Incendio." Harry said as a small jet of flames shot out of his wand. Harry was currently in an unused classroom along with Blaise, Daphne and Tracy, the group were all being taught some spells by Angela.
"Well done, Harry." Angela smiled. "You got it before the others."
"What else is new?" Blaise snorted as he continued to try and master the spell.
Harry knew where Blaise was coming from, Harry was the top Slytherin in most of their classes. He had taken the top position in transfigurations, charms and defense against the dark arts, even if they only did theory in that one. The teacher for that class was the man who wore a purple turban at the opening feast, it wasn't a one time thing either as he continued to wear that turban all day, every day. His name was Professor Quirrell, and the odd thing about him was he had deep fear of pretty much everything while also having a frankly annoying stutter. Harry couldn't help but wonder if there wasn't anything magical that could help fix that stutter.
"Excellent," Jet hissed, he was perched on Harry's shoulder and providing active encouragement. "well done master, you're truly an impressive wizard."
"Try again," Angela said. "but I want you to try and make the flame bigger, then when you do that I want you to try it with a smaller flame."
"Why does he have to that?" Tracy asked in a curious voice.
"It's to help learn control," Angela answered. "no matter what spell you all learn, you should learn control, especially with spells that can be dangerous. Imagine if Harry wants to light a candle but then sends a quaffle sized ball of flames at someone."
"That makes sense," Daphne replied. "my mother told me that sometimes wizards and witches end up getting simple spells wrong because they put in too much power or not enough."
"Exactly," Angela nodded. "you should practice every spell you know until you're at the point where you can do it in your sleep."
"Somebody's been listening to Mum." Blaise commented before casting again.
"What's a quaffle?" Harry asked.
"How do you not know what a quaffle is?" Blaise blinked at him.
"Muggle raised, remember?"
"Oh, sorry." Blaise said, looking almost embarrassed for forgetting, he tried the spell once more to distract himself.
"It's a ball that's used in quidditch, which is basically the most famous sport in the wizarding world." Tracy explained.
"Finally!" Blaise grinned once he had gotten the spell.
"Yes, now keep practicing." Angela said before turning back to Harry. "By the way Harry, how has the school been treating you and Jet?"
"Well, most of the school is pretty much convinced that I am an evil, dark wizard." Harry scowled. "I've heard some people mention how they think that I am the heir of Slytherin."
"People think you're the heir?" Daphne asked.
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "never mind the fact that my dad was a Potter and my mother was a muggleborn."
"I think you need to talk to somebody." Angela suggested.
"Who?" Harry asked.
"You should talk to a reporter, have them get your side of the story." Angela replied.
"A reporter?" Harry blinked.
"Yes, you need to remember that you are famous, Harry. Many people have spent years praising your name because you apparently defeated you-know-who, now they are all going to hear that you speak to snakes. I'm not saying that it's evil but many people have spent years associating snakes with evil." Angela stopped speaking when Jet began hissing loudly. "What did he say?" She asked once Jet had finished.
"Nothing you'll want to here." Harry said with a small shake of his head.
"O...kay then," Angela continued after a moment of pause. "anyway, you should talk with someone and talk about how Jet is your friend and how he never abandoned you. You're a celebrity, like it or not, trust me when I say that it's better to control the publics viewpoint of you before somebody who doesn't like you starts doing it."
"Who doesn't like my master?" Jet hissed in a menacing voice.
"I suppose you're right," Harry sighed. "do you know anyone I can talk to?"
"Ask me after my owl comes back." Angela shrugged.
"Owl?" Blaise asked. "You've already sent an owl to a reporter?"
"Of course I have." Angela replied. "I knew Harry would agree with him, he's smart after all."
"Oh look, he's blushing." Daphne grinned at Harry.
"Shut up." Harry said, swatting her hand away when he tried to pinch his cheek.
Harry and the other Slytherin first years arrived at their first flying lesson of the year, Tracy and Blaise had happily explained quidditch to him, Harry figured that it was pretty much the wizarding world's version of football if the way Blaise and Tracy talked about it was any indication. Not that Harry had ever been interested in football, he couldn't play out of fear of Dudley and friends trying to beat him up and Uncle Vernon didn't watch it and somehow knew even less about it than Harry.
Harry remembered one time when a man asked Uncle Vernon what football team he supported, Vernon had gone still for several seconds before blurting out 'England'. The man pressed on and asked him which English team he liked, the conversation ended with Vernon yelling at the man who had walked off after calling Uncle Vernon a 'fat dumbass'. If Harry ever discovered who that man was then he would probably send him a gift.
Truthfully Harry was looking forward to the class, he had never flown before and was hoping that it would be fun. Harry wondered if he should apply for the team, but held that thought off, he couldn't apply this early anyway since first years never made the house team, perhaps for next year if he turned out to be any good at it.
