Flying Basics
 

As you make your way down to the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch, you likely can't help but notice that the weather is perfect for learning how to fly. The sky is a bright blue, small puffy clouds are lazily drifting across the sky, and there is no wind to speak of. It's almost as if Professor Tyner ordered up the weather specifically for the next hour or so.

As you approach the stadium, you notice a sign that has never been there before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The sign Welcome to your first flying lesson! Before entering the stadium, please proceed to the broomshed and select a broom to use for the lesson. Then kindly report to the Quidditch pitch. Professor Tyner

Once you have your broom and make your way into the stadium, you will see Professor Tyner waiting for you on the ground in the center circle of the pitch.

OOC: This lesson is for first year students only. No first year is allowed to bring in their own broom other than those found in the school broomshed. You will need to RP your character grabbing a broom at the link above, then post in this thread, where the lesson will take place. Feel free to RP with Tyner or each other before the lesson officially begins in the afternoon on January 9 EST.

With the broom tightly in his hand, Kevin walked from the broomshed towards the pitch, refraining himself from jumping on the broom and flying towards the pitch. Not that he actually could fly ...yet...but how hard could it be?

Reaching the pitch on foot, he looked around to see that he was the first one here. Hopefully he wasn't going to be the only one though. Spotting the Professor in the middle, the first year walked towards. "Yo professor, nice weather, right?" which was strange ...wasn't it fall? oh well...

James ran onto the quidditch pitch. "hello proffeser", he called,"I cant wait to learn how to fly
"

Tiara stood in the center of the pitch soaking in the sunlight. Soon the sun would be making fewer and fewer appearances, and the referee was eager to enjoy it while it lasted. After several minutes, she noticed a small boy walking towards her. Ah, here they come!

She chuckled at the boy's unique greeting. "Indeed it is, young man. And who might you be?"

Following behind the first boy was another, a young Lion this time. "Good morning, young man. I'm glad you're excited. I'm Professor Tyner. And you are?"


And here was the first female student and Hufflepuff. Judging by her pace, she was also quite enthusiastic. "Good morning, my dear. Welcome to the quidditch pitch. What might your name be?"

Kevin gasped. She did not know his name. Why did she not know his name? "Kevin" he said, a grin stretched on his face as he looked at the Professor with his left hazel and right dark brown eyes. "Remember the name" Oh she would hear stories of him soon enough. It had not even been the first weeks and already he had been in trouble with 3 professors heh. He made a little peace sign before turning his head towards another first year.

Without saying an hello back, he rolled his eyes at her question. If he was excited for flying? What kind of question was that?! of course he was! Could she not see the bouncing on his feet and twitching of the hand to grab the broom and fly away? He would have done so ...if he had known HOW. "Yeah well DUH! i'm excited, are bli--" he quickly stopped himself from asking if she was blind and did not know any body language. He turned his back to her and faced the Professor again.

So when were they starting?

Well, this wasn't exactly a course that Altair was looking forward to him, but he was sure it would be something that his father would want him to report back on. After picking out a broom with the faint words of "Firebolt" written on the handle he preceded to meet all the other first years that were gathering at the stadium. He noticed the professor, who had really kind eyes. Altair simply nodded in her direction, not bringing himself to utter a word as he was uncertain about the lesson that would begin momentarily.

Oh good, more students were beginning to arrive now. She had been a touch worried that only three would show up. "Good morning dear. Beautiful day for flying, isn't it? What is your name?" she asked the young Slytherin.

Tiara had no idea why the boy may be gasping. It was a perfectly normal question when one met a person they did not know. Eyebrow slightly raised, she said, "Kevin, I will try my hardest not to forget your name. You have my word." She chuckled internally as he gave a peace sign. She loved the unbridled energy and enthusiasm for learning that first years brought to the school.

And here was a shy young Hufflepuff. Tiara understood. Flying was not like the other lessons where they were in a controlled environment. She bent down next to the boy. "Hello, young man. My name is Professor Tyner. I am very glad you decided to come today." The official let her face assume a warm, reassuring smile.

Carrying the shiny broom Gwen stepped toward the group of her classmates. This was going to be so exciting! She'd already had a little bit of practice, thanks to Captain Mo, but this was real! It wasn't just an informal thing, she was taking a flying class!! She didn't even hold herself back now the way she had in transfiguration, she totally just let herself bounce up and down in excitement. She could hardly wait.

Bri ran out to the center of the pitch carrying the broom that she just got from the broomshed, where she saw Professor Tyner and a few other 1st years already hanging around. She smiled and nodded at her fellow students. She went to stand by her friend Leah. "Hello Leah! I can't wait to start flying, how about you?" She said, before glancing at the professor she met not too long ago. "Hello Professor Tyner." The young girl said happily . She was trying to contain her excitement about the lesson, but she was probably failing at that.

Altair's heart seemed to cease from trying to jump out of his chest when the professor smiled at him. "Uh, thank you, Professor Tyner. I'm Altair," he said as he extended his broomless hand towards her. "Altair Merrit." It was only the proper thing to do to introduce himself, but maybe he was being too formal? Or maybe he should have continued with the nod thing? His heart started to pound again and he could feel his nerves stretch to his ears that began to twitch ever so slightly.

