Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any related characters. They belong to J. K. Rowling. Any quotes from Harry Potter books don't belong to me either. As usual, no profit is meant to be made by this story.

Similarities with other fanfiction stories are not intended

6. Flying and a midnight adventure

The next week passed without any major incidents. Classes went on as usual, Snape still tried to ask Harry questions about difficult potions which Harry always was able to answer. This let Snape become the longer the more frustrated as he wasn't able to deduct points from Harry for not or wrong answering the questions. Also, due to Harry's coaching, Neville didn't make any more mistakes which deprived Snape from another form of annoying the Gryffindors. All in all, potion wasn't that bad at all.

In the other classes, similar things to the first day happened. Harry, although he was quite sure that he never heard of the stuff they were taught, found himself able to do most of the exercises without any major problems. This got him annoying glances from most of the other students. However, as it got Gryffindor quite a couple of points and Harry had a lot of time to help the other boys from his dormitory no one except Hermione complained. Hermione was rather annoyed as she was, together with Harry, top of the class but had a lot to study in order to maintain that position while Harry obviously hadn't a lot of problems with the curriculum

Therefore, Harry had a lot of free time while the others were doing their essays. He spent this time looking to his phoenix and his owl and also studying a bit in the elemental book he had bought in Diagon Alley. He learnt that the one who can control the elements can use nature as a source of energy and also can use it to cast many powerful spells. The possibilities were boundless. However, when he read the book more carefully, he saw that the techniques described where very difficult.

When he went to the bulletin board on Monday morning, the good mood he felt as they had just lived through an enjoyable first weekend in Hogwarts vanished when he read that the Gryffindors were having their flying lessons each Mondays after charms, together with the Slytherins. When he saw this, he turned towards Ron who had, together with Neville, became a very good friend of Harry.

"Damn, exactly what I needed. I making a fool of myself on a broom in front of Malfoy."

"Don't worry, Harry. You will be fine, I'm sure about that. And even if you have some problems with it, who cares what Malfoy thinks."

"You're right, Ron. Who cares about Malfoy."

Harry wasn't the only one who was nervous about flying. Hermione Granger had realised that flying wasn't something that could be learned from a book. However, she still tried. She annoyed most of the Common Room by quoting several paragraphs about flying from a book called "Quidditch through the ages". Neville was listening very closely to her words as he was the only one as nervous as Hermione. He was grateful for every piece of advice that would help him later.

The day passed faster than any other, at least in Harry's opinion. They had just sat down to the first lesson when it was suddenly time for lunch and, when had the Charms class passed, they already had to go on the grounds where they were met by Madame Hooch, the flying instructor.

"Good afternoon, class, and welcome to your first flying lesson. Now, I want each of you to stand next to one of these brooms and say up."

They all stood next to their brooms and said "up". Harry was surprised that his broom flew up to his hand at once. Unfortunately, Malfoy's broom went up as well. Neville's broom just hovered a few inches over the ground. Once all of them had managed to get their brooms which took them several minutes, Mme Hooch continued with the instructions.

"Now, I want all of you to push slightly away from the ground, fly for a few metres and then land again."

As they were preparing for take off, Neville lost control of his broom. It took off with increasing speed and headed directly towards the castle wall. Neville was able to turn the broom's direction in the last minute preventing him from hitting the wall. However, he still hadn't the broom under his control. It moved uncontrolled and made Neville fall from the broom. He fell about 4 metres on the ground. At once, the entire class hurried to where he was lying.

When Mme Hooch examined Neville who was holding his wrist carefully, she saw that his wrist was broken. She once more addressed the class.

"I have to escort Mr. Longbottom to the Hospital Wing. If I see anyone of you flying, the one will be expelled from Hogwarts before he can say quidditch, understood?"

They all nodded and Mme Hooch left with Neville. However, as soon as the had left, Malfoy bent down and took Neville's remembrall, a gift from his grandmother which should help him remember things better as he hadn't exactly a good memory.

"Look what the dumb lost."

"Malfoy, if you're wise, you will give it back at once."

"You know, Potter, I don't think I will. I think I will hide it, on top of a tree, maybe?"

Saying this, a smirk wandered over his face. He mounted his broom and headed towards the forbidden forest. Harry, although Hermione tried to stop him reminding him of what Mme Hooch had said, followed him. When he took off into air, he felt that flying wasn't difficult at all. It was pure joy. With these thoughts, he followed Malfoy.

Malfoy successfully evaded Harry's first attempt to catch the remembrall out of his hand and headed back towards the castle. However, Harry caught up with him soon enough.

"You know, Potter? If you're think you're that good, catch it."

