T3: Beginner Flying

[Prof Brianna O'Donnell]

Brianna O'Donnell strode onto the Quidditch pitch in the crisp morning air, her broom on her shoulder and the large trunk floating after her. She was smiling happily to herself and humming a little tune. Her class would be arriving soon and she could hardly wait.

She stopped in the very centre of the pitch, the trunk falling noisily to the ground. It immediately began shaking and a loud thumping noise echoed from inside. Bree turned on the spot, smiling up at the stands, and imagined them full of cheering crowds as she had many times seen them. Now she was helping the next generation get to where she once was.

Points:
Gryffindor: 30
Hufflepuff: 35
Ravenclaw: 10
Slytherin: 10

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie headed down to her first flying lesson. She had watched her cousins fly around and always wanted to it herself but her father said she had to wait till she learned. Now she was going to learn. "Hello Professor. " She said with a smile on her face. "What are we doing to day."

[Prof Brianna O'Donnell]

Brianna was pulled out of her mid-morning day dream by the sound of a small voice. She turned, broom still on her shoulder, to see a small Gryffindor girl running towards her. "Good morning, Miss Thimble," she said. This girl is small, petite, a perfect seeker, Bree thought with a smile. "We are going to do some simple drills," she said, "simple and fun." Bree could never stand drills but making them fun was the best.

[charly]

The day was sunny enough, few clouds and a soft breeze that came around every few minutes or so. Normally this sort of brisk weather would send the small girl into a fit of playful excitement, but seeing as her next class was flyin she had a much dreary look about her. She had learned the basics of floating, but flying was something she made many excuses not do. She was far behind in the skill for a first year, and she avoided the class at all costs, even saving up so she could pay an older student to curse her with a sickness for awhile.

Sadly, today, she had no excuse and she trudged along drearily. She really felt no reason why flying was necessary, muggles got along fine without it, didn’t they? There were few students when she arrived, and this made her dreary look turn a stormy frown.

“oh bother, now ill probably get picked on by the teacher even more.” She huffed in agitation her shoulders slouched giving the short girl an even smaller appearance. She slumped to the ground crossing her legs and arms and peeked with curiosity, despite her anger, at the trembling box.

For a moment she froze and then her eyes widened in terrible fear, as she heard the proffesor speak of drills. Oh dear, Oh dear, this was definitly not good at all. She couldn't fly higher then a meter and a half without tremblimg like a beaten house elf, and now it seemed the professor was going to set loose whatever was in the box after them. It was probably a possesed owl, or giant bumble bee, or..or even worse a dragon. SUddenly she felt quite sick to her stomach and her eyes watered at the edges, She flattened her face in her hand before the teacher could spot her tears. She couldn't fly fast or far, and that meant she would probably be first meal for the giant bumble-bee-dragon monster.

I'm going to die today. were the only words that came to her.

[Prof Brianna O'Donnell]

Bree put her broom on the ground next to her so the handle was perpendicular to her legs. When she straightened she spotted other students joining her and the Gryffindor. A small Hufflepuff girl stormed onto the pitch, catching Bree's eye, and sat on the ground near her. Bree smiled at her and noticed a frightened look in her eyes. She quickly buried her face and Bree frowned, an almost painful expression.

She looked to where she had been looking and saw the shaking trunk and understood. She quickly pulled out her wand and flicked it towards the trunk and thought it still shook, there was no noise. "Do not mind the trunk, Ms Catherwood," she said, smiling kindly, "you won't be dealing with it for a long time. Someone is coming to collect it." She looked down at the little girl and flicked her wand again.

Broomsticks can whizzing towards them and lined themselves on either side of the two girls in two neat evenly spaced lines. Bree nodded and smiled at her work. "Right then," she said, "everyone alongside a broom. Extended your left hand over the handle and say ‘up’." She stuck her own hand over her broom and said, proudly, "up." It shot up and flew into her outstretched hand. "Now, you," she pointed to the Gryffindor, "try it."

[charly]

She peeked from her hands to look once more at the box. So they weren't going to be chased by a Bumble-Dragon-Owl! She felt loads better already. She clambered up in surprise as a rugged broom was placed softly by her, and for a moment she felt like running away, maybe the teacher would be so surprised she could get away before being dragged back. Charlotte grinned secretly at that notion, and would've gone through with the plan if the professor hadn't seemed so terribly sweet. So with her bottom lip being fervently chewed on in nervousness she kept still, Hoping the gryfindor girl was part snail or at least was really, really slow at saying up. So she could have at least a little more time.

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie held her hand over the broom. "UP!" She yelled and the broom can rushing into her hand. "WOW." She muttered. Sarie was now wanted to try to fly but she had to wait. Looked at the Hufflepuff that just arrived. "Its not hard." Smiled at her.

