[img align=left]http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b174/theatticbox/sadiebroom.png[/img]With the weather astronomically warmer than it had the weeks before, Sadie was ready to get in the sky! Thankfully, Mr. Caswell declared that to celebrate the warmer weather, the whole week the Quidditch Pitch was dedicated to what he called a "free fly". Students, while on break or after classes finished for the night, were free to come and go as they pleased--so long as the sun was still in the sky. He supplied several Quaffles and a handful of golf balls to toss around.

Sadie donned her protective gear cheerfully as soon as her classes ended. She had gotten a new broom she couldn't wait to try out. She marched herself out to the pitch with her broom in one hand and her napsack filled with cauldron cakes in the other. She hoped some of the other students would be joining her. It was fun to fly solo, but it was always better in a group.

Gaia ran to the pitch at full speed while also trying to finish putting on her protective gear. She had been trying new hair charms and the time got away from her. She heard the rumors about the Quidditch pitch being open and she couldn't wait. Smiling Gaia ran and mounted her broom full speed doing some circles around Sadie () while giggling. "I am glad someone is here! I need to practice some techniques I learned over the break!"

Magnus arrived panting as if he had been running. He was a little too out of breath to say anything as he clutched a stitch in his side. He waved to Gaia and a girl he had not officially met. He was looking forward to riding his broom again.

[img align=left]https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b174/theatticbox/sadiebroom.png[/img]Sadie laughed and replied to , "I'm glad you're here too! I was hoping I wouldn't be alone. It's no fun when you're alone!"

She smiled at Magnus () when he arrived and waved.

"I don't think I know either of your names. I'm Sadie Holland! I'm a Hufflepuff."

Sadie mounted her broom and started following Gaia's path. The two of them flew around Magnus.

"'Llo," he said with a little wheeze. Mostly recovered he did his trademark half smile. "I'm Magnus Lee, Gryffindor an' werewolf." He mounted his broom and guided it to the air, letting it hoover for a moment he said, "Nice ta meet ya. So glad they opened the pitch, love flyin' I do."

[img align=left]https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b174/theatticbox/sadiebroom.png[/img]"Nice to meet you, Magnus ()!" Sadie was surprised he was a werewolf, but didn't want to show her surprise. She bit her lip, feeling at a loss for words. Finally, she remembered what they were here to do: fly.

Sadie flew straight up into the air at full speed, grateful for the wind on her face. She then did a backwards loop and dove back down towards them.

"It feels so good to be in the air! I love to fly too. I don't get to nearly enough! I'm so glad the weather's getting warmer."

() Gaia chuckled, it is always fun to see what people do when Magnus () openly admits he is a werewolf. "Don't be afraid of the fluff ball. just scratch him behind the ears!" Gaia roared with laughter almost falling of her broom. She would never admit she had missed Magnus sense of humor. "You both fancy a quick game of toss to warm up the muscles?"

"'Ey now, if you scratch me behind me ear, do it on the ground, okay, Gaia," he said with a laugh, "don't fancy spendin' time in the 'osptial wing today. Mind ya you can injure me before me astronomy class. Anything to avoid 'avin' ta spot Jupiter's moons." He beam at the suggestion. "SURE!" he practically yelled in his enthusiasm and speed down to grab a quaffle.

[img align=left]https://i.imgur.com/SVnDghm.png[/img] () "No scratching while flying. I know the rules!" Gaia grinned at her friend and did a loop to position herself for warm-ups.

Aderyn hadn't originally intended to partake in the free flying time on the Quidditch pitch when she'd heard rumor of it, but she'd seen how excited Gaia had been about it and so she'd decided to join in on the fun down on the pitch. Besides, while she'd gotten a lot better at flying while she'd been part of the Quidditch club the term before, she knew she could use the practice. As such, she grabbed her broom out of storage and took the express route down to the pitch - right out the window in the Ravenclaw common room, fluttering down to the ground on her wings. Mounting her broom, she kicked off from the ground and steadied herself a little bit before flying off for the pitch, noticing a few students already gathered therein. Flying over, she smiled at two familiar faces and one less so.

"Hello everyone!"

