"You know, it's a Hogsmeade weekend this weekend," Lucius commented with the air of one predicting the weather.
"What does that concern me for? I am only first year, and unless you figure out a way to get past Filch, I do not see how we could go," Charna mused, as they drew level with a line of school broomsticks. "Ugh," she commented, staring at the lot of them. The brooms were not polished; they looked more like tools of chimney sweeps than the tools of wizards for flying. Twigs were cracked on the tail of the broom, which would no doubt prove a difficult means of flying through the air, eventually.
"Muggle filth," Lucius muttered, nudging one of the brooms with the tip of his shoe. To Charna, he added "We shall have to discuss this later," as Madam Hooch came striding over the grounds, having seen the group of Slytherins exit the Great Hall, heading for the stretch of grass in front of the Quidditch Pitch. Teachers could spot trouble from a mile away. Alerted by the expert of such a practice, Professor McGonagall (who would have the first years later that afternoon for their first Transfiguration lesson), had alerted the Quidditch teacher of the Slytherins - Charna Wellington was glaring daggers at Melanie Mallette, as Charna was obviously not the most pleasant morning person.
"Good morning - instead of combining houses, the Ministry has ordered a change and decided to combine first and second years into flying lessons," Madam Hooch began. "My name is Madam Hooch, and I will be teaching you all how to fly." It was rather useless, in the Slytherins' opinion, as all were either pureblood or half blood, and had learned how to fly a broomstick just as soon as they had mastered walking. "Anyone not following my instructions will be immediately sent to the Headmaster. So, begin by standing by a broom that you have chosen. When you have done so, extend your wand hand over the broom, and shout the word 'up.' If you have concentrated properly, the broom will fly directly into your hands. If you have not, the broom will not move, or will simply roll over. Begin."
A chorus of the word "Up!" began throughout the Slytherin first and second years. Mallette, James, and Forthwright, too intimidated by Charna's earlier fury, gave up quickly, and picked their brooms up. The first year boys' brooms, with the exception of Claudius Lafayette, just rolled over. They too gave up quickly and picked their brooms up. Severus was no good at Quidditch, nor would he ever be - he was also one of the ones who just picked his broom up, despising the entire situation. He had no intentions of mounting a broom, and much to his displeasure, Quidditch had been the first thing on the list. Most of the others, however, were rather successful in summoning their brooms.
"This would be the part that I explain the fundamentals of flying, but it seems that most of you already know how to fly. So, on my count, you'll mount your brooms, and on my whistle, you'll kick off, hovering only twenty feet above the ground until further instruction. Understand?" Madam Hooch questioned, her eyes surveying each student in turn, as they nodded, not daring to shake their heads, as their peers would consider them cowardly. "One …" the students mounted their brooms. "Two … three." Madam Hooch blew her whistle, and twenty or so students kicked off into the air, hovering level with Madam Hooch, though they swayed slightly because of the lack of quality in the make of school brooms. "I will give you leave, for ten minutes only, to fly around as you will. However, I would recommend that you not fall off of your broom, as I really do not want to file an accident report, and have you sent to the hospital wing for a fractured skull. Do as you will."
From the flying lesson, the first years made their way to Transfiguration, while the second years had Charms. "I want it made clear that I do not tolerate nonsense - anyone displaying such a thing will be immediately removed from my classroom," Professor McGonagall finished her annual speech with the first years. Without warning, she transformed into a tabby cat, and then back into herself again. "Animagism is a difficult art - one that I cannot teach you at Hogwarts. However, it is a form of Transfiguration. Pay attention, Miss James," she ordered, noticing one of the Slytherins nodding off. "Today, you will be Transfiguring matches into sewing needles. I hope you all bought the required text for this course - the proper incantation and wand movements will be explained on pages five through ten. I will be walking around the room, observing you as you complete this task."
By the end of the lesson, only three people had managed to properly Transfigure their matches. A Gryffindor by the name of Peter Pettigrew, and two Slytherins - Charna Wellington, and Claudius Lafayette. "Excellent Miss Wellington, Mr. Pettigrew, Mr. Lafayette. Five points to Gryffindor, and ten for Slytherin - five to each Miss Wellington and Mr. Lafayette. You all are dismissed for lunch."
One by one, the students filed out of the classroom. At lunch, Professor McGonagall informed the Headmaster of her new students, the brilliance of some, and the idiocy of others. Charna Wellington, as she did so often, came up in conversation. "Yes, and it seems she has acquired some … friends, and allies as well. We can only hope that none of their fathers have been recruited yet …" Dumbledore mused aloud, wondering who had been Summoned by the Dark Lord Voldemort, who steadily lured followers in with his growing power.
In the meantime, the first and second year Slytherins, not having lessons for the rest of the day, retired to their common room.