Learning to fly...again

Andrew arrived out onto the field during a clear and sunny day. He had just been elected the Quidditch Team Leader for Gryffindor and was nervous. It seemed he had already forgotten how to fly, even though he was still pretty good. He had always challenged his brother whenever they had visted the wizarding world and was always good. Never better though. Now he had to lead the team, and make sure they did well. So he had to work 10 times harder now to improve his skill and help the others out.

He grabbed his Firebolt, which his brother had left for him when he had died, and then walked out onto the center of the field. He wore his Gryffindor Quidditch Robe and then looked at the C on his robe. He knew this was a privlege to have and was reminded constantly that he had to work hard to keep it. He then mounted the broomstick and then kicked off the ground. He began to float a little. He still had it. When he leaned forward, he immeditatly toke off in a dash. Andrew had never riden a fast broom like this before, and was pretty much out of control. He knew he would get used to it, but for now he was more concentrated on staying alive.

He spun in a barrel roll for a few seconds, yelling at a medium voice. He leaned up and began to fly vertically upwards. Oh god. Now he felt the Earth trying to pull him back down. Great. Andrew pulled back as hard as he could and eventually did a flip backwards. He felt every kind of fear ever experienced. He was plummeting for Earth and was nearly too afraid to pull up. Ironically, he hated heights. He pulled as hard as he could on the broomstick and finally was able to go horizontal again. His heart raced fast as adreniline pumped through his bloodstream.

Jack Dyllan was heading out to the Quidditch Pitch in a good mood, which was unusual for her. It wasn't that she was a gloomy person, but she her default mood was usually grouchy. When it came to grouchiness, though, the best cure was that swooping feeling in the pit of her stomach when she rode a broom.

She held her Comet 260 against her shoulder. The faithful broom had seen its fair share of wear and tear, but she groomed it superbly and almost daily, so it was in good condition. Her Uncle Chip kept hinting at giving her enough money for a better broom, perhaps a Nimbus of some sorts, but for now, Jack was completely at ease with her Comet. It had never failed her before.

In her other hand she held her own Beater bat, another gift courtesy her Uncle Chip, who encouraged all things magical. (Whoever said muggles feared magic, obviously had not met Chip.) She had also brought along a baseball to hit; it helped to practice on something smaller, because it made hitting a Bludger a whole lot simpler.

She looked up and realized with a jolt that there was someone else already out in the air...and they were plummeting for the ground. She scrunched her eyes in worry and her heart beat a little faster, but in the next second, they had pulled out of the dive.

Quidditch had a weird effect on Jack, and one of those was she was actually polite and courteous to others. It made her more self aware. So, juggling her things, she clapped in appreciation for the person.

Andrew still shook from the fear of plummeting to the ground. He then floating to the ground and immediatly jumped off so he could finally get his center of gravity again. Man that thing was fast and furious. He then heard someone clapping near his left. He turned and then saw a person standing there with a broomstick. She didn't look like she was part of the team. Hegot his hands to finally stop shaking and went over to the person. "Uhm hello," he said calmly

Jack hadn't expected him to reply. She was just planning to pay her respects and then practice on the other side of the pitch. She shrugged. Might as well strike up conversation. She recognized who this person was- the Gryffindor team captain. She had signed up for the Gryffindor team, and if she was accepted, this would be her captain. Might as well get on first name basis.

"Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to stop your practice or anything. You pulled out of that dive very well though." She glanced down at her stuff, the bat, the ball, and the broom. she quickly explained, "I was just getting ready for some Beating practice."

She shrugged and realize she had somewhat rambled. Best put her out of her misery. She tried juggling her things to her left hand, but resigned to dropping them (well, placing them carefully) on the ground at her feel. Putting her left hand on her hip and thrusting out her right to shake his hand, she said, "I'm Jack Dyllan."

Andrew looked at her and thought he had recognized her. He laughed when she said 'nice dive'. "Thanks but I could barely control the dive. I'm surprized I didn't splat onto the ground." He said honestly. He nodded and then grabbed her right hand and shook. "I'm Andrew Thompson. Nice to meet you"

Jack shrugged at his mention at the dive, as if to say 'Oh, no worries. We all have occasional problems when we fly.' He shook her hand and told her his name. "Oh, yeah, I know. You're the team captain." She looked around at the pitch, gaging the conditions and longingly glancing at the team locker rooms.

"Yeah I'm the team captain," he said now knowing where this person had been from. She had applied for the last Beater position on the Current Events board. "I had accepted your application," he said "but it hasn't gone through the Head of House just yet. I would like to see your skills though." He then summoned his Firebolt and it nearly appered to him in a flash. Man this thing was possessed at points.

"Oh really?" Jack said excitedly. She still had not seen the notice board so this was the first that she had heard of her acceptance. She pumped a fist quickly then grinned cheesily. Yeah, she was a dork. "That is so great." He said that he wanted to see what she had. She nodded and smirked confidently. If there was one thing she knew she was great at, it was Beating. She mounted her broom and slipped the baseball into her pocket. She grabbed her bat and pushed off.

She felt a grin spread across her face as she rose into the air like a cork. She leaned forward on her broom and shot across the field. She always joked that she was more coordinated on a broom than on the ground. She reached the other side and did a speedy lap to get her heart racing.

She turned hard and zoomed back towards Andrew. "Do you want to see my flying or my Beating?"

"Might as well see both," he said taking off on his Firebolt. Once again, he found himself going fast speeds, which he thought he coudln't control. After a few seconds, he had finally gotten used to the speed of the broomstick. He then hovered around near Jack and then looked out to her. "Alright let's see some skills."

Jack was carefully formulating the best way to prove that she was ready for the position on the team. Andrew called out and she replied, "Prepare to be dazzled!" She shot off towards the opposite end, putting her Comet through its paces. She turned in a wide circle to show how smoothly she could turn and then shot off again, this time displaying her acceleration. She went past the hoops and turned sharply, almost doing a 180. She leaned flat against the broomstick and shot through the largest hoop.

On the other side, she rocketed downward, almost perpendicular to the ground. Yards away, she pulled up. Unfortunately, she had been so eager, she had flown a little too low, and she had to pull up and immediately fly straight upwards to avoid collision. She corkscrewed and then leveled out, doing a few loopty-loops just to add some flair.

She zoomed back to Andrew, a grin on her face, her hair frazzled and her cheeks pink from the wind and excitement. "So," she said. "Need more or shall I move on to Beating?"