Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Warner Brothers bought me out.
"Harry, I'd like to talk with you."
Harry turned around, and tried to avoid wincing when he saw that it was McGonagall. He apparently failed, because McGonagall remonstrated, "No need to look afraid, Potter. Madame Hooch needs to talk with you."
Harry grew puzzled at this. Why did he need to see the flying instructor? Was something wrong with the Quidditch pitch or equipment?
Harry slowly nodded, and McGonagall said, "She's waiting at the Quidditch pitch for you."
Harry walked out to the end of the grounds, and saw Hooch's easily recognizable thin wiry figure, along with a student who was only a bit taller than her. As he walked up to the pair, he finally placed the face - Clive Lewis. It took a bit, since Clive had seemingly been avoiding Harry during the year so far. Even though they were both in Gryffindor, Harry had only seen the boy a couple of times.
"Ah, yes," barked Hooch. "I need your help, Potter."
Harry was even more confused, and Hooch explained, "Clive's been falling behind with the flying lessons. I'd like you to work with him out of class."
Harry took a minute, mulling this over. Of course, he didn't really have the time to help Clive out. Between classes, homework, and the horrible cleaning sessions at night, he had barely any free time as it is. But how could he explain? "Madame Hooch, I..."
Hooch, however, seemed to know what was going on already. "I've talked with McGonagall and she's willing to release you from some of your Transfiguration work if you help out."
Harry quickly agreed. McGonagall assigned more homework than any other professor.
"Well, I should leave you two be, then," Hooch finished, turning to leave the pitch. Harry faced Clive and saw the same expression on his face during the sorting ceremony.
Harry decided to finally ask. "Why do you look at me like you wish I weren't here?"
Clive didn't say anything at first and merely grimaced. "Because I do."
Harry was surprised. "Why is that?"
Clive smiled, but it was more of an ironic one. "I suppose you've heard of my father."
"Er, no," Harry admitted. "Who's your dad?"
Clive stared at him, amazed. "You've never heard of Ted Lewis?"
"No." Harry looked at the profile of surprise on Clive's face.
"He was the Captain of the Kestrel's from 1967-1982."
"That's a long time," Harry admitted, "But... so?"
For some reason, Clive found this funny and let out a barking laugh.
Harry was glad at the turn and asked, "So what does your father have to do with this?"
"I thought you'd know him," Clive said, and then explained, "Everyone's heard of Ted Lewis - and everyone expects me to be just as good. And then... well, everyone's heard about you playing Quidditch, too."
Harry finally understood, and realized he might not be the best choice for helping Clive out. Clive pulled a piece of parchment from his robes and handed it to Harry.
Flying Syllibus
Week 1: Getting off the Ground
Week 2: Straight Flying I
Week 3: Straight Flying II
Week 4: Turns
Week 5: Diving and Climbing
Week 6: High Altitudes
Week 7: Advanced I
Week 8: Advanced II
Week 9: Advanced III
Harry looked at the list, and was slightly jealous. "We stopped at Week 6 four years ago," Harry complained.
Clive didn't look very sympathetic at this and Harry said, "Alright. Where are you at right..."
Harry stopped at the resigned look on Clive's face. "Forget the list. What can you do?"
Clive looked at Harry, and asked, "Forget the list?"
"Forget the list. Incendio!" Harry promptly burned the list in front of Clive's widened eyes. "Now, what can you do?"
Harry watched Clive carefully as he tried to fly levelly across the ground, but failed. Yet Harry didn't think it was a lack of ability, but a lack of effort and willpower. Clive didn't want to fly.
"You ok?" Ron asked the harried looking Cho as she left the Great Hall.
Cho turned around, tried to place the name, and finally said, "I'm fine, Ron."
Ron crossed his arms and arched his eyebrows, nonverbally communicating his disbelief.
Cho slumped down against the stone wall in the corridor, and Ron quickly followed suit on the other side. Cho quietly said, "It's the dance. Everyone's always asking me who I'm going with."
Ron tried not to smile with glee, and said, "Of course. And they don't believe you when you say you're not going."
Cho looked at Ron, analyzing his face. Ron kept his face neutral, and Cho hesitantly said, "That's right."
Ron could hardly believe his luck so far, and pushed it further. "Maybe you should rethink, then. Why not go?"
"I told you," Cho replied heatedly.
"Not as a date," Ron quickly said, trying to pacify her. "I meant with a friend. A no-risk type of evening."
Cho quietly mulled this over in her mind, and Ron tried hard not to let his building enthusiasm show. "Terry's already got a date. Francis… no, he's going with Susan. Er…" Cho mumbled to herself, but Ron was able to pick up.
"I don't know," Cho said, looking up. "Most people already have dates at this point. I can't think of anyone who doesn't."
Ron put the final peg in. "Now, now. You can't think very far then. Not even a meter past your nose."
Cho suddenly had a realization, although Ron had been shooting for this for the last several minutes. "You're not going with anyone, are you?" Cho asked.
