worth so much more - l.s

Chp. 6

"Settle down everyone! Settle down!" Professor Flitwick called out, pulling Harry's attention. The excited chatter of the students died out a little, but not much. The students were all lined up in 2 lines, the Slytherins in one and the Gryffindors in the other, both houses were facing each other. Professor Flitwick stood at the end of the lines in the middle so that she could see everyone.  On the right of every student lay a broom on the floor, waiting to be picked up.

"Alright class, today we will be focusing on sharp turns. If you are ever in a situation where you're flying and need to turn around quickly, this is when you'll learn how to. Is that clear for everyone?"

A couple students murmured in comprehension.

"Of course I am aware that some of you are already able to do this," Professor Flitwick continued as she gestured to Louis and a couple other Slytherin team players that stood there with a smirk on their faces because they were all practically pros at flying. "But that doesn't mean you get the lesson to slack off and mess about. I expect you to show a good example to your less progressed peers."

Harry nearly scoffed at that, less progressed peers? I think she meant less talented and more clumsy and stupid peers.

"Alright, everyone pick up you brooms on three. One....." every student lifted and hovered their right hand above their broom. "Two......." every student firmly said the word 'UP' at the same time, and as Professor Flitwick said "Three!" all of the brooms flew up from the ground and into their hands.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Harry's lips as his broom rose up from the floor on the first try. Most of the time he would have to say 'UP' multiple times before finally managing.

Before he knew it everyone had kicked off the ground and sped into the air without hesitation. Harry sighed and swung one leg over the broom to get into position. He then pushed his body off the ground and hovered above the ground for a second to secure his position on the broom.

Harry then shakily flew up to meet with the others in the air, his hands trembled slightly as they gripped onto the chapped wood for dear life.

When he heard familiar loud laughter he looked up and smiled lightly as he saw Louis and one of his friends playfully nudging each other to make the other fall off the broom. He watched as crinkles appeared next to his eyes and he smiled so wide the sun would be jealous. Harry sighed sadly as he kept watching him laugh and play around with his mates. He wished he could make him laugh like that, but he couldn't, and he knew that. He mentally shook his head and turned his attention to the rest of the class.

Professor Flitwick placed a levitating spell on a cone that was on the floor and made it rise until it was at the same level of the rest of the students.

"Alright! You are all to get in a line and one by one, you will fly at full speed towards the cone and spin around it as fast as possible. Understood?" everyone except Harry nodded in response. He knew that if he even attempted to fly at full speed he would somehow knock himself out of balance and fall to the floor, like he had done so many times before. And each of those times he ended up in the infirmary at the end of the day with bruises, scabs and pain medication.

As everyone confidently flew into a single file line, Harry hung back behind the group, still trying to focus on not falling off by staying still. Professor Flitwick noticed Harry trembling slightly as he attempted to steady himself on the broom and sighed. She knew that Harry was a bright student, but she also knew Harry was practically incapable of flying. He had once managed to hit himself in the face when trying to get the broom to fly up to his hand from the ground.

Harry noticed as she shook her head and turned her head to observe the students that were now attempting a quick turn and a couple other drills. He mentally sighed in relief, knowing that she wouldn't force Harry to try any of the drills due to his many, many past injuries.

"Harry, can you go get a couple more cones from the supply shed?" Professor Flitwick asked, knowing he couldn't stay still the entire lesson. At least like this he would practice a little bit by flying down and coming back up again. This was something she had Harry do many times when she knew the drills could result in him getting into a coma.

Harry nodded, dreading it a little, but going anyway. He slowly started descending onto the ground, feeling his heart beat loudly in his chest. As he approached the floor, he happily let himself be more at ease, knowing he couldn't hurt himself too much if he fell from a meter above ground. Still, he wobbled slightly and clumsily slipped off the broom. Thankfully, he managed to fall on his feet. He sighed in relief and slight content as he started walking towards the shed, as slowly as possible to waste time before he had to fly back up.

As he pushed the old, wooden door open he coughed slightly at the amount of dust that was in the room. Just as he stepped in a voice behind him startled him, so much so that he dropped his broom to the ground.

"Why are you always the one that goes to get supplies?"

Harry squealed slightly in surprise and turned around, only to feel incredibly light headed. In front of him stood Louis Tomlinson, with a hand on his hip and his broom in the other hand. A sly smirk was displayed on his thin lips as he eyed Harry.

Harry couldn't help but feel incredibly nervous as the boy he had a crush on for years was stood in front of him, and actually properly talking to him.

"I- uhh.... I- I suck at.. at flying..." He stuttered out, his eyes still wide from having a Greek god stand in front of him. "Professor Flitwick... sh-she k-knows that I'll p-probably die i-if I attempt a s-sharp turn..."

Harry mentally kicked himself for acting so stupid and lost in front of Louis. He also couldn't help but feel extremely embarassed because he could barely fly in a straight line without falling, whereas Louis was one of the best players in the entire school, if not THE best player. Louis hummed in response.

"Maybe that's for the best, I've seen you fall off your broom many times." Louis laughed, but not in a cruel way, as if he were making fun of Harry.

Harry's lips curled up slightly as he looked down a little to avoid too much confrontation knowing he'd embarrass himself.

"Yeah... flying isn't my strong suit.." he replied quietly, still not meeting Louis' curious eyes.

"Huh, if I hadn't seen you fly before I wouldn't have guessed... you're good at everything."

Harry's eyes widened slightly as he looked up at Louis with a confused expression plastered on his face. Louis thought he was good at everything?

"H-how do you know... that I'm good a-at everything I mean..." he stuttered. Louis simply chuckled and shook his head playfully.

"We have one other class together, I've seen you perform spells I didn't even know existed! Is it true you were able to conjure your patronus in our second year?"

"Uhh.. yeah," Harry answered, slightly shocked at the fact that Louis even knew they were together in Defense Against The Dark Arts, "yeah I supposed it is..."

"Why'd you look so surprised?" Louis laughed slightly at Harry's startled expression.

"S-sorry..." Harry apologized profusely, "I didn't know you knew we had a class together. I-I'm usually p-pretty invisible...."

Louis laughed in response and brought both his hands to his broom, making it lean against his chest. Harry's heart fluttered as he saw the crinkles by his eyes appear.

"Are you kidding?! You're shy, sure... but I wouldn't miss the cute curly headed boy who's incredible at spells even if the class was twice the size it actually is!"

Harry's eyes widened once more as he felt the heat rush up to his cheeks. He subtly put his hands behind his back so that Louis wouldn't notice the obvious trembling. Harry opened his mouth but no words came out.

Louis smiled and winked at him before taking a few steps back and turning around.

"Oh and by the way," he said as he turned his head over his shoulder to look at Harry one last time, "you look cute when you blush."