A little Broomin' never hurt no one [open]

The day was cool, light streaming in giving a great view from the staff room, as he sat in there that morning drinking his hot tea, the warmth spreading through. He stared out of the window, directly opposite him, the pitch, it was beautiful. As soon as he was finished, Samuel went over to the sink and quickly placed his cup in the sink, he didn't have time to clean! That was a house elf's job! Glancing around the staff room, filled with few people he knew, Sam decided to take advantage of the opportunity clearly presenting itself to him.

A quick sigh at the joys of feeling the wind through his hair, he walked out of the staff room and towards the pitch, a little time alone would be wonderful. He stomped along the corridor, walking purposefully towards the exit, he had no time for students at this ridiculously early time in the morning, around ten am, pointless for silly questions when there was no flying lessons until mid-afternoon. He walked down a couple of steps, coming to the foyer, walking past a couple of students lazing about on the friday morning, it was probably a break or something.

His feet slapped onto the hard concrete of The Courtyard, turning towards Malfoy Fountain, as impressive as it was, he was looking for a more inspirational experience than that of a measly fountain, no matter how great the family it represented. Soon enough, his black shoes made contact with the soft grass, whipping through, it was appropriate he was nearly always in his comfy flying robes. Made in a similar style as the quidditch robes, for practicality and only available for flying professors - they were exclusive.

Sam was pleased he was used to walking at a reasonable pace, he would get too impatient otherwise, it would be better flying everywhere but he didn't want to be a bad role model for the younger ones, the headmistress wouldn't be very pleased. Upon entering the enormous stadium, a grin lighting his face at the very thought of jumping into the air onto his magnificent broom, Sam headed for the broom cupboard, located on the other side of the pitch.

It was unfortunate the the wizard who had built the stadium thought it was humourous enough to put the locker rooms and cupboards on the farthest side from the entry point, to keep them fit and stop their grumbling. Sam wasn't pleased when he saw that and kept making the mistake of leaving his broom behind when he was late for dinner. It would be awkward coming into the Main Hall with that, the students wouldn't be able to eat with the amount of excitement he had caused!

Finally, after a long awaited few minutes, Samuel came to the broom cupboard, right next to the locker rooms. He sighed, cursing the silly professor for the carefully planned architecture, as he quickly opened the cupboard with a creaky slam. Grabbing his broomstick, a complete vintage addition that had been highly praised in its era and had never failed him. A Firebolt 720, complete with a broom cleaning kit, it was kept in fine condition.

"Just you and me" Sam muttered, closing the door while holding his broom tightly in the other hand, he turned sharply towards the pitch. Making sure he was far enough away from the lockers, he mounted his broom and pushed hard on the ground, flying into the air.

There was nothing quite like it.

It was very rare that Jennifer would come outside by her own free will. Usually she’d only come outside if she had decided to teach a class out there. She’d been in her office, going over her ideas for her classes, when something had caught her eye outside. When she’d turned to look, her heart had started beating that little bit faster, and Jennifer didn’t know why. It took her a moment to realise that what had caught her eye was none other than Samuel Greenfield. With a small smile, she stood and walked over to the window, resting her hands gently on the windowsill. Watching Sam fascinated her. It was like he became a part of the broom when he was flying; it was just second nature to him.

It only took Jennifer a second to make up her mind. She wanted to see Sam; she wanted to speak with him. It seemed like they hadn’t talked in forever, and he was her best friend. She wanted to see him.

Jennifer turned briskly back to her desk, and began to rapidly tidy it up. Her paperwork to the left, class ideas in the middle, quill and inkpots on the right. Once she was satisfied with her desk setup, she grabbed her wand, shoved it into her robe pocket, and started out the door. Her office was in the tower, in a room sitting behind the Dark Arts classroom. It usually took her about ten minutes to get down to the first floor. Sighing, Jennifer picked up her pace, making her way down the tower staircase. There were a few students loitering on the staircase; it must have been a break or something between classes. Jennifer didn’t pay any attention to them, even when one of them greeted her.

