The following week, there was a notice pinned up on the Slytherin noticeboard. Flying lessons would begin on Thursday. And worse, they would be stuck with the Gryffindors. Neither Callidus nor Harry had been on a broom before. The idea filled both of them with an uncomfortable nervousness. It felt like they had swallowed a mass of eels that were now fighting in their bellies. Malfoy on the other hand, wouldn't stop talking (well, bragging) about the so-called joys of flying. Or more accurately, he would talk about his proficiency and amazing skills. These stories often involved dodging muggle Helicopters.
Malfoy's bragging had gotten to be so interminable that Harry started avoiding Malfoy. This only delighted Callidus, who found Malfoy annoying regardless of whether he was talking about flying or anything else. But of course, once Malfoy realized how his gloating was pushing Harry away, he managed to refrain himself. And Harry was once again happy to spend time with Malfoy.
On top of that, Malfoy was constantly receiving owls from his parents, laden with decadent sweets. Callidus was convinced that Malfoy was using them to bribe Harry for attention. Though if Callidus were honest with himself, those sweets were delicious. They were usually chocolatey confections that melted in one's mouth. They tasted like smooth, silky bliss with pleasure as the main ingredient. If Malfoy would only shut up, and offer Callidus sweets, Callidus thought that he might have it in his heart to actually like the blond.
Callidus and Harry almost never received anything from the owl post. Callidus had noticed Harry's wistful expression, as Malfoy's eagle owl deposited yet another care package. Thus, it was a surprise when one day, Harry received a beautiful letter on thick, creamy parchment. It had an ornate wax seal with a family crest. When Malfoy saw it, he smiled smugly. Wide-eyed, Harry opened the letter with care. When he finished reading the letter, he looked over at Malfoy with surprise.
"What does it say?" Callidus asked Harry.
"It's from Draco's mum. Thanking me for being Draco's friend," Harry replied, looking back down at the letter. Harry's ears were pink, but he seemed pleased.
"No letter for Prince?" Daphne said from across the table. "How sad." Her voice dripped with poisonous sweetness.
"Observing my daily routine?" Callidus replied snidely. "I'm flattered by your attention, Greengrass."
"Ew. I'd never -" Greengrass retorted.
"Never stand a chance? I agree," Callidus said smoothly. "I only befriend those who have brain cells."
"I hate you," Greengrass hissed.
"Thank you," Callidus replied, smiling lazily.
Since the trio had spent most of the first week exploring Hogwarts, Callidus was determined to spend more time in the library studying. He was surprised to learn that Malfoy was also eager to do well, academically. ("My father says that Malfoys have to be the best at everything," Malfoy had explained.) Callidus welcomed the competition. It would only be that much sweeter to beat Malfoy in all his classes.
As for Harry, he was less enthusiastic about books. Callidus knew that Harry had a curious mind - he was always asking Callidus and Malfoy questions. Harry soaked up information like a wilted plant soaked up water. So, Callidus was puzzled by Harry's reluctance to sit down with an interesting book and read.
"I just find them boring," Harry said defensively. His jaw was set, and his expression was stubborn.
"But all the things I've told you about are things I've learned from books," Callidus explained. "And you find that interesting."
"That's different," Harry replied.
"How so?"
"It just is." Harry chewed his lower lip, his brows knitted.
"What if someone read to you. Would you like that?" Callidus asked curiously.
Harry hummed. "I don't know. Maybe."
Callidus considered his friend with a thoughtful expression. He felt like there was a story he was missing - some facet of Harry's past that he was yet unaware of. Despite Harry's resistance, he still allowed Callidus and Malfoy to drag him to the library. When the three of them entered the immense space, Callidus immediately noticed the bushy-haired Granger sitting alone at one the tables. His eyes narrowed. Granger was certainly diligent. Callidus knew that he had to maintain the same studious behaviour. It would be humiliating to be bested by someone like her. Granger looked up as the three of them entered the library, and her eyes narrowed. She pursed her lips, and then looked back down at her book, refusing to pay them any heed.
