Amelia bit her lip, slightly pleased with the loss of points from the snakes, but didn't dare make a sound. She could feel the eyes of Wystan narrowing in her as she spoke about flying safely. Ugh! After over six years of flying, I'm pretty sure I'm safe when doing so... Still not making a sound though, she obeyed what she was told. No complaining.

"Up," she said calmly, as she placed one hand over her broomstick. The broomstick instantly flew up to her hand.

Juniper blinked. Okay... so Professor Wystan was obviously not keen on being nice. Mental note: steer clear of her. But Juniper had quickly decided to obey, and she put her hand over the broomstick at her feet.

"Up!"

Juniper licked her lips as the broom leaped into her hand. She had mastered getting a broom from the ground last term. In fact, she had mastered flying in general last term. But apparently Wystan wanted to teach them differently, so... well, she would try.

For all things holy! Why can't they just come to class and shut their mouths for a few minutes! What so was hard about that! She turned her brown eyes onto the Slytherin that was running her mouth. She glared at her as she put her broom down and to stand next the crappy Ministry broom. "Up." she said lazily and the broom rose up to meet her outstretched hand.

Gwen let out a small woosh of air as Wystan confirmed her evilness, wasting no time in docking points, insulting their flying abilities, and giving poor Mia the evil eye.

She placed her hand over the broom and firmly said, "Up!" The broom wooshed obediently into her hand and she held it here, waiting for the next unfair scolding instruction.

Like none of us have ever been on a broom before. Merlin's pants.

Madam Wystan had already hand-picked the broom she would use. It was perfect and the handle reflected the sunlight due to the high gloss of the polish. This must be that half-wit's broom, she thought and marched over to the Hufflepuff Captain. She practically shoved it in Amelia's face. "Tell me, is this Professor Vindictus's broomstick?"

*Sheeta was excited to just be there in front of a broom. Only second to her want to learn potions was her curiosity and excitement about flying... especially since Sheeta had heard a rumor about the girls not getting to fly because the Ministry was being pig headed about girls being lady - like and careful and... Sheeta stopped herself and focused at the task at hand.*

"Up!" Sheeta said firmly as she could.

*The broom sat there on the ground.*

"UP!" Sheeta announced to the broom and looked at it as if she would break it.

*The mental image of a broken broom seemed to do the trick as the broom lifted up into her hand. Smiling, Sheeta looked up to the professor and waited for her next instructions.*

Steelsheen couldnt help but frown Women cant control broomsticks? So what was she a monkey's uncle? she thought as she stared at the 'Ministry Approved' broomstick. Part angry, partly wanting to prove that a woman is as good as any man she uttered the word with all conviction in her voice " Up!" and the broom swiftly flew into her outstretched palm

Whoa. The new professor was...intense. Was there really a better word to describe her? She wasn't someone anyone wanted to be caught in a compromising position with, that much was obvious.

Raising a hand out in the air beside her, Shayna murmured quietly, 'Up.' It was a nearly a miracle the broomstick flew up into her hand. Surely it should've been able to 'sense' her uncertainty. Breathing out in relief, Shayna continued to stare down at the grass, hardly daring to meet anyone's, let alone Wystan's eyes. As if she hadn't flown before. She'd been stealing rides on a broomstick ever since she'd been a tot. Gah, and one evil dominating woman had managed to reduce her to a twitching mess.

Tommy's looked up in surprise when Professor Wystan shoved a broom in Mia's face. That was crossing the line! Not that she was going to go to the aid of a badger. Especially the badger who's head Cassandra wants mounted on the Slytheirn wall. What was her problem with Mia anyways she seems to have daggers for her.

Five points? Evangeline winced when Slytherin lost 5 points and suddenly realised that she really shouldn't be there. Oh Merlin. How bad could it be? Just breathe. At least forgetting everything she had learnt so far would be easy - considering she didn't know everything.

Following the Professor instructions, she placed her open hand above her broomstick and took a deep breath. "Up!" She said, as firmly as she could manage considering she wanted to run away. Nothing happened. Oh no. "Up!" Nothing again.

Oh this was not happening.

"Up!" She repeated for the third time, a bit firmer, and thankfully the broomstick leaped into her hand. Rather unstably though. EEP.

Ari couldn't help but scowl slightly as she looked down at her Ministry approved broomstick and uttered the single word, "Up." in a slightly sarcastic tone. Oh, why couldn't they fly something else? She did NOT like flying on something so .... wooden. Sighing in defeat she turned her head and groaned as Wystan went up to Mia and started in on her.

Stay calm Ari she thought as she felt sudden anger and annoyance from the others. Really now was it so hard to not show or feel emotions during class? Honestly!

With her broomstick in her hand, Kayla jumped slightly when the Instructor marched over to Amelia and got in her face. Thank merlin it's not me she thought.

Amelia was clutching the ministry-approved broomstick with her right hand when suddenly she found another broomstick shoved into her face. Gulping she backed her head up just a small amount to give her a better angle to inspect the perfectly polished handle. Blinking a few times in strange curiosity, she nodded slightly. "Yes Professor, I do believe it is." She replied, simply enough.

