OH. a FLYING lesson. Charlotte was beyond excited, even if she was PRETTY SURE she didn't need any lessons. Okay so she would never be some amazing Quidditch player or anything like that, but she could get a broom in the air and not die, and that was good enough for her!

"Hello sir!" Charlotte greeted the groundskeeper cheerfully as she came to a stop in front of him. She was inclined to be eager for this class and his teaching just because he'd been so nice about letting her have her snails (R.I.P to most of them), and particularly her achatina achatina at Hogwarts.

Ooooh hey, maybe she should've brought him along!

Hadleigh couldn't recall having many flying lessons. At least not since she was younger. However it was just fine by her that they were having one. Even though she was very much capable of flying and had attended a short Quidditch camp several summers ago she was very much in attendance today. There was nothing at all wrong with brushing up on her flying and bettering herself at it.

"Hello Sir, hello Charlotte" Hady greeted Mr. McLeod and the only other person there with a warm smile as she made her way onto pitch. Her long hair was tied back neatly off her face and in her hand was her broom. Now all she needed was to see what they would be doing today.

.........................

That was pretty much everything going through the Hufflepuff's head as she approached the pitch empty handed. She did now own a broom nor did she have the ambition of ever actually owning one and had completely forgotten to grab one. In fact, the last time she had been on a broom had been with Cassius while he was still at Hogwarts and that had only ended in tears for fifth year Paige Skeeter. Quidditch terrified her and the one professional match she had been to she had had her face buried in Noel's shoulder for most of it.

So...why was she even here?

Because she had made a promise to herself that she would not turn down any opportunity this term - even if it meant facing her fear of heights head on.

Or...well...maybe she could just glide along the ground? As long as her shoes were able to graze the grass she could be alright...

"Good day, Mr. McLeod," the seventh year squeaked in greeting before offering Hadleigh and Charlotte nervous smiles.

Yeah...she seemed to be the only one shaking like a flutterby bush around these parts.

Whelp she saw the notice board, but wasn't sure if she'd actually come. It wasn't that she didn't like flying. She had a broom and she had carried it down with her to the lesson. Joe had gotten it for her for her first birthday with him. He had been for Vince to teach her and ended up helping her become friends with Alex as much as it was to bring Vince and her closer as best friends. So she didn't mind flying, but she just would rather be on a winged horse instead of a broom.

Though getting better and better at flying was a way of having something in common with her pro quidditch father, so here she was giving the flying lesson a shot. Possibly one shot, because if it didn't work out then she could use the time to be working in the music room or even down at the stables.

"Hello Sir, how are you today?" She always made sure to be polite to her head of house, he could really make her life difficult if she wasn't so yes she would be nice and smile.

Rula was VERY excited for a flying lesson. Not that she needed a lesson in flying - she'd played Quidditch when she was at Durmstrang, and she'd flown lots while at home too. But she hadn't really done it as much as she used to the past couple years, so it would be nice to fly on a broom again.

And it was just nice to have a lesson she didn't have to study or do homework for. No stress!

"Hi, Mr. McLeod!" She greeted him with a smile. The others who were there got a smile too - Char, Hady, Nat, and Paige...who was looking less than happy to be here. Was she okay? She was shaking like a leaf.

Rula decided to stand next to her as she waited for class to start. She didn't really know the Hufflepuff all that well, outside of seeing her in lessons and knowing that she was Eureka's dormmate, but that didn't mean she couldn't help! Only if Paige looked like she really needed it though. Rula wouldn't force it or anything. For now, she was just offering moral support.

Juno was excited to have flying lessons today. Though her father did teach her at home, and her skills were actually pretty good, she still enjoyed coming to Flying lessons. "Hello, Professo!" Juno said, with a wave, as she walked to the area where they would be having their lesson today.

It was really close to the Pitch...it was sad that it hadn't been used for a game in so long. She really loved Quidditch.

Welp, he was glad to see enough make their presence to start off at last with a few claps. "Alright everyone, gather round." Waiting for everyone's attention before continuing. "Now I know for some of you this will be a first experience in a long time, possibly ever on a broom. And the rest of you might wonder what else can you really learn that you don't know already? Well, I'll tell you." No dramatic pause this time.

