Prompt #507 – Bitter Chance – The Serpent Constellation (8) – slashluv18 – Harry Potter

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Title: The Serpent Constellation (8)
Fandom: Harry Potter
Prompts: #507 – Bitter Chance
Warnings: None
Pairings: Andromeda/Rabastan
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 594
Summary: Rabastan helps Andromeda to overcome her fear.

The twelve year-olds ignored the lone figure reading Hogwarts: A History on the bleechers. They were too focused on each other and their mutual standstill.

Andromeda crossed her arms over her chest and stared at Rabastan, unimpressed. "No."

"What's the big deal? I fly. And now it's your turn to cross that bridge. I'm sure you'll love it. Give it a chance."

Andromeda sighed. "I can't."

"Why?" Rabastan asked, wanting to understand Andromeda's refusal to even try.

Andromeda really didn't want to answer. She hated admitting to weakness, but she knew Rabastan wouldn't leave it alone until he wore her down. "I'm scared," she whispered, eyes focused on the ground.

Rabastan softened his stance. He never knew Andromeda to admit to being scared of anything, so he knew she had to be truly terrified. "Andi, I would never let you fall. You have to know that." He pulled her into his arms a pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. It was one of innocence, but both of them knew it would evolve as they got older. "Try. For me."

Andromeda looked at the broom. She knew everything technical that there was to know about flying, but she never actually went into the air. "I don't know..."

"You can try simply hovering over the ground, four or five off of it," Rabastan compromised.

Andromeda reluctantly nodded. She held her hand over the broom and commanded in a voice that sounded surer than she felt, "Up." And the broom jumped to obey.

She straddled the broom and kicked off, closing her eyes tightly even though she knew that she wouldn't be injured even if she did fall.

"Open them," Rabastan commanded.

One eye cracked open, and she looked at the ground. Her breathing became erratic and her throat felt as if it was closing up. She clutched both of her hands to her throat and lost her balance, toppling off of the broom.

Rabastan caught her, helping her gain her footing as her hands went from her throat to his shirt, clutching it in white-knuckled fists.

"Hey, it's okay," Rabastan soothingly cooed, rubbing small circles at the small of her back. When she calmed down some, he whispered into her ear, "I have an idea."

"What?"

"We'll fly together."

Andromeda's gaze was unwavering when it met his, and she opened her mouth but no sound was forthcoming. It could end up being a bitter chance, something Andromeda would regret, but she could never say no to Rabastan. Not for long.

He cupped her cheek. "I'll be behind you the whole time. You'll be fine."

Both of them straddled the broom and with Rabastan's arm around her petite waist, he kicked off of the ground. He kept the broom at a slow speed and not too far off of the ground.

Andromeda's back was stiff but as Rabastan drew lazy circles on her stomach, he felt her relax against him.

He took them a bit higher.

She turned her head, her cheek resting against his chest, and he saw her eyes were closed as the wind whipped her curls around her face.

After a few minutes, he brought them to the ground and helped her off of the broom. "Well?" he asked.

She looked at the ground before shyly meeting his eyes. "I don't think it's so bad." She paused and quickly added, "As long as I can always fly with you."

Rabastan smiled as his heartbeat picked up tempo. He would love to have Andromeda always flying with him. Maybe he could make it happen.