It was a clear Thursday morning, “A perfect
day for flying.” Ernie said excitedly.
The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff first years’
first flying lesson starts at 9 o’clock.
Janet has been feeling very nervous about
flying. She knew that they will be flying on a broom and she was doubtful that
the thin long stick of a broom could support her weight off the ground. She
even wrote back home asking for elbow and knee pads so that she can wear them
under her robes during her flying lesson but was let down by her father’s reply
saying that it is not necessary and assured her that she will be fine.
The only thought that managed to calm Janet
down about flying was that the Ravenclaws will be having the class with the
Hufflepuffs, which means Ernie will be there. Although Janet enjoyed Lisa’s
company most of the time but Ernie’s presence gave her a sense of security
because Ernie will always be looking out for her.
For the past few days, Lisa and Janet have
been sitting at a corner of the common room with their heads together studying
a book called “Triumph in the Skies: Overcome the boundaries while flying”. Su
would join them occasionally to study the basics and how to keep themselves
steady on the broom while their feet are off the ground together.
Ernie has been assuring Janet that flying
on a broom is not as hard as she thought. Since they will be having the class
together, Ernie promised that he will be guiding her if she faces any trouble
during class.
During breakfast, Terry was telling
everyone about his flying techniques, “When you are about to turn, a soft jerk
towards that direction will do. If you force your broom too much, you might end
up going the opposite direction instead,” Terry explains enthusiastically and
Michael nods with agreement. This was the first time Janet actually seen
Michael showing excitement instead of his default dark glum expression.
However, Terry was soon interrupted by Mandy who could not stand not being the
centre of attention, started boasting about her knowledge on brooms and flying.
“My parents wanted to get me a Nimbus but I
told them first years aren’t allowed our own broomsticks in school but they got
me one anyway and it’s now at home. I did not have much time to practice though
but I think as long as you have a decent broom, flying should not be much of a
problem.”
Terry rolled his eyes at Mandy and said to
Anthony, “What does she know about flying? She’s a muggle born.”
Anthony, being well-mannered as usual,
nodded gracefully and replied, “If she likes it that way then let her be.”
“She must have been quite well off to own a
Nimbus, by the way. Those brooms do not come cheap,” Lisa mumbled.
“Really?” Janet responded, she has no clue
what a Nimbus was.
“She just had to show off everything about
her,” Terry grumbled.
“Ignore her, Terry,” Lisa said to comfort
Terry but Terry was clearly affected by Mandy’s boasting and never smiled again
during the rest of breakfast.
At 9 o’clock, the Hufflepuffs and the
Ravenclaws gathered at the Quidditch pitch waiting anxiously for their first
flying lesson. The flying coach, Madam Hooch appeared shortly with a bunch of
brooms which landed side by side neatly on the ground.
“Everyone, stand beside a broom,” Madam
Hooch gestured the group of first years to the brooms.
Janet stood between Ernie and Lisa, she
looked at her broom skeptically, still doubting that thin stick will be able to
support her off the ground.
“Everyone have a broom?” Madam Hooch’s
hawk-like eyes scanned through the line, making sure that there was a broom for
every student.
“Now, stick out your right hand over your
broom and say “UP!”” Madam Hooch told them.
Janet hesitated a few seconds for Madam
Hooch’s directions to sink in, “Say “UP!”? That will do?”
Her doubts were instantly cleared when the
broom on her left shot up into Ernie’s hand.
Feared of being left behind, Janet quickly
stuck out her right hand and muttered, “UP.” She took a glance at her broom, it
lay motionlessly on the ground. “UP!” Janet repeated, louder than the previous
time but her broom barely twitched.
Then, Lisa’s broom too jumped into her hand
after her third try.
Getting nervous, Janet quickly turns to
Ernie for help.
“Take mine,” Ernie whispered and when he
was about to pass his broom to Janet, Madam Hooch barked, “Everyone are to use
their own brooms. How are you supposed to master how to fly if you are incapable
of controlling your broom?”
Janet moaned helplessly as Ernie’s face
screwed as he was thinking of a way to help Janet.
“UP!”
Janet shouted at her broom but it rolled sideways as though showing its
reluctance to obey Janet.
Near to tears, Janet looked around; she was
the only one, whose broom was still on the ground.
“Your trust and confidence to your broom is
crucial in flying. How are you supposed to ride on something that you could not
trust?” Madam Hooch said as her hawk-like eyes carelessly avoid Janet who was
anxiously standing by her broom.
“You have to stop worrying about falling
off the broom,” Ernie whispered to Janet.
Janet tried to ignore the stares from the
rest of the class, especially Mandy who was smirking with her broom in her
hand. She looked down at her broom and thought, “I am sorry I doubted you. Now,
can we work together and show the people who are now looking at us, expecting
to see a joke, something that will blow them off their brooms?”
Hoping that her message got through, Janet
took a deep breath and say, “UP!” with all the confidence she could summon.
The broom, as though understood Janet’s
message, shot straight up into Janet’s hand.
Janet glanced at Madam Hooch nervously
hoping that she would start the class to divert the class’ attention from her.
Without acknowledging that Janet has
managed to get her broom off the ground, Madam Hooch demonstrated the way to
mount their brooms without sliding off the end. “Everyone, mount your brooms.”
Madam Hooch said hastily.
Janet quickly mount her broom, imitating
what she saw Madam Hooch did previously and looked sideways at Ernie and Lisa
to make sure she has done it right.
Madam Hooch started walking up and down the
row, checking their grips. She stopped in front of Lisa to correct her grip,
and she swept pass Janet without looking at her.
Feeling a little indignant, Janet took a
quick glance at Lisa’s grip and followed her, adjusting her grip similar to how
Lisa was doing.
After making sure everyone’s grip was
correct, Madam Hooch stood in front of them and said, “Everyone on their broom?
Now, when I blow my whistle, you may kick off the ground. Remember to kick hard
and keep your brooms steady. You’re supposed to rise a few feet, and then come
back down by leaning forward slightly. Understand?”
Everyone nodded.
“Now, on my whistle -- three – two – one,”
Madam Hooch gave her whistle a sharp piercing blow.
Janet gripped her broom tightly and kicked
off hard. Her feet were slowly lifted off the ground and she rose further away
from the ground. She wobbled a little as she tried to balance herself on the
broom. Ernie rose nice and steady beside her and then went back down. Janet
leant forward and her broom began to descend steadily until her feet touched
the ground.
Madam Hooch made the practice rising and
descending a few times on the broom and then went to help those who were having
trouble, leaving the rest to practice on their own.
Janet was starting to enjoy flying, she
tried moving forwards and backwards a little to realise that flying really was
not as hard as she thought it would be.
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