An Accident Still Happened

Harry discovered that flying was much easier than he had imagined, almost like walking or running. After making a few simple passes in straight lines, he began circling around the Gryffindor students.

Following Madam Hooch's arrangements, Harry did not fly very fast, but he changed direction often, weaving back and forth around his dorm mates.

"Ron, you don't look nearly as nimble as I am!" Harry called out teasingly.

As for Loren, Neville, and the others, they could not even fly yet. Ron was doing a little better.

Hermione watched enviously. I knew he was talented, the young Witch thought.

The broomstick did not dig into his backside—or anywhere else. Sitting on it felt as though a force was supporting his entire body from every direction.

Loren rode his broom slowly, staying in the rear group with Hermione. He was thinking that since Neville had been saved, there would be no Memory Charm incident. Would Harry have to wait another year before joining the Quidditch team? Still, that was not much of a loss.

It was not Malfoy's first time riding a broomstick, and he flew smoothly. He had been looking forward to Flying Class for a long time, hoping to amaze everyone and win their praise. But first Madam Hooch had criticized him, and now Harry had stolen the spotlight. He was in a terrible mood.

Watching Harry, Malfoy felt a surge of irritation. He pressed down on the broom handle, dipped its nose, and charged straight at Harry.

Harry was changing direction when the tail of Malfoy's broom brushed past his hair. All he saw was a shadow flash before his eyes, and his heart skipped a beat. The pointless provocation filled him with anger, and he was about to shout at him.

Vincent Crabbe, the larger of Malfoy's two lackeys, saw Malfoy attack Harry. Wearing a cruel grin, he charged at Harry as well, making the surrounding Gryffindors cry out in alarm.

Harry dodged in time, growing even angrier. He gripped the broom handle, climbed, accelerated, turned, then kicked Crabbe straight toward Malfoy.

"Ah!"

Crabbe and his broom collided with Malfoy. Fortunately, they were not moving very fast, so the two merely staggered in midair.

The Gryffindors burst out laughing.

"How embarrassing, Malfoy." Harry smiled, his tone relaxed.

Humiliated and furious, Malfoy charged at Harry at several times his previous speed.

Harry had already been watching him. He quickly rose to avoid him, then mocked, "I think even Hedwig flies better than you!"

Malfoy said nothing. He turned around and charged at Harry again. Harry accelerated too, widening the distance between them. They changed speeds and directions in the air, the gap between them constantly shrinking and widening.

Malfoy had experience and could use his skill to close the distance. Harry started to feel a little nervous, but the more he flew, the smoother it became. Whenever Malfoy closed in, Harry quickly pulled away again. He would not fall for the same trick twice.

The two soon flew beyond the area Madam Hooch had marked out, and they had long since risen above the Third Floor.

Only then did Madam Hooch notice the unruly pair. She waved her wand over her throat and cast Amplifying Voice, shouting, "Stop! Get down here at once!"

Malfoy ignored her. His father was a school governor, so he had nothing to worry about. He had to teach Harry a lesson.

Harry hesitated for a moment, but the malice in Malfoy's eyes made his back ache.

Professor McGonagall saw the scene through the office window. Her eyes sparkled as though she had spotted a priceless treasure.

Harry's hair was blown into a mess by the wind as he sat on his broom, but his thoughts were unusually clear. If he slowed down, Malfoy would definitely knock him off, leaving his broom broken into several pieces like Neville's. But he could not keep flying like this forever. He had to find a way to shake Malfoy off.

Harry sped up and flew toward the Clock Tower, accelerating faster and faster as he approached it.

Malfoy continued chasing from behind. He thought he had figured out Harry's plan: that scarhead thought Malfoy would not dare speed up and crash into the Clock Tower with him. Once Malfoy slowed down to turn away, Harry would already be prepared to turn and head straight for Madam Hooch. Malfoy would need time to accelerate again, so he would not be able to catch Harry or teach him a lesson.

Malfoy secretly felt smug. How could this foolish Gryffindor think he would fall for such a trick? He made up his mind: if scarhead did not turn, neither would he. Even if they crashed into the Clock Tower, Harry would cushion the impact first.

The two flew faster and faster, about to crash into the Clock Tower.

Students from both Houses cried out in alarm. Some girls covered their eyes, unable to bear watching what would happen next.

At last, Harry turned. He made a turn almost perpendicular to the wall, shot upward into the sky, then turned back and stopped on the roof's edge.

Harry was panting. He enjoyed racing through the sky, every sharp turn, every plunge and climb. He loved the feeling of flying.

Malfoy could not react in time. He crashed straight into the wall and fell downward.

Trees broke some of his fall, but his broom still shattered into several pieces. Malfoy groaned a few times, then passed out.

Harry landed, suddenly at a loss. He had only wanted to get rid of Malfoy. He had never expected things to turn out like this.

Madam Hooch rushed over. Instead of blaming Harry, she immediately checked Malfoy's injuries.

Harry heard her mutter, "One broken hand, one leg, and several ribs. Not too bad."

Madam Hooch told everyone to return their brooms, then dismissed them. She used the Levitation Charm on Malfoy's robes and carried him off to Madam Pomfrey.

Madam Hooch had not blamed Harry, but he still did not feel good. Malfoy had been injured and received the punishment he deserved, so why did Harry feel guilty? He kept thinking there might have been a better way to escape that situation.

Ron hurried over and found Harry hanging his head. Without thinking much of it, he assumed Harry had been frightened. He reached out and patted Harry's shoulder. "Harry, are you all right?"

Harry looked up at his friends and forced out a smile. "I'm fine. Malfoy got hurt."

Hermione spoke up then. "You might not be fine for long. Professor McGonagall might expel you from Hogwarts."

Harry's face turned even paler at those words, and Ron did not know how to comfort him.

"Harry Potter!" Professor McGonagall ran toward them, and Harry felt his legs go weak.

Professor McGonagall stared fixedly at Harry. "In all my years at Hogwarts... never have I..."

Professor McGonagall was so astonished that she could barely speak. Her glasses flashed with furious light. "How dare you... You could have broken your neck..."

Professor McGonagall took Harry away. Ron, Neville, and Seamus were all miserable, convinced that Harry would definitely be expelled.

Only Loren was not worried at all. He stared wide-eyed after watching the entire spectacle.

Good grief, was there some kind of plot-correction force at work?