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Post by Arienne Devereaux on May 25, 2006 1:13:51 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300] Welcome to The Art of Flying, Lesson One[/glow] Lying astride the castle is a large square of grass, reserved for the Art of Flying lessons taught to every new student at the magical school. The grass covering the space set aside for lessons in flight seems slightly springier to the touch then the rest of the perfectly manicured lawn, as if to make breaking falls easier. At one end of the patch of bright green lawn stands the broom shed, stuffed to bursting with brooms of all models and ages used by the students of the class. Professor Arienne Devereaux opened the shed and began to take out the brooms. She made two long lines, with enough space for each student between each one. Hopefully there were enough to accomodate the class, as it was one of the largest she had ever taught, but she was fairly certain some of the students would be bringing their own brooms. She was finished setting up with plenty of time before the lesson began, so she sat back and waited for her students to arrive.
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Post by calliperrin on May 25, 2006 13:45:36 GMT -5
A young girl slowly wandered onto the lawn, her school bag over her shoulder and her broom in hand. It was not the newest model, but it would do. In a quiet voice, she asked, "Where do you want me to stand, Professor?"
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Post by Arienne Devereaux on May 25, 2006 14:11:33 GMT -5
"Oh, anywhere is fine" Professor Devereaux replied. "Class isn't starting for a while yet, but its good that you're here on time. And you've brought your own broomstick.That's good considering most of these are in abysmal shape. You can set it down anywhere for now but you'll need it when class starts." The professor walked over to where one of the oldest broomsticks was laying on the grass and picked it up. "Ugh. This one's at least eight years old" she said of the old Shooting Star. Twigs were bent out at all angles along the handle, and at least half of the the bottom part was missing. It looked as if it had been run over, she wouldn't have doubted it. She chucked it into the broomshed with a laugh before returning.
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Post by calliperrin on May 25, 2006 14:49:51 GMT -5
"Okay," said the girl again. Standing where the other broom had been.
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Post by connorweasley on May 26, 2006 9:42:31 GMT -5
Connor walked over and sat on the grass and waited for the rest of the third years. He had the fastest broom around, the Firebolt. "Hello professer!" said Connor.
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Post by Arienne Devereaux on May 26, 2006 12:08:18 GMT -5
"Hello Connor," she called, recognising him from the train ride on the first day of term. "Nice broom you've got there," she said, indicating his Firebolt. There was still time before class officially started, but she wished some of her students would get a move on, and not be late.
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Kira Rose
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Post by Kira Rose on May 26, 2006 12:12:46 GMT -5
Kira scratched her head as she made her way down the lawn. "Now where is it?" she asked herself. The she spotted the neat rows of brooms. "Ah Ha!" she said waving her newish broomstick slightly. Her brownish red hair blew in her face as she made her way towards the class. "Sorry If I'm late." she said brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
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Post by Arienne Devereaux on May 26, 2006 12:27:53 GMT -5
((Just a notice to all who are taking this class: I think I'm going to be breaking up this class by year, or at least into more than one group, but this first lesson will be for all students, since I already started this topic.)) "No" Professor Devereaux said. "It's not time for class to start just yet, so don't worry" Her eyes fell on the broom she carried, "Oh, good, people are bringing their own brooms. These just aren't as good, and newer brooms are easier to learn on." She said with a smile.
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Post by ginnypotter on May 26, 2006 14:01:41 GMT -5
Ginnypotter walked over to the lawn. ' Sorry I'm late said Ginnypotter. She walked over near to Arienne Devereaux and gave her a note which said: Sorry that Ginnypotter was late for class she had to put a student to detention.
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Post by connorweasley on May 26, 2006 14:09:24 GMT -5
Connor saw the note and wandered what it was. "So is it ok if I just hover for the moment?" asked Connor looking at the professor. Connor was one of the best people who could ride a broom. His grandfather was on a champion Irish Quidditch team.