Tiara looked at her watch. It was time to begin. Clapping her hands together loudly, she signaled that side conversations should end at this point. The official waited a few seconds to ensure quiet before beginning.

"Welcome to your first flying lesson. I can see you have all managed to locate the broomshed and have retrieved a school broom. Excellent, excellent." She had spent the morning inspecting the equipment her students would be using, so she knew they were all in tip top shape.

Tiara allowed a serious, but not unkind look to cross her face. "Before we begin, let me warn you that I take safety on the quidditch pitch very seriously. If you follow my instructions you will be perfectly safe, and I expect you not to put others at risk with foolish behavior." She scanned the group to make sure they understood.

She nodded, saying, "Right. I need you all to form a line facing me, please." She indicated the space in front of her with her hand.

OOC: The lesson has officially begun. Feel free jump in if you haven't already RP'd arriving, but please don't announce your late arrival.

Gwen grinned broadly at the welcome from the professor. "Thank you," she said cheerily. Safety, right. They were only going to be speeding through the sky with nothing to hold them up but a magicked branch, but of course, safety first. Gwen almost giggled at the thought, but held it back. In her mind, this whole thing was anything but safe. Not that she minded. She was actually thrilled about it. Her mother would be having a heart attack at this point, which made this even better.

Form a line. Gwen moved quickly to a spot in the line, anxious to get started. This was going to be so AWESOME!!

Bri smiled at the professor, before standing in line with the other firsts year, waiting to take their first lesson. The closer the time came, Bri couldn't help but became even more excited with a touch of nervousness. She glanced around at the rest of the 1st years, some looked very nervous, so she smiled at them, hoping some of her excitement will transfer to the others.

Finally! the class started, Kevin would have grabbed the broom himself and flown away if it hadn't started quickly. Because he totally knew how to fly despite having never flown a broomstick. AHEM

He listened to her warning and sighed. He felt like the warning was directed towards him mostly but it wasn't like he was THAT horrible. Yes, he liked to annoy people and be rude to them but to actually harm someone on purpose. That was low even for Kevin. No, he wanted to fly today without accidents and he EYED the other first years as if to say 'you better not hurt someoneME!' before he followed the instructions of standing in a line.

With the broom in his hand he faced the front and waited.

Altair felt a little more confident with the professor's reassuring pat on the shoulder. He then did as everyone else and took his place and the end of the line of students. Some of them looked just as nervous, but then some looked like the were about to feint. Altair liked to think that he looked like something in between. He looked down at the broom he had in his hand, he was so amazed that such a common household item could cause so much damage. But, he was a bit of a safety nut, so he listened closely to what the professor was about to say.

I'm imagining them standing shoulder-to-shoulder. *nod*
 

Tyner watched as the mostly-timid first year students formed a line. Except for Kevin. He is not a timid one. She raised her wand and cast a summoning charm so that her own broom came soaring to her out of her open office window. Once everyone was in place, she continued on with her instructions.

"Good good. Now, the first step is obviously to be able to get onto your broomstick. Spread out it you need to, then place your broom on the ground just to your right." She demonstrated with her own broomstick. Now is the time for them to remember the difference between right and left. Tiara decided she had better say something. "If you can't remember which is right and which is left, your left hand will make an L when you hold it up, like so." She showed them with her own left hand.

Now to the fun part. "The school brooms have multiple riders each year. In order for the broom to become in tune with you for the duration of the lesson, you must place your right hand over the broom and firmly say 'UP,' like so." The flying instructor said "Up!" and grabbed the broom as it flew into her hand. "Your broom should hover in midair at waist height. Don't be shy now, give it a go!"

Right hand...Gwen didn't have any trouble remembering which hand was which, but did it matter which hand was dominant? She raised her hand. "Professor, I'm left handed. Should I use my left rather than my right?" she asked. Maybe it had to be right no matter what, or maybe she just said that because most kids were right handed?

Altair took a few steps back to give himself some room. He smiled at the ginger girl that was standing nearby. They had a few encounters in the hallway, but this was the first class he noticed they shared. It was nice to see a familiar face, made him feel a little more confident.

He set the broom next to him, the exact way Professor Tyner had done. The way she described the broom was just like the guy at the wand shop had. Maybe he would have just as good fortune as he did with his wand. Altair held his hand over the broom and said, "Up!" The broom flinched a little bit, but then flopped back down on the ground. "Hmph," he huffed. Well, he wasn't about to give up. "If at first you don't succeed," rang his father's voice in his head. He shook his hand a little bit and held it over the broom once more and took a deep breath. "Up!" he yelled a bit, this time the broom hovered right underneath his hand. "Sweet!"

Bri spread out, like the professor said, before placing her broom on the ground on her right side. The brunette straighten up, and took a deep breath and letting it out, before sticking her right hand out and said, calmly and firmly "Up!" The first year grinned when the broom shot up and hovered over the ground. She looked up at Professor Tyner, waiting for the next instruction.