"UP!" on Quidditch Pitch

Coach Cooper

December 04, 2004 10:50 AM

Lesson 1: Introductions by Coach Cooper

It was a warm and sunny morning; not so sunny that you couldn't see while in flight, but just sunny enough. She inspected the field's ground and smiled upon realizing it was hard and dry. Perfect for kickoff.

She had arrived at the Quidditch Pitch earlier than her classes would arrive so that she would have time to practice herself.

"Hair back," she said, checking her brown curls were tied in a pony tail, "check. Goggles," she put her flying goggles on over smiling brown eyes, "check, flying gloves, check." Now that she had gone over her list, she was ready for flight.

Mounting her broom, she quickly kicked off the ground. She zoomed around the stadium, like a bird long held in captivity, that had finally been freed. She did double eight loops in the air, and went on to do some more advanced Quidditch moves.

"Sloth grip roll," she said to herself as hung upside down off the broom, gripping tightly with both hand and feet, then recovered. "Starfish and stick," she identified, and one hand and one foot curled around the handle, keeping all limbs outstretched. She had never been able to do this one for very long, and quickly sat back on her broom.

She then realized that the students were slowly coming in, and grinned. She knew just the move to finish off with. Pulling straight down into a dive, heading just a yard away from where the students stood, she did the Wronski Feint. She pulled out of the dive just in time, and then proceeded to land.

"Good day, class. I am Coach Cooper, your flying instructor. Welcome to the Quidditch Pitch."
\n\n

Subthreads:

Flying! by Elizabeth Lavine with Mia, Jen

Oh dear by Sally

Lesson 1: History by Coach Cooper with Sally Porter

0 Coach Cooper Lesson 1: Introductions 0 Coach Cooper 1 5

Elizabeth Lavine

December 04, 2004 11:10 AM

Flying! by Elizabeth Lavine

Elizabeth marched out to the quidditch pitch, examining the weather. It was nice, a beautiful day. With her trusty StarFire3000 in her right hand, she ached to just take off and ride around, but she maintained her composure and clapped as Coach Cooper landed from just coming out of a Wronksi Feint. Elizabeth itched to just mount and push off, to show the Coach that she was very secure with quidditch and flying in general. Again, she bit back her wants and paid attention to the Coach's lesson.

'C'mon, c'mon' she thought a little impatiently. Elizabeth knew that she was being insolant to not want to listen well, but this was flying! How hard could this be to everyone else? All you do is mount, kick off the ground, and your body'll figure out the rest! Sigh. \n\n

0 Elizabeth Lavine Flying! 53 Elizabeth Lavine 0 5

Mia

December 04, 2004 2:49 PM

Beautiful Day by Mia

Mia looked about the giant stadium. She saw, up in the air, a person whizzing about on a-

"Broomstick?" Mia questioned to herself "Wow, these witches and wizards think of everything."

Mia gasped as the person dove down and looked as if she would slam into the ground. She stared wide eyed as the rider pulled up before hitting the ground. Mia was completely awestruck as the person landed gracefully as anything.

'Flying on a broomstick huh? Well, I'll try anything once.' Mia thought. The rider made it look easy but Mia wasn't so sure she should judge by what she saw. Mia noticed Elizabeth holding her own broomstick already, looking very eager to start.

'Obviously she's done this already! Mia thought with a sigh. Mia waited for the teacher to start their lesson so she wouldn't be so far behind anymore. Was she the last to know everything?! \n\n

0 Mia Beautiful Day 0 Mia 0 5

Sally

December 04, 2004 3:36 PM

Oh dear by Sally

Sally looked nervously at the teacher, who had just done a horrifying move. Plunging straight into the ground...Sally shruddered thinking about it. Were they all going to have to do that today? Her fear of heights was legendary at the school she came from.

However, she was willing to listen to the teacher's instructions. Maybe they wouldn't make her fly after all.\n\n

0 Sally Oh dear 0 Sally 0 5

Coach Cooper

December 04, 2004 4:03 PM

Lesson 1: History by Coach Cooper

Coach Cooper smiled at her students, noting that some where more eager to fly than others.

"In this class, there is only one rule. Follow directions, or you might get hurt," she began, but then she realized she was probably scaring some of them off, "flying is one of the greatest things in the world, but it takes a lot of practice to get it right. I would know, I used to be a professional chaser, on the New York Skyscrapers. But if you practice, flying is something you can enjoy for all your life. This class will mostly focus on playing Quidditch, but we will also play other games, like Quodpot.

"I know many of you are just itching to get off the ground, but to fully appreciate Quidditch, I think we should get to know the history behind Quidditch. Flying was first just a way of getting to point A to point B, but as brooms improved, people began to fly for entertainment. For ten points, can anyone tell me the country where Quidditch originated from, and fifteen point if you get the exact place?"\n\n

0 Coach Cooper Lesson 1: History 0 Coach Cooper 0 5

Sally Porter

December 04, 2004 4:55 PM

Re: Lesson 1: History by Sally Porter

Sally might not like heights, but she had read the quidditch book several times.
"THe sport originated in Queerditch Marsh. I'm not sure of the country, though." she responded to the professor's questions.\n\n

0 Sally Porter Re: Lesson 1: History 0 Sally Porter 0 5

Coach Cooper

December 04, 2004 6:02 PM

Lesson 1: 15 Points to Aladren by Coach Cooper

Coach Cooper smiled down at the girl, "Queerditch Marsh was located in modern day England. Fifteen points to Aladren! Quidditch has evolved a lot since it was first played at Queerditch Marsh, but we'll save that for some other day.

