A/N: Hi again! I've actually got a relatively detailed plot for this now! Before I just knew what was going to happen, now I know what's happening, when it's happening, where it's happening, why it's happening, and what's gonna happen.
Oh yeah, Last time I forgot the disclaimer. Oh well.
Disclaimer: Me? Own Harry Potter? I don't want to own him. Now Draco and Snape, they're people I'd like to own, even if I don't.
Chapter ten - Classes of All Sorts
Ben soon found out why Hogwarts was often referred to as the best school for young witches and wizards ever. All of the classes were interesting, with the possible exception of History of Magic, but you couldn't have everything.
Easily his favourite subject was Defence against the Dark Arts, merely because the professor, Professor Black, made everything fun. Apparently he had been a prankster at school, though he also had an undeniable talent for teaching.
His second favourite subject was most probably Potions, though that was due to the fact that Gryffindors lost on average 20-25 points each lesson, whilst Slytherin gained that many. Not to mention that he was relatively good at the subject.
Transfiguration wasn't bad, though even though she didn't make it obvious, Professor McGonagall slightly favoured her own house over the others. Still, it was quite fun, even it all they had been doing so far was turning matched into needles. It was hard too, and almost every student had a hard time with the spell in that class. About the only one who didn't was a mudblood girl, Hermione Granger, though it also seemed she as if she had no trouble in any of the classes they had.
History of Magic. Those words were almost enough to put Ben to sleep, as they could with any other student, and if you mentioned Professor Binns at the same time, then there was bound to be snoring heard nearby. The most interesting thing about his lessons was when he came floating through the blackboard, for he was a ghost, even if this trick got old really fast.
Herbology was an okay subject, though all they were doing was repotting some of the plants.
The first couple of weeks flew by quite quickly, what with classes, homework, and contacting his father, though they had had to abandon using floo, as Dumbledore was now watching the network.
In fact, before they knew it there was an announcement on the notice board in the Entrance Hall announcing that flying lessons would soon begin. Actually theirs that Thursday, with the Gryffindors, but it was sure to be interesting as there was Neville Longbottom in that class, who was one of the clumsiest boys in the school. He could well fall off his broom, causing great hilarity for the Slytherins.
At three-thirty on the Thursday afternoon, Ben, Blaise and Draco hurried down the front steps into the grounds. The weather was clear and breezy, and the grass rippled under their feet as they walked.
They had arrived first, before the other Slytherins and Gryffindors, but soon enough the other students, and Madam Hooch, the flying instructor and Quidditch referee had turned up.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" she barked out loudly. "Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up."
Ben glanced down at his broomstick in distaste. It was an old Comet 110, one of the first models of the 20th century, and the twigs in the tail stuck out. Obviously the school had never heard the word 'Broomstick Servicing Kit' otherwise it might have been in better shape.
"Stick your right hand over your broom," called Madam Hooch. "And say 'Up!'"
This earnt several rolled eyes from the pure- and half-blood who had flown before, but never the less, they did what she said.
"UP!" said Ben along with everyone else, causing his broom to fly upwards into his waiting hand. He smirked. Blaise's broom was the only other one that had obeyed the command.
After a few more minutes everyone but the Gryffindor boy Longbottom had their brooms in their hands. Sighing, Madam Hooch told him to just pick it up.
Madam Hooch showed them how to mount their brooms properly, and corrected grips of some people.
"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," said Hooch again. "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forwards slightly. On my whistle - three - two -"
Longbottom, who seemed nervous, jumpy and frightened of being left on the ground, pushed off hard before the whistle had touched Madam Hooch's lips.
"Come back boy!" she yelled, but Longbottom was rising like a cork out of a bottle - twelve feet - twenty feet. Ben could make out a scared white face look down at the ground falling away, saw him gasp, slip sideways off the broom and fall.
WHAM! A thud and a nasty crack were heard, and Longbottom lay face down on the grass in a heap. The broom was still rising and it eventually started to drift out across the Forbidden Forest and out of sight.
Half of the Slytherin's tried to contain their laughter, whilst the other half didn't bother. The Gryffindor's looked horrified at the sight, though some of their lips were twitching upwards into a smile.
"All of you! Stop laughing! Longbottom could have been seriously hurt! Now none of you are to move whilst I'm gone, otherwise you'll be out of here faster than you can say 'Quidditch'. Come on dear." Longbottom, his face tear-streaked, clutching his possibly broken wrist, hobbled off with madam Hooch, who had her arm around him.
No sooner than they were out of earshot, all of the Slytherin's burst out laughing again.
