HIS CHOSEN GIRL
chapter eight-flying lessons
[Your P.O.V]
☟ ☟ ☟
I've now been attending Hogwarts for a week and a half and suffice to say it's been the best week of my whole life.
Today is especially exciting because we've got our first flying lesson and I kind of feel like puking but I don't know if it's because I'm thrilled or because I'm terrified... or if it's because I stuffed my face at dinner again and I really don't think it sat right.
I've been getting up early with Hermione, determined never to have a situation like the boys and to stay on the good side of Professor McGonagall, I quickly throw on my uniform, brush my hair, and grab my books and such that Hermione has so nicely stacked for me at the edge of my bed. My poorly made bed to be completely honest with myself but Hermione's been busy teaching me social norms and how to adjust and wrap my brain around no longer being some homeless girl on the brink of starvation.
I decided I wanted a fresh start when I came here, to keep my old life behind me, but it just kinda slipped out to Hermione when I woke up in the middle of the night having a panic attack that this was all just a crazy dream and she had to calm me down.
"(y/n)!" She yells from the bottom of the staircase that leads up to our dorm. "Come on I'm hungry and I don't want to be late!"
Frowning, I glance to her bedside clock and laugh. "Hermione, breakfast starts at 7 and it's only 6:30."
"I don't care," she says as I join her at the bottom of the staircase, and the two of us make our way out of the common room. "I want to continue reading so that I'll be prepared for flying later today."
"Hermione, no offence or anything, you know I think you're smart beyond your years, but do you really think reading a book will help you learn to fly?"
Hermione shrugs. "It definitely won't not help me learn to fly."
"Well... yeah I guess you've got a point there."
Hermione Granger. She's an interesting girl. I regret being so fast to judge her. I mean she's a little bit bossy sure and sometimes she's rude but without even knowing it and although she's definitely a borderline know-it-all, but there's more to her, we just click somehow. I cant quite put it into words, but then again actions speak louder than words and perhaps it's not what Hermione says, but what she does that's allowed me to become so intrigued. She's also not all loud all the time, the Hermione I've seen has shown me that's she capable of not only being a good student, but a really good friend. Maybe when the boys give her a little bit more of a chance, they'll see it too. I really hope they'll see it too.
The grand hall as usual is buzzing with excitement despite it still being the early hours in the morning. We sit ourselves at the Gryffindor table and I dig in to my waffles the moment they magically appear in front of me. Hermione chats with me for a bit before delving into her book and I know not to disturb her.
I begin to people watch, something I find myself doing often, although it's must more interesting to observe young wizards than it was to observe sketchy people doing illegal things in the depths of night as I hid behind a near by trash can.
To my surprise most of the attention lies with Neville Longbottom but that scenario quickly loses my interest as I realize they're only freaking about his remembrall. While it is quite interesting, I don't feel the need to go over and investigate because he showed me it yesterday in the common room. And because I'm a nice person,
I look around to see what other people are doing but most of them are crowding around Neville Longbottom because his grandmother sent him a Remembrall. Quite an interesting object it is, Hermione have me a full and in depth backstory of it yesterday night when Neville first showed it off in the common room and I had asked her after he left what exactly it did. There went a good 20 minutes of my life I'll never get back.
"Good morning."
I turn to see my favorite green eyed boy, not that I'm particularly familiar with many, to my right causing me to smile and I glance at his messy bed head.
"Good morning, ever heard of a brush," I giggle as Harry quickly runs his hands through his hair.
"What am I invisible?" Ron teases sitting across from Harry.
"Sorry what?" I reply cupping a hand behind my ear. "Couldn't heat what you said you were too busy stuffing your mouth with pancakes. Honestly Ron, are you part pig or something?"
"Shhh!" Hermione tuts to which I motion for the boys to scooch over so she can remain unbothered.
"Why's she always got her nose buried in a book?" Ron criticizes.
"So are you two excited for flying?" I ask quickly sending Ron into a ramble of how he can't wit to learn to fly and that one day he'll be a hero on the Quidditch team and blah blah blah I've heard it all before.
I really try my best to change the topic when the boys put Hermione down. I think if Hermione as a friend now that I know I can trust her with my 'secret life' for lack of better term. Because of this, I don't like when the boys make fun of her, just like when the roles are reversed, I don't like it it when she criticizes them either.
