Percy Jackson and the Mirror of Erised

22) Flying Lessons

Flying lessons would be starting on Thursday. I don't really want to do it. I've got a bit of a fear for heights.

I told Katie about how I was scared of heights and she said, "You'll go three feet off of the ground. You'll probably be okay. If you really don't like it, act as if you're really bad it. She'll make you get off."

I would do that happily.

I've learned the rules of Quidditch from Ron. It seemed like a pretty fun game. I'd probably like it more if it was on the ground.

Hermione was nervous about it, and so was Neville. She'd read up on every flying tip she could, and Neville had listened.

I hadn't bothered. Up in the air is bad.

I watched Draco scowl and take the remembrall Neville had just received from home. McGonagall has quickly swooped in and Draco put the ball back down, walking back to the Slytherin table.

We had flying lessons at 3:30 that afternoon. Everyone hurried down the steps to get to practice. I was a little scared.

The Stolls had been complaining about the school brooms, which were all in two neat rows. They had said they vibrate and sometimes lean to the left a little.

Madam Hooch arrived, "Well, what are you all waiting for? Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up."

I saw a slight blue glow around one of the brooms. I stood by that one. Draco stood beside me, looking at me a little nervously.

Ron took it as him being nervous about flying the broom, and we both heard him mumble, "He can't know how to fly, not with that look on his face."

I turned to Ron, "Draco does know how to fly, he's a little more worried about me. I'm not exactly graceful when up in the air."

Ron looked confused and annoyed, "Why do you defend him? He's a Slytherin!"

"You'd defend me, right? I'm a Hufflepuff. And Draco's a friend."

"But why is he your friend?! He's terrible!"

Everyone was surprised to hear Neville speak up, "Why shouldn't he be? Draco can be really cool. Just because you can't see the good in him, doesn't mean that we can't. Draco is a good person, even if he says mean things."

Ron shut up after that.

"Stick out your right hand over your broom," Madam Hooch said, "And say Up!"

Harry and Draco's broom instantly jumped into their hands. Neville's did nothing and Hermione's rolled awkwardly on the ground.

My broom jumped up too. It just hit me in the face.

There was a loud crack and I was seeing stars for a second. The broom tried to hit me while I was on the ground, but Draco caught it for me. He struggled to keep it away while Madam Hooch rushes over to me.

She examined my head and said, "You can go to the medical wing in a moment if you want, but I would like to try something."

She sat on the ground and said in Greek, "Hecate understands that some demigods can't go into the air. She usually makes brooms for those who can't. It should be here... now."

A broom very suddenly hit the ground in front of me. It was black with sea green lines on it.

Madam Hooch picked up the note beside it, and read aloud, "The broom is named Arion. It should work for you."

I held my hand over it and said, "Up!"

The broom immediately shot into my hand. It felt almost natural, like an extension of my body.

Madam Hooch smiled happily and showed us all how to mount our brooms. Draco nodded slightly when he was told he had been gripping his broom wrong. He hadn't exactly had anyone to teach him though, so Ron's snickering wasn't exactly good.

"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 forward slightly. On my whistle — three — two —"

Neville pushed off hard before the whistle had blew.

"Come back, boy!" Madam Hooch shouted, but Neville was going higher and higher. Suddenly, he slipped off of his broom.

I immediately jumped on my own broom and shot upwards. I caught Neville, slowing his descent, but we both hit the ground very hard.

Neville was holding his arm beside me and I could feel everything going dark. I saw Madam Hooch's worried face looking down at me before I passed out.

I was in the medical wing again. It seems to happen often.

After giving me a potion and demanding I get some rest, I was allowed to go to dinner.

Harry immediately told me that he had gotten onto the quidditch team. I smiled and congratulated him, and we were both surprised when Professor Sprout walked up to us with Madam Hooch and a 4th year in tow.

"Mr. Jackson, your catching Mr. Longbottom today was extraordinary. Mr. Diggory, I believe we've found you that chaser you've been looking for," Madam Hooch said.

The boy, whom I recognized as Cedric Diggory, looked me over, "Yes, he looks strong. Fast and speedy, too. Light. Have you ever seen a quidditch match, Jackson?"

I shook my head, "We'll change that. I'll ask Castellan to excuse you on practice days. Very well, then. Welcome to the team, Percy."

I smiled widely, "Thanks, Cedric."

Harry was looking at me with bright eyes, "We get to play quidditch together! Just like football at school!"

"Ah, Harry, you forget. We are in different houses. I'm playing against you."

Harry's mouth opened and he mumbled a curse and went off to go talk to his Gryffindor buddies.

The whole Hufflepuff table congratulated me, and I smiled widely again.

I had a feeling Hogwarts was going to be a fun place.

I had an awesome day. In Algebra we did this super easy page. In PE I got hit in the head with a volleyball, but it was still fun. In RTI my stomach hurt, so I kinda just sat there and did nothing. In Study Hall I finished Sorcerer of the North which was awesome (I now have 873 AR points). In Literacy we took our nine weeks test, and then just did whatever for the rest of the period. In science we took a random knowledge quiz, which is worth bonus points, and I got 8 of them right (out of 25). In sixth our I took a nap because I don't like the teacher. In History we watched The Men Who Built America, but I took a nap then too. After school, me and Emblem had to wait for Kadee to finish practice, so we sat listening to music and comedy videos for the better of two hours. After that, we went to the park with Sam, Circle (Sam's boyfriend), and Brianna (Emblem's boyfriend). Then we had Dairy Queen with my grandpa (not the one with heart issues) and my mom. It was a good day :)

I may not be able to post on Friday, because my school is going to state. If I am unable to, I'll post double on Saturday. See you later, my dudes.