Muggle With Magic

Flying Lessons

Finally, Florian was going to take Draco flying. Everyday Draco was dropping hints about it, only for Florian to either brush them off or shut them down. It was only after Quidditch try-outs had finished - and Florian didn't try for seeker - that he took Draco to the pitch. "Can't believe I'm teaching you how to fly, like a mudblood." Florian bit.

"You shouldn't say that, you know."

"You don't tell me what to do." Florian snapped.

Draco ignored him, "Muggles have a similar thing to the m-word. It's a derogatory term used for black people, people like Blaise." Florian looked at Draco with a hidden curiosity, but Draco knew what it was because he gives the same look sometimes, "In the muggle world about twenty, thirty years ago, people of colour weren't allowed in certain buildings, to drink from certain water fountains, to go to certain schools, all because they were black."

"That's ridiculous." Florian scoffed, "People can't help being born coloured."

"Like people can't help if they're Muggleborn? Or half-blooded? A squib?" Florian scowled at him, but didn't say anything else. Maybe Draco had a breakthrough; he only hoped if what Harry thought was right.

Speaking of Harry, he's grown on Draco. Somewhat. While Harry was funny, surprisingly intelligent, he was also stupid and annoying. They were hanging out in the library a lot because Draco wanted to study, and at night when Draco decided to go for a walk, Harry somehow always managed to find him. On the other hand, he also believed Florian was a Death Eater. They had an argument, a rather loud one that Blaise had to step in the middle of, and decided to agree to disagree.

Smiling, Draco bumped shoulders with Florian, "Bet I'll be better at this than you."

Smiling too, Florian scowled, "Never, Draco. It's not happening."

They went to get a broom from the shed for Draco, but instead Draco fetched Blaise's from the locker room. Before they went to the pitch, the Slytherin team had practice and Blaise said he'd leave the broom for him. A Nimbus 2003.

"Well now you have a better broom, so you're going to be better." Florian crossed his arms.

"But I have no experience, so it all evens out." Draco smiled, already leaving for the pitch without waiting for Florian's reply.

It was a big pitch, a lot bigger than a football pitch. In the middle, on the ground, Draco never felt so small. It was like being a lone mouse in an abandoned mansion. Then there were the sounds, decorated in the house colours and crests. If one fell on top of Draco he would not be able to lift it off.

"I still cannot believe flying on brooms is a real thing." Draco said to Florian.

"Muggles." He rolled his eyes, and Draco ignored the tone. "Time to get into the air." Declared Florian, "Put the broom on the floor, stand to the side of it." Draco followed instructions, "Command the broom, say 'up', and mean it." It was his first try, and the broom came to him immediately. As Florian said, Draco mounted the broom and kicked off from the floor. Somewhat shaky at first, he observed the way Florian flew and determined he'd be a more elegant flyer. While Florian was somewhat elegant on the broom, he seemed somewhat brash and boyish at the same time.

Together, they flew around the goal posts and through the stands, racing from one end of the pitch to the other. It was amazing, being in the air. Apparently, it wasn't for everyone, however. "Do you enjoy flying?" Draco asked when they were sitting in the teacher's stands - it was a lot more comfortable than the other ones.

There was a short silence. "Father wanted me to join the team."

"That's not the same as enjoying it."

Another silence. "I know." Then, he turned to his brother, "I feel like I can tell you anything. It's dangerous."

"Because we're twins: we'll be like the Weasley ones before you know it."

He groaned, "Don't tell me you're friends with Weasel as well." Draco laughed at the nickname, stealing it for himself. "What time is it?"

Draco cast a spell, wandless, and it was a lot later than Florian thought. "We are talking about your wandless and wordless magic later, I have some business to take care of."

"But-"

"Sorry, Draco, I have to go." Florian flew off, only to catch sight of a dark haired and a green-eyed boy walking to the pitch not looking at him at all, but at Draco. It was dangerous, feeling like he can tell Draco anything, because Draco could tell Potter anything, too.

"OI! DRACO!" Harry shouted from the ground, his voice echoing in the wind, "WHAT ARE YOU DOIN' UP THERE?"

Draco rolled his eyes, not wanting to shout like an imbecile and flew down. "You picked up flying quickly."

"Apparently, you did, too." I teased.

"No, really, I'm nowhere near as good as Ginny or-"

Draco gave Harry a look and he shut up. "Take the compliment, Potter." Harry blushed and Draco found it somewhat adorable, "Are you going to fly with me?"

Quickly, Harry rushed off to get his broom, changing so quickly that his shoes were not tied properly when he left. Jumping on his broom, Harry bulldozed to Draco so quickly Draco went to dodge out of the way. Under his arm was a ball, like a dark leather netball.

"This," He chucked it in the air, "is called a Quaffle. In Quidditch you chuck it into one of the three hoops and score ten points for the team. I thought we could... chuck it around a bit? While talking?" But they didn't talk much. The silence around them was so peaceful, it was what people wish for. To be able to be with a partner, sit with them in silence, and not feel awkward. To feel at peace.

Not to say they didn't get to talking. "Tell me you've heard of Davide Bowie." Harry asked, like this was a life or death question.

"I've heard of him, but Davide Bowie isn't exactly my thing."

Harry gawped at him, "We can't be friends. Oh no, if Sirius ever found out he'd murder you."

"Harry, maybe tone down the dramatics?"

"I'm being serious." He said with a straight face.

Walking to the castle together, their hands brushed, they were that close. Neither of them pulled away.

Draco waited outside the common room entrance for Florian to return, sitting on the floor and messing with a conjured ball of light again. He wondered what Florian could have been doing, since he wasn't in the last two lessons according to Pansy. At one point Draco got so bored he managed to conjure a paper crane that he made flap around his head.

Finally, Florian came back, looking slightly worse for wear and with the most sharp expression Draco had ever seen. A scowl on his face so deep. "Where were you all day?" He calmly asked.

"Nowhere that concerns you." There was a defensive bite Draco was determined to get past.

"You're my family, it does concern me if something is wrong."

"We barely know each other. We are not family."

It stung, definitely, but Draco wasn't going to rise to it. "Whatever it is, I can help-"

"I don't need help from an orphan."

He took the bait, "Look who's talking! Our parents gave me up because I wasn't magical enough, do you truly believe they actually love you and not the idea of you?" There was a harshness Draco didn't know he possessed, but he turned and stomped into the common room, not caring if Florian was hurt or not.