I'm dreading this lesson in particular, a harsh pain lodged in my throat like dredging up a hairball. I found it stuck in my windpipe ever since the idea of broom riding became an inevitability.
I wasn't scared of flying... That wasn't it.
I was scared of failing and falling, because it was all but assured. I couldn't take to the sky, for I would fall almost instinctively. I was a baby bird not yet ready to leave the nest. Both the magic that superseded gravity and the force of nature itself would eagerly make my body plummet to the ground, leaving a crater behind. Neither magic nor physics were on my side. Nor did I have the power to accept either of these sides in earnest. I stood in the middle of a crossroads, never feeling like I truly belonged to either side, nor could I bend the will of either into my own hands.
A broom would never accept such a worthless coward.
"Honami-chan! We should get moving now, otherwise we'll be late for class!" My roommate Kushida Kikyou shouted to me from the bathroom. Over the past two weeks, she had become an anchor for me. Someone I could depend on when the stress of a new environment threatened to push me over the edge. I had come to miss my younger sister dearly in the small amount of time I had been here... I liked to think I was the same sort of reliable figure for her that Kikyou-chan was for me. Though, I might be giving myself too much credit...
The stress of flying today only seemed to exacerbate that feeling of dread and homesickness... I pulled the bedsheets tighter around my body, hollowing underneath and manufacturing a little hovel of my own creation.
"C'mon!" Kikyou beckoned me with a measure of urgency.
"Hisss..."
"Wha- thad 'posed to ve? ou're a 'ufflepuff not Sliberin..." She asked, the toothbrush slightly hanging out of her mouth. Her speech sounded muffled and slurred. I stopped myself before I stuck my head out and commented on how ridiculous she sounded. This may be a dastardly trap to remove me from my nest!
"Besides, is that supposed to be a snake or a cat?" Suddenly her speech was a lot more understandable, she had probably removed the toothbrush from her mouth.
"..."I wasn't sure what fierce beast I was mimicking. I only knew that the animal I had channelled was ungrateful for the interruption. And certainly didn't want to leave the nest.
"Yeah, yeah." Kikyou-chan ripped the quilt from my hands with a surprising show of force.
"Eeek..." It's so bright... Why does even the brilliant light of the sun add to my distaste when the day's already going so badly?
"Do you really want to miss breakfast as well? I heard they're serving pancakes today."
"..." My ear grew voraciously, as did my appetite. Well... I suppose for pancakes... I could make a concession. I timidly crawled from my bed towards the cabinet and begun getting dressed.
...
...
...
"That was a foul thing to do, Kikyou-chan!" I sobbed heavily into my hearty breakfast. A noticeable lack of pancakes made my disappointment well up once more.
"And yet, that hasn't stopped you from eating, has it?"
Gulp. "I'm still mad at you..."
"Just make sure you hydrate enough after eating all that... Probably not the best idea to fill up too much. Don't want to get nauseous up there, do you?"
Just the reminder was enough to wash my senses over with a wave of vertigo. She seemed to have noticed my displeasure.
"Sorry. But you've got to face the music at some point. The fact that it's done sooner is better in my opinion. I still don't really understand what's worrying you... It should be safe enough with the teacher's there." Safety wasn't the real thing I was worried about. Taking this lesson meant something would soon become a real effect on my life, something that was only a chance before, would become almost assured to me. After that I only had so much time before I would have to 'face the music' as Kikyou-chan put it. And my life as I knew it would be over...
I really didn't want to live as one of them.
"You girls are here early." A boy with sharp features and his hair in a top knot came to sit across the table. He was one of the other half that made our friend group. The four Japanese students of the Hufflepuff 1st years' class... nickname pending.
"Hashimoto, would you tell Honami-chan that everything'll be fine? Her worrying is going to get me all worried."
"Why don't you just tell her yourself?"
"Do you think I haven't tried? But it's no use. My feelings get in the way. I'm an empath after all..." Kikyou-chan made a face as if she were bearing the sins of all mankind, I almost imagined the wings and halo above her head.
"Kikyou-chan's just trying to help... I just can't stop feeling a bit scared. Sorry, I keep worrying you guys."
"Yeah, uhuh. Mind telling me where that empathy's been for me?" Hashimoto-kun pointed to himself incredulously, consternation evident from his eyes alone.