With these words, he threw the remembrall towards the castle wall which was about 20 metres away. Harry took off after it with full speed. He accelerated and did a full turn half a metre away from castle wall, catching it just before it hit the wall. When he headed back towards the others, he was greeted by the cheers of the others. However, his joy did not last for long as Professor McGonagall showed up shortly after.

"Potter, follow me."

Harry's good mood vanished at once. Professor McGonagall took him through the castle to the Defence Classroom. She knocked on the door and was greeted by Professor Quirrel.

"Good Afternoon, Professor."

"Good Afternoon. Would you mind me borrowing Wood for a moment?"

"Sure. Wood, Professor McGonagall wishes to speak with you."

A boy who looked like he was in fifth year left the classroom. McGonagall lead them to an empty classroom before addressing Wood.

"Wood, I've found you a new seeker."

Hearing this, Wood's expression brightened at once.

"You're sure about him?"

"Yes, he's a marvellous flyer. He will need a decent broom, but we can handle this. And we need a better team than last year. We were grounded by Slytherin, I couldn't look into Professor Snape's eyes for a month.

Then, she recognised that Harry was still in the room.

"Harry, this is Oliver Wood, captain of Gryffindor quidditch team. You will join the team as seeker. I'm sure that Oliver will inform you about the details once you have your first training."

With these words, she left the two. Wood then explained to Harry what there was to know about quidditch and told them to be on the pitch at Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock. When he left, Harry walked back towards the Common Room where he was greeted by the Weasleys. When he told them that he was a member of the quidditch team, they all congratulated him as he was the youngest house player in a century. Fred and George Weasley were on the team as well.

As it was already dinner time, Harry and Ron decided to go and eat something. However, in the floor in front of the Great Hall, they were intercepted by Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.

"You think you're the great hero, don't you, Potter? But I tell you, I have no problem taking up with you."

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

"To settle our differences I suggest a duel. At midnight, in the trophy room. Do you agree?"

"No one shall say that I don't sneak out of a challenge. I agree."

When they went to the hall, they did not recognise that another Gryffindor was closely behind them. Once they had had dinner, they went back to the Common Room, wrote on their essays and then pretended to go to their dormitories. Once Dean and Seamus were asleep (Neville hadn't yet returned from the Hospital Wing) they sneaked back to the Common Room and headed to the portrait when a voice that they did not wish to hear interrupted them.

"What do you think you're two are doing?"

It was Harry who answered.

"Why are you here, Hermione?"

"I heard what you talked with Malfoy outside the Great Hall. This is foolish."

"Do you remember what Malfoy did in our flying lesson? He won't stop picking on us unless someone shows him the line. That's why I'm going."

Hermione kept bickering on them on their way out of the Common Room. However, when they stood all in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady and Hermione was finally giving up trying to persuade them not to go, she saw that the Fat Lady had left her portrait and therefore couldn't open the passageway. She had no other choice than to go with them as she didn't want to be caught by Filch, the annoying caretaker or Mrs. Norris, his cat.

They arrived in the trophy room a few minutes before midnight. There was no sign of Malfoy or his companions so they waited. However, midnight passed but they still didn't hear anything. They decided to go back to the Common Room when that happened what they had all feared. They saw two yellow eyes and heard the voice of Filch.

"What do you smell, sweetie. Are there students out of bed?"

The trophy room had only one more exit through which the three Gryffindors fled. They heard Filch following them and did not pay attention where they headed, they simply ran. However, they soon encountered a locked door but could still hear Filch behind them. It was Hermione who opened the door using an "Alohomora" spell. They went inside and closed the door behind them.

They could hear Filch in the corridor behind them muttering something like "I've lost them" and heading away. Relieved, they took their eyes away from the door and examined the room they were in more carefully. It was then when they got the shock of their life. They were facing a large, three-headed dog. The dog was as surprised as they were which was the cause that they weren't already dead. However, if they had to choose between death and Filch, they'd choose Filch. They left the room and ran back towards Gryffindor tower.

Luckily, they didn't encounter anyone on the way. Once inside, they collapsed on the chairs in the Common Room, exhausted by the run. It was Ron who started the talking.

"Damn, what was that beast doing in there? What do they think about keeping such a dog inside school?"

It was Hermione who answered.

"Do you know where we were, Ron? We were in the forbidden corridor. Beside, didn't you see where the dog was standing on' It was standing on a trap door, it's obviously guarding something. However, enough about that, I will go now to bed before you have another idea that could get us killed or even worse expelled."

With these words, she left towards the girl's dormitories.

"You know, Harry, she sounds as if we made her coming with us."

They decided to call it a night and headed towards their dormitory. When Harry was thinking once more about the dog, he thought that he knew what it was guarding. It looked as if Harry knew now where the package from Gringott's went to.

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Another one finished. Like it? Hate it? Please read and review.

Many thanks to Honor-Harrington for reviewing chapter 5.