Chapter 8, Flying lesson.

Harry was shocked when he came into the common room and found all of the other Slytherins crowded around the notice board, he could see that Malfoy looked very smug about something, "What's going on" Harry asked Theo.

"They've just announced when we'll be starting our flying lessons, we're starting on Thursday with the Gryffindors" explained Theo, he seemed to be quite excited about this.

Harry didn't know what to think about this news, on one hand he would get the chance to try and talk to Ron again, but he doubted that that would go any better then last time, the idea of learning to fly was also exciting, but he feared that he would only make a fool of himself.

Theo clearly notice Harry's unease, "Hey, don't worry about it, half of the student here will have never been on a broomstick, if we're lucky Malfoy might fall on his face" he said, the idea of Malfoy messing up was encouraging to Harry, Malfoy was always talking about how good he was at flying, but Theo had said that those stories was either made up or heavily exaggerated.

Soon everyone was in the Great Hall having breakfast, Harry felt a little better about himself when he saw that a lot of other students was equally nervous as him if not more.

Malfoy had once again received a package of sweets from home, and he made sure that everyone especially Harry knew about it, "Oh look what mother sent me, isn't it nice to have parents who always sent me gifts" said Malfoy loud enough for Harry to hear from where he was sitting

Harry just ignored Malfoy, this seemed to annoy the blond boy so much that he took his frustration out on the easiest target, who unfortunately happened to be Neville.

Harry watched as Malfoy made his way over to the Gryffindor table and started some trouble, Harry couldn't hear what was being said but it looked like Malfoy had taken something of Neville's.

Ron and Seamus had jumped to Neville's defence but before anything could happen Professor McGonagall stepped in and defused the situation, Malfoy returned whatever he had taken then he walked back to the Slytherin table looked even more annoyed then before.

Later that day Harry and the other Slytherins went down to the grounds where their flying lesson would take place, there was 20 broomsticks on the ground waiting for them, the Gryffindors had not yet arrived.

Malfoy was already talking about how great he was going to be at this lesson, Harry rolled his eyes as he stood next to one of the brooms, he didn't know what was worse, the butterflies in his stomach or having to listen to Malfoy brag all day.

After about 10 minutes the Gryffindors arrived, they looked like they had had to run to get here on time, Harry lost any hope of talking to Ron when he noticed that Ron was avoiding eye contact with him.

Their teacher Madam Hooch soon arrived, (although Harry felt like she had been here the whole time and had just been waiting for everyone to arrive to make her presence known), Madam Hooch was an older woman with eyes like a hawk, she had her own broom that looked old but was very well maintained

"Well, what are you all waiting for, everyone stand by a broomstick, come on hurry up" said Madam Hooch, she seemed to want to get this lesson started without delay, Harry noticed that a lot of the brooms was old and had many twigs missing, it seemed that a lot of the previous students had had accidents on these brooms.

"Stick out your right hand over your broom, and say up" said Madam Hooch, everyone did as she said.

Harry's broom immediately jumped into his hand, Malfoy's broom had also jumped into his hand, something he looked very smug about, however most of the other students was having trouble with this.

The other students continued to say "Up" and a few did get their brooms to come to their hands while others did not, Hermione's broom had barely moved and Neville's broom didn't move at all, Crabbe and Goyle was having about as much luck as Neville was.

At one point Ron's broom shot up and smacked him in the face, Harry couldn't help but chuckle at this, it did feel a little like karma after Ron had been so cold towards him.

Finally everyone had their brooms in hand, (although some of them did had to just pick their brooms up off the ground after failing to make it jump to them for the tenth time).

Madam Hooch showed they how to mount their brooms properly, she then walked up and down the rows of students inspecting their grips, a lot of people was clearly satisfied when Malfoy was told that he had been doing it wrong for years.

Once Madam Hooch was satisfied with everyone she told them too kick off of the ground and hover in the air for a moment before coming back down, Madam Hooch counted down from three, but when she reached two Neville kicked off of the ground early.

Neville was rising higher into the air, "Come back, boy" shouted Madam Hooch, but it did no good, Neville was out of control and going higher, he was now about 20 feet in the air, Neville made the mistake of looking down and as he did so he looked like he might faint and he let go of his broom.

Neville fell and hit the ground hard, a few people winced when they heard a crack, Neville's broom had flown into the Forbidden Forest and was lost.

Madam Hooch was next to Neville in an instant, "Brocken wrist" she said as she helped Neville up, "Come on, boy, it's all right, up you get".

Madam Hooch began to escort Neville away, "None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing, you leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say Quidditch" she called back to the class.

As soon as Madam Hooch was gone Malfoy began to laugh, "Did you see is face, the great lump", Malfoy's group of friends quickly joined in, some of the Gryffindors tried to stick up for Neville but this only escalated things, Harry stayed off to the side with the other Slytherins who didn't want to get involved.

Malfoy grabbed something off of the ground where Neville had fallen, "Look, it's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him" he said, Malfoy was holding a glass ball the size of a large marble that was filled with white smoke.

By this point Harry couldn't take it any more, he didn't like it when Malfoy was making fun of Neville but taking his things was the final straw, "Give it to me Malfoy" said Harry stepping forward.

Everyone was silent for a second, the Slytherins had known that a confrontation between Harry and Malfoy was bound to happen sooner or latter and now they was curious to see what would happen, most of the Gryffindors on the other hand was confused, they didn't seem to understand why a Slytherin would stand up for a Gryffindor.

Finally Malfoy spoke, "I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to collect, how about up a tree" he said with a smirk as he jumped onto his broom and flew into the air.

Harry grabbed his broom, "No, you don't know how to fly" said Hermione earning a few looks from her own house, Harry didn't listen to her, he was too in the moment to stop.

Harry flew into the air and he was surprised to find how natural he felt up here, he'd finally found something that came easy to him, Malfoy seemed to realise this as well and his cocky smirk disappeared.

Harry shot straight passed Malfoy and nearly knocked him off his broom, it felt like pay back for all of the teasing Malfoy had been giving him since school started, "Give it here Malfoy" shouted Harry.

Malfoy looked down, but Crabbe and Goyle couldn't help him up here, "Catch" shouted Malfoy as he throw the glass ball as far as he could, Harry zoomed off to catch the ball while Malfoy headed back towards the ground.

Harry caught the ball with surprisingly little effort, he landed back on the ground triumphantly, however his good mood didn't last for long.

"Harry Potter" said Professor McGonagall who was running from the castle towards him, "Never in all my years at Hogwarts, how dare you, might have broken your neck" she said almost speechless.

Harry looked at the other students hoping that someone would defend him, Malfoy and his group was smiling at this outcome, the other Slytherins was trying to think of something that could help Harry out, and the Gryffindors didn't seem to want to help at all.

"Professor McGonagall please" said Hermione, once again she was receiving odd looks from the other Gryffindors.

"Not now Miss Granger" said McGonagall, "Potter, follow me now" she said as he led Harry away.