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Albus was quickly getting used to the schedule at Hogwarts. After a few days, finding their way around the castle was getting easier. Albus, however, was not quite happy with his classes, especially the ones with Gryffindor. Students from that house constantly pestered and teased him, and shot him dirty looks whenever they could. The worst was Dennis McLaggen. He jeered at Albus publicly and taunted him. Once he had even hexed him in the hallways. Luckily, Professor Westbrook, the Transfiguration teacher, was watching. He parried the spell with his own wand and gave McLaggen a detention.

Only on his seventh day there did Albus realize that he hadn't written to his family. He was eating breakfast when a large brown owl swooped it.

"Archimedes!" he exclaimed.

Albus's family owl had a large, brown package tied to his foot.

"Hey, is that your family owl? Our eagle owl, Gubran, died last month." Eshan added.

"Yup, its ours. Marauder hasn't had much to do. Come to think of it, I probably should have written to my parents."

He opened the parcel. A sleek broomstick rolled out onto the table. It had a magnificent oak handle, polished to perfection. Each tail twig was straight and perfectly cut. A thin ring of gold, fastened by golden clasps, held the sticks together. A leather grip was set into the handle. Near the handle, written in thin gold lettering, were the words Swiftflame X. The boys stared, awestruck at the broom before them.

"Wow. Your parents got you that? Its the newest Swiftflame model! Its capable of going 0 to 250 mph in half a second!" Scorpius exploded. Albus just stared. Then, he turned to the note.

Dear Albus,
You haven't written even once! So, how are you enjoying Hogwarts? Have you made any friends? According to Rose, you have, with that Malfoy boy and someone else. Also, apparently you've been Sorted into Slytherin. Don't worry, your father and I aren't disappointed. But, in order to cheer you up, we sent you this broom. Don't expect anything for Christmas, by the way. Everything is fine at home. Lily's still upset about the both of you leaving. The house is quiet without you around. Please write back soon!

With love,
Your Mum

"We have to take it for a go!" Eshan exclaimed.

They hustled out of the room as the student watched them, their eyes wide in shock. They ran onto the pitch and viewed the amazingly tall hoops before them. Eshan pointed his wand at a pebble, and it rose into the air and grew in size. He whispered an incantation and grabbed the rock in his hand. He passed it to Albus, who found it surprisingly light.

Albus put the broom om the grass.

"So, what do I do now?"

"I really don't know."

"Ummmm..."

"You know what? Let's just wait until AFTER we learn how to fly."

"You're probably right." They picked up the broom and dropped the rock, marching back inside.


Later in the week, when they had woken up, they had arrived in the common room to see crowds of people surrounding the bulletin board beside the tapestry of Salazar Slytherin dueling a hooded wizard. They edged towards the front of the crowd to see the notice on the board. Albus quickly read it.

Flying Lessons

All Slytherins will attend complimentary flying lessons taught by our flying instructor, Madam Hooch. Slytherins will learn with Gryffindors. Students may bring their personal brooms. Lessons will take place today after lunch.

"Yes! Finally! Now we can see how good the Swiftflame actually is!" Scorpius exclaimed.

"I'm sure it won't disappoint." Eshan replied dryly. Albus chuckled.

The day felt much slower. Albus didn't pay attention in class, daydreaming about flying. When lunch finally came, he wolfed down his food and bolted to the pitch, closely followed by Scorpius and Eshan. They arrived at the pitch, empty except for Madam Hooch, a stern-looking, grey-eyed blonde woman, who was setting down brooms. Eshan and Scorpius each selected a broom. Albus placed the Swiftflame in between them. The professor eyed them and then walked over.

"Eager, aren't you? You must be very exci— WHAT THE FLACKING FOUL! IS THAT THE SWIFTFLAME X ?!" she exclaimed.

"Yep." Albus grinned.

"Oh my Quaffle! Its true! It does have the Feather-light charm cast on it, plus the jinx-blocker and the auto-emergency brakes! Does it have the control of the old Firebolts? I remember your father had one."

"Dunno. I haven't tried it yet."

"Well, good luck!"

She smiled and addressed the class, who was now walking in.

"Good afternoon, class!"

"Good afternoon, Madam Hooch!" they all chorused.

They each selected a broom.

"Now, when I say go, say up. Grab the broom and mount it. Now, go!"

"UP!" the class roared.

Albus's broom shot up, as well as Eshan's and Scorpius's. They mounted them and waited.

"Well done, boys! Your grips are perfect!" she said as she passed by, correcting the class's grips.

"Now, take off!"

Everyone kicked off. Some of them were wobbling in midair, some of them only jumped forward. But Albus and his friends, along with McLaggen, were hovering perfectly in midair.

"Try flying!" she called. Albus leaned down. The feeling of the cool wind on his face, the background fading into a blur of color, gave him more energy than he had ever felt before. It was like splashing his face with cold water. He shot towards the grass, and, an inch from the ground, he twisted and blasted upwards. Suddenly, he noticed that his friends were chasing him. He shot upwards. Eshan twisted so that he was upside down, and hung on his broom tightly. Darting upwards, he could almost touch Albus's Swiftflame.

Finally, when class was over, they avidly discussed the experience of soaring through the clouds. But, as their minds wandered to dreams of Quidditch games and aerial sports, something sinister was brewing not so far away.