Flying Lessons With Madam Hooch
"So," McGonagall whispered into the dark, "the girl has no magical abilities at all you say?"
"None."
"We were so sure! How could we have been wrong about something like this?"
"I do not know, but I do know that she has been in classes for two weeks, and she still has shown no ability to use the magic she seems to posses."
"But the power…"
"I know."
"Should she learn to harness it that girl could have enough power in her little finger to command the galaxies at her will."
"Perhaps it is better this way," Dumbledore whispered, moving his face at last into the light, "without the use of her powers she will remain humble. In time she may yet learn how to use her magic, but we are not the people to show her…"
~ * ~
Time went by much as it already had. It was as if that class was a movie preview for the next year of Gen's life. In Transfigurations Gen sat with Hermione and acted serious, in potions Gen showed off her mad skills to Professor Snape, in Defense Against the Dark Arts Gen and Malfoy made fun of Quirrell, in Charms Gen and Neville failed to make anything happen whatsoever, and in History Ron and Gen passed notes. Gen quickly made a scrapbook of notes that passed between her and Ron. It was most amusing. As it turned out Gen was a terrible witch, in fact she wasn't one at all. The only thing she managed to actually do was potions. In fact, she was a wizard at potions. She was passing all her classes either way, as she did all her work, but it seemed mostly like a waste. Luckily for her there was one other first year who was similar to her, and perhaps even worse. Neville Longbottom not only failed to cast spells, but he also failed to make potions. The only thing he really excelled at was herbology. This made Gen feel better. As time went by Gen continued to spend sleepless nights either in her dungeon, or her dormitory. She found herself writing to Herman Teacup regularly whenever she ran out of ideas of things to do. When Gen didn't feel like working in her dungeon she would sit in the library, reading just about any book she could, accumulating knowledge about this world she found herself in.
She decided a while into the first week of school that long hair was too common at Hogwarts, so she and Hermione paid a visit to the bathroom with a pair of scissors. When they left the bathroom Gen's hair was about the same length as Harry's, and quite nearly as messy.
About two weeks into the school year a note was posted on the bulletin board in the Ravenclaw common room. It was about first year flying lessons. All four of the houses would be learning together. That would make the class about forty people big. The fact that the class took place outside probably had something to do with this. Immediately Gen decided that her best plan of attack was to simply not go. She had free reign of the school, and she wasn't aloud to do detention, besides what would happen? She had no grade points to loose.
The day of flying lessons at lunch Gen was walking to her house table, but was stopped on the way by Malfoy, who was surprisingly not flanked by his flunkies. "Gen," Malfoy said in a serious tone, "we need to talk."
"Okay Draco," Gen said, wondering what he might have to say to her.
"I think you know what this is about."
"Erm…" Gen raised an eyebrow, "no…"
"I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one feeling this connection between us," Gen said nothing, "I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one suffering from the pain of not being together. Everyday I see you, and we talk, and there's nothing. I need something. I need you. I don't know why, I can't figure any of this out. I just know that when I see you I'm happy, and when I talk to you I'm happy, and I want for you to be my girlfriend. I want to hold you, and kiss your sweet lips. Say something, anything." Gen had listened to Malfoys whole speech. There was nothing really to it. His words were beautiful, but his voice wasn't sincere. The only pain he felt was that of not being able to satisfy his lust. Gen knew the difference between love and lust. Malfoy had a look in his eyes that suggested that if he didn't get sex he would turn to dust as they spoke. How could a boy at the age of eleven want sex? Gen's brother was eleven.
"Draco I…" Gen needed some easy way out of the situation, "I…" it was then that she noticed something over Malfoy's left shoulder. It was Ron, sitting at the Gryffindor table, listening to the whole conversation. He was motioning something to her, and mouthing something, but she couldn't see what he was saying, "I er… already have a…" she read his signals, "boyfriend. He's a… WHAT?!?!" Gen began to laugh at the obscenities that Ron was trying to say through hand signals. Malfoy's head jerked, and he saw Ron sitting at the Gryffindor table making faces at Gen.
"Oh," Malfoy said bitterly, "so that's the way it is! You're with that pathetic excuse for a wizard, that… Weasely!" he spat, "well, you wont hear the end of this! Not as long as I'm a Malfoy!" Malfoy marched off to the Slytherin table, and Ron called Gen over.
