WHO: Alicia & Angelina WHAT: Making an offer their teammate can't refuse WHEN: August 30, late afternoon WHERE: Magpies pitch WARNINGS: N/A
With the Muggleborn Registration Commission deadline looming over their heads, quidditch practices had become an increasingly somber affair. They ran their drills like clockwork, but there was no denying the very real fact that a change none of them wanted was on the horizon. Especially when Begbie, from reserves like Alicia and Angelina, stopped showing up to practice altogether and any attempt at reaching him went to voicemail.
None of them really knew what that meant, but Angelina knew she and Alicia had to move quickly if they wanted to help the others.
To make things potentially less awkward for Lee, Angelina waited until Grace ducked out before signalling to Alicia and sidling up to one of the teamâs chasers, Elspeth Munro.
âHiya, Pet,â Angelina said, keeping her tone deliberately light. âHowâs tricks?â
âAll right, love,â Elspeth answered, as she often did, without really considering the question. Her smile drifted from Angelina to Alicia, who had just taken up a position beside her friend with a grin. Elspeth couldnât mistake the hesitation at the edges of it. She glanced back at Angelina. âWhat can I do for you two?â
âWe were wondering, well,â Angelina started to say and then stopped, lifting a hand to awkwardly scratch at her nose. There was always the option of making small talk, but she didnât want to waste what time Elspeth had left on the pitch. âWe were actually wondering how you really are.â
âLike, really,â Alicia echoed, giving their teammate a meaningful look she hoped would explain what they meant without their having to say it. But she knew no one with muggle-born family could really be all right in the face of the Ministryâs latest string of announcements.
And Elspeth knew too, but she considered both girls and pulled her lip between her teeth as she decided what sort of answer to give. âItâs complicated,â she said finally.
Angelina nodded and moved her hand to her hip, sneaking a quick glance at Alicia. Her conversations with Tonks and with Fred were replaying in her head. If she was going to benefit from this horrible situation, she wanted to do something worthwhile, too. This needed to be a well-executed play. âYeah. ButâŚwhat are you going to do?â
âI—â Elspeth looked between Angelina and Aliciaâs expectant faces. She and her wife had wrestled with the question for the past week and hadnât come up with a single plan for action that wouldâve kept their family safe. A flicker of anguish crossed her expression. âI donât know.â
Alicia shot a look at Angelina before she took a step closer to Elspeth, her hand going immediately to their teammateâs shoulder. âI think we can help.â
âWe can,â Angelina echoed, her voice lowered. She took her own step closer. âWe can get you a portkey and the paperwork youâll need. For all three of you.â
Elspeth took a step back, regarding each of them with half-hearted skepticism. With a quick look over her shoulder to make sure no one else was listening, she lowered her voice and leaned in to be heard. âYou expect me to believe you have a portkey? It canât be that easy.â
âWe can get you one,â Angelina repeated, her expression gone earnest.
âIn the meantime, we know somewhere safe,â Alicia offered, keeping her voice down and taking a deep breath. âThey wonât be able to find you.â
The older witch shook her head and folded her arms across herself. âThatâs too much to leave to chance,â she said, the words tumbling stubbornly out of her mouth as though sheâd argued this point before. âWe canât be sure itâs safe. If we try to run and they find us — theyâll do worse than confiscate our wands.â
The line of Angelinaâs mouth went hard and stubborn. âBut the alternative is registering and letting them have your wand,â she said, her other hand finding her other hip. And sheâd argued this point already, with her aunt who still serenely refused to acknowledge the severity of the situation. âAnd then god knows what!â
Alicia opened her mouth to echo Angelina but thought better of it. She saw her fatherâs defiance in her teammateâs stance and paused, swallowing back the impulse to shake them both before she started again. âThe Ministry wants muggleborns to be defenseless. You might think you can survive without a wand, and maybe youâre right. But whatever theyâre planning, itâs not going to be good. And if youâre ever in their crosshairs, theyâll have already taken your best chances at defending yourselves.â
Angelinaâs eyes darted in Aliciaâs direction before she let both hands slide off her hips. With a deep breath, she tried to channel that captain whoâd somewhat managed to convince Ron Weasley to at least try to give it his all. âWeâre a team,â she said, firmly. âWe donât let our teammates down. We wouldnât be offering if we couldnât guarantee your safety. They wonât find you.â
When Alicia saw the lingering uncertainty in Elspethâs eyes, she added, âWe promise.â
But their teammate shook her head. âYou canât promise that,â she said, but the sigh that followed indicated her resignation. âBut I guess — we donât have many options left.â
This was a hollow victory and Angelina reached for one of Elsepthâs tense shoulders. âFour heads are better than two, anyway?â she said, a slight cajoling smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. But the set of her mouth went somber in a heartbeat. âIâm sorry this is happening, though. Both of us are.â
Alicia nodded, her throat too constricted to speak. She took one of Elspethâs hands and squeezed it between her own. After a moment, she said, âI think youâre making the right choice.â
âI hope so,â Elspeth said with an apprehensive glance at each of the girls. âIâve to talk it over with Rosie but we —â She cut herself off to take a deep breath. âWe could use the help.â
An even slighter smile than before flashed across Angelinaâs lips and she nodded sharply. She let go of her teammateâs shoulder, tried not to think about how they wouldnât be teammates for much longer, and took a small step back. âYou know where to find us.â
âAnd weâll have everything ready for you,â Alicia said, giving her teammateâs hand a final squeeze before she let her go, taking a step back with Angelina.
âThank you,â Elspeth said under her breath. But with that, she nodded and her defiance crept back into the set of her jaw. âIâll be in touch.â