A day has never gone by longer but finally we're dismissed from our last class and it's time to start our flying lesson. It's like a stampede with all the first years charging down to the field. I hate to say that my mood sours just the tiniest bit when I make eye contact with Draco Malfoy, who flashes me a look of disgust. I must say that while Hogwarts may be amazing, I could probably live without having to attend nearly every lesson with Slytherin house. Whatever. I'm not going to let anything ruin this class. I've been waiting all week to learn how to fly.
Laid on the field ground in two even lines lie proper witch like broomsticks. I stand next to Harry and Hermione comes over and stands next to me. The Slytherins keep their distance from us accordingly, opting to stand in the line opposite ours as we wait for our professor, Madam Hooch to start the lesson.
"Good afternoon students," she says as she struts down the two lines both her walk and her speech quick and to the point.
"Good afternoon, Madam Hooch," we reply the lot of us fidgety with anticipation.
"Welcome to your first flying lesson," she says seeming to be borderline annoyed when no one moves. "Well what are you waiting for? Everyone step up to the left side of your broom stick. Stick your right hand over the broom and say up."
Being more of a visual learner myself, I turn to Harry as he calmly places his hand over the broom and firmly says, "Up." Even he seems surprised by his success as a proper smile forms on his face and he murmurs a, "Wow."
"Brilliant!" I exclaim excited for him. "Good job, Harry!"
Turning to my left I see Hermione having, a more difficult time controlling her broom.
"Up. Up. Up. UP." She says her impatience growing as the object continues to raise a few inches off the ground before promptly dropping seconds after.
I want nothing more than to give her grief for all her time spent reading about flying, but decide not to be jerk and turn to my own broom.
It can't be that hard, right?
"Up."
The broom shoots up off the ground and into my hand.
"Whoa."
I look around at my friends hoping that one of them saw my immediate success looking over at Ron just in time to see his broom stand straight up and give him a good whack tot he face. Dropping my own broom to cover my own mouth to stifle my laughter I can't help help but to tease.
"You're right, Ron. A professional Quidditch player does seem like the perfect hobby for you!"
"Shut up, (y/n)," he replies trying to look annoyed but even he can't help but laugh at himself.
It takes a good ten minutes for everyone to command their brooms and only once everyone stands with their broomsticks in hand does Madam Hooch continue her lesson.
"Now, once you've got hold of your broom, I want you to mount it. And grip it tight. You don't want to be falling of the end,"
Excitedly we all climb onto our brooms and I cant help the squeal that leaves my lips. No way, I'm gonna fly!
"I want you to kick off the ground, hard. Keep your brooms steady and hover for a moment then lean foward slightly and touch back down. On my whistle. 3..2," She blows her whistle but before any of us get the chance to take off, Neville's broom instantaneously floats off the ground uncontrollably.
Everyone begins yelling the poor boy's name as if that'll get him to come to to the ground. It's clear he's in no control here, I can't help but to feel bad for Longbottom.
"It's ok Neville! Try to stay calm!" I yell out believing my own words less and less the higher he gets.
Madam Hooch tries her best to shout out instructions and provide some guidance, but this proves to be almost completely useless given that even I can hardly hear her. What with Neville's screeches of terror as he jolts around this way than that in the sky above us, and I'm only a few feet away from the panicked professor.
"Oh gosh!" I wince as Neville experiences another near miss. "Forget being calm. Panic, Neville, Panic!" I shout nicking my previous statement.
We watch helplessly as Neville flies violently around like a blind one winged bird in a thunderstorm. More and more so each second I'm convinced I'm about to witness a very gruesome accident. Suddenly though, he stops flying and I nearly begin to cheer, but... hold on a moment, how did he manage to finally stop? My eyes widen in horror as I see Neville Longbottom dangling about 50 ft above. It seems he's got himself caught on something at the top of the castle!
He hangs there for maybe a matter of seconds although it feels much more like hours before he.. Oh no!
"His robes! They're ripping!" I gasp.
Neville starts dropping from the sky before our very own eyes
Racing, the rest of the class rushes to his aid as he hits the ground with a hard thump. Surely he's ok, right? He must be.
I gasp among coming into contact with the poor first year, clutching onto all of his limbs for dear life, as if they'll fall off if he removes his hold.
I nearly ask him if he's ok, but I stop myself. For even a blind person could clear as day sense that this boy is far from ok.
"Ooh ow. Ok c'mon now," Madam Hooch tuts as she comforts him into her arms. "Everyone is to keep their feet firmly on the ground while I take Mr. Longbottom to the hospital wing."
Seeing movement out of the corner of my eye, I turn to see none other than Draco Malfoy sneakily snatching Neville's Remembrall. I elbow Harry and jut my head in their direction.
