His Goodwitch

Chapter 7: Flying class and Malfoy's challenge

Third person point of view
On the second week of school, Thursday morning dawned bright and early for Lizzie once again.  At breakfast the mail came as usual.  Lizzie received two newspapers, one is from the wizarding world at home and the other is the Daily Prophet based here on in London.  Lizzie also received another letter and a parcel from Grace which read:

Dear Lizzie,
Congrats on making Gryffindor.  Hearing that news made my day.  Dad, Lorrie, Brandon and I made bets you see on which house you would be in.  I guessed Gryffindor, Lorrie guessed Ravenclaw and Brandon guessed Hufflepuff.  So you just won me twenty bucks in total.  It sounds so exciting.  I wish I could be there.  Harry and Ron seem nice but didn't grandpa warn you to stay away from boys.  I'm just kidding with you.  I hope all your subjects are going well.  You should have had all your classes now right?  I'm sure you will get a chance to take a photo of the castle day and night eventually.
I'm not sure what to think of Malfoy from your description but from what you told me he does sound a little bit stuck up.  Mum advises to just keep an open mind, to try to make friends outside of your house and remember you don't have to be best friends with everyone.  She also says it could be a façade that his family and housemates force him to wear, therein you should at least try to be civil around him despite his personality.
Both Lorrie and Brandon are doing well in college.  Brandon says Tara is a bit sceptic of the whole magic and witches exist thing, so you might have to demonstrate some to her when you return for Christmas.  I think everyone will like that.  Of course we can do it away from the quests to keep it a secret.  Do you think you will make it for the Festival of lights the week of Christmas?  Middleton is currently hyped for the Halloween festival even though it is still a month and a half away.
School is going okay for me even though it is the third day back.  Everyone is still paying me out for being so smarter than everyone else.  Are you having any bullying problems yet?  Anthony told me to say hi and that he's well.  I have got to go, Anthony and I have a geography project to begin.  I miss my constant study buddy.  Hope to hear from you soon.
Love your sister,
Grace
P.S. Mum says to share these apple and cinnamon scrolls with your friends.

When Lizzie finished reading her letter, she was interrupted by Harry who said "Hey listen to this someone broke into Gringots.  Believed to be the work of dark witches/wizards unknown we acknowledge the breech on the 31st of July but the goblins insists that nothing was taken.  They revealed the vault in question number 713 had in fact been emptied earlier that same day" Harry read before commenting "That's odd, that's the vault Hagrid and I visited on my birthday in the summer".  This caused the four of them to have curious but downcast looks upon their faces before Lizzie said "I thought Gringotts was supposed to be the safest place besides Hogwarts.  At least that is what McGonagal told me when she showed my family and I Diagon Alley", "Yeah it's supposed to be" assured Ron and Harry.  "Hey listen, I just got a note from Hagrid he has invited us to visit for tea during our free period tomorrow afternoon at 3 pm at his cabin, do you girls want to join us?" asked Harry excitedly.

"Sure why not?  Here take some of these.  My Mum made them" agreed Lizzie handing out the scrolls.  "Thanks Lizzie.  What about our studies.  I mean we have potions, herbology and history of magic tomorrow.  You know Snape is definitely going to assign some" said Hermione.  "Oh come on, you girls have been hitting the books for days.  It is only the second week of term" protested Ron.  "Some of us take it more seriously Ron.  I'll come though seeing as Lizzie is going" relented Hermione.  "Great" Harry said writing on the back of the note that he'll come tomorrow before sending Hedwig off again. 

Suddenly, there is a cry of "Hey look Neville's got a rememberal" said a kid called Dean Thomas.  "We've read about those" put in Hermione before Lizzie continued the explanation "When the smoke turns read, it means you have forgotten something".  "The thing is I can't remember what I've forgotten" commented Neville with a frustrated frown on his face.  Lizzie felt pity for him because he struggled so much, so she said "Your robes Neville.  Best go and get them before class" kindly.  Neville gave a nod of appreciation before rushing out of the Great Hall to retrieve his robes.  "Speaking of classes.  Come on, we have to go.  We have Charms first" ushered Hermione dragging Lizzie from the hall.

Eventually it came time for flying class with the Slytherins.  First years from both houses slowly made their way down to the quidditch pitch to see two rows of ten broomsticks facing each other.  One side was claimed by the Slytherins and the other from Gryffindor.  Five minutes after the bell, their teacher Madam Hood walked into the field before speaking "Good afternoon class" earning a "good afternoon Madam Hooch" from the class in return.  Once she reached the opposite end of the rows she instructed "Well what are you waiting for.  Step up to the left side of your broomstick".  Everyone complied before being instructed to stick their hands over their broom and say up.

Lizzie, Harry and Malfoy were the only ones to do it first try.  The others were either just rolling around on the ground or not moving at all.  The rest of the class is told to say up with feeling.  Ron attempted this several times but the broom rose up an end to thwack him on the nose causing a laugh to arise from Harry and Lizzie before being told to shut up.  Once everyone had a hold of their brooms they were told to mount it.  After which Madam Hooch went around correcting their grips and Malfoy was told off for doing it wrong for years which pleased Ron and Harry.  Next they were told to take off and hover for a moment before landing on the sound of the whistly.

