𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 - ʰᵖ

6.

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SIX:
PECULIAR MAGIC

    It was now afternoon and the Gryffindor and Slytherin first years stood outside, anxiously awaiting their first flying class.

    "Is it hard?" Elsie asked Ron in excitement as she looked at the broom next to her. After reading all about Quidditch the girl couldn't wait to try.

    "A bit, I'm not too bad myself but it takes practice." Ron grinned rather proudly. A ways down the line of students Neville was looking queasy.

    "You alright Neville?" Elsie asked.

    "Fine," The boy wiped his palms on his pants.

    A moment later Maddam Hooch, the flying teacher, came out to the courtyard where they were waiting.

    "Good afternoon class." She spoke scanning her yellow eyes over the faces. Elsie thought that the woman represented a hawk.

    "Well what are you waiting for? Everyone step up to the left side of their broomstick." The professor ordered.

    Once everyone did so she said, "Now stick your hand out over the broom and say, 'up!"

    Elsie stuck out her hand and concentrated on the broom below. "Up!" She exclaimed.

    To her upmost surprise her broom flew up harshly and slammed against her hand rather aggressively.

    "Woah," Ron widened his eyes before turning back to his own broomstick which still sat on the ground.

    In fact almost everyone's brooms were still on the ground, the only exceptions being Elsie, Harry, and Malfoy who was looking awfully smug.

    "Up! Up! Up!" Hermione ordered becoming frustrated.

    "Up!" Ron cried as his broomstick shot up and smacked him in the face.

    Elsie and Harry laughed as the boy rubbed his nose but joined in soon after.

    "Now I want you all to mount your broom, and grip it tight, we wouldn't want you flying off the end. On the count of three I will blow my whistle and you will kick off from the ground and hover, make sure you keep yourself steady, then you will touch back down." Maddam Hooch ordered.

    Elsie did as the professor said. "1, 2," She blew her whistle.

    Before Elsie could kick off the ground however, Neville rose so high into the air they all had to crane their necks back to get a good look at the flying boy.

    "Mr. Longbottom you get back down here this instant!" Madam Hooch ordered frantically.

    Neville however was in no control of his broom. He thrashed about and fought to hold on as the broom sent him flying over the castle and into the towers.

    "Oh god," Elsie muttered clutching her broom in worry.

    "Mr. Longbottom!" The woman tried again. But this time the broom started back towards them, Nevilles cloak got caught on one of the stone statues and ripped him from the broom. He now hung several stories above them, only supported by his ripping cloak.

    "Help!" Neville wailed as the students ran over to where he hung.

    It was as if it happened in slow motion. Neville's cloak fully ripped and he fell from the sky.

    As if it would do any good Elsie stuck her hands out desperately. But to everyone's surprise Neville hung in the air for a minute.

    Elsies eyes widened and she stared at her hands. But whatever she had done had broken, Neville fell again, though this time from less high, yet there was no mistaking the crack that was heard.