"I just can't feel bad for people that deserve what they get."
He turned to me, begging for me to reconsider my friendship with the angel. "Ichinose-san, I'm telling you she's heartless. Rethink your friends... seriously. Can't you see the dark aura coming off of her? Freaky."
"I think Kikyou-chan's just trying to help you by being stern."
"Help me with what?"
Hmm... I guess with his lack of effort and impulse control regarding homework, studies and proper student life... So, if I had to sum it up... "Your noncommittal attitude and lacklustre attempts at living properly." Yeah, that'd be it.
"...I've never felt my entire existence dissed by a single sentence... Touche."
"Hm? What does that mean?" I had never heard that word before, even though I was somewhat confident in my English skills.
"It's French for butt." Kikyou-chan helpfully translated. I wasn't familiar with any other European languages, English was a skill I had been honing for years of my adolescent life. Not out of consideration or anything like that... I just didn't have any choice in the matter. "Or English slang for the same thing, basically the same as anything that comes out of his mouth."
Kikyou-chan and Hashimoto-kun were always fun to watch, they were so animated when talking. Their arguments edged on petty and childish, but you could see that they both enjoyed the verbal sparring. It was very rare that feelings were actually hurt, no matter how Hashimoto-kun might make it seem. They did say that you could only fight with people you were truly close to... I wonder if that means the rest of us weren't as close as Hashimoto-kun and Kikyou-chan... I should redouble my efforts to make sure my friends know just how much I care about them.
"Wha-! No it isn't! It means like; 'well done, you bested me this time!' You're thinking of tush or tushy."
"So you don't deny you know these words... Disappointing." Kikyou-chan tutted twice. "Hashimoto always speaking inappropriately. Shameful. Apologise for exposing Honami-chan to such foul language." She wagged her finger like a disappointed parent at the exasperated Hashimoto-kun.
"Hah?! It wasn't even me that took the conversation this way?!"
"And now shifting the blame, I shouldn't have expected any different."
"...How can I know I'm not in the wrong but still feel like it?" Kikyou-chan just shook her head in response.
"Fine. Sor-" They were up to their usual antics. It didn't make me feel uncomfortable, the feigned argument or the crass language, whether those were the true meanings of the words or not, it was unnecessary. Because I was used to hearing much worse.
Before an unnecessary apology or otherwise could come to fruition, another boy joined us. The last Japanese student in our year in the Hufflepuff house as well as the last bastion of our tight-knit group of four. Hirata Yosuke.
"Morning. You all seem to be well." He had a sunny disposition and a smile that was easy on the eyes. One that was devoid of troubles, which often helped me forget my own.
"Yosuke, you seriously have no eye for subtlety..." Hashimoto-kun muttered.
"What? Is something wrong?"
"Ichinose-chan's going through turmoil right now. To make light of it... to think you were the most cruel and sadistic amongst us. I'm so heartbroken." And after the usual antics between Hashimoto-kun and Kikyou-chan a new target reveals itself...
"Sniffle. Hirata-kun is such a meanie..." Kikyou-chan added fuel to the fire.
"Haah... I don't mind if you guys have a laugh at my expense. But at least don't make me worry that it's real." Becoming used to their endless teasing, Hirata-kun went ahead with his usual lines.
"That's our dark prince once again. Completely belittling Ichinose's troubles. Honestly, how do you sleep at night?" Hashimoto-kun continued.
"Eh? Are you seriously having trouble, Ichinose-san?" There it was. The usual worry and reliability of our friend. It was like he was prepared to run to anyone's aid at a moment's notice. Hirata-kun seemed like the sort of person that would take out their own beating heart in front of you if you needed it. Utterly devoted to people around him... he was a people pleaser like me. We felt good from the look on other's faces, no matter the detriment we might face in response.
"Hehehe! It's fine! You guys make me forget about it quickly enough!" I had found myself laughing without much effort. All my worries seem to slip away with these guys.
"That's good. Just remember, if there's anything we can do... just say the word. We're a family now." Hirata-kun said with a toothy grin.
"Putting it on a bit thick after that monumental failure, Prince."
"That goes for you too, Hashimoto-kun. You as well, Kushida-san. Though, I'd prefer it if you called me Hirata or even just Yosuke."
