After circling a few times on his Flying Broomstick, Sean still hovered stiffly in front of Madam Hooch.
"Madam Hooch, could I fly a little higher?"
"For those mischievous Young Wizards, my answer would be no, but..."
Madam Hooch raised a hand, and an equally old broom flew into it.
"Come on, what are you waiting for?"
The wind howled sharply. Sean hovered ten feet above the ground, clearly able to see every dent the Quaffle had smashed into the pitch.
The stands at the southwest corner, where the Golden Snitch usually appeared, were just ahead to the right. Their gilded railings gleamed softly in the morning light.
Below him swept a carefully trimmed stretch of grass, where several Young Wizards could be seen peeking about and exclaiming at the wizard flying with Madam Hooch.
With Madam Hooch's permission, Sean followed that long-lost sense of freedom and climbed higher. The broom trembled slightly under his control, but it still obeyed his commands.
When he rose above fifty feet, the full outline of Hogwarts suddenly unfolded before him:
The castle's spires pierced the morning mist, the Black Lake resembled a dark mirror, and the distant Forbidden Forest was an ink green sea.
You practiced Flying at the proficient standard once. Proficiency +10 You practiced Flying at the Expert standard once. Proficiency +50 ... A new Flying Title has been unlocked
Madam Hooch followed leisurely behind Sean. Perhaps she had been away from the Quidditch pitch for too long and had forgotten just how terrifying the talent of top players could be.
Even when Sean had flown very high, she paid it no mind, simply delighted by the sight and eager to teach him many practical techniques.
Under Madam Hooch's guidance, Sean felt his exhaustion fade away, making the green