Flying

Madam Pomfrey was trying to figure out Severus Snape's problem. All here test were showing Snape to be in a perfectly healthy condition. She was about to call St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries when Dumbledore entered.

"What is wrong with him?" he asked with a touch of concern. "I cannot find any thing wrong with him headmaster. I was about to call a healer from St. Mungo's Hospital." She replied.

"He was in class when he collapsed right. So what did the students say?" Dumbledore questioned. "They described something akin to a Cruciatus Curse but he doesn't seem to be suffering from the after effects of one. My guess is that they exaggerate a bit."

Dumbledore started casting some diagnostic charms of his own on Snape. Snape suddenly started screaming in pain. Dumbledore stopped and looked a Snape. He had gone back to normal. Madam Pomfrey looked concerned, "This didn't happen before headmaster what did you do?" "Nothing it was a simple diagnostic charm. You try them again." She tried some charms of her own, nothing happen.

They both were discussing their next move when they heard a soft groan. Snape looked at Dumbledore and said "Water. I need water." Madam Pomfrey went to get a jug of water. Dumbledore took from her and gave it to Snape. For a movement their arms touched. Snape screamed in agony and wet his bed.

************** Gryffindor first year boy's dorm***************

"So, what exactly did you do to Snape?" Harry asked Sontium when they were alone. "Not much; just showed him what true pain feels like. The best part about it is Snape will be in constant pain if and when he comes into contact with his friends/mentor/lover. Either physically or magically. In short he would be in pain when he fells a short of connection with the person." Sontium replied. "Good, let him suffer. How long will the curse last." Harry inquired with just a hint of concern. "That depends on his behavior towards the student body in general. So I am guessing forever." They both laughed at this.

************** Headmaster's office Hogwarts***************

Dumbledore was pondering about Snape's problem. He had never seen anything like this before in his life. He got the general idea of what went on in the class for most of the Slytherin student's mind. They weren't very useful. All they had seen was Snape having and argument with Harry. Then Snape suddenly falling to the ground holding his head.

All he could think of was that some sort of accidental magic from Harry did this to Snape. He was going to have a word with Harry to keep his temper in check. Snape had already suffered enough in his life. He shouldn't suffer more at the hands of the son of his enemy. It pained Dumbledore to see Snape in this condition. Though he was recovering well Harry shouldn't have gotten angry in the first place to put Snape in harms way inside a classroom. Harry should not get angry for trivial matters. He was supposed to be the savior of the wizarding world. He should always take the morally high ground. He would definitely have a word with Harry soon.

************** Gryffindor tower***************

Few days after the incident, life for Sontium and Harry had returned backed to normal. They spotted a notice pinned up in the Gryffindor common room. 'Flying lessons would be starting on Thursday' - and Gryffindor and Slytherin would be learning together.

Harry was excited at the prospect of flying again.

************** Great hall***************

The next day Malfoy was bragging about flying a lot. He complained loudly about first years never getting on the house Quidditch teams and told long, boastful stories that always seemed to end with him narrowly escaping Muggles in helicopters. He wasn't the only one, though: the way Seamus Finnigan told it, he'd spent most of his childhood zooming around the countryside on his broomstick. Even Ron would tell anyone who'd listen about the time he'd almost hit a hang glider on Charlie's old broom. Everyone from wizarding families talked about Quidditch constantly. Ron had already had a big argument with Dean Thomas, who shared their dormitory, about soccer. Ron couldn't see what was exciting about a game with only one ball where no one was allowed to fly. Harry had caught Ron prodding Dean's poster of West Ham soccer team, trying to make the players move. Harry was amazed at Ron's lack of knowledge about non magical people. He had heard that Ron's father was a muggle loving fanatic.

Harry and Sontium were the only two non muggle born or muggle raised first year students who didn't brag about their flying skill. Well other than Neville of course. Neville had never been on a broomstick in his life, because his parents had never let him near one. Privately, Harry felt they had good reason, because Neville managed to have an extraordinary number of accidents even with both feet on the ground. He had asked Sontium to help Neville but Sontium had refused say, "life has no shortcuts, if you want something you have to work for it. Neville needs some confidence. He is a late bloomer. His family was on the verge of disowning him for being a squib. You can help him and give him time he will come out of his shell."

Hermione Granger was almost as nervous about flying as Neville was. This was something you couldn't learn by heart out of a book - not that she hadn't tried. At breakfast on Thursday she bored them all stupid with flying tips she'd gotten out of a library book called 'Quidditch Through the Ages'. Neville was hanging on to her every word, desperate for anything that might help him hang on to his broomstick later. Harry had tried to clam Hermione down to no avail. She kept on frantically reading the book a loud for tips and tricks in flying. Everybody else was very pleased when Hermione's lecture was interrupted by the arrival of the mail.

