The First Duel of Arch-Enemies

"Up!"

Harry's voice wasn't loud, but it was filled with an undeniable certainty.

Before he even finished speaking, the "Comet 260" beneath his feet seemed to hear its master's call. With a whoosh, it leaped into his palm like a loyal hound, accurate and powerful.

"Ooh--"

A wave of gasps rose from the onlookers.

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Ron's mouth hung open in envy.

A clear flash of jealousy crossed Malfoy's face.

Madam Hooch's sharp eyes also showed a hint of approval. "Very good, Mr. Potter."

Immediately after, her piercing gaze was firmly captivated by another, even more unbelievable sight.

Lin Yuan.

He didn't even speak.

He simply stood there, his gaze lowered, watching the broom at his feet.

Then, the broom moved.

It didn't jump or leap.

It floated up with a slow, elegant posture that seemed to completely disregard gravity.

It made no sound, like a feather lifted by a gentle breeze, rising vertically with an extremely smooth, soft motion to the level of Lin Yuan's palm. Then, like the most obedient pet, it nestled docilely into his hand.

The entire process was as fluid as art.

If Harry's success was an explosion of talent and instinct, full of wild beauty.

Then Lin Yuan's success was a manifestation of absolute control, full of a heart-stopping elegance of order and law.

"..."

The gasps from the crowd abruptly ceased.

Everyone froze as if petrified, staring blankly at Lin Yuan and the incredibly docile broom in his hand.

Ron's mouth opened even wider, large enough to swallow a Bludger.

Hermione's brow furrowed tightly. Her mind was racing, trying to find a logical explanation from all the books she had read, but ultimately, she failed.

Malfoy's expression had shifted from jealousy to an incredulous pallor.

In Madam Hooch's sharp eyes, the hint of approval had turned into utter shock.

She had taught flying lessons for so many years and seen countless talented students, including Charlie Weasley, including Harry's father, James Potter.

But she had never seen... a scene like this.

It was as if the broom was pledging its loyalty to its king.

"...V-very good too, Mr. Lin." Madam Hooch cleared her throat, forcing down her shock and regaining her instructor's authority. "Alright, the rest of you! Continue! Until your brooms obey you!"

The next ten minutes were a grueling battle with their brooms for most of the students.

For Lin Yuan, however, it was a slightly boring waiting period.

He calmly watched the surrounding "script" unfold according to plan.

Finally, under Madam Hooch's guidance, everyone managed to make their brooms jump into their hands.

"Alright, now, mount your brooms." Madam Hooch commanded, her voice carrying a hint of warning. "Be careful, don't rush to take off. I want you to first feel the balance of the broom. When I blow my whistle, you will push off the ground with both feet and fly up a few feet, then immediately descend straight back to the ground."

However, accidents are always an indispensable part of the "script."

Just as Madam Hooch was about to bring the whistle to her lips--

"Ah--!"

A terrified scream pierced the calm of the training grounds.

Neville Longbottom.

His poor broom seemed to have suddenly developed a will of its own. Before he could prepare himself, it shot violently into the sky.

"Come back, child!" Madam Hooch shouted, but it was too late.

Neville, like a rag doll tied to an out-of-control rocket, screamed as he flew higher and higher, spinning wildly in the air.

Finally, he slid off the broom and plummeted from a height of twenty feet. Fortunately, he landed on the soft grass, but a bone-chilling crack could still be heard.

His broom, meanwhile, continued upward, drifting lazily until it hit the stone wall of the castle and disappeared into the distance.

Madam Hooch immediately rushed over to check on Neville's injuries.

"Broken wrist," she announced with a grim face. "Poor child. Alright, all of you stay put, don't move! Anyone who dares to leave the ground will be expelled from Hogwarts! I'll take him to the hospital wing immediately."

With that, she supported the tearful Neville and hurried away from the training grounds.

The moment she left, Lin Yuan knew that another crucial turning point in the "main storyline" had arrived.

As expected.

"Did you see that? The idiot's face!" Draco Malfoy burst into a harsh, gloating laugh.

"Shut up, Malfoy!" Parvati Patil snapped angrily.

"Ooh, are you defending Longbottom?" Pansy Parkinson, the Slytherin girl who looked like a pug, said shrilly. "I never thought you'd be into those sniveling fatties, Patil."

Just then, Malfoy's eyes lit up.

He bent down and picked up a sparkling glass ball from the grass.

"Look!" he said triumphantly, holding it up. "It's the idiot's Remembrall!"

"Give it here, Malfoy!" Harry stepped forward immediately, his voice cold and firm.

"No," Malfoy's face broke into a wicked grin. "I think I'll hide it somewhere... interesting. How about... on the roof?"

He swung onto his broom, pushed off the ground with a practiced motion, and easily soared into the air, a condescending, challenging smile on his face.

"Want it, Potter? Come and get it!"

Harry's face turned bright red.

Madam Hooch's warning still echoed in his ears, but the anger of seeing his friend bullied, combined with his innate sense of justice, made him instantly cast those warnings aside.

He mounted his broom without the slightest hesitation, pushing off hard with his feet.

"Whoosh—"

He shot up into the sky like an arrow loosed from a bow.

"Harry, no!" Hermione's scream was left far behind.

In mid-air, a chase between "arch-rivals" officially began.

Harry's flying was full of raw talent.

He seemed to meld with the broom, every turn, every acceleration coming instinctively, precise and swift.

Although Malfoy's flying skills were decent, in front of Harry, a natural Seeker, he quickly found himself struggling.

Finally, Malfoy, in a fit of rage, threw the Remembrall forcefully high into the air, then turned and flew back towards the ground.

Harry, like a hunting falcon, executed a beautiful diving acceleration and, just before the Remembrall could hit the ground, steadily caught it in his hand.

On the ground, thunderous cheers erupted from the Gryffindor students.

However, at that moment, a stern voice froze all the cheers.

"Harry Potter!"

Professor McGonagall had appeared on the training grounds at some point, her expression more ominous than a sky before a storm.

"Come with me."

Harry's face instantly turned deathly pale.

Everyone thought he was going to be expelled.