How High I Go

I stare down at the broom in front of me and try not to panic. I've never had any real interest in flying, but flying lessons are mandatory for all first-years at Hogwarts.

My fear must be readily apparent on my face, because Anthony Goldstein turns to me and asks if I'm feeling okay. I merely nod, afraid that if I open my mouth, something stupid will come out.

Madam Hooch barks at us to step up next to our brooms. I immediately follow her order, though my hands shake slightly as I do so. I think of my twin sister Parvati and try to summon a bit of her courage as the flying instructor demonstrates how to command the broom into our hands.

A chorus of students yelling "Up!" erupts. I join in after a moment, but it takes me several tries before my broom finally jumps toward my hand. I allow myself a small smile. I've conquered the first hurdle!

Madam Hooch nods at me as she walks by. "Good work, Patil."

My chest swells a little at the praise.

...

The next step in our flying education is to mount the broom and learn how to grip it properly. I like this part, because it's something I can pick up easily, and it doesn't make me feel as nervous as the first part did.

Madam Hooch flashes me a brief smile when she tells me that my grip looks good, and I feel as though I might float away without any help from my broom. I'm still anxious for the actual flying part, but at least I've managed to keep myself from looking like an idiot.

All too soon, however, Madam Hooch announces that we're ready to attempt lifting off and landing. I gulp and wipe a sweaty palm on my robes.

"Are you sure you're okay, Padma?" Anthony asks.

"Yes," I say. It comes out a smidge more defensive than I had intended, but Anthony doesn't seem to notice.

"Good luck, then," he says, straddling his broom and kicking off. I watch him hover for a moment, then mount my broom and prepare to do the same.

...

Parvati didn't tell me how freeing flying can be. I suppose she was a little distracted with her dramatic retelling of how Harry Potter caught Neville Longbottom's Remembrall from one hundred feet — I think that number may have been a slight exaggeration on her part — in the air, though.

My school broom isn't particularly fancy, but it allows me to fly up and gets me back down again without too much trouble. I fly a little higher each time I take to the skies, trying to see how high I can push myself to go. When my broom begins to shake slightly, I take that as a sign that I've reached my limit.

Still, I'm feeling proud when Madam Hooch's whistle sounds and she tells us that the lesson is over. I may not have been the best flier in the class, but I knew going in that I wasn't going to be, and I made my peace with it.

I'm already planning for the next flying lesson as I walk back to the castle for lunch. Maybe I'll check out a few books from the library and read up on flying techniques. I'm willing to put in the extra work to see just how much I can improve at this flying endeavor.

Because next time, I want to fly even higher.


WC: 584