"Today will be all about remaining balance and keeping your head on.. Literally with today's activity. But as with any sport before you can dive right into playing we'll be starting off with somes stretches to wake up our bodies." The Groundskeeper then took a moment to eye everyone over again, "Now I see some have neglected to have their brooms, with them. Well, that's okay. You can use the exercise to run right over to the shed over there for one and back here. The rest of you all. Let's get to stretching!" Right before the Flying Instructor raised one of his arms to hold and and stretch to loosen for any nicks.

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OOC: If your character didn't bring a broom they can post once running over to the shed and back. A post in the broomshed thread isn't necessary. Everyone else can do one post stretching. Next post will be tomorrow. =)

Was getting back on a broom like getting back on a bike after being off one for awhile? It would be nice if that was the case because in all honesty she really couldn't remember the last time she was on one for real. Maybe it was during that house bonding team racing event a few terms ago...or was it during a lesson? Either way it was a fair awhile ago and it really was kinda sad since she enjoyed it a fair bit. Something she should try to do more often when she could.

Keeping their balance and head on? What in the world was this guy going on about. Hadleigh blinked several times taking a look around the pitch to try to get some sort of idea on just what was going to be happening. Like normal there was nothing. Figures. All they were being told to do was stretch. Easy enough.

Setting her broom down at her feet Hady stretched both arms up high over her head before reaching to her left, then her right and then down to her toes. A few more simple stretches were completely as instructed only taking a few moments tops. Nothing to fancy needed to be done.

Definitely...not excitement.

...even LESS so with the mention of keeping their heads on in a literal sense. If the Groundskeeper was attempting to be funny...Paige was failing to sense the humor in it. A Hufflepuff of few ambitions, joining the Headless Hunt was most certainly not on the list - not to mention she could not imagine how disheartening that would be for Sir Nicholas.

Broom. Right. She...needed one of those...

Catching Rula's gaze as she turned around to head back over towards the shed and offered a meek smile before jogging to retrieve a broom. She may, or may not, have taken her time in selecting one - not that any one broom seemed better suited for her than another. Broom in hand, Paige jogged back over to the group and set it gingerly on the ground and copied the Groundskeeper's movements for stretching.

He bet she was to? Well she could say at the moment she was. The weather was getting warmer and she felt the sun recharged her at times. The winter was just always so cold. She stood holding her broom as she watched the others join them. Hearing her head of house talk about getting a broom if they didn't have one, but she wasn't paying much attention to that her eyes were locked on the man that was in charge and his words.

Balance and keep your head on? "What do you mean literally? I'm kind of attached to my head at the moment." So she really didn't want to lose it anytime soon. Her eyes still very much fixed on the him she did set her broom down to do stretches, but she was going to move closer to one of her flying expert friends. Now where were they? Vince? Henry? Anyone that could make sure she kept her head!!!

Keeping your head on literally??

Interesting.

Rula was even more curious about this lesson now.

She set her broom down and offered Paige a bright smile as she passed, then started her stretches with her arms first. She raised an arm up and behind her, holding it in place with her other hand for several seconds, and then switched to the other arm. A couple more stretches with her arms and then her legs were next with a few different stretches.

Did Char have a broom? Nope! Did she relish the opportunity to run over and get one? You betcha! She took off at speed, heading right for the broomshed. She loved running around and had always been FAST and even though she didn't need an excuse for it, it was somehow more fun when you did have one. Not bothering about any particular broom except for making sure she grabbed one that was airworthy, Char ran all the way back from the broomshed with the broom in her hand over her shoulder like she was about to throw it like a javelin. She wasn't though! It was just more aerodynamic for the running.

She came to a stop and since people were still stretching she went ahead and put the broom down and did some stretches too. It was SO NICE to have an active lesson!

Juno set her Nimbus G-3 down on the ground next to her feet, and began doing some rather interesting stretches. She was very much into Yoga, so stretching to her meant downward facing dog, cat cow stretches, various lunge stretches, standing forward bend, the pigeon pose, and many others.

She was pretty much having her own yoga class in the middle of Flying lessons.

