The Halfwolf (Year 1)

Let's Fly

Teddy got to the bottom of the master staircase just as students started to pour out of the Great Hall from breakfast. He stopped on the second step from the bottom so he could watch for his friends. He spotted Zach, as he was taller than half their house even as a first year, and scurried over to them. When he reached his friends, he saw Matt was being drug behind Zach, fighting with all the strength in his little body.

"Um Matt? What's going on?" Zach's head snapped to the side when he heard Teddy and he drug Matt towards him. Matt, who had yet to notice Teddy over his yelling, was still fighting.

"I'm not doing it, Zach! They can't make me! YOU can't make me do it!" Zach rolled his eyes and looked over at Teddy, letting out a sigh. Teddy raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to explain.

"He refuses to fly." Zach kept a tight hold on Matt's robe as he continued to try to run for it. "He's being a giant baby." Teddy looked from Zach to the freaked-out Matt. He walked around Zach and touched Matt's shoulder that Zach didn't have ahold of. He jumped and jerked his head around, prepared to flip out. But when his eyes met Teddy's, he stopped fighting.

"I can't do it, Ted. I'm going to fall, I just know it. I've never flown on ANYTHING before, let alone a broom!" Matt looked dangerously close to tears. Teddy brushed Zach's hand off Matt's other shoulder and replaced it with his own, turning him to face himself.

"Matt, it's ok to be scared," Zach started waving his arms to get Ted to stop, but he ignored him. "I've only been on a broom a few times, in our basement." Zach and Matt both looked at Teddy in confusion. "Gram's house is too close to muggles to fly outside. And I never asked Harry because his kids are so little and they would want to fly too, and I didn't want them hurt. So I've never really learned either. We'll learn together, ok?" He smiled at Matt, who slowly nodded his head.

"But what if I....I mean, what if we fall?"

"I'll catch you" Zach put his hand gently on Matt's shoulder and smiled. Matt timidly returned the smile.  Teddy gently steered Matt towards the big oak doors and out onto the grounds, where they followed the trail of first years heading across the grass. The group of first years stopped and huddled in two groups. The Hufflepuff girls were on one side, and a group of boys stood on the other. Off to the far side, watching the bigger group, was one tiny blonde girl.

"Gale!" Zach shot forward and ran at the little girl. She slowly pivoted on her heel to face them, a shy smile on her face.

"Good morning, Zachary." He came to a halt and beamed at her. Teddy and Matt made their way towards them, but the sound of running feet made Teddy pause.

"Teddy! Matt! Wait up!" Matt turned around first and smiled, stopping to wait. Teddy stopped and looked at Matt, then glanced over his shoulder to see Claire running down the little hill. He stopped and smiled back at her, Matt waving his hand and motioning her over. She ran up and they continued on to where Gale and Zach were chatting. As they approached, Zach raised his hand in greeting to the three, and Gale turned around and smiled.

"Morning Gale. Excited to fly?" Teddy asked as he approached. He felt more than saw Matt tense up beside him.

"I am. I must be honest, though, I'm a bit nervous. I've never flown before. Mum wasn't very good as a girl, so she couldn't very well teach me. But I hear it's like learning to ride a bike of sorts." She shifted her gaze back to Zach, who had been watching her quietly as she spoke. He smiled shyly at her. Teddy shook his head and turned to ask Claire,  but he could tell by how pale her face was that she felt the same way Matt had earlier. He gently bumped her shoulder with his own. She glanced up and Teddy gave her a small smile, trying to reassure her. She gave him a slight smile back, but he could see the anxiety in her eyes.