Ron seemed to find the whole situation extremely amusing, and insisted that Gen sit by him, and put up a charade. She had to admit that it was quite funny, and agreed to pretend to be Ron's girlfriend. Gen sat next to Ron for that Lunchtime. He kept over exaggeratedly huggeling her, and started making up pet names for her. They walked to History of Magic together. He carried her books, after a long argument that Gen lost. Malfoy watched them leave the grand hall, and aware of the blond-haired boy's bitter gaze Ron put his arm around Gen's shoulder. He heard grumbling from behind, and smothered a snicker by pressing his mouth to Gen's ear. She giggled, and pushed him away from her neck, complaining that it tickled. When they were out of Malfoy's view Ron took his arm away from Gen's shoulder, and gave her back her books.
It was a Thursday so History of Magic was particularly long that day. It went by with almost no riotous behavior from Ron, or Harry. About fifteen minutes before the class let out a crumpled up ball of paper landed on Gen's desk.
Look back.
Gen looked behind her only to see Ron looking at her with a mustache, and goatee drawn on his face in green ink, and the similar on Harry's face. The two boys were pulling faces at her, and she suddenly realized what they had been doing all period instead of passing her notes. She laughed, and dipped her quill in her inkbottle.
Oh, you look mature!
Gen crumpled the note up, and tossed it back to Ron. Who smiled, and wrote something hastily below what she wrote, tossing the note back to her.
Meet me outside the boy's bathrooms after class.
Why?
NO QUESTIONS WOMAN!
Gen laughed, and looked back at him nodding her head, signaling that she would. After class Gen stood with her books clutched to her bosom. She could hear Harry and Ron from inside the bathroom, they were laughing, and joking about something, but she couldn't hear over the running water.
"What are you two doing in there?" Gen asked.
"Washing our faces," Ron yelled back, "what do you think?"
"You two are totally nuts!"
"Drat," Ron said loudly, "it wont come off."
"Ah!" Harry screamed, "soap in eye!" Gen, annoyed, pushed her way into the bathroom, finally getting over the fact that it was a guy's bathroom.
"You came in!" Ron said in shocked tones.
"Get over it," Gen said filling her hand with paper-towel, and practically swooping down on Ron, with water and soap, scrubbing the ink off. He howled with pain, and shock.
"Stop scrubbing so hard!"
"We're going to be late for flying lessons!" Gen said huffily.
The two boys looked at each other suddenly horrified, and said in unison, "FLYING LESSONS!"
"We totally forgot!" Ron said miserably.
"We can't miss them, I want to know how to fly!" Harry whined.
"Well as soon as I'm finished with Ron I'll clean you up too. I appear to be making progress," she said looking at where she had completely removed a section of his mustache. Harry began to scrub harder, for fear of ending up with his face in Gen's hands. He didn't like the sound of Ron howling at her for scrubbing too hard…
Malfoy seemed extremely irritated when the three came out of the castle together, and he wondered what Gen and Ron had been doing all that time. Had he known they were in an abandoned Boy's bathroom he probably would have been furious. The three ran out onto the grass, and joined the others about three seconds before Madam Hooch arrived. Gen silently praised Flitwick's enchantment. "Goodmorning class," Madam Hooch said, "welcome to your first flying lesson! Well, what are you waiting for? Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up." The forty or so students walked over next to their brooms, "stick your right arm out over the broom, and say up."
"UP," was the general cry from the group. About three people's brooms actually came to them the first time they commanded. The three were oddly enough Malfoy, Harry, and Gen. The others had significant trouble. Ron's broom came up and smacked him in the face, much to Harry's amusement. Hermione couldn't manage to get her broom to do much more than roll around on the ground. After a time the first years all held their brooms in their hands. Madam hooch had them mount their brooms, and instructed them on what to do.
"When I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground hard, keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle. Three… Two…" but Madam Hooch never finished her count down. Malfoy so kindly gave Neville a nudge forward, and the poor boy went flying off the ground. Gen didn't really see the whole thing, she found herself tripping over something or other, and landing on the ground. Ron helped her up just in time to see Neville hit the ground with a crunch. Madam Hooch took Neville away to the hospital wing with warnings of expulsion should anyone attempt to fly.
It was then that Malfoy found something. It was a glass ball. Malfoy said something about it being Neville's and said a few rude words along with that.
