Mungo went through the next few weeks as best as he could. He started to loathe every Herbology lesson, and every Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. He hated Herbology because he managed to get something horribly wrong, to the point to where he was reduced to just watch Duncan work. And Defense Against the Dark Arts was worse. Prof. Lockhart had started with a long introduction with titles and phrases, but always rounded off with some kind of lame remark that brought giggles from some of the girls but looks of exasperation from everyone else. Not only that, but his lessons were worthless, merely dramatizations of some of his grand accomplishments.
The highlights of Mungo's week became Potions and Transfiguration. Though Prof. Snape was perfectly detestable, Mungo looked up to him for his expertise in potion making, and at least Snape didn't say anything bad about his work, even if he said nothing good. Mungo was also getting extra tutoring from Professor McGonagall, as she had seen his budding talent with Transfiguration.
Then one day a note appeared on the Hufflepuff notice board, detailing flying lessons. The whole common room was full of talk about flying, from first-years talking amongst themselves about the time they had pulled off some stunt on their close relatives' brooms. Even Duncan, who was becoming more secluded and scholarly by the day, told Mungo of the time when he had taken his father's broom for a fly at the Quidditch Cup.
"I hope this flyin' is all its hyped oop t'be." Mungo said as they were finally on the way to their flying lessons.
The first years clustered in a large, grassy area, where some brooms were arranged in a circle. In the center of the circle was a rather intimidating woman with grey hair and yellow eyes.
"Stand by a broom, all of you. Quickly, while you're young." She barked, pointing to the brooms. Mungo stood next to his. It looked dreadfully uncomfortable, all knotted and lumpy.
"I am Madam Hooch, and I am your flying instructor. We should be able to cover the basics of flying with today's lesson, unless some of you get hurt." Several students laughed, but then they saw that she wasn't kidding,
"Put your hand over your broom, and say, 'Up!'" Madam Hooch commanded.
Mungo put his hand over the broom, and said,
"Oop!"
The broom raised itself up, and swung heavily at Mungo's chest. It hit hard, knocking Mungo onto his back. Wheezing, Mungo tried to get up, but was hit again on the back, knocking him down again.
"Watch out, Mr. Gorsson!" Madam Hooch said, drawing out her wand. She twirled it, shouting,
"Reducto!"
A bright red light flew from her wand, smashing the broom into splinters.
"That has never happened before in all my life. All of you, go sit down over there, while I investigate the rest of the brooms." Madam Hooch ordered, and the students hastened to obey. Mungo, however, noticed two people watching from a window, laughing. He recognized them as the Slytherin and Ravenclaw who had stuck him to the seat, and they both had their wands out.
"Duncan!" Mungo said urgently, tugging on his sleeve. "Jest glance at the windoo o'er there."
Duncan looked, and asked,
"What about it?"
"Those two boys, on th' train here, cast a Sticking Charm on th' seat, and stuck me to it. I splashed them with a wee bit of bubotuber pus, and I suppose they've wanted t' get revenge."
"It would help if we knew their names," Duncan said, glancing again at the window.
"No kiddin'," Mungo said. Madam Hooch came over in that moment.
"I've examined the rest of the brooms, and they don't appear to be hexed like Mr. Gorsson's. You may go back up into the castle, Mr. Gorsson." Madam Hooch said. Mungo complied, and went inside.
Waiting for him were the two boys.
"These first years are so weak. They can get beaten up by a broomstick." The Slytherin laughed.
"I heard ye got a roarin' applause from the girls from yer houses, ye came back from the holidees lookin' soo much better. Must ha' dazzled them." Mungo snapped. He knew it was stupid, trying to take on two fifth-years, maybe even older.
"Well, at least we didn't have to go to school with a gaping hole in our pants." The Ravenclaw retorted.
"Ye've goot a warse hole on yer face. Oh, wait, tha's yer mouth." Mungo said, pushing past them. Mungo heard a wand being drawn, and quickly turned around, yelling,
"Scipio transformo regula!"
The Slytherin's wand shimmered, and turned into a metallic ruler. He gaped, and then ran off. The Ravenclaw scowled, but didn't draw his wand.
"Ye might want t' tell yer friend t' take tha' wand t' Professor McGonagall. Tell him t' send her me compliments," Mungo said, walking off. His blood was boiling, he was just waiting for the Ravenclaw to draw his wand, but he got away without injury.
Mungo suddenly remembered something. He had never learned that spell. HE never remembered there even being a spell that did that.
Mungo headed to the Hufflepuff common room, and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill. Sitting at one of the tables, Mungo started writing a letter.
Dear Mom and Dad,
Things are wonderful here at Hogwarts. I'm getting extra tutoring in Transfiguration, and am doing extremely well in Potions. My Herbology marks could be better, but they're not dying. Not like the plants
Here Mungo stopped, and frantically scratched out the last bit.
Anyway. I just wanted to learn a bit about my ancestors. I know my grandfather wrote Magical Drafts and Potions, and I seem to be inheriting some degree of talent in Potions. However, today I did a transfiguration spell I didn't learn, and didn't even know existed.
Please send a reply that might explain this, I'm rather confused.
Love,
Mungo.
Mungo sealed up the letter with a bit of wax, and headed out to find the Owlery.
He really had no idea where it was, and wandered about aimlessly until he met some older students coming from the Charms classroom.
"Excuse me, but could one o' ye tell me where t' find th' Owlery?"
"You go along the fourth floor landing, until you see a white door. That will lead up to the Owlery." One of them said.
"Thank ye," Mungo said, walking in the direction indicated.
At last he got to the Owlery, a large room with hundreds of owls. Mungo found a nice brown one and tied the letter to its leg.
As Mungo watched it fly off, he couldn't possibly imagine what this act would entail for his future.
