Malfoy's Jinx

It was half-past three in the afternoon.

After Charms class, they were to have their first flying lesson on the grounds in front of the castle gates.

It was a clear, breezy day.

A few sheep-like white clouds drifted across the brilliant blue sky.

As they hurried down the sloping lawn toward a flat stretch of grass on the other side of the field, the lush green grass rippled slightly beneath their feet.

Beyond the lawn lay the forest, where dark trees swayed in the wind in the distance.

The Slytherin students were already there, with twenty Flying Broomsticks lined up neatly on the ground.

Basil's eyes immediately fell on Draco Malfoy.

His pale blonde hair shone in the sunlight.

He was small and shriveled, standing next to Crabbe and Goyle.

He gazed longingly at the broomsticks on the ground, wanting to touch them.

Basil couldn't help but think of a photo of Narcissa Malfoy he'd seen in Witch Weekly in his previous life.

She was much more beautiful than in the movies!

Her tall figure, fair skin, long golden hair, cold and beautiful face, upturned nose, and thin lips that seemed to curl into a smirk from time to time.

In the moving photograph, her nose was held high, as if she were sniffing something foul, her expression one of haughty disdain.

It was vaguely similar to Draco Malfoy's outstretched hand on the train, his expression as if bestowing charity.

If this face showed the same pitiful expression as Draco's now.

Hiss! Maybe after I get rid of Lucius Malfoy, I'll become Draco's stepfather?

"Narcissa, you wouldn't want Draco to be an orphan and bullied, would you?"

While contemplating matters of life and death, Basil's smile remained as gentle as the wind, exuding the aura of a sunny, cheerful young man.

This made Hermione, who was muttering to herself and nervously watching the broomsticks, relax.

In her eyes, Basil's brow was slightly furrowed, giving him a hint of melancholy.

But he was also strong and independent, masking everything with a bright smile.

The breeze ruffled his golden hair, and a refreshing scent, like that of grass after a spring rain, filled her nostrils.

For a moment, she even forgot that not far away, their Flying lesson teacher – Madam Hooch, with her short gray hair and two yellow, hawk-like eyes – was watching them.

She shouted sternly, "You, the girl with the brown hair! What are you dawdling for!"

"Everyone stand by a Flying Broomstick. Quickly, quickly, make haste."

When her gaze fell on Basil, who was still standing there motionless, her voice softened unconsciously.

"Child, come here."

She casually picked out the best broomstick and walked up to Basil.

"Here, this is your broomstick for this lesson. Class is about to start."

Basil, who had been lost in his own world, snapped back to attention.

The ethereal image of Narcissa in a noblewoman's dress in his mind was replaced by the masculine face, yellow hawk-like eyes, and iron-willed demeanor of this woman.

Basil suppressed the urge to take a step back and accepted the broomstick with a calm expression.

He walked to stand between Hermione, who was blushing, and Ron, who was full of jealousy.

Harry glanced down at his Flying Broomstick. It was broken and old, with some twigs sticking out haphazardly.

He then looked at Basil's, which was as good as new, with neatly arranged twigs forming the tail.

He suddenly understood how Ron felt.

"Why is Madam Hooch so gentle with you!" Ron grumbled softly.

Neville and Seamus, Dean, and the others stood together, lost in thought.

They looked at the broomsticks in front of them as if they were dangerous venomous snakes.

Basil glanced at Neville.

This second Chosen One.

In group settings, students with similar interests, personalities, or backgrounds often form small cliques, consciously or unconsciously.

This is why Gryffindor students liked to break school rules.

Although there was the Sorting Hat's screening, it was also a manifestation of individuals being influenced by the group.

This was why he disliked the Sorting.

A person's personality could not be simply divided into four attributes.

After a month, their class had also formed small groups based on the complementary compatibility of individual personalities.

Even though Basil had deliberately tried to bring them closer.

Neville had, without realizing it, become somewhat estranged from them.

He started playing with Seamus and Dean, who lived in the next dormitory and with the second-years.

