This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy.
In this chapter, Hedwig invites herself to history class. Then Harry has his first flying lesson.
Chapter 18 History Lessons and Flying LessonsIt was Monday morning too soon for the students with only Sunday to rest after a busy opening to school. Dumbledore made his way to the Great Hall for breakfast and as he came to the door of the Great Hall, a swarm of firsties arrived to greet him as they hurried to their tables.
He noticed several firsties openly admired the red robes with bouncing purple and blue grapes that he wore this morning. The others were shy about staring and the headmaster slipped around them without separating any from their friends.
"Is that really how wizards dress?" Justin asked Zach and Ernie. "My parents have some friends who dress up funny sometimes but not like that…"
Susan Bones explained, "My aunt says that wizards are very eccentric compared to muggles and the older they get, the more they personalize their robes. Dumbledore is over a hundred years old…"
"He came to the Wizengamot last summer with a dragon flying around and around on his robes," Susan told the others and her hand made faster and faster circles in the air. "I laughed a couple times and when we got home, my aunt said I had pointed at him too much."
Neville nodded, "I remember Gran talking about that flying dragon. She told me that Dumbledore is really old and when he was a boy, there weren't any charms to animate figures on robes. Some wizard in France invented the charm and put it on robes after the Grindelwald war. She said that Dumbledore made it fashionable in Britain."
'Was Aunt Petunia, right? Are wizards freaks?' Harry wondered but he kept the thought to himself.
He did look around and whisper, "But it looks funny and I haven't seen anyone else wear animated fruit and Leprechauns on their robes."
Hannah explained, "It fell out of fashion in the early sixties but Dumbledore's never paid attention to current fashion. See how Professor Snape is dressed in black robes? And Professor Lupin is dressed in more casual wizard robes. That's how most people dress."
Harry studied the two robes of the two wizards standing together at the staff table, and then he thanked Hannah for her insight. "I don't want my robes to be weird."
*(+++++)*
At the staff table, Dumbledore noted that Sprout and Lupin talked with Snape about rats again. Something about brewing potions and planting extra herbs in the greenhouses this week. Moody and Pince discussed a few books he wanted placed in something called the 'reading room' to keep them available for all students. McGonagall and Troutman reviewed health reports and Albus avoided getting drawn into that dragon's nest.
"Breakfast!" he called from his chair and he noticed the children turn their attention to the tables while his staff concluded their discussions. With the traditional English breakfast laid before him, Dumbledore gave it his full attention for almost ten minutes before he noticed something strange at the tables; none of the children had pumpkin juice.
He looked left and right to discover that none of the staff had cups of pumpkin juice, only muggle orange juice, milk, tea or coffee.
"What happened to the pumpkin juice?" he asked quietly.
Troutman replied loudly, "We discovered that the elves were dosing the children with a concoction of potions to force compliance to authority and agitation to their peers."
"What kind of potions are those?" asked Flitwick with as much sincerity as he could fake. "That cannot be healthy."
Dumbledore's expression grew grim for a moment but he noted the attention that his deputy and the other professors were paying to him.
"We feel it is much better if the children are allowed to develop relationships between the houses without the influence of potions," Troutman explained. "And the health officials at the ministry and St. Mungo's agree."
"Very well," Dumbledore said. "I always enjoyed the taste of pumpkin juice, myself."
With that statement a pitcher of pumpkin juice with a clean cup appeared. The pitcher rose to pour the cup full and then the cup moved across the table to the side of Dumbledore's plate. He took a deep breath and lifted the cup to his lips to drink.
"I'll ask the elves to hold some back for you then," Minerva said. "I believe Severus plans to use most of it as part of the poison for the colony of rats living underneath the castle."
The juice spewed from the headmaster's lips, spraying the seventh-year students from Ravenclaw except for a shield Flitwick had raised quickly. Minerva banished the wasted juice and with her wand, motioned for the pitcher to fill the headmaster's cup again.
*(+++++)*
Scene: Professor Binns and HedwigHarry was in the centre of the group of 'puffs and 'claws heading for the history classroom after breakfast. He had read the first two chapters in the textbook, History of Magical Britain, but the facts were dry and 'B.C.E.' meant nothing to the eleven-year-old wizard. (Before the Common Era)
When they reached the hallway with the assigned classroom, Hedwig appeared overhead and led the rest of the way to the door and into the room.
"Tonks said that most kids sleep through this class or work on their other homework," Zach told the other firsties.
"That's wrong," Hermione said. All the 'puffs and 'claws were on a first name basis now. "Prefect Clearwater told us how the Ravenclaw students all worked to make history interesting…"
"But it doesn't work," Padma admitted. "Binns talks about the goblin wars and treaties in every class for every year."
Harry laughed and quipped, "Then wizards should get along better with the goblins than they do!"
Hedwig settled at the first row of desks and chortled to her wizard. He listened, then motioned toward the other 'puffs at the back of the room before he replied, "Are you sure? Everyone else is sitting back here."