She made her way through the fourth floor corridor down to the third floor, through the third floor corridor down to the second floor until she finally reached the first floor. She pushed open the castle doors and made her way outside. Past the greenhouses, past the Kelpie Pond and onto the Quidditch Pitch. She shielded her eyes from the sun, and looked up into the sky. She glanced around a moment before spotting him. There he was. There was her Sam. A smile flicking across her face, Jennifer cupped her hands around her mouth. “Sam!” she called, loudly.

The wind ruffling his hair, a whistle whipping past his ear, a large smile on his face as he flew around the pitch dipping this way and that. The broom sweeping into them with its impressive ability. Relishing in the fact that he was alone, no one flying alongside with him he wa so liberating but unfortunately only temporary, as he soon found out when a shout of his name pulled him out of his thoughts. Samuel sighed, trying to look towards the source of the noise, without stopping, surely they would understand he wasn't in the mood to explain the history of the broom and the specific techniques in the 18th century. What did they exactly have to do with flying!?

When he managed to distinguish that the person was by no means a student, he came to a graceful stop, her dark hair wrapping around her shoulders like a cloak, Sam recognised her to be Jennifer Calloway. "Jennifer!" Sam leant on the front of the broom, speeding it up and beginning to turn it to a low swoop until he was almost above her. He circled around, finally coming to a stop, "What are you doing here?"

He smiled at her, the refreshing air having a quick effect on his breathing with the exhilaration of it all. He had asked a perfectly decent question and Sam was merely curious, it was nice seeing her out here. Jen didn't seem the type to wonder out of her classroom often. "You wanting a lesson?" Sam grinned. He quickly hopped off his broom, holding it in his right hand above the ground. "Or did you just want a quick ride?"

He ignored the meaning behind his questions, they were absolutely innocent though she would probably draw her own conclusions. Not that he minded, it wouldn't exactly be something he wouldn't look forward to. If he did at all, of course Jennifer was way out of his league, she was on a completely different planet to him, he standed no chance. Jennifer was too ...much.

Jennifer stood perfectly still as she watched Sam go through many stages. At first, he didn’t stop flying. He barely turned. Then he turned slightly, a look on his face which Jen saw to be a rather annoyed look. Finally, he seemed to realise who was calling him, and he sped down towards the ground. He circled around her and came to a stop. “What are you doing here?” He smiled at her. Jen smiled back, and shrugged slightly, one hand resting lightly on her hip. “I saw you flying from my office window”, she said, gesturing up towards the tower, “And I thought I’d come say hello. I wanted to see you.”

She smiled again, her head tilted slightly to the right as she watched him. He’d been enjoying himself, which was easy to tell. His breathing gave it away. Jen watched as Sam climbed off the broom and held it. “You wanting a lesson?” he asked, grinning at her. Jennifer could feel a smirk forming on her face. “Or did you just want a quick ride?” The smirk broke out on Jennifer’s face, and she brushed her hair back behind her shoulders. She didn’t know if Sam realised the double meaning behind his words, but Jennifer had. She chuckled softly, and took a few steps towards Sam.

Once she was close enough, she put one hand on the broom and looked at Sam. “I think I’d like a ride”, she said, grinning at the meaning behind her words, “But don’t make it too quick.” Jen laughed, her gaze lingering on Sam for a moment, before she flicked it to the broom. This was too much. Jennifer couldn’t understand what it was that she felt for Sam. Was it friendship, or was it more than that? He didn’t approve of the fact that she was a death eater. She couldn’t change who she was, and she couldn’t make Sam understand how much she loved what she was doing.

In a way, she didn’t want to. The fact that Sam disapproved so much made their relationship a kind of forbidden one. Sam’s mother certainly wouldn’t approve of Jennifer if she knew what she was, and Jennifer’s mother wouldn’t approve of anyone Jennifer liked, merely because she’d believe that whoever Jennifer liked was lowering their standards to be with her. The ‘forbidden’ part of their relationship was what excited Jennifer.

Jen turned her gaze back to Sam. “So what do you say, Professor Greenfield?” she asked, grinning at him. “You willing to give me a ride?”

Samuel gave a small nod, she had been spying on him? How...interesting. He stopped the smile appearing on his face from her words, she 'wanted to see' him?! He pictured himself with a huge grin at her comment, he couldn't picture her saying that sort of thing to him. "Glad you did" He said, after a minute, collecting his thoughts, trying to think through what to do next. Jennifer seemed to have a smirk on her face, making him wonder what the big joke was, his eyes following her hand in her hair. It looked so soft, and he had such an urge to run his hands through and check for himself, Sam smiled, ignoring the feeling, to focus on what she was doing.

