The Dark Apprentice

Tom Vs Vernon

Chapter 3

The first flying lessons had Harry excited. In his downtime, he had done a bit of exploring in the castle, and discovered that his dad was quite the Quidditch player. He even held the scoring record at Hogwarts according to the trophy case. From what he had read in the library, Quidditch seemed an exciting sport.

Walking to the grounds by himself, he attempted to school the excitement off his features. A few of the Slytherins in his year had already attempted to befriend them, but his mistrust towards people flared up, and he shut them down as politely as possible. Not all of them had taken so kindly to his quiet rejections, but he was determined to stay focused on his studies, and keep his head down. He didn't want any attention and just wanted to stay below the eyes of his peers. He couldn't trust any of them after all, and the way the older years whispered his name in the Common Room each night, he knew that was true.

He had felt the stares on his back since the moment his name was called out during the sorting. Some were curious, some were in awe, but others, particularly from his own house, were malignant. He could feel their spite for him, even though he had done none of them any wrong. Perhaps this would have concerned him more if he wasn't used to the bullying attitude of others. Dudley and his friends had prepared him well for the potential bullies of Hogwarts, and he would not let his guard down around any of them.

Arriving on the grounds, Harry saw most of the first years gathered around two long columns of brooms. Deciding to take a spot as far away as possible, Harry tried to draw as little attention as possible and took up his place at the end.

Madam Hooch arrived shortly after and began a short series of instructions that led to Harry summoning the broom to his hand and beginning a basic levitation. Before the young Slytherin could get too excited, however, Neville Longbottom lost control of his broom, and took off towards the sky. It was a short series of disasters that led to the boy toppling off his broom, breaking his arm, and being rushed to the hospital wing by Madam Hooch.

Harry shook his head as he watched Draco Malfoy and Ron Weasley clash heads over something that had fallen out of Neville's pocket. When Draco took off towards the sky, Harry watched in amazement as the boy flew around with ease. An intense jealousy began to well up inside him, Draco looked so free in the sky. When Ron Weasley ended up taking off into the sky after him, Harry's decision was made.

Kicking off the ground and floating in the air, Harry felt the first genuine smile across his face since the first night he laid eyes on Hogwarts. With ease, he zoomed forward to level himself with the raising voices of Ron and Draco. Once he approached the duo, Draco took on a cruel smile, "No chance, Weasleby, but what do you say, Potter? Fancy a game of catch?"

It was almost like Harry couldn't stop the nod of his head, and his eyes were fixated on a tiny glass ball in Draco's hand. Every muscle in his body tensed as Draco reared back to toss the glass ball. When it left the blonde's hand, Harry tracked it with his eyes, and seemingly hundreds of possible scenarios flashed through his mind as he calculated where it might land. The glass ball seemed to hang in the sky for an eternity as he whirled around on his broom to take off after it. As the ball began its descent, he surged forward, his heart pounding in his chest, he extended his hands, and a feeling of immense euphoria coursed through his veins as his fingers snatched the glass ball.

When he held the ball in the air, he turned to see the gobsmacked faces of Ron and Draco. Harry shrugged as he hurled the glass ball back towards Draco, and the boy attempted to replicate his housemate's feat, but the glass ball just tumbled to the ground and shattered on the grass. Instantly the euphoria left Harry. He hadn't meant to break the ball that belonged to Longbottom. He was just caught up in the game. Draco didn't look upset, but Ron Weasley looked furious as the trio moved towards the ground.