Up In The Air
Author's Note: Originally published on January 23, 2010
"Hermione, she'll be fine."
"I don't know about this, Ron. I still think she's too young to fly on her own." She glanced outside and saw the branches of their trees waving back and forth. "It seems much too windy."
Rose's face fell slightly, but her eyes silently pleaded with her father. He nodded slightly and presented his best case.
"Love, you know Ginny was flying well before she was eight, even if none of us knew about it. At least Rosie came to us instead of trying it on her own. I think that shows responsibility, just like you're always teaching her and Hugo. I'll even go up with her, on one of my old brooms."
Hermione looked back and forth between her husband and daughter, taking note of the similar puppy dog expressions on their faces. She felt her resolve weakening as she studied the two sets of big blue eyes and pouting lower lips.
Throwing her arms up in exasperation, she conceded. "Fine, but don't go too fast or too high. The wind does look like it is picking up."
Rose squealed and hugged Hermione. "Thanks Mum! This is the best birthday ever!"
"I promise I'll bring her back in one piece," Ron said, kissing his wife on the forehead before following his daughter out the door.
She had no doubt of that, though she assumed her definitions of too fast and too high were quite a bit different than that of her husband—or her daughter, for that matter. She heard Ron's loud voice, just as the front door closed behind him.
"Race you to Uncle Harry's!"