Harry stood with all the Slytherin's in a straight line with each student standing next to a broom. Jet had slithered into Harry's robes, Harry had offered to place Jet down somewhere where he could watch but Jet had refused as he had never experienced flying either and wanted to try it. Soon the Gryffindor's arrived and stood opposite them, Ron stood opposite Harry and glared at him and the other Slytherin's, Harry once more found himself wondering just how wise it was to constantly pair Slytherin's with Gryffindor's, though he supposed it would have been better if not for idiots like Weasley.
Eventually Madam Hooch arrived, she was an odd looking woman as she had short and spiky grey hair along with yellow eyes that looked like they belonged to a hawk.
"Good afternoon everyone," Madam Hooch began. "welcome to your first flying class. I should warn you that, much like Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape, I do not tolerate messing around in my class. Flying is like walking, just much higher and far more dangerous, there will be no fooling around here. Now let's begin, you're all standing by your brooms, that's good. Now raise your right hand over your broom and say up.
"Up." The class all said at once.
Harry was surprised when his broom quickly shot into his arm, he looked at the others and saw that not many had the same reaction as some of their brooms were still on the floor, a few were rolling around and some had gone partly up before falling back down. After a few tries, Daphne and Tracy were able to get their brooms up, followed shortly by Blaise and Draco.
"With feeling." Madam Hooch said as the rest of the class still had difficulties. Eventually everyone was able to get their brooms into their hands, even Ron who had accidentally hit himself in the face with his broom when it went up. "Very good, now I want you all to mount your broom." She ordered, everyone did so, Madam Hooch walked between the students, correcting and inspecting how the students mounted their brooms.
"I've been holding it like this for years!" Draco protested when Hooch began correcting him.
"Then you've been doing it wrong for years." She shrugged before walking off. Ron Weasley, along with the Irish Gryffindor Seamus Finnegan and the black skinned Gryffindor boy Dean Thomas, snickered at that. "Alright," She said once she was satisfied. "I will start you all off with simply hovering, on the count of three you will all kick off and raise yourselves a few feet off the ground. Only a few feet, now get ready. Three, two..." Madam Hooch was interrupted as Tracy Davis's broom suddenly rose into the air. "Miss Davis!" Madam Hooch called as her broom continued to rise. "Miss Davis! Get back down now!" She shouted.
"I can't!" Tracy screamed as her broom began flying around wildly, Tracy screamed loud as it continued rising into the air.
"She's lost control!" Blaise cried.
"Bloody hell." Harry sighed before he rose into the air.
"Harry! What are you doing?!" Daphne asked only for Harry to fly off into the air.
"Mr Potter!" Madam Hooch called but Harry ignored her and flew until he was level with Tracy.
"Tracy, grab on!" Harry called, stretching a hand out towards her.
"I can't!" She screamed, her hands were gripping the broom so hard that her knuckles were turning white.
"You can grab on to me or you can kiss the ground!" Harry yelled. "Choose!"
"Oh bloody hell!" Tracy screamed before she reached out a hand to grab onto Harry's, when doing so the broom bucked up and Tracy fell off it. She fell to the ground, screaming all the way. Harry quickly went into a dive after her, once he got close enough he grabbed her hand with one hand, keeping the other on the broom. Harry increased his speed so he could go slightly past her, he pulled her so she was behind him, Tracy landed on the broom and once Harry let go of her arm she quickly wrapped both arms around him and screamed into the back of his shoulder.
Harry's focus was on the rapidly approaching ground, Harry instinctively pulled up, it was not an easy task due to not only how fast they were going but also because this was Harry's first time on a broom, a school broom at that, and he was doing it with extra weight that wouldn't stop screaming. Harry yelled out as he pulled up, the broom levelled out, the tips of Harry and Tracy's shoes brushed against the grass. Harry slowed down before he stopped and landed.
Harry pulled the broom out from their legs, Tracy was still attached to Harry's back and wasn't showing any sign of letting go anytime soon. Harry was able to turn around but that only caused Tracy to now hug his front, Harry still had his broom in one hand but used the other hand to pat Tracy on the back.
"We're fine, Tracy." Harry whispered. Tracy didn't respond, but instead slid down and fell on her butt. "Are you alright?" Harry asked as he kneeled down next to her.
"Move Mr Potter," Madam Hooch said as she and the other students arrived. "are you hurt?" She asked as she kneeled down next to the two.
"I'm not, but I think Tracy might be in shock." Harry replied as he gestured to Tracy. "Should I take her to the hospital wing?" Harry asked.
"No, I shall do it." Madam Hooch said as she helped Tracy to her feet. "Mr Potter," She said when Harry stood up. "how many years have you spent flying on a broom?" She asked.
"That was my first time." Harry answered honestly.
"Your first time?" She blinked, looking astounded by his words. "Really?"
"Yes." Harry nodded.
