#24 The Little Bean's Key

Charlotte looked around the room when she entered and her eyes widened when she saw the beautiful, yet simple broom. As she looked up, she couldn't see the ceiling and she swallowed as she came closer.

She was going to have to fly? That brought a whole new panic. She had only just gotten comfortable. She looked at the bat and the quaffle with unsure eyes.

The quaffle might need both hands? The bat maybe one? She didn't know, but she didn't feel comfortable with either.

But wasn't that the point then? To challenge herself? And she didn't think it would be wise to back away from a challenge or test. So, she took the quaffle and mounted the broom.

Maybe if she just went straight up, she would be okay? Yes, that is what she would do! She would just go straight up until she was able to throw the quaffle. She certainly wasn't going to do anything crazy. As she began to rise, she crossed her ankles and tightened her grip.

Once she was level, she looked at the quaffle and then gave it a toss at one of the goals, which ended up being the the lowest one.

When the quaffle went into the goal, Charlotte smiled, but that was quickly vanquished when the wind picked up and she was suddenly grasping onto the broom for dear life. Her eyes were closed tightly and just held on. The wind was causing her to sway and she was so scared.

When she felt something in her arms, she looked enough to realize the Quaffle was back in her hands. How? She hadn't gone and picked it back up. Maybe it was the room? What type of enchantment was this? She looked up at the goals and then back down when the wind hit her again.

She was really regretting this choice.

She finally lifted herself from the broom-handle and swallowed back some of the nervousness. She lifted the quaffle, which was lighter than she expected and tossed it towards the goal. The throw was weak, but maybe she would get a little lucky?

When the wind stopped, she thought she would be okay, but that was the wrong thought. When she was pelted with rain next, she felt her fingers slip on the broom handle, she whimpered in terror and again, went to hugging the broom for dear life. Her ankles were wrapped around it tightly and she couldn't tell if she was crying or if it was just the rain.

It was so cold and the rain hurt so badly on her back. Again, the Quaffle seemed to appear in her arms and she looked at it through the rain. She was cold, her body was suddenly very tired and she swallowed back a sob as she looked up at the goals. She tried to sit up, but quickly found herself unbalanced and hugged the broom once again.

'You have to do this, Charlotte,' the voice in her head said. She opened her eyes, which she had closed when she hugged the broom again and sat up slower this time. Lifting her hand, she tossed the ball again, this time yelling out as she did so. It was drowned about by the rain, but she did it... She threw the ball again.

A smile came to her face when the ball sailed through the goal, lighting a fire that she didn't realize she had. This was a lot of fun when things weren't causing issues. The smile disappeared when the snow started to pelt. She was shivering, clutching the broom tightly mostly jut to try and stay warm. It honestly wasn't helping, but just as always, the Quaffle materialized in her hand and she looked towards the goals.

She was shivering, her teeth were clattering together so loud it made her ears hurt. She couldn't imagine MJ doing this out in the real world. This was within' the castle! How could this really be in the castle? She couldn't imagine the type of enchantments or the power they might have.

She managed to pull her arm up and send the quaffle towards the goals once more. She really hoped that it went in. But, she was shivering so badly, she knew it would just miss.