Aside from classes, nobody saw the elusive Harry Potter. Even then, Harry didn't say anything to anyone. Even when called by the teachers, Harry gave them a simple ‘I don't know’ before going back to whatever he's been doing. Even during meals he hadn't been seen.

Soon the second week was almost done and their first flight lesson was near. Hermione and Neville both looked pale on their way to the quidditch pitch.

“Relax, I doubt we will even do anything today” clapping Neville on the shoulder.

Both of them jumped at Harry's sudden interruption.

“Harry! Where have you been?”

“Around…”

Neville seemed to catch onto Harry's deflecting of Hermione and jumped in. “I've never been good with brooms… or heights really. I don't know why this class is really necessary, everyone just uses the floo anyway.” paling at his own reminder of what they were about to do.

“Relax. There are too many people who haven't used a broom, they won't make us do anything that a newbie couldn't do.”

Hermione looked hopeful. “Have you been on a broom Harry? Any tips? I don't like the idea of being in the air like that.”

“Nope. Where would I have had the chance? We're in the same boat, Hermione.”

By then they'd made it to the pitch.

It looked like all the first year Gryffindor students were already there and ready to go, while the Slytherin group was nowhere to be found.

“I'm telling ya! I flew circles around that thing! If the cannons were there I'd already be on their team. Not here waiting for some beginner class.”

“Gross”

“Yeah. At least you don't have to hear him in the boys dorm”

“The snoring?”

“Yeah”

“That's probably the best thing about not being there anymore”

“What?”

“Harry hasn't been sleeping in the boys dorm since last weekend”

“Harry!”

“Hermione. Not now.”

“But”

She was silenced by ‘the look’.

They waited awkward silence, the group of Slytherins arrived and now Malfoy and Ron were competing in ‘most ridiculous stories.’ Luckily the teacher soon arrived, a large bundle in tow.

“Great! You're all here.” she hadn't actually checked though

“We can get straight to it then!” she unraveled the bundle, unveiling a pile of old brooms. Even Muggleborn could tell that these were ancient.

The teacher waved her wand, all of the brooms took off, spreading across the grass. “What are you waiting for? Find a broom then.”

Once she made sure all of the students were lined up with a broom, the teacher ‘demonstrated’ how to call your broom.

Harry tried just calling his broom like she did. Nothing happened. His second attempt he used a sliver of magic, surprisingly this too resulted in nothing.

A little fed up, he ordered the broom to his hand with his ‘up’ this time and it worked.

Dropping the broom and trying again without the annoyance, he just imagined the broom rising into his hand calmly which also worked.

Glancing at his acquaintances' failed attempts, he shared his findings. “Imagine it coming to your hand, don't just say the word. You have to want it to land in your hand.”

Hermione got it right away but Neville was still struggling.

“I dunno harry. Brooms and I have never agreed.” you could see the unwillingness in his face.

“*haha* look at the poor squib! Cant even get his broom to move.”

“Budge off Malfoy, nobody asked you.”

“What are you gonna do about it Potter?”

Harry stayed quiet, noticing someone approaching from behind Malfoy.

“Aww poor Potter can't come up with a comeback? Too bad your parents weren't around to teach you any good ones.”

“Twenty points from Slytherin mister Malfoy, for insulting a fellow classmate.”

Hooch ‘helped’ Neville and started the next part of her lesson now that everyone had their brooms.

“Now everyone mount their brooms but keep your feet on the ground.”

“Now on the count of three, everyone LIGHTLY push off the ground.”

“One. Two. Three!”

Everyone hovered about a foot off the ground, there were a few that had to float down after too big of a push off.

“Now we can start with a slow lap around the grass, you can go with what you're comfortable with.”

Harry and the other two stayed in a group, Hermione and Harry were fine so far but Neville's movement was a little… off. He would speed up and slow down at random. Harry was just glad he didn't go any higher…

A few experienced students had already finished their laps before Harry's group made it a third of the way. Hooch gave the others free reign as long as they did not go higher than a few feet.

While Harry was trying to decide what he wanted to do, Neville suddenly took off. Before anyone noticed, the poor boy was already 60 feet into the air and zig zagging dangerously.