"No can do, Prince. I just call it as I see it. It's your fault for constantly trying to ride to the rescue."
They continued to noisily debate between themselves. Even if I was feeling down from the sudden decision to practice flying, it was these people that put me back on track. That was why I loved Hufflepuff. It was the reason I was incredibly glad the sorting hat had looked inside my heart and found the right place for me. With these people... because for someone so fragile, I needed a strong foundation. These anchors that would never move, this was the kind of family I always envisioned. It was only a short two weeks we had spent together, but I truly felt as if each and every one of them was an irreplaceable member of my family. And I truly believed that feeling would never change.
[Scars of White]
"Why are you sitting over here, Ayanokouji-kun? Are you perhaps taking pity on little old me?" I rested my laurels next to the only other student sitting out this lesson. As much as I might want to fly freely in the sky, it seemed I couldn't do anything about that until my wand trial had ended. Bothersome, to say the least.
"I would much rather avoid the potentially awkward situation in which I can't fly. Apparently, Dumbledore had already explained the situation to Madam Hooch. I'll just have to trouble you with my presence, I'm afraid." In essence I've been sent aside. I could've argued the fact, but that just sounded like more trouble than it's worth.
"No trouble. Not at all." She said that with a wide smile which helped me to really believe it. She gestured to the students beside their broomsticks and the teacher currently in the air. Nudging closer to my person, her hair tickled my nose slightly as she whispered softly into my ear. "Don't tell anyone else... but I'd like to join them one day. Or at least fly by myself." A certain desperation seeped from her eyes in that moment, one I wasn't comfortable with gazing at for too long. So we were telling secrets now, huh?
"..." I didn't ask what was stopping her. Instead, I shared a piece of myself that she might be able to relate to. "Personally, I can never relax unless solid ground is beneath my feet." Cautionary, that was my factory default setting. So much so, that at times I would seem cowardly.
"Fufufufu. That's just like you Ayanokouji-kun. You're becoming less magical by the minute." Never mind, she was poking my weakness with a stick. Glee evident on her face. I didn't imagine the grin spreading across her lips. I'm just glad someone was getting a smidgen of enjoyment from my constant displeasure.
"...I'll manage."
"No doubt. However, I'd watch out. I doubt you would be worried about anything happening but... pure muggles aren't looked on too kindly." Our reasons for sitting out on broom practice were very different. One of us was disabled and the other ineffectual and it wasn't the order you might think.
"Magicless? I thought you said it was impossible in this school?" At least that was what she had attempted to drill into my head in the infirmary.
"The closest we have to magicless are called squibs. So weak in magic that they might as well be muggles. Besides, understanding that this school doesn't allow for the magicless to attend hedges on the understanding that the people thinking are using common sense and logic. Hatred and bigotry aren't steeped in such ideals." To them there was no difference between magicless and pitiful magical power. Perhaps that's the answer...
"Hmm. Do you think that's what I am then? A squib?"
"Who's to say? From the sounds of it, that wand of yours is somewhat special. I'd guess it's just an extremely rare circumstance, much rarer even than the likelihood of being a squib. I don't think Dumbledore would've gone to all this trouble for you otherwise. You also have... a more unique upbringing than most magicians, perhaps that's the reason." Emotion seemed to prevail when casting magic, at least at times. Harry and Ron had failed to even lift a feather in class yet had managed to hold off a troll's strength against his club. Even if it did take all their concentration.
"What trouble?" I asked innocuously, hoping Sakayanagi might provide a bit more insight into whatever she thought was between me and Dumbledore.
"...I'm about the only person that might understand your position. If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine... But please don't try and convince me nothing's going on here. The entire programme, your father's life's work, was created for the opposite purpose. You shouldn't even be here." I should've guessed she wouldn't take kindly to that roundabout method.
"My bad. I'll simply say I don't want to talk about it." It was my fault for trying to sneak around a friend's(?) concern.
"Hmph." Sakayanagi folded her arms almost comically, playing the part of the doting elder sister. "So difficult. You know, we might be enemies in the sense of the game we set up... But for you, I wouldn't mind helping with anything you need. You mean that much to me."