A barn owl brought Neville a small package from his mother. He opened it excitedly and showed them a glass ball the size of a large marble, which seemed to be full of white smoke. Ron asked Neville about it.

"It's a Remembrall!" he explained. "Gran knows I forget things – this tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do. Look, you hold it tight like this and if it turns red - oh..." His face fell, because the Remembrall had suddenly glowed scarlet, "You've forgotten something..."

Neville was trying to remember what he'd forgotten when Draco Malfoy, who was passing the Gryffindor table, snatched the Remembrall out of his hand.

Ron jumped to his feet. He was half hoping for a reason to fight Malfoy all week long. Professor McGonagall was about to intervene when she was stopped by Dumbledore.

See this Harry who was sitting next to Neville decided to join the fray. "Give Neville his Remembrall back Malfoy or you and your buddies will know what happens when you cross a Potter or their friends. You have been warned."

Dumbledore was not happy with the development. Harry was too well versed in wizarding customs for his liking. He had just issued an official warning to Draco Malfoy. He had hoped that Harry didn't grow up to be someone like this. This way he would be very difficult to control.

Malfoy was about to give the Remembrall back when Snape said "threatening students are we now Potter. You shall have a detention with me now no flying for you." Harry was glanced at Sontium through the corner of the eye when Snape showed up. He was eating his breakfast and completely ignoring the situation until Snape started to talk.

"No he won't be spending detention with you." Sontium said sharply. "You should know the difference between a threat and a warning professor. Or you ignorant about the difference just like you are ignorant about manners. I didn't expect some lowlife like you to know the wizarding customs anyway. So I will explain it to a fool like you 'If Malfoy didn't give the Remembrall back Harry could challenge him to a wizards duel to death even thought Malfoy is a minor after an official warning.'" Snape paled at the implication of the statement at the same time he was very angry at Sontium for talking like he was an ignorant fool. He turned away muttering angry words under his breath.

Dumbledore didn't like this one bit. Sontium came from a powerful magical family. If he was going to interfere in his plans he would be dealt with one way or another. He would have to plan his next move carefully.

Neville thanked Ron and Harry for standing up to Malfoy for him. Ron jus went back to shoving food into his mouth with out acknowledging Neville. Hermione started berating Sontium for insulting the teacher. Harry was happy that Hermione got her mind on something other than worry about flying.

************** The open space near Forbidden Forest***************

At three-thirty that afternoon, Harry, Sontium and the other Gryffindors hurried down the front steps onto the grounds for their first flying lesson. It was a clear, breezy day, and the grass rippled under their feet as they marched down the sloping lawns toward a smooth, flat lawn on the opposite side of the grounds to the forbidden forest, whose trees were swaying darkly in the distance.

The Slytherins were already there, and so were twenty one broomsticks lying in neat lines on the ground. Harry had heard Fred and George Weasley complain about the school brooms, saying that some of them started to vibrate if you flew too high, or always flew slightly to the left.

Their teacher, Madam Hooch, arrived. She had short, gray hair, and yellow eyes like a hawk. "Well, what are you all waiting for?" she barked. "Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up."

Harry glanced down at his broom. It was old and some of the twigs stuck out at odd angles. He looked up to Sontium. Sontium winked back at Harry and his broom transformed into a newer version of the school broom. This transformation went completely unnoticed.

"Stick out your right hand over your broom," called Madam Hooch at the front, "and say 'Up!"'

Harry's and Sontium's brooms jumped into their hands at once, but it was one of the few that did. Hermione Granger's had simply rolled over on the ground, and Neville's hadn't moved at all. Harry knew that brooms were semi-sentient, could tell when you were afraid; there was a quaver in Neville's voice that said only too clearly that he wanted to keep his feet on the ground.

"Don't worry Neville. Every thing will be all right." Harry called out to Neville. Neville took a deep breath and said "up" with lot more confidence and self belief. His broom jumped into his hands. Hermione tried to follow Harry's advice but her broom didn't respond to her command at all. She bent down and picked her broom up.

Madam Hooch then showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off the end, and walked up and down the rows correcting their grips. Ron was delighted when she told Malfoy he'd been doing it wrong for years. He had a smile of a Cheshire cat.

"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," said Madam Hooch. "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle – three - two -"

But Hermione, nervous and jumpy and frightened of being left on the ground, pushed off hard before the whistle had touched Madam Hooch's lips. Her worst fear was fear of failure. She put all he might in kicking her self of the ground.

Hermione was rising straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle - twelve feet - twenty feet – forty feet. Her broom was spiraling out of control. She tried to hold on to the broom for her dear life. Hermione lost her grip and fell. Seeing this Harry flew up on his modified school broom to catch Hermione. He caught Hermione in mid air at the height of twenty feet. She had passed out. Harry thought she looked cute in his arms.

