Characters: Gilderoy and Gladys
Setting: Sunday, November 29, morning (backdated)
Content: SFW
Summary: A second flying lesson and... a little extra.
Status: Complete

As he walked to the Quidditch pitch, brooms in hand, Gilderoy wondered how Gladys was doing. She had been pretty shaken by Inigo Imago’s prank letter, to the point that this morning was almost not going to happen. Well, Gilderoy just couldn’t have that, could he? Firstly, he had committed himself to the goal of helping Gladys overcome her fear of flying. Secondly, he had been impressed with everything they had achieved on their first lesson, and the Ravenclaw in him couldn’t wait to see what they could accomplish next. And thirdly, it was more than obvious that Gladys fancied him, and he thought it would be a terrible waste to pass on the opportunity to get a thank-you snog.

He smiled at this. Yes, he had snogged girls before. He had even been allowed to touch a female breast before - though he had to admit that, with all those layers of clothing and a thick cloak (it had happened at the peak of winter, after all) it had been hard to tell if he really had been touching it. But there was something about Gladys Gudgeon. Something... special.

He smiled as he saw a small figure standing right outside the pitch. Good, she had arrived early.

“Hello,” he said brighly as he approached her.

Gladys was looking out into the pitch with a pensive look - thoughts reminiscing her last lesson with Gilderoy and at the same time trying to repress the memory of her shameful mistake at the ball - that when the familiar voice of the boy broke her reverie she almost was taken off guard.

“Gilderoy!” Gladys greeted, a slightly embarrassed smile on her face, as she tried to hide the look of surprise on her face. She didn’t need to make a fool out of herself again in front of Gilderoy. As much as he was so very sweet, Gladys felt ashamed of what she did. Sure, Inigo was at fault for sending her that fake letter from Gilderoy. But the fact that she believed that Gilderoy really asked her out to the ball, and only to find out that he didn’t. Gladys felt let down.

They were starting anew though. But even then, it didn’t get rid of the feeling of shame deep down in her, as she took a breath and looked expectantly at Gilderoy. “So what will it be today, Professor Lockhart?” she asked, letting out a small giggle, if only to get her feelings and nerves out of the way.

“Professor Lockhart?” Gilderoy chuckled. “I like the sound of that.” He saw no reason for Gladys to feel ashamed of what happened, so he had no idea of how embarrassed she felt. He took any sign of nervousness he saw from her as being caused solely by her nerves over the prospect of their new lesson - and perhaps his own awesomeness. Still, she had no reason to feel ashamed about that. He wouldn’t bite.

Looking up, and smiling at the fact that the weather had once again blessed their lesson, he said, “Oh, I think we should start by repeating a bit of what we did last time. Warming up, you know. Then maybe, if you feel confident enough, we can try to fly a bit faster once we reach a certain height.” He looked at her, his reassuring smile once again at the ready. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there with you all the way.”

“It does make it easier being near you,” she said, as she smiled back appreciatively at him. Gilderoy’s smiles had a certain effect on Gladys she couldn’t understand. But it made her feel a rush - a good one - as if it made her want to just want him to smile at her all the more. She forced her thoughts away from that though, soon looking away. She needed to focus or else she’ll fall at risk of embarrassing herself again.

Grabbing her broom, she mounted it, feeling much more comfortable than the last time. Gribbing the handle, she rolled her hands around the broom, getting a good grip, as she nodded at Gilderoy. “I’m ready,” she announced, as she tried to suppress the need to see Gilderoy smile at her again.

Gilderoy nodded. He was impressed with Gladys’ determination and her courage to face something that terrified her so much. It reminded him of his father’s long speeches about what made a good Gryffindor and made him realize that being sorted to a certain house didn’t mean that you didn’t have the traits and qualities for which any of the others was renowned - a really happy thought, since he kept on hoping to be the son his father had always dreamed of.

“All right,” he said, mounting his own broom. “On the count of three. One, two...” And with a nod, he took off.