The only three girls in the first-year Gryffindor class were Hermione, Lavender, and Padma.

The three of them shared a dormitory, but Lavender and Padma barely spoke to Hermione.

Instead, they played with Padma's twin sister, Parvati, who was in Ravenclaw.

As for himself, he formed a small group with Harry and Ron, with Hermione tagging along.

"It seems Neville's Echo creation will be wasted," Basil sighed inwardly.

Flying class officially began.

"Extend your right hand, place it above the broomstick handle," Madam Hooch shouted from the front. "Then say: 'Up!'"

"Up!" Basil's broomstick obediently jumped into his hand.

Harry's did the same.

To Basil's surprise, Draco Malfoy's broomstick was equally obedient.

Beside him, however, Crabbe and Goyle's broomsticks remained motionless.

Just like Neville's.

"It seems Malfoy wasn't only made a Seeker because of his father."

Basil glanced at Ron again.

Ron's broomstick also jumped into his hand.

He walked over to Neville and whispered, "Broomsticks are like horses; they can sense your inner timidity. You have courage, but clearly, you'd rather stay on the ground than in the sky."

"Thank you, Basil," Neville nodded.

He closed his eyes, preparing to try again.

However, Madam Hooch seemed impatient.

She wasn't willing to give more time to students who hadn't succeeded yet, including Neville.

She hastily called a halt, "Alright, the broom-summoning segment is over."

"Please place the broomstick between your legs."

She yelled at Seamus, whose mother was a witch and father was a Muggle, meaning he had actually never touched a broomstick before.

"Boy! Don't worry, it won't get caught! The broomsticks have been enchanted with a cushioning charm."

Basil, who also hadn't ridden a broomstick, sat down, and a comfortable, encompassing sensation enveloped his lower body.

The feeling was ethereal, as if touching soft clouds.

The invisible cushion created by magic was indeed incomparable to any padding!

This time, he exclaimed aloud, "No wonder Flying Brooms are so popular, they're so comf... comfortable!"

"Neville, you try it too, it's very comfortable."

Neville shakily sat down, remaining perfectly still.

But as he made contact with the cushion, his expression relaxed.

Then, Madam Hooch corrected their broom-gripping posture one by one.

But when it came to Malfoy, something changed.

Madam Hooch's repeated corrections and criticisms caused Malfoy to erupt.

All his pent-up negative emotions from this period poured out.

"Shut up! Old hag! The greatest Seeker Gwenog Jones grips her broom like this!"

Madam Hooch's first reaction wasn't anger, but surprise.

"You're a fan of the Holyhead Harpies? But it's an all-female team!"

"Child, this grip is more suited for women."

"You don't have cumbersome breasts, so you don't need to grip it like this. Moreover, this would put all the pressure on your lower body, which is not good for a man's reproductive organs."

Ron burst into laughter.

Crabbe did the same.

Madam Hooch, not noticing Ron, sternly told Crabbe, "Don't mock your classmates."

She didn't notice Malfoy's hand already reaching into his pocket.

"Firebolt!" Malfoy shrieked.

The movement was so swift that no one had time to react.

A beam of light struck Crabbe.

Crabbe stopped laughing.

He screamed loudly, covering his nose with his hands as ugly boils began to sprout from it.

"How dare you!" Madam Hooch was truly angry.

She grabbed Draco by the ear.

Draco didn't resist, his face filled with the pleasure of revenge.

He became smug, and the Slytherins around him looked at him with renewed awe.

Especially Goyle.

"And you," Madam Hooch said, looking at Crabbe with disgust, "You too. You followed along when I took this child to the Slytherin Head of House's office. Go to the hospital wing yourself."

"All of you, no one is allowed to move until I get back! Put the Flying Brooms back where they belong, or I'll deduct points!"

"Oh, and Slytherin loses 10 points!"

Thanks to student Yuchi Jinyin, student 20221102001218020 for their monthly tickets and other students for their recommendations!