Violet heard Elektra's comment and then looked at her whispering,"Elektra, no, stop, this isn't helping anyone.." She then heard the instructions and put her hand over her broom. Violet looked down at the broom and said,"Up!" The broom didn't move at first. She took a deep breath and exhaled calming herself, trying to get the professor's rant out of her head. Violet looked down at her broom again and then said more firmly,"Up!" The broom immediately lifted up and she gripped her hand onto it tightly. Violet then smiled a little feeling proud of herself. Just because the Professor didn't like her, doesn't mean that she had to doubt herself at all.

Luin looked down at the broom still not completely confident. She opened her hand and put if over the room, "U..up!?" she kind of stammered and the broom just rolled over and stayed down on the ground. She frowned, knowing she needed to be a bit more confident about this. She held out her hand again and then said, "Up!" this time in a much firmer voice. Her broom quickly rose up and hit her palm and she grabbed it tightly as it did so she would not have to command it again and probably take another few tries. She looked around her at the other students and then at the teacher, fine with holding the broom for now.

Adam put his broomstick off to the side and said "UP!"In a very demanding voice.Just like a trained puppy the broomstick hovered in the air for a few seconds then found it's strength and shoot right into his hand. He caught it right off the bat and smiled to himself- maybe he was a beginning natural when it came to brooms.

Vindictus walked over to the young Hufflepuff boy who asked a good question.

"It doesn't matter for this step of the lesson. Now if there wasn't anyone standing to your left, then you could do this with your left hand," he smiled.

Conan nodded. He looked to his left. There was someone there. He sighed. He put the broom down to his right side. He took a deep breath, and muttered, "Up." The broom had barely moved. Maybe it could sense his slight fear. He wasn't wearing a four point harness or anything. He needed his shoulder restraints. He tried again. It moved a bit more but still not enough. "Sir I think my broom is broken." Well everyone else's was working.

Rowan opened her hand over her broom and in a commanding voice, perhaps a bit too loudly, said "Up!" To her amazement the broom slapped the palm of her hand and she quickly grasped it before it had a chance to sink back to the ground. She couldn't believe that it had actually worked!

"Be the master of the broom. Command it," Vindictus encouraged the boy and stepped back so that he could instruct the class on the next step.

"Mount your broom and keep both feet planted firmly on the ground. Place your hands on the broom handle - if you're right handed, then your right hand should be on top. Lefties, its the opposite for you. Don't grip the handle too hard - if your knuckles turn white, then loosen your grip."

Oh, this lesson was about that? Hmpf. If he had known... but then again, he didn't know how to even get the broom in his hand properly. So maybe it was good that he was taking this class. Without any uncomfort that he was the only student older than a third year. Okay. Don't look around, and just--

Oh, please.

The prefect watched in shock as one of the firsties costed them FIFTEEN points. He glared at the girl, missing the next step of instructions. One, two, three points alright; but FIFTEEN?! He kept glaring, as if he could kill her with looks. But no, she was a firstie, gotta be tolerant and all. Lowering his gaze down, he checked his broom. Okay, focus on that. Forget the girl. Or else, someone was going to get hurt.

"Professor, why don't we just... bend down and take the broom manually?" he asked with his hand in air, before up!ping his broom. Not that he was afraid his broom wouldn't shot into his hand, only because he wondered that question. Definitely.

Oh, they were already mounting and his broom wasn't even in his hands yet! However, he still wondered that question, and waited silently for an answer... he could grab it up in no time, then mount.

The only reason Alex was here was because he knew that the only way he'd be able to get over his fear of flying was to actually FACE his fear. Still, he couldn't stop shaking the entire lesson, and when the professor ordered them to start commanding their brooms into their hands, he said NOT to sound scared.

That was going to be more of a challenge than actually getting ON the broom!

Looking at the broom at his side, he stuck his hand over it, noticing that his entire arm was shaking. He was NOT about to faint or have a meltdown during the lesson, not with his peers (and Sierra) in attendance around him. He just couldn't let himself think about the flying bit just yet...he'd have to take it one step at a time. Yes, that was how he'd conquer his fear.