"Draco give that back!" Gen said earnestly.
"Or what? You'll sick your boyfriend on me?" Ron was about to pounce on Malfoy but stopped himself, realizing this would only prove his point.
"Draco, don't!"
"I think I will."
"Will what?" Ron asked.
"Put it somewhere for Longbottom to find," Malfoy mounted his broom, "how about up in a tree?" he called as he flew away. Gen mounted her broom, possessed of some spirit she knew not. She didn't really think she could fly, but something inside her told her to let go of the ground. Ron mounted his broom beside her, as did Harry, but she was off before them. She took off, and in an instant she was in the air, completely at one with her broom. She chased after Malfoy, quickly catching up with him. They hovered in the air staring each other down.
"Give it here Draco!" she said, wondering why that line sounded so familiar.
"Alright then," Malfoy said seeing Ron and Harry speeding their way, "have it your way, I sure hope you can catch!" He tossed the glass ball high in the air, and Gen watched it, keenly aware of everything around her. Gen was a pretty clumsy person, but suddenly on a broomstick she felt graceful. She sped after the glass ball that was quickly gathering speed as it streaked across the sky. While Gen was chasing the ball Ron and Harry were chasing a fleeing Malfoy, who quickly made it back to the ground, and back to Crabbe, and Goyel. Ron and Harry landed, keeping a distance, not wanting to end up in the hospital wing with Neville. Gen dove deep, and hard, reaching forward, snatching the ball out of the air, and pulling up just in time. She flew back to the crowd, and was met by cheers. She handed the glass ball to Harry, who offered to give it to Neville. Her happiness was short-lived, as McGonagall's voice called over the cheers.
"Who was that I saw flying?" She said coming into the crowd. Gen wasn't worried, there were no restrictions on her, and she couldn't be expelled. She was about to admit when Harry spoke up.
"It was me professor," he said showing her the glass ball in his hand. Why was Harry protecting Gen? It didn't make much sense. Maybe he felt untouchable, as he was the infamous Harry Potter. Either way McGonagall insisted that Harry follow her away with her into the school. The only thing that made it possible for McGonagall to mistake Gen for Harry was Gen's now short and messy hair. She spited the fact that she had such a need to dress outside the norm. Ron and Gen exchanged looks of great fear for Harry, but it didn't last long because at that very moment Hooch reappeared. She resumed the lesson, as if nothing had happened, and before long class was over.
Gen, Ron, and Hermione stormed through the halls, eager to find Harry. They were, all three of them, shocked to find him waiting for them in the grand hall. They were even more shocked to hear that he had gotten into no trouble whatsoever, and that he had been appointed Gryffindor's seeker. Hermione repeatedly announced that she found this utterly unfair, as Harry hadn't really done anything, and he might not be able to fly well at all. Harry seemed hurt, and the subject was dropped. As they ate in silence at the Gryffindor table Malfoy walked by, flanked by Crabbe and Goyel.
"Eating your last meal Potter? I knew you were stupid, but I didn't think you were so stupid as to get yourself expelled to help out some idiot girl. I suppose you'll be on a train to go back to the muggles any minute now."
"You think you're so tough with your little friends around you all the time. You'd never get caught dead without them, cause you know you'd loose your shirt," Harry was on a roll
"I'd take you anytime on my own," Malfoy announced, "In face we'll do it tonight, wizards duel, wands only, trophy room, midnight, be there!" With that Malfoy stormed off
"Ron," Harry said in a strange, uncomfortable voice, "whats a wizard's duel?"
"Basically you just cast spells at each other until one of you dies. Don't worry though neither of you know anything strong enough to do any real damage."
"Oh, that makes me feel a whole lot better!" Harry said sarcastically before shoveling a spoonful of pie into his mouth…
Eighth chapter! I'm so excited that this story is actually going somewhere! I hope you enjoyed it, I know Piper will have, but then it had a little of everything; a bit of drama, a bit of adventure, a bit of comedy. What more can you ask for huh? The next chapter is comin' soon. I feel so bad; I've completely split up the tree house gang V_V. Oh well, don't you worry it'll all work out for the best later. Don't you like the twist I put on the original story? Tell me about it! I really appreciate reviews, bad and good. I can handle constructive criticism, not only that, I want it! Gimmie criticism!