Chapter 11:

Two weeks had passed before anything of note had happened inside Hogwarts. In the meantime, Harry and Neville had made dueling a second nature to each other, with new spells being added in by the day.

At the beginning of the term, only stunners and blasters were being thrown, but now as they learned more advanced magic from the Hogwarts library they incorporated as much as possible to see what was effective, and what wasn't. Every Friday morning they even did a duel of feeble wandless magic.

The best they could really do was minor charms and transfiguration, and even the knockback jinx, but it was still making them more efficient by the day.

Harry had enjoyed the weekends especially as he had a chance to spend a little bit of time with his younger siblings, and even his father. Lily respected Harry enough to stay away during school unless she had a message to pass on.

The Hufflepuffs and Harry had gotten along splendidly after scoring so many points for his house, but that was only to grow during their first flying lessons at Hogwarts. It was an early Friday afternoon when the first years had all gathered on the grounds to meet Madame Hooch.

Harry was ecstatic over the ideas of the lesson, and the promise it held, even Draco seemed to be wearing a genuine smile on his face. Of course, that smile only lasted a few moments before the pompous and arrogance returned.

The group of students was currently looking through the shed at all the school brooms. Harry had his eyes on one from the moment he walked in, but before he could grab it, Hannah had swept from behind him grabbing it before he could and flashed him a teasing smile. This caused the boy to temporarily forget his own name and the broom and easily picked a different one from the storage place.

As they all strode out towards the grounds, they completed the instructions which were on the board in everyone's common rooms and made two long rows that Madame Hooch could walk in between and see everyone at once.

Harry was standing with Hannah and Ernie while the rest of his housemates were rather spread out through the lines. Across from him were Susan, Neville, and Ron, who was looking a little overzealous when they looked at their brooms.

Harry however had a strange sense of dread coming over the whole lesson as the elderly witch stepped onto the pitch, "Good afternoon class!"

The class returned the ensemble, "Good afternoon Madame Hooch."

As the witch walked in between the rows she had a huge smile on her face greeting familiar students, "Welcome to your first flying lesson. What are you all waiting for? Step to your left and place your right hand over the broom and command it up to your hands."

Harry did as was instructed, as did the rest of the class, though few had the same luck as Harry did when it flew to his hand instantly. Draco Malfoy was the next to call his broom up, which made Harry think that maybe the kid did have some skill to go with all that trash talk.

After a short time Neville, Susan, Zacharias, and a few others managed to as well. Madame Hooch then announced, "Very good! Now for those who could not command your broom, please pick it up, and hoist your right leg over it getting a nice mount on it, then kick up from the ground, and hoover just a few feet."

Harry was once again the first to successfully maintain flight, but Draco was much faster behind him this time, while Neville was trying to refrain from just zooming away on the school broom. Hannah Abbot however could not refrain herself and took straight towards the sky. Madame Hooch called out, "Ms. Abbot come down here at once. You must wait for further instruction!"

Hannah however wasn't listening and continued to take off higher and higher. Suddenly the girl let out a horrifying screech, and at that point, Harry realized his pretty blonde friend was not just playing around, she had actually lost control of her broom.

With a clear mind and objective, Harry shot off towards the sky with Madame Hooch calling after him. Hannah was now heading towards the castle and sailing straight over it as Harry attempted to zoom after her. Through sheer flying prowess Harry caught up with the girl screaming, "Hannah pull up!"

Hannah screamed out, "I can't!"

Suddenly the girl began plummeting towards the ground at a high speed and Harry was able to dive under her and swirl her up, "Hannah you're going to have to jump. That thing is going to take you straight into the ground."

"Are you mad? I am not jumping off this thing!"

Suddenly the girl jerked hard to the left and out of Harry's control and he shouted, "Just trust me! Jump!"

As the girl and the broom made a dive towards the ground, a crucial decision was made, one that would affect the very future of the Wizarding world. In a leap of faith, the girl listened to the boy she considered her friend and jumped.

As she plunged to the ground at nearly ten meters per second, she felt a spell hit her in the back, and then a pair of arms wrap strongly around her, and then she felt the wind stop, and her screaming ended in an instant.

Harry was holding the girl bridal style as he gently brought the broom closer to the ground, and Hannah was sobbing into his shoulder. When they hit the ground Madame Hooch was there, "Potter, Abbot explain yourselves!"

