Reaper Of The Wizarding World - Volume 1 Chapter 18 Flying Lessons
On Sunday a poster went up in the common room “FLYING LESSONS START THIS THURSDAY FOURTH PERIOD WITH SLYTHERIN”.
Honestly, I was looking forward to flying lessons, I had the ability to fly if I used my shroud but with a broom was different. Since I’ve never been able to practice flying with my shroud so I was pretty slow, and now I’d finally get some practice in the air.
That Thursday morning mail came again and I got another letter from Auntie Dromeda telling me about how Sis Dora had taken her masters in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Apparently, she had gotten an E+ on them now all she has to do is apply for an apprenticeship and she will be a fully fledged Auror.
I wrote back two letters one to Auntie, I told her about how Harry got in trouble and bragged a bit about how well I was doing in my classes. The second one I wrote to Sis congratulating her on almost securing her dream and doing so well on her Masters which usually take a person years to get.
I notice Neville got something in a package which he promptly tore open as soon as he gets his hands on it. It was a clear glass ball that had a golden band wrapped around it with mist floating inside of it.
“It’s a Remembrall!” he exclaimed. “It glows red when you have forgotten something, Gran knows I’m really forgetful that’s probably why she got it for me.” as he finished his statement the mist in the ball starts to turn scarlet.
He looks into the ball confused. “But I don’t know what I’ve forgotten?”
I tap his shoulder and gesture at my robes. He springs up “I forgot to put on my robes!”
As he is about to walk away I notice Malfoy passing by us eyeing Nevilles Remembrall. I see his arm reach out about to snatch it but I grab his arm as it gets close. Neville jumps back at my action, nearly falling over making the whole table looks at us.
Malfoy seeing he had been caught starts to laugh “Sorry, I was reaching for some scones.”
“Oh, has your table run out of food?” I say with a smile tightening my grip on his arm.
He sneers and tried to pull back his arm but I just tighten my grip still smiling.
“Let Go!” He yells, at his yell, Snape notices what is happening and walks over.
He looks at both of us “Is there a problem here.’ He speaks in his usual slow monotone speech.
I let got of Malfoys arm still smiling “Nope, no trouble at all.” turning to Draco with an even bigger smile “Right Draco?”
At this Draco makes a scoff with a severe scowl and walks away with his lackeys while holding his arm.
Snape looks at me with his usual calm demeanor “I suggest you not cause any trouble, Mr. Black.” He looks over at the other teachers eating breakfast. “There are some who would much rather see you gone.”
Before I can reply he walks away.
After Snape walked away Neville came and said thanks.
Later that day we finally went out to a large courtyard where the flying lessons would be held. The Professor who was teaching us was called Hooch, she has silver hair and yellow eyes a strikingly odd combination. The courtyard was semi-enclosed and halfway between the castle and the Forbidden Forest. We all started crowding in the courtyard, not far away from us were roughly 30 brooms all in 2 lines around 5 feet away from each other.
Hooch yelled at us “What are you all waiting for, choose a broom and stand on the left side of it!”
All of us followed her orders and line up next to our brooms, the brooms looked like old fashioned straw brooms from the 12th century. ‘I’m pretty sure these are the same brooms Sid used while he was here.’ I mused to myself.
“Alright everyone, put out your right hand above your brooms .” She showed us and we all followed. “Now yell, UP!” her broom flew into her hand.
I yell “UP” and my broom comes first try, I look around and see both Harry and Malfoy also got it on the first try. Next to me, Neville and Hermione were both struggling trying to get their brooms to listen. Hermione’s looked like a disobedient dog rolling on the ground and Nevilles just flat out wasn’t listening to him like it was anchored to the ground.
After a while, Hooch begins to teach us about how to mount the broom. Soon everyone was straddling their broom properly standing in line, Hooch gave us a satisfied nod.
“When I blow my whistle you will kick off the ground hard. Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. Three, Two,-”
She was cut off as Neville had jumped too early and was slowly flying away. “Come back here Longbottom!” she yelled after him.
