Strange Links | HP X TMR //On hold//

Chapter Eight

*Author's Note: Here is chapter eight :) Thanks to user74002776 and KelsiBourner for adding this story to your reading list and jackie354g for voting! I also have plans for what will happen after First Year ends (that is, to tell you in advance, the chapters in First Year are mostly filler chapters)... That's when the story actually starts... *mischievous smile*

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 Except for the horrible Potions class, the weeks in Hogwarts were spent well. So far, Astronomy and Charms were Lucinda's favorite, though she could not wait for the electives that started in her Third Year and the Flying lesson, which was scheduled that day. But every good side had a bad side, too. The Flying lessons were with the Slytherins.

 "Ugh, Flying with Slytherins," Thomas groaned, which accurately reflected Lucinda's thoughts.

 "Now that's what I was bloody thinking," Newt agreed.

  The other Gryffindor First Years nodded and muttered agreements. Let's just say the relationship between the two Houses is not that great, and they consider each other snobby.

 At three-thirty, Thursday afternoon, the first Flying lesson started. The Slytherins were already there, and so were twenty broomsticks lying in neat lines on the ground.

 Their teacher was Madam Hooch, who had short, grey hair and yellow eyes.

 "Well, what are you all waiting for?" She barked - almost shouted. "Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up."

 The broomsticks were low-quality than the ones Lucinda had at home - though she thought she could perfectly manage it just like the broom at home.

 "Stick out your right hand over your broom, and say 'Up!'" Madam Hooch ordered.

 "Up!" Everyone shouted. Lucinda, Harry, and Draco's broom jumped into their hands at once. Most of the First Years got it after a few tries. Hermione struggled, but she got on track after a minute or so. At the same time, Neville's broom was not moving at all.

 After everyone got control of their brooms, Madam Hooch showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off the end. Lucinda mounted on the broom as she always did - she was delighted when Madam Hooch said her posture was good and also when she told Draco he'd been doing it wrong for years (she could sense Harry and Ron smirking). Lucinda always told him to fix his posture, yet he did not.

 "Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," said Madam Hooch. "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet and then come straight back down by leaning forwards slightly. On my whistle - three - two -"

 But Neville, who was nervous and frightened, pushed off hard before the whistle had touched Madam Hooch's lips.

 "Come back, boy!" she shouted, but Neville was rising straight up. Everybody could tell he was terrified. Lucinda saw Neville slip sideways off the broom in the height of more than twenty feet - then WHAM - Neville lay, face down, on the grass in a heap. The broomstick kept drifting.

 Madam Hooch tended to Neville and said, "None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are, or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch.' Come on, dear."

 Right after Madam Hooch and Neville went out of earshot, Draco burst into laughter.

 "Did you see his face, the great lump?"

 The other Slytherins joined in. How could they? Neville was just afraid, and now he was injured, and the Slytherins were snickering and laughing.

 "All of you, shut it!" Lucinda snapped.

 "Ooh, standing up for the fat little crybaby?" Pansy sniggered but soon noticed who her insult was headed and shut her mouth. Lucinda could see Draco glaring at the girl (probably not), then soon picking up Neville's Remembrall.

 "Look!" he said, darting forward and snatching it. "It's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him."

 "Give that here, Malfoy," said Harry quietly. Everyone looked in that direction. This was not going to end well.