Harry slowly landed. Madam Hooch checked up on her. She was about to cast an Ennervate on Hermione when Harry stopped her. Hermione was slowly regaining consciousness. She blushed when she realized that her head was in Harry's lap. She thanked Harry for saving her by kissing him on the cheek. Harry after receiving that kiss was on cloud 9.

The perfect movement for Harry was ruined by Professor McGonagall. She shouted his name at top of her lungs. She was running towards them at a speed faster than some her age should be able to achieve.

"Never - in all my time at Hogwarts -." Professor McGonagall was almost speechless with shock, and her glasses flashed furiously, "- how dare you - might have broken your neck - Madam Hooch was more than capable in halting Ms. Granger's fall."

"Potter, follow me, now." Harry caught sight of Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle's triumphant faces as he left, walking behind Professor McGonagall. He knew nothing bad could happen to him right now otherwise Sontium would have been with him.

Professor McGonagall was sweeping along without even looking at him; he had to jog to keep up. Up the front steps, up the marble staircase inside and still Professor McGonagall didn't say a word to him. She wrenched open doors and marched along corridors with Harry trotting merrily behind her.

Professor McGonagall stopped outside a classroom. She opened the door and poked her head inside. "Excuse me, Professor Flitwick, could I borrow Wood for a moment?" Wood? Thought Harry, bewildered; why would McGonagall wanted to see the Quidditch captain? Then it clicked. He was going to be on the Quidditch team. Wood, a burly fifth-year boy came out of Flitwick's class looking confused. "Follow me, you two," said Professor McGonagall, and they marched on up the corridor, Wood looking curiously at Harry.

"In here." Professor McGonagall pointed them into a classroom that was empty except for Peeves, who was busy writing rude words on the blackboard. "Out, Peeves!" she barked. Peeves threw the chalk into a bin, which clanged loudly, and he swooped out cursing. Professor McGonagall slammed the door behind him and turned to face the two boys.

"Potter, this is Oliver Wood. Wood - I've found you a Seeker." Wood's expression changed from puzzlement to delight. "Are you serious, Professor?"

"No, she is professor McGonagall. Sirius is my godfather." Harry said in mild amusement. McGonagall paled at this. "You know about him?" she asked. "Yes my guardian told me about him." said Harry in a tone to chage the topic of the converstion.

"I am absolutely sure Woods," said Professor McGonagall crisply. "The boy's a natural. I've never seen anything like it. Was that your first time on a broomstick, Potter?"

"It was my first time on a school broom. I am quite a skilled flier though not as good as Sontium." Harry replied cheekily.

"Is Mr. Ambrosius a better flier than you?" professor McGonagall asked. "He is way better than me. But he probably won't be interested in playing Quidditch." Harry answered.

"Why not? If he good he should play for the house team." Woods said. "You try convincing him."Harry told woods.

The trio headed back to the area where the flying lessons were conducted. Sontium was in a mid air conversation with Daphne. McGonagall called him towards them. He headed towards them at the speed of 100mph. 10 times faster than the school broom could go. He stopped, swirled of his broom and landed grace fully in front of them. When McGonagall and Wood got the speaking abilities back they ordered him to be on the Quidditch team. Sontium said "I am not interested in playing Quidditch. Though I can be a substitute; if you all want. I don't take part in competitive event. It becomes totally unfair for the opposition when I play."

"All my life I have never seen a student not interested in playing Quidditch," McGonagall told Sontium.

"I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if we can't bend the first-year rule. Heaven knows, we need a better team than last year. Flattened in that last match by Slytherin, I couldn't look Severus Snape in the face for weeks..."

"Don't bother professor. If Harry is on the Quidditch team he can get his own broom. The first year's students usually aren't good fliers hence they are banned from getting brooms to school. Getting on to the Quidditch team negates that rule. You can check it out in Hogwarts rulebook." Sontium told McGonagall.

She was use to Sontium correcting her about the rules by now. He had changed many things in Hogwarts by now. Many of the rules he brought to light were about promoting inter house unity. Now Miss Tonks has her meal on Gryffindor table with Sontium. She turned to Harry and said, "Your father would have been proud of you Harry," she added "he was an excellent Quidditch player himself."

"I known that professor" Harry replied.

************** Great hall***************

Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle appeared at the Gryffindor table. "Having a last meal, Potter? When are you getting the train back?" Malfoy said with a smirk. Harry completely ignored him and continued his conversation with Hermione. "I shall not be ignored Potter," Malfoy shouted. "I challenge you to a wizards duel tonight. Do you except."

Authors note :- 1) A cliffhanger here. What do you think will happen next?

2) I need a beta reader. If anyone is interested please contact me.

3) This story will be a Harry/multi but the pairing may not occur at the same time.

Please review.