"Did you see his face, the great lump?" asked Draco.
The other Slytherins laughed harder, if that was at all possible.
"Shut up Malfoy," snapped one of the Gryffindor girls.
"Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?" said Pansy. "Never thought you'd like fat little cry babies, Parvati."
"Look!" said Draco darting forwards and snatching something from the grass. "It's a remembrall. Must be Longbottom's, no one else would be stupid enough to need one."
"Give it here Malfoy," said Weasley, causing Draco to smirk.
"I don't think I will. I think I fancy playing catch. Wanna join in Ben, Blaise?" asked Malfoy.
"Sure," said Ben, smirking broadly.
"Should be fun," smirked Blaise.
The three of them took off from the ground, and threw the ball from to each other, whilst the Gryffindors watched in horror and the Slytherins watched in amusement. They carried on for several minutes until Draco threw the ball to Ben, with it falling short.
Without think of the danger, he went into a dive, feeling the wind rushing past his face. He could see the remembrall falling, as if it was in slow motion. He was racing towards the ball, as if it were the only other thing in the world besides him. He could hear the scream of people watching, but paid them no heed.
He was two feet from the ground, and he put out his hand, pulling up slightly. A foot of the ground and his fist closed around the red, smoke-filled sphere, and he pulled fully out of the dive.
"BENJAMIN HUNT! DRACO MALFOY! BLAISE ZABINI!"
Ben felt his heart sink, instantly recognising the voice. He turned around, and it concerned his suspicions. Professor Snape was walking towards them looking extremely angry.
"Get down here this instant!" Snape yelled. Ben, Blaise and Draco flew silently to the ground, dreading the fate that would await them.
"Follow me," said Snape in a deathly quiet voice. The three of them looked at one another, gulped, and then followed him up to the school, catching glances from their fellow first years. The Slytherins looked shocked because Professor Snape was angry at someone in his own house. They looked sympathetic too, though not very.
The Gryffindors looked shocked, like the Slytherins, but they looked a whole lot more sympathetic, possibly because they got in more trouble with Snape than most other houses. Not even the house rivalries could stop them from feeling sorry for Ben, Blaise and Draco.
Snape led them through the castle, and up to the Transfiguration classrooms. Snape knocked, opened the door and spoke.
"Professor McGonagall, my I talk to Flint for a moment?" he asked quickly. McGonagall nodded her consent and a boy, one who looked like a troll, walked out.
Snape led them to an empty classroom and spoke to them quietly.
"Now, I expect you three know Marcus Flint, he's the Quidditch Captain, and one of the chasers. Flint, this is Hunt, Malfoy and Zabini. I believe we don't have to hold try-outs for the seeker and the other two chaser positions."
The three of them looked up at Snape in shock. Due to Slytherin's over whelming desire to win, all the positions, except the captain's, were up for grabs each year, but first years being allowed to try-out was unheard of, and first years getting positions was even more unheard of.
"Professor, are you sure?" asked Flint. "I mean, their first years!"
"Yes, Flint, I am sure. With these three, I have no doubt. Hunt managed to catch a remembrall from a dive fifty feet in the air as if it was noting, and Malfoy and Zabini were throwing it to one another with such accuracy that I have never seen. All I have to do is clear it with Dumbledore, and these three are on the team. With talent like theirs, there is no way I am letting miss out on the team until next year."
Snape looked at the four of them, as if telling them the conversation was over, and then walked away, his cloak billowing behind him.
"So," said Flint slowly. "How much do the three of you know about Quidditch..."
A/N: What do you think? This is longer than most of my other chapters. Most of them (except the 11 page one) were about three pages each, this is five.
Only four reviews. Oh well. I suppose that could be because I didn't bug everyone for them.
Styx in pain away: You do? Does that mean you've guessed it? I hope not. I want it to be a surprise.
Hpcrazy: I know I made them nastier. I couldn't have them meet a 'muggle-lover' without them being nasty.
Rain Warrior: Anyone can update as quickly as they want. I'm glad to see you'll try. The only reason I'm going to is because the part I wanna write most is coming up quite soon, even though it's quite a few chapters away.
Goldengirl2: I know I did. And yet again, I have.
I figure this fic to be about five more chapters long. Maybe six or seven. I'm not sure yet. Then I'll probably move onto the sequel, which has already started forming in my mind.
Oh, and one last thing. Please review. I'm getting close to 100 reviews, the most I've ever had before! I wanna make it, but I can't without your help! You have helped this fic to be my most popular one so far, and I want to make it even more popular. I can only do this with your help. Review please!