Gladys took off the same time Gilderoy did, holding her broom tighter as her feet separated from the ground. It was still a slightly uneasy feeling, but once the air flew through her face, she felt excitement go through her. She was doing it, and that’s definitely something to be proud of.

“It’s not so bad anymore,” Gladys said, turning to Gilderoy with a somewhat relaxed smile on her face as they rose.

“It never is,” he replied, satisfied with her smile. “The more you do it, the easiest it feels.”

He stopped at some point halfway between the heights they had tried the previous time, feeling that it was a comfortable point for them to begin. “We’ll start here. That is, if it’s okay with you.” He gave her another smile.

Another smile - and another fluttering feeling rushing through Gladys that this time, she actually found herself looking away from Gilderoy, trying to refocus herself in her task. It amazed her how it affected her so, but she was here to fly, not ogle at him, right?

“I think this is good. It feels familiar after all,” Gladys said, as she began to accelerate a bit, taking a breath and holding her broom tighter again.

“That’s the spirit,” he said. This girl’s tenacity was really impressive. “Now, let’s start slowly, and increase our speed bit by bit, okay?”

Gladys nodded, as she began to accelerate, following Gilderoy’s pace. The speed felt comfortable, and for once, her nerves weren’t getting the best of her. She looked to Gilderoy then, smiling, grateful for his patience, but looking away again, thinking that she must have been staring. Then again, her nerves might have been preoccupied elsewhere.

“Just let me know when to go faster,” Gladys offered, focusing on the sky and not on her handsome tutor.

“Oh, maybe a couple of laps,” Gilderoy said, making sure to fly by her side all the way. “But it’s your call, really - we’ll do it only when you feel ready.” He did not want another accident like the one that had almost happened the last time. Her nerves should remain steady if they were to have a successful class. And for his much-deserved snog to come soon, obviously.

“I think I’m ready,” Gladys said, nodding in encouragement. It helped having not focus on Gilderoy - that her focus was centered in on flying. In fact, maybe her focus was just set on not making a fool out of herself.

Gilderoy nodded. “All right, let’s start then.”

Gladys nodded and began to accelerate, knowing that Gilderoy was next to her. The thought alone made her force her mind into flying, trying to block out any thoughts of Gilderoy - that when she reached a speed faster than normal, she could only feel adrenaline and that certain rush go through her. She found herself letting out a little ‘wohoo’, a proud grin on her face, as she was genuinely enjoying being up in the air.

It was with some difficulty that Gilderoy suppressed a laugh at her outburst. This was exactly what he was looking forward to - excitement, happiness, the pure joy of flying! And to think he was the person responsible for it. It made him feel incredible.

He kept close to Gladys every second, not only to make sure he was around, but to feel a bit of her excitement. He hoped the moment would never end.

It felt great to Gladys to be able to get a hang of it. The progress she made amazed her that it made her almost forget of the shame she had gone through the past days. She could fly, and it’s all that mattered at that moment.

“I can fly, Gilderoy,” she found herself saying, as she turned to him with a proud grin on her face.

Gilderoy returned the grin in full. “You certainly can,” he said. And, before he could think of what he was saying, he added, “I’m so proud of you.”

Gladys grin widened, her expression however in slight surprise. “You are?” she asked, that certain good rush going through her every time Gilderoy looked at her. She felt her cheeks flush, but nonetheless, she was proud of herself. Having Gilderoy proud of her only made it feel greater.

“Yes, I am,” Gilderoy said, a bit surprised with himself for saying it. Quickly, he smiled and added, “I couldn’t have asked for a better student.” It was true, he might have the qualities that make for an excellent teacher (it was him, after all), but it was her own determination and commitment to their goal that made their lessons a success.

“I couldn’t ask for a better teacher,” Gladys returned, grinning gratefully at him, trying not to look at him, if only to prevent herself from losing focus. But she glanced back again, offering another grin, this time her cheeks reddening a bit. She couldn’t help but be so attracted to him - it almost felt embarrassing, especially since she felt he probably didn’t feel the same - especially after what happened at the ball.

