Nine Lives and Bad Luck

Hills

     Andrew Hills has always been a firm believer in the good of others. It was what got him into as much trouble as he did. And that was a lot.  He was an adamant believer in Newt Scamander's doctrine and held signed copies of all his works, but he held an even less cynical outlook on human kind. Considering the younger Scamander's well known optimism and view of inherent goodness that was an accomplishment. Just, practically speaking, not a very good one.

      Andrew Hills never hesitated to help someone or something out no matter the risks to himself or those around him's sanity.

      Winter Hills grew up knowing she would have to protect her half brother. His opposite in nearly ever single way, her worldview was no exception. She was cynical and saw most prominently all the flaws that people tried to sweep under the rug. Other human's did not escape this scrutiny and it made her a very precise method of deciding another's true thoughts and reasonings

     Andrew knew his sister would likely never see the positive light of something. But that didn't matter, in all she saw, her one blind spot was him; it wasn't that he didn't care or didn't see- he too- for Winter had them despite being a bastard who could not pass the trait on- had the family's golden eyes known for being inescapable- it was that he refused to let it drown him. He could see the risks he put himself in, but he also knew that in that moment he could help another and he would never forget or be able to return once he left the path he was on. He just hoped one day he could pull even his sister from the darkness she shrouded herself in.

      Winter knew her half-brother would get in over his head again and again and again. And that he would have no regrets doing so even if he died in the process of it. It was why she worked so hard to be the most skilled there was in a fight. If he tried to break up a bar fight she'd be waiting in the shadows to guard his back, and for that matter from any attack really. He was going to be the next Lord Hills, and that was the line their family would continue from, she wasn't in line for the position at all and they were the last ones left. So it was her job to be the best. And to be the best, she needed practice.

      Andrew knew she trained and worked tirelessly, turning herself into both the perfect assassin and guard in order to keep him safe. But he also knew she would work herself to an early grave in order to do it. He didn't care about the family title or the significance of it. He wanted to help people, and he wanted to help Winter too. Nothing ever seemed to harm her, nothing except herself. So he decided to get her a hobby.

     It was easy enough to convince her that the dueling circuit was just another form of training.  And yes, of course they had to take the much slower muggle way to get to the ring. She should probably relax and get some rest on the way too since it was quite clear from the checks she did that none of the other passengers had magic reserves or artifacts.  He'd keep watch.

        Winter never believed Andrew when he said he'd 'keep watch' as he was more likely to start up a conversation than keep a weary eye out or even wake her up. Still, she had trained herself to sleep lightly and with one eye open if need be... and she could admit to herself in the quiet of her highly trained head that she needed the sleep. So she went along with the idea that she should take up dueling and that they should travel by muggle means.

    It was harmless, but once she started she realized something. She wasn't anywhere near the top of the food chain so to speak when it came to dueling. That... the realization lit a fire under her and she knew, she just knew, she wouldn't be able to rest until she at least neared the top. No, until she surpassed it. Because so long as there was a threat she would become stronger so that she could beat it down.

        The Hills saw things that others couldn't, that gave them an advantage. But it was also what made them dangerous to other witches and wizards. It was what had made Andrew Hills the last in line to the Hills Lordship. It weighed heavily on Winter, should he die the family who had so fully won her loyalty would be gone completely.

    Andrew would do what it took to save Winter from her pressure. Winter would do what it took to save Andrew from his naivety. 

     And if it meant luring her into getting a hobby, he would do it so that she had something to focus on that would give her a sense of accomplishment. And if it meant fighting her way to infamy, exploiting every weakness her opponent had, she would make sure she was the strongest witch or wizard around so everybody knew not to threaten the Hills.

      They grew up knowing the only certainty was that they had each other to rely on after all, even, and especially, when it came to reeling their more extreme traits in.