Without second thoughts, the brunette girl placed her right hand over the broomstick.
Yup, she could do that.
And she could do it pretty well.
"Up." she said calm but firmly.In less than a second the broomstick flew up to her hand and she grinned.
Great.

The she moved her eyes to Mia and then to Professor Wystan. She raised both eyebrows.Oh gez.

*Sheeta watched as the teacher was being pretty intense with another student. It was another Hufflepuff who was much older than Sheeta; the older girl seemed somewhat perturbed by the sudden broom thrust into her face and Sheeta puffed her cheeks a little in anger at her fellow housemate being scolded or whatever it was.*

Gwen kept her face impassive.

Holy monkey! That wench nicked Vindictus' broom?!??!

Allie put her hand over the brromstick and said"Up."
she smiled, when it flew up into her hand.

"Good girl," Wystan said with obvious satisfaction and she did the unthinkable. "Five points to Hufflepuff despite the fact that you are wearing those robes trimmed in hideous yellow."

"All of you are going to learn how to ride a broom sideways since you are wearing your skirts. Place your right hand towards the end of the broom handle and the left just below it - about eight inches apart. Then sit sideways on the broom with your right leg partially bent and resting on the broomstick. The left leg will mimic the right but will dangle slightly."

Her violet eyes scanned the class and she sighed loudly. "Watch me," she commanded and she did exactly what she told them to do. At first, she had difficulty because the glossy polish of the broom was causing her to slide about.

In fact, all of the brooms had the same glossy sheen to it.

Anna winced as five points were removed, nevermind which house. This was the ministry professor she was scared of the most. Nevertheless, she did as the professor instructed and placed her hand over her "Ministry-approved broomstick," enchanting "Up!" just as the professor had done.

When she was finished, she looked to the professor for further instructions, only to see that Professor Wystan was currently interesting in the ownership of the broom she was using.

A few minutes later, Mia, the Hufflepuff Quidditch captain, was awarded five points for her answer. Wow. At least someone was gaining points now and not losing them.

Anna watched with intent eyes as Professor Wystan then demonstrated how to sit sideways on the broom, which had a really glossy finish to it. Anna hoped she (or anyone in class for that matter) didn't fall off.

Amelia nearly died when she heard what the professor had said next to her. In such joy and shock, the seventh year barely even heard the second part about the 'hideous yellow trim'.

Nodding delightfully, she watched Wystan educate them about flying sideways. Actually, perhaps this would be useful since she always did want to learn new positions for broom riding. Watching the psychotic professor carefully, she mimicked her exact hand placement and was thankfully she didn't wear any lotion today. That made gripping the glossy handle somewhat easier...

Sam looked around and shook her head lightly. "Man these people think we can even ride brooms! How sexist." the gryffindor thought. She stepped next to her broom and put her hand out, palm down. She then said, almost lazily, "Up." The broom jumped up into her hand and vibrated slightly.

She then looked over as the professor walked over and shoved a broom in front of Mia. Harsh. That was all that came to mind when she looked at the woman who was going to teach them to fly. Even though she already knew how. She then did the next step, which was ride it sideways. "This is riddculous." the fourteen year old thought as she gently lifted the broom upward.

Gwen's eyes widened behind her glasses. Galloping gargoyles. How bad can this woman get?? At this point she'd gladly take a class with that ninny Breitbarth.

Although, learning to ride sideways might not be so bad. Good for dates.

Getting a firm grip on her broom, she placed her hands eight inches apart on the handle and sat on the broom. Her bum slid slightly as she sat; she straightened her back and glued her right leg to the broom as she righted herself.

What did this woman polish these brooms with, her bogies?

Hermy carefully watched the professor's demonstration, refraining from rolling her eyes at the fact they had to sit sideways in case it lost precious house points. She even managed to not show a movement on a face when the professor appeared to have a problem with the slippery sheen on the broom. All she was really hoping was that if she did make it on the team this year, that she wouldn't have to try and hit bludgers sitting sideways.

Ah, now for Hermy's turn. Except there were two problems. The first being that Hermy was left handed. Well, left sided. So the concept of sitting with her right side forward was just confusing. She stood there a few minutes twisting her hands round on the handle trying to work it out.

She was sure she had it wrong (well, it felt wrong, but whether that was her lefthandedness, the sideways sitting or the fact she actually had it wrong, Hermy couldn't tell) but try to sit anyway. Here came problem number two. It wasn't just the Professor's broom that was shiny, hers appeared to be too. Great, here's where I end up on the floor. Hermy gradually put her weight on the broom, and lowered the broom height so her feet just about touched the floor. Just in case. She really didn't feel like making herself look a complete idiot in front of this professor.

*Sheeta suddenly realized who it was that the teacher was scolding and yet had just awarded points to... "Score!" Sheeta celebrated silently. Sheeta briefly remembered seeing the older Hufflepuff in the common room on the first night they arrived her at Belle's school.*

"Quit standing there and get on the broom," she yelled at the class and more pointedly at the Gryffindor girl. Something doesn't feel right. Wystan could feel herself sliding on the handle of the broom and gripped it tighter with her hands. This was irritating her more than slow students.