Chapter 30 - 1st Week of School Ⅵ (2/2)
The boys eagerly rub their hands including Severus in excitement. They instantly rush forward until only one broom is left. ”Is there anyone missing a broom?” Madam Hooch called out.
Rowan reluctantly comes forward and collects the remaining broom, dragging it sadly behind her. ”Excellent, now, you will want to take care to feel the wood beneath your fingers like so,” Madam Hooch demonstrated the proper grip on the broom, before showing them how to mount.
”I just know I'm going to play Quidditch,” James excitedly said. ”Unfortunately, 1st years don't get to try out until our 2nd year.” Sirius, Lupin, and Pettigrew grunt sadly in agreement.
Severus, on the other hand, notices Rowan just blankly staring at her broom. ”Rowan are you alright?” Severus quietly asked.
Lily worriedly turns around to see Rowan stare at them with strange eerie eyes. ”Do you know the statics of people falling to their death every year is?” Rowan softly stated. And not even waiting for a response, she answers, ”33,381 thousand per year that's about 1 in every 100,000. Now knowing that static, why would I place the single life that which I possess into the hands of a magically enchanted broom with a mind of its own!?”
”Is there something wrong, Miss Prince?” Madam Hooch asked having heard a loud outburst from Rowan.
Turning her eyes onto Madam Hooch, Rowan gravely says, ”Am I allowed to fail this class?”
Madam Hooch narrows her eyes and stiffly answers, ”All 1st years are required to learn to fly.”
”What about extenuating circumstances?” Rowan instantly countered.
”Miss Prince, if you are that fearful, I will stay by your side,” Madam Hooch firmly argued.
Rowan pauses and eyes Madam Hooch with death-like eyes. ”So as long as I pass today, I never have to do this again ever in my life?” Rowan quietly asked.
”Well, I wouldn't say never,” Madam Hooch replied somewhat taken back. ”One never knows when one might need a broom.”
Seeing Rowan seem much calmer, Madam Hooch hurries to a group of first years in need of help. Sirius bursts out laughing and says, ”Don't tell me you're afraid of flying?”
Rowan doesn't reply as she eyes the broom with murderous like eyes. ”Rowan, what are you doing?” Lily quietly asked.
”I'm instilling fear into the broom,” Rowan truthfully replied. Currently, the scene in her mind was that of a horror movie only stead of blood splatter it was wood shavings with the main protagonist being the broom in her hand.
”Okay, but why?” Lily worriedly asked.
”So, if it dares betray me, it will understand that the dire consequences that will follow will be a direct consequence of its own foolish actions,” Rowan darkly said as the broom seemed to tremble in fear.
Severus tactfully coughs and interjects, ”Did I mention that whenever Rowan's nervous, she gets rather pessimistic and paranoid?”
Before anyone has a chance to reply, Madam Hooch intrudes, ”Alright, now, everyone please put down your broom onto the ground and then say, Up!”
Everyone did as they were told and shouted, ”Up!”
Quite a few brooms leap into a few hands as they all keep trying. Strangely enough among them, Rowan's was one of the first of them to successfully do so. ”Now when I blow the whistle, kick off the ground and then come down by leaning forward,” Madam Hooch instructed before blowing the whistle.
To everyone's shock Rowan's broom actually rises causing Madam Hooch's mouth to flop open. Rowan firmly clings to the broom as she glares darkly at the broom, which trembles with some unknown fear. Madam Hooch grins as she flies over and says, ”Well, it looks like you may have some talent for flying, after all, Miss Prince.”
Madam Hooch almost flinches as Rowan meets her gaze. ”No, I just instilled a great deal of fear into my mount. Yes, fear is an excellent motivator,” Rowan eerily said.
Madam Hooch tactfully ignores the response and says, ”Everyone just trust in your brooms and be a bit more confident in yourselves.”
Maybe, because they had seen how fearful Rowan was, but by the time class ended more than half of the class had already learned how to fly including Severus, Lily, and the Marauders. They all cheerfully head back to the great hall for lunch as Rowan feebly trails after them.