Chapter 7- Flying

Year 1

Severus was sitting at his regular seat at the Slytherin table in the

great hall. He had his Dark Forces: A Guide to Self Protection

open in front of him, while his plate remained empty.

Lucius sat down near him and raised an eyebrow. "Do you not eat either?"

he asked with a sly grin on his face.

Snape didn't lift his eyes up from the book.

"I'm just not hungry." he said.

"Well, I can't blame you. Pretty bland compared to what I'm used to."

said Lucius, taking a gulp of some pumpkin juice.

Severus said nothing to this comment. Of course Lucius would think this was

bland, but to him it was too much. His family weren't exactly rich, and he

never really ate that much anyway.

Lucius glanced over the book he was reading.

"We had that class yesterday... are you getting a head start on homework?"

he asked.

"No... I already have it done." said Severus, enjoying the look he got

afterwards.

"Oh... you must really be into the Dark Arts." he smiled darkly.

Snape felt slightly akward about where the conversation was turning.

"It's an interesting subject." he said, closing the book, and stashing

it away into his bag.

"Indeed..." said Lucius eyeing him for a second, as if trying to

read his thoughts.

Lucius whipped out his schedule, and laughed heartily.

"Why... we have flying this morning with Gryffindor again!"

Severus frowned.

"Great. And this is a good thing?" he asked.

"Oh... well, not technically, but it will be fun "accidentally"

knocking Pettigrew or Potter off their brooms." he chuckled. "I am

already an excellent flyer. I shouldn't even have to take the class."

sneered Lucius.

Snape doubted Lucius was as good as he said he was, but it still made

him uneasy. He had never flown anything in his life.

****************

As the students gathered out on the lawn outside the castle, the Flying

Instructor, Madame Bollack, was lying out some old looking Shooting Stars.

"Why can't our glorious headmaster update these brooms! Shooting Stars

were our parent's brooms!" snarled Lucius. "Doesn't that old crackpot

know that the Nimbus racing brooms are the best in the market now?"

Snape looked down distastefully at the brooms. He doubted he would

like them any better if they were Nimbus brand.

"What not good enough for you, Malfoy?" asked James as he appeared

with Sirius, Remus, and Peter at his side.

"Maybe Dumbledore wants to train people on the older brooms, so he doesn't

have to have an idiot like Pettigrew destroy the good ones." laughed Lucius.

Snape smirked at the thought of a broom, especially these worn out

Shooting Starts supporting his weight.

Peter blushed bright red and looked away.

" Leave him alone, Malfoy. You and your cronie better watch it!" said

Sirius glaring at Lucius, and sparing another nasty glare for Severus.

"What's that Black?" said Severus challenging him. "Did I hear you say

cronie? With all of your little fans following you about I wouldn't be

talking." Severus' dark eyes glittered ammusingly.

" Listen, you slimy git!..." growled Sirius, but he was immediatley

pulled away be Remus.

"Sirius, No... the professor is watching!" he whispered urgently in his

ear.

Sirius gave one last glare to Severus and Lucius and joined the rest of

Gryffindors, standing next to brooms.

Lilly was talking happily to a blonde gryffindor girl, her red hair

shining brightly in the morning sun. James was grinning stupidly at

her from down the line, but she didn't seem to notice him.

Professor Bollack walked out into the middle of the grass and smiled at

them.

"Welcome to Flying Class students! I am Professor Bollack. Today we

won't actually be doing any real flying...", she was inturrepted by a

sea of groans, "however... if you are more advanced at flying, there

may be some time at the end of class to fly a bit." she smiled.

Lucius snorted in disgust next to him.

" Now... first things first In order to fly a broom you need to know

the parts of one." she said.

Lucius rolled his eyes and James and Sirius looked bored.

"This stinks... we already know this!" whined Sirius.

"Well some may not." said Professor Bollack, giving him a sharp glare.

Sirius frowned, but quickly shut his mouth. James snickered and nudged

him.

Professor Bollack started going around showing students how to summon

their brooms off the ground. Peter seemed to be having the most

trouble with his.

Sirius appeared not to be paying attention anymore and his eyes met

Severus'. They both glared at each for a brief second, then Sirius got

distracted when Peter's broom flew up and wacked him in the face.

"Ohh... sorry, Sirius! I didn't mean to..."

Lucius laughed out loud as he summoned his broom into his hand with ease.

Snape smirked, and attempted to raise his. His broom did not rise.

Severus grew irritated and repeated "Up."

After a few more tries the broom finally struggled up into his grip.

Severus could tell Lucius had found this entertaining, but thankfully

had not made any comments.