“Mister Longbottom! Get down from there!”

“Neville!”

“Haha!”

Neville's broom then lurched downwards. The boy's grip couldn't keep up and he slid off, madam hooch (the adult in charge) did nothing so Harry took action himself.

Out of sight of everyone, Harry cast a cushioning charm on Neville's landing place and an Arresto Momentum at Neville himself right before he hit the ground.

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They all heard a sickening crack and a yelp of pain.

Hooch and most of the class all surrounded Neville, the teacher checked him and decided to take him to the infirmary.

“Ok! No funny business while I'm away! I don't want to see a single broom off the ground until I'm back, got it?!”

The class gave her a halfhearted agreement before she was convinced, all the while delaying Neville's misery.

Hermione looked like she wanted to talk with Harry but was interrupted by a particularly annoying pest.

“Look! It’s that stupid thing Longbottom’s gran sent him."

Hermione, already annoyed at being interrupted and in a poor mood, looked like she was about to burst. Harry managed to hold her back before she could somehow insult the young heir.

“Nice find, do you mind if I hold on to it heir Malfoy? I'll be sure to tell Neville you found it for him. I'm certain he would be worried sick if it went missing.”

Harry almost felt bad at how the look on Malfoy's face fell, but he really didn't like the idea of Malfoy having an item that was important to his friend. He didn't miss that malicious glint in his eye either.

“Of course. Send my regards.”

It looked like it physically hurt Draco to say nice things but Harry's acting like Draco was doing heir Longbottom a favor, practically demanded formality and kindness.

However, as Harry was about to receive the Remembrall from Draco.

“I'll take that!” For some reason, the Weasley managed to snatch it from Draco's hands.

‘What a nuisance’

“Give it here Weasley.”

“Why would you hold onto it? You probably had a deal with the slimy snakes! One of them would steal it and you'd walk up and save the day? Real convenient that Neville is the heir of his house and you're trying to save the day.”

“Sure Ron. Just let me have it, I really don't want anything to happen to Neville's stuff.”

"I think I’ll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find... how about... up a tree?"

“Last warning Weasley.”

“Come and get it Potter!”

With that, the Weasley brat took off on his broom. Both Harry and Draco hot on his heels.

Neither of the pursuers really had any idea what to do once they caught up to him however. Neither were confident enough to snatch the ball away from Weasley while flying so high.

Harry was still thinking what to do when the idiot Malfoy tried shoving Weasley off his broom.

Nearing the castle and now fearing for his life, Weasley hurled the Remembrall towards the wall of the castle hoping it would get his pursuers off his back.

Draco kept chasing Ron however.

Harry quickly noticed the glass ball hurtling towards the stone walls of the castle and attempted to stop it before colliding.

10m,7m,5,3,1 only 3 feet from the wall, Harry managed to save the ball, still falling down the wall he also missed the ground by a hair's breadth, just barely pulling up in time.

Slowly flying back to the quidditch pitch, only now did he notice the fighting between Slytherin and most of Gryffindor.

He landed next to Hermione who was on the side of the fight.

“What's going on?”

“Weasley said Draco tried to kill him and smash the Remembrall. Then they argued. Then the houses got involved... Now this. What happened to you?”

She seems awfully calm about this.

Harry showed her the Remembrall. “It was close though.” the duo could see madam hooch angry speed walking her way over.

And ... she continued walking?

Right to the two of them...

“What is the meaning of this mister Potter?!”

Eh?

“I don't know professor, they jus-”

“Not them! I saw you flying on a broom just now! 20 points from Gryffindor. “

She then approached the melee, dragging Malfoy and Ron both out and giving them punishments as well.

“What just happened?”

Hemione had no words for what happened either.

The melee continued, only stopping once the class ended.

----------------------------------------

“What was that for Potter?”

I could ask you the same red glutton, I don't think we've had issues before.

“I believe you were the one trying to take my friend's stuff.”

“I wasn't trying to take it. I just -”

“You just wanted to be the center of attention, and badmouth others.” Harry's eyes briefly hazed as if recalling something unpleasant. “At least Draco is upfront with his bigotry, aside from that I think you two are rather similar.”