"Today we will be mounting our brooms. First hold out your dominant hand over the broomstick, and command it by saying “Up!”. The result will be that the broom will come to your hand. Try doing it yourselves now,” she told her class.\n\n

0 Coach Cooper Lesson 1: 15 Points to Aladren 0 Coach Cooper 0 5

Elizabeth Lavine

December 04, 2004 11:50 PM

"UP!" by Elizabeth Lavine

Elizabeth grinned. She set her broom down gently, making sure that nothing happened to it. With a swift motion, her right hand flew out and she called out confidently:

"UP!"

Her broom, like it had done for years since Elizabeth knew how to fly, came soaring up into her outstretched hand. She smiled, getting very excited about being able to practice her very favorite part of being a witch. Flying was a plus, but her real forte was in Quidditch. When she was five or six, her parents bought her a brooom of her own, and from there on in, it was all that she did. Each moment of her day was either absorbed in friends who played quidditch or reading anything from "American Quidditch" magazines to "Quidditch Through the Ages".

'C'mon let's get off the ground and fly around abit!' she wished to cry out, but she only held onto her broom which seemed to vibrate in excitement. \n\n

0 Elizabeth Lavine "UP!" 53 Elizabeth Lavine 0 5

Layla Radovon

December 05, 2004 12:45 AM

A more negative response by Layla Radovon

Layla was unsure about Quidditch the sport and the Flying class as a whole. Var had always kept up tabs with the Quidditch world through newspapers and the occasional chat about who's-who in the sport world, but she herself had no knowledge or experience with the game. Honestly, she couldn't even names of the positions and the final object of Quidditch.

Feeling queesy about being surrounded by skilled players and many brooms, and even more nauseated by the daring move their coach pulled off, a rational voice in the back of Layla's head finally kicked in like tabasco souce and pointed out that she couldn't be the only one with no experience.

Stepping up to a broom, Layla briefly watched with fascination as the broom belonging to the girl next to her soared perfectly into her hands.

Shaking back her long, bright red hair, Layla looked down at the school broom and commanded fiercly, "Up!" The broom, as if lazily basking in the summer sun, lolled over groggily, and did nothing more.

"Up!" Layla demmanded, almost hissed, positively pitted into a steel will of at least getting the broom into the grip of her palm. What was the point of even trying to fly if she couldn't do as much as that?

"Up!!!!!" The mousy girl nearly shouted at the top of her lungs, fists clenched, only jump back in fright as her broom, as if jerking awake from a nap, flew up, nearly skinning her nose, and floated a couple inches above her grasp.

Jumping and pulling it down into her hand, Layla meekly looked at the anxious-looking girl next to her, smiling sheepishly.\n\n

0 Layla Radovon A more negative response 0 Layla Radovon 0 5

Mia

December 05, 2004 12:56 AM

Calling the broom by Mia

Mia was really starting to admire Elizabeth's talent with handling a broom. She seemed like she could just jump on it and do anything. In fact, that was probably a true assumption. Mia walked to a school broom and put her right hand over it.

"Up!" she commanded. The broom did a bit of a twist and fell still once more. Mia just shook her head at the broom. It was probably not listening cause she was a muggle born. It didn't think she had the power to force the broom up.

"UP!" Mia demanded more fierecely. The broom jumped up but only about half way up to Mia's arm. Mia's glare was so hard it could probably have broken the broom in two if she didn't command it up again when she did.

"UP!!" Mia shouted. The broom shot up so hard that it went right past Mia's hand and into the air. As the broom began to fall, Mia looked up and saw it headed straight for Elizabeth. She quickly grabbed the broom by the tail end and stopped horizontally over Elizabeth's head. Elizabeth could have looked up and the broom handle might have touched her nose. That's how close Mia was to giving her friend a concussion.

"Sorry, I'm still new to all of this." Mia apologized to her friend. Mia took her broom back and stood it vertically by pounding it into the ground, tail side up. She glared at it one last time then turned back to the teacher. She hoped she didn't cause too much of a disruption.\n\n

0 Mia Calling the broom 0 Mia 0 5

Tori

December 05, 2004 1:12 AM

Quidditch by Tori

Tori looked at the broom in front of her and couldn't believe it was all true. Broom sticks,flying everything! She had gotten a book about flying and quiditch when she got her school supplies so she was excited to finally fly. She spent hours gazing at the moving pictures of people playing and she couldn't wait to try. She thought beater was the coolest position and was curios to know when tryouts were for the house team. She held out her arm over the broom and said "up." It didn't even wobble. She tried again. This time it moved about an inch before falling to the ground again. Tori closed her eyes and imagined soaring through the clouds on a broom and then in the middle of a quidditch game pounding a bludger with a club. After all it was a good way to get rid of stress. She said "UP" more strongly and that combined with her thoughts brought the broom right into her hand. She opened her eyes in happy surprise and beamed at the wooden object in her hand.\n\n

0 Tori Quidditch 0 Tori 0 5

Stephen Baxter

December 05, 2004 1:47 AM

Dude, we get to fly? Sweet! by Stephen Baxter

If there was one thing that Stephen had in bucketloads, it was self-assurance. And with that self-assurance came the ability to just throw himself into doing anything, regardless of his skill level or chances of success. And that flying thing looked brilliant. Totally cool.

Grabbing the first broom he came across, Stephen was barely keeping his excitement at an acceptable level. Which is to say he was hopping from one foot to the other, and chanting 'Up, up and away' like it was the national anthem. The broom seemed like it was prepared to respond to his enthusiasm, wobbling on the ground and making tiny little jumps in time with his chant.

And then the magic words were said.

"Today we will be mounting our brooms. First hold out your dominant hand over the broomstick, and command it by saying 'Up!.' The result will be that the broom will come to your hand. Try doing it yourselves now."

Even before the last sentance was spoken, Stephen's hand had shot out to place itself outstretched over the giddy broom. Without missing a beat, he turned his chant into the command.

