Gryffindor vs Slytherin
All the students shuffled in front of the only piece of flat lawn in the whole ground which was exclusively meant for Flying Lessons. Madam Rolanda Hooch, the flying instructor, was already waiting for them when they arrived. She gave them all a piercing look through her brilliant gray eyes and said, “Welcome to Flying lessons. You’ll do well to follow my instructions unless you want to end up in the Hospital Wing or lose out on the Quidditch try-outs.” When no one said anything, she gave an approving nod and continued, “You seem to be a well-behaved class. I shouldn’t see why I can’t pick some of you for the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch teams - as substitutes.” At this, everyone collectively groaned – James was the most disappointed. It wasn’t that everyone didn’t know that first-years never make the team. But everyone always hoped one of them might be an exception. Little did the currently sulking James know, that his unborn son was to be the youngest Quidditch player in over a century, without even asking for it!
“That’s enough of your disappointment. Now, all of you stand by a broom. Slytherins to my right and Gryffindors to my left.” The young wizards and witches moved quickly and were soon at their respective positions. “Very good. Now, put your dominant hand above your broom, and say, ‘UP!’.” Peter timidly raised his hand. “Yes, Mr.?” “Pettigrew, Madam Hooch”, Peter answered. “Okay, so Mr. Pettigrew, did you want to ask me something?”, Madam Hooch questioned. “Yes, Madam Hooch. What did you mean by our dominant hands?” Peter asked rather bashfully. “It’s okay to not know some things Mr. Pettigrew. You don’t have to be bashful about it. Now, answering your question – your dominant hand is the hand you prefer to use the most and are the most comfortable with. Is that alright?”, she gave him a rare smile. “Yes, Madam Hooch, thank you”, squeaked Peter happily. “Now, say ‘UP!’ and your broom should fly up to your hand. And if and when it does, hold the broom steadily”, instructed Madam Hooch.
Soon the lawn was filled with the cacophonous sound of students shouting ‘UP’, ‘UP’ in various tones and pitches, trying to get their broom to fly up to their hand. Some students like James and Sirius got it in their first try and were beaming at each other. Remus on the other hand only managed to make his broom move on the ground from one side to the other. He was holding on to his sanity by a thread until he finally snapped and said, ‘UP!’ very determinedly and lo and behold his broom smoothly went up to his hand. His friends and Lily cheered for him loudly. Peter and Lily were struggling too and, in the end, only Lily had managed to make some progress. Peter dolefully replied, “It’s okay I guess, you know? I mean, I always knew I was never going to play Quidditch.” “It’s okay Peter, Quidditch is not for everyone and that’s okay. Even I don’t have any interest in Quidditch. Guess that makes two of us”, Lily replied cheerfully. “That is very nice of you, thank you Lily”, said Peter.
On the Slytherin side, it was an entirely different affair. It seemed as though some were born flyers while some others looked like they hadn’t even seen a broom. Snape, despite having no interest in Quidditch, raised his hand over the broom and said ‘up’ very lazily. But to his surprise, the broom glided to his hands, as lazily as he had said up. Unknown to Snape, Madam Hooch had been watching him and when the broom flew to his hand, even she was equally surprised. She went to up him and said, “It doesn’t seem like you have any interest in brooms Mr. Snape. But I guess brooms do have an interest in you. So, even if you don’t become a world-renowned Quidditch I reckon you’ll make a brilliant flier”. “Thank you, Madam Hooch,” said Snape and added as an afterthought, “I may end up trying out for Quidditch, though”. Madam Hooch only raised her eyebrows in amazement and then walked away. While Snape and Madam Hooch were interacting, Snape’s dorm mates, Avery, Mulciber, and Rosier were trying their best to get their brooms to come up to their hands but only Rosier had succeeded. Mulciber and Avery were not exactly disappointed but only slightly agitated because they were the only Slytherins who were not able to get their brooms up along with three other Gryffindors. Their only solace was the fact that Gryffindor had more people who failed than Slytherin.
After Flying Lessons, while the Gryffindors and Slytherins proceeded to go to their dorms, the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws proceeded to go to their Charms Lesson after attending Potions for an hour. “I’m so glad we have some time after Flying Lessons to laze around before lunch, said Sirius dreamily as they were climbing towards the portrait of the Fat Lady to get to their dorm. “It only makes sense, doesn’t it? You obviously cannot go to other classes or directly to lunch after spending an hour in the grounds. I love how organized everything around here is!”, Lily said excitedly. While Remus smiled at her insightfulness, James huffed angrily and before he could say something, the Fat Lady had asked for the password. James lazily replied, “Griffin not Lion” and then proceeded to mock it, “who even chooses our passwords, it’s so boring and generic”. “I do,” replied the Fat Lady and James was really embarrassed but before he could apologize, the portrait swung to the side and he dashed in as quickly as his legs could carry him.
Snape, who was in Charms all this while had turned out to be the best at it. Professor Flitwick praised him and said, “You have a flair for Charms Mr. Snape, I could help you take extra lessons if you’re interested.” “I’m sorry professor but I think I have to politely decline your offer. I’m much more interested in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions,” replied Snape politely. His classmates snickered behind him and whispered, “Have you seen one of us be this polite? Where does Snape get it from?”. Severus pretended not to hear it as Professor Flitwick said, “Oh ho! That is totally alright Mr. Snape. If you are ever interested in Charms, you know who to come to”, and left to concentrate on the other students. Severus coldly turned around and said to his whispering classmates, “You have to know how to be polite and kind if you want to manipulate people. It is not only a quality for niceties, but also a quality for cunningness. Looks like I am more of a Slytherin than you,” he smirked and then turned around to do his work. He had not imagined in that moment that he will turn out to be kind to the point where he would sacrifice himself for Lily’s son.