Ron tried hard not to smile and said, "Er… no."
"Well," Cho said hopefully, "do you want to go? Just as friends?"
Ron pretended to think about this, but he was really relishing the look on Harry's face when he got to the dance and finally saw the consequences of crushing his sister like that. "…sure. I'll meet you down in the Great Hall at 8:30 on Christmas."
Cho and Ron shook hands, and as Ron walked back to the Gryffindor commons alone, he had an odd knowing smile playing across his face. He'd finally get Harry back!
Harry worked blankly in the entrance hall, knowing that what he was doing was ultimately futile. Any minute now, the Slytherin quidditch squad would walk through the doors. Sure enough, 5 minutes later the oak doors were thrown open, and Draco leered at him. Harry had to at least admire the methodical way the Slytherins went about the Great Hall. The first day they went through, they walked pretty much in single file, limiting their mess to a relatively narrow swath. Now, however, they purposely lined up side by side, spreading far more muck than before. Harry shook his head after they left, and began to clean up the hall again.
Harry was looking forward to the weekend. Because of the Quidditch match, McGonagall was allowing him to take Saturday and Sunday off from the useless cleaning of the Entrance Hall. Also, he was looking forward to the match itself – and for the first time since he had been at Hogwarts, Gryffindor didn't play the first game. Instead, Ravenclaw and Slytherin had already played each other, with Ravenclaw edging out their opponents to almost everyone's satisfaction. Harry quickly ran out to the pitch before the game, wanting to get warmed up on his Firebolt. He didn't stay up for long, though – the weather had turned chilly over the last week, and Harry didn't want to get numb before the game even begun.
As the two teams filtered in, along with a few of the early students in the crowd, Harry descended and dismounted from his broom. Harry quickly peered over at the Hufflepuff seeker – apparently they appointed a new player, and Harry recognized him as a 4th year whose name he couldn't remember. However, the new seeker went over and shook his hand with a smile. "Hi, Harry! I'm Norton."
"Hi, Norton," Harry said back with a grin. Harry loved playing against Hufflepuff. They, over any other team, didn't hold grudges on the game. Even Ravenclaw could get nasty when they were playing against Slytherin or sometimes even Gryffindor.
"Bit nippy," Norton said conversationally.
Harry grunted and blew on his hands, deciding to pull out his dragon-hide gloves. They made it harder to grab the snitch, but his hand wouldn't be much good if it was brittle from the cold. Norton pulled out his as well.
Hooch arrived, and the crowd quickly found their seats. Norton quickly went over to his team, and the 14 players took their places. Harry looked around – the stands weren't as full as usual, but the weather would likely discourage the less enthusiastic from attending.
Hooch blew her whistle and started the game. Harry followed Norton up above the action, peering every which way for any sign of gold. Within a few minutes, the wind started howling up by them, which Harry was actually a little happy about. Although the torrent sent chills down his arms and legs, it meant that he would be left alone. Sure enough, the chasers for the most part kept at low altitude, and the bludgers stayed low as well, choosing to go after the group of 12 instead of the two seekers far above everyone else. The only interruption to them circling above was the occasional potshot from the beaters below.
Suddenly, Norton dived at the ground, and Harry quickly followed him. Harry was a few meters behind but was catching up rapidly on his faster broom. However, when he pulled to the right to pass the diving Hufflepuff, he noticed that Norton didn't appear to be chasing anything.
Wronski Feint Harry thought, and leveled off and turned around. Norton kept diving, not knowing that Harry wasn't following him, and Harry suddenly saw a flash of gold on the other end of the field. He quickly darted towards it, but he had to fly evasively since he was now on the same level as the rest of the players. Still, the Hufflepuff beaters didn't notice him among the Gryffindor chasers and beaters, and didn't concentrate on him. Harry quickly swerved around Katie Bell and Fred Weasley, and entered a final dive for the snitch. A strangled cry cut from across the field – apparently Norton realized his feint didn't work – and Harry managed to catch the snitch in his hand, ending the game at 180-20.
For most matches, the house usually congregated on the pitch for awhile and talked about the game, but Katie Bell looked around at the Gryffindors pulling their robes tightly around them and called out, "Commons everyone."
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Long chapter, but I decided to include the first quidditch match. I think I'm finally getting the story on track, so I'll try for the original submission times. No promises, though.
Erinamation: Oh, ok. I guess I usually see it as 'whee'. Thanks!
Phoenix Flight: Yep, you'll see the effects of the homework, but it'll probably be a few chapters.
Lakergurl13: It's kind of funny. I throw together a lesson plan, and all of you manage to analyze it far better than I can! To tell you the truth, I hadn't thought about the creation of shades, or whether non-evil wizards use them as well.
Katani: Thanks! No, I haven't seen the 6th sense.
Kaelli: Thanks!
Chaser: Thanks!
Feel free to review
