A/N: There's not really anything to say for this chapter.

DISCLAIMER: I own Sennin. That's it.

F L Y I N G L E S S O N S

Somehow, someone had spread the news that Gryffindor had just lost 60 of its new points, and was down to almost none. Gina, Betty, and their other roommates under-stood, but some of the other residents of Gryffindor house were not so understanding. Most of the other residents were simply avoiding them, but a few were being particularly nasty. Siandra was making a point of staying in the library, hidden behind the bookshelves and her and Lily were staying back in Transfiguration to help Professor Comora.

A few weeks afterward, after they had come out of Transfiguration, they saw a clump of excited-looking first-years huddled around a large banner, which read:

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FLYING LESSONS FOR FIRST-YEARS

Will begin on October 5th and will continue throughout the year.

While this class is mandatory for first-years, it is set as an

elective option for second years and above. Classes are held at

Hogwarts' side lawn, which is labeled clearly with "Flying Class".

Your teacher is Madam Hooch. Below are listed your house and

their times. Since first-years are not allowed to bring their own

broomsticks, we have set up a broomstick-rental with Mr. Hagrid.

The cost is five sickles per broom. If this is a hardship

for your family, please contact Professor Comora. Thank you.

Slytherin and Hufflepuff – Wednesday 1:00 PM to 2:10 PM

Gryffindor and Ravenclaw – Friday 1:00 PM to 2:10 PM

A small sign below it pointed out the way to the hut where Hagrid would be renting brooms.

"Yeah! We're with the Ravenclaws!" cheered Siandra doing a small little jumpy thing with her feet. If they were with the Ravenclaws then Siandra would get to see the person who was in back of her at the sorting again. She turned around and saw Leanne behind her looking confused at her.

"I'm just…er…glad that we're not with the Slytherins! Yeah," she added although she could tell that Leanne was not convinced. She couldn't wait for Friday to come.

On Thursday she thought that she'd better go and rent a broom from Hagrid, because she didn't want to be the only first-year without one. She thought that it was rather silly to say that first-years are not allowed to bring brooms and then say that they have to take a mandatory flying class and that they'd have to rent brooms because they weren't allowed to bring any. Why weren't they allowed to bring brooms anyway? She walked around the castle a little bit until she reached a rather crude-looking hut that appeared to have a thatch roof and walls made out of twigs, although it was hard to tell because most of the wall was covered in somewhat cheap-looking broomsticks. At the front was an old chipped desk that appeared to be drug out of the castle, the kind that you'd find in a broom closet sale. At the top of the hut was a banner, which was made out of scraggly sheets and bore the words "Brum Rentell" and seated at the desk, directly below the banner was a person that made you understand at once why the ceiling was so high.

"Erm…Mr. Hagrid?" Siandra asked hesitantly to the man at the desk.

"Yep, that's me. And what kinda broom will yer be wantin' terday?" answered the giant. Siandra took her eyes off of Mr. Hagrid and gazed at all of the brooms. From what she could see, they all seemed to have something wrong with them. The one in the corner though, had a very shiny handle and the twigs were nearly perfect. There was some silver writing on the end, which Siandra thought, probably described the make.

"How about that one then, in the right hand corner," she said, directing Hagrid to the broom. "Yes, the one with the silver writing."

Hagrid picked up the right broom and carried it over to the counter and gently laid it down.

"Ah, yer picked out the '56 Shootin' Star! It flies kinda funny, but it looks really good!" he praised.

"Er…I don't think that I'll have that one then. Maybe one that flies good then."

"Okay," said Hagrid, and propped the Shooting Star back in its place in the corner and began to dig through some piled up brooms on the floor and soon brought up a nicked, peeling broom on which the twigs stuck out at many places. It looked like it had been bashed up against the winged boars that guarded the gates of the castle many times, but Hagrid was holding it as if it were a priceless treasure.

