Margaret was more than happy that the teacher had not noticed her kicking away the stupid broom. It did give her a little something to grin internally about when one of the other hufflepuff girls (Hester Frey) also seemed reluctant to do this. Maggie could ride a bike, she didn't need to ride a broom like some witch. Admittedly she didn't own a bicycle of her own, but then she was never likely to own a broom either.

She begrudgingly walked over and picked up the broom again before rejoining her line. "up" she said with a sigh. Again the broom ignored her. She should probably have got the teacher's attention in order to get help, she would not have wanted to be punished for failing to do this task, but she just wanted to be back in her room, the one in irvingly which had all the pretty things in it that she might not see again. A long sigh this time before holding out her hand. "up" The wooden broom snapped up to her hand, making her squeek with suprise and pull her hand back in causing the broom to drop back down to the floor where it bobbed low a few inches off the ground. She looked at Georgianna Shacklebolt who stood nearby still and gave a nervous grin to ask for approval of the one person who had been nice to her since she arrived.

---

Reuben Crouch

  

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Culpurnia's broom had lifted off the ground, but only long enough for her to delight in her temporary progress. It clattered back to the ground and refused to move the second, then the third, and even the fourth time she tried to summon it. Every subsequent "Up," came out a little firmer, a little louder, a little more frustrated. It wasn't like she had grand ideals of being a star flyer, but she hated the idea of not being good at something that everyone else excelled at. Just watching the first few students take to the air was enough to fill her with a newfound sense of urgency.

"Up," she demanded again, her fingers wiggling in anticipation.

---

  

Some of the others had made it into the air, which meant that Kaatjie really ought to start trying a bit more — she didn't want to be a failure. "Up," she said. Nothing. "Up." This time, the broom shot into her hand, and she gripped it tight. She attempted to mimic Stella Pendergast and did manage to clamber on, but did not dare kick off more than a few inches away from the ground.

  

Rorie noticed that others seemed to be having more trouble, and wondered what in the world she’d done right to be one of the people hovering in the air right now. She looked to Miss Spaans and gave her an encouraging nod. “You can do it!” She said firmly. She gave a little clap when the Gryffindor girl ended up on her broomstick and hovered, but realized belatedly that she had let go of the broomstick. With a tiny cry of alarm she seized the broomstick once more, holding on for dear life in case it shot off with her on it.

  

The fresh air was lovely and Chloe didn't mind going outside. But she eyed the broom with a bit of trepidation as she stood next it to. Her friends all seemed fine with the idea of flying so Chloe determined she would be to. Even if she didn't have experience.

Following directions she held out her hand and used her most stern (note, bossy) voice as she commanded it to "Up."

(Chloe volunteers for tribute)