Harry made to walk away but his arm was grabbed. “Potter, im-”

“Mister Potter, would you follow me please?”

Great, what does the stern lady want? I was better off staying with Weasley.

“Of course professor McGonagall.” Harry followed without so much as a glance at Ron.

The walk was silent, leading to Harry wondering what all of this was about. Ragnok said the headmaster would probably make his move, was this it? Did McGonagall catch him doing something? A detention would be a pain, he still had things to do.

He was brought out of his thoughts when the professor opened the door to the DaDa classroom.

Why are we here?

“Excuse me Professor Quirrell. Could I borrow Wood for a moment, please?” even her quiet request managed to startle the man, who jumped in fright. After a second to catch his breath, he just meekly nodded, allowing Wood (who was already standing up and walking to the door) to leave.

“What's this all about professor?” McGonagall gave the boy a glare. “I-I mean, I'm glad for the interruption, I'm just a bit curious s’ all”

Nodding “Potter, this is Oliver Wood, the captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team. Wood, I just found you a new seeker!” even her stern face crumbled, leaving a small satisfied smile.

No.

Wood looked at Harry dubiously. “Him?”

“Of course! You should've seen it Wood, Mister Potter here managed a perfect Grogorn halt and a Praxis parallel fall. Harry, have you ever been on a broom before?” at the shake of his head, she continued. “See! Now imagine what he can do once he's been trained! We need something to beat those Slytherins and take home the house cup. Wood, I think this is it.”

She sure worked herself up there... but...

“I don't want to play quidditch, professor. Is this why you called me over here?”

You didn't even ask my opinion. So much time wasted.

“Wha?”

“You don't like quidditch?!” Of course the quidditch captain would be so weird about his sport.

“No.”

That had them both pause. Was it really so rare to not like the game? Its rules are nonsensical and Harry really didn't want to be in the spotlight. Even HE knew that first years weren't allowed tryouts for the house team.

“Potter, you're a Gryffindor!" McGonagall just had to open her mouth again.

"And? It's not like I'm obligated to take part in a sport I have no interest in, I even dislike the rules. What team game makes one player capable of winning the entire thing alone?"

“Well... that's true.”

“Besides, I don't have a broom.”

Wood already seemed to understand, even if he didn't like how someone didn't love the sport as much as he did. McGonagall however just looked insulted, her patented glare soon taking over.

“Potter, you will be joining the quidditch team immediately! And you will learn how to use a broom today! I will not tolerate any more nonsense!”

“But..."

"No! Your father would be mortified! I can't believe a potter would dislike quidditch. "

“Potter! I am not asking you to join the team, I'm telling you to do so!”

I don't want to do it!

“Do you hear me Potter?”

Yes, I heard you, but I'm not doing it.

“Then I will have you expelled!”

"Really? You're positive this is the route we're going to go? Headmaster Dumbledore and the board of directors will agree with this?"

McGonagall stared at him for a few seconds, and then sighed.

“Fine.”

It sounded like she didn't want this to be over, but that was all the excuse he needed to leave. Not long into his lackluster academic journey and he was already being bullied into joining a team that he didn't want to join and would likely eat up all of his spare time? For what? A meaningless house cup nobody but the teachers would even be able to touch?

Even his muggle education was far better than this.

----------------------------------------

During dinner, somehow Ron challenged the ‘slimy snake’ Draco, who obviously accepted. Then for some incomprehensible reason the git thought Harry would be his second and help him out? Does he have brain issues? He went from antagonizing Harry to buddying up and asking for help? Just like that?

“No.”

“But harry! Please!?”

“Why would I help you? You literally JUST stole Neville's Remembrall, made me almost crash into the side of the castle to get it back, then probably would have done something even more stupid afterward if professor McGonagall didn't interrupt you. How in your mind you can make it seem like I ought to help you is a miracle.”

The surrounding Gryffindor's seemed upset that Harry wasn’t helping out a fellow Gryffindor, but grudgingly accepted Harry's reasoning. Even then, Ron was about to open his mouth and spew whatever bs that his mind could come up with.. Before the twins rushed up and dragged the git away.

This is already turning out to be a chore.