"That's certainly... forward." What does it even mean to 'mean a lot to someone?' You think about them a lot? Care about them? Care about what they're doing at different moments of the day?
If that's the only qualification, then I've cared about everyone I've ever met. I've remembered countless names, faces, itineraries, schedules, lessons, subjects, objects. I remembered the faces and names of people I had met once or twice as an infant, provided I had actually heard them. But that isn't what she meant, I knew that instinctually... So what does it mean?
What does it take to actually care for a person?
...I didn't know.
I briefly heard Sakayanagi's voice once again, pulling my drifting mind back to the present.
"You make it sound like a confession." She scoffed lightly.
It seems in my absence she had concluded I was pondering her words.
"..." A confession. It was one way to interpret those words. That might fit. But I knew for a fact that wasn't the answer.
Still, I felt oddly... uncomfortable... No, that wasn't the right word for it...
It just felt strange for such affection and goodwill to be sent my way, a sentiment that I couldn't decipher as anything but genuine.
"Don't pause... it makes it feel more awkward..." She muttered whilst blushing lightly.
I cleared my throat once. Choosing to steer the conversation away from that direction for now. "I'll be grabbing the device today. Everything went to plan on your end?"
Sakayanagi also cleared her throat. I could see she was mentally thanking me for changing the topic. Not that I didn't need it myself, even if her melting complexion was interesting to witness. "Of course, who do you think I am? Little Pan-chan activated the bug as soon as they entered the hut. It was worth taking the walk to the courtyard the past few evenings." I'm assuming Pan-chan was shorthand for the monstrous collection of bugs that frightened Hikari a few days ago now. Otherwise known as Pandemonium.
From my understanding Sakayanagi could only call her butterflies or give them rudimentary controls and directions depending on their proximity to her. Without a visual feedback or other guidance on the Control Critter Mk.1, it was necessary for the next step of our plans on the third floor. All I had to do was retrieve the bug, let the butterfly fly free and replay the audio we had retrieved.
With how often we had activated the recording feature the memory would soon become full, it wouldn't do any good to overwrite previous data without listening to it.
Regardless. That information might give us a few leads.
I almost felt a little bad for how easy those three were to manipulate, even if our choices would end up being vital to their safety.
"Where would be best to follow up on this?" Sakayanagi asked from beside me, her feet kicking slowly as we rested on the bench. She seemed to be enjoying herself.
"The common rooms are out. Library and other classrooms wouldn't be the best either... How about the place in question?" It's not like other students would run into us on the third floor, unless they were investigating the same thing.
"Seems appropriate. It's a date." She said slyly. Almost as if she awaited my declination.
"...It's not a date."
"A play date, then." She said without missing a beat.
"That doesn't seem appropriate either..."
"Too late. See you then, Ayanokouji-kun!" Wait, we're still in lesson, where are you going? Not like it even matters, all we were doing is watching. But that shouldn't bother me right now... I had a huge issue that suddenly reared its head...
A play date? Was I supposed to bring something?
Play and date. What was the focus on; the date part or the play part? What did kids even do for fun?
You shouldn't be asking that question, you sound like a 45-year-old father having an existential crisis on how to interact with their children. Aren't you a child, Kiyotaka? Surely you can think of something?
Perhaps she meant it as a mere jest?
I'm utterly perplexed...
It was at the moment I had begun referring to myself in the third person that I had realised... as Michael often said in moments of utter defeat...
I'm cooked.
[Scars of White]
"Honami... Psst! I think this is your last chance to sit it out. There's two others over there, it won't look too out of place if you just join them." She gestured to a boy and girl sat on a bench a distance from the assorted houses. They were both Japanese students... in fact they were household names from the look of it. The Director's daughter and the Headmaster's son, it's like they were already on a different level from us just by existing. I wonder why they were abstaining from the lesson. I could guess the girl's was due to her condition, but the boy seemed to be in the pink of health.
"But- what will I do if the teacher figures me out?" I whispered back.
"Well, if you don't want to tell me about it, you could always tell the teacher..." I couldn't blame Kikyou-chan for becoming fed up with my reluctances and excessive caution. I could tell she was only really frustrated because she was trying to help me, as hard as that might be... So it just rounded back to being my fault. I was becoming sick with this self-pity track I had found myself on but didn't have any idea as to how I could correct myself.