Sarie turned her eyes on the broom she was holding. It looked rather old but she was only learning to fly you didnt need anything speical. She ran her hands over it. "could use some polish" said someone in the back of her mind. "Can i help you" she thought back. She felt like someone was smiling at her. I hate you when you do this she thought agian

[Prof Brianna O'Donnell]

Bree had noticed, while watching the Gryffindor, the Hufflepuff relax. She smiled at her and winked, before turning to the Gryffindor again. "It's alright," she said, "take your time." Bree thought she was struggling back not necessarily her fault. Bree walked towards her to pat her on the back to tell her it was okay when the broom went flying into her hand.

Bree stopped mid-stride and grinned at the little girl. "Very well done, Ms Thimbles," she said, clapping a few times, "ten points to Gryffindor." She smiled around at the assembled and nodded, "a wonderful display of control and force. You don't want to use too much of either," she informed the young ones, walking down between the brooms, "and you don't want to use too little. Just the right amount of command in your voice and it should come straight to you."

Bree stopped and faced the class again, smiling. She clasped her hands behind her back and looked over the students. "Very well," she said, "now all of you try." She was standing in front of Ms Catherwood now, smiling encouragingly at her. "Go on," she said kindly, "you can do it." She kept her eyes on the small Hufflepuff as more shouts of 'up' resounded from the other students.

[rileybabe]

Andie, Firebolt in hand strolled onto the Quidditch pitch, she was hoping to get some flying in before she had to start on a ridiculously long essay. However, when she entered the pitch she saw that it was filled with students of all ages, and standing in the middle of them was Professor O'Donnell, the Flying Teacher. Ohhh! Right! Beginners flying lessons are today! she thought to herself as she suddenly remembered. Then another thought came to her mind, and she strolled up to Professor O'Donnell with a smile. "Hello Professor, lovely day for flying isn't it? You're teaching a beginning flying class right now, am I correct? Would you like an assistant? I was going to try to get some practice in, but I'd be glad to help you with the students so you won't be too overwhelmed."

[charly]

Charlotte inhaled deeply glancing down at the broom, it seemed precariously old and well used. There were no signs of blood or deep nail scratches, so perhaps no one had been hurt before on this one. She bent down quickly too look at it closer and discovering no deathly signs she stood up, just in time to notice the Professor halt in front of her. She grinned nervously, silently griping at being the one watched. Out of the handful there was she had to be watched! It was probably because she was the shortest, she made a note to send a letter to her mother. It'd be full of complaints at how she had to earn her mother's shortness instead of her father's lankiness, how unfair!

Calming the childish fears and complaints that wriggled in her head she squeaked a small word. "Up?" It came out much softer and much more timid then she intended. She glanced at the unmoving broom, then to the gleaming professor. She took another shaky breath.
"Up" she said a tad bit louder. It wiggled, flopped softly, then nothing else. Perhaps she had gotten a broom that didn't work? Well now! That made the hufflepuff in her flare up, and determination gave her the strength to say the word a little louder.

"UP, Please!" She barked. There was a soft sound, the movement of shifting broom-brush and she instinctively clasped her small hand as the cool,hard wood of the broom softly pushed itself into her palm. Her face flushed bright red, and she stifled an excited giggle. "i did it! It listened to me!" she grinned, turning the broom so she could hold it with both hand in front of her. She cradled it horizontally against her for a moment before gazing intently at the teacher. She hoped her first two mistakes hadn't made the professor to upset, and she hoped even more how nicely the broom had come to her would please the woman even more.

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie smiled at her class mate. Then gave her the trumbs up to show good job. Sarie began to get neveurs when she saw the 7th year Ravenclaw walk down. She wasnt good at talking or anything when old people where around.

[Prof Brianna O'Donnell]

Seeing the nervous look on the Hufflepuff's face was the best thing Bree had seen all week for she knew that this little girl could do it if only she gained confidence. Bree's attention, however, was torn away from the little girl to an odd sight: a grown, tall Ravenclaw girl. Bree instantly recognised her and smiled as she approached.

"A little trained for Beginners, aren't you, Ms Riley?" Bree teased. Being both a wonderful flyer and the captain of Ravenclaw's quidditch team did mean she had some aptitude on a broom and odd that she would be there. But soon Brianna realised Andrea didn't know there was a class in progress. At her offer, Bree held up a hand and shook her hand. "Not thank you, Ms Riley," she said, "I'm very capable of controlling fifteen or so first and second years." Then she added, "come back in an hours time and the pitch will be open."

