The Young Padfoot *Book One*

Flying Lessons

We'd only been hear for a few weeks but I already knew one thing for certain. I hated Draco Malfoy. Actually, no. I despised him. I mean, sure. He was technically my cousin and all but that didn't mean that I couldn't despise him. He was just such a bully. Especially to Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville and me. But oh well, we only have potions with them and that is only a couple times a week. At least that's what I thought.

I looked at my time table and on Thursday it said that we had flying lessons. Great! With the Slytherins. Being with the Slytherins means one thing. Draco.

"Typical," Harry said darkly, as he looked over my shoulder. "Just what I always wanted. To make a fool of myself on a broomstick in front of Malfoy."

"You won't make a fool of yourself, don't worry," I said to Harry trying to comfort him.

"Yeah. Anyway, I know Malfoy's always going on about how good he is at Quidditch but I bet that's all talk," Ron added.

That was certainly true. Anytime that he wasn't bullying someone, he was bragging about Quidditch. Bragging about his broomstick, how amazing he is and how he should be on the team.

In the Wizarding world, Quidditch is a very important sport. Even Ron would tell anyone who would listen about how he has been playing for years. I myself love Quidditch, watching and playing. Uncle Remus taught me and would tell me stories about how him, my father and one of their friends used to watch their other friend play Quidditch.

So far, the only people that weren't excited for flying lessons were Hermione and Neville.

For the hundredth time this lunchtime, I listened to Seamus try and turn his water into rum. But like the first ninety-nine times, it didn't work.

"Eye of rabbit, harp string hum. Turn this water, into rum," Seamus said again, making me want to hit my head against the table. "Eye of rabbit, harp string hum..."

"What's Seamus trying to do to that glass of water?" Harry asked me.

"Turn it into rum," I replied. "Actually managed a weak tea yesterday, before--"

I was interrupted by a mighty flash and bang. Along with most of the hall, I turned to look at Seamus to see that, once again, he had caused the glass to explode. And not for the first time, Seamus's face was left charred. Several students started laughing at him while I tried to fan the smoke away.

Suddenly, a flock of owl's came flying into the hall from the rafters above.

"Ah. Mail's here!" Ron commented.

The owls kept soaring around, dropping parcels to students. I hadn't gotten anything today but I wasn't worried so I returned to my food.

I'd noticed Harry hadn't got anything since Hagrid's letter and I felt a bit guilty because Remus had been sending me parcels often. Some were just letters asking about classes and teachers. Others were food, which I shared with the others and even some were little gifts. Every time I sent a letter back, I would remind Remus not to waste money on me like he was but he wouldn't hear any of it and would continue sending things.

This morning, Neville got a parcel from his grandmother which he opened excitedly. He pulled out a small glass ball that had white smoke in it.

"It's a Rememberall!" He explained. "Gran knows I forget things--this tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do. Look, you hold it tight like this and if it turns red-oh..." his face fell and I giggled as the smoke turned a dark scarlet.

"You've forgotten something," I finished Neville's sentence for him as he tried to figure out what he'd forgotten.

"The only problem is, I can't remember what I've forgotten," Neville sighed, making several people laugh.