Gilderoy beamed at her words. They kept on flying in comfortable silence, neither feeling like adding anything else to the conversation. Eventually, Gilderoy looked at her and said, “So... ready to go a bit higher?”

Gladys felt very comfortable flying that her thoughts began to wander at their moments of comfortable silence. She couldn’t help but think about Gilderoy, wondering why he was even going out of his way to teach her. She supposed they were some kind of friends - she hoped they were at least that. That or Gilderoy might have taken pity on her - but before she even allowed herself to go to that thought, Gilderoy’s voice broke her out of her reverie.

“Sure. I think I’m ready for anything at this point,” Gladys found herself saying, refocusing her thoughts to rising up in the air, as she held her broom higher.

“All right. Let’s go just a little further then,” Gilderoy said, following her as she rose. Embarrassed as he was to admit it, he still had no idea how to do the cushioning charm, and was hoping the same situation as last time didn’t happen again. They had been lucky then, but luck was not something that should be taken for granted, now was it? And he couldn’t help but worry about Gladys, in a way he didn’t feel for any of his other admirers. He didn’t know why, but he did - and he had a feeling he wouldn’t have put this much effort into helping any of them no matter how much he’d like to get a snog out of any of them. Well, he would have helped Narcissa in such a manner, but she was a friend rather than an admirer or anyone he’d wish to do naughty things with.

“This feels better, you know,” Gladys found herself saying, as they rose up. She looked down to the ground, in amazement of the lack of fright that usually overtook her when up in a broom. “Much better.”

He smiled at her. “I’m glad.” He knew exactly how she was feeling. Once the fear and the angry needling of his father were behind him, Gilderoy had experienced the same excitement. The freedom one could feel while flying was unbelievable.

He wanted to suggest a race, but thought better of it. With a nod at her, he started flying the way they did below, knowing that if she wanted to speed up she could.

Gladys followed along as Gilderoy accelerated, feeling much more bold with her actions. It was comfortable and she felt secure where she was at. It wasn’t that she was great at flying, but more of the fact that she had achieved something she never thought she did.

“I never thought I could do this,” Gladys said, shaking her head in amazement, soon slowing down before sitting still in midair, if only to admire the view of the castle before them.

Gilderoy stopped next to her. Ar first, he wondered if there was anything wrong, but quickly realized from her expression that it was not the case. “What is it?”

“Flying!” Gladys replied immediately, a genuine look of amazement on her face. “Ever since I...” she began before trailing off, looking away briefly. She still remembered the events. It almost brought back a sense of dread, but a quick squeeze of her broom reoriented her easily to the now - the now being that she could fly. She took a breath then, before continuing her words. “Well, ever since I fell, I thought I’d never get back on a broom. But I am now and it’s just... amazing, you know?”

Gilderoy nodded. He never experienced anything that traumatic, but he knew well what it felt like not to feel confident enough to fly. “It opens your eyes to a world you couldn’t see before,” he said, staring at the landscape before them. “I’ve thought of that before. Sure, we can see this,” he gestured at it, “from the stands, but it’s not the same thing. People sitting there will never know what it’s like until they’re actually flying.”

“It really isn’t the same thing,” Gladys agreed, frowning remembering how her brother would often cheer her up by saying that it looked the same being high up in the stands. She knew he was just looking out for her, and perhaps it was the same perspective, but Gladys knew now that flying is a whole other ordeal. “I’m really glad I could do this now and see the view from up here. It’s just amazing!”

Gilderoy smiled yet again. “I’m glad I could help.”

“You did!” Gladys said much too excitedly, turning back to Gilderoy, before turning away again blushing, remembering the fact that she shouldn’t even be thinking about Gilderoy. But it wasn’t as if she was thinking of him in a way that was distracting right? He helped her fly, after all. There was nothing wrong with showing gratitude. “I mean, you really did help. I’m forever grateful, Gilderoy,” she said, trying to control her smile and making sure she wasn’t grinning ridiculously.

