The second event that day occurred when Harry and Draco got back to the common room; it was a nondescript piece of paper that was pinned to the notice board. It was a simple piece of parchment but it held Harry's attention from the minute he entered the room. As he and Draco walked closer Harry couldn't help the excitement that was welling up inside him. On the paper was a message Harry hadn't thought possible:

First Year Flying Lessons

Will be held over the next two weeks. The pairings are as follows.

Gryffindor and Slytherin Thursday – Saturday 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw Monday – Wednesday 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Brooms will be provided by Madam Hooch report to the entrance Hall.

After reading the notice for what must have been the fifth time the brunette turned to the boy standing next to him. His face was a mixture of shock, disbelief and excitement the complete opposite of the blondes practiced indifference.

"You didn't tell me we could fly. Did you not think this important?"

The taller smirked, it looked like he had forgotten that detail. Harry knew him better though, he hadn't forgotten he had simply neglected to tell Harry. "If I told you, it wouldn't have been a surprise." There it was, Draco summed up in ten words.

"As much as I like surprise's you should have told me this. 4:30 huh? That means we have about an hour. In the meantime you can tell me how else wizards get around AND all about flying."

With that the two boys slunk off to their dorms to waste away an hour swapping information.

At twenty past four they emerged, it had been a good hour. Harry had found out about the Floo network, apparition and port keys. Draco had also explained about Quiditch and all the different positions. He told about the Hogwarts competition and how you had to be a second year to even think about applying and then you had to get selected, this had quietened Harry down quite a bit. He had been looking forward to trying out.

They left the common room happy, each buzzing with excitement. They have after all, got to beat the Gryfindorks. It was a quick trip up to the entrance Hall from the Dungeons, sped up by the boys need to fly. They arrived about five minutes early, instantly getting themselves in Madam Hooch's good books, she seemed to like punctuality, order and respect. Those were the things Harry and Draco were going to do.

At four thirty they were joined by the rest of the Slytherins and most of the Gryffindors. The one thing that was apparent almost immediately was that the weasel and his chums weren't there. This sent the Slytherins smirking as Madam Hooch started chastising the house of red for not bringing all their students. This however was nothing compared to the lecture and deduction of house points the weasel got.

At 4:42 the two houses were stood next to a broom. Their instructions were simple; put out your right hand and say "up". The whistle blew.

There was a flurry of movement as people stuck out their hands.

"UP!" was yelled by every student in union, it was impossible to distinguish so many voices. The first things to happen was that Harry and Draco's broom's shot up into their palms, making a small slap as handle made flesh. The second was the turning of heads to their direction. The third? A very Slytherin smirk followed by a furious exclamation from Ron.

"Well done boys." Madam Hooch. "I did expect a few more brooms in hands but alas we can't have everything can we? Five points to Slytherin each. Now wait for the others."

The rest of the class it took more attempts, most of the students having managed it in under ten, Granger being the first Gryffindor. Crabbe and Goyle were the last to do it, but they hadn't expected much of them anyway.

Now it was time for their next instruction; mount. They all did so. Harry swung his leg over the broom with a sense of anticipation. He was going to fly, him a boy from surrey. Him! As he kicked off he felt a feeling of peace wash over him, he couldn't feel the ground anymore and it was perfect.

A startled cry broke him from his musings though, he looked over to see that Neville had lost control and fallen. While the young Slytherin couldn't see how he lost control; these were the easiest things to use, he felt a stab of sympathy for the boy. He had of course apologized to him earlier, for something he didn't do. He kept this in mind as he landed, it stopped him from throttling the boy for lost flight time.

Harry watched the Professor walk away with Longbottom calmly, while he didn't like the fact they had to remain on the ground he was interested in what the red-head was going to do. Weasel had been throwing him odd looks all lesson. When you put these with the scathing looks he gave Longbottoms back it wasn't hard to connect the dots.

Neville had stood up to him. Longbottom the chubby little shy boy had stood up to the Weasley with anger issues. Because of him. Harry had fallen, Neville had turned and fought for him. It was an odd occurrence but not as odd as the Weasley was now.

The professor was out of sight, on her way to the medical room. And Weasley was smiling at him. And looking at the grass behind him.

"Hey Potter!" Weasel. "Think you're so good at flying? Just because you got your broom first? I think we should have a little competition."

"Why would I want to compete against you Weaselby? You haven't beat me yet, a much more challenging partner would be Draco, who you also haven't beaten yet."

The look on the red heads face was positively murderous. Mostly anger, hurt but also a challenge in them. A look he'd worn many times before. Why should now be any different?

"Heard you talked to Neville. If your such good friends now maybe you should get him back this." With that he held up a strange glass ball he had obviously swiped from the grass. It had green swirling smoke inside it. Harry would have been more in awe if he knew what it was.

"That's Neville's remembrall!" Granger. "Petty theft now Ron? Want us to lose the house cup? You're doing a pretty good job. You're no better than Slytherin!" at this she stopped, remembering he company. The company who had just turned as one to glare at her. "No! That's not what I meant, your worse than Slytherin! I'd rather have them as house mates than you!"

Harry didn't care in the slightest what the little glass orb was but he still felt a stab of guilt knowing it was Neville's. The boy had risked his whole house turning their backs on him when he stood up to Ron, defending Harry. The challenge came when Ron's buddy's joined him in the air, Dean and Seamus.

"Could be fun…" Draco drawled.

"I suppose so." Harry replied before they rose into the air.

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