"Up!" And the broom went up. In fact it went - rather like his chant - up, up and away. "Hey!" Stephen called out after it, shading his nondescript brown eyes against the sun's glare as he stared up into the sky. "Get back here! I want to fly."\r\n\r\n

39 Stephen Baxter Dude, we get to fly? Sweet! 49 Stephen Baxter 0 5

Ash and Sorrel Craven

December 05, 2004 8:40 AM

Alternative broom sports by Ash and Sorrel Craven

To those who had never played Quidditch, Sorrel and Ash's appearances as they headed down to the pitch would have seemed decidedly odd. Then again, to someone who knew Quidditch well, the same could be said. Ditto for someone who hadn't played, but had read the manual. The fact was, that they were decidedly odd. Each was wearing a fencing mask, a hard breast plate, and huge cricket shin guards. In addition to their brooms, each carried a long, plain shaft. If it wasn't for the presence of this extra oddity, one could have been forgiven for thinking that they were simply anxious about getting hurt in a nasty rough game of Quidditch. Of course, the person would also have to have no prior knowledge of the twins - whose preferred activity was kicking and punching each other - to think that.

They laid their identical brooms on the ground, keeping firm holds on their other sticks. They simultaneously commanded 'UP' and proceeded to squabble over who had made their broom fly to their hand first. Eventually they gave up on this, and mounted up.

"Professor?" asked Sorrel, pulling off her fencing mask, so she could be heard more clearly, "Do we get to do any other alternative sports?" she asked.

"Like broom jousting?" asked Ash, also removing his mask. "You might not have heard of it... It may have been invented by medieval wizards, but given the quality of brooms at that time..."

"... it's more likely that we invented it when we were bored."

"Would you like to see a demonstration?" asked Ash eagerly, as he and Sorrel both pulled their fencing masks back over their faces and rose a short way off the ground, each clasping their long, jousting sticks and just waiting to be given permission to clobber their sibbling. \n\n

0 Ash and Sorrel Craven Alternative broom sports 0 Ash and Sorrel Craven 0 5

Coach Cooper

December 05, 2004 9:10 AM

Lesson 1: Shuntbumps by Coach Cooper

Coach Cooper folded her arms. She had a runaway broom on the loose and two brothers on the verge of ramming at each other on her hands.

"Accio Broom!" she pulled out her wand, and gave the boy back the broom, "Good, but try not to be so forceful next time." She smiled at the kid, and walked over to the next problem.

"Actually," she stated, walking between the twins' brooms, "We will get to be playing alternative sports. Quodpot, as I already mentioned, and safer versions of Aingingein, and Swivenhodge. But unfortunately for the two of you," she said this as she pulled both boys' brooms down, "I consider Shuntbumps to be a very childish sport. However," she added, because it was obvious that the two did have talent on brooms, "perhaps you would like to demonstrate to the class how to kickoff."\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Coach Cooper Lesson 1: Shuntbumps 0 Coach Cooper 0 5

Sorrel and Ash

December 05, 2004 9:21 AM

It's different! by Sorrel and Ash

Both twins refrained from pointing out the differences between Shuntbumps and their game. The Coach would probably not appreciate the subtle difference, it was very difficult for outsiders to perceive. Shuntbumps involved knocking as many people off as possible, broom jousting just involved rendering your sibling unconscious.

Disappointed, they both dropped their lances, and tore off the protective gear. They didn't want to be weighed down if they weren't going to be charging at each other with large sticks...

"Sure we can," said Ash.

"But you may all want to watch me, I'm better at it than him," boasted Sorrel, sticking her tongue out at her twin.

"Are NOT!" replied Ash, they were both crouched ready for take off and Ash jumped, unbending his legs so that they hit the ground, sending him soaring into the air.

"CHEATER!" screamed Sorrel, outraged. "Doesn't mean yours was best though!" she added, she leant closer to her broom than Ash had as she kicked, meaning she shot off faster. "Ha!" she declared.

"I got up first."

"But I was faster."

"Well, I'm higher than you are."

"Well, we'll soon see about that!" Sorrel retorted, angling her broom higher and preparing to out do her brother.

OOC - I know she protests at being called one, but just so you know, Sorrel is actually a girl. She and Ash are unidentical twins.
\n\n

0 Sorrel and Ash It's different! 0 Sorrel and Ash 0 5

Elizabeth

December 05, 2004 9:32 AM

The most exciting thing by Elizabeth

Elizabeth smiled at the girl next to her. She was a beginner at the flying scene, that was for sure. But she seemed really nice, well, from what she oculd tell, so Elizabeth grinned even more broadly and introduced herself.

"Hi, I'm Elizabeth Lavine."

Her brillant ice-blue eyes sparkled and danced merrily in the sunshine. Her long black hair was pulled up and away from her fair, yet tanned skin. She was still holding her vibrating broom, just as eager as it was to mount it. \n\n

0 Elizabeth The most exciting thing 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Anonymous

December 05, 2004 9:32 AM

Re: It's different! by Anonymous

OOC: I think the term is ferternal twins lol! Just so you know.

IC: Mia watched as the two students argued like an old married couple. Or maybe like two five year old siblings. Either way, she wasn't quite sure she wanted to be so close as the two competed to see who's best. Mia took her broom and backed away just a bit as the two students shot into the air.

"Are witches and wizards supposed to act like that in a competition on broomsticks?" Mia asked generally with an eyebrow raised at the quarreling students in the air.\n\n

0 Anonymous Re: It's different! 0 Anonymous 0 5

Elizabeth

December 05, 2004 9:44 AM

Re: It's different! by Elizabeth

Elizabeth laughed at the twins. It was funny, really, at least she thought so. She muttered quietly to Mia a laughing "no". She watched them quarrel for a bit, then grew tired of it. An idea came into her head as her hand simultaniously shot up into the air.

"Coach Cooper?" Elizabeth asked confidently, "Can we all start mounts and push offs?"

