HARRY

Thursday morning; we are currently having our breakfast in the Great Hall, anxious for our first flying lessons. Hermione's been giving tips on flying a broomstick she'd gotten out of the library book called 'Quidditch Through the Ages.' But the sudden arrival of hundreds of owls for morning mails cut her off.

A barn owl brought Neville a small package from his grandmother. Inside the package, was a glass ball the size of a large-marble.

"It's a Remembrall – Gran knows I forget things – this tells you if there's something you've..." But he didn't manage to finish it when the marble he's holding turned scarlet.

"Err – what does it mean when it turns like that?" Iro asked, confused.

"It means I forgot something, Iro," Neville frustratedly answered, trying to think what he had forgotten.

My friend then leaned closer and whispered, "Harry, what kind of humiliation do you think we'll get ourselves into at that lesson?" he asked with nervousness staining his voice.

"You really hate the idea of flying, do you?" I taunted.

"I don't know. My gut is telling me I'm going to be struck by lightning the moment I left off the ground." I rolled my eyes while chuckling at his exaggeration.

"If I know, you're just afraid of heights." I mocked and earned sharp glares from my friend.

I heard him let out a faint smirk and speak, "Said by the one who's been fidgeting since this morning." with a teasing tone. "Anyways, we both know we have been sentenced to be humiliated in front of that git Malfoy. I mean, that kid had been boasting out that he could perfectly fly in a broom. I bet that's true because he literally grew up with magic around him. And so did Ron, obviously they both rode a broom before."

I took a deep breath upon admitting what he mentioned. But I rather keep it myself. I diverted my gaze and looked at the round-faced boy. I was about to burrow the gift he got from his Grandma when Malfoy showed up and snatched Neville's Remembrall. Iro, Ron, and I were ready to fight him but Professor McGonagall interjected us. Malfoy then walked out with his two friends slash bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle, after dropping the Remembrall at the table,

I then saw Iro pick it and stretch out his hand towards Neville Longbottom. But before he could get his Remembrall back, its color once again turned scarlet.

At three-thirty in the afternoon, the three of us, with the rest of Gryffindor first years went to the field for our first Flying lessons. The Slytherins were already there, and so were twenty-broomsticks lying in neat lines on the ground.

I examined the brooms; it was old and some of the twigs stuck out at odd angles. I then notice Iro stand next to me, away from the others "Uhm Harry... are you nervous?" he asked.

"Err – a little – you?" I still asked despite his confession earlier, but he shook his head, obviously lying. He looks so pale; I mean paler compared to his normal pale skin complexion.

I smirked "Huh! doesn't look like it, you punk!" I said, with a mocking tone of voice.

"Well, Aunt Figg clearly knows about me being a wizard but for some reason, she didn't tell me, much less taught me at least how to fly with a broom. – so yeah! I'm freaking nervous, Harry – there, happy now?" I nodded, sarcastically smiling, and saw him release a long sigh.

"I'm starting to regret not listening to Hermione's tips earlier – care to enlighten me, why I didn't?" he continued. I face palmed mentally. "Because you... I mean we thought they're useless, '' I said, realizing our stupidity.

Madam Hooch, our teacher for today's lesson is a short, gray hair, and yellow hawk-like eyed lady. She instructed us to stand by the left side of the broomstick and say the command.

I then raised my right hand over the broomstick and shouted "Up!" and the old broom immediately flew straight up to my hand from the grassy ground. I looked at Iro standing next to me, his broom is also in his right hand now. I glanced to my other side, and there was Ron, struggling to get his', same as Hermione and Neville.

"Well, clearly that's a very good start for us Scar-head!" Iro cheered up, earning my gaze back at him and smirking as I thought of something.

"Right you are, Spirit! But I reckon I'm better than you with this"

"Oh yeah! I assure you there, little scar-ry"

"I know!"

"You're pretty good with the broomsticks... especially the ones with the Dursleys" he finished with a taunting laugh. I was about to fight back when Madam Hooch spoke after the rest had now their brooms in their hand and showed us how to mount to our brooms without sliding off.

"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard – keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly."

She was about to whistle but Neville suddenly flew twenty feet high, then he slid off and fell from his broom and a nasty crack was heard. Madam Hooch immediately responded to the situation and sent him to the Hospital wing.

Bursts of laughter were then heard from the crowd of Slytherin. "Did you see his face! The great lump?" Malfoy said, with a trace of amusement in his tone. I devilishly glared at him and clenched my fist because of irritation, I saw Iro and Ron did the same as well.

