Sept. 13, 1991, Friday Flying Class Lawn 1:15pm
~Third-person POV ~
Naji, Tania and Bunta were watching the lawn below where their 'father' was with his friends. There were a lot of those 'cleaning brushes' that their 'father' used to gather leaves in the front and backyard of their house in Devon.
When they heard that Marshall would be learning to fly today, they were puzzled by the idea. Their 'father' is a great flyer. They often flew around the ocean and in the forest near their home. Why does their 'father' need to learn to fly?
They even saw Marshall mount one of those horse-birds yesterday. They really don't get their 'father' sometimes.
-POV Marshall-
We are currently lined up with brooms besides our feet. Hufflepuffs facing the Ravenclaws. I could see both excitement and fear on the faces of everybody.
"Marshall, what happened to the duel between Malfoy and Harry? Do you know?" Ernie, who was beside me, asked.
I replied, "Ron said that Draco didn't come. Well… It was pretty obvious that it was just a prank to get the Gryffindors in trouble with Filch."
Justin asked, "Did they get caught?"
I shook my head and said, "Nah! They were almost caught because of Peeves, but were able to hide somewhere and got back to their dorm unnoticed. Though, Hermoine was really pissed this morning."
Justin asked, "Eh? Was she with them? She does not seem like a rule breaker to me?"
I laughed, "Haha, No, she got herself locked outside their dorm while stopping Harry and Ron from going. They didn't go on the details, but from their faces they had quite the 'fun' night."
Those who were listening to our conversation just chuckled. Seeing Harry at dinner last night, everyone already knew he was not going to be expelled. They did heard about Malfoy's challenge for a duel in the Trophy room and were curious about the outcome.
Right in this instance, our flying instructor, Madam Hooch, approached us and kept looking at everyone with her eagle-like eyes. I got curious and asked Siri...
ME: Why are her eyes like that?
Siri: She inherited them from her Uhranuti ancestor...
'Eh? Uhranuti? That's a new word. Too bad I can't ask what it was from Siri. I'll ask Nana about it some other time.' I made a mental note.
"Good afternoon, class!" Said our instructor.
Everybody greeted, "Good afternoon, Madam Hooch!"
Madam Hooch starts by saying, " Welcome to your first flying lesson. Now, everyone might already heard about what happened yesterday with the Gryffindors and Slytherins. I am telling you now, I don't want another incident. Understand!?"
Everyone nodded while others yelled, "Yes, Ma'am."
"Well, what are you all waiting for? Everyone, step up to the left side of your broomstick. Stick your right hand over and say, UP!" instructed Madam Hooch.
Everyone frantically shouted, "UP!". The class became noisy immediately.
I look at the worn-out broom at my feet. I sigh, 'I was flying on a hippogriff yesterday, and now I have to use this sorry excuse of a flying machine.'
I just called it, "Up!" The broom immediately jumped from the ground and into my hand. I could even feel it was eager to please me. I'm puzzled, 'The heck?! It's like it was sentient!'
I looked around and found out that I was the only one who had his broom in his hand. Madam Hooch give a nod of approval when seeing me.
"Marshall! Any tips here?!" Kevin asked. Some have their broom floating halfway or up to their knees. While others are just moving around on the ground.
I thought hard and said, "Imagine yourselves as parents waking up your lazy kids from bed. You got frustrated and yelled, UP!"
"""""""Huh!?!""""""" Everyone who heard that had a dumbfounded expression on their face. Even Madam Hooch made a sharp neck turn towards me after hearing my suggestion.
I just looked at them and said, "Just try it. You asked for a tip, but you don't believe me?"
My fellow Hufflepuffs just try to concentrate. I heard Megan yell, "UP, you lazy bum!" The broom immediately jumped out and went into her hand, still shaking.
When the others saw that, everyone started channeling their inner dad and mom. I heard Justin yelled ,"Up! Or I'll call your mother!" His broom just shot up into his hand.
Our instructor looked at the comical scene where the students are acting like angry parents waking up their kids. She doesn't know whether to give points to me or deduct some.
Soon, even the Ravenclaws did the same. And after a few moments of the hilarious scene, all the students had a broom in their right hand.
Madam Hooch, with a frown, said, "Thank you, Mr. Witcherly, for that very... creative..... advice. 10 pts for Hufflepuff."
As she threw the earlier scene to the back of her mind. She began instructing us on the proper mounting position and the correct way to grip the broom, so that we didn't slide off it.
When I mounted the broom, I could already tell I'm not going to like it. Let's just say, some parts of my anatomy are protesting. I looked at the broom and asked Siri...
Me: What is wrong with this broom?
Siri: The room is worn-out. The cushioning charm is malfunctioning.
'Ugh! So that's why...' I raised my hand and called the teacher, "Ma'am , the cushioning charm in my broom is not working..."
Madam Hooch approached me and inspected the broom. She points her wand at it and casts a "Reparo" charm. She checked and felt the invisible cushion on the broom.
She nodded and seemed pleased with her work. She handed me the broom and said, "I think that's the one Longbottom used yesterday. Anyway, it's fixed now. Go on...." She then turned around and watched over the other students.
I tried to feel the cushion and there really was something there. It feels like a pillow seat. I just mount the broom, and it does feel a lot more comfortable.
Madam Hooch then continued, "Now that you are properly mounted, I want you to kick off from the ground hard and rise a few feet in the air. I repeat... just a few feet. Mr. Witcherly, be on guard,as that's the broom Longbottom used. It might be a bit glitchy."
