As I'd hoped Sunday lived up to its name. The air was warm yet crisp, the sky was blue and dotted with fluffy cumulus clouds that looked like giant pillars holding up the heavens. All in all, a perfect day for what I had planned. I'd stayed put in my room for most of the morning, getting in the finishing touches on the cloak I'd made the day before and fastening it to the shoulders of the jacket already on the manikin. The helmet was a simple transfiguration using a brass instrument Paddy had found in the Room of Requirements and I'd layered on a few quick and dirty charms on it. They likely wouldn't last more than a day or two, but that would be enough.
I waited until an hour after dinner to head out. Quoth had just returned and informed me that an unofficial grudge match between Gryffindor and Slytherin had broken out on the Quidditch field, drawing in a bit of a crowd. I could use that, getting those hotheads riled up would be easy if their emotions were already running high from butting heads with their "eternal" rivals. I could feel my mouth stretch into what I'm certain is a not so nice grin.
I quickly stripped down to only my T-shirt and underwear, as well as my socks. My new pants went on first. I should have gone with an old aviator style, to keep the look, but they look so god awfully stupid that I couldn't bring myself to make something like that. I'd instead skipped over to the normal world and picked up a pair of sturdy light beige trousers and then altered them to fit my needs. I slipped on a pair of thin leather bracers and fastened them tightly followed by a wide belt decorated with a large gold-plated belt buckle shaped like a lightning bolt.
The Jacket went on next. This one I'd made from scratch since you couldn't get them in stores and I wanted it to be a good fit. The style was based on the World War 2 aviator's jacket from the US, but with a British Army Cavalry Jacket twist to the front in the form of a large piece of leather that covered the whole chest area and were buttoned down with numerous shiny brass buttons. I made sure that the fasteners that hooked up the jacket to the pants were in good order, didn't want anything to come lose after all, before I pulled on the boots. I'd had more problems with them than any other piece I'd made – shoemaking was not one of my strengths as it turns out. I hadn't broken them in yet so they were hella uncomfortable, fortunately I wouldn't have to be in them too long. The off-white gloves were store bought.
I fastened my new cape into the large chest-piece before I turned to look into the mirror. Not a bad look overall. I posed a bit, looking myself over form several angles to make sure that nothing was out of place and making me look odd(-er).
The helmet actually made me think of a cross between the face of a Roswell Gray and the front of a car with the large eyeholes covered with dark glass and the grill right in front of the mouth. But the large swept fin that projected a good foot of the back of the helm made it look like it belonged as a hood ornament on some fancy car. The fact that it was made entirely out of burnished brass probably helped.
"You are ready then?" Paddy asked from where he was standing on my leatherworking station observing me.
I nodded at him with a smile. "As much as I can be, I guess. You'll be ready for when I call?"
"Naturally. I shall be waiting with bated breath, sir." Was the dry and vaguely disgusted reply, as if the notion that he wouldn't be was utterly ridiculous. I smiled proudly at him.
"Wish me luck," I told him and placed the helmet in the crook of my left arm before pulling the door open. I'd debated just putting it on from the get-go, but decided that it would be best that people knew it was me from the start. I'd put it on once I got outside.
"Of course sir," Paddy said with a shallow bow as I left.
I decided to take a slightly longer route outside than was strictly necessary so that I would hopefully run into some people on the way. Which I did. I got some odd looks and as I hoped some people started to meander after me, likely drawn by a combination of what I was up to and what the purpose of my strange outfit was about. By the time I was nearing one of the side gates that lead out to the part of the grounds where the pitch was I guesstimated that I had a good thirty people trailing after me.
It was a relief to be able to finally put on the helmet; it had been increasingly difficult to maintain my neutral expression and keep myself from turning redder than a stoplight. As I put it on I could hear the murmurs of my little following pick up in volume. Steeling myself I quickly picked a good spot to start, a natural open space between the various groups that were outside that day, yet weren't interested in what was going on at the pitch.
Once I got to the right place I went down on one knee and bent over a bit so I could place my right fist firmly against the ground. Then I waited for a brief moment before I mentally activated my new ring. Much like my other rings, it didn't do anything very impressive, it just caused the ground around me to vibrate subtly, just enough that people standing nearby would be able to pick up on it. Which they did if the sudden drop-off in conversation I heard was any indication.
After that I activated one of my original rings, its purpose was to cause a localized drop in air pressure. Not much but enough to cause a sudden draft. Right on the heel of that, I used a bit of a spell combo of my own devising, causing a sudden blast of air around me even as I pushed off, blasting straight up into the air as if shot by a cannon. I'd have liked to imagine my little crowd letting out startled yells as I did that, but the only thing I could hear was the roaring of the wind as I flew straight up a good five hundred feet before stopping.
"Woah, what a rush!" I crowed to myself before wincing and rubbing my right leg. I think I might have accidentally pulled something when I jumped. "Go to work on those takeoffs it seems. Or maybe just not do that again, ouch..."