Given the Instructor's age, he wasn't quite as flexible as some of the youngins were displaying here, but he was no slouch. Tending to the grounds and chasing after his family back home kept him very active. A few squats and extra twists later he was feeling good. Ah, he knew a simple tease would only gain the student's interest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bazinga

He bet she was to? Well she could say at the moment she was. The weather was getting warmer and she felt the sun recharged her at times. The winter was just always so cold. She stood holding her broom as she watched the others join them. Hearing her head of house talk about getting a broom if they didn't have one, but she wasn't paying much attention to that her eyes were locked on the man that was in charge and his words.

Balance and keep your head on? "What do you mean literally? I'm kind of attached to my head at the moment." So she really didn't want to lose it anytime soon. Her eyes still very much fixed on the him she did set her broom down to do stretches, but she was going to move closer to one of her flying expert friends. Now where were they? Vince? Henry? Anyone that could make sure she kept her head!!!

"Right you are.. for now." Justin started off. It was a good question to lead up to what he had planned as he then addressed everyone else as well. "Now what could possibly rattle your heads in the air? The bludgers yes, but other flying objects, birds. Other flyers. We tend to focus on what's in front of our faces when our guard is down, but even when on alert for the unexpected you can still be knocked off."

"Excellent to see you all have your brooms now and fully stretched. Good work. Now that we're fully awake, we can begin." Taking his own broom the Groundskeeper Flying Head of House went on to mount his. "Now everyone can mount their brooms like so. Make sure the hand you use the most is gripping over the other hand on the handle, like so." Since Justin was right handed his right one was gripping it over the left. "Now with hovering off, some more experienced like to start off with a kick into the air to get up faster. On not so good feeling days though you can hop off the ground lightly and perhaps even have your eyes closed in the process." This tip was likely boring to some, but for lessons sake Justin knew a few could use the extra stuff. "Feel the broom, be the broom and then... lift" With a slight kick in his hop Justin hovered over.

"Now take a moment to get warmed up to your broom again. If you gotta talk to your broom to do so, by all means. Hover up high enough to where your feet can't touch the ground but lower than my level." That was the first step. "Once you have been in the air, practice keeping a hold with one hand, no hands as well if you're bold enough. Then we'll get to the real activity." Yep, no beating around the bush here.

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OOC: Good work everyone. Now you can have your characters fly or some attempt to. Two labelled posts is recommended but not necessary if detailed enough. Next post will be tomorrow. =)

BEEEEEE THE BROOOOOOOM!

Charlotte could do that. For sure. She also wasn't one for taking it slow, never had been, and for the record she was GREAT at getting off the ground, less great at landing, but that wasn't important right then! She mounted, gripped the broom and lifted off without giving it much thought, but giving it a massive kick. Not out of experience, rather, out of Gryffindorness.

That was what it had always been, she'd just never known it until the hat had told her so.

"Professor!?" Half question, half exclamation as the thought came to her, "I've seen professional quidditch players, like Kinsley and Odessa and Branxton and Potter and Summers and Montmorency," She could go on, but she had a point to make and very little breath left to do it after all those names, "Just mount their broom like MID stride!" She let go of the broom's handle with one hand, wobbling a bit as she gesticulated for effect, unintentionally practicing this one hand business as the professor had asked, "Like they're walking or running and then POOF! They're ON their broom and zooming!" She didn't quite zoom in demonstration there, but it was like the broom knew she want to and it sort of gave an excited wiggle and quiver beneath her.

"How long does it take to learn how to do THAT?" Yeah! Could they do THAT? She thought probably Henry might be the only one who could, maybe also Vince and Noah, but they also maybe wouldn't have mastered it yet either? Who knew!? It looked SUPER cool and impressive though. Also? There was something kind of ATTRACTIVE about boys doing it. That was probably why all the names she'd mentioned were of the male player variety.

Humm. That was a point, she probably should start paying more attention to the lady players, since she was supposed to be a feminist and all that.

Straightening herself up the Head Girl shifted her gaze once more onto their Flying instructor. He was going over how easily it was to lose control and be knocked off ones broom. This she knew well and luckily had never had to experience before. Crashing into something/someone or being hit with something that would knock her from her broom was not all that appealing. Hady rather liked remaining in one piece thank you very much.