She knew that she was being antsy and that she needed to calm down a bit, but she was just so excited! Her family had been playing quidditch ever since her English, French, and Spanish ancestors sailed over to Lousisiana. They had taught their sons and daughters, and then their grandkids, and so on. There was something about streamlining through the air, cutting sharp turns and sailing about so high up that thrilled Elizabeth. She was so ready to fly again.\n\n

0 Elizabeth Re: It's different! 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Zack

December 05, 2004 10:12 AM

so does your broom by Zack

As Zack listened to the lady talk, he realized that this, not DADA, was Sonora's gym class. DADA was still self-defense, but this was seriously going to be like a sport thing.

He looked around as his classmates. Most all of them were bigger than him. Some, like that girl he'd talked to at the opening feast, were a lot bigger. He resigned himself to another year of getting picked last for teams.

This, however, did not stop him from picking one of the brooms and standing next to a guy who appeared rather antsy and kept excitely repeating 'up, up, and away'. Zack gave him an uncertain grin and put his broom down.

The gym teacher talked a while about 'Quidditch' and 'Quadpot' like everyone should have known what they were. He was glad she didn't mention basketball, though. He really didn't like basketball.

Then they were supposed to make their brooms jump up into their hands just by saying 'up'.

He looked over at 'up up and away' kid in time to see the broom do just exactly as it had been earlier instructed to do. "Hey! Get back here! I want to fly."

Zack grinned. "So does your broom," he pointed out because someone had to. Wondering if his was just as eager, he put his own hand over his, and said "Up!" He waited expectantly for a moment but it didn't so much as twitch. "I guess I found the lazy one."\n\n

1 Zack so does your broom 40 Zack 0 5

Layla

December 05, 2004 1:30 PM

Yes, I wouldn't argue with its thrill by Layla

Layla returned Elizabeth's wide grin, matching it with one of her own. It was a fascinating thing; never had she been surrounded with so many people around her same age.

Tucking a hazardously red strand of hair behind her ear, Layla locked her virid eyes with Elizabeth's pale blue ones. "Glad to know you. I'm Layla. Layla Radovon."

The broom, which she gripped tightly in two hands, squirmed and twisted violently, as if trying to escape her. She wanted, very near to flipping out of her mind, to shout and scream at the twig of a thing, demanding and pleading that it would just let her fly.

Glancing back at Elizabeth, with a broom calm and serene in her grasp, Layla tried to act casual about the broom-gone-wild in her own posession. "So, I take it you fly," It was a novice assumption to make about Elizabeth's skill, "What's it like? Quidditch and Flying, I mean?" Layla asked with the curious tilt of her head, the broom stopping its bucking for a moment as if to listen to Elizabeth's answer, too.\n\n

0 Layla Yes, I wouldn't argue with its thrill 0 Layla 0 5

Sally

December 05, 2004 1:40 PM

Re: Yes, I wouldn't argue with its thrill by Sally

Sally, having no idea what to do, desperately tried to call her broom into her hand. However, it was having a mind of its own. It was completely ignoring her.

Finally, she commanded it, "Up" and it worked. But not presisely like it was supposed to. It flew across the pitch, and hit another girl in the shoulder.

Sally jogged over, and saw that the girl was talking to Liz. Well, if Liz likes her, she can't be that bad, she thought, and she smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry about that. I hate heights, and I guess brooms must be like dogs, able to sense your fears. I'm Sally Porter." \n\n

0 Sally Re: Yes, I wouldn't argue with its thrill 0 Sally 0 5

Layla

December 05, 2004 1:58 PM

Animal instincts by Layla

Before Elizabeth could answer one of her questions that came out in a big rush, as once she was on a roll, Layla knew she could be quite the blabbermouth, something came at her from behind and struck her in the shoulder.

Too surprised to cry out, Layla turned wide-eyed and noticed the other broom hovering near her, and the girl jogging towards them.

"I'm sorry about that. I hate heights, and I guess brooms must be like dogs, able to sense your fears. I'm Sally Porter."

Layla laughed loudly at this, knowing all what Sally meant about brooms being like dogs, and then smiled, "It's okay. I'm Layla Radovon, and I think my broom has to sense something funny in me as well." Layla looked down at her broom, which was back to jerking and twitching spastically in her hands.

\n\n

0 Layla Animal instincts 0 Layla 0 5

Sally

December 05, 2004 2:15 PM

Perhaps... by Sally

Sally smiled back. SHe was so glad she found someone who agreed with her sentiments. "Maybe it's just that the brooms can sense sanity, and we're the only ones who possess it. Everyone else seems very eager to get on their brooms adn start flying. Me, well, the ground is a very nice thing."
\n\n

0 Sally Perhaps... 0 Sally 0 5

Elizabeth

December 05, 2004 2:51 PM

Re: Perhaps... by Elizabeth

She smiled at the both of them. 'Such interesting friend choices, Liz. At home you'd immediately buddy up with the extreme Quidditch girls and guys...' a little voice in the back of her head poked. 'oh shutup' another voice replied. Was it good to have voices fighting in your head? Oh well, she thought, coming back to the real world.

"Nice to meet you Layla, and Hey again Sal!" Elizabeth grinned at Layla and Sally's cause of meeting. "So," she said, trying to stir conversation, "Where are you guys from? What's your family like? I know Sally has a bunch of siblings, and thats it, so fill me in before we have to start flying around and stuff." \n\n

0 Elizabeth Re: Perhaps... 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Sally

December 05, 2004 3:23 PM

Re: Perhaps... by Sally

Sally grimaced. "Do you think we have to fly? I don't want to give anyone here any more taunting material on me than i have to, and fainting from having to fly on a broom probably wouldn't help my cause.