"Shut up, Malfoy." Snapped by Parvati Patil, one of my co-Gryffindor.

Then a Slytherin girl confronted her. Until Malfoy shouted.

"Look – it's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him." He said, mocking Neville's Remembrall.

"Give that here, Malfoy," I said quietly.

"Yeah you stupid git, just give that back! And for the love of the Gods, get your butt on your broomstick again and practice. Clearly you don't know how to properly use it." Iro shouted for everyone to remember how Madam Hooch humiliated him a while ago.

I saw Malfoy gritting his teeth and tightening his grip on Neville's Remembrall. He throws glare daggers at Iro who's still giving him a taunting face.

"No one's asking your opinion you eye freak mudblood!" I raised my eyebrow as I heard the unfamiliar word. But by the faces and gasps of other Gryffindor's, surely, it's not a good word. Surprisingly, I think Iro knew the meaning of the word but still was not affected.

"Oh! so now you're playing that insulting card of yours, Malfoy? You don't even know my blood status. – What, you can't think straight because what I said is true? Or...." he paused, giving a mischievous smile at the blond Slytherin "you're jealous because me and Harry are better than you despite the lack of experience? Oh, poor little Malfoy, I could give you some advice if you want." faint laughs are now indulging the area from the crowds of Gryffindor. - "Mocking Iro is a big mistake!" I mentally noted. After a while of silence, Malfoy still clenching his jaw diverted his attention to me.

"I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find – how about – up a tree." He said, while smiling nastily, brushing off what Iro just said to him.

I can't stand it any longer. "Give it here!" I said, this time I shouted out of irritation. He's now flying with his broom. "Come and get it Potter!"

"No!" Hermione warned me as I grabbed my broom. "Madam Hooch told us not to move – you'll get us all into trouble." She continued.

I just ignored her and mounted my broomstick, kicked hard the ground and soared up to the air. I then heard Iro foolishly cheering for me. "Yeah Harry! You'll get yourself in trouble if you get back here without giving that knob-head a good kick to his butt!" He shouted and earned a punch and scolding from Hermione, making me chuckle.

So yeah! I manage to get Neville's Remembrall when Malfoy throws it. When I landed where my classmates are, I saw Iro with so much disappointment yet gratitude on his face. And I clearly know why, he's disappointed like me, because I didn't kick Malfoy, but thankful because I came back alive.

Then Professor McGonagall showed up telling me to follow her. I really don't know why, I thought she's going to expel me. But no, she introduced me to Oliver Wood, the Quidditch Captain of Gryffindor team.

"I have found you a seeker!" she excitedly said to him.

Everything happened so fast, I really thought I'm going to leave Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall managed to convince Professor Dumbledore to make an exception to the rule because apparently, first years aren't allowed to be in the game much less own a broomstick. She even said I'm a natural.

"You must be the youngest house player in about – "

"- a century – "I interjected Ron when I told them what happened when I left with McGonagall. Iro is just listening to my conversation with Ron all dinner.

"Only don't tell anyone, Wood wants to keep it a secret."

Fred and George, Ron's Twin brothers showed up and said that they are also in the team as Beaters, congratulated me then they left. A moment later Malfoy came with his two bodyguards, challenging me to a wizard's duel.

"I'm his second, who's yours" Ron interjected Malfoy.

They left when he announced that Crabbe would be his second, and we'd meet midnight, in the trophy room.

"Err – Ron what exactly is a Wizard's Duel?" I asked quizzically, "And what do you mean you're my second?"

"Does that involve swords? – because if it is, I'll kidnap this clumsy boy here as far away from this school as possible." Iro interjected before Ron could answer my question. But Ron just rolled his eyes to Iro.

"What the bloody hell are you talking about? Of course, there's no swords involved!"

"Oh! Err – sorry."

"Well, as I've said, second's there if you die"

"What?" Iro interrupted again, mirroring the same question in my thoughts.

"I swear to Merlin, Iro, if you speak up again, I'll make sure you will leave this place as a Guinea pig!" Ron shouted. - 'I doubt he could do that.' - But it's enough for Iro to zip his mouth and shivered.

"As I was saying Harry, wizard's duel is a fight between wands!" Ron said, emphasizing the last two words while eyeing Iro.

"Clearly you and that git Malfoy don't know enough spells to really damage each other. – all you can do is send sparks"

"What if I wave my wand and nothing happens?" I nervously asked.