Shifting from one foot to the other her eyes strayed around the group checking to see who all was there. Not that it mattered much really as she was sure that she could handle whatever was tossed her way this lesson. It might have been a little while since she had rode on a broom but she'd get the hang of it again quickly enough...at least she hoped that she would.

Picking up her broom Hady mounted it with no trouble as that was the easy part. Her right hand rested firmly over her left gripping the broom to keep it steady. Still easy. Next came the actual part where her feet would leave the ground. A decent kick with her foot against the ground sent her up into the air a bit like they had been instructed to do. Hoovering wasn't at all hard either it was remaining balanced, not that there was much to worry about a few inches off the ground.

Sitting up a tad bit straighter she raised her left hand off the broom first. It was easier to start that way since she was right-handed. For several seconds the broom wobbled ever so slightly until Hady adjusted her weight more evenly onto the broom. Simple enough for the time being. Setting her left hand back onto the broom again she removed her right hand. Fingers of her left hand tightening around the broom to keep herself steady. Having done this before made it easier on her she was sure, right now it was just getting the feel for it all again.

Flying lesson? Heck yes. Bentley didn't own a broom of his own..not at with him at school anyways, so the young man took the opportunity to fetch one from the shed. While he was nothing special in the air, the fourth year was confident in his ability to own his own in the air.

After rejoining the rest of his classmates, Bentley rest the broom by his feet and began stretches of his own. He did the ones he uncle taught him, that had his joints making odd popping sounds as they loosened.

She was still eyeing him. Well of course they had to be watchful and ready, but did he have to say literally when saying about losing ones head. That still didn't settle with her. What was he up to? What did he have planned? She stretched quietly as she waited for them all to be back with their brooms.

Once he started talking again she stood up and grabbed her broom. She did like the broom it was quite pretty as far as brooms go. The custom design Joe did for her was great. Whoops her brain tuned back into the head of house as he talked about ways to get on a broom and she got set on the broom and kicked off just as she heard Char talking well more like fangirling pro players. First she wanted to speak up and say you forgot Franks-Mundie, but then she wanted to roll her eyes because they were just people. She lived with one she knew they were just normal people on a broom.

But honestly she was distracted the minute she heard Odessa. Can we forget about brooms and quidditch and talk about Odessa's true talent... MUSIC??


Now she was fully not listening and thinking about TDK as she sat in the air on her broom.

........not funny. None of this. None. Paige was unfamiliar with the Groundskeeper's sense of humor - and perhaps even more so since it was entirely possible THAT display of the man at the start of term feast was still subconsciously influencing her wanting to - but this whole losing her head was far from amusing. She still had to tackle her fear of heights which was enough a monumental task on its own.

Not to mention...she had never actually been able to get a broom off the ground on her own. Ever. She had never even attempted the whole hand over the handle of the broom and 'UP!' before...so this was likely to be a complete disaster.

Chewing on her lower lip nervously, Paige watched as her classmates effortlessly - and enthusiastically at that - mounted their brooms and lifted up into the air. She could not even begin to fathom whatever it was that Charlotte was talking about - although she did have a visual of sorts from the all of one professional match she had attended...and seen more of Noel's shirt than the actual pitch that is. Meanwhile, where was the Hufflepuff? Standing by her broom still shaking like a flutterby bush. Maybe she SHOULD talk to her broom like the Groundskeeper had suggested? She talked to her plants all the time and brooms were crafted from trees so...connection?

The seventh year was grasping for straws here.

"Um...hello...um...school broom," Paige whispered as she knelt down beside her borrowed broom. Something that may have felt weird to some...but this was the wizarding world where even wands could have a mind of their own and shift their loyalties. "I've...never actually flown on a broom before...alone...so this will be the first time..."

HOVERRRRRING... ooops too high, too high. Char's enthusiasm bubbled out of her to the point where it was difficult not to go higher than where the professor was, but she managed it, though the broom quivered with barely held restraint, and so did Charlotte as she decided to do the no hands thing. WOOO NO HANDS!

A little wobbly but mostly it was fine. Mostly it was like she was staying up through sheer force of will and excitement.

But Paige caught her attention and Char watched curiously, then decided the Hufflepuff clearly needed some encouragement. So;

"Come on Paige, you can do it!" YEAH PAIGE! WOO!

