"Relax Raindrop," Charlie said, "You'll never get better if you don't relax."
Raynie grimaced at his name for her. It made her feel small. While all the other students excelled at flying, Raynie remained grounded. Having heard of her troubles through the grapevine, Charlie offered to help. Now the pair stood on the Quidditch pitch each with a broom.
"But what if I fall?" Raynie whined, not wanting to progress any more.
"I've told you twenty-seven times, If you fall I'll catch you." Charlie was patient, but Raynie was trying the patient.
"There will be no chance of that if we just stay on the ground. So why can't I just do that." Raynie asked.
"All folk with magic know how to ride a broom. For underage wizards it's the only form of travel you really get." He said, "besides, once you learn you'll be having so much fun you'll never want to come down."
"Fat chance," Raynie murmured as she mounted her broom. Charlie came up behind her.
"Relax your shoulders," he said placing a big hand on her back, "take a deep breath and imagine yourself floating."
Raynie closed her eyes and did as she was told. She felt the ground slowly ease away, but with Charlie's hand on her shoulder she knew she was safe. Besides she was only a foot or so from the ground.
"Now squeeze your handle, than lean to the left." Charlie said. The girl did as she was told. A slight breeze blew through her hair, getting stronger as she turned. Charlie's hand fell away from her.
"Now open your eyes." His voice sounded distant. Raynie opened her eyes and saw the tree tops. She gasped in awe, gazing into the distance. She saw something silvery white walk into the clearing. Raynie leaned forward to get a better look and she began racing towards the ground. Panic seized the girl as she saw the ground approaching. Going faster and faster she was a few yards away when an arm grabbed her around the middle and popped her out of her broom before pulling onto another.
Raynie watched her broom plummet into the ground. She had a flash of herself flying off the broom and crashing into the ground. She shoved her face into the body that held her ans shook, breathing deeply to keep herself from crying.
Charlie pulled Raynie closer to him, his brain thinking. Taking her back to the castle might not be a good idea; she didn't look like she was able to walk. Carrying her was not an option. Not that she was heavy, quite the opposite, she was particularly light for an eleven year old. Charlie would know how the other students would react, not to mention his brothers, the new Gryffindor beaters. Then he saw his answer out of the corner of his eye. He turned his broom and began to fly.
Charlie knocked on the door, arm still around Raynie, holding her up. Barking came from behind the door. Raynie twitched at the sound.
"Quiet Fang. Shut your yap Fluffy," came a burly voice. The door opened to revel Hagrid, "Charlie, haven't seen you in a while, who's this."
"Puppy," Raynie said as she saw the dog. Charlie walked in the door as Fang licked her face.
"What's that?" Charlie asked gesturing go the corner. Gesturing to a three headed dog tied in the corner, about the same size a Fang.
"That? That's Fluffy," Hagrid said, "Got 'im last week. Careful he bites."
Raynie pushed Charlie's arm away from her and she fell to the ground. Fang kept licking her face, washing the way all traces of her crying. She started scratching behind his ears.
Hagrid made tea for his guests as Charlie explained what happened. Eating and chatting the two didn't notice Raynie's actions. Before they knew it, Raynie shrieked. The two turned to see she had untied Fluffy. The dog was on to.
"Fang! Geoff her!" Hagrid yelled as he yanked the dog off of her. As Charlie pulled the girl towards him.
"Fluffy!" Raynie said reaching towards the dog as it barked furiously at her.
"Charlie, has she lost her marbles?" Hagrid asked holding the dog away from her as he snapped a her fingertips
"I knew you would like her." Charlie said pulling Raynie farther away.
"I wanna play with Fluffy!" Raynie yelled, then she elbowed Charlie in the stomach and sprinted towards the 3 headed dog. She grabbed one of the head's collars. Stroking the dog she began to hum, and he began to calm down. Fang came up and began to wash Raynie's ear.
"I've never seen Fluffy like that, ever." Hagrid said shocked.
"I guess she's a dog person." Charlie said petting Fang.
"I've seen her walking to and from Herbology," Hagrid admitted, "She's as easy to spot as you Weasleys."
"I thought dogs weren't allowed, or I would have brought one of mine, instead of Morty." Raynie said. When the humming stopped Fluffy began to grown. Raynie began to hum again and he quieted and began to doze.
"Come here youngster, tell me about yourself," Hagrid said patting the chair. Charlie began to whistle.
"What do you want you know?" Raynie asked.
"First off, what did you do to make your head that color?" Hagrid asked.
"Fred and George" Raynie and Charlie coursed.