"Sorry... Kikyou-chan it isn't like that... It isn't like I don't trust you, it's just..."
"...No, you're right. Sorry, I just can't think of how to help you without knowing the reason... Sorry, I'm not the most reliable, am I?" I felt terrible about spreading this bad mood around to my friend, especially to someone that had been so concerned for me all this time. Kikyou-chan lowered her head slightly, the bob hair covering her face so I couldn't see the expression she wore. I'm sure even that was something she did on purpose to make me feel better...
Gulping nervously, I decided to face the music. The possibility that the broom wouldn't even raise into my hand was there... but if I had to endure embarrassment then that's what I'd do. I would feel even more embarrassed if I sacrificed my friendship with Kikyou-chan over such a silly thing.
I was such a coward.
Even that was a concession I made to avoid telling her what was truly bothering me. I just wanted two years of peace before fate comes knocking on my door. Two years, to forget who and what I am before magic and reality make it an unforgettable detail of my life.
Boom!
A broom landed in the middle of the courtyard along with a white haired, eagle-eyed woman stood beside it. She acted as if we hadn't just witnessed the equivalent of a mortar landing right by our feet. Her hands dusted off a bit of the dirt uprooted by her landing before introducing herself in earnest.
"Good evening, class. I am Madame Hooch, your flying instructor and the Quidditch referee on Hogwarts grounds. Any and all flying queries will come through me, you can think of me as the police of the sky here at Hogwarts. If I find so much as a single infraction against you, you'll be gone so quick you won't be able to say Quidditch before you're in detention. Carry on, and soon enough it'll be packing your bags and back home. I hope I don't have to make good on these promises. And yes, they are promises. Not threats."
"For five house points can anyone tell me what the most vital factor is for safe flying practice?"
"Yes, you."
"Um, I'd say a teacher capable of casting slowing spells or catching students if they should fall."
"Good answer but think even before that."
"Next, you."
"Practice at a low altitude so that damages are minimal from the start."
"Definitely. But even before that."
"..."
"...No one?"
I knew the answer. After all it was the same thing that was haunting me ever since this day was announced. House spirit, right? Should be aiding Hufflepuff's ascent to victory, but even with this thing by my side I already felt out of place. Vertigo acting up again.
I raised my hand despite that.
"Yes, you?"
"The broom... must accept you first."
"...Passable. That's what I was looking for. Before safety measures are even put into place, the most rudimentary step is to only allow those that are capable to ride a broom."
A boy raised his hand.
"Yes?"
"...Does that mean some of us will never be able to fly?"
"Not quite. For starters, stick out your hand and order your broom 'Up!'. Be firm."
The students repeated her instructions with varying levels of success. The word had yet to escape from my mouth in earnest...
"Okay. You don't need to look around. But here's the deal; some of you will have a broom in your hands, probably ready to fly off right now. That's good, you've got some flying chops yet. Some of you might make the broom roll over and nudge. You'll be there soon enough. Those of you who have no movement... the truth is, this will be a long road. There are two options: You either have very weak magical blood, in which case age and practice will be your best teacher. Or you are incompatible with the sky and brooms."
"Incompatible with the sky?" A girl asked abruptly.
"Please put your hand up if you have a question."
"..." The girl raised her hand morosely.
"Yes, I'll answer. I just need you to have manners first. Place your brooms back on the floor and gather round. Here's a history lesson; who ruled the skies first?" She pointed at random to one of the students in her vicinity.
"Dragons?"
"Indeed. Dragons, wyrms and similar families. Of course, creatures such as the harpies and other bird-like creatures." My stomach shrank a bit... Scary. "My next question; who rules the sky now?"
"Huh? I mean... does anyone?" The majority of students appeared to be bewildered.
"You might seem confused, but there's a real answer to this question."
"Humans." A raven-haired boy answered from beside a few Ravenclaw students.
"I would've taken just man collectively or humanoids. But yes. We have legislation, we've tamed the skies. Presented laws and generally the free world is easy enough for any wizard or witch to travel by broom or aeronautic vehicle without fear of death and destruction. For the most part."
"..."
"Now... how do you think we did it?"
"..."
"Destroying all opposition." The same boy answered with hardly a shift in his tone.
