'Stand back, Sammi,' Emilia ordered, warning her little sister to back up against the wall. 'This could go badly.'
Sammi obeyed. 'Don't worry, Em,' she encouraged. 'You'll learn.'
Okay, Em, nothing to it, Emilia told herself. 'Here goes nothing,' she muttered. 'Expelliarmus!' she cried, brandishing her wand at a previously set-up target of pillows.
Nothing happened.
'Damn,' Emilia muttered.
'It's okay, Em,' Sammi said. 'Try again.'
'You're not my mum, Samantha,' Emilia grumbled, but then laughed. She had no reason to be upset.
Again, she cried, 'Expelliarmus!' One of the pillows feebly slid down off the pile. 'Crap.'
Sammi was going to offer more words of encouragement, but she thought better of it. Her big sister could get edgy.
Emilia took a deep breath and shouted, 'Expelliarmus!'
The pillows went flying into the wall.
'Yes!' Emilia cried. 'I did it!'
'You did it!' Sammi echoed. 'I wish I could learn that spell.'
'You will soon, sis,' Emilia said, smiling at her little sister.
