For QL, round two. I'm Captain of the Harpies this year.
Bootcamp prompt: lift
"Charlie!" Bill calls. His brother currently flies above him, practicing for his next Quidditch game against Slytherin. He knows from experience that his brother probably can't hear him over the rush of wind. He pulls out his wand and casts a Sonorus charm to make his voice louder. "Charlie!"
His younger brother glances at Bill and nods. He lands not too long afterward, his hair untamed from flying and his cheeks red from the cold. He grins broadly as he swings his broom over his shoulder. "I think we have a chance of winning the Cup this year!"
"You say that every year," Bill points out.
Charlie's smile doesn't fade. "And I believe it every year," he says as he sets off towards the broomshed. "What do you need?"
"I'm needing to get Fred and George's Christmas presents, but I'm out of ideas," Bill says.
Charlie laughs. "I know just what to get them. Let me put this away and you can Apparate us to Diagon Alley."
Charlie finishes his tasks quickly and grabs ahold of Bill. Bill allows him time to take a deep breath before Apparating.
When they reappear, Charlie hunches over, leaning against the wall of the Leaky Cauldron. "Merlin, I hate Apparation," he groans.
Bill, who feels a little queasy himself, sympathizes with Charlie. He's just lucky not to get as Charlie does when Apparating. "I don't know how you actually passed your test," Bill muses.
Charlie still looks a little green, but he flashes him a grin. "Luck," he replies. "Do you need to go to Gringotts first?" When Bill shakes his head, Charlie heads toward the other end of Diagon Alley.
He follows his brother without hesitation. The walk there is quick and quiet. Charlie stops in front of Gambol and Japes. It's nestled in between Obscurus Books and Twilfit and Tatting. Bill wonders why he's never noticed it before.
"The twins eye this store every year we go school shopping," Charlie says, answering his unspoken question. "I figure if you wanted to get them something, you couldn't go wrong with some joke equipment."
Bill eyes it before, grudgingly, admitting his brother has a good idea. He pushes the door open and steps into it. The store is more vibrant on the inside than its unassuming appearance would suggest.
There are rows and rows of stuff in the shop and Bill feels overwhelmed. Some of it brightly colored; some of it is indistinct. He doesn't know where to start. Charlie pulls him along the aisles. "Do you have everyone else's gifts?"
Bill nods. "I left them for last because I didn't know what to get. So thanks for the help."
Charlie has already picked up several items, not bothering to look at the price. Bill just trails behind him. "What you get everyone?"
"I got Dad some Muggle stuff to tinker with. I got perfume, and new pots and pans for Mum. Ginny's getting a charm bracelet, clothes, and a diary. I got Percy a few books and a chess set. And of course, I figured I couldn't go wrong with Chudley Cannon stuff for Ron," Bill answers.
"Not going to tell me what you got me?" Charlie asks innocently. He shoves some stuff in Bill's arms to free his own hands before clutching at his heart. "You wound me!"
Bill rolls his eyes. "You're as dramatic as ever."
He glances down at the stuff. There are fireworks and dungbombs and other stuff that he doesn't even know the purpose of. He does know, however, that the twins are going to enjoy them.
Charlie picks up something, reads the label, and wraps it around himself. His body disappears before Bill's eyes. He grins like he does when he's plotting something.
"I am not getting them an invisibility cloak!" Bill says firmly.
Charlie flashes him puppy dog eyes that he knows he can never resist. "We both know the enchantment will wear off in a few years. So why not?"
Bill frowns. It's not the price of the cloak that is bothering him. "Mum is already going to kill us for enabling them as it is. I don't think she would appreciate when the twins just disappear," he says pointedly.
"Come on and live a little!" Charlie cajoles. "It's all in the name of fun. Besides, imagine the look on their faces when they open it."
His brother is convincing. Bill sighs, knowing he can't argue with that. "Fine. But I'm telling Mum it was your idea."
Charlie grins. "I'll take the blame." He glances at the stuff in Bill's arms and the cloak. "But I think we're done."
Bill silently agrees. Combined, it must be more than the broom he got for Charlie, which is fair he supposes since the broom was the most expensive thing. He follows Charlie to the front, where he places the items in his arms down. The employee, who is almost as inconspicuous as the outside of the building, looks between the two of them before he starts adding up the total.
Charlie turns to Bill. "You know, you don't have to go all out for Christmas," he whispers. "That's not what it's about."
Bill gives him a small smile. "I know. I'm not doing this because I have to. I want to."
He's been saving for Christmas since he got his job earlier in the year. They never really could afford expensive presents or anything, but Bill wants to give them everything that they want, even if it is just once.
Charlie gives him a knowing look. "Just making sure you knew that," he says.
Bill fishes the money out of his pocket and passes them to the employee. Charlie's eyes widen at the price but he doesn't say anything. He isn't worried; he has more than enough money left over.
He lifts the bags up and heads out the door, Charlie on his heels. "We don't have to be home right away. Wanna stop for some ice cream?" Bill asks.
The answering grin is all he needs.