Callidus, Harry and Malfoy found an empty table, and pulled their textbooks out of their satchels. They had readings to do for Charms as well as Transfiguration. While Callidus and Malfoy were able to read the texts with absorbed interest, Harry sighed and fidgeted. The messy-haired boy would bounce his leg, or tap the table, or run his hands through his chaotic hair. If it was anyone other than Harry, Callidus would have cut them down with his tongue. But since it was Harry, Callidus only felt concerned. The black pyramid had indicated that Harry was a naturally powerful wizard. If Harry failed to develop that power, it seemed somehow wasteful. Like a talented artist choosing a career as a ditch digger.
Callidus felt like he needed to find a way to interest Harry in reading. But how? An idea soon came to him. He stood up from his chair, drawing Harry's and Malfoy's attention.
"I'll be right back," he told them. Harry shuffled with restless energy. He looked as if he wanted to follow Callidus.
Navigating his way through the library aisles, Callidus made way to the fiction section. He scanned the shelves until he found the book he wanted. Grabbing the book, he returned back to the table, and set it in front of Harry.
"The Tales of Beedle the Bard. What is this?" Harry asked, flipping open the book. Between the texts were beautiful, hand drawn illustrations, which Harry examined with interest.
"You look like you needed a break. Try reading that instead. It's something that almost every witch and wizard has read, growing up," Callidus explained. "Though in my case, my mother had memorized the stories and she recited them to me."
"The Wizard and the Hopping Pot is my favourite," Malfoy said. "I read it so many times that I wore out the magic in the spine and the book nearly dissolved. Fortunately, my mother was able to charm it back together until she bought me a fresh new copy. Collector's edition, naturally."
Harry looked sceptical, but he flipped the pages to the beginning of the book and began to read. As Callidus and Malfoy returned to their studies, they both smiled to themselves when they noticed that Harry's leg had stopped jiggling, and his sighing at ceased. If Harry was able to enjoy The Tales of Beedle the Bard, then there was hope for him yet. Callidus was determined to help Harry discover the pleasures of reading.
At three-thirty on Thursday, Callidus, Harry, Malfoy and the other Slytherins made their way down the front steps and onto the grounds. It was the day of the first flying lessons. The sky was a clear and unbroken blue, and there was a gentle breeze. The students made their way down a sloping lawn towards a smooth flat lawn. This lawn was on the opposite side of the grounds to the Forbidden Forest.
On the ground were twenty or so broomsticks, neatly lined up. The Gryffindors had not yet arrived, so the Slytherins grouped together by the edge of the line of broomsticks.
"I've heard that the school brooms are awful," Malfoy lamented. "But I must say, seeing them now, it's worse than I thought." The brooms looked worn out and old, and some of the twigs stuck out at odd angles.
"Are these even safe to fly?" Pansy Parkinson said, looking down at the broomsticks with doubt.
"Don't worry Pansy. If you fall, I'll catch you," Zabini said smoothly. Parkinson and Greengrass tittered. If it were anyone other than Zabini, it would have sounded ridiculous. Somehow, Zabini was able to pull it off, with his lazy smile, and polished demeanor.
"Flying makes me want to sick up," Theodore Nott griped. "It was the same with my father, and grandfather."
"Oh shush," Parkinson replied. "I don't care for flying myself, but I've heard that as long as you prove yourself proficient, you don't have to take the class."
"I'm probably going to end up making a fool of myself," Harry pouted, but he spoke softly enough so that only Callidus and Malfoy could hear.
"Well, no worse than me," Callidus replied reassuringly.
"If you had a racing broom, it would be so much easier," Malfoy added, unhelpfully. They were cut off by the arrival of the Gryffindors coming down the slope. The lions were followed by the flying instructor, Madam Hooch. She had short grey hair, and piercing yellow eyes.
"Well, what are you all waiting for?" Madam Hooch barked. "Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up."
