The Flying Incident
“You don’t need to worry about that right now. You need to focus on flying today if you want to be the first first year to make the quidditch team.” Draco says as we make our way to the group of students.
“Maddie, are you alright?” Harry comes up to ask me.
“Yeah I’m alright.” I say.
“I know he’s your dad but he scares me.” Harry says.
“Oh trust me, I’m surprised he didn’t take your head off for talking back to him.” I say
“Well I’m sure he would if I talked back again.” Harry says laughing.
I see Draco out of the corner of my eye and he looks angry.
“Anyway we should probably head over to the Gryffindor flying brooms.” Harry says.
“Ok, I’ll see you later Draco.” I say and walk off with Harry.
Madam Hooch comes out and class begins.
“Good afternoon, class.” Madam Hooch says as she walks down the aisle of students.
“Good afternoon Madam Hooch.” The class replys back.
“Welcome to your first flying lesson.” Madam Hooch says.
We all look up at her and wait for her next instructions.
“Well what are you waiting for? Everyone step up to the left side of your broomstick. Come on now. Hurry up.” Madam Hooch tells us.
We all step up to the left side of our broomsticks and get ready for the next step of instructions. I’m used to mounting a broomstick since I always had flying lessons with my father.
“Stick your right hand over the broom and say ‘up’” Madam Hooch says.
Everyone begins to yell "up" and as soon as I say "up" my broom launches right up into my hand. Harry’s broom does the same.
“Not used to a broom in your hand?” I ask as he looks at the broom in his hand.
“Definitely not.” Harry says smiling.
Draco’s broom comes up next. He looks over at me and smiles. I smile back knowing that he and I took flying lessons together.
“With feeling!” Madam Hooch says as everyone still struggles to get their broom up.
“UP!” Ron yells and his broom comes flying into his face.
“Ron are you alright?” I ask him.
“Yep, I’m good.” Ron says.
“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 sliding off the end.” Madam Hooch instructs.
Everyone mounts their brooms and we all wait for Madam Hooch’s next instructions.
“When I blow my whistle, I want each of you to kick off from the ground, hard. Keep your brooms steady, hover for a moment, then lean forward slightly and touch back down.” Madam Hooch says.
Everyone waits for Madam Hooch’s whistle.
“On my whistle, three, two,..“Madam Hooch says before she blows her whistle.
As soon as the whistle blows Neville lifts off the ground. Everything happens so fast. Neville gets carried around the training grounds. He’s going to fast for him to handle. I see him about to fall off and push off the ground and race to steady his broom.
“Neville, I need you to do exactly what I say, ok?” I ask him.
“Ok Maddie.” Neville says shakily.
“Grip the broom tighter, and lean forward to go back down.” I say remembering everything my father taught me.
Neville does everything I tell him too. The broom lowers to the ground and as it hovers I grip the tip of his broom to steady him more. He looses his balance and he and I both fall off our brooms.
“Neville!” I hear Seamus yell.
“Maddie!” Draco yells.
Everyone gathers around us. Neville groans in pain and I see his wrist bent in an awkward position.
“Everyone out of the way!” Madam Hooch says as she races towards Neville and I.
Madam Hooch comes over to Neville first as I sit up with the help of Draco. Madam Hooch lifts up Neville’s wrist.
“Oh, oh, oh, dear. It’s a broken wrist.” Madam Hooch says lifting up Neville’s wrist.
“Ow, ow.” Neville says.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Draco pick up Neville’s Remembrall.
“Everyone’s to keep their feet firmly on the ground while I take Mr. Longbottom to the hospital wing. Understand?” Madam Hooch says.
We all nod as Madam Hooch gets Neville to his feet.
“If I see a single broom in the air, the one riding it will find themselves out of Hogwarts before they can say quidditch. I’ll deal with you later Miss Snape.” Madam Hooch says.
I’m still sitting on the ground and I get up with the help of Draco.
“Did you see his face? Maybe if the fat lump had given this a squeeze he would have remembered to fall on his fat ass.” Draco says.
“Give it here Malfoy!” Harry says.
“No. I think I’ll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find.” Draco says as he mounts his broom.
We all watch Draco fly away. All I can think is that this isn’t going to end well.
“How ’bout on the roof?” Draco says flying towards the roof.
“What’s the matter, Potter? A bit beyond your reach?” Draco says tossing the Remembrall up in the air and catching it again.
Harry mounts his broom without thinking.
“Harry don’t do this. You’ll get in major trouble.” I say as he gets ready to fly off.
Harry takes off and chases Draco around the training grounds.
“What an idiot.” Hermione says next to me.
Harry flies up to Draco with ease.
“Give it here Malfoy or I’ll knock you off your broom!” Harry yells.
“Is that so?” Draco says.
Harry lunges for Draco and misses.
“Have it your way then.” Draco says before he chucks the Remembrall.
Harry chases after the Remembrall and catches it. He flies back down to the ground and we all run up to cheer for him. Draco comes back down and I go to comfort him. Before we know it Snape, Mcgonagall, and Madam Hooch come out.
"Harry Potter and Madelyn Snape!" Madam Hooch yells to us.
Harry and I give each other concerend glances and walk with the professors. They stop at the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"You two wait here." Mcgonagall says.
Snape and Madam Hooch stay with us as Mcgonagall grabs two students out of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"Excuse me Professor Quirrell but could I see Marcus Flint and Oliver Wood?" Professor Mcgonagall asks.
"Yes, of course." Professor Quirrell says and two boys stand up and follow Mcgonagall out of the classroom.
Marcus Flint, Slytherin, Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team and Oliver Wood, Gryffindor, Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team follow Mcgonagall to where Harry and I are standing.
"Wood this is Harry Potter, I believe he will be an excellent choice for your seeker!" Mcgonagall says happily.
Harry looks from me to Mcgonagall and to Wood.
"That sounds great! One question, what is he doing here?" Oliver asks pointing to Flint.
"Now I know that Madelyn is Gryffindor but Slytherin is in desperate need of a seeker and Madelyn is very experienced so Madelyn will be the new seeker for Slytherin." Snape says.
"Wait, me on a quidditch team?" I ask.
"Yes! You proved yourself worthy enough today helping Neville." Madam Hooch says.
"Welcome to the team!" Flint says.
"Alright, you both are dismissed." Snape says to Flint and Wood.
"You two are dismissed as well." Mcgonagall says to Harry and I.
Harry and I walk away from the professors and go back to our common room in silence contemplating what just happened.