"A hundred points to Slytherin," Madam Hooch said, much to the delight of the other Slytherin's, she began walking away, taking Tracy with her. "everyone will keep their feet firmly placed on the ground," She called back as she walked off. "If I see anybody flying on one of their brooms then they will be kicked out of this school faster than they can say 'quidditch'."
"Harry!" Daphne quickly wrapped her arms around his midsection and pulled him into a hug. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for saving her!" She said, though it was muffled by the fact that she was now talking into his shoulder.
"It's fine, Harry Daph." Harry said, patting her on the back. Once she let go she began wiping her eyes with her sleeve, Jet slithered up so his head was now peaking out of Harry's collar.
"Why is my pet upset?" Jet asked, looking at Daphne.
"She's not upset with us, she's glad that her friend is safe, if she is upset then it's because her friend nearly died." Harry replied, choosing not to bother with the part where he would explain that Daphne wasn't actually his pet.
"Hmm, pet her." Jet suggested.
"What?" Harry blinked.
"Pet her, it'll make her feel better." Jet replied.
"Why would you think that?"
"It makes me feel better."
"Harry?" Daphne asked. "What's he saying?"
"Do it."
"Fine." Harry rolled his eyes before he raised his hand and quickly petted Daphne on the head.
"What was that?" Blaise asked when Harry removed his hand.
"I'm told that it helps make people feel better." Harry replied while Daphne looked confused.
"Next time try it with more feeling," Jet hissed. "also I have finally experienced flying thanks to you, and I have decided that I am never doing it again."
"I can't believe it," All conversation was interrupted by the sound of Ron Weasley who was talking to the other Gryffindor's. "it's not fair that Slytherin got a hundred points, and for what? Saving another snake?" He snorted. He was about to say more but stopped when he saw the Gryffindor's looking worried and backing away from him, Ron frowned and looked in the direction of the Slytherin's and saw them all glaring at him. Daphne in particular looked murderous.
Blaise had taken out his wand and moved in the direction of Ron, only to be stopped by Harry placing a hand on his chest.
"Harry?" Blaise blinked, the other Slytherin's also stopped and were looking towards Harry.
"Put your wand away." Harry said in a soft voice.
"Harry, you heard what he said!" Daphne blurted out, Ron was fortunate that Daphne couldn't kill using her eyes, if she could then the redhead would be dead.
"I understand, but we're not going to waste our time on a dark and evil wizard like Weasley." Harry said, turning his back to Ron and winking at Blaise and Daphne, silently telling them to play along.
"What?! I'm not a dark wizard!" Ron said in an offended voice.
"Are you not?" Harry asked in a voice full of fake surprise as he turned back to look at Ron, he continued speaking but now his voice had gone ice cold. "Because I've only known you for a short while and all you really do is shout, point fingers, use the names of dead people to your advantage and you just said that a girl's life is meaningless. If you think that anyone who wears the color green is not worth a few school points for a school competition over a trophy that you don't get to keep then you're darker than I will ever be." Harry said before he walked a short distance away, the other Slytherin's took that as their cue and followed him.
"Harry, that was brilliant!" Blaise said once they were far enough away from the Gryffindors.
"We should have still hexed him." Daphne grumbled.
"Alright, all of you listen to me." Harry spoke in a quiet voice that was just loud enough for everyone to hear. "When Hooch gets back we will tell her what Weasley said, but until then stay away from him and the other Gryffindor's."
"Why?" Pansy Parkinson asked.
"Because we're going to be united on this," Harry replied. "I want you all to tell Hooch that we were incredibly angry yet smart enough to create distance between ourselves and the Gryffindor's. It will make us look more mature, hopefully make Weasley look even worse and possibly get us house points."
"What about Weasley?" Draco asked. "We can't let him just get away with a few house points, he might get a detention but that can't be enough."
"Malfoy is right," Theodore Nott agreed. "the redheaded idiot needs to pay."
"You won't hear me disagreeing." Daphne commented, sending a glare in Ron's direction before putting her focus back onto he conversation.
"Listen up kiddies, 'Uncle Harry' is going to tell you an important bit of life advice." Harry said, looking in-between each Slytherin before stopping on Daphne. "Revenge, pain and suffering are all better when they are spread out throughout the year. Weasley will pay for his comment, but we're not going to simply get it over with using a few pranks and spells, that's the Gryffindor approach."
"I get that, I suppose, but I just wish we could curse the prat now." Daphne sighed.
"Daph," Harry grinned. "remember who Angela is planning for me to meet with?"
"Huh? Yeah, why do you ask?" Daphne asked, while the others with the exception of Blaise looked confused.
"I might just mention this incident," Harry smirked. "imagine how good we'll look and how bad Weasley will look at the end of it?" Harry waited, and watched as Daphne's face slowly shifted from a frown to a wide smile.
"Oh, you are evil Potter." She grinned.
"What are you both talking about?" Draco asked, sounding confused.
"You'll find out sooner or later." Harry smiled.
"Yes," Jet hissed. "patience, little albino."