The Slytherins lined up along one row, and the Gryffindors lined up along the other. The snakes and lions glared at one another, and the air crackled with mutual animosity. Callidus found himself across from Hermione Granger, and his eyes narrowed with dislike. Their eyes met, and she pursed her lips before looking away. He was glad to see that she looked nervous. He hoped that her flying would be worse than his, but in truth, he wasn't certain. Neville Longbottom, the round-faced boy, was stark white and looked ready to faint. The red-headed Weasley just sneered at the Slytherins.
"Stick out your right hand over your broom," Madam Hooch called out, "and say 'Up!'"
There was a chorus of Ups from all the students. Callidus's broom lifted by a foot before dropping back down. Harry and Malfoy's brooms were in their hands. So too was Tracey Davis's - one of the quiet Slytherin girls that Callidus had never really noticed. Davis and Harry's eyes met, and the two of them shared a smile.
As for the Gryffindors, they weren't faring too well. Longbottom's broom hadn't even moved. Granger's broom rolled away from her. Weasley, however, was smiling with smug satisfaction as he held his broom in hand.
Madam Hooch then showed them how to mount their brooms so that they wouldn't slide off the end. She examined each student, correcting their grip. When she told Malfoy that he had been holding his broom wrong for years, the blond looked furious. Weasley seemed delighted by this, while Harry gave Malfoy a sympathetic glance.
"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," Madam Hooch instructed. "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle - three - two -"
Before Madam Hooch could blow her whistle, Longbottom had pushed up into the air, and all the student's eyes were drawn to the nervous boy. Hooch was calling for Longbottom to come back, but it was clear from Longbottom's expression that he had lost control. Longbottom kept rising and rising, and his face looked as pale as the moon. The Slytherins were snickering with amusement, while the Gryffindors looked worried. Unlike the other Slytherins, Harry's expression was concerned.
Longbottom gasped, before sliding sideways. Then he was falling, falling, and Callidus felt his insides clench as Longbottom hit the ground with a hard thump. There was a sickening crack. Longbottom was face down on the lawn, groaning in pain. His broomstick continued to drift up and away.
"Broken wrist," Madam Hooch muttered, her face nearly as pale as Longbottom's. She helped the shaking boy to his feet. His face was wet with tears and his robes grass stained.
"None of you are to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch.' Come on, dear."
As soon as Madam Hooch and the limping Longbottom were out of sight, the Slytherins broke into gales of laughter.
"Did you see his face, the great lump?" Malfoy crowed.
"Don't be cruel, Draco," Harry said, his voice low and testy. Malfoy opened his mouth to retort, but then shut it, and furrowed his brow.
Meanwhile, one of the other Gryffindors named Parvati Patil snapped: "Shut up Malfoy."
"Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?" Pansy Parkinson taunted. "Never thought you'd like fat little crybabies, Parvati."
"Pansy -" Harry ground out, his green eyes flashing angrily. But Parkinson only smirked.
"Are you taking the Gryffindor's side, Potter?" Nott asked, incredulous.
"I'm not on the Gryffindor's side," Harry replied sharply.
"Gryffindors wouldn't want a Dark Wizard like you anyway," the red-headed Weasley called out.
"I'm not a Dark Wizard!" Harry snapped at the same time that Callidus said, "He's not a Dark Wizard."
"What would you know about Dark Wizards anyway," Malfoy sneered at the red head.
"Enough to know that you lot are about as Dark as they come," Weasley replied, his eyes hard.
"Take that back!" Harry cried out, furious. His parents had been killed by Dark Wizards. He would never, ever want to be associated with one.
"Make me!" Weasley sneered, mounting his broom. Then the red head pushed up against the ground. Weasley wobbled uneasily, but before long, he was in the air, soaring away, and throwing taunts.
"No!" shouted Hermione Granger. "Madam Hooch told us not to move - you'll get us all into trouble."
Callidus had never seen Harry's eyes filled with such fury. In his anger, Harry reminded Callidus of Lily more than ever. Lily had always been hot tempered and passionate. Her green eyes flashed in the same way, as hard and brilliant as emeralds. Harry soon had his broom in hand and was mounting it. He kicked up off the ground, soaring up in the air.