There was a short owlish reply and Harry sighed, pulling his backpack off the desk and walking to the front of the room. Without hesitating, Neville and Justin followed him but the other puffs held back.
"Wonder why the owl wants him up there?" Hannah asked aloud and caught Hedwig's attention. The girl blushed as the owl spoke to Harry for a moment before he made a face and turned around, "Hedwig says that 'Miss Abbot' should be a true Hufflepuff and join the other brave ones at the front table."
Glancing at the other girls, Sally-Anne grabbed her bag and announced, "Miss Hedwig has spoken. Come on, we can't let the boys get all the glory."
As Harry drew out the collapsible owl stand from his backpack, the girls from Hufflepuff took seats behind the three boys while Zach convinced the other boys to stay at the back of the room. Once the stand was placed beside the front row of desks, Hedwig settled on the perch and proceeded to preen her wing feathers.
When Professor Cuthbert Binns floated through the wall, he took his place at the podium and began discussing the causes of the goblin rebellion of 1712. Immediately the children lost interest but then Hedwig stopped preening and began 'talking' with the ghostly professor.
Binns paused in his regular lecture for the sixth-year students… the lesson he had prepared just before he died and listened to the bird's question.
"That is an excellent question, Miss Hedwig," the ghost replied. "The beginnings of Magical Britain are wrapped in shrouds of mystery that go far beyond King Arthur and the sorcerer known as Merlin."
Suddenly, the children were paying attention.
"There has been magic in the British Isles as long as they islands have existed. The very first people to settle these lands after the last ice age were hunters and gatherers. They fought wolves, bears, and giant bulls for a place on this green island. Among them were men and women who could use a few spells to start a fire or stop a bleeding wound. These people tamed this island and their villages spread across Britain and Ireland over the next five thousand years…"
With Hedwig's prompting the ghost continued talking about interesting facts from the history of Britain before 'civilisation'. Later in the hour, Binns began talking about the Celts and how they fought and settled among the 'native' peoples.
"Are we the descendants of the Celtic people?" Hermione asked.
This was the first question asked by a student and the ghost appeared to hear her as he began explaining, "In many ways we are their descendants but the people of Britain today are the descendants of many different invading peoples; Celts, Romans, Angles, Saxons, Danes, Vikings, and Normans…"
The bell rang to end the class and the children were disappointed.
Binns ghostly face was filled with a grin as he announced, "Next time, we will discuss how the Romans brought wands to Britain and attempted to change all magic here on the islands."
The history class – their history – appeared alive for the last hour, and the ghost was more aware of his surroundings. He stared at the old maps on the walls and called for elves to bring out the maps of Britain and the timeline of history he depended on to show his students the steps that led to their modern Magical Britain.
"We'll be back Wednesday, Professor Binns," Justin said as Neville helped Harry collapse Hedwig's stand and pack it away.
"Bring Miss Hedwig if you can," Professor Binns instructed them. "She'll help me focus."
The owl spoke up from Harry's shoulder and the ghost nodded, "Of course, I will come see you tonight in the owlery during dinner and we'll plan the course work for all seven years."
"Hey, hurry Harry, we get to fly now!" called Ernie from out in the hall.
"Come on Hedwig, I want you to show me some moves in the air!"
*(+++++)*
Scene: Flying with HedwigThe Hufflepuff firsties arrived at the Quidditch pitch to find the training brooms in a pile near the goal posts without any sign of the professor, Rolanda Hooch. Harry walked close to the brooms and picked one up. He looked closely at the handle – the stick was shiny with use and even had a few cracks in the finish.
"Is this how the brooms are stored?" he asked his classmates.
"No idea," Zach said. "My Da would wear out my seat if I just threw one of our brooms on the ground and walked away. We have a closet near the back door at home where only brooms are stored."
Susan looked around before she pointed to wicker stand with wheels and a lid. "That looks like a larger copy of the broom rack I've seen in the DMLE at the Ministry. I think brooms are supposed to be stored standing up."
"Let's clean up then," Harry suggested and the boys and girls worked together to stand each of the brooms up inside the rack.
"This one's had it," Ernie said as the bristles fell off the handle he picked up. "They disintegrate when their magic is used up."
"What happens if you're flying when it falls apart?" asked Neville nervously.
"You fall to your death!" Zach snorted and watched as the other 'puff turned pale.
"Professor Hooch won't let us fly with a broom that's almost used up!" Hannah insisted, though she too looked pale.
From the castle, the 'puffs saw their flying instructor approach with the 'claws. Hermione hurried ahead to share her news with the 'puffs, "During the lesson for Slytherin and Gryffindor, Malfoy and Weasley wouldn't follow instructions, yelled at each other, started to race and then collided. Professor Hooch had to levitate them both to the infirmary with broken heads and other bones."
"Attention students," the instructor announced, "I am Professor Rolanda Hooch and in this class, you will learn to fly on an enchanted broomstick. Every student must master flying on a broom before you graduate from Hogwarts."
She paused for a moment before she continued, "And when you don't listen to my instructions, you get hurt. I've never lost a student yet and today will not be that day."
