Flying Class and a Prank

Rose did not see Lily in the Great Hall throughout lunch, and Snape did not appear at the Slytherin table either. She asked Mary and the others, who were nearly finished eating, and they all said they had not seen Lily since Potions Class.

Rose could only stuff a few haphazard bites into her mouth in disappointment before hurrying after them to the lawn outside the castle.

The lawn where Flying Class was held lay right beside the Forbidden Forest, stretching deep into the dark woods. The swaying shadows of trees in the distance revealed the danger and mystery of the Forbidden Forest.

Potter was talking loudly in the distance about how he secretly rode his father's Comet 370 at home. He declared that as long as he could get into a Quidditch Match next year, he would receive the latest Nimbus Series broom—the model currently most favored by Quidditch teams in Europe. He was sure he could win every Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor on the pitch.

The short Slytherin boy beside Rose heard Potter too. He rolled his eyes dramatically and muttered under his breath.

"I hope you're still this lively when Potter beats Slytherin next year," Rose said mockingly.

Although Potter could indeed be a little arrogant at times, she remembered that he was an excellent Chaser. He had even won himself a medal for it, which hung in a crystal display case in the Trophy Room on the castle's fourth floor.

Ignoring the Slytherin boy as he cursed at her, she devoted all her attention to looking for Lily.

But Lily did not come running out of the castle with Snape until Madam Hooch arrived. Rose kept watching her, trying to convey her apology with a look—she hadn't meant to laugh at Snape; she just hadn't been able to help herself.

Madam Hooch told everyone to shout at their brooms.

Potter was the first to succeed, followed by Marlene. Rose was third, and Madam Hooch awarded Gryffindor three points.

Ten minutes later, almost half the class had gotten their brooms. Rose saw Snape's expression grow worse and worse, because his broom would not budge, as though someone had glued it to the ground. Lily stood beside him with her broom in her hand, quietly comforting him.

"Hey! Snivellus-your broom's probably stuck to the ground by the grease from your hair!" Potter said smugly, while Pettigrew roared with laughter beside him.

Even Rose had to admit their voices were rather grating, let alone for Snape, who was the target of their taunts. His face had turned grayish white, and he held his neck stiffly, refusing to make another sound.

"Mr. Potter, if you say another word, I will have to take another point from Gryffindor." Luckily, Madam Hooch arrived in time; otherwise, Rose thought Lily might not have been able to resist hitting Potter with her broom.

Rose did not think this was a good time to talk to Lily. At the very least, she had to wait until the boys left.

With Madam Hooch's encouragement and help, Snape's broom finally jumped into his hand, but his lips remained tightly pressed together.

Soon, Madam Hooch announced that they could fly slowly for a while, a few feet above the ground.

Rose carefully mounted her broom and gave the ground only a gentle kick, but the broom whisked her into the air.

The arrival of autumn had begun to turn the area around the castle into a riot of color. Rose saw beech trees in the distance that had already turned golden yellow. The breeze blowing across the castle gently brushed her cheeks, and the broom in her hands seemed to have become part of her body. Rose half-closed her eyes. She felt as though she had become a cloud floating above the castle, and in a daze she saw begonias blooming beside the distant Black Lake, swaying against the shimmering water.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Rose caught sight of Potter quietly riding his broom directly above Snape. Snape sat stiffly on his broom, his face deathly pale, completely unaware of Potter above him.

Rose saw Potter reach into his pocket. Just as she thought he was going to take out his wand, he gently shook the things in his hand onto Snape's neck and head—the Horned Slugs he and Black had secretly taken from Potions Class.

Snape had already been wobbling in the air, and Lily was flying circles around him, encouraging him constantly, although she was not flying very well herself.

"Severus, there's something on your hat..." Lily's sharp eyes spotted the little things wriggling and struggling. Some had even crawled into Snape's clothes through the collar of his black robes.

Snape's body instantly went rigid. He lost his balance and toppled unsteadily off his broom.

"Snivellus-wash your hair and that ugly big nose of yours! They're so filthy even slugs can live in them!" Black gave a short laugh on his broom, and Potter laughed so hard his broom began bobbing up and down.

Lily screamed and jumped off her broom, running over to Snape. Rose returned to the ground as well.

"He may have broken his arm," Rose said hesitantly. She could see that Snape's arm was bent at an unnatural angle.

"Don't move, Severus. I'll get them off you," Lily said hastily.

Snape's expression was uglier than ever. Breathing heavily, he drew his wand with his other, uninjured hand, pointed it at the sky and muttered a spell.

The spell struck Sirius Black, who was hovering in the air off guard, and he fell off his broom too.

"You greasy Snivellus-" Potter yelled furiously from his broom, then abruptly leaned forward and dived toward Black.

The farce ended with both Snape and Black being sent to the Hospital Wing, each costing his own house ten points.

Rose stood beside Snape's bed with Lily. After giving him a dose of potion to drink, Madam Pomfrey announced that both boys would have to stay overnight for observation.

"Maybe it would be better if one of them went back to his common room tonight..." Rose muttered.

Madam Pomfrey had apparently heard her. She snorted. "All it takes is a dose of Draught of Living Death for one of them."

No one dared cause trouble in the Hospital Wing.

After telling them they had ten minutes of visiting time left, Madam Pomfrey hurried out of the ward.

Rose hesitated for a moment, then caught up with her at the Hospital Wing entrance.

Black lay in a bed in the Hospital Wing, listening as Potter angrily cursed Snivellus under his breath and chattered on about their next "prank."