Gilderoy beamed. “Oh, it was nothing.” Would this be the moment he’d get snogged? Rather daring of her, considering what she’d been through, if she decided to do so in mid-hair. Without letting her know what he was thinking, he decided to make sure such a moment would be postponed until they were on safe ground. With the most natural expression, he said cheerfully, “So... Do you want to fly a bit more around the pitch?”

“If you think I need it?” she asked, looking inquiringly at Gilderoy with a shrug. Gladys felt like she accomplished everything she needed, but then again, she had to remind herself that Gilderoy was the teacher. If he thought she needed more practice, then she would. But personally, she felt content with the skills she was able to gain.

“It’s not a matter of you needing it,” Gilderoy said. “It’s a matter of whether you want to.” Again, he looked at the landscape before them. He knew he had managed to teach Gladys everything she needed to know - or, to be more precise, he guided her into teaching herself. But there was that thing they had just been talking about. “The feeling of freedom, you know.” The best feeling in the world.

“I do feel free,” Gladys agreed, looking at the atmosphere before them. Gilderoy was right. It was exactly what she was feeling this moment. She felt free from the fear of flying, and it was exhilarating. “I suppose our lessons are over now, isn’t it? Now that I can fly?” she asked, frowning, as she turned back to Gilderoy.

Her question took Gilderoy by surprise, and his face fell. He hadn’t really thought about that. “I guess,” he said, looking sad.

A part of Gladys was delighted that Gilderoy looked sad as well. At least, it seemed like he wanted to spend time with her. But how else would they spend time together? It’s not like they were in the same house or in the same year. And it’s not like they were friends? Were they? Gladys would like to think so. But then Gilderoy could have just seen her as a student - considering the embarrassment she faced in thinking that he really wanted her as a date. The thought alone had her look away. She didn’t need to feel that hopeless again. She should be glad she was able to fly and she shouldn’t be sad that Gilderoy probably wouldn’t think of her as anything else but a student.

“I suppose we should head down,” Gladys suggested, as she began descending herself, the frown still on her face.

Gilderoy was disappointed. No more lessons. He had enjoyed these immensely, much more than any sort of date (or whatever they should be called) with his admirers, possibly because they revolved around something he valued dearly. Whatever it was, he did not want to let it go. But how could he keep on giving Gladys lessons when she had learned all that he had to teach her?

“Yes, I suppose,” he replied, following her down.

It was much too soon that the ground met her feet, as Gladys soon got off her broom, already missing spending time with Gilderoy. But it had to end somehow, right? It wasn’t like they spent time together beyond just flying and she didn’t want to yet again give herself false hope that Gilderoy wanted to spend time with her after this.

“Gilderoy...” Gladys started, a sad smile on her face as she turned to him. She didn’t know how to begin thanking him, especially as she could see him fully now that they were on the ground and not moving. “I don’t know how to even express my gratitude...”

She might not have known how, but Gilderoy surely knew. However, he was too much of a gentleman to take the first step and, instead, reached for her hand. “Think nothing of it. It was my pleasure.” And he gave her one of her charming smiles once again.

Gladys’ felt her pulse quicken as Gilderoy took her hand and gave her his smile that literally just made her mind go blank. She felt that certain thrilling rush go through her again, her cheeks flushing. “I...” Gladys began, before looking away, taking a breath. “You’re really... amazing, Gilderoy,” she said, glancing back at him with a shy smile, feeling a bit embarrassed that she let herself say that.

Gilderoy wanted to say that yes, he knew he was amazing (it was the absolute truth, wasn’t it?), but that wasn’t the way to woo a girl and he knew it. “No, Gladys, you are.” Gentlemanly attitudes be damned, he thought, as he moved in a little bit forward in hope that she’d take the hint.

Any thoughts bar those of Gilderoy kept evading Gladys, especially as he complimented her in a way that no boy ever has - and not to mention that he was now much closer than ever, causing a familiar feeling of butterflies fliterring in her stomach. She had only been this close to a boy once - but that was only for less than a second, and only for a small peck on the lips when she was nine. This moment with Gilderoy seemed more meaningful and seemed to stretch for more than a second.