'Oh Great! Thanks for the warning.' I just sighed and kicked from the ground. When I had lifted off, I kept the broom steady and just hovered a little 5ft from the ground. Good thing no mishap happened.
"Very good! Now proceed to land gently on the ground." said the instructor. Again, no accident. I was able to land safely.
In my group, only Susan and Ernie were able to have a safe lift-off and landing. The others are still stuck on the ground. Wayne yelled, "Marshall, any tips for this one?"
"Eh! If you ever rode a bike, try to remember the feeling of pedaling and making it move. It's the same feeling, but instead of going forward, you want to go up," I said.
I also added, "Don't be scared of falling. Your fear is the only thing keeping you on the ground. Forget what you saw yesterday. Just remember, I have the glitchy broom, so you guys are safe."
They all let out a breath of relief and tried again. Adeline, Naomi, Megan, Justin, and Wayne were able to follow my instruction. I'm guessing, knowing the feeling of riding a bike really helps. A few tries later, Kevin and Hannah were able to hover and come down safely.
Madam Hooch gave us 5 pts for the first house to complete the exercise. She even gave me an additional 5 pts for giving advice and helping my group.
"Since you're done. If you are up for it, you can fly around the lawn for a bit but keep your altitude at 10ft max." The instructor gave us a bit of free time to fly around.
I waved to my pets and they immediately approached me. I instructed them, "You guys fly around. If you see anyone falling, save them."
"Hoo." 🔔"Ting!"🔔 "Croooak!" They agreed to me request.
I just said to my group, "Guys, don't be scared. My pets will have your back in case of accidents."
They don't really get what I meant. Especially when seeing little Tania. But regardless, they just followed me, and we flew around the lawn. Some Ravenclaws followed, leaving those that hadn't completed the previous task.
I tried to push the speed limit of my broom, but it just went up to over 25 k/h. The model was ancient.
"Yah!" I heard a shout, and it was Naomi who bumped into a Ravenclaw student. She got off balanced and was about to fall off when Tania swooped in and grabbed the back of her school robe and pulled her upright.
Don't underestimate my fairy's strength. She had both Grace and Reza's physical prowess.
I noticed that Naomi was alright and able to regain her bearings. She regained control of her broom.
After we had our short free time, Madam Hooch called us back. She said to me, "Thanks Mr. Witcherly for having your pets keep an eye on everyone. I thought I would have to make another visit to Madam Pomfey. I really don't want to be yelled out again."
I just nodded. I see Naomi holding Tania in her hand, thanking and praising the fairy.
We returned the brooms back into the Broom shed.
We made our way back to our common room area to relax until dinner. I let my pets roam around the castle. As it was already late, I didn't let them go into the forest.
----------------------------
3:32 pm
-Third-person POV-
After accompanying their 'father' to his lesson. The trio went around the school ground. They wanted to play with the unicorns, but it was already late, so they just roamed around the school.
They flew high up the roof and saw many towers. The trio went near one. It was the tower where their 'father' had his night class.
*⛓Klink! Klank!⛓*
The trio immediately heard the sound of chains. They looked around to see where it was coming from, but no one was there.
🔔"ting?..Ting!"🔔 Tania sensed a spirit nearby and pointed at something.
"Oh shucks! Did you sense me already? You guys are no fun." A ghost appears facing the three. The trio were not scared. Even with the gruesome appearance of the ghost, it did not bother them.
"Hoo?" Naji asked for the ghost's name.
The ghost introduced himself, "People call me the Bloody Baron. I just hang around this tower and try scaring students. I heard you guys did a number on Peeves.. The one with bells."
The trio nodded and puffed out their chests, showing they were proud of their accomplishment. The Baron laughed, "Hahaha. You really should be proud. Now, Peeves won't even show his face to any Hufflepuff student.... Anyway, what are you doing here? Where is that red-headed kid you always use as a perch?"
The three began telling the Baron that they were just killing time until dinner. For some reason, the ghost understood them, so they were happy to talk to another person.
The Baron nodded and said, "Well now, can I ask a favor of you little ones? Do you see that tower over there?" The ghost points at one of the towers and continued, ".. There is a beautiful ghost there. Would you mind going there next and say hello to her? She's been very gloomy for a long time now. Maybe seeing you little ones will cheer her up."
The trio look at the tower and then at each other. They didn't feel any malice from the ghost, so they nodded and accepted his request. They immediately flew to the tower the Baron pointed at.
Naji and the twins went in by the window and saw a quiet room full of books. They saw a ghost who was silently sitting there. She appears to be reading the books that the students left open on a desk.
The ghost, sensing the three, turned around and observed the little fellas that entered the library. The female ghost ,seeing something interesting, smiled and approached them.
The female ghost asked, "What do we have here? Visitors from Hufflepuff house?... Where is that boy you always cling to?"
"Crooakk!" "HoHhooHhhoooo!" 🔔"Ting!Ting!"🔔 They told the ghost that they were just looking around the castle and met the Bloody Baron. He was the one who asked them to play with her.
The female ghost nodded after hearing their explanation. She didn't react when hearing about the Baron. But she can't deny that she finds these three very fascinating.
The ghost introduced herself, "I'm Helena Ravenclaw. Welcome to the Ravenclaw Common room. This is a small library for the students of our house to use."
After today's meeting, the trio became welcome guests in the Ravenclaw Tower and friends of the Grey Lady.
~end chapter ~
Author here.
The next chapter will be on Wednesday.
Be safe everyone.