Chapter 50: Flying Lesson
Today is the day that we learn how to fly! Sure, it's on broomsticks, but still. It's FLYING!!
We're standing in one of the many courtyards scattered around the castle, but the teacher isn't here yet. I heard someone say that her look fits her position, so I'm curious what she'll look like.
I look over at the Gryffindors and wave at Harry and Hermione, who return it. I ignore Ron's look of distaste. It's pretty much been present the entire time we've been at Hogwarts, so I'm kind of curious if it will get stuck like that.
I listen as my Housemates trade barbs with the Gryffindors, keeping an ear out in case any of them try to get personal. Any that do, I smack them! It's kind of like that game at the arcade Clarity took us to, Whack-a-Mole. I don't know who's going to step out of line, but when they do I need to hit them!
After a few minutes of Whack-a-Jerk, the teacher shows up. I can see what they meant by her appearance matches her position. Her gray hair is cropped short, and it's wild. Not like bedhead wild, but stuck your head out of the car window wild. She also has a whistle around her neck, and goggles on her head.
All in all, she looks like someone who's prepared to fly.
"I am Madam Hooch. Good afternoon class." She introduces herself as she strides down the line of students.
""Good afternoon Madam Hooch."" We all respond.
'Well that was weird. We were all in sync for some reason.'
"Welcome to your first flying lesson. Step up to the left side of your broom." It takes everyone a moment to process the immediate instruction, during which she turns around with a small smile. "Well now, hurry up."
We all stand next to our designated broom and extend a hand over them as she says. To get it to come to us we say 'up'? That's it? Kind of boring, but ok.
"Up." 'Aaannd it's gone.' We all stare as my broom shoots into the sky. I look at Madam Hooch, whose mouth is hanging open. "So… do you think it's going to come back down at some point?"
Three brooms later and we've determined that my broom was not in fact the one at fault. "Well," Madame Hooch scratches her head, "I've never seen something like this before. For now simply observe the others. I'll have a talk with the Headmaster later to decide what should be done about this."
I nod. "Ok, but again, should we be concerned about where those brooms will end up?"
She waves my concerns off. "I wouldn't worry about it. Muggles tend to come up with all kinds of wild excuses all on their own."
""Fair."" Everyone who was raised around muggles chorus at the same time.
Shrugging it off with a pout, I decide to sit and lean against the wall off to the side. Everyone else gets back to their own brooms. Most of them have some trouble getting their broom to get to their hand, though there are a few who get it on the first try.
Harry looks surprised when it shoots into his hand, and you can't really blame him considering how new we are to the magical community. Draco is smug, which is fair considering only he and Harry got their brooms. Everyone else is still chanting.
I hold back both a wince but share a chuckle with Harry when Ron's broom smacks him in the face. "Oh shut up," he whines.
When everyone manages to get the broom into their hands, Madam Hooch explains how to mount them without sliding off. After correcting a few students, such as Draco who flushed in embarrassment, she holds her whistle to her lips.
"When I blow my whistle, I want you to kick off the ground, hard. Keep yourselves steady, rise a few feet, then come straight back down. On my whistle! Three. Two-"
Neville, nervous boy that he is, kicks off the ground at two. We all watch as he quickly rises twenty feet into the air, slowly turning in circles with a pale face. Then he starts to turn upside down and…
*Thump*
We all look at the boy sprawled across the ground, not noticing the broom he was on drifting towards the Forbidden Forest. "Looks like the first death of the year goes to… Gryffindor!"
That gets a few laughs, and a lot of glares. Madam Hooch is too busy to notice though as she checks on him. After muttering something to herself and helping him to his feet, she turns to us. "None of you are to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! Nobody is allowed off the ground, or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch'. Come along dear." With her parting words, she pulls Neville along with her to get helped.
"Did you see his face, the great lump?" Malfoy says. I nod my head. The lump on his head wasn't very noticeable, but you could see that it was growing larger while he was led away.
The other Slytherins seem to think that he's calling Neville a lump though, judging by their remarks and a Gryffindor girl telling him to shut up.
"Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?" Mocks Pansy. "Never thought you'd like fat little crybabies, Parvati."
I guess they know each other.
Malfoy tosses a little ball into the air and catches it with a flourish. "Look at this, that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him." I look at it curiously as the transparent sphere glitters.
"Give it here, Malfoy." Harry says.
'This should be good. I'm the only one who really challenges Draco's authority. Everyone else is too intimidated by his family name.'
Draco's eyes narrow. "I think I'll leave it somewhere for him to find. How about up a tree?"
"Give it here!" Harry shouts. But Draco smirks and leaps on his broom, taking off. Guess he wasn't just exaggerating when he talked about being able to fly. He flies to a nearby tree and taunts my twin. "Come and get it Mr. Famous!"
Hermione warns Harry not to give into the obvious provocation, citing that Madam Hooch told us to stay, but he ignores her. Surprisingly he rises easily and turns towards Draco without any problems. He looks stunned.
"Hand it over, or I'll knock you off that broom."
A quick look down has him worried, but he refuses to give in. Harry shoots towards him and he barely dodges. 'Hmm. Is it me, or is Harry getting more confrontational? I know that he and Draco have issues with each other, but trying to make him fall from so high up? That's unexpected.'
Seems that Draco thinks so too, judging by the slight panic in his movements. "Catch it if you can then!" He throws it and streaks back to the ground.
Harry speeds at the falling orb, rapidly closing in on the ground. "Will he catch it before it hits the ground? If he does, will he manage to pull away in time!? Find out on next week's episode!"
I ignore the looks I get, instead watching as Harry catches the orb and pulls out of his dive. He still topples though, his body unused to riding wood.
Before anyone can celebrate his saving of the orb, a shout fills the courtyard. "HARRY POTTER!"
Professor McGonagall runs towards us, sputtering in shock. A few of the Gryffindors try to stand up for him, but she quiets them. She starts to lead him away, so I get up and follow them. Just because I want him to be able to stand on his own, doesn't mean that I want him gone.
If they try, well. I have my ways.
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What will happen? Will canon remain unchanged? Or will Misha blow up the moon!? Find out, next week!
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