It was then she noticed the brooms had been returned to the rack and her face softened. "I see the brooms have been returned to their container properly. Ten points to Hufflepuff!"
"We have enough brooms for each of you to have a safe flight. First, you will summon your broom from the ground, learn how to mount it properly, and how to push off safely."
"Then you fly the pattern laid out on the field. You'll see it once you are in the air," she pointed at the Quidditch pitch and made a circular motion with her hand.
Hooch's eyes narrowed for a moment. "How many of you have flown before?"
Zach, Ernie, Susan and Padma raised their hands. "Good. You four will go first to show the others but listen to me carefully; there will be no racing or stunts until I have seen you control the broom and keep your seat in the turns."
"Yes, professor!" replied the four students.
Hooch continued saying, "Malfoy and Weasley will be in the infirmary for two days at least and in pain because they would not listen! Their parents will not be happy with the letters I send home tonight either!"
Harry watched impatiently as Hooch gave the four experienced students training brooms and cast warming charms on their robes. The four students summoned the brooms from the ground, mounted, and lifted off.
The boy-who-lived paid close attention and noticed that none of the four said anything aloud to begin their flight, they just bent their knees and pushed up from the ground. Ernie's grin was infectious. Zach was focused and concentrating on following the pattern on the Quidditch pitch. Padma concentrated but did wave to the other students when she flew past. Susan Bones appeared to a bird as she passed by, leaning left and right to take the corners quicker.
As Hooch called the four students back to her side, Hedwig arrived and landed on Harry's shoulder.
"Oh great, the owl has arrived," Zach snarked. "So, Potter, what does Hedwig know about flying…"
There was silence on the field as even Hedwig turned to look at Smith as if he was an idiot. Then the 'puff snorted as he said, "Gotcha!"
There were laughs from everyone and Hooch smiled as the owl even appeared to be laughing.
"Mr Potter, is your owl going to take over the class?" asked the flying instructor. But it was Hedwig who replied and Harry translated.
"Hedwig says she might have pointers for me once I am in the air but you are the expert on getting wizards into the air."
He grinned and explained, "The only lesson Hedwig ever received was the day her mother pushed her out of their nest and said, 'Fly'."
Again, there was laughter as Hooch cast warming charms on all the students and then directed them to take brooms. She assigned the four experienced flyers to help the new flyers. Ernie worked with Harry and Michael; Zach with Neville, Justin, and James; Susan with Hannah and Sally-Anne; and Padma with Hermione.
"Alright, summon your broom to your hand," Hooch told each student. Among all the students, Sally-Anne was the only one not to get her broom up on the first call. Her broom rose on the second time and the muggle-born grinned. Neville was smiling and Hermione had a flurry of questions for Padma as they mounted their brooms.
Ernie asked, "Got it Harry?"
"Yeah! I got it," Harry replied as he watched Hedwig circling the pitch in the same pattern Susan Bones had followed.
"Push off!" Hooch's voice was there but the moment his feet left the ground, Harry only heard his own heart beating in his chest. He tasted the wind, the sun was his compass; Harry's senses made him aware of the other students, and the professor's instructions to begin a slow flight around the pitch. He immediately saw the pattern laid out in the grass with turns and straight sections.
"Get the feel of your broom!" she commanded. "Like your wand, wizards and witches link to their broom."
Hedwig appeared beside Harry and she called to him to follow her. She told him to feel his magic in the air and the young wizard grinned as his magic flowed into the broom and across the pitch. Hooch watched as the children fell into a formation like migrating birds, following the boy-who-lived and his snowy owl through the pattern laid out on the field today. They made a few gentle turns as a group and her breath caught imagining how well they might fly together in the future.
Neville Longbottom grinned. 'I'm flying! Like the wizards in Quidditch.'
Hermione Granger smiled and shifted her grip on the broom handle to keep hold but not too tight. Beside her, Padma squealed with excitement.
"I love it! I love it!" the young witch shouted to her friend.
Leading her group into the formation behind Harry, Susan grinned at her friends around her; they were flying around the Quidditch pitch at Hogwarts with growing speed. Zach Smith swallowed as he watched harry ahead of him – his house mate was a natural on a broom.
Then Zach grinned as he contemplated future quidditch matches with the other houses. Hufflepuff would come to dominate the school's only game with Potter on the team and leading the other players.
As their warming charms expired, Hooch called them back to the rack and promised them more lessons later in the week. His cheeks were red with the cold but otherwise Harry was numb to everything but remembering his time on the broom.
As they made their way inside for lunch, Hedwig made Harry take her to each 'claw and 'puff to translate her praise for their flying ability. The students reluctantly left the field for lunch but they laughed and joked the entire way into the castle.
"Yeah, what does an owl know about flying?" asked Neville as Hedwig landed on his shoulder for a moment and butted his head with her own.
Harry grinned and glanced back at the Quidditch pitch. He'd fly again soon and he was composing his letter to Felicity, Ironstream and the dragons about flying with Hedwig.
*(+++++)*