He got nearly 20 feet off the ground swaying side to side struggling to stay on his broom. and started hovering into the direction of the forbidden forest. I turned to Hooch who was just staring “Professor Hooch! Aren’t you going to get him?” I say snapping her out of her daze.
She gets on her broom and takes off in his direction but as she nears him his broom jerks hard to the side making him fall off. Hooch dives quickly to try and get him before he lands but she isn’t fast enough.
Everyone goes pale, you can hear a loud *crack* as he lands and a few students gasp as he lays on the ground. I am the first to run up to him and students surround us, his right arm is broken past the wrist.
A few moments later Professor Hooch lands next to us and yells “Everyone clear up, give the boy some room.”
I look up at her walking over “His arm is broken, he needs to go to the infirmary.”
“Alright, I will take him, everyone can wait here, no flying while I’m gone.”
I helped Neville up who was m.o.a.ning in pain “I’ll help him there.” I say giving her a scowl she just nods.
‘If I had known this Professor was so inept I would have saved him myself’ we all head to the infirmary and Madam Pomfrey says he has to stay for a few days to recover. Magic is pretty amazing, even a broken arm only takes a day or two to heal.
After I get back to the common room later that day Hermione told me that Harry got in trouble for flying when Malfoy stole Nevilles Remembrall. McGonagall had seen him flying through her window and had come to take him away. This honestly had me a bit worried I don’t want Harry to get into trouble twice in two weeks, but I was proud of Harry for standing up for his friend.
As she finished Harry came into the common room looking very excited. He explained to us that McGonagall had not gotten in trouble, quite the opposite. She had taken him to meet with Oliver Wood the Quidditch team captain to tell him that she wanted him to be the seeker for the team since they had an opening.
We called Ron down from the dorm and told him the news he seemed to be more excited than Harry, he was yelling about how he would be the youngest to ever be a seeker probably ever. We went to dinner and talked about it almost all night, Fred and George even came over after hearing us talk and started telling Harry about how Quidditch worked and the basic rules. Little did I know Fred and George are actually on the team, they are Beaters.
We were chatting happily until Malfoy came over with his fat lackeys in tow “You eating your final meal Potter?”
Harry scowled “You’re a lot braver now that you’re back on the ground and you’ve got your little friends with you,”
‘Wow Harry is growing up quickly’ I think
Malfoy scoffs “I’ll take you on, how about it Potter? A good old fashioned duel, no contact wands only, we can even do it tonight What never heard of a duel before Potter?”
“Of course he has, I’m his second. Who is yours?” Rons peaks up for Harry. I really wanna smack Ron for getting Harry into a duel but I just watch since kids aren’t really threatening.
Malfoy turns to his lackey’s “Crabbe.” He gestures at the slightly larger one. “We will duel at midnight in the trophy room.” He walks away and we all turn to Ron.
“What the hell man, you can’t just accept a duel for someone.” Ron looks down and Harry speaks up for him.
“It’s fine.” He turns to Ron “But what do you mean by your my second?”
Ron casually says “it means I’ll take over for you if you die.” he starts to eat again like nothing happened “But people only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. The most you and Malfoy will be able to do is send sparks at each other. Neither of you knows enough magic to do any real damage. I bet he expected you to refuse, anyway”
“But what if I can’t attack with my wand?” Harry now looks concerned.
“Then you throw it aside and bloody his nose.” at his casual remark I just rest my face in my hands.
This time Hermione interjects, “You can’t, midnight is way past curfew, if you get caught you’ll lose even more points for our house.” at the mention of lost points Harry looks a bit ashamed.
I just shake my head. “We still have a while till the duel I can show Harry an easy spell in the meantime.”
After that, we all head back to the Gryffindor common room to hang out till the duel. I seemed to have persuaded Hermione that I could keep them out of trouble. I can’t they are too dumb.
