Ch 6 Hospital Wing

The next few weeks passed. Fall started to turn into winter and a frost was seen over the school ground on Halloween morning. James and Sirius woke up at the same time and got up.

"I feel pranky." Said Sirius the moment he saw James was up.

"Well, it is Halloween, but I thought we agreed to settle down until after Christmas."

"I know, but its Halloween."

"Wait, isn't today our first flying lesson?"

"Yea," said Sirius wonderingly.

"Then Saturday is the first Quidditch game is Saturday too, right?"

"Where are you going with this?" asked Sirius, interested and intrigued.

"Well, I was thinking…do you know a good jinx or spell that could mess something up?"

"Like what kind of something?" asked Sirius?

"Broomsticks!"

"Are you saying you want us to jinx all the brooms?"

"Brilliant, huh."

"James, do you know how hard that would be?"

"We can ask Remus to help us." said James simply.

"OI! Remus." Sirius got up and went to Remus's bed. He seemed in a deep sleep.

"What now?" asked James?

"We wake him."

"Are you sure you want to-?" started James but before he could Sirius walked up to Remus and woke him up.

"Remus!" Sirius started to shake him and nearly pushed him off the bed.

"Sirius! James! What are you doing waking me up?" Remus was half asleep.

"Remus, mate, is there a spell or jinx that can be used on a broomstick to jinx it?"

"Depends on the jinx." said Remus, now more awake.

James had not thought what kind of jinx he wanted to do, but luckily Sirius had.

"We want to confuse it-."

"Well, a powerful confundus charm could work, but it'd be difficult for you to do, I don't even think I could do it."

"Ah well, I guess we'll have to wait until after Christmas. You and Peter are still in right Remus?"

"Yes, we'll meet at your place on December 27."

"Excellent."

"I'm sorry flying lessons have been set aside until now, the weather has been bad and the brooms needed fixing a little, but all is good and we can finally start.

"Now, one of the first rules to flying is to have a firm hold on your broom. You have to grip it tightly and use your grip as your control. You must trust your broom or it won't trust you. I have seen many accidents in my years of unsafe brooms and people who aren't treating their brooms correctly."

Madam Hooch was standing in the middle of the Quidditch pitch facing the class. Each student had their brooms beside them and was getting taught safety before flight.

"Now, I want you to stand next to your broom, put your hand over it and say up. But before you do, I must remind you to use force in your voice or you won't succeed."

Every student yelled UP! At once. Only a few students succeeded on the first try. James and Sirius were two of the few.

"Sirius, bee on a broom I take it?" asked James.

"Tons of times, and you?"

"Oh yea, I fly all the time."

"I see some of you have flown before. Excellent, it always helps to have experience."

"Madam Hooch, I seem to be having problems with my broom."

Lily was the only student not with her broom yet.

"Miss Evans, you need to use force in your voice and be stern with your broom. Try again."

"I bet I know a way to get that broom up," James muttered to Sirius.

"Hey Evans, how's Snivellus?"

Lily glared at him then looked at her broom.

"UP!" she yelled and her broom shot into her hand with a huge amount of force.

"Excellent and thank you for your assistance Mr. Potter." Lily just glared.

"Now, as you have your broom in your hand, mount it and grip it tight, we don't need you flying off the end. Now on the count of three I'll blow my whistle and this side," she indicated James and Sirius's side, "will take off first then lean forwards and touch the ground again. Only stay off the ground for a moment please. Now, 3 2 1," Madam Hooch blew her whistle and James and Sirius both kicked off the ground and flew into the air.

James turned around, leaned forwards and raced Sirius down. Sirius won by a second.

"Very good, now this row," she indicated Lily's row, "Do the same please, on my whistle. 3 2 1," she blew her whistle again and Lily kicked off the ground. She was having problems and when she went to turn to come back to the ground her foot slipped and she fell off the broom and hit the ground. It was only a few feet up but Lily landed on her side and she seemed to be hurt.

"To the ground, Evans are you alright?" Madam Hooch ran towards Lily and turned her over, Lily was holding her wrist.

"I think I broke it." Lily said.

"Miss Evans, I must get you up to the hospital wing. Ah Hagrid, would you watch the students for a couple minutes."

Hagrid just walked around the stands and walked towards the class.

"Yes Professor I could do that while you take this lil' one to Madam Pomfrey."

"Very good, feet on the ground until I get back." And she walked away with Lily.

