I hated Malfoy. This wasn't a normal boy hate, this was true burning hatred that bubbled up as soon as I saw his ferretty face. Luckily we only had the one lesson together, unluckily that lesson was potions, the only time that I saw Snape and I had to pretend that we hated each others guts. It was just bad fortune that Ron spotted that flying lessons were due to start and that we would be learning with the Slytherins.

"I mean it couldn't have been someone placid like the Hufflepuff's could it?" Ron fumed as we meandered down to the greenhouses for our next lesson.

Neville was still white from Charms, where he had been paired with Seamus, always a dangerous thing. Seamus was currently being helped to the hospital wing by Dean.

It was fortunate that Herbology was the last lesson of the day as Ron was preparing for a full rant and he would distract everyone in the next lessons.

"Ron, I am as annoyed as you are." I muttered to him as Professor Sprout let us into the greenhouse. "Lets just get the lesson over with and if we have luck on our side then we wont have to do another with him."

Ron, about to answer was silenced as the Professor started the lesson.

Friday came too quickly. I had really been looking forward to flying lessons, sure Dad and Siruis had taught me long ago and I had played with Ron and once even with Neville... on one of Mum's braver days.

Ron and I walked slowly down to breakfast. Hermione was already there quoting from a book she had found in the library. Neville, though he had been with us that one time was hanging onto her every word. He had failed dramatically when Mum had let him fly so he was trying to soak up ways of hanging onto the broomstick.

The post stopped Hermione's lecture not a moment too soon. A barn owl fluttered down to Neville as Hedwig brought a note to me. I read it quickly and giggled, passing it onto Ron.

Heard about the fight Harry. Well done. Your mum says not to do it again. Love Dad. X

Ron grinned and glanced at what the owl had brought Neville.

Neville was opening a box excitedly, showing a glass ball filled with white smoke.

"Nev, is that a Rememball?" Ron said, "I've never seen one of them before."

Neville nodded and glanced at Hermione who was staring at the little ball confused.

"A Rememball." He explained to her, looking pleased that he knew more then her for once. "Gran knows I forget things, this tells you if you've forgotten to do. Hold it tight like this..." His fist closed on the glass. It quickly turned scarlet. He finished looking downcast. "If it turns red, it means that you've forgotten something." He mumbled.

Neville turned thoughtful as he tried to remember what he had forgotten. Ron nudged me just as I was about to swallow my scrambled eggs. I coughed, not a pretty sight.

Malfoy was sauntering over as Neville was stuck in thought Malfoy snatched the small ball from Neville's hand. Ron and I jumped up. Despite my Dad's note I was raring to have another go at Malfoy. Professor McGonagall was close before I could even think of where I would like to hit Malfoy the most.

"What's going on?" She asked

"Malfoy's got my Rememball." Neville squeaked.

Malfoy scowled at us and quickly dropped the ball back into Neville's hand. "Just looking" He muttered and slouched away with his cronies.

At three-thirty we started to walk down the steps to the grounds for our first flying lesson. It was a perfect day for flying. The grass rippled as we made our way to where the Slytherins were waiting in neat lines. Malfoy whispered something in Crabbe's ear as we drew close and the monkey turned and laughed at me. Hermione was walking beside me.

"Ignore him." she whispered. I balled up my fist but did nothing more.

Madam Hooch arrived, she had short grey hair and yellow hawk-like eyes. I felt sure that if she was an animagus then she would be a falcon or some other type of bird of prey.

"Well what are you waiting for?" She barked at us. We all jumped. "Everybody stand by a broomstick. Hurry up, haven't got all day you know."

We quickly found a broom, I glanced down at mine. It was old and the sticks were stuck out at odd angles. I felt myself yearning for the broom that Dad had bought me last Christmas.

"Stick your hand over your broom and say up."Madam Hooch said from the other end of the class. We all said 'Up' at the same time. My broom jumped straight up into my waiting hand. I grinned, I was worried that it wouldn't, being a broom that I didn't know. Hermione's had rolled over and Neville's hadn't moved at all, that may have been a good thing. Ron's had leapt up and smacked him on the nose. I glanced at him and laughed.

Madam Hooch wandered up and down the class, correcting grips and teaching those who didn't know how to mount the broom without sliding off of the end. Both Ron and I were delighted when she told Malfoy that he had been doing it wrong for years. She slid my grip down just a little and didn't change Ron's at all. By this time Hermione and Neville had gone rather pale.

"Now, when I blow my whistle you kick off from the ground, hard." Madam Hooch said. "Keep the broom's steady, rise a few feet then come back down by leaning forward slightly. After three...one...two..."

Neville was too nervous and pushed off hard before Madam Hooch's whistle had even touched her lips. Ron and I shared a nervous look. This did not bode well.

"Come back boy!" Madam Hooch was shouting as Neville rose higher and higher. The look on his face one of sheer terror. He stupidly looked down and with a squeak of fear regretted it instantly. Like a slow-motion film I saw his grip slacken and he fell sideways off of the broom.

WHAM! He hit the ground and Madam Hooch sprinted to his still form, in a heap on the floor. The broom, lazily drifting off into the realms of the forbidden forest was forgotten as Madam Hooch took care of Neville. She helped him up and with a quick warning to us to stay on the ground took Neville off towards the castle.

As they reached the castle doors Malfoy caught my attention. He laughed as they went inside.

"Did you see the look on the lump's face?" He asked the Slytherins loudly. Ron gritted his teeth beside me.

"Shut up Malfoy." Pavarti Patel snapped.

Pansy Parkinson felt the need to put her pennies worth in. "Oooo, sticking up for Longbottom? Never thought you'd like fat little crybabies Patel."

Malfoy darted forward suddenly. "Look!" He said snatching something from the grass. "Its that stupid ball that Longbottom's Gran sent him."

The Rememball glittered in the sun as Malfoy held it up.

"Give that here Malfoy." I said quietly. Everybody was silent as he turned to smile nastily at me.

"I think I'm going to leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find... How about up a tree?"

Pansy laughed and clapped in glee.

"Give it here" I repeated a lot calmer then I felt. Malfoy grinned again and jumped on his broom. He hadn't been lying, he could fly, almost as well as Meg could when she joined in on our practices. He hovered level with the large oak trees topmost branches.

"If you want it come and get it!" He shouted down at me.

I dived for my broom.

"Harry No!" Hermione shouted "We were told not to move, you cant, you'll get us all into trouble!"

I ignored her and shot up to where Malfoy was. He looked shocked that I could fly.

"Give it here, or I will knock you off your broom." I said slowly.

Malfoy sneered at me, but couldn't hide the slight worry that he had.

"No Crabbe and Goyle up here to save your neck" I called. Malfoy seemed to have the same thought.

"Catch it then." He challenged and threw the ball. He streaked back down to the ground. It was like time had slowed. The ball started to fall I leaned forward and streaked towards the ball. Someone below screamed, it sounded like Hermione. I caught the Rememball barely a foot away from the ground. I pulled the broom before I crashed into the grass and caught a glimpse of Ron's grin.

I grinned back, then felt my heart sink as fast as I had just dived. Professor McGonagall was hurrying towards me.