Short chapter, I know, sorry. Don't worry; a longer one is coming up

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Life at Hogwarts is very interesting. First of all, classes are a lot cooler than what I studied back in primary school. Although I had a good bit of homework (which is still boring) the classes themselves are fun, and most of them are practical.

But my favorite class (and most other peoples) is Defense against the Dark Arts. Every week were learning about new spells and trying them out. There is always practical demonstrations on a weird assortment of creatures, and sometime (if it's safe enough) on class mates. But the best part of it is our teacher, Professor Lupin. Mark says that he's really a werewolf, and that's why he's so good at teaching the subject, but I'm not sure if I believe him.

But none the less, Mark sure seems to know him well. In out first class, he said "Hi Uncle Remus- I mean Professor." Mark says he's a good family friend, and since he's known him since he was real small, he's always been told to call him Uncle, even though he really isn't.

But Professor Lupin's classes are great fun. Lupin himself is really friendly and fun, and always nice to us. With him for a teacher I've done a lot better than in most of my other classes, and I'm able to do most of the spells before the rest of the class. (This annoys Mark and Georgia- She's really good at spells, but I always top her).

I had been in the school for about two weeks, and was just finishing a piece of homework for DADA, when I noticed a bunch of people hovering in front of the notice board in the common room. I finished it off, and went to see what all the fuss was about.

After squeezing through the group of first years (and a few older students) I got a look at the sheet posted. It said "Flying Lessons, next Wednesday- Gryffindor and Hufflepuff".

A mingling feeling of excitement and a bit of fear rose through me. I had heard a lot about brooms and Quidditch. It was really popular from people of all years, both boys and girls. It was one of the most commonly talked about subjects, ranging from broom types, weird stories and boasts about amazing scores on the pitch. Me and Jenny were starting to feel like we were the only kids who hadn't been on a broomstick and were a bit left out.

Of course, I was a bit nervous too. I've never exactly been afraid of heights, but I'm not fond of them either. Also, I couldn't help but think that brooms can't fly. I know that after knowing about the wizarding world for about two months I shouldn't think that, but I was raised learning that if there's one thing brooms don't do, its fly.

But, on Wednesday, I walked out onto the pitch with everyone else, my heart beating slightly. I lined up behind my broom, and paid close attention to the teacher (an slightly aging lady with extremely sharp eagle like eyes) to the information.

I looked doubtfully down at the brooms. They didn't look very sturdy, or comfortable. Of course, I had been told that all brooms had a comfort charm put on them, but it still didn't make me feel any better.

But as I put forward my hand, a weird feeling of calm swept through me. "Up." I said commanding, and amazingly, the broom jumped right into my open palm! I had done it, and on my first try too! I rocked.

Around me, a few people were struggling. Mark, Alex, and a few other Quidditch lovers had gotten an almost immediate reaction, but a most of the group were having trouble. This was especially true for a rather thin and gangly Hufflepuff boy with straw like hair. The broom hadn't made any move for five minute, until it decided to hit him in the head.

As Madame Hooch came down the line correcting grips and so forth, the boy was having even more trouble. He had finally manages to get the broom into his grip, but it kept vibrating a lot, making it hard to hold onto. It reminded me a bit of this horse I had seen on a movie once. It had been a really wild horse that no one could tame, until came a young girl who made him her own. Somehow, I didn't think any taming would be going on here.

My broom however was hovering the air by my side like a well behaved dog. When Madame Hooch showed me exactly how to hold it, it felt perfectly right.

Then came the time to actually ride the broom. So we all mounted them, and the teacher blew the whistle, and we all started to rise into the air.

It was a wonderful sensation. I felt the world drop from under my feet, and the wind to rustle my hair. And it was easy too. I don't know why I had been afraid. For some reason, being off the ground didn't seem as scary when on a broom.

Almost without thinking, I started to do some loop-de-loops. It was great fun, even better than a roller coaster. Of course, Madame Hooch being the teacher that she is, told me to stop, and pay attention.

Mark just came and floated next to me, a look of amazement on his face. "How did you do that? You said you had never been on a broom before."

"I haven't. It just really easy."

"But, the only person I've seen fly that fell is Sirius! And he practically grew up on a br-"

It was at this point that Madame Hooch told us to pay attention, which we did. Although Mark looked as if he would like to continue the conversation.

So I paid attention to what she was saying, but soon got pretty bored. For some reason I seemed to already know everything she was saying, as if I had already learned it. I guess it must be one of the natural instincts of something.

But, I was really happy when she told us to go and practice speeding up and turning. I burst off almost immediately, feeling perfectly at home on the broomstick. I started to speed around with all the other people who already knew how to fly. I noted that Jenny was watching enviously.

It was about five minutes into this practice time that something interesting happened. Madame Hooch was way up high, helping someone who had lost control of her broom. Meanwhile, a bit closer to the ground, that Hufflepuff boy from earlier also last control. He started speeding up, and headed strait for a tree. He forced himself upwards, stopping himself from hitting the green trap of terror, but panicked as he did so. He let go of his broom and started plummeting to the Earth.

Madame Hooch, who had not heard the racket until now (being busy, and I think her hearing might be going) stared, and headed into a dive. But I could tell that she wasn't going to make it. So I did the only thing I could. I descended into my first dive.

I picked up speed quickly, and soon the wind had blocked out all other sounds. I was heading strait for the boy, almost at a complete plummet. And then, I don't even know how I did it, I broke out of the dive, and stuck out my hand to catch his arm.

I jolted down for a second, out of momentum from the boys fall, and still feeling a bit dizzy from the dive. (Don't ever do a near vertical dive on your first flight on a broom.) But I managed to hold on to him, but he still felt really heavy. I tried to pull him onto my broom, but I was having a bit f trouble controlling my broom with one hand, so he stayed where he was, making my arm feel like it was going to fall off.

Thankfully, Madame Hooch got down at that moment, and took the boy off my hands. I went back down to the ground, wanting to make sure that the boy was alright.

He was, although a bit shocked. But, could you blame him? He had almost crashed into a tree, fallen off a flying broom, and nearly hit the ground.

"Thanks." He told me shakily. I felt a bit of pride. My first time on a broom, and I had saved a guy from a fall. Who's awesome? ME!

"No prob. Just, watch out for the tress next time." He let out a little laugh.

Madame Hooch was a bit mad at me for trying something so risky. She started giving me a lecture about 'breaking school rule', 'potentially harming myself' and being 'reckless'. At the same time she was thankful for catching Kevin (that's what his name is- he told me after) and a bit awed at my flying skills.

That night, the story seemed to have spread about the interesting flying class. It's a bit freaky how quickly news spreads at Hogwarts- it was dinner right after the class, and every one already seemed to know.

But everyone was interested in my story. Soon wild rumors were flying around about how I made a 60 foot dive and navigated through a flock of birds to save Kevin. Sirius even told me that he wished that I ws old enough for the Quidditch team, and said he would go and ask Professor Longbottom if they could make an excuse for me. So all in all, I don't really think I had that bad a first flying lesson.