"The Silver Arrow," he awed as he looked at it. "You migh' not think it looks real good, but a bit' o' tunin' up will make 'er as good as new! It's easily the best flyer 'ere! You really want this broom!"

"I do?" asked Siandra, looking critically at its flaws. Hagrid looked mortally offended. "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. If you say it's good, I'll rent it…here's the five sickles…thanks!" waved Siandra as she left with her messed-up broom. She hoped that Hagrid was telling the truth and that it was a good flier. She brought it back up to the dormitory (she was still avoiding the common room) and tried nervously to straighten the tail.

When Friday at one o'clock in the afternoon finally did come, Siandra and the rest of the Gryffindor first-years walked excitedly down the stone steps, dragging their broomsticks, and on to the side lawn of Hogwarts, busily talking about what kinds of flying they had done before. Most people from wizarding families were bragging about the kinds of daring and talented things that they'd done on their broomsticks, and most everyone couldn't stop talking about Quidditch. Siandra was busy talking to Gina about how she loved practicing Quidditch on her little moor, when they all saw that all of the Ravenclaws were standing in a line with each of their brooms out in front of them. Siandra was pleased to see that the person who was in back of her at the sorting was there and Madam Hooch was standing at the front of the line.

"All right now, Gryffindors, get in the positions the Ravenclaws are in and we'll start the lesson. Hurry up!" she commanded. They all scurried to get in the position that the Ravenclaws were in quickly so as not to be scolded by Madam Hooch. When they were all in position, Madam Hooch told them to hold their hand above their broom and command, "UP!" When Siandra said it, her broom immediately flew into her hand. Most people tried to do so, but Siandra remained in the minority. She thought that it might have to do with how scared you were of flying, or if you really wanted to. Madam Hooch was walking between the lines of people with a clipboard and taking notes. She walked down and stopped in front of Siandra.

"Ah, I see you have managed to get your broom to your hand…and look at that broom! A Silver Arrow! What fine brooms those are, I remember when I was a child I had one of those…. Well, anyway, full marks for you!" she said crisply and started pacing the line once more and turning to Leanne, whose broom was writhing on the grass. When most of the people had their brooms in their hands (some people had to finally just pick them up) Madam Hooch instructed them to try and fly somewhat low in the air, and then come back down. Siandra mounted her broom and took off into the air. It was a wonderful sensation, as it always was when she flew at home. There were some whoops of joy from bedside her and she knew that her classmates were enjoying it as much as she was. Hagrid wasn't lying; this broom could fly well. She saw that some of her friends and roommates were trying hard to turn them, pulling on the handle very hard, but the Silver Arrow seemed to move just by her touching it. Some of the other people were struggling to control it, but the Silver Arrow was very easy to control, and it could fly higher than all of the other brooms too. But soon, Madam Hooch instructed them to land and she praised them for all of their good work. After taking some notes and practicing turning, she let them have the rest of the class time for socializing and she became their first teacher to do so. Since it was their first class with the Ravenclaws, most of her friends introduced themselves to each other. She immediately went over to the person who was in back of her and introduced herself.

"Hello, what's your name?" she asked.

"I'm busy talking to someone more worthy of my conversation," he said. Siandra blushed heavily. It was true that he was talking, but he could at least stop for a moment to say hello.

"Sorry if I disturbed the top secret ministry meeting. Of course you can't even stop to say hello to a little civilian like me," Siandra said sarcastically and then coolly walked away.

After she had gone a little ways from them, she looked back to see what their reaction was. His friend seemed to be reprimanding him and he seemed to have split the dry skin on his lip. Just then, the bell rang from inside the castle signaling the end of class and all of the students rushed into the castle doors.

A throng of students came rushing in to get though the double doors first. Siandra stood back and watched the boy put dab his wand at his lip. His friend was still looking concernedly at him. Siandra smiled. The 'war' had begun and she was already winning.

"Who's that boy over there?" she asked Lily.

"Oh, that's Sennin," she replied. "He's cute, isn't he?"

Siandra scowled.