Making the Return

[Autumn Avery]

@'Vernon Avery' / @'Odira Potter'

Autumn couldn't believe herself. Summer couldn't either as she'd repeatedly told Autumn on their remaining walk home after the fiasco. She'd never been the sort to be overly emotional and to cry let alone to do so in public. And in front of a gentleman no less! It didn't help that she sincerely felt as though she needed to pay her brother back for the broom that would probably never be used again but she hadn't been able to receive a refund on it. The whole situation was quite depressing and she was at a loss of what to even do once she'd gotten home. Though Summer had insisted she pen a letter to Mr. Masters apologizing for everything.

With a sigh, she resigned herself to simply go to her room but on her way there she took note of her brother in his study. She was tempted to keep walking but the broomstick in her hands felt all the more heavy as she stood just outside of the room. She ended up walking in, tapping on the door frame with her knuckles to let him know she was there in case he hadn't seen her enter.

She stood there silent at first, not entirely sure what to say and hoping that her eyes weren't too red and puffy from the ridiculous bout of crying she'd done earlier. But instead of speaking, she simply acted. Stepping forward, she set the broom down on his desk and offered a weak smile. "I tried to return it," she said simply, fighting even more tears all over again, "The gentleman at the shop said there were no refunds. So I'm turning it over to you instead. I'm sorry I can't actually repay you the cost of the broom." She hoped that was good enough though she sincerely doubted it was.

  

[Vernon Avery]

Vernon took in the sight before him—his puffy-eyed sister, the outstretched broom—and then set down his quill. It was apparent that this situation demanded his fullest attention, and not for the first time he cursed Lestrange for slaying their father and leaving Vernon himself his sisters’ sole defender in this world.

His heart had gone out to Autumn when she tried—and failed—to make the quidditch team, but he had been reassuring, and even internally positive that she would make it if she practiced a bit more, tried again. He had glimpsed her leaving the house earlier with the broomstick in hand and had assumed that she intended to do just that, to practice hard towards her goal, and the redhead appeared visibly surprised now to learn that she had completely given up hope.

“Don’t be foolish!” he responded, skidding his chair firmly backwards—away from the unwanted offering. “I do not want it, and I shall not take it, Autumn. What has inspired this?”

  

[Autumn Avery]

Autumn's eyes widened at her brother's response. She'd been certain that he'd be grateful for her taking such initiative. She had no knowledge of what their finances were like but surely even selling the broom second hand could help to add some money back into their bank? She had thought that would be something he'd appreciate. Clearly, she'd been wrong in her assumptions.

"I-I don't know," she answered meekly, doing everything she could in her power not to start crying again. She didn't know if she could stand the thought of crying twice in one day. "I thought I only had my one chance," she started, trying to make sense of it if she could in her own mind, "I failed at that chance and I assumed Summer would insist on simply being a debutante and putting focus only on that. With everything that entails, I didn't think there were be time to even consider another shot at the Harpies."

  

[Vernon Avery]

Vernon could scarcely believe what he was hearing. His sister, who had been so sure of herself a few short months previously when she had firmly informed him of her intended path, had bargained his assent, was now retreating at the first sign of defeat?

Did you not do the same? a small voice at the back of his mind asked gently, and an image of Tobias’ body flashed briefly in his mind’s eye. The redhead shook his head to rid himself of the memory—and to reinforce his displeasure with Autumn’s suggestion.

“I told you,” he reminded his youngest sister sternly, “that you must work to repay the cost of the broomstick, that the sum might be returned to your dowry. Summer may control a great many things, but it is I with whom you struck the bargain. If you cannot repay it now, you must find some sort of occupation until you might try again and make the blasted team!”

  

[Autumn Avery]

Autumn hadn't expected such a reaction. Truly, she wasn't sure what she had expected but she'd never seen her brother to have such a tone to his voice. As such, she stood there almost dumbfounded with her eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. Her hands fell and hung limply at her sides as she did her best to form some sort of response.

"I.." she started but that was as far as she got before snapping her mouth shut when it became obvious there were no other words to follow. She really was at a loss of what to say. "You want me to try out again?" she questioned, shocked even as the words left her own lips. She had thought she only had the one shot. That one chance that she had obviously blown.

  

[Vernon Avery]

“Yes,” he responded, half sighing as he did so. “Or rather,” Vernon amended after a moment, tone more measured now, “I wish for you not to give up. I will not lie and say that I was overjoyed when you told me this is what you wished to do, but I would be far more disappointed to see you give up on your dream.”

Than to see you end up unmarried like Summer. Even though he might think the words, the redhead would never dare utter them—not when Father, and even Vernon himself, had had a hand in Summer’s romantic isolation.

“I had thought that you were made of sterner stuff than that, Autumn.”

@'Autumn Avery'/@'Emmeline Woodcroft'

  

[Autumn Avery]

Autumn was quick to nod as she wiped at her eyes to make sure there were no more falling or allowed to fall down her cheeks. As shocked as she was, there was still a part of her that was quite relieved. She knew Summer wouldn't be happy with it but Vernon was the head of their household. He was the one that had the final say in everything.

"I'll do my best to be what you think of me," she finally answered, standing a little taller as it felt like the weight of the world had fallen from her shoulders.

She turned to leave then but paused at the doorway to look back at him. "You'll still help me practice?" she asked, trying to smile more successfully at him now, "When we've both the time of course."

  

[Vernon Avery]

“So long as you promise to practice on your own, too,” he affirmed with a solemn nod. “If this is to be your chosen career, I expect you to treat it with the same level of dedication one must show to any profession—even if, strictly speaking, you are not yet employed.”

@'Autumn Avery'

  

[Autumn Avery]

Autumn nodded at her brother, grateful for the turn of events if not a bit terrified. "Thank you, Vernon," she said, a true and sincere smile finally in place before she exited his study and left him to his own work.