Biting his lip, he gulped and took a deep breath. "Up!" he said, noting how terrified his voice sounded when he spoke. Gah, that would never do! "Up!" he said again--not much improvement. In fact, his voice seemed to have gotten higher.

He cleared his throat and took another deep breath. "Up!" he exclaimed. Still nothing. Not even a little quiver. GRRRR. Now he was getting frustrated! His fear began to slowly be replaced by annoyance, and he wrinkled his brows in concentration and tried again. "UP!" he commanded.

OH HEY LOOK! There was a small bit of movement from the broom! He took a deep breath and stretched his hand, which was starting to cramp up from holding it to tensely over the broom. "UP!" he commanded, and watched with amazement as the broom flew up to his palm.

Well, that really wasn't so bad! Now that that was out of the way...

OH MERLIN THE FLYING WAS COMING UP. Cue the nerves again.

Lara was still upset about the fifteen points that vanished because of a careless firstie ,but she is in a lesson, so she have try to forget it.

She placed her right hand over the broom and said weakly "up" but of course that didn't work! Lara's mind was really busy thinking of what she should do to that student, but once again she calmed herself down.

Now thanks to that student she can't focus and she suppose to be a profesional!In an attempt to concentrate she closed her eyes took a deep breath and then she opened her eyes , glared at this old broom and yelled "UP!" and the old broom jumped up to Lara's hand. And that was somethng that make Lara feels better.

Finally she held the broom, she wanted to ask the teacher if she can take off, but it seemed that some student still facin some problems with their brooms. So she shall wait.

Rowan mounted her broom, dreading what was to come next. Don't hold too tightly? Easy for HIM to say, she thought to herself, remembering last year when she had ended up hanging upside down on her broom.

Belle saw Jania, they both sat down and she told her "If you ever fall or become klutzy on your broom, i will be there for you don't worry, and stand up for you whoever makes fun of you." she told her reassuringly. "You won't fall off you will be suprised by your abilities sometimes." she smiled.


Belle got a broom for the professor and she said "Thank you." then she put in on the side of her. She saw the broom, put her right hand over the broom and said "UP!" in a firm voice and it floated towards her. "Wow!" she said in amazement. Belle got onto her broom, her right hand on the top since she was a righty. She learned how to do this because her older brother taught her how. She waited for her next set of instructions from the teacher.

Emily mounted her broom. This was scary!
Right hand on top, grip the handle... Ok, this was officially scary! And they wern't even off the ground!

Come on Nika command your broom. After what Nika thought ought to be the tenth time her "Up" seemed suitable enough that the broom finally lifted. Nika grabbed ahold of her brrom with her right hand at the top of the handle. She finally got it. Nika was very nervous, but she was looking to forward to flying ever since she came here.

Winston looked doubtfully at the school broom he had obediently placed on the ground to his right. It didn't look like it would be able to support his weight. Or that it would listen to him.

He would have to impress the broom, then. Firm voice. It was like an animal, then, if it could sense fear. Winston decided he didn't like brooms very much. Taking a deep breath, he opened his right hand over the broom. "Up," he said. His voice wobbled a little, from nervousness, and the broom barely even wiggled.

Greeeat.

"Up," Winston said more firmly, trying his best to keep his voice steady. The broom rolled over and started to rise about an inch of the ground. Then it apparently decided Winston was too scared. Humph. "Uuuup," Winston said. "Up, up, up!" He wasn't particularly neverous anymore, he was just annoyed.

There! The broom leapt into his hand. Winston closed his right hand tightly around the broom and looked to the flying professor as he explained how to mount. Carefully, he swung his right leg around the broom and, as he was left-handed, placed his left hand above his right on the broom handle. Feet on the ground. Okay. He could do this.

If he could keep his feet on the ground, that is.

Conan smiled as he spotted Alex near to him struggle with a broken broom too. Oh. His wasn't broken. Maybe listening to Vindictus was a good idea then. Be the master of the broom? How was he meant to do that? They were meant for cleaning. Not flying. The only way he flew was on a Flying coaster. And then he had full restraints, on his body and legs. He was safe on one of them. He was not safe on a broom.