“Gilderoy...” Gladys breathed, all words evading her too, as she unconsciously licked her lips, her eyes moving back and forth from Gilderoy’s own orbs down to his own pink lips.

She wasn’t getting closer, Gilderoy thought. Why wasn’t she getting closer? Was there anything wrong with him? Surely not. In panic, he got closer still, to the point that their lips were almost meeting... and yet, she still wasn’t moving.

Gladys felt frozen in her spot, especially as Gilderoy came closer and closer. She honestly didn’t know what to do in this situation - not that she was even thinking about it though, considering Gilderoy’s presence had her thoughts going blank. All she could think about was how nice Gilderoy’s eyes were, how good he smelled being so close... Gilderoy seemed like a sweet and intoxicating aroma pulling her in that when her eyes landed back to his lips and how his lips looked so supple and pink and... kissable, her lips couldn’t help but meet his, wanting to feel of Gilderoy’s lips against hers.

But briefly a second passed and she found herself pulling back only a centimeter though, as a thought seeped through the haze, now wondering what the hell she was doing. “I’m sorry...” she muttered, her lips however still a breath’s width from Gilderoy and still wanting that feel of his lips against hers.

Gilderoy stopped on his tracks, puzzled. Did he hear it right? “Sorry for what?” he asked, disappointment all over his face. She seemed to be pulling back, though they were still very close - too close. What was wrong?

“I shouldn’t have just kissed you without your permission,” Gladys replied, now looking terrified. She could see the disappointment on his face. Was it really that bad? Was what she did wrong? She was so terrible at this that she should just run now. But she didn’t. She had to admit that it felt good to be this near to Gilderoy.

Gilderoy looked puzzled. Their kiss had been brief - way too brief for his liking. If anything, he should be the one apologizing for not pulling her closer and making it last, though he hardly had time to react before she backed away. Again, he wondered what was so wrong about him.

“You have my permission,” he blurted out before he could help himself.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to force you to...” Gladys immediately said, as though still worried about just being accepted by Gilderoy. He already granted her permission and yet, she still felt reluctant. It was good kissing him, but she felt like she forced him in this situation. It just seemed too good to be true for her. She didn’t want to embarrass herself like last time.

“Yes, I’m sure.” She still wasn’t getting any closer. What was wrong with this girl? with a great effort not to sigh at her hesitation, Gilderoy moved closer once again, and their lips touched once more.

Gladys lost any form of second thinking as Gilderoy moved and pulled their lips together yet again. This was so new to her. Just being in this position and being so close for a long time to a boy that she, dare she say it, like. It almost felt like a start of a new lesson. But it felt good. Better than it did when she was learning to fly. This was all instinct now, her hands landing on Gilderoy’s chest, following Gilderoy’s lead.

Finally, Gilderoy’s brain seemed to be saying - but, as always, he wasn’t listening to it. Instead, he let his lips to all the thinking, guiding Gladys as he pulled her closer.

Gladys responded and kissed Gilderoy back with more enthusiasm. He seemed to want this right? Not that she could think anyway. All she wanted was to prolong this moment, despite the fact that she was acting purely through instinct. She rose on her tip toes if only to be closer to him. It seemed like the right thing to do in the situation after all.

This was nice, Gilderoy thought. No, more than nice, this was fantastic. He had kissed girls before, obviously, but most of them seemed only interested in inspecting his tonsils. This, however, seemed more affectionate, more real.

Eventually, they broke up the kiss and Gilderoy looked at Gladys, anxious to hear her reaction over what had just happened.

Gladys was breathless as they broke apart, her whole body ringing, as she tried to absorb what exactly just happened. Did Gilderoy Lockhart just kiss her? Did she really just snog with him? “I...” she began, not knowing what to say, her cheeks flushed, her lips plump. “Wow...” she found herself saying - still loss for actual words - before trailing off again, her fingers touching her lips, as she looked at Gilderoy with an amazed expression.