I shook my leg a bit which lessened the arch a bit. I'd be paying for it later. But for right now… it was time to fly. And at my mental command, the ground fell away as I accelerated straight up for another two hundred feet before I leveled off and set course along the outer wall of the castle and I couldn't help but laugh out loud for the sheer joy of it all.
I was FLYING! Actually fucking flying! Not riding in an airplane, or god forbid, falling out of one! Or strapping yourself to what is essentially a missile and riding it out. I'd been dreaming about being able to do something like this as far back as I could remember. I'd promised myself that if I ever got the chance to gain superpowers I would pick something that could be used in such as way as to allow me to fly, everything else was gravy, and I like gravy and would try for gravy but flight first, gravy second. Magic was an acceptable choice, as far as I was concerned. It had taken some work, four years of it, but I was there! This had been my dream back home, an impossible dream, one that had no chance of ever coming true, at least within my allotted lifetime. Perhaps someone would figure out something back home, at some point in the future, that could approximate it. But I would have been unlikely to be alive when they did. It had been an utterly depressing thought.
I had to admit, ending up in this place had some upsides I could get behind. I just wish I could have shared it with my family. Even if they were stupid SOB's. Still can't believe they suggested I take up skydiving. What kind of maniac jumps out of a perfectly good airplane with only a piece of cloth between them and certain death!? I want to fly, not plummet towards the ground at terminal velocity. That's insane! How is that not insane?
I snorted before accelerating and performed a quick roll, which went off without a hitch, I followed it up by tucking into a ball and somersaulting through the air, all without changing direction or speed. God, it was amazing. I hadn't expected it to be this intuitive, this responsive and easy to use!
I'm so good I impress myself sometimes!
I cackle freely out loud, not like anyone can hear me right now, before making a beeline towards the Forbidden Forest to do some slalom practice amongst the trees, which works out rather pleasantly with only one near miss when I got too busy patting myself on the back.
So many bees!
Being the courageous person that I am I performed an immediate advance to the rear, that was enough testing for today. Time to put my little plan into action. With that thought, I made my way back to near my starting point and stoped to look down at the pitch below me.
Right now it was time to piss off some of the "in" people of the school. This will be fun. For me anyway, and that's all that matters!
I angled myself downwards and blasted off again, all the while keeping an eye out for my target as I neared the players. I'd only get one chance at this, so I had to time it just right. There! With a burst of speed, I plashed between two players and snatched the Quaffle out of the air as I passed before I angled sharply and rose up high above the pitch again. It took the gathered players a few moments to comprehend what had just happened, and who was responsible. I heard the crowd in the stands getting noisier as I passed by.
The players seemed to have gathered their wits to themselves and were rising to my level to confront me. They did not look too happy.
"Hey, give that back!" One of the players demanded, a big brown haired, broad shouldered, boy that I didn't know the name off. He was waving his beater bat at me threateningly.
I tossed the Quaffle up in the air and caught it again. "How about you come over here make me, Jockstrap?"
The guys face scrunched up in anger. "Who are ya, you tosser?"
"Well, right now I'm the guy with the ball," I said teasingly and tossed the Quaffle up in the air again and catching it. "Care to play a game?"
"What game?" Another player called, ahe smallish ruddy haired boy, probably the Seeker.
"Catch," I said while smiling behind my helmet. "As in; catch me if you can!" I yelled and accelerated way from them. This time I could hear their enraged shouts as they chased after me.
I smiled.
We quickly left the pitch behind us, I decided to head over to the group I'd left behind, going low and passing right over their heads. The whole group scattered as I and my pursuers passed them in rapid succession. I laughed in exhilaration only to then yelp as a blast of red light almost clipped me in the head. I smiled grimly; time to test how good they turn!
I tucked, fliped and turned on a dime and headed off towards Hogwarts with my flying mob hot on my heels. I started to slalom trough the towers and arches, making sure to keep a good distance ahead of my pursuers. As I rounded a tower a group of riders came into view ahead of me forcing me to drop into free-fall to avoid another spell shot my way. Clever, they were splitting up to cut me off. Another group was already coming up from below me. I cursed and wheeled sharply to the left and dove into the long outside pathway that leads to the Owlery before poring on a little more speed. Students jumped to the side in fright as I blasted by overhead like a cannonball. I looked back and saw that some had followed me in; the rest was flying in to assume flanking positions on either side.
Let it not be said that Gryffindor and Slytherin can't work together for a common goal! HAH!
I smiled. Time to show them how this suit of mine was different from those outdated brooms they were riding around on. I stopped. Instantly and without warning. And roped down to the floor. My pursuers, not reacting fast enough flew past me allowing me. I took the opportunity to jump off from the walkway and fly away towards the forest.
"Come on gents, lets commune with nature!" I taunted with my Sonorus enhanced voice before I plunged into the murky depths of the forest. To their credit, or stupidity, the all of the Gryffs and some of the Snakes followed me in, with the rest rising above, trying to follow us from above the thick canopy. An utterly impossible proposition at the speeds we were flying. What followed was an insane ballet of movements we swerved in between the giant trunks for the ancient forest. I laughed out loud as I managed to trick two of my pursuers to crash into the crown of a tree before having to duck another stunner from an enterprising Slytherin that had snuck up on me.
