Chapter 27

Flying

After they ate diner the quartet made their way to the courtyard where the class was to be held. Heather couldn't wait; she missed flying even though it hadn't been two whole days since she had flown last. Maybe Alice was right, oh well I'll find out soon enough. As the group of friends walked to their last class Heather was aware of the fact that given what had happened earlier she probably shouldn't be getting on a broom but that wouldn't stop her. There was a new sort of determination in her.

"So Heather what happened exactly?" James asked eager to know.

"Can we talk about it later?" She wasn't really sure if she wanted to tell them what had really happened but what would happen if she didn't? The group was oddly silent for a while and Heather said

"Look guys, I just don't want to talk about it out here at the moment. I'll tell you tonight." James looked pleased with this but Hugo had other feelings.

"You don't have tell us if you don't want to." It sort of rushed out of his mouth. Like he was trying to cover his tracks

"It's ok Hugo it would probably be worse if I didn't tell you. Come on we're going to be late."

Soon they were greeted by a woman with spiky grey hair and a whistle around her neck, her eyes were strangely...yellow.

"Hello everyone before we get started my name is Madam Hooch. I am the referee for all Quidditch matches."

"Now will you all step up to the left side of you brooms please?" They all followed orders. From what Heather could tell about the brooms they were all very old and beaten up. Some had large gouges missing out of the handles. From what she saw at the Potters she was highly doubtful that these would be able to get off the ground at all. James seemed to have the same thoughts and exchanged a look with her, doubt clear on his face.

"Now stick your right hand over the broom and say 'up'" There was a chorus of up's and some of the broom obeyed but others didn't seem to want to move at all. Heather's was one. It had a large chunk of handle missing and looked like it would make better fire wood than a broomstick.

"If your broom won't come up pick it up and mount it. Grasp the handle with both hands firmly and I will come around and correct grip." When Heather picked up the broom she did not feel the usual humming that other brooms had. Madam Hooch was making her way down the ling and was nearing Heather. It was Heathers turn next.

"Madam Hooch I think there is something wrong with this broom."

"What makes you say that?" Unbeknownst to the girl madam Hooch was testing her.

"There's no...humming."

"Let me see. Heather handed her the broom." The teacher held it for a moment before asking. "How long have you flown?"

"About a month, I'm a muggle born but I stayed at the Potters house before the start of term."

"I see, well your right, this isn't a broom stick at all. I'm sure that someone thought this would be an amusing prank. Go pick one out of the shed over there. But let me see your form on this one first." Heather showed her and wasn't corrected. Harry had apparently taught her well.

The broom shed was larger than the Potters inside, there were more brooms too. She walked up and down the rows and in the far corner there was one that was identical to the one she had ridden at the Potter's. There were newer brooms in the shed that she could have picked but they also got a lot of ware because they were newer, it had taken its toll. They looked the same as the ones out on the grass. Heather picked the old one from the dusty corner.

Returning to the line up she turned to James and asked "Look familiar?"

"Is that the same broom you rode this summer?"

"Looks like it doesn't it."

But the end of the lesson Madam Hooch had them flying though mini obstacle courses. There were a few dismal flyers and some of the brooms seemed to be very temperamental. One started to buck and threw its rider off another wouldn't turn left. Others would only rise six inches off the ground. Heather felt comfortable on the broom as it felt the same as the one that she rode all summer. And her turn went well, she made it through with no mistakes.

The class ended too soon, for Heather was happy to be on a broom again. She waited in the end of the line for her turn to put the broom away. Madam hooch was at the door of the shed.

"That isn't a school broom, it's a private one."

"Oh I'm really sorry if I had known-"

"Don't apologize. You're the first to be able to take this broom out. For years I've had to send people into that shed to get a different broom and no one was able to get that one out. And believe me they tried. It was new broom at one time and as you have demonstrated that model ages very well." The woman looked rather amuced about something.

"I rode one like this at the Potter's when I was there. They felt exactly the same."

"They should." Heather was lost, what was she talking about.

"That broom belonged to one of this schools finest Quidditch players, James Potter. And I'm not talking about your friend. I was a student here a few years before he was and I saw him play. He was good and that broom there was a thing of beauty when it came out. Potter was, as it seems very protective of this broom. And not without good reason. He had put protective spells on it so that if anyone tried to tamper or steal it, someone other than a blood relative, well he would know who it was. The day of the final against Slytherin their keeper had to play with hair that kept growing and growing. It got so bad that he could no longer see. The game didn't last very long. Would you happen to be related to the Potter's?

"Yes, though I'm not related to James, senior that is. Harry's mother was my great aunt."

"Hmm, interesting. Well I thing that you should continue to us that broom in the lessons. And hopefully in your Quidditch tryout." Heather thought she saw Madam Hooch wink at her but she turned and walked away too fast for her to be certain.

How on earth was she able to get James's broom out of the shed if she wasnt a blood relative?