For some reason Neville took off before the whistle blew.  The broom was bucking, hitting the walls of the castle before soaring upwards.  Eventually Neville's cloak got caught on a stone statue with a stone spear before it ripped, got stuck on a lower spike before falling to the ground.  Madam Hooch found Neville with a broken wrist and had to take him to the hospital.  While gone the rest of the class were told to keep their feet firmly on the ground otherwise they would be expelled before they can say quidditch.


Unfortunately, not everyone listened to that rule.  Malfoy found Neville's rememberall picking it up and showing it to his fellow Slytherins while saying: "Did you see his face?  If I give this a squeeze maybe he would remember to fall on his flat arse" causing the Slytherins to laugh.  "Give it here Malfoy" Harry demanded approaching him.  Malfoy refused before mounting his broom and suggesting throwing it onto the roof, while taunting Harry by saying It's out of his reach.  Of course Harry followed but was delayed by Hermione who said "No way Harry, you heard what Madam Hooch said and besides you don't know how to fly".  Harry just ignored her and took off after Malfoy.

Lizzie eventually decided to help him because that was just mean.  Before she took off she said to Hermione "That's just mean and besides he's going to need help".  "Lizzie not you too.  I thought you were smarter than that" Hermione shouted watching Lizzie take off going unnoticed by Malfoy for the moment before muttering "What an idiot" to herself.  Meanwhile, in the air Harry just tried to grab the ball from Draco but he dodged him.  However, Lizzie managed to sneak up behind him, grab it and fly away before Malfoy has a chance.  "Here Harry catch" said Lizzie throwing the ball to Harry.  Unfortunately, Harry just misses it and undertakes a fifty foot dive to catch it.  Harry manages it inches from the ground.

Once they land, the Gryffindors come up to the duo in celebration but are interrupted by McGonagal shouting "Harry Potter and Elizabeth Russell, follow me please" before marching back towards the castle.  Once inside McGonagal takes them into a spare classroom near the DADA classroom before instructing them to wait there.  While Professor McGonagal is gone Harry whispers "You don't think she will expel us, do you?" nervously.  "I'm not sure Harry to be honest.  We did disobey an instruction" said Lizzie shrugging.  "But Malfoy did too.  Why isn't he here with us" Harry argued gaining another shrug from Lizzie.  A few minutes later, Professor McGonagal returned with a burely fifth year Gryffindor boy before she introduced them "Wood, this is Harry Potter and Elizabeth Russell.  I have found you a seeker and chaser.  You two this is Oliver Wood, he is captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team" introduced McGonagal excitedly.  "They are just the right build for those positions.  Have either of you two played quidditch before?" enquired Wood examining them.  Harry and Lizzie shook their heads before Lizzie piped up "Excuse me professor, I don't understand.  I thought you were going to expel us" said Lizzie nervously.  "Despite how foolish your moves were.  You two will be joining the quidditch team instead.  Now, I want to hear you two are training hard or I will have to reconsider expelling you" explained McGonagal gaining a nod in response and a thank you.  "We will have to get them brooms; a nimbus 2000 or cleansweep" instructed Wood.  "I will discuss with Professor Dumbledore about bending the first year rule.  We need some new talent after the defeat we had last year.  I couldn't look at Severus for weeks" said Professor McGonagal.  "Training is tomorrow night after dinner" instructed Wood to the two first years as they left the classroom, "We will be there" assured Lizzie.

Weeks go by and September fades to October.  One night at dinner, Hermione and Lizzie saw Malfoy approach.  "Say you think you are so tough and smart Potter" sneered Malfoy.  "Yes" deadpanned Harry.  "Well then how about a wizards duel no contact just wands.  How about midnight tomorrow night.  Oh wait, you probably don't know hat a wizard duel is" mocked Malfoy.  "Of course he does.  I'm his second.  Who's yours?" protested Ron.  "Crabbe.  In the trophy room alright, that's always unlocked" declared Malfoy sauntering back to his table.  "Umm Ron, what is a wizards duel and a second?" enquired Harry nervously.  "Oh a wizards duel is a duel with magic until the death and the seconds there to replace you" explained Ron before shoving a forkful of shepherd's pie in his mouth.  At Harry's panicked look, Ron said after swallowing "don't worry the most you can do to each other is send sparks" reassuringly.

"Excuse me, we couldn't help overhearing" said Hermione to the two boys.  "Can't we have a private conversation around here" complained Ron.  Hermione just continued ignoring Ron's statement "You really shouldn't go wandering around the castle at night.  It's dangerous, besides you will get Gryffindor in trouble and lose all the points Lizzie and I earned from answering those questions in charms and transfiguration".  "It's none of your business" snapped Harry abandoning his food before saying "Come on Ron, let's get out of here".  "Goodbye" said Ron leaving the two girls at the Gryffindor table alone.  After the boys left Hermione turned to Lizzie saying "you'll help me, won't you? Those boys are going to get into trouble or killed tomorrow night".  Lizzie nodded before saying "I'll try Hermione but I doubt they can be dissuaded.  However, I have a feeling Malfoy is just bluffing and won't turn up".