A Dog's Purpose Is Strange Magic Chapter 26
For young Witches and Wizards at Hogwarts the very first flying lesson is supposed to be fun and exciting enjoyed by all.
To the contrary for a canine it's downright painful as hell.
Unlike most courses at Hogwarts this class was held on the castle grounds in an space where students were thought to not be able to cause too much damage to themselves.
This class would be a mixture of Slytherins and Gryffindors. The students were spread out in two straight lines even with the brooms set about across from each other on the grass.
Bailey didn't mind this. She could simply lay and roll around on the grass as she watched everything from the side. She would rejoin her boy after the lesson was done. For now she'd just be in the way. Besides Ron warned them that she might get hit with one of the brooms if she was too close. His brothers Fred and George did provide a heads up that the school brooms had a habit of being unpredictable at times compared to others.
Not that Bailey didn't already have that handled. Each broom gave off a sort of aura that Bailey picked up on. Must've been the magic that each broom held within. She didn't trust the majority of the brooms. So Bailey sniffed each one until she was satisfied that she found one that would make the least amount of trouble for her boy. Many of the students found this funny and weird, but Harry didn't mind at all. He knew she was just trying to protect him and was grateful for that.
The teacher for this class is woman going by the name of Madam Hooch. She's a tall woman with short, gray hair, and yellow eyes similar to a hawk's.
Bailey got the impression that because of these sharp eyes Madam Hooch wouldn't miss anything.
Bailey liked her instantly. She waged her tail in greeting as Madam Hooch walked by, but refrained from getting up. The warm rays of the sun mixed in along with the breeze in the wind was feeling rather good at the moment.
Bailey promised to behave. She is a good dog.
"Good afternoon, Class," greeted Madam Hooch, meandering down the middle of the assembled students while tugging on her gloves.
"Good afternoon, Madam Hooch," echoed the students.
"Good afternoon, Amanda. Good afternoon," said Madam Hooch, speaking directly to a few students she was already familiar with.
Upon reaching the end, spinning around to address the class, Madam Hooch said "Welcome to your first flying lesson. Well, what are you waiting for? Everyone step up to the left side of your broomstick. Come on now. Hurry up."
The students were quick to comply not wanting to get on her bad side.
Holding out her arm in the proper fashion for the others to copy, Madam Hooch said "Stick your right hand over the broom and say, 'Up'."
"Up," shouted all the students.
Just as Bailey expected Harry's broom jumped right into his hand.
Eyes wide in excitement, wobbling a tiny amount from the force of it, Harry said "Wow."
Not many of the other students had their brooms be so quick in responding to them like Harry's did. Only after Madam Hooch told them to did it with feel did the brooms start to obey. Still it was in fact downright embarrassing for some.
For example, in response to his constant whining tone, Ron's flew up missing his hand entirely and smacked him right in the face.
This left Dean, Neville, and Harry laughing at him.
"Shut up, Harry," said Ron, royally miffed now.
"Now, once you've got a hold of your broom, I want you to mount it and grip it tight," said Madam Hooch, slowly walking down the line with her whistle out. You don't want to be sliding off the end. When I blow my whistle I want each of you to kick off from the ground hard. Keep your brooms steady, hover for a moment, then lean forward slightly and touch back down."
As Madam Hooch was saying this the hairs on the back of Bailey's neck bristled, standing up. This caused her to sit up eyeing the class with a wary eye. She suddenly had a very bad feeling. Something was about to happen.
"On my whistle. 3, 2…," said Madam Hooch, blowing on the whistle.
Bailey hated it when she was right in these types of cases.
No sooner had Madam Hooch given the signal did Neville's broom begin to act up. It alarmed everyone as the broom Neville was sitting on became erratic floating up and down increasing in speed rapidly.
Acting on instinct Bailey immediately leapt into the fray. As the broom was lifting up higher and higher Bailey jumped into the air clamping down onto it with her teeth. She'd been hoping to act as an anchor in order to keep the broom leveled.
This seriously backfired big time.