Harry spoke sharply, "I do believe you will need to have an inspection on these brooms Madame Hooch, and I would start by contacting the Aurors. Hannah's was clearly jinxed. I realized it after she started screaming! I did my best to keep her from plummeting to the ground, but ultimately she just had to jump off."

When Harry stepped off the broomstick he gently placed the girl on the ground carefully, where Susan was at her side instantly. Harry however started walking over to the stick, and when Madame Hooch called him back he ignored her. He bent over the broken broomstick that had smashed into the ground and inspected it thoroughly.

He then cast a finite charm on it and picked it up into his hands. After being sure that it was of no danger to himself or anyone else he walked back over to Madame Hooch, "I do believe Professor Dumbledore will be interested to hear about this. He has an acute sense of magical signatures and whoever jinxed it will need to be charged with attempted murder. This was not a prank, but an act of violence."

Neville took his side instantly, "Had Harry not followed Hannah to the sky she would have most likely perished from a long skydive. Well done mate. It seems your dad instilling hundreds of hours of quidditch into you finally did some real good."

Harry understood what his best friend was trying to do. One he wanted to ensure that Harry was rewarded for saving their friend, and two he wanted to make sure Madame Hooch understood that Harry had proper training and experience, and not just blindly chased after the girl, potentially putting them both in danger.

At the moment Harry gave his best friend a sly grin, but no one else seemed to catch it, as they were all watching Hannah come back around to her senses. The girl attempted to stand up, and with the help of her best friend, she managed to do it. She then hobbled over to Harry engulfing the boy in a hug, "Thank you, Harry. You saved my life."

Harry embraced the girl tightly, for he felt her legs were about to give out, and spoke softly in her ear, "What are friends for?"

At this point, Madame Hooch seemed to come to her senses, "Thirty Points to Hufflepuff for astoundingly quick thinking, and loyalty to a friend. I do believe class is dismissed...Potter, I will be speaking to your head of house about this, as well as the headmaster.

You displayed a stunning ability to fly, and control your magic, by hitting Ms. Abbot with a featherweight charm, and the levitating charm, well done. I do believe Hufflepuff has been looking for a replacement Chaser, and you just may want to get with Mr. Diggory to work out such a thing. I do believe he is the new team captain for Hufflepuff."

Harry nodded at the flying professor as she dismissed the class. Most of Hufflepuff along with some of the Griffs had stuck around to talk to Harry, Ron Weasley however was the first to speak, "You could be the youngest Quidditch player in a century mate! First years never make the house team."

Giving the boy a light smile he said, "I think it'll just be cool to try out. Maybe Cedric will let me be an understudy for someone so I have a guaranteed spot next year. Regardless of that though, Hannah are you okay?"

Her roommate Megan Jones who was their medical go-to the girl was already reaching around in her bag for a calming draft that would help ease the girl's mind. After she had done the effects were almost instant, "I'm okay. Just a little mentally exhausted. Almost dying will do that to you."

Neville and Harry exchanged knowing looks, and just shook their heads in agreement with the girl's statement, while Harry chimed, "Susan you should take Hannah to her brother, and let him see her. As fast as word travels I am sure he will know about it in a few minutes. I will send Darrel a Patronus to let him know where you two are headed."

The pretty redhead just nodded her head, while she and Megan helped the girl steady herself and walked back toward the castle. The other 'Puffs who were all boys patted Harry on the back and congratulated him on saving the girl.

Ernie even briefly mentioned something about a life debt, but it was the last thing on Harry's mind. When it was finally just Ron, Harry, and Neville, Harry spoke, "I think that broom was intended for me."

Neville's face darkened while Ron looked confused, "What are you talking about Harry?"

"When the Puff's and I reached the storage closet my eyes immediately locked on that broom. Originally I thought it was quidditch instincts, and figured it would be the best broom out there. Hannah however noticed it about the same time as me and snatched it before I could. So now I am not so sure." Harry explained.

Neville quickly came up with an explanation, "A compulsion charm maybe. Anyone in this school that could've gotten something of yours could have placed the charm, anyone above the third year maybe."

Ron gasped, "You think someone intentionally placed that jinxed broom in the cabinets."

"Expect the best, and prepare for the worse. That is what Sirius always taught me." Harry proclaimed.

Agreeing Neville sighed, "We shouldn't rule anything out for sure. Especially someone older."

The green-eyed boy and his best friend exchanged knowing looks, already thinking of one possible suspect...Professor Quirrel.