"Anyway, I'm from Texas. I went to this really preppy private school. I like to debate, and I like to sing. THat's about all that's interesting."
\n\n

0 Sally Re: Perhaps... 0 Sally 0 5

Elizabeth

December 05, 2004 3:45 PM

Cool by Elizabeth

She smiled. Texas, Louisiana (her homestate's) neighbor. That was cool, so was her intrest in singing. Elizabeth couldn't sing a note for her life. It was as if god just casually forgot to give her vocal cords that work for more that shouting on a Quidditch Pitch. Her eyes sparkled as she reassured her friend.

"Oh dont' say that, flying isnt that difficult. It's, well, if I might use the muggle expression, 'like riding a bike. Once you learn, you never forget'. I think it goes something like that. Anyways, I'm from New Orleans, I have two very annoying but completely loveable prankster older brothers, Brett and Javon. That's all of my family, and don't think for a second just because I'm the baby that I'm privaliged. Oh, no way. That's why I love quidditch so much is because I can usually give my brothers a good run for their money when I play with them."
\n\n

0 Elizabeth Cool 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Flora

December 05, 2004 5:40 PM

Re: It's different! by Flora

Flora laughed as the twins argued. She'd always wished for a brother or sister to bicker with, but it'd never happened due to the death of her mother. Sadly, she didn't have any chance of getting a stepmother, either. Her father wasn't exactly a catch, being a sturdy accountant.

She looked over with curiosity as a girl she didn't know asked the coach a question, and she could only nod in approval, glancing over at them with a smile. She could still recall some of the books she'd read about proper technique of pushing off, mounting, and dismounting, and Flora had always been proud of her knowledge of flying. "Coach Cooper," she started, trying to find the right words to say. "Have you ever done any professional flying? It'd be great to hear about... maybe as we're mounting you could give us a background?"

She'd always been interested in those sorts of things, and Flora knew that she must've sounded horrid. But honestly, she was intrigued, and it was great to hear about teachers outside of school. It was like... Like seeing a dog stand on its hind legs! This made Flora have to suppress a giggle in her thoughts as she fought messily with her loose ponytail.\n\n

0 Flora Re: It's different! 0 Flora 0 5

Coach Cooper

December 05, 2004 7:06 PM

Lesson 1:the past is a delicate thing by Coach Cooper

Coach Cooper watched her students, amused at their interactions with their brooms. She was happy to say that none were having as a hard a time as she did when she first learned to fly. But when that girl asked her a question (was her name Flora?) she bit her lip. Her professional background; she knew it would come up sooner or later, but she had preferred to assume later.

"All right then," she began uncomfortably, "While we fly I'll tell you a little about it. When I blow my whistle you will mount your brooms. No one is to go higher than three feet. You will follow my lead around the pitch for about five minutes, and then we'll come back down."\n\n

0 Coach Cooper Lesson 1:the past is a delicate thing 0 Coach Cooper 0 5

Layla

December 05, 2004 9:19 PM

Neighbors (Of sorts) by Layla

Layla beamed, bemused with herself, at Sally. Singing. Now singing was something she never could do very well. It wasn't that her voice was horrid, but she always meant to be kind to Var and her old friends to save it for the shower and under blasting radio music. She also had to laugh when Elizabeth mentioned giving her brothers their two-cents in quidditch. From the looks of it - and she didn't even know Brett and Javon - Layla bet Liz could cream just about anybody standing in the pitch at the moment.

"Ooh, this is kind of cool. We're all state neighbors, in a way." Layla said with a sly grin, looking back and forth between Liz and Sally.

"I'm from Las Cruces, in New Mexico. Well, not originally; originally, I'm from Chicago. See, my parents are both anthropologists, and they're working on a long-term project in Mexico, so I live with my Uncle, Var, in New Mexico," The redhead shrugged lightly, realizing she really didn't have any hobbies like Liz had quidditch and Sally had singing.

With her virid sparking with amusement, Layla added, "Var actually kind of sounds like your older brothers, Liz. He's too much of loveable trickster - even at 25 - to do any serious magic work. So he likes to do muggle jobs for fun, and makes a bloody lovely mess out of them."

The school broom in Layla's hand had stopped twitching violently, and now had moved to vibrating in an uncomfortable manner, such as that it felt as if her bones shook. At her last wits, Layla suddenly sighed and looked towards Elizabeth questionably, "Is there anything I can do about this broom, or am I destined to flying failure?" Perhaps she should get another broom, or perhaps she should just give in and take as an omen towards her future in the Quidditch world. Hopefully Sally was right about brooms sensing sanity, or whatever, or Layla would swear she was going insane.\n\n

0 Layla Neighbors (Of sorts) 0 Layla 0 5

Jenna H

December 05, 2004 9:51 PM

a broom that wouldn't listen by Jenna H

It seemed to be that Jenna was hopeless with Flying. Not that she particularly minded. She had a very bad fear of heights. And although she came from a magical family, she had never even been on a broom before.

"Up," she said quietly. Nothing happened.

"Up," she said louder. But still nothing happened. Jenna got very frusterated.

This reminded Jenna of whenever her mother was mad at her. She would get very loud, hold her head high and stand very straight. In a very superior voice she would say- "Up!"

Suprised, Jenna looked at her hand, which now held the school broom. She had done it. She had to think of her mother, but she had been able to get her broom.\n\n

0 Jenna H a broom that wouldn't listen 46 Jenna H 0 5

Elizabeth

December 05, 2004 10:30 PM

Flying by Elizabeth

She grinned. Her brothers were 21 and 16, and both wizards at the New Orleans Wizarding Council. She had been living in their parent's old house in New Orleans ever since forever, and when Brett, her eldest brother, became her and Javon's legal guardian, Brett got the house for all of them to live in through her parent's will. So technically it was all of their house, now, but she preferred to think of it as her parents.