"I don't fly me self, too big fer the brooms." Hagrid said, "Ah well, there are other ways te get around."

"Sirius, look, its Snivellus."

"Isn't he supposed to be in class with the Hufflepuff's, since the Ravenclaw's are with us?"

'Yea, I think they have Herbology or something."

"Maybe he went to the bathroom."

"Then why would he be all the way out here?"

"Good point, I'm going to hop on my broom. Hagrid isn't paying attention, he'll never notice."

James grabbed his broom, turned the corner of the stands and hopped on his broom. When he went into the air Snape was gone. He turned to touch the ground again. When he landed he saw Snape spying on them.

"Sirius, Snivellus saw me take off and land, get him."

"Petrificus Totalus," Sirius whispered pointing his wand at Snape. He fell and James went to grab his arm when he tripped over a broom handle and sprained his ankle.

"Uh, Professor, I think we have a little problem."

Remus seemed to have witnessed the whole thing.

"What's happened?"

"Well, James was running over here and he tripped and hurt his ankle."

"Well, here comes Madam Hooch, I'll bring the lad to the hospital wing and leave her with you."

"What's happened now?"

"Young Potter here tripped and hurt his ankle, I'll bring him to the hospital wing, and ye can have yer class back."

"Thank you Hagrid, everyone grab your brooms. Miss Evans will be fine, she's just going to rest in the hospital wing. What is it Mr. Black?"

"Can I go with James?"

"I supposed, seeing as you can fly pretty well already. You may be excused. Mr. Snape? What are you doing here?"

Sirius quickly removed his jinx as he walked past and Snape made a noise. Everyone looked at him and that's when Hooch noticed him.

"Professor, I saw potter flying when you weren't here and then Black jinxed me-."

"Snape, you should be in class. I'm sure Professor Sprout will be wondering where you are. Please get back to class."

"Yes Professor."

"Hagrid will be watching you until you reach the greenhouse."

"Alright Professor," said Snape and the four of them walked away.

"Potter, you try one more thing I will get you."

"Snivellus, you better be watching your back, cause there will be more."

"Alright Snape, lets go, Herbology. In the greenhouse."

Snape walked into the greenhouse.

"Git," Sirius said.

"Black, I don't want to here you talking like that he may be a little worm but that doesn't mean you can go and talk about him inappropriately."

"Ok, Hagrid, anyways, James, how you holding up?"

"Well, if it wasn't for this burning pain in my leg, I'd be great."

"Well, Potter, next time you should keep your legs on the ground then."

"You saw him Hagrid?"

"I may be half-giant, but I ain't stupid."

"Don't you worry about saying your half-giant?"

"Black, if I worry about that then you should worry about the past of your family. If I remember correctly, your mother and father are dark wizards."

"You knew my parents?"

"They were youngings when they came to Hogwarts. I just stated my game keeper job. I was fourteen. I had, erm, a little trouble and got expelled but thanks to Professor Dumbledore I was able to stay. Anyways, they always got into trouble."

"They tend to do that."

"But me point is, you can' hide te obvious."

"I get your point. Hagrid, aren't we supposed to turn here and go up?"

"Yer right Black-."

"Hagrid, call me Sirius and call James, well, James."

"Alright, Sirius, so, after James landed how come he tried to chase Snape?"

"Snivellus and us are enemies, it's well known around the school." James said.

"Ah are yer two talking about that lil' prank that was pulled?"

"You mean when we washed his hair?"

"Nice thing to do but I don't think he appreciated it."

"Snivellus need manners, oh Hagrid here we are."

"Madam Pomfrey." Hagrid said.

"Hagrid, what is this?"

"Another brooming accident ma'am."

"Well, I always say those brooms will end up killing one of these students eventually. Bring him in. He can sit next to Miss Evans, since they are in the same class they can exchange stories."

"Madam Pomfrey, could you put Potter in a different bed, he'll ruin my healing." Lily said from just inside the door.

"Miss Evans, we need to fill the beds in a certain order. What about this boy, has he been injured?"

"No ma'am, I came to see my friend's safety. I wanted to make sure he was alright."

"Well I'm afraid you have to go back to class Mr-?"

"Black, ma'am, Sirius Black."

"Well Mr. Black, we have limited space so you'll have to go back to class."

"Yes ma'am, James, I'll see you later."

"He'll have to stay over night, so you can see him tomorrow."

"See yea James, come on Hagrid."

"Bye Madam Pomfrey, take care Pot- er, I mean James, and Miss Evans."

