FLYING LESSONS

Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table for breakfast Monday morning. She buttered her bagel as if it were a ritual. She spread the soft butter across her crisp bagel as if she was being tested on her buttering abilities. She was very thorough with her work. The perfect ratio of bread and butter. She had almost got it just right until Ron dropped beside her on the bench making her drop her knife on her lap. She glared at him as she discarded the now ruined bagel and started on a new one.

"It's just a bagel, Mione." Ron said, rolling his eyes. Hermione noticed that his bruising had gone down tremendously but his nose was at an awkward angle. She might fix it for him later if he stops being such a tosser.

"Shouldn't you be flying laps?" Hermione said hastily, still upset about the stunt he pulled.

"Can't until Malfoy's finished for the day. He gets mornings, I get nights. Were not allowed at the same time." Ron's plate was overflowing with food and he dug in. Hermione averted her eyes. She never liked watching him eat. "Don't you have a test to study for?"

Ron reminded her of the O.W.Ls. They would be taking place in less than four months from now. She hadn't studied for them since New Years when Draco…

Draco.

Hermione hadn't seen him since before the Quidditch match on Saturday. At least she knew where he was. Flying around the pitch until it was time for class. Hermione thought she better go see him and find out why exactly he pushed the fight in the first place. Hermione stood up from the table without saying another word, taking her prize-winning bagel with her.

"I'll take that as a yes." Ron said under his breath.

Hermione started for the Quidditch pitch, eating her breakfast along the way. From a distance, she could make out a figure making circles in the air. He was incredibly fast. She watched him from the hill, practicing what she was going to say to him when she got down there.

It was a chilly morning and her robes were blowing in the wind. She stood at the entrance with her arms crossed and looked up at Draco slicing through the breeze. He was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt which Hermione had never seen him in before. He looked odd flying a broom in street clothes.

As soon as he saw her, he came to a sudden stop and turned towards the gate. His hair was windblown and his cheeks windburned. He floated down softly but didn't come to the ground. He just hovered over her, making him fifteen feet tall. She had to stretch up her neck to make eye contact, shielding her eyes from the sun. The longer she focused on him, she noticed a faint bruise around his neck from where Ron had choked him. She felt more sympathy for him than she felt for Ron.

"I have to say, I'm fairly disappointed in you." She started. "The little stunt you pulled." She had to shout so he could hear her all the way up there. He smiled and brought his broom down a few feet so he could be at a closer level with her. His feet were still not touching the ground.

"I had a rough match. So what? Besides, I think it's fair to say he had it coming." Draco said coolly.

"Oh yeah?" Hermione said. "And why's that?"

"You shoulda heard the rubbish he was talking before the game. You can't say shit like that and expect to get away with it."

"You get away with it all the time!" Hermione rolled her eyes.

Draco just laughed and started to fly circles around her. Making them both dizzy. He did a few tricks to show off. He looped upside down then shot himself towards the sky and then came back down in a matter of seconds. He finally planted his feet.

"Aren't you supposed to be doing laps?" Hermione said, trying to hide the fact that she was slightly impressed.

"As long as I'm here on time, I can do whatever I want." Draco dismounted his broom and rested his chin on the end of the handle. "Have you ever flown?" Hermione thought that was a ridiculous question.

"A bit during flying lessons first year, but I never advanced." She looked down and laughed at herself. "I don't think I got a foot off the ground!"

"Hop on. I can teach you." He said as he mounted his broom again. "I think we both know by now that I'm a pretty decent rider." He winked at her, making Hermione blush.

"I don't know, Draco. I never even-" Before she could finish her sentence, Draco pulled her on behind her. Terrified, she wrapped her arms around his waist and shut her eyes.

"Relax, Granger. We haven't even left the ground yet."

"Oh…" She opened her eyes and loosened her grip.

"Don't worry. I won't do anything too crazy until you're ready."

Hermione trusted him. If this was any other guy on a broom with her she would never but for some stupid reason she put all of her faith in him.

Draco kicked off slowly. They were floating only a few feet from the ground so Hermione could get used to it. She felt weightless before. She locked her knees together and tried to find her balance. Her feet kept slipping off of the bipod. She was tipping left to right for a moment but then she finally got the hang of it.

Draco circled the field slowly but brought his speed up with every lap. Hermione closed her eyes and let the wind go through her hair, still holding on tightly. She didn't even mind that the cold air was biting her face. It was exhilarating. Excited. Euphoric. Terrified. Feelings she had never felt altogether at the same time. She rested her head on his back letting the time pass by. She didn't realize how high up they were until Draco asked if she wanted to fly it herself.

Draco angled towards the ground to let them switch positions. Hermione didn't even say yes yet. She didn't loosen her grip until she knew they safely landed. Even then, Draco had to peel her arms free off him.

"Are you sure about this?" Hermione said shakily.

"Of course I am. You're outstanding at everything you do." Draco said as he got off the front of the broom and settled himself behind her.

"I mean when it comes to logic and fact sure but when it comes to something physical…"

"You're also outstanding." Draco squeezed Hermione's tense thigh.