"Up!" It wobbled a bit more fiercely this time. "Come on you stupid broom. UP!" he called at it, in rather a harsh tone. He didn't want to be left behind. He flew up into his hand. He tightened around it. YES!

He mounted it. Ok. Just like a bike. Left hand forward, right hand back. He was ready. Ok maybe he was holding on a bit too tightly. He did have white knuckles. But that was ok. Even if Max had said no to it. He was scared.

Quote:

Originally Posted by demented_death_eater

Now that the drama had ended, Vindictus shook his head and placed the two brooms he was holding on the ground with the other. Time to continue the lesson.

He walked past the line where the students were lined up and turned to face them.

"When commanding your broom, you must use a firm voice - the command will not work properly if you're scared or doubtful."

"Open your right hand and place it over the broom. In a firm voice, say the command 'Up!' and the broom should rise up and hit your open palm. As soon as the broom handle hits your palm, grasp it or else the broom will float back down to the ground."

"Everyone - give it a go!"

Commanding voice. Firm voice. Charisa could be good at that.

Opening up her right hand, palm facing down at the broom, she summoned her voice. "Up!" The school broom on the ground beside her rolled over, but made no indication that it was going to rise up any higher. She tried again, "Up!" with the same results. Maybe it wasn't working because her wand hand was her right hand?

Quote:

Originally Posted by demented_death_eater

Vindictus walked over to the young Hufflepuff boy who asked a good question.

"It doesn't matter for this step of the lesson. Now if there wasn't anyone standing to your left, then you could do this with your left hand," he smiled.

Listening to one Hufflepuff boy's question, Charisa knew it was the same as hers. But apparently, which hand you used didn't matter, according to Vindictus. Ah, well.

Charisa drew in a deep breath and then, "Up! Up! UP!" The broom below her obeyed her command this time, rising up off the ground and into her hand. Reacting quickly, Charisa grasped her broom. Whoaaa. She mounted the broom, swinging her right leg over it, and then waited.

Jaina smiled at Belle. Thank goodness she's there for me, she thought. Jaina put her hand off to the side of the broom (not paying attention) and said "UP!" The broom zoomed up past her arm and hovered above. She looked up "Well, I'm gonna say that was a bit to firm, don't you think, Belle?" She thought about it for a second, then said "DOWN!" just as firm. The broom thudded on her head. "OUCH!" She rubbed it, but didn't let it discourage her. "Up!" she said one more time. This time her hand caught the broom. She proceeded to straddle the broom and awaited further instruction.

Belle couldn't help but giggle when the broom fell on her head. I mean come on she would of have laughed if she done it. "See you are getting better at broom practice, well a little bit!" she said reassuringly. "Once we start flying i will be by your side." she whispered. "It will be easy, trust me."

"Very good!" exclaimed Vindictus as he watched the students. He'd make fliers out of them yet!

"Before we get to fly in the air, let's discuss how to maneuver the broom in the air." He ran over to the broom rack and selected a broom for his own use, then ran back to his position in front of the class.

His motions were exceedingly quick and in a blink of an eye, he was hovering on the broom with his feet resting comfortably on the metal stirrups located on either side of the tail twigs.

"To make your broom move forward, lean over the broom and keep the handle horizontal to the ground. Now watch." He slightly leaned forward over the broom handle and kept it level over the ground. Slowly (and deliberately) he flew back and forth in front of the class. He was no higher than five feet off the ground.

"Now I'm slowing the broom down by sitting upright and pulling the handle slightly towards me," he said as he came to a gradual stop, hovering in the air.

"Now all of you will try this. Gently pick your feet up off the ground and stretch them backwards until the soles of your shoes touch the metal stirrups located on either side of the tail twigs," Vindictus instructed the class. "Then lean forward over the broom like I demonstrated. I want you to fly forward about twenty feet and then return to where you started."

He saw that several of the students were nervous and smiled. "No one will be flying fast or high in the sky... yet. Everyone - give it a go!"