Double handed fist pump over here! Char wobbled a bit and decided to grip her broom with one hand at least. One hand she could manage comfortably.

..... single handed fist pump over here!

....feel the broom, be the broom....

What if she didn't want to be a broom?

Managing a weak smile up at Charlotte - because despite her tight lipped smile...the Hufflepuff really was appreciative of her encouragement - Paige finished up her shy pleasantries with her broom and too step one: feel the broom.

Yep. It was, well, a broom. Made of wood. Nice and smooth and aerodynamic. A broom.

Paige swallowed and opted to skip step two because visualizing herself as a broom was actually making things more terrifying because it implied someone else was in control and guiding her through the air. She would like to ride a broom on her own terms, thank you.

Blushing a little as she finally mounted properly, her hands gripping the handle to the point that her knuckles were turning white, she took several deep breaths with her eyes closed.

Up. Up? Up. UP?

Deciding to try the whole hop approached, the seventh year bent slightly at the knees and halfheartedly jumped into the air......only to feel her feet touch back on the ground a few moments later.

To her own relief, admittedly.

She was still thinking about the band and music. Thanks Char for the distraction when the groundskeeper said they could lose their heads. She could see it in the headlines, Pro Quidditch player Joe Franks-Mundie lost his daughter in a broom accident. It seems the seventeen year old wasn't paying attention on her broom and lost her head. Yep, that would be great news for Joe and his career (sarcasm).


She looked around watching the others and decided to fly around a bit. Lifting up she let go of the broom with one hand and then the other. There was no way she was going to fully let go. Her one had was going to stay put at all times. She didn't have the balance to do this. Honestly she wasn't sure how people got so good at this. Give her an Abraxan any day.

Juno smiled. This would be cake. She loved flying with her dad at home, and was actually getting better at it than he was, or he was letting her think she was. She hadn't ever seen him play quidditch but she had heard he was a really amazing player at Durmstrang and Hogwarts.

She looked down lovingly at her broom. It never needed a lot of command from her. Since day one, it obeyed her. Standing up straight, she placed her wand hand directly above the broom handle that was currently lying on the ground. With confidence and gusto, she called out to it, "Up!" The broom sailed up gently right into her hand. She grinned in satisfaction.

Juno mounted the broom, making tiny adjustments to make sure she was properly on it. She didn't want her cloak to get in the way, so she pulled it off and let it fall to the ground. It felt so nice to be back on her broom. She was so excited to get to fly again. But she knew she had to take it slow like the Professor said, no matter how badly she wanted to just zip off and fly away.

She made sure that her hands were properly placed, right hand gripping over the left, and then kicked off from the ground to hover. She felt the broom, she was the broom. She made sure shethebroom did not hover too high; remaining still on a broom was the hardest. No hands? Really? Anyone could do that. Juno let go of the broom and sat stark straight up, folding her arms over her chest, with a huge grin, and let the broom slowly drift a little, but not too far away, she didn't want to get in trouble for skipping steps.

Still hovering a bit off the ground the seventh year brunette glanced around at those closest to her. Her fellow Prefect got a smile as she watched her for a moment. Clearly Juno had done this many times before that was easy to see. The girl was good already hovering with her arms folded looking like she was about to take off at any second. Hazel eyes moved over onto Nat and she laughed softly. "You okay over there Nat?" If she needed a bit of assistance she'd gladly move to be at her friends side.

Same with Paige. Was she having trouble getting off the ground or was she just really not into flying? It looked to be a bit of both. Hady sent the fellow seventh year a warm smile. "Give a bit more effort when you hop up Paige, tell the broom what you want, like when you cast a charm. See it happening." Just a tad bit of friendly advice and some encouragement wouldn't hurt. She knew the girl was very smart and would catch on quickly.

Speaking of quickly her attention was drawn back onto herself for a moment as she straightened out once more. Wobbling about on a broom wasn't the safest thing to be doing one handed. Slowly sitting herself straight upwards Hady removed her hand from the broom holding it about an inch or so away just in case. There was a bit of wobbling at first but she managed to get her hands rested on her knees. Just so her focus remained fully on the broom and there was no need to move yet Hady was okay. The second she needed to fly her hands were returning to the smooth wood of her broom, no questions asked.