Madame Hooch nodded lightly. "History's dark, that's the truth. Through bloody wars and creatures deaths we have made the world safer and more convenient for the better part of a millennia. To usher in the age of civilisation and peace. To destroy enemies and implement these changes, excessive strength is needed. Who here thinks a human is stronger than a dragon?"
One boy put his hand up.
"You'd best hope the next dragon you fight is a baby then!" Madame Hooch laughed heartily, it almost seemed like she had purposely forced that joke to brighten the mood.
"Hahahaha!" Students joined shortly.
"To fight a better opponent in their desired battlefield, it takes a different level of skill and grit... those are the wizards and witches of old. Cross generations and then come the offspring. That grit, determination and conquering of the skies trickled down into the blood. And here we are."
Another raised his hand. "Yes?"
"If we all have that same blood, how come some of us are better and some are worse at flying?"
"Good question. Chance really. Some people got the good genes, some didn't. You play the hand you're dealt. You should be thanking the stars, go back far enough and most magic families didn't even have the ability to fly, it wasn't even an idea in their mind. We lived under the thumbs of dragons and sky beasts that could make their home anywhere."
"Phew..."
"Nearly every modern witch and wizard can fly a broom acceptably. The exceptions are very few and far between."
"Yes?"
"Does the specific broom dictate how well we can fly?"
"Another good question. Let's see... first, what do you think the difference between a wand and a broom is?"
"I mean... I don't ride on a wand?" She said unsure of the answer herself.
"True. But could you?" It felt like she was asking the entire class this...
"..." At that moment almost every student imagined trying to fly on such a small implement, I almost laughed when we all pictured it. When there was a much easier solution...
Madame Hooch continued. "Timberhaus the quick. A man sighted during the mid-14th century all around Eastern Europe, his broom and wand were one and the same." Just make the wand bigger.
"How's that possible?" The students murmured amongst themselves.
"He... was a wand smith. The truth is; brooms and wands aren't all that different. The major thing separating them is; size and a magical core. That magical core gives properties which make a wand more or less suitable to certain people. I'm sure most of you are familiar with your own wand's qualities, as any magician is. If humans have a soul, then wands have a magical core. I'm sure you can put the rest together."
I muttered it without thinking. "Without a magical core, brooms don't differentiate between people."
"Correct. Broom top speed, handling etc. These stats come from the magical power imparted by the person riding and the materials/structure of the broom itself, as well as any wards or spells that might be carved or embalmed. Riding ability, that comes from within. It's all you. The failures and the successes. Pretty cool, right? It means you've got no one else to blame, just you and the sky."
I just had one more question. "But... I just don't understand... How can something without a will or conscience choose to not accept people?"
"The acceptance and will to fly isn't anything to do with the broom. It's all you."
So that's how it was...
The broom wasn't rejecting me. I... my blood was rejecting the broom, the crutch offered to me.
She clapped twice, shooing us away. "Now, stand over your brooms once more and-"
"Whoa- Wah!" A portly young boy from Gryffindor had his broom misbehaving, or rather his magic was. The broom got stuck along the hem of his robe and dragged him into the sky.
"Boy! Boy, get away from that broom! Oh, no... Clear some space, stand back. Now crouch down low and support yourself against the ground, I don't want any injuries now, you hear me?" We were rushed out of the way and told to sink into the ground, similar to when an earthquake drill was run in class. Only there were no desks to hide under and stabilise in the castle courtyard.
"..."
"I said; did you all hear me?!"
"YES, MADAME HOOCH!" Every student cried out.
"Good." She jumped onto a half-raised broom, shooting off without steadying her hands onto the lengthy wooden pole. "Hang on now, boy!"
"WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" The broom whacked against the castle walls, scraping and shaving down the edges of the handle.
Suddenly the broom decided to take high to the sky, ascending in a straight vertical line, so high that birds might misjudge him as part of their flock.
"Arresto Momentum." The broom and boy alike seemed to have stopped ascending for a moment, before turning and shooting directly towards the ground straight past the teacher.
"Stop!"
"Oh my god, he's gonna die!"
"Neville, you need to get your magic under control!" A girl shouted. Her voice drowned out by the constant screaming and chaos raised by the other students.