Jamie gently picked up her feet and smiled as she hovered there. She leaned slightly forward and smiled as she flew, very slowly. She flew in a neat circle a couple of times then landed on her feet and smiled. She wasn't going to die just yet.

Adam paid attention. He put his legs over and kicked them off the ground, at first he wobbled just slighty, but once he got his hands up to the front, holding himself steady the broom hovered in the air gently. He leaned forward, and quickly made his legs get on the stirrups.Leaning slightly more forward, so that he was almost parallel to the broom, he calculated 20 feet to be somewhat close to the classmate to him.
He moved his hand down the wood and returned back to his original spot.

Flying fast and high in the sky...why did Kurumi not like the sound of that? She began having flash backs to last term where she was literally hanging onto her broom upside down. Either that, or she was spinning around in circles trying to steer herself. Not exactly a natural flyer to be sure.

Which was exactly why she was here. Flying seemed to be the only class at Hogwarts that she wasn't good at. This was probably due to it being about matters that were not in textbooks, but rather had to do with magical skill and raw talent, but Kurumi was determined to get better.

Mounting her broom, Kurumi kicked off from the ground a little more slowly than was probably needed, but she didn't want to go shooting off in some odd direction and repeat the holding on for dear life scenario from last term. To her surprise, her school broom slowly left the ground and was flying at a nice, slow, and steady pace in the air. Sure, her other classmates were zooming around like a bunch of hyper monkeys, but Kurumi was fine taking it slow. She had to master her balance before anything else.

"Professor Vindictus," Kurumi asked as she glided past his head. "Last term we practiced on wet mops," and that was certainly an interesting experience. "Is there a difference if we were to say fly on brooms made out of plastic instead of wood?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by demented_death_eater

"Very good!" exclaimed Vindictus as he watched the students. He'd make fliers out of them yet!

"Before we get to fly in the air, let's discuss how to maneuver the broom in the air." He ran over to the broom rack and selected a broom for his own use, then ran back to his position in front of the class.

His motions were exceedingly quick and in a blink of an eye, he was hovering on the broom with his feet resting comfortably on the metal stirrups located on either side of the tail twigs.

"To make your broom move forward, lean over the broom and keep the handle horizontal to the ground. Now watch." He slightly leaned forward over the broom handle and kept it level over the ground. Slowly (and deliberately) he flew back and forth in front of the class. He was no higher than five feet off the ground.

"Now I'm slowing the broom down by sitting upright and pulling the handle slightly towards me," he said as he came to a gradual stop, hovering in the air.

"Now all of you will try this. Gently pick your feet up off the ground and stretch them backwards until the soles of your shoes touch the metal stirrups located on either side of the tail twigs," Vindictus instructed the class. "Then lean forward over the broom like I demonstrated. I want you to fly forward about twenty feet and then return to where you started."

He saw that several of the students were nervous and smiled. "No one will be flying fast or high in the sky... yet. Everyone - give it a go!"

Well, now. So it was pretty basic indeed. Charisa had flown on a broom before, but it was nice to get instruction on all the technicalities of broomstick flying.

Seeing as they wouldn't be flying very far or high, Charisa shook aside her wandering thoughts about what the professor might say to explain how to gain altitude and how to land. Instead, she touched off with her toes until she was no longer in contact with the ground. Then, she extended her legs back until her feet could rest on the broom's metal stirrups.

Pleased with her aptitude so far, Charisa leaned forward slightly, getting a feel for this particular broom's acceleration. Grasping the handle tighter, with her left hand above her right, she leaned in a bit further and felt her broom accelerate to a good moderate speed, and after a time, she gave the broom direction to U-turn with a slight shift of her weight and halted back at the white line where she began.

Annabelle heard the instructions and she went over them in her head. She picked up her soles of my shoes and stretched them backwards and touched the metal. She felt it so she knew she was doing it right. She moved forward and flew about 20 feet and returned to where i started. "Piece of cake." Belle said with a smile. Some people were starring in amazement. She saw some people were getting like she was, so at least she wasn't the only one.