Hermione swallowed hard. She read every book in the library about Quidditch. Quidditch Through the Ages, The Nobel Sport of Warlocks, Flying with the Cannons, and even a Snitch in time. Every single one of them was informative of course, but none actually taught you hands-on, how to handle nerves, or how to deal with your love interest breathing down your neck as you practiced for the first time.

Draco adjusted her hand placement on the handle. Her palms were glued to the broom. He started rubbing her shoulders as if he was getting her ready for a boxing match. He could tell she was nervous. He talked her through it and held the broom in front of her as a guide.

"Once you're in the air, let the broom do the work. All you have to do is turn and lean in to build speed." Hermione soaked up every word he said. "When you're ready, go ahead and kick off."

Hermione leaped into the air with her eyes shut. She expected gravity to take her back down but it didn't. She was floating. No, she was flying! Hermione opened one eye and looked down at her dangling feet. She twisted them together when she finally realized what was going on.

"Oh my god…" Hermione said to herself

"Good job!" Draco pulled up on the handle. "Now let's go a little higher."

"Okay…" Hermione closed her eyes as they rose a few feet.

"HEY!" She nearly lost her balance. "You can't fly a broom with your eyes closed! Remember, you're in control." Hermione nodded and readjusted her sweaty hands around the broom. Draco pushed his chest into her back. 'Now, lean forward."

The broomstick was now moving forward. Hermione could hardly believe what she was doing. She was actually flying. Even if she was only a few feet off the ground. During her first lap, Draco helped her with the turns until she got the hang of it. By the fourth, she was doing it all by herself. Draco let go of the broom and held onto her waist. After a while, she almost forgot he was behind her. The morning air began to warm up as she flew into the sunlight. She was on cloud nine without a care in the world. Time stood still until Hermione caught a glimpse of the clock tower.

"Shit, we're going to be late for Potions!" Hermione pointed the broom slightly downward.

"Let's skip?" Draco suggested.

"Do you know who I am? I have never skipped, let alone been late for a class in my life!"

"Okay, okay. I knew it was a long shot." Draco returned his hands to the front of the broom. "Landing is a bit more tricky than taking off. It's all about timing."

"I don't have time for a lesson. You just do it." Hermione took her hands off the broom, sending a shaky wave through it.

"Hermione, NO!" Yelled Draco.

They both lost their balance and fell off the broom landing hard on the frozen grass with a loud thud. Hermione sat up slowly rubbing the back of her head. Draco was wheezing, the wind knocked out of him. The broom hit the ground last with a light bounce. Draco lay on the ground trying to catch his breath. Hermione leaned over him looking concerned.

"Sorry." Hermione looked over at the lifeless broom. "Looks like I'm going to need more practice."

"Yeah right!" Draco said between breaths. "I'm not letting you on my broom ever again!"

They both broke out in laughter. Hermione laid down next to Draco on the cold ground. She didn't mind. He peered at the watch on his wrist.

"We're late." Draco turned his head to Hermione.

"So?" She shrugged her shoulders, looking back at him.

"So?" Draco said in disbelief. "I'm starting to think I'm a bad influence on you, Granger."

He rolled over on his side and brushed her rosy cheek with his thumb, holding her jaw in his palm. He kissed her. He kissed her like he had never kissed her before. She wanted him to take her right then, but even with her robes on, she was freezing. She thought about how badly she wanted to tell him she loved him. How badly she wanted to be with him. How badly she wanted everyone to know. She didn't care anymore. She'd shout it from the rooftops if he let her. But that was the problem. He wouldn't let her. He wouldn't allow any of the things she so desperately wanted. Needed.

He pulled away and waited a second before opening his eyes. The mid-morning sun glowing behind his head. He looked like a goddamn angel. Hermione hated it because deep down she knew that a pair of very sharp horns were holding up his halo.

"First is almost over." She said softly.

"We'll need an excuse."

Hermione had just the thing. For a while now, she had been saving a fever fudge she had gotten from Fred and George. She planned on saving it for an emergency and an excuse for missing class was definitely an emergency.

"I'll be sick," She popped it into her mouth. "And you lost track of time flying laps"

"You're brilliant." He said with a loving look in his eyes. He grabbed his broom off the ground and threw it over his shoulder then helped Hermione up.

"Walk me to the dorms?" Hermione's face was already getting hot. Other than that, she felt fine. She couldn't believe Fred and George came up with such a thing. Along with their other creations, they were a shoo-in to have their own whimsical business one day.

On their way up the hill, Hermione was sweating through her uniform. She had to take off her robe before she passed out from heat exhaustion. When they got to the dorms, Draco dropped her off at her door. He felt her forehead and immediately withdrew his hand.

"Ow! You're burning up!" Draco said, shaking his hand to cool it off.

"I know! Isn't it great?" Hermione was going to have to stock up on some more.

"How long before it wears off?"

Hermione shrugged. "Dunno. A couple of hours? I'll sleep it off."

"I'll see you when you wake up."