The broom gained immense speed, I was almost sure there was nothing else that could be done. Like a car crash, I couldn't peer away. Would that be me, if I even attempted to take to the skies?
What am I asking?! This is terrible.
But I can't do anything...
Tension raised in my body as the broom got closer and closer to the ground. My hand ripping both grass and dirt from the ground. Almost awaiting the inevitable crash.
And then...
"Parallelus tempestu vortuni." Wind rushed in a cyclone-like pattern around the teacher and student as they came screeching towards the ground. The wind pushed against them slowing their downfall. This was why she had us clear space, if we had gotten closer and let go of the ground we could've been flung away by that powerful cyclone.
She held the student by the scruff of his cloak, the chaotic broom in her other hand.
"Phew. Let me see. You seem to be in one piece, but probably a bit of whiplash. C'mon, let's get you to the infirmary. Madame Pomfrey will patch you right up. Not a broom is to be in the air whilst I'm gone, am I understood?" Her eagle-like eyes scowled into each of us before cooing and hushing the boy's muttered moans whilst walking towards the castle interior.
That was... amazing. She really saved him. So cool!
A single Slytherin student wandered the grounds, the strange shine of something hidden in the tufts of grass taking his attention. What was that?
He picked it up and dusted it off, a snarky smirk enveloping his features as he did. He spoke to the rest of the houses like he was looking down on them.
"Hahaha. Look like he forgot to give this a squeeze. If he did, maybe he might've remembered to fall on that fat arse of his." The boys chortled along with the white-haired student who had uncovered the crystal ball. The only thing I knew about him, was that he was unnecessarily cruel towards others. The name Draco Malfoy had already made the rounds as someone you didn't want to be associated with... But the creeping looks, and almost jittery behaviour was strange.
"Give it back, will you? That doesn't belong to you." Hirata-kun approached him with an amicable tone, hoping not to escalate the situation.
"Who the hell are you? Some irrelevant Hufflepuff, crawl back into your borough. This doesn't concern you. Or any of the rest of you outsiders." Malfoy smirked and sneered at the Japanese students, quickly looking with derision to the others spread around the houses. We weren't the targets of this harassment.
What a heartless... Neville could've died then, and here he was cracking jokes at his expense. I hated people like him the most...
"Irrelevant as I might be... should the heir of the house Malfoy be stealing?"
"...Know your place you outsider. When I say this has nothing to do with you, I mean it." He pushed Hirata-kun, shoving him backwards. "If anyone wants it, they can come get it." Effortlessly, the boy lifted his broom and glided into the air. Playing catch with the ball all the while, as if enticing us.
"Hirata-kun..."
"Sorry..." My friend held a resigned look on his face, one that was filled with dismay and disappointment. All of which seemed to be directed at himself.
I couldn't blame him...
Madame Hooch had already said it. There was no reason to do so... without a teacher and safety in place it was risky, we could injure ourselves or someone else. If we just told a teacher later then Malfoy would be punished... That's right.
So I shouldn't do anything.
And yet... why was the broom already in my hand?
"Honami-chan?" The familiar voice of Kikyou-chan rushed by as my body flew at explosive speeds right at the boy who fancied himself a dragon, the ruler of the skies above us pitiful humans.
"WHA-?!"
"GIVE IT BACK!" My hand snatched at his, throwing him from the broom and clasping the crystal ball in my hand.
"Ah!" The broom listened for only a moment before kicking me off, we were both left hanging onto our brooms by the handles, dangling as if we were on the edge of a cliff. A moving cliff.
The broom accelerated, the vague feeling of splinters embedding in my hand and the rapid sensation of air rushing against me.
It was in my hand... I did it. But I can't let go. Don't let go.
My hand slipped, with only a few fingers sticking to the handle.
3. Then 2. Then 1.
Gone.
NO!
The broom flew a great distance away. Almost laughing at my departure. As impossible as that might be.
I shut my eyes, awaiting the fatal drop. My hand clutching the crystal ball for dear life. I didn't know what it was, what purpose it held or even if it was precious to that boy. All I knew was that I couldn't forgive someone that would laugh so boisterously at his pain.
The ground was closing in.
...
I fell with the vague feeling of pride.
