I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter Eleven — Flying

During the second week of September, the Gryffindors were notified that flying lessons would begin on Thursday. It was the one class that Harry was really excited about; that was until he found that they would be learning with the Slytherins. The last thing Harry wanted to do was make a prat of himself in front of Malfoy.

That day's lessons were excruciatingly slow. It didn't help that had another boring Transfiguration class. To pass time he practiced his Metamorphmagus skills by changing the color of his eyes when no one was looking. He still hadn't told anyone of this ability.

After Transfiguration was an interesting Herbology lesson, in which Seamus was attacked by a Biting Nettle only to be rescued by Neville that earned him ten points. This made the entire class laugh at Seamus but earned Neville his fifteen minutes of fame. This also caused Hermione to be extremely annoyed by the way everyone was treating Seamus. She didn't like it when people were teased others because that reminded her of the way she was teased in her Muggle school whenever she caused something odd to happen. Harry also stayed away from those who were teasing Seamus and even went as far as defend him when the teasing went too far.

At three o'clock the Gryffindors went outside for there first flying lesson. Harry could sense which people were nervous, excited, or just bored with the idea of lessons. Hermione and Neville fell into the nervous category. Hermione because of her fear of heights and Neville because he caused enough trouble on the ground. Harry heard Neville telling Dean Thomas and Seamus that his Gran never allowed him anywhere near a broom. Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil were excited. Though they had both been on brooms before they were thrilled about being allowed to fly once a week. Ron and Malfoy were bored; they had been flying for years and didn't think it was necessary for them to be taught something they already knew.

"My name is Madam Hooch. Now, flying is very easy; you just need the confidence that you will stay in the air and you will. Please stand next to a broom and say 'up'. If you are successful then the broom should jump into your hand."

Everyone did as they were told. The must have been able to sense what the students were feeling because they didn't react or barely reacted to those who were nervous. Neville's broom just laid on the ground while Hermione's rolled over a few times. Harry's shot right into his hand. Ron's must have been aggravated with his bored attitude and smacked him the face before falling back to the ground. Only Harry noticed and fought to hide a laugh. He failed miserably.

"Shut-up, Harry!" said Ron as he rubbed his now red nose.

It was a half an hour later before everyone their brooms in their hands. In the mean time, Madam Hooch went to each student and adjusted his or her grips. She told Harry that his grip was almost perfect and that he only needed to loosen his hold. While he overheard her telling Malfoy that he had been doing it wrong for years.

"Class, now that your grips have been adjusted I want you to on the count of three push up on the ground, rise a few feet, and then immediately land again."

Harry eyes flashed again and in another vision, saw Neville falling off his broom. When Madam Hooch said 'two' Harry and Neville were both in the air. Neville shot up like a corkscrew and Harry followed with skill and poise. Ten seconds later Neville was falling just as he had in Harry's vision. He caught Neville when then were about fifty feet in the air. He noticed that the Remembrall that Neville received during breakfast that morning had fallen out of Neville's pocket.

He brought Neville back to the ground before shooting back into the air for the Remembrall before it broke. It was twenty feet from the ground. Fifteen. Ten. At five feet from the ground, Harry caught the small glass ball.

Once again, everyone was staring at him. He groaned inwardly and handed Neville the ball. He ran up to the castle. He changed his appearance so he could wander without people staring at him. Unknowingly, however, his disguise was very close to what Sirius Black looked like when he was eleven.

Harry wasn't looking were he was going and found himself in the Transfiguration wing. McGonagall had seen the whole ordeal went looking for Harry. Disappointed, she headed back to her office determined that she would talk to Harry the next day before breakfast. She too wasn't looking where she was going and walked right into Harry.

""I'm so sorry." She looked down and gasped at the child. This confused Harry and morphed back into himself. This only caused McGonagall to gasp again. "How?"

Harry bit his lower lip and told her the whole story. Well, almost the whole story. He didn't want anyone else to feel sorry for him.

"You won't tell anyone, will you Professor. I haven't even told my friends. Only two other people know about this and I want it to stay that way for as long as possible. I promise I haven't abusing this ability, except to pull a few harmless pranks that no one was caught doing anyways."

