Mount the broom. This shouldn't be too hard. Gwen had ridden horses before. Surely riding a horse was not that different from riding a broom? Except for the airborne factor. And the inanimate vs animate argument....Gwen placed both hands on the handle of the broom, holding it as if she were holding a lever on the alpine slide. One in front of the other, touching each other.

The broom was at waist height, so Gwen was tempted to hop in order to swing one leg over, but she remembered the professors admonishment to keep both feet on the ground. "Could you get just a smidge lower?" she thought, looking at the broom as if to direct the question to it. To her surprise and delight the broom complied, moving it's hovering self down low enough for Gwen to swing her left leg over the broom and plant both feet on the ground. She was ready to fly. They were going to be allowed to fly today, right?