'Pride cometh before the fall' it was funny that mine seemed to have come from the fall. Maybe that was just how much I hated what I would one day become.
I hate that sky. What was supposedly the most freeing sprawling environment one could find was no more than a larger confine.
I clenched my eyes as hard as I could. If this was the last thing I would see, I didn't want it to be that blue void... The blank darkness was much more comforting.
So I fell.
In the dark.
Until the eventual impact.
...
The ground is softer than I thought it'd be... Maybe this is what it means to pass on?
"Are you okay?!" A boyish voice reached out to me from... underneath?
I blinked away the tears that had accumulated. Looking around hazily.
Broom. Uprooted dirt that looks like it had been ploughed. Boy cushioning my fall. Leg bent the wrong way. Worried crowd of students. Crystal ball still in my hand.
Wait...
Boy cushioning my fall...
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I sprang up from the position. "Thank you! You must've saved me. I'm sorry... your leg..."
"Don't worry about it... I'm just glad you're alright. That was brave... thanks."
"...?"
"For getting Neville's Remembrall." he pointed to the crystal ball in my hand. So that's what it was...
"We- we need to get you to the infirmary! Should we carry you.... Oh, or is it better to get a teacher? Ah- ah!" What was the best thing to do in this situation? If we move him, it could hurt... I was stuck in a perpetual loop of worrying, my head in a daze from the excitement and danger.
"Honami-chan!"
"You dolt, you could've seriously gotten injured!" Hashimoto-kun shouted.
"Ichinose-san, you need to be more careful. Still, it's just like you to rush right ahead..." Hirata-kun reprimanded me from the side, very lightly. If Hirata-kun threw caution to the wind he might've done the exact same thing...
"Don't compliment her, Hirata-kun! She might think she was right to do that. I was so worried!" Kikyou-chan dived into my chest, taking me down to the ground with her.
"Kikyou-chan... We need to help him."
"And thank you!" She jumped at him next.
"Kikyou-chan! He's injured!"
"Haha, it's fine. It might just be the adrenaline, but it doesn't hurt too much..." He laughed whilst remarking as such. I couldn't tell whether that was the truth, or he was putting on a brave face.
"Harry! You... you stupid- brave fool! You could've gotten yourself killed!" A girl with frizzy hair reprimanded the raven-haired boy, a certain pattern made itself evident as he turned his head... I had yet to meet him before. So this was Harry Potter... She dove in for a hug as well as they gathered on the ground.
That's what a real hero looks like...
His other friend, a red-haired young boy of Gryffindor peered at us with a sour expression on his face.
It was then that I was reminded of just what I had done. My carelessness had caused his friend to be injured badly, I couldn't blame his reaction. If someone else was responsible for the same thing and had done it to Kikyou-chan, Hashimoto-kun or Hirata-kun. I don't know if I could forgive them...
As we waited for the teacher to arrive and take Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived and my personal saviour to the infirmary, I vowed to be better. To try and save people without needing saving in the process. Because if I couldn't take care of myself, how could I ever take care of others?
Harry's smile and shy reluctance to accept his own heroism were two things I ensured I would remember for the rest of my life.
The true vision of what I wanted to one day become.
No matter if my bloodline might say differently.
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Word count: 6776
Chapter from Ichinose's POV. I'm trying to involve character's from the different houses now. The backstories they have will either be slightly different or the timeline will be different. Either way I plan to make it interesting for all of them. More than likely I'll stick to a particular 'main' POV for each house, but I'll probably mix it up now and then.
The lore for brooms and wands isn't verified it's all head cannon. Basically it's just what I'm going with. Think wizards having their own natural selection such as dragons and magical beasts which would be a selection pressure to them could make for interesting development in the future. So this is the path I decided to take. Hopefully, it was at least interesting.
P.S. I'm hoping the magic skills and talents were evident in Madame Hooch as well. She's specialised for flying instruction and Quidditch in general. This is why she's a master of momentum and wind-based spells as they have a lot of utility in the sky and preventing injury on the ground. But I mean she only used two spells so maybe that wasn't super clear. Spell names will be following a somewhat simple convention, but if there isn't a spell that fits the scenario, I'll probably just make it up. I do plan on them following some basic laws and principles so as to make the magic system feel a bit more fleshed out.
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Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Until next time.