Dani skipped over to Professor Vindictus, excited to be at her first flying lesson ever. She had wanted to learn how to fly forever but she was scared of heights. "Hello Professor." She said, smiling. The day had been a good one so far. "Is your friend feeling better?" She had wondered often about that crazy man ever since that day in the office.

Broccoli came down to pitch to see what flying class was all about. It had to be better then divinations and history of magic at least. He plopped himself down on the grass and gave the professor a quick salute.

"Salome Professor," he said stretching his legs out in front of him.

"Hello!" Vindictus greeted cheerfully. "It's fine weather for flying today, don't you think?" He laughed at Dani's remark. "He's fine - probably playing with Roma down by the Lake."

Dani smiled. "That's good. I've always wanted to learn how to fly." She looked up at the sky and thought about the wind whipping through her hair. "But I'm terrified of heights so I've never tried it." She blushed slightly and looked down embarrassed.

Broccoli squinted as he looked up into the sky. "Seems like it. Not too much wind." Should be easy steer in.

He looked over at the girl who had asked about the professor's friend. Hey, there weren't a lot of people around, it was as good a spot as any to ask the head of house a question. Nobody else had been helpful. Broccoli didn't hold high hopes that Professor Vindictus would be any more helpful, but he asked anyway. "Professor, any idea if we have Jimson weed growing anywhere on the grounds?"

"I don't think so," Vindictus replied in response to Aden's question. "I didn't realize you're terrified of heights, Dani. In fact, why don't both of you tell me exactly what you hope to learn today?"

Curses. Was he ever going to find some jimson weed? "What? Oh, well," He glanced at Dani wondering is she wanted to speak first. However she was busy staring at the ground. "To steer a broom without it going into a tail spin - oh and to um...balance on the broom."

Dani looked up. "I'm not sure what I want to learn Professor. I guess I'd like to learn how to fly. The birds make it look so fun." She looked at the brooms. "And I heard that the school brooms are not so ummm..." She let her sentence trail off. "I guess I just really wanted to see if I had the guts to fly, or at least try it."

Vindictus scribbled down what both of them said. "Well, why don't you come stand on the right side of a broom." He stepped out of the way.

Celandine eyed her head of house curiously for a moment before raising her hand, "Sir? I can fly... I just... don't very much. And I'm not so good at stopping so I usually just... jump off."

"That's perfectly fine, Cela. Go stand on the right side of a broom," Vindictus said and added her name to his list of attendees.

Dani timidly walked over to the right side of a broom as the professor had said. She looked down at it and whispered, "You been nice to me and I'll be nice to you." She could do this. At least she was telling herself she could. She suddenly wished that Nate was there to encourage her. No, she could do this on her own.

"Okay." Celandine agreed, cheerfully. She took a broom from the rack and placed it on the ground, stepping over it and standing on the right side of it. Hmmm the clouds were pretty today.

William gulped nervously as he sat down, hoping the professor wouldn't be telling them to fly around anything dangerous or too high up. After last term he didn't mind flying too much even though the height thing still terrified him senseless even though he tried not to show it. Taking a deep breath he put his hand in the air a bit hesitantly and said, "Sir, um I'm scared of heights but not as much as last term. I'm too scared of falling off and hurting myself." he said shyly, still not comfortable talking with his Head of house.

Broccoli climbed up from the grass and dusted himself off shedding pieces of grass and dirt all over. "Which broom? Oh right there..." He walked over to the right of the broom and stood there with his hands on his lips. The action pushed back his robes to reveal a small leather pouch hanging from around his neck.

Vindictus watched as the students selected the brooms and stood by them. And he could feel the tension in the air. "I want everyone to take three deep breaths. Nice and slow. In and out. Just breathe. Today we're going to learn the basics of flying - nothing crazy or fast or too high." He sounded like he was comforting a five-year old child as he spoke. "I've already placed numerous protective charms on the grass as well as a height restricting charm. Your safety is my first priority. Now, I would like each of you to place your right hand over your broom and in a firm voice say 'Up!' "

It was obvious with that statement that Celandine was disappointed. The thing was her first flying lessons had been with Wystan and therefore she hadn't really been taught the basics all that well. By the next term it was like she was running before walking. Still, this part she could manage.

"Up!" She told the broom firmly, catching it neatly as it practically jumped into her hand.

Dani looked at the professor, unsure whether or not she could do it. This was it, the moment of truth. She held her hand out over her chosen broom and said in as firm a voice as she could manage, "Up!" Her voice wavered slightly and the broom stayed where it was on the ground. "Professor, it didn't work." She frowned slightly at her broom.

William actually let out a breath of relief. Good they wouldn't be doing anything dangerous today, that was good. Less chances of him making a fool of himself. Quickly walking up to stand on the right side of a broom he took three calming cooling breaths. His chest rose and fell gently, and he felt calmer as the third breath left his lungs. Okay you can do this will he thought holding out his right hand and saying "up!" in a clear voice.

Thankfully the broom jumped into his hand. So far so good.

UP? that's all it took? Broccoli gave the professor an odd look. Right, like that's going to work.

Never-the-less, he cleared his throat, took three large deep breaths and then put his hand over the broom handle. "Up!"

THWATCK!

Broccoli saw stars. The broom had him him squarely upside the right side of his head. He shook his head. "Ouch..."

"Try it again, Dani, but in a firm voice," Vindictus said in a fatherly voice. "I know you can do it."

Ouch! That must've hurt. "Are you okay, Aden?"

Dani looked down at her broom again. "Up!" She said again, a little stronger than the last time, attempting to fake confidence. The broom flew up into her hand. With a surprised "Oof." She dropped it back to the ground. "Oops." She wasn't very good at this so far.

Raising her hand over the broom once more she said, "UP!" She felt more confident this time, having already done it once. It popped up into her hand. She smiled. "I did it!!" She wiggled in a little happy dance with a big grin on her face.

"Huh?" He was busy rubbing his ear. Did hear someone say "Eaten?" He blinked and shook his head again. "Who!" He called out loudly. His ear was ringing. "I haven't eaten anything since lunch!"

Vindictus looked at Aden and laughed. "Let me know if you're still having trouble hearing me at the end of class, Aden," he grinned and clapped his hands together. "Next step is to mount your broom - none of this riding sideways on a broom like a buffoon. Place both hands on the broomstick - not too tight, but a nice firm grip. Keep both feet planted firmly on the ground."