The Raven's Call

Eventful Afternoon

Cedric showed me the way to flying class and gave me a quick hug goodbye before heading off to his own class. I met up with Alex and Asteria again, and we lined up in two rows—Alex and I on one side, and Asteria on the other, next to Draco. In front of us were brooms, waiting to be mounted. Our teacher, Madam Hooch, walked down the line. She had short grey hair and piercing yellow eyes. "Good afternoon, class," she announced.

"Good afternoon, Madam Hooch!" we all called back in unison.

"Welcome to your first flying lesson," she said, pausing to look us over. "Well, what are you waiting for? Step up to the left side of your broomstick. Come on, hurry up. Stick your right hand over the broom and say, 'Up!'"

I followed the instructions, along with the rest of the class. A chorus of voices calling "Up!" filled the air, but nothing happened. I tried it once, "Up!" and the broom shot straight into my hand. Then Harry tried, and his broom did the same. Alexander and the Malfoy twins followed suit, and soon enough, the others began to get theirs. That's when I heard Ron's voice calling out, but the broom smacked him in the face instead. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Now, once you've got hold of your broom, mount it. Grip it tight—you don't want to be sliding off the end," Madam Hooch instructed. "When I blow my whistle, I want each of you to kick off from the ground, hard. Keep your broom steady, hover for a moment, then lean forward slightly and touch back down. On my whistle... three... two..." She blew the whistle, and with that, Neville's broomstick suddenly jerked upward, lifting him off the ground. He looked absolutely terrified.

"Mr. Longbottom!" Madam Hooch called. "Neville, what are you doing?" Asteria called out in concern, "We're not supposed to take off yet!" "No, we're not!" I shouted, watching in alarm as the rest of the class called out his name. 

Neville's broom launched him into the air, and he was suddenly flying high above us, looking completely out of control. "Come back down this instant!" Madam Hooch demanded, but Neville kept screaming, unable to control his broom. He zipped through the air erratically, slamming into a wall and bouncing off it before swooping away again. His screams echoed as he whipped past us, and we could do nothing but watch.

Madam Hooch reacted quickly, holding out her wand to stop him. "Help!" Neville pleaded as his broom sped past us. Madam Hooch dove out of the way, and we all watched helplessly as Neville zoomed past a statue of a man holding a sharp spear. His cloak caught on it, flipping him off the broom. The cloak ripped, and Neville tumbled down, but just as he was about to hit the ground, his cloak snagged on a torch, causing him to slip off again.

Finally, Neville hit the ground with a loud thud, and the entire class rushed to his side. Madam Hooch shouted for us to get out of her way as she approached him. We all scattered. She helped Neville to his feet, but he winced in pain. "Oh dear... it's a broken wrist," Madam Hooch muttered with a tut. "Everyone is to keep their feet firmly on the ground while I take Mr. Longbottom to the hospital wing. Understand? If I see a single broom in the air, the one riding it will be sent straight out of Hogwarts before they can say 'Quidditch.'" She glared at us as she led Neville away, and the class fell into a stunned silence.

Once Madam Hooch and Neville were out of earshot, Draco snickered, holding Neville's Remembrall in his hand. "Did you see his face? Maybe if the fat lump had given this a squeeze, he'd have remembered to fall on his fat arse." He laughed, flanked by his two goons, Crabbe and Goyle. I glanced over at Alex, who was visibly fuming. "Give it here, Malfoy," Harry demanded, striding over to Draco.

"No. I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find," Draco replied with a sneer. He hopped on his broom and soared into the air, flying circles around us. "How 'bout on the roof?" He taunted, hovering several feet above the ground. "What's the matter, Potter? Bit beyond your reach?" Harry, clearly having had enough, mounted his broom. "Harry, no way!" Hermione shouted, trying to stop him. "You heard what Madam Hooch said! Besides, you don't even know how to fly!" Ignoring her, Harry shot off to face Draco.

"What an idiot," Hermione mumbled. "Not very bright, that one," I muttered to her. "Did you hear the spell Seamus was trying at lunch?" she asked. I nodded. "Harry asked what Seamus was trying to do..." I exaggerated a facepalm. "He literally said it in the spell." Hermione giggled. "Right?"

We looked up just as Draco threw the Remembrall high into the air. Harry was on its tail, speeding toward a tower. Just as he was about to crash into a window, he caught it with one hand—his broom steady. The crowd erupted in cheers as Harry flew back down, landing smoothly on the ground. The other students swarmed him.

"Harry Potter?" A familiar voice called from behind us. We turned to see Professor McGonagall. "Follow me," she said, leading Harry away from the class. Draco and his goons snickered behind them.

Alexander stepped toward Draco, his wand at his side. "I'm warning you now, Malfoy. Disrespect my friends again, and you and Harry will have matching scars," he threatened. With a flick of his wand, he called out, "Diffindo!" and split a nearby bush clean in half. Draco's face went pale, his bravado gone. He ran off, calling for Crabbe, Goyle, and Asteria to follow him. "My father will hear about this!" he shouted, but Asteria was already chasing after him.

"Merlin, Draco! You're such a baby!" she called out.

"Bloody Hell, Alex!" Ron exclaimed. "Where'd you learn to do that?" "Standard Book of Spells, Chapter 4," Hermione and I said in unison before giggling at each other. "Oh, I just read a lot of books," Alex replied, brushing off the praise. "Honestly, it's the first time I've ever cast it. I think they used to teach it to first years, but I'm not sure if it's still in Professor Flitwick's curriculum." He spoke quietly, a guilty look on his face.

We waited for Madam Hooch to return, but when she did, she looked bewildered. "Where's Potter? Crabbe, Goyle, and the Malfoys?" she asked. "Harry was taken by Professor McGonagall," Hermione explained. "She didn't really say why. Draco and the others ran off after Alexander threatened him with the Severing Charm," she gestured toward the split bush.

"Is that true, Alexander? Did you threaten another student?" Madam Hooch asked, shocked. "You're going to need to come with me. I'd take you to see your Aunt, but I think this is a conversation better had with Professor Dumbledore himself. Ten points from Gryffindor!"

I sighed softly as I watched Alex follow Madam Hooch away.

This was only the first day, and already, it had been a whirlwind of events.