Nicto! Al's mind blinked on instinct as he tried to train it to react and what was even more amazing is that his body blinked in tune with Al's thought in that sudden second of not-quite-Apparition displacement.
Blink!. Just in tune with Rose's strike before it landed. BlinkblinkBlink. left, forward, off to the side, behind her and away from the brunt force of the shout. Screaming was so much more relaxing when she wasn't screaming in his face.</i>
Accio broom!
The broom flew into his hand and for just a brief second, Al trusted it by his side and felt truly invincible.
Then, Professor Bones was there and Al felt much less invincible with her around. But throughout the discussion, throughout the lesson, there was a part of him, a stubborn and proud part he wasn't even aware he had, whispering: I can do this. I just did it.