"Get the bloody sod!" One of the Lions screamed at the Slytherin. "Can't aim for shit can ya!"
"Don't see you doing any better, wanker!" The Snake yelled back before taking another shot. It wasn't even close.
I laughed only to yelp in fright as another Gryff, a girl this time, suddenly appeared in front of me, obviously intending to physically tackle me. How aggressive! I cut of my propulsion and let gravity pull me downwards, causing her to overshoot and crash into the pursuing Slytherin with an enraged shriek."
"Where are you going you daft cow!" The Slytherin complained as they plummeted towards the ground in a tangle of limbs and brooms, which they had the presence of mind to use to slow their decent. "OW! What the bloody hell are you punishing me for you slag!"
"Call me a cow, will ya, you manky bell end!" The girl screeched in return and slaped the guy.
I laughed again before deciding that I'd played with 'em enough, not to mention thinned the heard out a bit. I
I lead the rest of my pursuers back towards the lake and the pitch before slowing to a stop and turning towards my pursuers, who caught up to me quickly. Time for the final act. I started to slowly rise vertically, slowly enough for the group to catch up to me. I looked down at the mass they approached me from below. I was suprise that no one was shooting at me right now, I had expected to have to dodge a few shots, I suppose they wondered what I was up to.
"Well that was fun wasn't it?" I called out to them with a Sonorous enhanced voice. "Now let me show you how little chance you had of ever catching me!"
I tossed the Quaffle away from me, looked up and then pushed my new suit as fast as it could go, holding nothing back. The distant clouds suddenly started to move closer to me and I could feel a minute pressure on my spine as the inertia charm struggled to compensate for the sudden acceleration. A haze was starting to build in front of me and I felt a pressure bearing down in the top half of my body for a moment before my vision cleared and the pressure dropped off.
It worked! I mean, I knew it would! But still! I laughed as I reached the clouds above and dived right in. Seconds later I cleared the cloud tops and then I swung around and dove straight down where I'd come from. Within moments I was almost ground level again, I straightened out and shot out over the lake, almost touching the water. Behind me, twin rooster tails exploded into the air from the pressure of my passing. I angled myself towards Hogwarts, aiming for a spot some two hundred feet of the tallest tower.
I'm honored to be the first-ever to buzz Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! BOOM BABY! I'm the super sonic wizard bitches! Bow before my awsomnes!
I laughed again. This was the greatest moment of my life as yet, though I hoped to have many more. I started to rise again, but this time I didn't stop when I reached the clouds, but kept going, and going and going until the horizon started to round. And there, at the edge of space, I finally stopped. Below me lay the Earth in its entire magnificent splendor, like a huge glowing blue-green gem of indescribable beauty. And above me, the stars, brighter and clearer then I had ever seen them before. They shone like white diamonds on a field of black velvet.
I had been wrong just moment before.
This. This was the greatest moment of my life. Here, between earth and sky. Between the finite and infinity.
"They should have sent a poet." I said, as corny as it was.
It was only right.
I think I might have lost track of time as I hung there, just floating, but I eventually remembered what I was supposed to be doing. I let gravity reclaim me, allowing myself to tumble out of the sky uncontrollably for a good two minutes before I reasserted control of my decent. I needed to position myself correctly. I just hoped the crowd hadn't dispersed while I was stargazing.
As it turned out I didn't have to worry, not only had the crowd not dispersed, it had grown, and as I dropped down I could see more people exiting the castle. I quickly ascertained exactly where the sun was and angled myself so that I would seem to descend straight out of it. I turned on the ring that generated a glow around me. It wouldn't be very noticeable with the sun behind me, but it still would enhance the effect. With a mental command, my cloak fanned out behind me allowing me to cast a significantly larger shadow as I floated down slowly until I came to a stop about fifteen feet of the ground looking down at the ground that looked back up at me. They weren't silent either. I had no idea what they were saying, it was a loud roar directed towards me.
It didn't take long for my flying fan club to arrive. Flying full tilt at me. Clumped together in a large group. I smiled under my helm as I angled myself against them and raised a hand. I cast two spells wandlessly in rapid succession. One generated wind, the other enhanced it. The two teams that had almost reached me was not prepared for the blast of near hurricane-level winds that smashed into them. The whole group was thrown into disarray; most of them were blasted off their brooms entirely. The natural hardiness of wizard and witches and the closeness to the ground meant that they likely wouldn't get more than some grass stains on their robes.
The few that managed to keep themselves afloat looked far less inclined to attack me. But just to make sure I made a lasting impression I raised my hand above my head and cast a flame and then the same enhancing spell I'd used previously. The titanic gout of flame that was produced would have made a dragon green with envy.
Silence rained after my little display.
I cast Sonorous again. "I trust I made myself clear!"
Then I cast my light charm again and called Paddy for a lift back to my room.