Prepair for Flight!

The member 'Kerry Malibey' has done the following action : Dice Roll

'D100' : 13



You are so lucky, dude!!!

His hand was back, but Kerry couldn't keep his eyes off the broom. It dipped slightly, looked like it might hit the floor, then returned to waist height and stayed there, not making a sound, perfectly still while is floated on nothing.

"Damn," Kerry whispered. "Well, that worked--"

There had been a moment when Victoria thought the broom was going to crash. She knew it happened a lot with those that hadn't flown before--it almost happened to her the first time--but she recovered when it floated back to where it has started. That's a good sign, she thought. It recovered based on the initial response. Now, if he doesn't spook it--

Letting go of his shoulders, Victoria walked to the front of Kerry's broom while saying, "Okay, it's good, Kerry. Now, I want you to take it with your right now--just take hold of it, it'll be fine--then bring your left leg over the broom." She watched him ready himself. "Think of this like you're mounting a bicycle; take hold of the handle bars and situate yourself. And keep your feet as much on the ground as possible. Get on the broom before we move to hovering."

She watched Kerry do as instructed, lifting his leg over and getting astride of the broom. Victoria liked his form: putting his leg right over, very little hesitation, then putting his left hand on the broom as soon as he felt his lower body slip onto place. Kerry adjusted himself a little then waited.

Victoria took one step to her lift and removed her wand from her jacket with her right hand. She wanted to be ready just in case . . . "Okay, Kerry, you're doing very, very nicely. Now, listen carefully: I'm going to have you go into a hover," she said, her voice so calm and steady. "When I tell you to, I want you to hold onto the broom with your hands--don't grip it, just hold on like you're still riding a bicycle. You don't want to grip it because you could spin the broom and spill yourself.

"Then, once you're set, lift you feet off the ground and pull them up and back, sort of like you're tucking them into stirrups. It'll even feel like they're pulling up into stirrups, but that's okay: it's suppose to do that. Do not push off with your toes; you do and you're likely to hit the ceiling here. Look up here, Kerry--" She smiled broadly. "Lets do this together, 'kay? Ready? And . . . lift--"

The second Kerry straddled the broom he felt something that he'd never known before; a unusual discharge of energy, almost like a low hum, only it was flowing into him, but rather, he felt it passing through his palms into the finely crafted wood of the broom.

He felt is supporting his weight. Professor Salomon compared it to being on a bike, and in a way it was--a bike without wheels, that was supporting his weight . . . well, magically. He wasn't thinking, Oh, cool, magic! or anything like that: he was only concentrating on Professor Salomon's voice, looking up when she instructed, and wanting to make this work.

She held up her wand like a conductor ready to start a concert. When she said, "Lift," Kerry didn't hesitate--

He tucked in his feet, knowing he'd stay in the air . . ..







Kerry Malibey carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

96

The member 'Kerry Malibey' has done the following action : Dice Roll

'D100' : 6



Dude, very smooth!  And you are away!

The broom didn't even shake as it had when he'd made it hover. There was, however, the slightest of movement as the broom rose maybe 6 inches before leveling out.

Kerry sat on the broom, feeling his legs tucked up into place, his hands before him, his butt firming on a length of polished wood sitting a meter off the cement floor of the Bastion's Equipment Room.

He sat up slightly, not moving his hand as he straighten his arm. Kerry was doing it; he was flying. He kept his eyes on Professor Salomon--who was beaming brightly--and awaited his next instruction.

Watching Malibey mount the broom and seeing it snap into place after he lifted off, Victoria felt something swell inside. I knew he would be good, she thought. She had a soft spot for Muggle-borns, being that she was one herself, and when it came to flying she wanted them to do well.

Then again, she wanted them all to be the best in the air.

He's up. Lets see if he can more. "Okay, Kerry, very good!" She took one step back. "Now, we're going to walk through the same small operations I showed you . . . just follow my instructions, take everything nice and slow, and I'll have you back on the ground in no time.

"Okay, glide forward slowly now--"

Kerry didn't have time to be impressed with his accomplishment; it only seemed like he had seconds to get secured in the air when Professor Salomon began instructing him through small flight maneuverers. He was ordered forward, then stopped, then back. Side to side; yaw left and right; hover up and down.

Kerry did them all.

He didn't even think about what he was doing; it was just a matter of when Professor Salomon told him to do something, he guided his broom just as she'd shown, and did it. He wasn't nervous or gasping for air or overly excited. He stayed calm the whole time, and treated this like he would any other class--

Only he was floating in the air doing it.

Annie watched as Kerry commanded his broom. Right at that moment, she could see that he would be brilliant on it and she knew, once he had his own, it would probably be hard to pry it out from under him.

The look on his face melted her heart, and Annie was surprised to find that the more she watched him, the more she wanted to jump on a broom herself. His confidence was mesmerizing and she was having a hard time looking away.

She sat back in her chair, hugging his jacket close to her body, and waited for her turn.

Victoria checked the clock and noticed she'd had Kerry on the broom for just over 15 minutes. He was doing great; she didn't think he'd have any issues when they were on the pitch--she thought he might try to push himself a little, but for the most part he was going to follow instructions and exert good control.

At the same time she was watching Kerry, Victoria was also watching, from the corner of her eye, The Annie Krum Show--

30 minutes before the girl had been a mess of conflicting emotions. Now she was showing a lot more confidence--and something else. Victoria knew what that something else was, 'cause at one time she'd stood right where Annie was standing, watching someone else on a broom, feeling something she couldn't describe . . . I know she's going to be good, Victoria thought, I just don't want her to end up as I did.

But Victoria wasn't getting that vibe at the moment. Yes, she'd seen students come in as first years and develop feelings for each other--and 99% of the time those feelings crashed and burned, followed not long after by said students on their brooms.

