Harry Potter and the Second Chance

Chapter Six - Flying and Potions

The next day was normal. The post came, and people received gifts from relatives and news from outside of school.

"What've you got there, Neville?" Harry asked as we sat down for breakfast.

"It's a remembrall! They glow red when the owner's forgotten something." Hermione answered. As if on cue, the object started glowing a dim red light.

"Only problem is, I can't remember what I've forgotten!" Neville said sheepishly.

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We went from class to class, taking copious amounts of notes and collecting assignments. We were all extremely excited for our first Flying class.

"Listen up, class!" Madame Hooch shouted, commanding our attention. "Broomsticks can be dangerous if you do not know how to fly. As so, you will do what I tell you, and only what I tell you. Understand?" There was a chorus of "yes's" and head nods, and then she led us into the field.

"Please stand on the left side of your broom." We all moved accordingly. I listened intently, wanting to do it correctly and show that I was capable.

"Now, raise your right hand over the broomstick and say 'up'!" The broom zoomed up into her hand.

"Up!" Everyone was saying repeatedly. On the first try, Harry's broom floated up, straight to his hand.

"Well done, Potter! Twenty points to Gryffindor!" There was a chorus of cheers from the Gryffindors, then everyone continued their attempts at getting their broom.

"Up!" I said firmly, and the broom rushed up into my hand. I had trouble preventing it from zooming up out of my hand.

"Excellent, Berwyk!" Madame Hooch praised.

Ron was struggling. "Up!" He shouted. The broom stick shot up and hit him directly in the face. Harry and I both laughed. "Oh, shut up, you two."

After most of the class had gotten their broomstick to rise, Hooch continued the instructions. "Now, please mount your broom, kick off firmly from the ground, hover for a moment, point the broom down slightly, and land."

Before anyone got a chance to try, Neville was sky high.

"Mr. Longbottom, come down here!" While Neville was screaming, Madame Hooch was more concerned with his disobedience than his safety.

Neville's broom was swerving around in the air, taking him this way and that. Collective murmurs were starting in our group as everyone watched him flail around in the sky.

"I said come down here this instant, Longbottom!" Suddenly, Neville's broom did a barrel roll and knocked him off. Amazingly, as Neville was falling through the air, his robes snagged on a sconce hanging from the castle wall and caught him. "Longbottom, what are you doing?"

"Neville's robe started to give way, and suddenly he was falling again. This time he hit the ground.

"Mr. Longbottom!" Hooch ran over to Neville, who laid motionless on the ground.

"You're all right, Longbottom, come on." She helped him up and supported him as he was walking. "I'm taking Neville here to the infirmary. I expect everyone to stay firmly planted with two feet on the ground. No broom will raised while I am not present!" Hooch started dragging Neville away.

Once they were out of sight, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye.

"Look's like Neville's forgotten something." Draco snickered. I turned and saw Neville's remembrall resting in his hand.

"Give it here, Malfoy." Harry commanded, taking a step forward.

"Why should I, Potter? You think you're better than me? Well, we'll see about that." Hermione gasped as Draco mounted his broom and kicked off from the ground.