"I guess we are sort of neighbors in a way," Elizabeth grinned, breaking from her semi-depressing reviere, "And you are NOT a failure! Trust me, the first time I got on a broom, it whizzed away, I fell off the back, and then the broom came back around and hit Javon in the chest!"

She laughed wholeheartedly as she remembered that. It was hilarious- everyone in her family was laughing, her included. Her mother and father even had to clutch each other in order to remain standing. There were always such fun times at her house, Elizabeth remembered. \n\n

0 Elizabeth Flying 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Sally

December 05, 2004 10:46 PM

Re: Flying by Sally

Sally laughed. "Now, if it hit your brother in your chest, was it an accident, or did you do it on purpose." Her face sobered, however.

"Do you think they can make us fly? I can't stand heights at all. One of my brothers accidentally dropped me out of a treehouse when I was like 6. I still can't even climb bleachers very high."\n\n

0 Sally Re: Flying 0 Sally 0 5

Flora

December 06, 2004 1:37 AM

SCHWEET! by Flora

Flora nearly jumped three feet herself! She had been excited to fly ever since the first day she'd heard about broomsticks. It was going to be fantastic! "Great!" She said enthusiastically, brushing her light brown hair out of her eyes. "Um... My broom... It sort of... Well..." She sighed, swallowing. "It sort of... broke." She didn't know what else to say. What was there to say?\n\n

0 Flora SCHWEET! 0 Flora 0 5

Stephen

December 06, 2004 2:53 AM

It'll be back... sometime by Stephen

Calling after the broom didn't seem to be working. Stephen was about to start plan 'B' (jumping up and down, waving and calling it back in an even louder voice) when the small boy beside him spoke up.

"Yeah," he said, his tone admiring despite the fact that the broom hadn't come back. If it could just do that while he was sitting on it... "Can you imagine what it'd be like to be on it? It'd be so cool - we could go way up there-' a huge gesture seemed to encompass the entire sky, '-and did you see how fast that thing went? We could be going that fast! Still, it'll be back." And there was no uncertainty about that. Stephen wanted to fly, so the broom would come back - it was as simple as that. It just might take a while.

Brining his attention back down from the tiny black speck in the sky that was his broom, Stephen quietened down as this other kid told his broom to go 'up', and then looked puzzled when it didn't do anything even remotely like his had. Squatting down, he poked at it a couple of times, trying to see if it would have an effect. Looking back at the the other boy, Stephen shrugged expressively.

"Maybe yours needs a kickstart," he suggested, thinking of his older brother.

\n\n

39 Stephen It'll be back... sometime 0 Stephen 0 5

Zack

December 06, 2004 12:34 PM

kickstart by Zack

A kickstart? Yeah, that make sense. "Right. Let's try it again with a kickstart." He held his hand out over his broom like the other kid had done, and then put a toe under the wooden shaft. "UP!" he cried, as he kicked it up using his foot.

The lighter front half jumped up in response to the urging of his toes, and for a second it hung there, bristles still in the dirt, the handle tilted up into the air. Then, slowly, lazily, the bristles lifted up off the ground and came even with its other end so that it was parallel with the ground.

Taking its sweet time, it rose a little higher and then a little higher still until Zack could close his hand around the wood. He looked over at the taller boy with wide eyes. "Didja see that? It came up." Then he grinned, "Guess it did just need a kickstart. Thanks!"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1 Zack kickstart 40 Zack 0 5

Stephen

December 06, 2004 2:08 PM

get back here already by Stephen

"Cool," Stephen grinned as the smaller boy got hands on the hovering broom. Only that reminded him of his own broom which was most definitely not here. It was still up there. Not that Stephen blamed it - it had to be the coolest up there - but he was really getting antsy about getting up there himself.

"Hey!" he shouted up at his broom, waving his hands as though that would get it's attention. "Get back down here!" There had to be a magic word... like how 'up' got it to go up in the first place. "Come," he tried unsuccessfully. "Drop," he attempted even louder, hoping that the broom could hear. "Down," he yelled, the effort hurting his throat.

It wasn't working. The broom just wasn't listening.

"HEEL," Stephen bellowed in a last all out effort. Like magic, the broom plummeted from the sky. Down, down, down if fell until - and rather impressively like the teacher's demonstration of that Feint thing - it pulled itself out of the free-fall at the last possible moment and moved to hover at Stephen's side.

"I'm calling you Fido," Stephen told the broom, hoping he could keep it.\n\n

39 Stephen get back here already 0 Stephen 0 5

Zack

December 06, 2004 2:35 PM

oh, are we supposed to name them? by Zack

Zack watched in bemused amazement (a week ago he would have been shocked, but he was getting innudated with enough magic, that he was only amazed now) as the other kid called his broom back like it was dog. He even named it Fido, a dog's name if ever Zack had heard one.

Assuming the other kid knew what he was doing with the broom better than Zack did (he'd gotten his to fly much faster, and he'd been the one to suggest the kickstart, after all), Zack looked down at his own broom and told it, "Well, I guess you can be Bones." He figured that was a more intimidating and appreciative name than his first inclination, which was to call it 'Lazy'.

Looking back over at his classmate, he figured introductions were probably in order since they now knew each other's broom's names. "And I'm Zack."\n\n

1 Zack oh, are we supposed to name them? 40 Zack 0 5

Jen

December 06, 2004 4:22 PM

watch out! by Jen

Jen hoped onto her broomstick and it started to lift from the ground. This was the first time riding a broom stick, for Jen. Excited, Jen started swirling and weaving back and forth on her broom stick when she saw classmate below her that were waving there hands and yelling at her. Jen knew something was wrong she so began to flying down to the ground, but as she was lowering she saw a faint figure in the distance flying at a rapid speed, toward her. The figure looks unsteady and uncontrolled. Before Jen knew it she was about to collide with the figure who looked like...MIA? \n\n

0 Jen watch out! 0 Jen 0 5

Elizabeth

December 06, 2004 7:00 PM

Oh nonsense by Elizabeth

"Of course you will learn how to fly! But first we're just doing kickoffs. It's simple, just swing your leg on over.." she did so, "and once your situated, then just push off!"

