Flying Lesson

Watching the twins and Lee leave, Edmund turned to Cho.

"We should head back too."

Cho was already a little tipsy. Her eyes were hazy, and she simply nodded.

Seeing her like that, Edmund sighed helplessly and wrapped an arm around her, supporting her close against him.

She felt warm and soft in his arms. Edmund silently repeated a private warning to himself.

'Not like this. She's tipsy. Keep your hands where they belong.'

By the time they reached the Ravenclaw common room, Cho had recovered some awareness.

Feeling the warmth of Edmund's embrace, however, she did not speak. She simply enjoyed it in silence.

"Thank you, Edmund."

After saying that, Cho gathered her courage and rose onto her toes. Her soft lips brushed lightly against his cheek. Then she ran toward the girls' dormitory without looking back, visibly flustered.

Edmund stood there for a moment, stunned. He touched the faint warmth on his cheek and murmured, "Why run? I barely felt anything."

Then he laughed quietly and returned to his dormitory, carrying that little warmth with him into sleep.

...

On Thursday, the Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Gryffindor first-years came to the broad lawn in front of the castle.

Today was their first flying lesson of the term.

Many students from wizarding families were boasting to their friends about the flying they had done as children.

The Slytherins were especially loud.

Draco Malfoy was bragging about how he had once dodged a Muggle helicopter on a broom. He also complained loudly that first-years were not allowed to play Quidditch, which he considered terribly unfair.

As he spoke, his eyes drifted deliberately toward Harry and Edmund, as if he pitied them for never having ridden broomsticks as children.

Edmund had no time to care about Malfoy's boasting. He was busy comforting a cute, brown-haired girl.

"It is all right, Hermione. Harry and I have not ridden brooms either, and many of the students here are exaggerating. You do not need to be so nervous."

He kept his voice soft and reassuring.

Hermione had been unsettled ever since she heard they would have flying lessons. According to Harry, she had spent breakfast muttering passages from Quidditch Through the Ages under her breath.

Nearby, Neville was trying hard to listen to Hermione's recitation, hoping to learn something useful before training began. He had not even noticed that the Remembrall in his hand kept flashing.

After a while, their teacher arrived. Madam Hooch approached, directing a pile of hovering brooms with her wand. Each student received one.

Edmund looked at the broom in his hand and suddenly became less eager to try. It was old and worn, and a fair number of twigs were missing from the tail.

"Right then," Madam Hooch called. "Put your right hand over your broom."

She blew her whistle.

"Then say, 'Up!'"

"Up!"

Edmund focused and called to the broom lying on the ground. It jumped into his hand at once. Harry's did the same. The other students were not so lucky. Hermione's broom rolled a few times and ignored her.

Malfoy had to shout several times before his broom snapped up into his hand, nearly hitting his nose.

Next, Madam Hooch explained a few basic techniques and told them to try.

"On my whistle. Three. Two. One. Kick off!"

Edmund pushed lightly with his feet and rose smoothly into the air.

He discovered that his flying ability was not bad at all. The Rare Flying Experience Book he had received was already showing its value.

The broom responded to his intentions, changing direction, rising, and descending with ease.

Neville, not far away, was far less fortunate. Perhaps because he was too nervous, he kicked off with all his strength.

"Ah!"

Neville shot toward the sky at an angle close to ninety degrees, fast enough that Madam Hooch did not react in time.

He was already twenty feet above the ground. Worse, his hands slipped from the broom. He began falling straight toward the grass below.

Madam Hooch hurriedly tried to catch him with a Levitation Charm, but his fall was too fast, and the spell missed.

The young witches and wizards went pale. A few girls covered their eyes, as if they had already imagined what would happen.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

A clear, steady voice rang out. It was Edmund.

His Levitation Charm struck Neville in midair. Neville's fall slowed at once, and with a careful movement of Edmund's wand, he drifted gently down to the grass.

Everyone stared. Then the students who had covered their eyes lowered their hands and saw Neville safe.

"Whoa!"

Most of the class burst into cheers. Some even applauded.

"Oh, Merlin!"

Madam Hooch finally recovered and hurried over to help Neville up, checking him carefully. Still worried, she decided to take him to the Hospital Wing for a proper examination.

"Ten points to Ravenclaw. Excellent Levitation Charm, Mr. Gaunt."

Before leaving, she did not forget to award Edmund points.

If not for him, Neville would have been badly hurt, and Madam Hooch herself would have been in serious trouble.

Once she was gone, Malfoy loudly began mocking Neville. Then he noticed Neville's Remembrall on the ground and picked it up. This time, Harry could not stand by.

"Give it here, Malfoy," Harry said in a low voice.

Malfoy laughed arrogantly.

"I think I will leave it in a tree and make Longbottom collect it. How does that sound?"

Without waiting for Harry to answer, he mounted his broom and flew upward.

"Come and get it if you can, Scarhead!"

Harry grew angry at once. He mounted his broom and shot after Malfoy.

The talent inherited from James Potter awakened quickly. Harry learned to control the broom in moments and chased Malfoy through the air.

Edmund watched the scene unfold. So this was why Harry had been chosen for the Quidditch team in first year.

Harry Potter's luck was absurd. If fate had not given him an advantage in raw power, it had certainly favored him in the air.

In some schools, athletic talent could do more for a reputation than perfect exam scores. Edmund rested a hand on his chin, enjoying the airborne chase. Then a sharp scream rang out beside him. Hermione.

When she saw Harry fly upward, she became anxious and jumped without thinking.

Unfortunately, she had forgotten that she was still in position on her broom, ready for takeoff.

Just like that, Hermione shot into the sky like an arrow loosed from a bow.

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