Considering the matter closed Bree turned from the Ravenclaw and back to the Hufflepuff. Timid, she thought, very timid. She smiled nonetheless and almost laughed when the girl said 'please'. The broom shot into her hand and Bree clapped her hands. "Very very well done, Ms Catherwood," she said and clapped the girl on the back, "fifteen points to Hufflepuff for such a brave effort."

Turning to the rest of the class she saw they all had their brooms in hand. "Congratulations, class, you have your equipment." She smiled and walked down the isle between to two rows of students. "The next part takes control of yourself," she said, turning to face the class. "I want you all to straddle your broom like you would a Hippogriff and hover in the air, lean forward and touch back down." She demonstrated by striding her own broom. "Tight grip," she said, showing them how hand in front of hand. She floated a foot into the air, lean forward so she shot down the isle and landed gracefully on the ground again.

She got off her broom and turned to the class, standing the broom on it's tail. "Alright then, everyone ready," she smiled and shot a wink to the Hufflepuff girl, "go."

[charly]

Her cheeks flushed an even brighter red, as she discovered the prize of earning points. This wasn't nearly as hard with a professor's supervision, and she felt all traces of her fear vanish, replaced with an excited determination. I can do this. she confirmed to herself. She whipped the smooth handle beneath her, and concentrated. Float, float, Come on now! After a few seconds, her feet seemed to have less of a load, and soon there was no pressure on the sole's of her shoes. She glanced down realizing she was now hovering a few inches off the ground.

Instead of feeling her usual fear, there was a brilliant excitement, and she wondered if she had the control to go higher. Almost as soon, as she thought it, she raised even high now almost reaching the high that she stood at. She gave a delighted laugh, and leaned for wards. Perhaps, Little too much. She shot forwards, and as she leaned more and more the tip of her broom pointed lower and lower, until it caught on a tiny lump of earth and she flipped forwards, tumbling over herself a few times before landing flat on her back.

She stared at the sky for a moment, before laughing even harder. her eyes screwwed shut, and her chest heaving hard shelay on her back, continuing to laugh. After a minute or so, she sat up tears from her mirth blurring her vision. "Whoops." she giggled before standing up, not caring to brush the dirt of her robes. She straddled the broom once more, taking a few seconds to get her focus. She once more floated upwards, and this time she leaned forwards, careful to keep the broom straight, but her chest pointing ahead. She quickly began moving, this time, in a horizantol position. As she reached the group again, she noticed many other students had had colision similar to hers, and some that seemed to be simple pros. She leaned back, slowing down, and focused on landing. Her feet touched the earth once more, and she stood the broom up straight. She bit her lip as she smiled excitedly, ready to fly some more.

[Prof Brianna O'Donnell]

Bree looked around the assembled beginners and was proud of what she saw. Many floated up almost immediately while others took a little longer. This was of course, not a problem for it took some practising the first time round. One, a small slytherin boy, stood for a good five minutes holding his broom and shouting at it to do as he told it. Brianna quickly ran to him and gripped her cold hands over his. "Gently," she said, "kindly."

She stepped back and observed. Lucky, too, that she was so observant, for she knew to duck when a blur of yellow came towards her and over her head, hitting the ground and flew off. Bree laughed heartily and called to the small girl, "are you alright, Ms Cartherwood? Any broken bones?" There were clearly none for she was on her broom again and flying back to her original position. Bree nodded to her and smiled.

Soon even the slytherin boy had flown, even it it was only a foot before slipping off. "Very good, class," she said, "very good. Back into positions please, as you were before." There was a made scrabble of little people to get to where they had been standing and Bree raised her elbows to avoid colliding them with head. Then they were quiet. "Very good." This was her favourite thing to say. "Right then," she said, clapping her hands together, "I have some points to award: ten to Hufflepuff for Ms Catherwood's excellent first run and recovery, and ten more to each house for everyone having flown. Well done everyone."

She picked up her broom and mounted it. "Now, this part of the lesson is optional. You do not have to do it." She looked over the class, a stern expression on her face, which quickly melted into a smile, "but this is also the most fun of the entire lesson. I am going to fly up and you are going to follow me and do exactly as I do." She fixed two talkative ravenclaw girl a stare before kicking hard off the ground and flying into the air.

[charly]

After the second reward for Hufflepuff, Charlotte felt quite confident of flying now. And as soon as the teacher announced her invitation of a follow-the-leader type game, she grinned ecstatically. She straddled her broom quickly, and looked around, seeing a few other students do the same, but also seeing a few that stood there with downtrodden stares. She made a note to herself about never letting he fear get to her again, or she'd have been one of those few staying behind. As the proffesor shot upwards, she flicked the thought of going up into her head, and quickly she felt her self raise up. Grinning at a few other students who had taken the challenge.