September 1984
Merlin's Baggy Pants, he was a good flier.
Their first flying lesson was the first time they had a class together where Charlie wasn't drawn over to Dora.
No, right now he was only concerned about one thing; getting back on a broomstick for the first time in a fortnight. Many complained about the poor quality of the school brooms, but for Charlie there was no comparison between them and the second hand brooms in the broom shed back home. He easily manoeuvred through the set of exercises reserved only for the most confident of fliers, to the approving eyes and catcalls of those below.
He was so caught up in the wondrous feeling of being back in the air that he didn't notice Dora's shaky start, or the time she fell off, or even the fact that she stayed a relatively safe metre and a half from the ground.
For the first time it was her that approached him at the end of the lesson as he reluctantly put the broom away, staring after it with such a sad look that Dora couldn't help herself. He was one of the few people in this place that spoke to her, after all.
"Hey, Charlie!"
Charlie turned around, his eyes brightening instantly upon seeing her. "Dora!"
"That was some pretty good flying."
Charlie's heart swelled at her approval.
"It seems to be a bit of a crime that someone as good as you isn't allowed a broomstick," she continued. "Although I was thinking that there might be something we could do about that."
Charlie looked at her eagerly. He would do anything to be able to fly outside of these stupid lessons.
"You'll owe me though, Charlie. Big time. And if this goes wrong, we'll be in heaps of trouble."
Charlie laughed. "Don't worry, I've grown up in a house with five brothers. I'm used to trouble. If you can get me flying, I'll do anything."
"Right, come on then." She darted off into the castle, Charlie right behind her.
Stopping metres from Professor McGonagall's office, Dora quickly checked the corridor before morphing into an incredible likeness of Madam Hooch.
"Do I look okay?"
"Perfect," Charlie breathed.
Madam Hooch knocked on Professor McGonagall's door. Charlie couldn't believe how easily Dora persuaded his head of house that he should be allowed to have extra flying time. He had the feeling that this wasn't her first time impersonating others.
Returning to the corridor, she resumed her own appearance.
"Right, now to Madam Hooch."
This time, talking to a very well impersonated McGonagall, the flying coach wholeheartedly agreed that, after the skills seen today, Charlie Weasley should definitely be allowed to break the first year rule and be allowed to fly in his spare time.
"See, easy."
Dora grinned and Charlie grinned back.
"That was amazing. You are my absolute hero. I'll do anything to pay you back, I promise."
Dora's eyes twinkled. "Anything?"