But this . . . the Krum girl was damn near radiant. If she can channel what she's feeling this moment into her flying, Victoria thought, she's gonna burn up the sky right alongside her . . . Victoria wasn't about to say that word. Not until she could spend more time with them.

"Okay, Kerry," she said. "Time to bring this show to an end. Bring yourself to a hover--that's it. Now, float down until you you feel the ground getting closer, swing your feet down, and when you touch, stand up and pull your broom out--"

Once more Kerry did as instructed, bringing his broom to a hover. He exerted the slightest of downward pressure on the broom and swung his legs down, preparing to touch down and bring his first lesson to an end . . ..







Kerry Malibey carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

74

The member 'Kerry Malibey' has done the following action : Dice Roll

'D100' : 4


Damn, you are good!!!

Victoria was just a touch worried that Kerry was going to wipe out on touchdown, but it was all for naught when, seconds later, the touched the ground and, in one quick move, pulled the broom away and brought it to his side.

Yep; got Chaser written all over him. She began clapping. "Very good, Kerry," she said, going up and putting her arm around him so she could give him a hug. "Okay, stand over there and lets give someone else a chance." But Victoria knew that after that, there was only one logical choice for her next lesson--

"Okay, Krum," she said, affixing her eyes on Annie. "Gimme that jacket, take yours off, and grab a broom." She gave the girl her warmest smile. "You're next."

Annie felt her heart stop when Kerry came back down, but he landed neatly…and then it was her turn. She swallowed hard, handing Professor Salomon Kerry’s jacket and then sliding out of her own. Even though the room was warm, she felt herself shiver.

“Would you mind, Professor,” she said, “if I used the same broom?”

Oh, ho! Victoria suppressed a smile, then said, "Well, let me see if Kerry is willing to give it up." Before she turned she said, "Just keep in mind you'll still need one on the pitch--we don't ride double here."

She turned to Kerry. "Willing to hand-off your broom, Malibey?"

Kerry said nothing. Instead he crossed the room to Annie. "Here you go," he said, handing her his broom. "I'll be watching you . . ." He pointed to the side of the room where he'd been standing, "Over there." He then walked slowly back to where he'd been and watched intently.

Knowing it was time to get her in the air, Victoria said, "Okay, Annie. Just like with Kerry--" She walked over to Annie and asked her handiness; when she said, "right handed" she turned her so they were facing the lockers, with the students to their front right.

"Just hold the broom out before you, about waist high, and stay relaxed," she said in a hushed tone. "When I tell you to, think/say 'Hover' and let it go, nice and smooth, just like you were dropping a ball." She gave Annie's shoulders a little rub. "It's already hovered nicely, so it should do the same for you." She whispered in her ear. "You know you want it to, honey."

Victoria stepped back. "Okay, Annie. Make it hover . . . let it go."

Annie held the broom out and thought about it hovering next to her. At that very instant, she felt the vibration; slow at first and then building. She glanced over at Kerry and grinned.

She said, “Hover,” and let go.


Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

30

The member 'Annie Krum' has done the following action : Dice Roll

'D100' : 29


Shaky, Shaky, but it's up...

Watching the broom do almost the same thing for Annie as it did for Kerry--dip down quickly, then recover and hover--made Victoria think that there was something hinky with it; she made a mental note to give it a good going over after class.

"Okay, good, Annie." Victoria moved to the front of the broom, then positioned herself so Kerry could be seen standing behind her. Give her all the encouragement she wants, she thought. "Listen closely, Annie: go into a hover," she said, her voice calm and steady like before. "Hold onto the broom with your hands when I give you the go--and you know, don't grip it but hold it firmly. You don't want to spin it; you want to make it part of you.

"Then lift you feet and pull them up and back, like you have those stirrups behind you. Remember not to push off; just a nice, slow, pull up and hover." Victoria moved across to what would be Annie's right on the broom. "Annie, eyes on me, please--" She held her wand at the ready once more, a broad smile covering her face. "Lets do this together, you and me. And, ready? Lift--"

Annie tried to listen to the professor but she had a hard time focusing...especially with the way she oriented herself so that Kerry was behind her. She was thrilled she could actually make the broom hover and didn’t smack herself in the face or damage anything.

Mounting the broom was a bit tricky. She turned her body and lowered herself gingerly onto the hovering broom, swinging her foot over the handle, and rested her full weight on it.

Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

19

The member 'Annie Krum' has done the following action : Dice Roll

'D100' : 6


Very smooth... and you're in the air!

For a moment Victoria thought Annie was going to pooch it when she saw her perform a side-saddle mount, but when the broom held okay she relaxed. I have to admit, though, that was very slick, she thought, then said, "Wow. Really good, Annie! Now, we're going to go through the same moves as before. Concentrate on me, and do as I ask.

"Okay, bring the broom forward towards me . . ." She stepped back slowly as she gave the command.

Kerry was a little in awe. He knew Annie had been nervous, but the way she was handling herself, he couldn't believe it was the same girl who'd been hugging him so hard just 30-40 minutes ago.

And when Annie did that side-saddle move . . . Wow, that was so cool! He felt something swelling inside him, 'cause he knew that no matter how he might look on a broom, Annie was always gonna look better, and he liked that.

Annie beamed on top of the broom. This is actually more comfortable on here than I imagined. She felt a twinge of guilt for denying her father what she gave so easily to Professor Salomon and Kerry. She would have to fix that--but it would have to come later.

Professor Salomon then asked her to fly; not far but enough to make her doubt she could do it for a second. She looked up and saw Kerry, watching her and he looked…proud.

Slowly, Annie moved their broom.