"If I see one broom in the air, the person riding it will find themselves expelled before they can say Quidditch," Madam Hooch calls out over her shoulder causing me to shiver.
Not a doubt in my mind that statement doesn't ring true.
"Did you see his face?" questions an annoying voice. "Maybe if the fat lump had given this a squeeze he would've remembered to fall on his fat arse."
Draco holds the Remembrall up to the light examining it, his wicked smile growing wickeder the more laughter he receives.
I roll my eyes. "God Malfoy, care to try not being a jerk for once? Might just be a nice change don't ya think?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry..." he replies a solemn look on his face. Pride rises to me own. Perhaps I got through to the Malfoy boy- "Mrs. Longbottom!"
You're joking me.
I can't help but feel the embarrassment when all my classmates pointing my way and cackling at the Slytherin's statement. Not that I have anything against Neville, nothing at all he's a sweet boy. I mean, I'm sure some lovely lady will one day get the honour of calling herself Mrs. Longbottom, it may just not be me.
"C'mon Malfoy give it here," Harry speaks up, frustration evident in his tone.
"No," Draco retorts unfazed. "I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find." He skillfully mounts his broom and begins hovering over the ground. "How 'bout on the roof?"
Murmurs fall over the crowd as students look at each other in pure shock.
"He's out of his bloody mind," I whisper to Hermione who quickly nods her head in agreement.
"What's the matter Potter?" Draco smirks tauntingly. "Bit beyond your reach?"
Harry glares from Draco to his broom before reluctantly climbing onto it. Before I get the chance to convince him otherwise, Hermione runs up to him and grabs on to his robes.
"Harry no way," she declares. "You heard what Madam Hooch said. Besides, you don't even know how to fly!"
Her whole speech will ultimately prove to be useless, I know that. I can see the look of determination in his eyes and although I think that he too, is out of his mind, I've got no other choice than to support my friend.
"Harry!" I call, to which the green eyed boy stares at me expectantly. "Just be careful."
He grins. "Absolutely... Mrs. Longbottom."
"Really? Ok yeah. You'd better start flying before I get you for that one," I reply trying to sound threatening but my uncontrollable smile causing me to fail miserably.
Harry effortlessly takes off and begins after the bleach blond boy. I can't help but watch admiringly at the boy who's never flown in his life glide through the sky gracefully and with such ease.
Hermione's tutting brings me back to ground though as she shakes her head up at her fellow Gryffindor. "What an idiot."
"Him? or me?" I ask although admitting it a little afraid of her answer.
"Shhh," she glares at me before turning her attention back to the sky.
It's nearly impossible to hear what they're saying from way down here. What the the murmuring of the students around me, but it seems to be the typical back and forth of Harry trying to do the right thing and Malfoy being a downright prick. The one thing that can be sensed though, even from all the way down here, is the obvious tension, which one will break first.
I see that signifier Malfoy smirk as he chucks the Remembrall with all of his might in the opposite direction of where we all were. Harry doesn't even hesitate before he goes chasing after it. At a remarkable speed as well with his eyes glued to the ball. It's a bold your breath kind of moment, before finally he releases the hold on his broom, reaches out and grabs the ball, just seconds shy of it crashing into the castle window, as if he's been doing it for years. He whips around on his broom and flies down to his adoring fans all running to meet him, even Hermione!
"You actually did it!" I exclaim running over to him excitedly and shaking his shoulders.
Harry grins somewhat out of breath. "What? You had no faith in me?"
"None," I respond continuing his little bit. "In fact I bet Ron 20 galleons you'd fall off your broom within the first 30 seconds."
Luckily he gets the joke and laughs again.
"You did good," I add seriously this time.
"Yeah.. thanks, (y/n)."
I suddenly realize there's nothing left to say so scrambling out words to fill the silence, I don't seem to struggle for long before, "Harry Potter!"
Turning around cautiously I come face to face with Professir McGonagall and goosebumps spread over my arms in fear.
"Follow me," is all she says.
Harry's shoulders slump in sadness. I seem to recall the warning of disobeying Madam Hooch's rules and I shout out after the professor.
"Professor! It wasn't his fault!"
"Silence, Miss (l/n) This is a matter between Potter and I. Come now," she drags him along with her into the castle and I watch him helplessly.
Turning over his shoulder our eyes meet and he flashes me one last smile, a smile that tries to be reassuring but I do not feel reassured.
"I knew he was an idiot," Hermione dares to say.
"Shut up, Hermione."