(Coeus Black - PoV)
Andy is home, and she may be a bit upset.
Really, I could do without the scolding. My arm is broken, Andy! Look, it is all bendy! I can't even focus on what you are saying!
She won't even try to fix it either, telling me to wait until Ted gets home. At least some of my feelings seem to get through, however, as she demands I get out my travel trunk, to look at my potions.
*clink* *clink* *click*
"Drink this," she commands, handing me a bottle.
I comply.
It tastes awful, as expected, but the pain immediately lessens. Everything else feels a bit numb as well, but it is totally worth it, I can actually think!
This does appear to show a bit of a flaw in my planning. Having a trunk with every medical potion known to man doesn't help much when I know nothing about how or when to use them...or even remember what I have. I literally sat here for over an hour in pain when I had dozens of these the entire time. I really need to make an inventory list at minimum.
...Ugh, I have so much I need to learn, how can I possibly fit it all?
But now, Andy starts trying to scold Dora as well! I won't stand for it, this whole adventure was my idea!
"Coeus, sit down, you have done enough! Nymphadora is almost an adult now, she was supposed to keep an eye on all of you! She is supposed to be the responsible one here!"
I snort. "Andy, this is Dora you are talking about! Not a week ago you were complaining to Madame Malkin about how Phoebe and I have to keep her in line! You can't leave someone you know is horribly irresponsible in charge and then get upset when everything goes wrong!"
I could try to push this back on her, but I don't see that working well.
Sighing, I do sit back down, carefully placing my arm back on the table, with a wince at the pain that..doesn't come. Nice.
I barely resist the urge to start banging it on the table to see how far I can push it.
I know it is a bad idea but I want to know.
Focus Coeus. Dora now, self mutilation later.
"I'm sorry, it really is my fault, I let things get out of hand. I should have kept a better eye on her. I don't know why I let her talk me into these things. We were all having fun, but it is so hard to keep an eye on everyone when we all get going. You know how clumsy she can be, so I was so worried about looking after her that I went and got myself hurt instead, you know how it is." I try to play the tired old man angle, let's see how it goes.
The expressions of confusion on Dora and Andy's faces as they attempt to process my argument are fantastic.
Andy opens and closes her mouth several times.
"I...no more flying," she eventually says, before turning around and walking out of the room, muttering to herself.
Thank you Ted, it appears to have worked.
Dora slowly walks over to me.
"What did you just do?" she asks.
I smile. "I won."
"Yes, but...how? Seriously Coeus, I was in so much trouble, how did you get her to go away like that."
"If you were a Slytherin maybe you would understand."
She rolls her eyes.
"Whatever. Thanks squirt." She gives me a hug and kisses my cheek before going upstairs.
...
Damnit, I am trying to break the hugging habit Dora, you are not helping!
Ted is even more upset than Andy when he gets home, which is...incredibly rare.
Has never happened before rare.
He still fixes me up no problem, but afterward, he calls everyone together.
I admit I am actually a bit nervous, it is so out of character for him.
"Children, I am sorry, this is my fault. Iris, I did not want to upset you any further after your exam at Mungo's, so I did not go over everything with you properly."
As usual, she stiffens at the mention of doctor stuff, so Phoebe and I grab her hands.
Ted sighs and explains Iris's condition.
We knew she wasn't supposed to use too much magic for a little while, but not why. Knew she needed special potions, but not why. We thought she was hurt, so needed stuff to get better. That's how it works, right?
But she wasn't just hurt.
She was...she was DYING!?
My free hand wipes at my eyes, while I try to focus.
Right next to us, all this time, and she was...
And we didn't know.
And...and we...
If it had been Iris that crashed? With how fragile she apparently is right now...
Would she have...?
...
"I'M SORRY!" I scream, clutching Iris.
I didn't...I didn't know.
So what if we crash?
We always have Ted around, a few broken bones are nothing, no big deal.
Except it was.
It was...
"I'm sorry..."
I can't stop trembling, once more wrapped around Iris, as she sits at the table. Phoebe grabbed her as well and seems in a similar situation. Her hair is already soaked...our fault I think, but...I can't stop.
