but he works in his brother's joke shop now. Just wait till you see it."
"Wait till you see Diagon Alley." grinned the other twin. "I bet you come with us to get your school stuff."
Max's head was swimming with so many questions, he couldn't think of just one to ask. He was saved the trouble when the twins decided that broomstick flying lessons were in order.
XXXXXX
Evan guided Dudley through the door of the tower and up a spiral staircase. At the top of the tower was a large room, filled with bottles and packets of potions and ingredients, all neatly labelled and organised. There was a desk, covered in boxes of paperwork, in one corner and a tall glass cabinet in another. Evan gestured for Dudley to sit in one of two high backed chairs by the desk and waved his wand at the cabinet.The top drawer opened and a small blue glass bottle floated intp Evan's hand. Dudley gaped at it and sat in the chair.
"Drink this Dursley." Evan said, and Dudley swallowed the contents of the bottle without thinking.
"Yuck!" said Dudley, his head suddenly feeling clearer. "What was that?"
"A simple healing draught," said Evan, slumping in the chair opposite, "do you feel better?"
"Yes actually." Dudley said, with surprise. "Erm, can I ask you something?"
"You just did," smirked Evan, "but by all means ask your question."
"Did I just fly on a motorbike?" Dudley asked.
"Fly, spiral out of control, crash, yes you did." Evan said.
"I was hoping it was the concussion." said Dudley faintly.
"Yes, well," Evan squirmed a little, "I should apologise for that. I should have never let you ride that infernal machine, or should have at least warned you about the flying."
"I rode a flying motorbike." Dudley said, with a dazed look.
"Yes, sorry." Evan said. "It was a childish prank and I should not have let my feelings about past events influence my behaviour towards you now."
"A flying motorbike." Dudley repeated.
"Dursley snap out of it," Evan snapped, "I'm trying to bloody apologise here and you're not helping."
"A flying-" Dudley said and then shook his head vigorously. "Sorry. Apologising for what."
"Letting you ride the bike," said Evan, looking slightly sulky, "it was a petty revenge. I should have known better."
"If this is about how I was to Harriet when we were kids I really am sorry about it." Dudley said, honestly. "I already promised my wife I would find a way to make it up to her if I can. I'm ashamed of myself, but I understand why you would hate me."
"You were a child, the main portion of blame lies with your parents." Evan said, "That's where you learned your behaviour."
"I still have to take responsibility for what I did." said Dudley. "Harriet deserves that."
"Let's start again," said Evan, extending his hand, "no grudges this time?"
"No grudges." said Dudley, shaking Evan's hand.
XXXXXX
Max had listened to the twins and Albus explain about quidditch and flying for what felt like hours. He hadn't managed to take half of it in, what with explanations about various teams and moves confusing him. He was now just eager to get on the broomstick and try it for himself. He looked at the broomstick held in his hand curiously. He could see a silver glow all over the broom, interspersed with threads of other colours shimmering in a complex web. It was translucent and barely visible, yet it glittered whenever he moved his head.
He mounted the broom the way they showed him and noticed the glow double in size. He could feel the hum of potential power under him. He stopped listening to instructions then. He could just feel how to do it. He shot into the air, like a cork from a bottle, zooming high above the house and grounds. He could see the shimmering bubble of the wards again from up here, and he could see coloured lines and glows on almost everything below. The house itself glowed silver and most of the people seemed to be surrounded with a colourful mist, changing and twisting as he watched. There were green and yellow hazes over the garden and trees, with other colours popping up seemingly randomly. He wished he knew what all these colours meant. He gently twitched the handle of the broom and it rolled effortlessly sideways, flying in a broad circle around the quidditch pitch. He laughed gleefully as her rolled and looped in the air, the wind ruffling his hair and his body laying flat along the handle. He pointed the broom down and dived almost vertically, pulling up at the last second to land on his feet.
"That was amazing!" he grinned breathlessly at the others. "I think I'm going to like flying."
"How did you do that?" asked Albus, his eyes and mouth wide. An expression that was present on the faces of all the Potter-Snape family present.
"The flying?" said Max, "I just did what felt right, it was almost like instinct."
"But it's a training broom," said Lily, "they're limited to six feet off the ground."
"Oh," said Max, looking guilty, "sorry, I didn't know."
"It was an amazing bit of flying Max," Harriet said, patting him on the shoulder, "you might make your house quidditch team."
"You're not mad that I went so high?" he asked.
"No," smiled Harriet, "but I think I should mention it to the headmistress, it's extraordinary magic for a wizard without a wand. I'll talk to Evan and Minerva tonight and we'll see what they say."
"Am I going to get in trouble?" Max asked, miserably.
"Of course not," Harriet smiled, "we just need to understand and train your gifts, the same as any underage wizard."
"Okay," Max smiled, relieved, "can I have another go on the broom?"
"Maybe later," Harriet said, "Right now we should have some lunch." she called, "Kreacher!"
With a loud crack, a small creature with over large ears, and wearing a crisp white pillowcase as a robe, appeared in front of her. Dianne let out a yelp and jumped back.
"What the heck is that?" asked Dianne.
"That," smiled Harriet, "is a house elf."
"Kreacher serves the Potter-Snape family and their guests." Kreacher said happily. "Kreacher's family serve some very great wizards and witches and Kreacher is honoured."
"Thanks Kreacher," said Harriet, "I was hoping lunch was almost ready. I think everyone has worked up quite an appetite. Can you ask Mamby and Dippy to set up the dining table and food outside and then fetch Evan and Dudley from the Potions Tower?"
"Kreacher will speak to Mamby and Dippy immediately Mistress, and then Kreacher will fetch the Master himself." Kreacher bowed.
"Thanks Kreacher," Harriet said, "you can go back home to Winky when you're done, I'm sure the other two can cope."
"Yes Mistress." Kreacher said, and with another bow he vanished again in a crack.
"Do all wizards have those?" asked Dianne weakly.
"No, most are handed down in old wizarding families." Harriet explained. "I inherited Kreacher, but the others are his children with another house elf called Winky. They had seven, but even with two houses that was too many house elves. Some went to live with friends families, but they all help each other out. Kreacher trained them really well, but he still keeps an eye on them."
"They give you a bit of a shock when they just appear like that." Dianne said, starting to calm down.
"I know what you mean," smiled Harriet, "but you do get used to it. It does help that their cooking is amazing."
Just then a long dining table and chairs appeared in a shady spot in the garden. The table was laden with hot and cold food and the delicious smell wafted across the garden. Dianne sniffed deeply and smiled.
"It certainly smells like it." she said, her mouth beginning to water.