She said wow, Gilderoy thought. Wow was good. No, better than good. Wow was excellent. But then, why did she look so surprised?

Breaking into a smile once again, he said cheerfully, “We don’t need to be having lessons to fly again together, you know.” He paused, before adding, “That is, if you want to.”

“I do... want to fly with you,” Gladys said, words coming out slowly. She was still trying to recover from the kiss, still trying to believe that it actually just happened, and that it wasn’t a dream that she shouldn’t be dreaming because she didn’t know she liked Gilderoy. But she did. And clearly a kiss from him should indicate that he liked her back right? “And more...” she added before she could stop herself, her cheeks soon reddening, as she bit her lip, a shy and yet now hopeful expression on her face.

Gilderoy beamed. “More would also be nice.” Oh, who was he kidding. “I mean, it would be great.” That is, if he understood what she meant by “more”. It meant snogging... right? He wanted to ask, but felt it would make him look stupid. After all, he did have a bit of a reputation.

And now that he thought about it, what would the other girls say? He hoped they wouldn’t become jealous (there was plenty of him to share, after all), violent or anything at all of the sort. He didn’t want Gladys to be humiliated again like she had been at the Halloween ball.

A smile broke through Gladys’ shy expression, as she bit her lip again, as though trying not to have it come out. “It felt... great,” she admitted, still a bit shyly, glancing away. Snogging was amazing, but snogging Gilderoy Lockhart? She couldn’t even put it in any less than great.

Gilderoy played coy again, knowing that it would once again have a more than satisfactory result. “Yes, it was.” New smile. “Is that a yes, then? To more flying and more... more?”

Gladys felt like her cheeks were burning, but it didn’t dampen the smile the spread her face as Gilderoy smiled down at her. She actually let out a small giggle, her hand coming to her mouth as though stopping the giggle. “You mean more of... more of this?” she asked, biting her lip from spreading to a grin. Did Gilderoy Lockhart really just say he wanted to snog her more?

He tilted his head to one side, making him look perfectly angelic - as deep inside he knew he was feeling rather devious and he didn’t want to scare her away. “Yes, of course.” Was it really so hard to believe?

Gladys felt like squealing, but held any form of excited emotion back. She honestly was still trying to absorb the fact that they kissed but now Gilderoy wanted more? She felt like she needed to be pinched because it almost felt like a dream. “I suppose - I suppose, we could do that,” she managed to say, trying not to giggle or sigh as Gilderoy tilted his head, making her want to just kiss him again.

Gilderoy felt as if butterflies were dancing inside him at her words. She wanted more! Then he did a mental doubletake at his own excitement. Why shouldn’t she want more? They always did, after all. But then, the question should be, why was he more excited about her wanting more than any of the others?

With his head still tilted, he said, “Then it’s a date.”

A date. A date that Gladys was almost certain would include snogging with Gilderoy Lockhart. She couldn’t believe it, but it was happening, and now she could only feel so excited that she found herself going on her tip toes again, as she gave Gilderoy another kiss - a quick one though as she soon realized that she was kissing him again. As she pulled back, her cheeks reddened again at the boldness she showed. She just couldn’t help but want to kiss him.

“It’s a date,” she repeated, almost in a shy coy way, before she pulled further away from him, a part of her wanting to go back to her dorm and squeal to her hearts content.

That last kiss had been much too short for Gilderoy’s liking, but he restrained himself from grabbing Gladys again and giving her a proper snog. She seemed about to burst with excitement, and he didn’t want to make her even more nervous. So, instead, he reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Well, I’ll see you soon, then.” And to make it what Great-Auntie Fifi called “a sealed promise”, he took her hand to his lips and kissed it.

And with a final suppressed giggle, Gladys reluctantly pulled away from Gilderoy’s grasp, her cheeks still ever so flushed.

“Can’t wait,” Gladys’ replied, a full grin now on her face, as she began to walk away, giving Gilderoy another wistful glance, before hastily running away back to her dorm to try and comprehend and fully take in the fact that she had just kissed Gilderoy Lockhart.