We...I...almost got her killed. Forever.
Because I was mildly annoyed she was a good flyer.
My shaking gets worse.
"I'm sorry..." I repeat.
I don't think it really matters how many times I say it does it? What I said earlier to Andy was true...It really was my idea...my fault...
"Umm...it's ok?" Iris says.
She is taking it...remarkably well. Really, out of all of us, she seems the least bothered. What the hell Iris, we almost killed you...
"I'm sorry..."
"Really, it's ok..." she says again.
"Coeus," Ted calls for me, but I don't look up, my face buried in Iris's wet hair.
"Coeus!" he repeats louder.
No. No, I don't wanna.
I hear someone get up but ignore it.
I'm not letting Iris go.
"I'm sorry..."
Someone else is next to me.
"Coeus," Ted says. "Iris is right here. She is ok."
She is, but she almost wasn't.
"Right, Iris?"
"Yeah. I'm ok. You uh...can let go?" she says.
...
"You can let go, brother, it will be fine," Phoebe speaks up as well.
Opening my eyes, I look over at her to confirm.
She nods.
Ok.
I release Iris, drawing back to my...well, to stand. I knocked my seat over earlier, and don't feel like picking it up right now.
"I'm sorry Iris...I...I didn't know..."
She smiles at me.
"It's fine Coeus, I had fun."
She doesn't seem worried at all...
...
She's...not afraid of death, is she?
I can't stop a fresh wave of tears at that thought.
I could look and see the truth but...I don't want to.
I really don't want to.
"I know it is still early, but I think this has been a very long day for everyone. Perhaps it would be a good idea to get ready for bed?" Ted suggests.
That...sounds like a good idea to me. I am...so tired.
((Nympha)Dora Tonks - PoV)
Laying in bed, I dwell on the events of the day.
Coeus getting hurt, what could have happened to Iris, his subsequent breakdown...
Ugh...it had been such a good day too... then out of nowhere, Bam! Complete shitfest.
And it was my damn fault, no matter what he says. I am supposed to be the responsible party...I am supposed to be the big bloody sister, damnit...
But I keep failing...
Even when he had his breakdown, all I could do is...sit there and watch...
...
Let him continue to blame himself for everything.
...
Fuck that, I am going to go set that little bastard right.
Throwing the blankets off, I get up and make my way to the twins' room.
Opening the door quietly, I confirm that yes, they are still awake, as expected.
"Dora?" Coeus asks.
Entering fully, I close the door behind me.
"Scooch over," I demand, joining them on the bed, wrapping Coeus up, much to his protests.
Huffing, he gives up that fight.
"What are you doing here?" he moodily asks instead.
"Deflating your puffed-up ego," I tell him.
"What?"
"Today wasn't your fault, you idiot, it was mine."
He tries to sit up, wiggling in my arms.
"What? No, it was my idea!"
"And I was the one who agreed. I should have told you no. Or demanded we use safe brooms. Or said no to tag. Or at bare minimum we shouldn't have done it in the bloody forest, that was just absolutely idiotic on both our parts."
"...Yea, that was an awful idea," he admits.
"But regardless, you can't shoulder all the blame you little twat. I am the big sister damnit, however little I may act like it. I am supposed to be responsible for you. It's my fault you got hurt, and the days events are my responsibility, not yours, so stop beating yourself up, ok?"
He narrows his eyes at me and opens his mouth to argue, so I cover it with my hand.
"Mmmprph. Mpprrphhhmphhh."
He struggles a bit, but can't remove me, and Phoebe makes no move to help him.
"See? Told you I am right. Now, stop being a sourpuss, and go to sleep."
I shift around a bit, getting comfortable, but don't release him. He struggles more on realizing this fact, but Metamorphs are not easy to escape from, and Phoebe just giggles at his misfortune, before snuggling in beside him.
"Goodnight, little brother," I whisper into his ear.
A.N. Sorry for mispost earlier. Posted the same numbered chapter from another story.