Elizabeth grinned as the wind softly rushed in her ears as she rose a comfortably low height of three feet. Her black hair shone in the sun, and her blue eyes practically laughed with excitement. This was where she truly felt like she belonged, flying in the air. Elizabeth looked at her friends, as if begging them to do the same as she did.

"C'mon," she said after a moment, "You can do it, I have faith in you both!"\n\n

0 Elizabeth Oh nonsense 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Sally

December 06, 2004 7:24 PM

Uh-Oh by Sally

It's alright, Sally thought to herself. You can do it. Just get on, and you can do fine.

Seeing Elizabeth soar like that, she was really jealous. But she knew that she would never be able to be so comfortable up there, no matter how hard she tried.

Sally did want to try, though, so she calming told her broom to "Up," which it did. Then she climbed on, and kicked up.

It was glorious for a moment, but then she kept remembering when she had fallen for that first time. What had happened, how she thought she was going to die. How she nearly did.

With a small gasp, she loosened her grip, still scared out of her wits, lost in memory. Then, when the wind blew up, she nearly flipped in the air, and crashed back into earth.

SHe heard her arm crack as she hit the ground, and looked at it, to see the entire arm already swelling up.

She looked up at Elizabeth and Layla, her voice choked. "I think it's broken. WIll one of ya'll come to the hospital wing to get it checked out with me? I don't know the way."\n\n

0 Sally Uh-Oh 0 Sally 0 5

Elizabeth

December 06, 2004 7:49 PM

AH! by Elizabeth

Elizabeth saw Sally sway and she knew that it wasn't going well. She dipped a bit to see if Sally could right herself, but it didn't happen. Upon hearing that crack, Elizabeth came down to the ground and dropped her broom, rushing over the few feet to where Sally lay. The breath caught in her chest and examined the arm. She was no medic, so she yelled for the nearest authority figure... Coach Cooper.

"COACH COOPER!" she shouted, trying with all her might to catch the instructor's attention, "COACH COOPER!"

"Houston, we have a problem..." she muttered to no one in general as she knelt down beside Sally, attempting to calm her down. \n\n

0 Elizabeth AH! 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Sally

December 06, 2004 8:08 PM

Re: AH! by Sally

Sally mumbled, "I'm fine, I just need to go see the medic. Will one of you come with me, please? I don't think Coach Cooper'll mind very much."\n\n

0 Sally Re: AH! 0 Sally 0 5

Elizabeth

December 06, 2004 8:18 PM

Sure... by Elizabeth

She took a quick worried glance over to the professor, then stood.

"One sec." she said, hurrying back to her broom.

She picked it up and rushed back to Sally, helping her up off the ground. Elizabeth takes a deep breath, seeing that Sally's arm was still swelling. She gulped, medicine was NOT in any way, shape, or form her place, and injuries freaked her out. It was ironic, really, since she played Quidditch so rough with her brothers.

"Ok then, let's go. I think it's... this way?" she said, heading back towards the direction of the school building. "C'mon then, we'd better get you there quickly, that doesn't look good at all." \n\n

0 Elizabeth Sure... 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Mia

December 06, 2004 9:10 PM

More trouble by Mia

Mia watched the whole turn of events from her own broom a little ways away. She sharply inhaled as she heard the crack of Sally's arm. Mia watched Elizabeth take Sally from the stadium. She was obviously taking her to the Hospital Wing. Mia didn't know whether to follow the girls but then she might seem like an annoying tag along, or if she should just stay and hope Sally got better soon.

In a split second desicion, Mia decided to follow. Sally had always been nice to her so maybe there was something she could do to help. Mia quickly dropped her broom and hurried after the other two girls.
\n\n

0 Mia More trouble 0 Mia 0 5

Coach Cooper

December 06, 2004 9:23 PM

Everyone on the Ground! by Coach Cooper

Coach Cooper was occupied with the rest of the class when it happened. When she realized someone had fallen she yelled out to the class, "Lean forward on your brooms! Everyone, on the ground now!"

Making sure that everyone was on the ground, she zoomed over to the girls leaving the class.

"What happened?" she asked worried, "What's wrong?"\n\n

0 Coach Cooper Everyone on the Ground! 0 Coach Cooper 0 5

Coach Cooper

December 06, 2004 9:27 PM

A Messenger by Coach Cooper

The girls hadn't heard her call, and she sighed. She could not leave her class unchecked. She would have to send a messenger to find out what had happened.

"Would someone like to follow those girls and find out what happened for me?" she asked.\n\n

0 Coach Cooper A Messenger 0 Coach Cooper 0 5

Jenna H

December 06, 2004 9:28 PM

I'll do it by Jenna H

When she heard that Coach C needed a messenger, Jenna was eager to volunteer. They were her friends, besides, she didn't like flying.

"I'll do it," she said quickly. The coach nodded and Jenna ran over.\n\n

0 Jenna H I'll do it 46 Jenna H 0 5

Sally

December 06, 2004 9:44 PM

Re: I'll do it by Sally

On the way to the Hospital Win, Jenna H. ran over to them, and asked what had happened.

Sally showed Jenna her arm, and said, "It cracked when it hit the ground, and I think it's broken. WIll you tell the professor we're sorry we left, but it was hard to get her attenion, and it's been swelling so fast we figured it would be better to go to the hospital wing as soon as possible?"\n\n

0 Sally Re: I'll do it 0 Sally 0 5

Layla

December 06, 2004 10:23 PM

Me too! by Layla

Layla was still stuck between squeemish of being off the ground, and antsy to get into the air, that she was still indecisively about to kick off, seeing how confident and happy Elizabeth looked afloat, when she watched Sally do a frightening sway in the air and drop to the ground. If the sight wasn't horrible enough, the crack afterwards was enough to make Layla go rigid and turn her face the color of milk.

