Finding Father

Chapter 9- Broken Bones And A Broken Heart

Yells of "Up!" ring out across the school grounds. The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff first years stand in the center of the Quidditch Pitch in the middle of our first flying lesson. My broom leaps into my hand almost immediately, but Macy across from me is still trying hard. I grin at her as it finally responds and jumps up to her.

"That took long enough," she groans, laughing.

When everyone had succeeded, Madame Hooch tells us to mount our brooms carefully, and raise up just a few feet. I do so, leaning forwards carefully. It rises quicker than I expected, and I panic and fall to the ground in a heap of fear and laughter.

I climb to my feet with everyone's eyes on me. A few others are snickering and I just grin sheepishly.

When everyone had flown a bit, we take turns in pairs trying to practice hovering a few feet up and making small circles. I'm paired with a tiny Ravenclaw boy, and when it's our turn, we try flying about five feet up. I begin practicing my turning, half concentrating on myself, and keeping my other eye on him. The boy, Joseph, wobbled a bit but stayed up successfully.

In the midst of watching him and not paying attention to myself, I find myself falling again, this time from about six feet up. I crash to the ground, and feel a pain in my arm. When I glance at it, my forearm is at an odd angle and hurts like crazy. Joseph stared down at me from his broom.

Madame Hooch runs over, and orders him to come down. He does so quietly. She takes my arm carefully.

"Hospital wing for you," she says. "Everyone else, you're dismissed. We'll keep practicing another day." Then as she walks me away, I hear her mutter, "Every year. This happens every year."

She takes me up to see Madame Pomfrey, who mends my arm in about two seconds, although it sure isn't comfortable.

"Alright, dear, take it easy for a day and you're good. Go ahead to your next class."

"Thank you", I say, and hurry off. I get lost almost immediately, and as I walk down a deserted hall, I come across one of the teachers.

"What are you doing here?" hisses Professor Snape.

"I- I was in the hospital wing and got lost," I say nervously.

"Where are you trying to go," Snape asks coldly.

"Ravenclaw common room. Classes are over for the day," I say.

"This way." He turns and walks off. I jog to catch up to him, and as we stride along, he asks,

"Why were you at the hospital?"

"I- uh, fell off my broom and broke my arm." Snape glances at me.

"There's always somebody," he told me. I find that funny, between what he and Madame Hooch said, broken arms after flying class is nothing new. We finally reach a hallway that I recognize, and I stop.

"I can find my way from here, thank you," I say awkwardly. He nods stiffly, and I walk away quickly.

Back in the common room, I sit down with some of my books and begin my studying. You would think that A Beginners Guide To Transfiguration would be a bit more interesting than it is.

But, what can I say, I have a lot on my mind.

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DUMBLEDORE'S POV

"What can I help you with now, Severus?" Snape stands before me uncomfortably.

"I did as you told me, Albus, and so far, I have to say, I'm regretting it."

"It wasn't going to be the most wonderful thing in the world, we both knew that," I reply.

"Avery hates me now! Even more than before. Possibly more than her mother."

"Honestly, Severus, I'm not sure that's possible, given the circumstance."

"She blames me for everything. Won't even look me in the eye. Despises me," Snape mutters.

"And why should she not? She has every reason, every right, to think that way about you," I say. Snape glares at me.

"Tell me what I'm supposed to do."

"I was under the impression that you did not care for the girl, Severus. Has something changed?" He remains silent for a moment before saying,

"I hate that we are in this situation, but I do not hate her."

"I don't think that you are very fond of her either," I point out. "You have so many regrets in your life, Severus, I know that for a fact. If I were you, I would be trying hard to not add to the list." He stares at me, and leaves with no more than a small nod in my direction.