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Post by ginnypotter on May 26, 2006 14:18:49 GMT -5
Ginnypotter went on her broom and had a race with Connor. ' My mother was a Quidditch champion too. Told Ginnypotter to Connor. As the race went on Ginnypotter kept on getting the lead. ' Give up yet? asked Ginnypotter with a smirk on her face.
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Post by Arienne Devereaux on May 26, 2006 15:06:26 GMT -5
"Its alright." Professor Devereaux said to Ginny before the race. She consulted her watch after a moment and called out to Ginny and Connor. "Okay, class is about to begin if you could please come down now." She waited only a moment before continuing. "Please place your brooms on the ground." She glanced in the direction of the firebolt, a broom that, when released, hovered above ground for its rider to mount. "Or, let them hover," she amended. "This class is going to serve as a review to all those who already know how to fly, so please be patient with me this time."
The professor walked over to where her broom, a Nimbus 2004 was propped up against the broomshed. "Up!" she said, and her broomstick whizzed into her outstreched hands. She walked back toward the students. "No, please stand with your broomstick on your wand-arm side, and say 'Up!' This should be fairly easy and all of you should be able to do so proffieciently." She paused, then turned in the direction of Connor's broom, hovering in the air at perfect mounting height. "Just let it hover for a moment," the professor said, watching the class trying to command their brooms.
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Post by ginnypotter on May 26, 2006 15:16:31 GMT -5
Ginnypotter looked down at her broom. ' UP she shouted. Straight away Ginnypotter's broom came into her hand. She sat on her broom and swoosh!!!. She was up in the air everyone looked like ants. 'LOOK AT ME!!! shouted Ginnypotter in excitment. I'M DOING IT!!! she shouted again.
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Post by Arienne Devereaux on May 26, 2006 15:23:42 GMT -5
The professor watched as everyone managed to call their brooms. Most of them had no trouble with the simple task, as it was quite easy. Arienne mounted her broom and kicked off, rising a few feet over the grass. She noticed that one of her students, Ginny Potter had taken off. "Ginny, please come back down. I understand that you can do it, and I said this class would be a basic review, so if you could please return to class, that would be great" She finished with a sigh. She strugged to keep her voice from rising at the slytherin student . The professor was generally calm, but when irritated was known to be rather foul.
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Post by Opal Merpes on May 26, 2006 15:24:01 GMT -5
Opal ran outside. "Sorry I'm late I had to give Angel to Pr. Arion" Opal stood by her broom. She had to learn how to do this tobe a ravenclaw seeker. Might as well learn now.
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Kira Rose
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Post by Kira Rose on May 26, 2006 15:24:39 GMT -5
Kira sighed. Her parents were never Quidditch players, actually they hated it. But she thought other wise and grew up playing it with her brothers. "Up." Kira said as the newish broom came up to her hand.
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Post by Nocturne Kitasohma on May 26, 2006 15:28:51 GMT -5
Nocturne ran to the field, panting. Her hair now a cosmic blue and her eyes dark brown, "What did I miss?" She asked the professor, looking around. She stared in awe at the rising brooms, "woah.. that is so cool" She muttered, having never seen brooms flying before, only knowing that they actually did so from Sarentegra, in diagon alley.
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Post by Opal Merpes on May 26, 2006 15:29:29 GMT -5
"Up" her broom came to her right away. She got on and start jumping up and down. "This is pretty easy" she said to Kira.
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Kira Rose
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Post by Kira Rose on May 26, 2006 15:34:07 GMT -5
Kira nodded. "Yeah, but just wait till quidditch starts, awesome game it is, but wicked hard."