"Alright I believe you. Now to the matter of why I was looking for you. I saw you flying earlier and I think that we could put those talents to good use. The Gryffindor Quidditch team is looking for a new Seeker. I know that First Years aren't allowed their own brooms but I think Professor Dumbledore will make an exception. We you go back to your Common Room I want you to find Oliver Wood, the team captain. And tell him that I want you to have the spot. Oh and don't tell anyone else."

Harry went the Common Room totally confused. McGonagall want him, a tiny first year to be seeker. That was unheard of. He couldn't be that great of a flyer, could he?

When Harry reached the tower, he realized that he had no idea what Oliver Wood looked like. He also realized it would look very suspicious if he would suddenly ask for the Quidditch captain. So he went to the only two people he could trust with this knowledge: Fred and George.

"You're looking for Wood. Why?" asked Fred.

"McGonagall wants me to talk to him about something very hush, hush. I'm not allowed to tell anyone except for Wood."

"Well, Wood is that Fifth Year in the corner."

"But be weary of him."

"They say he's depressed."

"Insane."

"Delusional."

"Desperate."

"I think that I might be able to cure of at least one of those ailments, guys. Let's just say I have a talent that he needs right now."

Harry left the twins to their shock and confusion and went over to Oliver Wood who was pouring over a list of Gryffindor students. He periodically crossed off a name saying 'no good'. Harry sat down in the chair across from him.

"Wood, Professor McGonagall wanted me to talk to you about the Seeker position on the team. She thinks she may have found one for you. He is very talented though a bit young."

'Who?" There was an excitement radiating off from Wood that almost scared Harry. Harry closed his eyes and blocked out the excessive emotions. When he opened them the famous Potter twinkle shown in them.

"Me."

"But you're too young."

"I thought we already established that the Seeker would be young."

Suddenly, without any warning Wood stood up and started to cheer. Everyone was looking at him like he was a lunatic.

Across the room, Fred and George were talking to three girls. "Looks like Wood found his Seeker."

The next week on Wednesday a long and thin package was sent to Gryffindor table. Before anyone could react to it, Harry ran back to the Common Room and stored it in his locked trunk. He read the note that came with the package and it said that it contained his new Nimbus 2000 and that he was to meet with Wood the following evening for his first practice.

That Thursday Harry went down to the pitch. Not wanting to wait for Wood Harry climbed onto his broom. He expertly flew around the goalposts. He felt that someone was watching him and flew down to where Wood was waiting.

"McGonagall was right, you are a natural. I understand that you already know the basic rules but I recommend that you read 'Quidditch Through the Ages' for a better understanding of the history and more of the rules. We can't do much tonight so I'll just throw some golf balls at you to see how many you can catch. Now, don't just stand there get back on that broom."

They practiced for what seemed like hours. When Wood was through with Harry, Harry was sore and tired and wasn't looking forward to the homework that he still had to do. Not that it was hard, it was just to Harry Potions was very boring. Harry kept putting it off until last minute. That earned a disapproving glare from Hermione. Half an hour later went up to his dorm for some well earned sleep; glad for the chance that he needed to evade their questions as to why he wasn't in flying lessons.

But he wasn't so lucky at breakfast the next morning. Ron kept asking but refused accept that Harry couldn't tell him where he was the night before. Harry told Ron to go to McGonagall if he wanted his questions answered. Not that McGonagall would answer them; Harry just wanted Ron off his back.

Hermione, in the meantime, was more worried about Harry getting his homework done. Harry tried to assure her that he completed it and it was done to the best of his ability. She pointed out that he didn't even open his book.

"Can't you just trust me, Granger? I know all of the potions in that book plus some that aren't. What can I say; I read when I am bored. It's not like the paper was very hard to begin with. We both know that we are equal in intelligence. Come on we have to get to Potions and we don't need to give Snape a reason to take points away from us."

"Snape doesn't need a reason to take away points, Potter. Just the other day he took five points away from me because I was breathing too loudly."