His sister was signing autographs. Brinley looked at Jules. Smiled secretly. Swirled his glass of Golden Snidget. Shifted his heel on the bar stool. They might need some more Felix Felicis shots. Daisy Abbott was a determined girl. Little sister or not.

Brin was a teenager when Daisy was born. He was her big brother. Loved her dearly. And her kids. Even her husband. Proud they were all Abbotts. It was those kids that got them here tonight. The biggest at least. Heather wanted to take part in some dueling competition. Not a school one. Bigger. Heather took after her uncle Brin so she came to her uncle for help. He could not deny his niece. But her mother could. Jules needed backup. It had been weeks. Months?

"They seemed like nice people." Said Brinley. "We got you a drink." Slid a shot of Amortentia to her hand. She had not asked for it. Jules bought it. Brin had Felix Felicis. It was gold and glittering. Like Christmas in a shot glass. "Ready? Three, two, one!"

Getting Daisy to sign autographs was one way to brighten her mood. Jules wondered if they were genuine fans who recognised her, or if Brin had slipped them a few coins when he had arrived before them. He had asked Jules to bring a few posters and Daisy’s favourite signing quill just in case. She often had it with her, but requests had waned since she’d started coaching overseas, and not in the Prophet as often.

Either way, bringing her to a public place, especially one of her favourite places to drink, with polite quidditch fans, was a stroke of genius. Jules had silently applauded his brother in law as he ordered their drinks, Daisy had been too busy signing posters to see, a smile on her face as she exchanged a short anecdote with the couple who sported league pins on their hats.

“They seemed like nice people. We got you a drink.” They flanked her at the bar, a drink before each of them. “Ready? Three, two, one!” No hesitation to allow his wife to scrutinise what they’d bought her! Nicely suggestible, Jules thought mischievously as they each knocked back their drinks. Daisy looked back down at her now empty glass, running her tongue over her teeth thoughtfully.

“Have I told you beautiful you are?” Jules asked his wife, slipping an arm around her waist to kiss her. Her brother could avert his eyes a minute, it wasn’t like they weren’t married or the like. Heehee. “And how much I love you.”

“My husband loves me does he?” Daisy replied, in that all to knowing tone of a mother, “And my brother buying drinks. It’s not my birthday, is it?” She handed him her favourite signing quill. Jules shook his head innocently and laid the prized quill back in its case like it was the sword of a revered queen.

“It’s just been ages, and well, it’s nice to come out and get recognised isn’t it?” He slid the quill into one of the many hidden pockets in his coat, which was slung over the bar stool. “Just the right kind of famous now, not so that we get interrupted eating out, but the true fans stop by at the bar.”  He glanced to Brin to pick up the thread.

"You are a true quidditch fan's coach." Agreed Brinley.
"Is that a nice way of saying I have aged, big brother?"
"Of course not. You will always be youth personified." Smiled Brinley. The skin around the corners of his blue eyes creased. Daisy would always be his little sister.

"I remember when you were at school." Said Brin. "Coming home and practicing quidditch all summer long. You begged me to help when I came round. Now look at you. Tinworth back garden to coaching the world's best. More people should recognize you." He squeezed her arm.

“You didn’t take much persuading,” Daisy warmed to her brother with nostalgic thoughts. Jules grinned, watching his wife and brother-in-law, the strange warmth of their conversation amplified by the bewitched shots. He’d known Daisy back then, same house, same year at Hogwarts, but he’d not known her at that time, not until later. He was just as in love with her now as he was back then, kissing under the quidditch stands.

“I remember your parents when you were scouted for the league,” Jules added gently, on the other side of Daisy, “so proud but also just a bit worried. Rough game, quidditch, but once you’d set your mind on it, the world couldn’t stop you.”
“Hm, you two were my biggest cheerleaders, though without the mini skirts…”

Daisy giggled, looking her husband up and down, that drink well and truly working now by the way she pinched his waist. Jules bit his lips and tried to keep his face straight as he winced at it. That was going to bruise… she had stronger hands than he did, given his dear wife had to haul herself back on a broom and fly upside-down as part of her job. Behind her back he gestured to Brinley to continue.

"You never complained about the lack of mini skirts at the time." Said Brinley. Joking. He would not be seen dead in a mini skirt. "Mum and Dad argued about you playing you know?"

"Only about which team." Said Daisy.
"No." Said Brin. "About you getting hurt."
"Yeah. But you were a hitwizard!"
"I almost broke ma's heart about that." Confessed Brinley. It was such a dangerous job. He was not unscathed. But he still had a good life. That was rare. He risked life and limb.

His brother in law was not ordinarily the sentimental sort, at least, that’s what Jules had always believed. Brinley Abbott was above it all, cool in a crisis, spending life in his suit these days. Though Jules knew that wasn’t always how he’d been, and it was a front to survive after the war. He didn’t let on his weakness, but the war had left all of them with bad memories and losses.

Daisy seemed to be paused, contemplating her brother’s point.
“But they… they still let you go.” She countered. They always let boys do the dangerous stuff, it was the girls who should stay home and stay safe. Stereotypical bullsh..

“Yeah,” Jules agreed, “and they still let you go, love.” Daisy set her shoulders proudly.
“Yeah, well, they couldn’t hold us back, could they brother?” She elbowed her older brother, all cocky like she got before a match to overcome her nerves.

Jules licked his lips tentatively and ventured:
“Remind you of anyone… darling?”

Daisy looked at her brother. Looked at her husband. Her mouth was flat. Her eyes were narrow. She was on to them.

"All right." Said Daisy. "Heather can enter. But if anything happens to her. I hold you both responsible." That was easier than he had thought. Brinley smiled a lot. "You better give her some pointers." Daisy pointed at him.

"Of course." Brin saluted. High fived Jules.

END.