"Oh, leave that to me Harry, he'll have a blackeye in no time. – Ron could give me a hand with that." Iro said.

"Bloody Hell Iro, you just copied my thought." Ron happily answered.

"You're all so brutal you know!" A familiar voice intervened from our side, "And it's stupid! You mustn't go wandering around the school at night, you'll lose Gryffindor massive points if you get caught. – don't be selfish!" the voice with a bossy tone continued.

"It's really none of your business Hermione" I exclaimed to her.

"Yeah! Just go away!" Ron added.

"Hey!" Iro warned both of us.

"What?" Ron and I whined back at the same time.

"That's enough! – she's just worried you know"

"What!? – No, I'm not." Hermione corrected.

I just glared at Iro and stood from my seat, same time as Ron and we left them. I heard him apologizing for us to Hermione.

When it's time for the duel; Iro, Ron, and I proceeded to the throne room. We flitted along the corridors, and unfortunately, Hermione and Neville ended up coming with us somehow. At every turn, we expected to run into Filch, the Hogwarts Caretaker and Mrs. Norris, his cat. We sped up a staircase to the third floor and tiptoed the trophy room.

------------------------------------

HERMIONE

"AHGG..... I told you it's stupid!" I exclaimed to them. We are currently running to God knows where, trying to hide from Filch and his cat Mrs. Norris.

"Malfoy tricked you, He was never going to meet you, you dimwits! – Filch knew someone was going to be in the trophy room, Malfoy must have tipped him off."

We're still running for our lives until those notorious and troublesome Peeves, the Poltergeists, show up and almost expose where we're hiding. Making us double our effort to run and get far away as possible.

"This is it! – We're done for! This is the end!" Ron moaned after we stopped in the end of the corridor where we saw a door locked. Hearing the footsteps getting closer and closer that's clearly from Filch.

"W – we're dead!" Neville muttered, shivering from nervousness.

"Hey Hermione, if you have any good ideas, I think now is the right time to do it" Iro said to me nervously. The sound of Filch footsteps is getting nearer.

"I promised to Gods Hermione, if you let us all live tonight, I'm going to teach you Potions for a week!" He continued.

And that statement of Iro ladies and gentlemen just lit a bulb in my thought. I quickly snatched Harry's wand and tapped the locked door knob and chanted...

"Alohomora!"

A snap was heard from the door indicating that it is now unlocked. We walk inside the room and make sure to lock the door. I looked at Iro and my face tore in half as I grinned big, traces of victory dominating my expression and mood. He just rolled his eyes.

"Good Luck mate" I heard Ron whisper to Iro while looking at me. "And thanks for Sacrificing yourself." I just face palmed mentally for Ron's stupidity. Iro just smiled sarcastically to Ron.

"Yeah! Anytime douchebag!"

"Hey guys... I – I think there's a good r – reason it's locked." Harry stuttered like how Professor Quirrell speaks, looking a bit up ahead. We followed his gaze and our mouth fell open, not finding the words to scream and let the gigantic three headed-dog in front of us wake up with five stupid first years as his midnight snacks.

Making a rapid choice between Filch or death from the creature, we undoubtedly chose the stinky caretaker. But thank the God we learned that Filch is done looking for us. So, we're safe now.

We scrambled to the Gryffindor common room, exhausted, and trembling from horror, except for Iro. I'm examining his expression when a voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"What the Bloody Hell did that thing do here!?" Ron exhaustedly exclaimed.

I just rolled my eyes and taunted "You don't use your eyes, do you? – didn't you see what it was standing on the floor?"

"Well if you hadn't noticed Hermione, we were too busy looking at it... I mean looking at their heads Hermione... heads!" he yelled while gritting his teeth but then I heard a faint voice whisper...

"A trapdoor"

"Well Thank you Iro – it was standing on a trapdoor. It's obviously guarding something." I explained to them, trying my best to restrain myself because of their stupidity, well except for Iro obviously. I stood from the couch and eyed them.

"I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed – or worse, expelled,"

I fixed my gaze to a now confused expression of Iro "Tomorrow morning Iro, after class don't forget" and with that, I walked out from them, but before I could get to my room I heard Harry sarcastically said.

"Is it just me or Hermione just offered you a date Iro." I internally smack my face and I feel my blood rushed to my cheeks.

"You're so stupid Hermione" I noted to myself.