HP: Wizardry’s a Hassle, Wand in the Right Hand, Gun in the Left

The Gryffindor lions had grown accustomed to seeing Glen, the Slytherin snake, at their table. After learning about his circumstances, some even felt sympathetic, though apart from Hermione, her roommates, and Neville, no one would engage with him.

"Merge with the broomstick, maintain balance..." Hermione recited from "Quidditch Through the Ages," holding the book so Glen and Neville could hear the flying instructions and tips.

Nearby, Harry, Ron, and the others were thoroughly irritated by Hermione's incessant muttering, wishing they had extra hands to cover their ears.

Flying lessons were scheduled to begin on Thursday. Wizards relied on magical broomsticks for flight - a special magical implement. Though Hermione knew about this, neither she nor Glen had ever mounted a broomstick in their previous two years.

The young witch was so anxious that she barely touched her breakfast, focusing entirely on her book.

Left with no alternative, Glen had to snatch the book away and set it aside, insisting she focus on eating.

This earned him a playful headbutt from the bushy-haired girl.

He naturally accepted this gesture, patting her head and smoothing her hair.

Withdrawing his now-reddened hand from Hermione's slap, Glen heard the flutter of bird wings overhead.

A package arrived for Neville from his grandmother. He eagerly opened it to reveal a glass ball about the size of his palm, filled with what appeared to be white smoke.

"It's a Remembrall!" he explained. "Gran knows I'm forgetful — it tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do. See, you hold it tight like this, and if it turns red — oh..." His face fell as the Remembrall suddenly glowed bright red, "...that means you've forgotten something..."

As Neville wrinkled his face trying to recall what he'd forgotten, looking hopefully at Glen and Hermione for hints, both merely shrugged, unable to assist.

Neville's memory was truly abysmal.

Suddenly, Draco, who made a habit of prowling around the Gryffindor table, snatched the Remembrall from Neville's hand.

Glen slightly furrowed his brow, Hermione raised an eyebrow, while Harry and Ron jumped up immediately, rolling up their sleeves as if ready to confront Malfoy and his cronies.

Before Hermione could intervene, Professor McGonagall appeared, inquiring about the situation. Draco, wearing a dark expression, tossed the Remembrall back and stormed off with a threat.

Before leaving, he cast a sinister glance at all the Gryffindor cubs, particularly at Glen, the Slytherin traitor. When his eyes swept past Glen, he displayed an evil smile and drew his thumb across his throat.
Don't think you can escape your fate by defecting to Gryffindor!

That afternoon, they gathered on the grounds in front of the castle for their first flying lesson.

Shielding her eyes from the sun, Hermione quietly pulled Glen along as they blended into the crowd, whispering, "Are you nervous?"

Glen replied, "I won't be participating today since I still can't see."

Hermione's expression changed as she huffed and dropped his hand.

Well played, Glen, abandoning the team like this!

"Don't worry about flying, I'll protect you from below," Glen said earnestly to Hermione.

"Oh, fine, fine, I get it. Stop fussing! Do you really think I'm bound to fall?" Hermione was secretly pleased despite her protests, happily taking Glen's hand again as she led him to the field.

After greeting Madam Hooch, Glen stood aside with his cane, activating his heightened senses to keep watch over Hermione.

Twenty broomsticks lay on the ground before Madam Hooch as she urged the young wizards to quickly take their positions.

Everyone complied, each selecting a broom.

"Extend your right hand over your broom and say 'Up!'" Madam Hooch instructed.

"UP!" everyone shouted.

"UP!" Hermione called, but her broom merely spun on the ground like a break-dancer, clearly showing her misdirected magical energy.

Visibly dissatisfied, she calmed herself, thought for a moment, and tried again with renewed focus.

"UP!" This time she was more composed, and the broom obediently flew into her hand.

"Hmph." Hermione raised an eyebrow triumphantly - piece of cake. She glanced at Glen, who responded with gentle applause.

She was among the few who successfully summoned their brooms, though Harry had managed it with the most speed and stability.

After Madam Hooch demonstrated the proper form, she took out her whistle, preparing to let them hover a few feet off the ground.

"AAAAHHHHH!" Suddenly, whether from nervousness or something else, Neville shot straight up into the sky on his broom.

"Good heavens, child, stop immediately!" Madam Hooch shouted. Hermione, who had just managed to hover above the ground, watched in horror as Neville's body jerked and began plummeting from midair!

From an unnoticed corner, Glen flicked his wrist, revealing his wand. "Momentum Dampening Charm," he cast, pointing at Neville. The falling boy's descent noticeably slowed, though he continued to drop.

Glen sighed, realizing that despite his above-average magical power for his age, it wasn't enough to completely control a young wizard's descent. He could only minimize Neville's impact damage.

"Terrain Softening Charm!" At the crucial moment, seeing Neville's slowed descent, Hermione quickly drew her wand. As a last resort, she bit her lip and attempted the advanced transfiguration spell she wasn't yet proficient in. Just as Neville was about to hit the ground, she finally completed the spell, transforming the grass into soft, sticky mud.

With a splat, Neville landed in the mud, groaning but largely unharmed.

Hermione's face went pale from the magical exertion - she hadn't expected to successfully cast the spell. Glen rushed over to support her, producing a magic restoration potion and helping her drink it.

After gulping down the bottle, Hermione's color improved significantly. She immediately asked, "What about Neville? Is he alright?"

"He's fine, just a bit dazed. Thanks to your quick thinking, Miss Granger. For this, I award Gryffindor ten points!" Madam Hooch said with relief after casting a cleaning charm on Neville, her eyes betraying her lingering concern.

She hadn't expected complications in the very first flying lesson.

She turned to instruct the other students and Neville to stay put while she fetched Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall for a check-up, then hurried away.

Having recovered his senses, Neville's first action was to approach Glen and Hermione to express his gratitude.

"I can't thank you enough - I've lost count of how many times you've helped me," Neville said earnestly. It was true - they had both looked after him extensively since their first meeting on the Hogwarts Express.

Hermione managed a smile: "That's what friends are for."

Glen nodded, gently helping Hermione up while handing Neville a calming draught.

"I..." Neville looked at the potion in his hand, feeling something indefinable. Just as he was about to say something meaningful, a commotion erupted from the nearby crowd.

They then saw Draco soaring into the sky on his broom, clutching Neville's Remembrall, with Harry in hot pursuit, the two facing off in mid-air.

"Catch it if you can!" Draco shouted, suddenly hurling the Remembrall at an angle. Harry immediately chased after it on his broom, following the Remembrall as it plummeted toward the ground, looking certain to crash.

In a heart-stopping moment, Harry pulled up just inches from the ground, Remembrall in hand, rolling onto the grass to disperse his momentum with surprising agility.

"Wow, did Harry know he was this good at flying?" Hermione asked in amazement from Glen's arms, watching Harry stand up with the Remembrall, his face flushed with excitement.

"Very impressive," Glen agreed. Harry truly had a natural talent for flying - those maneuvers were not easily executed.

While everyone's attention was focused on Harry, crowding around him in celebration, Glen took the opportunity to simply scoop up Hermione. Under the young witch's bewildered gaze, he activated his heightened senses and carried her back to their old room in the Room of Requirement.

Forget about flying lessons - what's left of them anyway.

A witch who had overexerted her magic needed rest!

Besides, there were no more classes afterward.

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