Chapter 17: Up
Summary: Severus gets a flying lesson from Mr. Potter.
After lunch they all headed to the quidditch pitch, only Mrs. Potter staying behind. The house was just as extravagant from outside as it was inside. The walls were covered in white marble tiles which shone in the afternoon light. They rounded the building and found themselves in an open field. It was not as large as Hogwarts' quidditch pitch but large enough. There was a shed in the corner which held a few broomsticks and other flying gear.
Severus watched Sirius, Peter and Remus admire the Potter's broom collection as James talked about the story behind each one, a hint of pride in his voice. Some of the brooms were worn out while others looked brand new. Either way, they all seemed to be in good condition. The boys started comparing the brooms side by side, trying to decide which one to pick. Severus shrugged and reached for the one closest to him. It was made from dark wood, just like his wand, and felt quite hefty.
"No. No, that's not right." said Mr. Potter who had been standing to a side, letting his son take the lead. "You need something lighter and not quite as fast since you're just beginning." he continued as he took the broom out of Severus' hand and extended it to Sirius. "Switch with him, would you, lad?"
Sirius took a moment to consider, then nodded and gave Severus the broom he had picked. This one was significantly lighter but didn't look as polished.
"Everyone got their broom? Good, let's moved to the field." said Mr. Potter. "You go first Severus. Show us what you've got."
"Um, okay." mumbled Severus, feeling a little self-conscious. He put the broom down on the grass and held his hand above it. "Up!" he said firmly.
The broom jumped into his palm, making him smile. Severus held the broom in front of him and mounted it, shifting his weight to get more comfortable. Next, he planted his feet on the ground and counted to three in his head before pushing off of the ground with all of his strength and lunching into the air. He took a second to get his bearings, then griped the handle and moved in a circle around the field, careful not to lose his balance. In the end he landed gingerly and hoped off of the broom, looking at Mr. Potter expectedly.
"You know the basics, that's good." praised the man. "Your movements don't look natural though."
"It's not natural for people to fly." said Severus with a raised eyebrow.
Mr. Potter chuckled. "Perhaps not but once you become one with the broom, it'll be as natural as walking." he said, then turned to his son. "James, show him how it's done."
James smirked. He jumped on his broom and zoomed about the field effortlessly, his friends watching him in awe.
"I don't think I can fly like that." said Severus, looking down at his broom skeptically.
"James has been flying since he was a small tyke. I bought him his first toy broom when he was one years old." said Mr. Potter, a fond smile on his lips. "If I could teach a one-year old how to ride a broom, I can teach you, too. We'll just need to break it down. Let's start at the beginning. Your mounting needs some work. A quidditch player should get on his broom in a flash, specially a seeker." he continued in a sterner tone. "Instead of grabbing the handle first and then swinging your leg over the broom, try reaching with your right hand and right leg at the same time."
"What if I fall?"
"Then I'll catch you." said Mr. Potter confidently and Severus believed him. He tried moving his arm and leg at the same time and almost managed, slipping over the broom.
"See? Already much better. Do it again!"
Severus complied, mounting the broom again and again. Every time, Mr. Potter had a smile and words of encouragements for him. It made the warm feeling in him intensify, satisfying a craving he didn't know he had.
By the time Mr. Potter was happy with his mounting technic, the other boys had left them in favor of flaying at the other side of the field, chasing each other and laughing. Severus didn't mind. The man's attention was entirely focused on him now and it made the flying practice more special. The next lesson was jumping off of the ground with ease. Afterwards they practiced getting on the broom and launching into the air in one go. Just when they were about to move on to the actual flying, the sky started to darken.
"That's enough for today. Good job" said Mr. Potter, patting him on the back.
"Can't we practice a little longer?" asked Severus, his stomach twisting in disappointment.
"I'm afraid not. My wife won't be happy with me if I have you flying in the dark." answered Mr. Potter and called for the other boys to get down.
Severus shuffled his feet as they made their way to the shed and sighed as he put the broom back on the shelf.
"Why don't you take that broom home with you, lad? You can practice what you learned and the next time you come over I'll teach you the rest." offered Mr. Potter kindly.
Severus shook his head. "I can't practice at home. Our house is too small and we don't have a yard." he said. "I'll practice more when we get to the school." he added with another sigh. It wouldn't be any fun practicing on his own.
Mr. Potter frowned but didn't say anything as they made their way back inside. He left them in the living room with his wife and then disappeared out the door.
There was tea and finger sandwiches waiting for them in the sitting area. Mrs. Potter casted a few cleaning spells on them before they sat, mumbling under her breath about dirt and her absentminded husband.
Severus sat there quietly as his friends chattered excitedly around him. Even though he was hungry, he didn't feel like eating. His heart was filled with loss and envy. It was the last time he was coming to the Potters' house, he vowed himself.
After what felt like hours, Mrs. Potter sent Severus, Remus and Peter to get their things from James' room. then lined them in front of the fire place so that they could floo home. Peter was first. Mrs. Potter hugged him and gave him a parcel filled with the left over finger sandwiches. The boy blushed and hugged her back before waving to the rest of them and stepping into the flames.
It was Severus' turn next. He grabbed a handful of the floo powder from the box Mrs. Potter was holding out but shied away as she reached to hug him goodbye.
"Is everything alright, honey?" asked Mr. Potter, gently pushing his hair out of his eyes.
Severus nodded mutely, not trusting himself to speak.
"Do you feel sick?" she pressed as she put a hand on his forehead.
Severus shook his head and bit his lip to keep the tears at bay.
"Are you sure, dear? You look pale."
Severus bit his lip again and was wondering how to deter her without breaking down into tears when the door suddenly burst open and Mr. Potter rushed inside.
"Oh, good. You're still here!" he said cheerfully. "I looked for this everywhere." he added, holding a thick book in his hands.
"I wondered where you ran off to." said Mrs. Potter. "Is that another quidditch book?" she asked with raised brows.
"Yep!" answered Mr. Potter with a grin. "It's for Severus. Now that he's set out to be the best seeker Hogwarts has ever seen, he needs to learn more about flying techniques." he continued as he handed Severus the book.
Severus smiled in spite of himself and accepted the book.
"I want you to read the first chapter and write me a summary."
"Really Fleamont? You're giving him homework?" asked Mrs. Potter, a note of exasperation in her voice. "I'm sure he has plenty of work to complete for school."
"I've finished all of my holiday homework." protested Severus, holding the book to his chest.
"Already?!" exclaimed James and Remus in union.
Severus shrugged. "I was bored." he said as a way of explanation.
Sirius snorted. "He always has an excuse for finishing his homework early." he teased.
"Alright then. Owl me your summary as soon as it's over and ask me any questions you have and then we'll move on to next chapter." Mr. Potter told him.
Severus nodded. "Thanks, Mr. Potter." he said as he put the book in his bag. "You too, Mrs. Potter. I had a nice time."
"You're welcome, honey." said Mrs. Potter.
Severus let her hug him this time and smiled at Mr. Potter as he patted him on the shoulder. He said goodbye to his friends and flooed to the pub. His mother was waiting for him at the other end and caught him before he could fall.
She led him upstairs and listened to him as he told her everything he had done that day. He felt guilty for being jealous of James and his family earlier. He had a mother who loved him and was always there for him and that should be enough.