"But on ground you can," he said with a laugh, "remember, I likes the ladies." He winked and tossed the quaffle at her just as Aderyn appeared. "'Llo Aderyn!"

[img align=left]https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b174/theatticbox/sadiebroom.png[/img]Sadie hovered on the same level as and , ready to start warming up.

"Hi there!" she greeted Aderyn (). "Great day, isn't it?"

She balanced herself on her broom and took her hands off, waving them at Gaia.

"Toss it here! I'm open!"

[img align=left]https://i.imgur.com/SVnDghm.png[/img]Gaia tossed the quaffle at Sadie () just in time to see Aderyn () joining in. "Welcome stranger! I am Gaia from Ravenclaw." Laughing Gaia zoomed quickly to Magnus () and scratch the side of his head "If you say so ladies man!" Returning to hover and continue warm-ups "I think this term will be a lot of fun!"

[img align=left]https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b174/theatticbox/sadiebroom.png[/img]Sadie caught the Quaffle and steaded herself on her broom. Turns out she was sorely out of practice. She zoomed a few feet before yelling "Heads up!" and tossing the ball to Aderyn ().

If he had a tail at the moment, it would have wagged. The scratch was surprisingly pleasant. Laughing Magnus stretched a moment a took off on his broom once around the pitch. He did a few loops and returned back. The wind in his hair felt much like Gaia's head scratch that he was still smiling about. He sure liked all the friends he had. "I know whatcha mean Gaia. Any bad day can be improved on the pitch yeah?" He saw Sadie's slight wobble but she righted herself before he had to worry about her falling.

[img align=left]https://i.imgur.com/SVnDghm.png[/img] () "I guess having dogs growing up helped master my scratching abilities! You are right though flying makes everything better. I am so happy we are allowed to fly after classes and free time. It helps reduce stress for me!"

"Never 'ad a pet till Kippers," he said "and now Vega. Me too," he said with a laugh, "if only I can do me 'omework on me broom."

Katsumi heard of the open Pitch, and as soon as she had a moment of free time, she headed there, broom in hand. She was thrilled that second-years were allowed to bring there own brooms. Hers wasn't the best or the fastest, but it was a far sight better than the school brooms, some of which had an unfortunate tendency to list to one side or the other.

She spotted a couple faces she'd seen in the Care of Magical Creatures club, including Magnus and two members of her own house. They were already tossing a ball back and forth. Smiling inwardly, though her face showed little of her cheer, the girl leaped on her broom and shot towards the others. She hoped to make the Quidditch team for Ravenclaw this year, as a Seeker or Chaser, and she'd been practicing over break.

"Intercepted!" Katsumi cried as she swooped in front of Aderyn, grabbing the quaffle that had been heading towards the other girl. It was a term she'd heard used mostly by her grandfather, when he spoke of American football, but it felt appropriate to use here. She guided her broom upwards, loving the feel of the wind on her face. Once she'd gained a little height on her, Katsumi dropped the ball. "Think fast!"

Aderyn smiled at Magnus and Sadie and rolled her eyes at Gaia.

"Really? I'm Ravenclaw, too! Funny I've never seen you around before..."

She whipped her head around as Sadie called out that she was tossing her the quaffle and she stretched out her arms just in time to miss it by a short stretch as Katsumi caught the quaffle.

"Nice catch!"

She watched the other girl as she circled higher on her broom, then zoomed in as Katsumi dropped the ball, catching it easily. She turned sharply and glanced around, her eyes landing on the first person in her line of sight, which happened to be Magnus.

"All yours!"

She tossed the quaffle in his direction.

Magnus barely had time to acknowledged Katsumi. He managed to say, "'Llo.." then zoomed to grab the ball. it hit him in his chest more than him catching it. "Oof," he said as he lost his grip. The ball fell to the ground as Magnus was holding onto his broom with one hand. He cursed himself for not paying attention as he struggled to get himself back on his broom. Turning crimson he finally managed to get back on the broom and darted back to the ground to retrieve the fallen ball. "'Ere ya go," he said to Sadie, throwing her the ball. As he took a moment to try to hide his major embarrassment.