𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗭𝗞𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗡 [𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍]

Chapter Ten: A Month and Two Days

‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ ･⋆✵⋆･ ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾

It was a bright and sunny day, one of the very few they've had since this school year started, and the first years were standing on the Hogwarts grounds, a little way away from Hagrid's cabin, waiting for the sound of a whistle. There was a broomstick in front of everyone and Madam Hooch was standing ready with her whistle, ready to give them their first flying lesson with the Slytherins.

Sirius didn't really need flying lessons as he's been flying on his Cleansweep ever since Walburga would let him anywhere near a broomstick. But any reason to fly, he couldn't pass up since he hasn't done it after coming to Hogwarts.

"Flying lessons." boomed Madam Hooch, for those wondering why they were outside with brooms. "Of course you wouldn't be allowed your own brooms or a spot on the Quidditch team till next year. But these lessons will prepare you for that time if you are interested in winning your House the Quidditch Cup. Any questions?"

"I don't like heights." murmured Remus.

"Me neither." said Lily from next to him, giving him a nervous smile which Remus mirrored.

"All right then." said Madam Hooch. "Stick out your left hands and say 'Up'."

"UP."

Only Sirius, James, Marlene, the Carrow twins, Rabastan Lestrange and two or three more people managed to summon their brooms into their hands. Blake Ross' just rolled over and Remus', Peter's and Lily's didn't move at all.

"Your broomsticks can feel it when you're nervous or scared of them." said Madam Hooch in a half exasperated voice. "Take a few deep breathes and control your feelings. Let's try that again."

Another cry of "UP!" was heard from those whose brooms didn't respond the first time.

The only difference was that this time Blake's broom flew to her hand.

Madam Hooch gave her a small smile then turned to the class as a whole and said, "Those of you who don't want to do this will be excused."

"Oh, thank Merlin." sighed Remus and hurried away from the field, closely followed by Peter who was trying to catch up with each of Remus' long strides with two of his short ones. Lily left too.

"Alright then." boomed Madam Hooch, turning to the only dozen or so of them still left. "Now that you've got a hold of your broom, I want you to mount it." she said, showing them how to do it. "Grip it tight. You don't want to be sliding off the end when you're fifty feet in the air and neither will your mothers."

She walked through the students, correcting grips and giving small pointers. She went back to the front of the class and said, "Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard. Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet and then come straight back down by leaning forwards slightly. On my whistle. One. Two. Three."

Most of them succeeded but Blake flew too high and her broom turned upside down, dropping her onto the grass with a sickening thump.

Lestrange and the Carrows roared with laughter when they saw this.

Sirius went over to help Blake up and she took his helping hand gratefully, biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from crying although her eyes were watering up.

"I wouldn't touch her if I were you, Black." drawled Lestrange. "She's probably as filthy on the outside as she is on the inside."

"Mr. Lestrange!", said Madam Hooch, her pale cheeks flushing.

"What's your problem, hu?" said James, taking a step towards Lestrange and the Carrows.

"Father has told me all about you Potters." cackled Alecto Carrow. "Biggest blood traitors if there ever was."

"Shut up about my family, you cow." hissed James.

"Tut, tut." said Rabastan. "Mixing with blood traitors and mudbloods? What would your parents say, Sirius-"

But he didn't get to finish before both Blake and James leapt at him. Sirius tried to hold Blake back but saw James punching Rabastan before getting punched by Amycus. Sirius let go of Blake to go and help James and got kicked on the face by one of them. And then it was chaos. Everyone just trying to land a blow on any body part that might belong to the enemy, until Madam Hooch's whistle tore through the sounds of their scuffle.

"Absolutely unacceptable." she screamed, grabbing James and Rabastan with the scruff of their robes and pulling them off.

Amycus took this opportunity to punch Sirius one more time. Sirius was about to hit him back when Madam Hooch drooped James and came after him instead. Hagrid, who must have heard the commotion from his cabin, came lumbering over.

But before he could even say a word Madam Hooch screeched, "Take theses two Gryffindors to McGonagall.", pointing at Sirius and James. Then she turned to the three Slytherins and said, "We are going to Slughorn. NOBODY MOVE UNTIL I COME BACK." she added to the rest of the class and marched Rabastan and his friends out of the field but not before Rabastan threw Blake a very dirty glare.

"Gryffindors and Slytherins." sighed Hagrid as he led Sirius and James back up to the castle. "Can't even breath the same air withou' tryn' ter' kill each other."

"At least I proved my Dad wrong." whispered James to Sirius as Hagrid continued to rant about the age old Gryffindor-Slytherin feud.

"What?" Sirius asked.

"He said no Potter has ever lasted a month at Hogwarts without getting a detention." he smirked. "I lasted a month and two days."

"Nice."

Sirius and James laughed under their breath and high fived without Hagrid seeing them.

‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ ･⋆✵⋆･ ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