Chapter 44

"Watch me, I'm going first," said Fred. He first mounted the broomstick and then kicked off the ground. He sped up and did a lap.

"Wait for me, Fred," said George as he took off similarly to his brother.

"Decent. They'll most likely take over for the beaters next year," Charlie said with a proud look on his face.

After the twins had finished doing laps around the field, they dismounted and ran towards their brother. They handed the brooms to Albert and Lee. Since neither of them had touched a real broom, Charlie gave them a crash course on the basics and showed how to mount and dismount a broom without hurting themself.

Off to the side, the twins were practicing the Wand lighting charm while they discussed how exhilarating the flight was. They looked over two their two friends and saw their brother showing them how to use a broom.

"How come he's being so caring to them while teaching them?" George said. "He wasn't like that when he taught us.."

"It's like we're not his actual brother," Fred said. "He like our friends better than us."

"Shut up. Can't you see I'm trying to help your friend?" Charlie said as he glared at the twins. After that, he corrected Lee Jorden's hand grip.

"I think both of you are ready. I want you to follow every single word to the tee. Do you understand?" Charlie said as he waited for the two boys to nod. "Since you're ready, place your brooms on the floor and stand to the left. Once you're ready and feel comfortable, say 'up'."

The two boys did as they were told. They stood to the left and said 'up'.

"Since you've got hold of your broom, I want you to mount it just like I said earlier. Grip it tight; you don't want to be sliding off," Charlie said as he adjusted their positions and then took a step back. "When I get to one, I want you two to kick off the ground hard. Keep your brooms in a steady hover. 3... 2... 1... go."

Charlie drew his wand, ready for an accident to occur. When he saw both of them hover for about five seconds, he approached them again. "Who wants to go first?"

"I do," Lee exclaimed. He looked over at Albert to see his reaction, but all he did was shrug.

"Okay then. Lean forward to speed up and shift your body weight to go in whichever direction you want. Go as fast as you are comfortable with and don't speed up trying to impress your friends. I've seen people get into horrific injuries by doing that. Once you're ready, off you go," Charlie said as he once again took a step back.

Lee flew around the field and took about five minutes to do two laps. Although he was slow, he was smooth on the broom. Once he dismounted, the happiness could almost radiate off him. He then went to join the twins in watching Albert going on his first broom ride.

Charlie, after seeing Albert not moving, asked him what's wrong.

"Nothing, I'm just wondering how you have implemented the Cushioning Charm into the broom." Albert said.

"That was Professor Flitwick. If you want to find out more, you should go and ask him. Anyway, good luck," Charlie said as he gave him a word of encouragement.

"One quick question. Is there anything for shock absorption and is there a suspension system on it?" Albert asked.

"Not any I know of. Again, if you want to find out more, see Professor Flitwick or even Madam Hooch," Charlie said.

"Stop asking questions, Albert," George said.

"Hurry up and start flying," Fred said.

As Albert gripped the broomstick tighter, he could feel the rough texture of the handle beneath his fingers. With a deep breath, he kicked off the ground, his heart pounding in his chest as the broomstick rises from its resting position.

The sensation of lifting off the ground is indescribable, as if his stomach is dropping and soaring at the same time. He started slower than Lee and slowly starting to speed until he was going as fast as Lee at his peak speed. The wind rushed past his face, whipping his hair and clothes as he soared higher and higher into the sky. Albert can see the ground falling away beneath you, the sights and sounds of the world below growing distant and small, but the broom grew uncontrollable.

In a split decision call, he invested some experience points into his newly formed skill: flying (broom). He could feel the effects instantly. As he gained altitude, he realised the broomstick was responding to his every movement, like an extension of his own body. Albert twisted and turned, feeling the broomstick respond to his every command. It's like nothing else in the world matters, just him and the broomstick flying together. He then sped up again to match the twins' max speed.

The experience of flying on a broomstick is both exhilarating and calming. You feel the freedom and power to go anywhere you want and the sense of being in control. As he flew, he felt a sense of weightlessness and freedom.

Once he finished four laps in just under six minutes, he dismounted the broom and joined his friends. His friends rushed to join him. They were shocked and surprised by how well he ride the broom on his first try.

"Well done. That was a decent first attempt, kid," Charlie said. "You have the talent. I reckon you'll make a decent chaser or seeker. If you two both would like, you can come and train with the team just like the twins but you won't make the teams until you passed the trials in your second year or under very special circumstances with the permission of Professor McGonagall," Charlie said.

Alberts' talent impressed Charlie. With the twins, he could train the next generation of Gryffindor beaters and with Albert, he could train him to take over his position as a chaser or maybe even a seeker. However, he had the greatest hope for Lee. His technique on the broom was excellent and looked like we could mould him into a versatile player as long as he broke out of his shell. He was lacking confidence in his own abilities, and that could hamper his potential.

Lee immediately agreed, but Albert took a few seconds to think it over before agreeing. The twins were happy and started celebrating the fact they had something they all could enjoy together.