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Post by Arienne Devereaux on May 26, 2006 15:40:37 GMT -5
"Its okay, just try an be on time next time," she told Opal. Turning towards the ravenclaw, she said, "Not much, we just started. Right now, I'm waiting for Ginny to return to class." She indicated the studnt above her. "If you could just call your broom by saying, 'Up!, thats all we've done"
Professor Devereaux hovered for a moment on her broomstick before saying, "Now, mount your brooms. This is pretty strainghtfoward as well. " She drifted back onto the grass, and dismounted. "Just do what I do" She swung her leg over the broomstick, and planted both feet on the floor. She waited for all the students to mount, before saying, "Now, hovering in the air is quite simple. Think of kicking off as jumping into the air. Your broomstick will do the rest, and keep you in the air. " She kicked off the grass, and hovered. "When in the air, I want you to do absolutley nothing. Your broomstick will keep you slightly off the ground, and stable. The most important thing is, dont panic. Remain calm, and kick off." She waited for the students to follow her instructions
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Kira Rose
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Post by Kira Rose on May 26, 2006 15:44:55 GMT -5
Kira nodded. She put her leg over her broomstick and kicked off the ground a couple yards in the air. She thought about the detention she still needed to serve, but it was all worth it.
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Post by Opal Merpes on May 26, 2006 15:45:27 GMT -5
Opal did what she said. "Look I'm doing it" She acidently pressed a button on her broom. It turned part of the broom into a seat.
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Kira Rose
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Post by Kira Rose on May 26, 2006 15:47:48 GMT -5
Kira smiled. "Great!" she said to Opal, "Uh is it suppose to do that?" Kira asked looking at the seat. She leaned forward a bit moving forward and diving down.
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Post by Arienne Devereaux on May 26, 2006 15:59:07 GMT -5
"Okay, I'd like all of you to just get used to the feeling of this." she paused for a moment, watching the students, most of whom were plainly bored. "I know, its quite simple, and boring. " She smiled. "I just want you all to get used to the feeling of being in the air. For most of you, this should be really easy, so bear with me. Now, I'd like to talk about controlling your broomstick before we go on to anything more complicated.
"Controlling your broom can be tricky, but it shouldn't be too hard to follow basic directions. Movements on your broomstick should be fluid, like a part of you. Your broomstick should, almost read your mind, it would seem. The force you use on your broomstick should be minimal under these conditions. It would seem obvious in the manner you control your broomstick in the air. We've all mastered the art of hovering, but I'd like to actually get in a bit of flying. So, in the air, we want to make nice, wide turns. Simply shifting your weight to the right or left should do the trick. To rise higher simply lean forward while rising a little in your seat. Think of it as just lifting yourself up a little bit. Stopping in midair is easy, simply sit back on your broom. Moving downward should be the same, a downward shift in weight. You will be amazed at, once you've grasped these concepts, how easily your broomstick will respond to a light touch or shift in weight." The profesor paused before continuing, "Most of this is pretty obvious, and will come to be something you do naturally instead of actually thinking about. Any questions before we continue?"
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Kira Rose
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Post by Kira Rose on May 26, 2006 16:03:42 GMT -5
"No... I don't think so." Kira said holding on to her broom.
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Post by Arienne Devereaux on May 26, 2006 16:09:13 GMT -5
"No questions?" she asked the other students. "Good, good. Now, just so I know, how many of you are new to this?" She asked the students, a question she should have asked before having them mount their brooms. "If you could just raise your hands, that would be great."
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Kira Rose
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Post by Kira Rose on May 26, 2006 16:10:43 GMT -5
Kira sat looking around at the surrounding students, she'd been flying with her brothers for a while now, so she kept her hand down.
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Post by connorweasley on May 26, 2006 16:10:44 GMT -5
Connor was one of the first ones up in the air. It was no special thing to him since he rode his broom alot over the summer training for quidditch. "Well this is fun!" said Connor showing no sign of any emotion.
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Post by Opal Merpes on May 26, 2006 16:11:42 GMT -5
Opal pressed the button again and it turned back to normal. She was still hovering waiting for the signal.
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Post by Opal Merpes on May 26, 2006 16:13:00 GMT -5
Opal raised her hand.
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