"Harry!" Malfoy called out. The blond mounted his own broom and soon, he was in the air as well. Alarmed, one of the other Gryffindors (Dean Thomas, Callidus thought his name was) followed.
"Stop!" Hermione Granger shrieked. Callidus could only watch with his jaw dropped. He expected Malfoy to be a decent flyer. But Harry's ability startled him. Harry flew as though he were born on the broomstick, his movements fluid and graceful. Harry's anger was momentarily forgotten, and there was an expression of wonder on Harry's face.
"Harry!" Tracey Davis called out, and Callidus watched with surprise as the brown-haired girl lifted off the ground.
"Get Weasley!" Malfoy called out, and the two Slytherin boys looked towards the red head.
"Go Ron!" Dean Thomas called out to Weasley. "I'll try and hold them back!"
The red head was already racing away, and Harry and Malfoy followed, cutting through the air like a pair of falcons. Dean Thomas flew towards Harry, trying to intercept him. Tracey Davis was not far behind, trying to grab at Thomas's robes. Callidus felt his heart leap to his throat as he watched. Closer and closer, Thomas flew towards Harry, looking like he wanted to slam Harry off his broom. But to everyone's amazement, Harry dodged him with graceful adroitness. Harry grinned as he dropped downwards sharply, and then reoriented back towards the red head.
"Get that coward Weasley!" Parkinson screeched, but instead of anger, she looked elated by the sight. "Get him Harry! Yes!" Harry, who had heard her shrill shrieking had turned at the sound of her voice. When he saw who was cheering for him, he gave Parkinson a bemused smile before turning his attention back to Weasley.
Both the Slytherins and Gryffindors were cheering for their own Houses. Since there were three Slytherins and two Gryffindors in the air, another Gryffindor named Seamus Finnigan had lifted off. Finnigan had set his sight on Malfoy, determined to trounce the blond.
The flyers were quick and merciless. Harry had caught up to Weasley above the lake. The pair of them had grabbed on to each others brooms, trying to shake the other off. So high in the air, the struggle looked terrifying. Harry and Weasley looked as though they were arguing, but they were too far away to be heard. Both of them wore stormy expressions, and were red with exertion as they tried to shake the other off their brooms while staying aloft. Finnigan had managed to reach Malfoy. Finnigan had given Malfoy a body slam that sent Malfoy veering off to the side, before straightening up. Davis continued to chase after Thomas. Thomas seemed disinclined to do anything violent to a girl, so he simply tried to elude her. The pair of them flew in wide arcing circles over the greenery.
It was then that Professor McGonagall stalked towards the lawn. She had an expression of pure fury on her face. The students on the ground had stopped their cheering. They watched McGonagall with wide, fearful eyes.
"WEASLEY! THOMAS! POTTER! DAVIS! FINNIGAN! MALFOY!" McGonagall's enraged shout had all the flyers pausing in mid-air.
"GET DOWN HERE, THIS INSTANT, ALL OF YOU!"
Looking guilty, all the flyers returned to the lawn, their faces subdued.
"Never, in all my time at Hogwarts -" McGonagall began angrily. "Fifty points from each House! And a month's detention! For all of you. Yes, even those of you on the ground. Don't think I didn't hear your cheers. Do you realize how irresponsible you've all been?"
"But Professor!" Granger exclaimed, eyes shining with dismay. "I tried to stop them!"
"If you couldn't stop them, then you should have gotten one of the teachers right away, Miss Granger," McGonagall retorted, merciless in her fury. Granger looked as though she was about to cry. McGonagall's disapprobation had all but crushed her heart.
"You'll be doing your detention in teams of two to four, starting tomorrow. Slytherins and Gryffindors together. I cannot have this house rivalry causing such chaos," McGonagall continued sharply. The students began to groan, but upon seeing McGonagall's piercing gaze, they quieted. It was in silence that all the students trudged back towards the castle, wearing equal expressions of misery.