Blood, hospitals, and anything that involved physical injury was the one thing that truly got right down in Layla and twisted her internal organs into a knot. Blinking, the small girl suddenly snapped back to reality and ran to her friend's side. Her arm definitely was turned in a funny angle, and it had made a loud snapping noise...

Elizabeth was already in action and escorting Sally away, Jenna following, and all Layla could do for quite some was stand as firmly as a shaking leaf, her new ivory palor constrasting greatly with the wild, fiery red of her head, watching her group of friends grow smaller and smaller, until they were a small speck.

Needles and white walls. Maybe that was what frightened her so much about Hospitals and blood and gore and all of that, but once she saw Sally, Liz, and Jenna disappear completely into the school, Layla snapped back, and decided that she had to go, too. It wasn't like she'd be able to fly after seeing that, anyway.

"Coach! Coach!" Layla called up to their flying instructor, though she bit her lip, her imagination conjuring up a frightful image of Sonora's infirmary for her. "I'm going too!" Not sure if the woman heard her, Layla ran towards the school.

Now, quidditch probably wasn't going to end up being her thing, but being small built and light weight, running was, and Layla was fast. Decisively, as she entered the school, she tagged the closest person for instructions to the Hospital Wing.\n\n

0 Layla Me too! 0 Layla 0 5

Stephen

December 07, 2004 12:41 AM

I don't see why not... by Stephen

"I'm Stephen," Stephen replied, holding Fido firmly to be sure that he - it had to be a boy - wouldn't try any more escape attempts. He patted the broom with his other hand and told it that it was a good boy for coming back. Positive reinforcement - it was supposed to work well with pets.

"Hey look!" he said, noticing that the teacher had been talking again and things were moving on, "we're allowed to fly now! Let's see what Fido and Bones can do!"

It took him a moment to work out how to get onto the broom, and then a moment more to work out how to get on and stay on, but then he was on. Pushing with his feet, Stephen left the ground.

"Oh yeah!" he yelled enthusiastically, pumping the air with one fist before hurriedly re-establishing his grip before he fell. "Come on Zack! This is the coolest, dude."
\n\n

39 Stephen I don't see why not... 0 Stephen 0 5

Zack

December 07, 2004 12:53 PM

Re: I don't see why not... by Zack

Taking his cues from Stephen since he had missed most of what the gym instructor was saying, Zack put one foot over the broom, held tight, and jumped upward. A second later, gravity returned his feet to the ground. Apparently, Bones needed further encouragement.

"C'mon, Bones, you don't want Fido to outshine you, do ya? C'mon, let's fly this time, okay? Ready? I'm jumpiiiiiing, now!" and he jumped again.

Again he went up, and again he started to fall back toward the grass. "C'mon, Bones, fly," he urged his boom, holding it tighter and tucking his legs under him so as to give it a few more seconds to start working before he touched down.

Just as he had begun to resign himself to dirty knees, Bones stopped descending and just hovered. "Ha! Look!" he grinned up at Stephen, who was rather significantly higher than he was. "I missed the ground, so I'm flying," he told the other boy, hoping but not really expecting him to catch the reference. Most of his references tended to go entirely over people's heads.

"C'mon, Bones, higher a bit," he urged the broom, and it slowly began rising in altitude.\n\n

1 Zack Re: I don't see why not... 40 Zack 0 5

Stephen

December 08, 2004 7:30 AM

Flying! We're really FLYING!!!! by Stephen

"That's great, Zack," Stephen said liking the sound of that. Missed the ground, so I'm flying... It would be a great line in a book. Stephen liked books - he liked books with lots of action and adventures and the magazines about motorcycles that Alan sometimes let him borrow.

Being here was like being in one of those adventure books. He never knew what was going to happen next.

Grinning wildly (he would have to tell Alan about Fido... maybe write a letter, although he was a little hazy on how to send it) Stephen leaned to the side, trying to get Fido to turn. Fido was having none of it, and Stephen found himself slipping, then flipping entirely upside down. Being Stephen he didn't see this as a setback.

"COOOOL!!!"

Stephen managed to convince Fido to move forward a little while he was swinging underneath like a lazy pendulum. His hair hung down, ruffling more than it had before, and his face started to go red as the blood rushed down, making his prominent freckles less noticeable.

After a moment his head started to hurt.

"Hey Zack," he asked after a couple of attempts to swing back up. "Can you give me a hand, dude?"
\n\n

39 Stephen Flying! We're really FLYING!!!! 0 Stephen 0 5

Zack

December 08, 2004 3:36 PM

Re: Flying! We're really FLYING!!!! by Zack

Zack had almost managed to coax Bones up to equal height with Stephen's broom when he realized that his companion's upside-down twitching was not the desired affect, but failed attempts to get back on top of the broom. "Oh, yeah, sure," he offered immediately and only after the words left his mouth did he realized he didn't have the first clue as to how to go about it.

"Okay, Bones, down, boy," he told his broom. Bones only continued to lazily drift upward. Zack gave a downward push to the handle, and instructed irritibly, "Down is the other way, Bones." The broom changed direction.

When he was at a height and distance where Stephen could easily grab hold of his shoulder, he pulled up on the handle (he had begun to suspect Bones was hard-of-hearing) and said clearly, "Stop." He changed directions and started going up again, though slowly enough that it would probably assist rather than hinder his efforts.

"Okay, Stephen, put your hand here," he guided Stephen's hand to his shoulder, used his own hand to grab Stephen's bicep, "I'll push up, you push down, that should twist you up."\n\n

1 Zack Re: Flying! We're really FLYING!!!! 40 Zack 0 5