"Bailey," yelled Harry, rushing to grab her.
Unfortunately it was far too late for that.
Neville's broom shot into the air with him and Bailey stuck on it. Neville was begging the broom to lower back down, but he had no control over it. Despite his fear Neville had enough sense to pull Bailey up there with him so she was sitting and not hanging anymore.
The broom was completely out of control banging against the castle walls, going off in all directions, speeding up dangerously. It's a miracle that Neville and Bailey even managed to hang on.
At one point the broom turbo towards Madam Hooch and the students so they all had to move out of the way to avoid getting run over.
Eventually it all came to an end, but not in a good fashion.
The back of Neville's coat got snagged on a statue as the broom sped passed. So Neville was pulled from the broom with Bailey in his arms leaving them dangling in the air. Madam Hooch and the students were gathered around below watching them.
This didn't last for long. The fabric of Neville's robes ripped making them drop. Neville was caught by a torch on the way down, but that barely lasted a second before they fell the rest of the way.
Neville and Bailey collided onto the hard ground with a huge slam.
Pain filled yelps were heard from Bailey instantly upon the impact.
"Everyone out of the way," commanded Madam Hooch, rushing through the students to get to them.
Neville was lying on his side as was Bailey. She was releasing agonized screams to where a couple of the girls were covering her ears. While Madam Hooch went to check on Neville, Harry did the same with Bailey.
Kneeling at Bailey's side Harry put his hands on her, saying "It's okay, Bailey. You're okay."
Bailey continued to whine though she ceased her yelping. She was definitely hurt from the fall.
"Come on, get up," said Madam Hooch, gently helping Neville to his feet.
Wincing from the pain, Neville whimpered "Ow! Ow!"
"Oh, dear. It's broken wrist. Tch. Tch. Tch. Good boy. Come on now. Up you get," said Madam Hooch.
"Madam Hooch, what about Bailey," said Harry, scared for his beloved dog.
Bailey had her head in his lap now taking comfort in his touch.
In answer Madam Hooch waved her wand to conjure up a stretcher. To the contrary of being able to walk Neville easily to the Hospital Wing Bailey was going to have to be carried.
"I'll take it from here, Mr. Potter. There's no need for you to worry. She'll be right as rain in no time. I'll make sure you can see her after the lesson is done," said Madam Hooch.
Madam Hooch then used a spell to lift Bailey into the air setting her gently on the stretcher to minimize any pain from whatever injury she sustained.
"Everyone's to keep their feet firmly on the ground while I take Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Potter's dog to the Hospital Wing for treatment. Understand? If I see a single broom in the air, the one riding it will find themselves out of Hogwarts before they can say 'Quidditch'," warned Madam Hooch, leaving with Neville and Bailey in toe.
There was nothing Bailey could've done. Harry had to stay behind.
In the Hospital Wing the schools Matron, Madam Pomfrey got right to work on them. Madam Hooch had been correct. The healing process was quick and relatively painless for both of them.
Turns out Bailey had received a couple of broken ribs and a sprained paw from the fall. She was very lucky she wasn't any more badly for wear considering the height of the fall. Probably would've been far worse if that torch hadn't stopped it halfway.
As Madam Pomfrey was tending to Bailey she made a bone for her to chew on. Bailey was glad for this since it took her mind off of the time until it was gone entirely. In a show of thanks Bailey licked the Matrons hand placing a paw on her knee. She received good ear rub in reply.
Well this place was getting better for Bailey all the time making different kinds types of friends everywhere.
Within the hour, as promised, Harry and Bailey were reunited.
Harry came barreling into the Hospital looking for Bailey with a big grin on his face. He wasted no time hugging Bailey once he saw she was well. She smothered his face with kisses loving the sound of his laughter.
"Bailey, you're not going to believe this. I'm the new Seeker for the Gryffindor," declared Harry.
Bailey couldn't be happier for her boy except for only one question. What's a seeker?
Authors Note:
Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!
As you may have noticed this is one of the sections of the story that does resemble more of the movie than the book itself. In my opinion this version of the scene is better.