Jennifer was walking towards him, she was inches away and Sam could've poked headbutted her with how close she was, but he wouldn't because.. that was what little muggle children did and Jennifer would hardly approve of such behaviour. No matter how funny it would be from his perspective. His head turned with the movement of her hand onto his broom, raising an eyebrow as he heard her talking.

Sam laughed, she had definitely understood what he had said, and he was quite surprised at her. He knew that the feeling he harboured for Jennifer was different to his other colleagues, but he hadn't managed to distinguish how much, Jennifer was someone he had known longer than the others but between them, he knew how much she lved what she did. He didn't want to come between that, she was his best friend and she was absolutely amazing.

No way would Jen ever 'lower herself' to be with him, and not only would his mother not approve, he hardly approved of where he worked to begin with, he didn't think he would be able to explain what Jennifer taught either, considering his parents views. Jennifer could do what she liked, he wasn't going to stop her, but he wouldn't let her do anything ridiculously stupid either. Sam tilted his head, bringing a hand to his chin in thought, "Hmmm". Muttering what she had said under his breath, 'not too quick? Nice and slow?', shaking his head.

"Hop on then", Sam whispered he lifted his broom, sliding it between his legs, side-facing Jennifer. A grin covering his face as he stared at her for probably a little too long before turning back to face the front. He sniffed, he would have to surprise her a little more this time. The other times she had ridden on his broom with him, he had shown his old tricks and he couldn't exactly do those again, that would hardly impress her!

Oh this was too much. Just being this close to Sam was making Jennifer’s stomach do funny things. It would do flips, then it’d feel like there were animals burrowing deep into her intestines. Then her heart would do a weird thing where it would speed up and make her breaths come out short and fast. She reached a hand up to run through her hair, trying to calm herself down. She was close enough to him that she could just reach her arm out and touch him. But she wouldn’t. She wouldn’t jeopardize their friendship. But oh, how she wanted him…

Jennifer cleared her mind of all thoughts, and tried to focus on Sam, rather than her feelings for him. It wasn’t working. Focusing on him was difficult enough. Jennifer watched as Sam contemplated what she’d said. He brought a hand up to his chin as he thought and muttered what she’d said under his breath for a moment, before shaking his head and looking at her. “Hop on then.” Jennifer smiled as Sam slipped onto his broom, a grin covering his face. Jennifer’s own smile stretched into a grin, and she easily swung her leg over the broom, slipping her arms around Sam’s waist.

“Make it a good ride please, Sam”, Jennifer said, leaning forward, her lips next to his ear. “I wouldn’t want you to show me what I’ve already seen before.” She leaned back again, a small smile tugging at her lips. She gave his waist a little squeeze, resisting the urge to do anything more. She took a deep breath and held it for a moment, letting it out a second later.

Sam felt the dull thump in his chest. It was speeding up, just as Jennifers hands wrapped around his waist, as she whispered in his ear. His hair tickling his neck with her warm breath, Sam hoped that Jennifer couldn't feel the beat like he could. It was terrifyingly loud to him, about to burst and was she wearing perfume? Or was that just her? Whatever it was, it smelled good. "You know I give only the best!" He rolled his eyes, she was thinking she would get a bad ride?

"Something is always different" Sam smirked, "Promise", he heard her draw and release a breath as Sam held the broom tightly in his hands. He pushed his feet off of the ground, the force pushing the broom up as it began ascending the air. Sam grinned, he loved the view, it was just made all the better with Jennifer up here with him. There was something different to Jennifer, she made things exciting, never dull and repetitive. It was probably why they got on so well, she was amazing.

Sam wondered if he had thought that before, no matter, it was still true. He turned the broom to the left, "I've not tried this move with another person on here" Sam bit his lip, so long as she held on tightly she should be fine, "You ready? Just hold on tightly" Sam prepared the broom for a sharp loop the loop, corkscrew style. They were going rather fast, zooming about the pitch while Sam waited for Jennifer to respond, his eyes weren't tearing up yet, he wouldn't go that fast with Jennifer on here with him. It was too dangerous.