"So Hagrid, he gonna be alright do you think?"

"He'll be fine Sirius. Say when he heals, how bout a cup of tea at me place?"

"I think that'd be fine."

"Well, I'll see yer then Sirius. Gotta feed me dog and do me games keeper duties." Hagrid walked away leaving Sirius to go back to Madam Hooch.

Back in the hospital Wing James was trying to get Lily to talk to him.

"Evans, I'm not a bad guy, I just like to pull pranks."

"Potter, if you think we will ever be on talking terms after what you've done to Severus, then your stupider than I thought."

"Ah, come on Evans, don't be like that. I mean it's not like we've ever actually hurt him."

"Not physically, but you've hurt his pride. Now if you don't leave me alone I will cast a silencing charm on you."

"All right Evans, don't let the muggle in you come out."

"and what is that supposed to mean?" asked Lily offended.

"I think you know. Muggles are all arrogant, that's why we're in hiding."

"You think I'm arrogant?"

"Well, you're not even giving me a chance,"

"You don't deserve one,"

"And your acting like your better than me…which is what muggles do."

"Wizards do it too…I mean look at you and Black."

"Muggles are terrible, that's all I've got to say." Said James and he turned over and closed his eyes. He really wished he hadn't said any of it. Now Lily will never like him.

"So, you screwed it up with her,"

James and Sirius were in the common room after classes the next day. James was telling his friends about what happened in the Hospital Wing. He tried not to but the way Lily was looking and glaring at him all day gave it away.

"Basically. I guess she was offended when I said something about her being muggle born."

"Well, what did you say exactly?"

"I said it was the muggle in her that made her so arrogant."

"James, you are arrogant. Lily Evans isn't." Remus said.

"Way to make me feel better mate," James said with a sad smile.

"Well, it's the truth. I mean look at the way you acted yesterday."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just the fact that you flew so well and was so modest about it. I mean look at the way Peter and I flew. True, I wasn't terrible, but I need practice."

"I don't like brooms, I prefer to walk."

"What are you? Afraid of height?"

"Well, only a little."

"Peter, you live in a tower. How are you afraid of heights? Gryffindor tower is one of the highest the school has."

"I know, but I don't feel like I'm going to fall when I'm up here. I'm in closed by walls, not out in the air with a stick as my only support."

"Stop being a downer mate. Flying is amazing. To feel the wind in your hair at such a high speed."

"Oh and don't forget when your playing Quidditch and the only thing between you and a bludger is the beater, unless you arte the beater then all you have is a bat."

"Ah, the Quidditch life. Do you play Sirius?"

"Nah, love to fly, but don't know how much I'd like getting knocked in the head with a big heavy ball. Now if it was for fun, it'd be a little different.

"How about you?"

"Well, I can play seeker, but am way better at chaser."

"So, you're a big scorer are you?"

"Yes I am. I played against my cousins the one time and beat them big time. I have the latest broom. A Nimbus 500. It's amazing. I was so angry when our letters told me I couldn't bring it. My dad bought it for me as a going away gift during August and he was looking forwards to me being on the team. He was disappointed when I wrote him and told him first years couldn't try out. Times have changed is what he told me."

"Your family must be rich to be able to buy things like that. I mean the latest broom and the, well you know."

"Well, we are an old pure blood line, we do have gallons and sickles and stuff, but I mean, it's not like-."

"You have more than enough money," Remus stated loudly. James just looked at him but Remus just shook his head and walked out the Fat Lady portrait.

"I think I said something wrong."

"You think. You better go after him mate. He's your friend isn't he?"

"Yea, I guess you're right Sirius. I'll be back. James got up and ran out the portrait hole.

James looked everywhere for Remus. He found him sitting by a tree looking at the Whomping Willow. James thought it was an odd place to go but didn't question him when he sat down about it.

"Look Remus, I'm sorry if I said anything to offend you."

"It's not your fault mate. It's just that my family doesn't have a lot of money and when I hear you talk about what you have, well, I guess I just got jealous."

"Remus, I shouldn't have said anything about it. I'm sorry. I don't want to say anything that will hurt you."

"Let's just forget about, but only if you help me fly better."

"Deal. We can meet at lunches or something. Over Christmas holidays if you want."

"It's a deal. Now let's focus on Gryffindor winning the game on Saturday."

And Remus and James walked back up to the common room and the four friends sat and discussed Quidditch until dinner.