Flying Lesson #2 - Magical Transportation
 

A sign sits outside the unlocked gates of the Pitch and it clearly states the details of the lesson in bold, bright flashing letters:

FLYING FOR BEGINNERS

FIRST YEARS' ONLY

ALL STUDENTS MUST USE SCHOOL BROOMS - NO EXCEPTIONS.

DO NOT ANNOUNCE A LATE ARRIVAL
OR THAT YOU'RE LEAVING - POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED.

NO CHATTING DURING THE LESSON -
FAILURE TO LISTEN COULD RESULT IN DISASTER IN THE AIR.

Flying Lesson #1 - Beginning Flying
 

Professor Vindictus spent the last thirty minutes lining the school brooms into two neat rows at the center of the Pitch. Based on the position of the sun in the sky, he knew that the lesson would start very soon.

Lucas ran all the way down to the pitch for their first flying lesson. he was really keen on starting the lessons soon. "Hi Professor," He said brightly as he made it in record time.

Mariel sprinted out to the pitch, eager for the first flying lesson. Although she loved to fly and considered herself fairly decent at it having had plenty of practice at home, there was no way she was going to pass up a lesson taught by Hogwarts' resident Quidditch idol. In fact, she was uncharacteristically bursting with excitement, awaiting the lesson to begin. It was no surprise to her that she was nearly the first to arrive. "Hello, professor!" Mariel grinned and waved when she saw Professor Vindictus waiting for his students.

Lucas saw Mariel and he waved and smiled at her. he wanted to say something but Professor Vindictus told them not to talk during the lesson and he didn't want to get into trouble.

"Hello, hello!" Vindictus called out cheerfully and motioned to the brooms lying on the green grass. "Stand next to a broom, please."

Mariel grinned and waved at Lucas when she saw that he was in her class too. Then she put on her solemn 'grown-up face' and put a finger to her lips and nodded. She liked her new Mirror Friend, but knew class was not a place for chatting and didn't want to get them in trouble. Hopefully they would get a chance to talk later, after class.

He nodded and bounced over to the broom and stood next to it. He was so excited he could hardly contain himself to stand still. He bounced from foot to foot.

Mariel walked over to a broom and looked up expectantly, waiting for the next instruction.

"Good, good. Now I want you to stand about a half foot away from the broom that is to your right," Vindictus said and hoped that the kids knew their right from left. "Place your right hand over the broom and say 'Up!' Make sure you say it in a firm voice because a broom can sense fear."

Lucas scooted over so that he was standing a little bit away from his broom. He stuck his right hand out over his broom. "Up!" He said firmly. The broom jumped up into his hand. He loved it. The feel of the wood against his little fingers. A small smile played at the corner of his lips. He loved to fly and he couldn't wait to get up into the air.

"Good day, Professor!" Nathaniel said strolling onto the practice field

Vindictus walked around and watched the students perform this basic task. "Now I want you to stradle your broom and place both hands firmly on the handle in front of you."

Mariel shifted over a little until she was the correct distance away from her broom. Holding her right hand over the nearest broom, she commanded, "Up!" The broom flew straight up into her hand. That's what was supposed to happen, right? Mariel glanced over at the professor to make sure she did it correctly.

Vindictus raised a disapproving eyebrow at the lad. "Well, it was a good day. Five points from Gryffindor for interrupting the lesson with such nonsense."

Mariel nodded. Simple enough. She straddled the broom and grasped the top of the handle with both hands. Looking once again at the professor, she waited as patiently as her excited little self could for the next step.

Lucas did as he was told. He swung his leg over his broom and put his hands on the handle. It felt as if his hands were made for a broom. He looked over that the boy he had gotten in trouble. He felt so sorry for him, but he didn't say anything least he get into trouble.

"Now, don't grip too hard," Vindictus added after staring at the deathly white knuckles of several students. "Gently push off from the ground with your feet and lean forward over your broom handle. Swerve the handle back and forth to navigate in the air. If you feel like you're going too fast, sit up a little on the broom and pull the handle towards you. Now give it a go and take a few laps around the Pitch, but no racing or fancy stunts or showing off!"

Lucas relaxed his grip a little and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and pushed off the ground with his trainers. He leaned slightly forward and took off at a slow and low pace. The sun on his brown skin seemed to rejuvenate him, the playful breeze through his hair sounded like his mother's voice calling his name. He turned the handle and veered to the right. He had been waiting weeks for this. In the air again like a little sparrow that had been trapped indoors too long. He slowed down to fly next to a dragonfly who was catching the breeze and hanging out.

This was the best feeling in the world to Lucas. Other than hugging his mommy.

Raine gripped her broom, and lifted slowly, hesitantly into the air. Closing her eyes, Raine lifted higher into the air, faster than she had before. Strangely enough, this wasn't as hard (or scary) as she'd thought it would have been. It was the greatest feeling she had, ever, since coming to the school. This was where she always wanted to be, how she always wanted to feel. Opening her eyes, Raine gave a little cry of joy, and began flying more sure footed; or, well, not really, but she did fly confidently, as though she had been doing this all her life. Hearing another student told to loosen their grip, Raine did the same, barely toughing the handle, and gliding along smoothly, as easily as a hot knife goes through butter.

Emalyn bit her lip as she tried to let her grip go a little. She pushed off gently from the ground and tried her best to lean forward. She hovered in mid-air, serving back and forth, getting used to the force of the wind and the easy turning of the broomstick. She was halfway through her first lap when she pulled the handle of the broom towards her, a bit too abruptly, but she still slowed down. She smiled. She loved the soaring feeling and she swooped and whoosed and flooped around, though not as fast as she dared.

She knew it was probably wrong, but Mariel couldn't help but to grin at the thought of the professor deducting points from that silly Gryffindor boy. Strange... Such a short time as a Ravenclaw, yet still so much pride for her house. Mariel frowned at the thought of Ravenclaw currently being in last place.

Taking a deep breath, she looked down at her hands to see how tightly she was gripping the handle. Relax, Mariel, she thought to herself and somewhat loosened her grip. Kicking off from the ground, she and her broomstick rose into the air and Mariel began to lazily circle the pitch. It had been weeks since she had been on a broom and she couldn't be happier to be flying again and feeling the wind rush through her long, dark hair.

Doing her best to avoid the other flying first years, she looked down to the professor to see what they would do next.

Vindictus watched as the students flew cautiously around the Pitch. In the distance, faint 'ooh ooh eeh eeh' sounds were heard mixed with the cackling of birds in the trees. "Very good!" he called out.