Breeze looked Hermione over carefully. Only after Hermione blushed did he ask, "You're all right, aren't you? You're not someone who drank Polyjuice Potion and turned into Hermione, are you?"
"How could you waste your time on something like Quidditch? You know it takes a lot of free time to practice. Is it really worth it just for those hundred and fifty points?"
"Hmph, don't always think about grades. You need some extracurricular activities to relax, too." Hermione pouted unhappily, as if she hadn't come here with entirely innocent intentions.
Breeze narrowed his eyes and said firmly, "Don't expect me to join. I don't want to fly around on a broomstick while a whole crowd watches me."
At the very least, a hundred and fifty points weren't enough to sway Breeze.
"Fine." Hermione let out a long breath and said helplessly, "Then I..."
"Hermione!" Breeze took hold of her hands and looked into her eyes earnestly. "Hermione, do you like Quidditch? Do you like flying?"
Hermione gazed into Breeze's sincere, pitch-black eyes and blushed. Then she heard his earnest words, and for some reason, a voice kept echoing inside her, asking whether she really wanted to play Quidditch.
"Hermione, go do what you want to do. I'll support you, like the moon watching a mermaid sing for the first time. You understand—mermaids are brave and fearless, pursuing freedom and beauty..."
Hermione nodded slowly, then quickly said with conviction, "Yes, Breeze. I think I like Quidditch. Maybe I thought it was dangerous before, but when I picked up this copy of The History of Quidditch, I knew I wanted to take part!"
Breeze let go of her, then adjusted the book tucked under his arm. "Then I'll come cheer you on today. But as you know, I have to return this book to the library today, so I'll need to make notes on the important parts while you're waiting to go on."
"Of course. It's wonderful that you're coming. Thank you, Breeze."
"It's nothing. We're friends."
Breeze smiled and walked beside Hermione, though in his heart he thought... How could I lead Hermione into wasting time she should spend studying? It's awful of me, even if Gryffindor's class points will definitely take a hit...
Breeze felt conflicted. He'd never had a friend he got along with before. Hermione counted as one, Cedric did too, and the Weasley Twins together counted as one.
Was it really right to use on his friends the same tricks he used on the little fools at the Orphanage?
Before Breeze could figure it out, he heard the raucous cries of the Quidditch tryouts from the pitch. Slytherin House was up first.
Breeze and Hermione sat to one side. When they heard that candidates had to wait backstage before trying out, Hermione handed Breeze The History of Quidditch to look after and left. Breeze stayed alone in the stands, reading about the rules and history of Quidditch. He finished just in time to catch Malfoy's debut.
"He can fly pretty well. Looks like Malfoy will make the Slytherin team." Breeze gave his assessment fairly. "Too bad he's so showy. As a nimble Seeker, he might get careless and lose focus. He'd be better as a Chaser."
With his mind elsewhere, Breeze picked up his notebook and started writing amid the noise of the Quidditch Pitch. Maybe he could return The Secrets of Transfiguration to Madam Pince before dinner. Books from the Forbidden Section could only be borrowed for a short time, and Professor McGonagall had only wanted to test his talent. She hadn't given him long.
As expected, Malfoy made the team, though it hadn't yet been decided whether he would replace the current Seeker or serve as a reserve.
Next up was Ravenclaw House, and Cho Chang was the first to try out. Ravenclaw had more girls than boys, so the girls inevitably had more say on the team.
"Oh!"
A sudden cheer rang out. Cho, riding her broom in midair, performed a somersault and then caught the Golden Snitch firmly!
"Looks like she'll be Ravenclaw's Seeker." Breeze was happy for her, then continued writing in his Transfiguration notes.
To be honest, The Secrets of Transfiguration was indeed profound. It was a difficult subject to learn, let alone master, but Breeze clearly had a knack for it.
He pointed his wand at a small stone beside him. It quickly transformed into a Golden Snitch, its wings beating. Breeze held it in his palm and examined it, then turned the Snitch into a mouse. This was a more advanced form of Transfiguration: turning an inanimate object into a living creature. Breeze clearly hadn't quite mastered it, though. If someone felt the mouse carefully, they'd notice a hard lump inside.
"Looks like Transfiguration Structural Studies aren't so simple after all. I've never actually handled a mouse."
He turned the mouse back into a stone and set it aside, paying no attention at all to the astonished looks around him. Learning was a solitary pursuit; showing off only wasted time.
"Is he really only a first-year? I'm not sure I could do something like that even in my third year." One Ravenclaw student sighed in frustration. "He'd be better off in Ravenclaw. Slytherin doesn't suit him at all. Ambition, scheming... Maybe he really is after glory."
The Ravenclaw student thought of how first-years were spreading the name Mr. All-Knowing Order, and of Breeze's exploits earning points, but said nothing more.
Next came Gryffindor, the house with the most people trying out—and the most laughable performances. They seemed not to wonder whether they were any good, only whether they had shown up.
Hadn't Professor McGonagall, managing the crowd in the distance, already turned grim? The Weasley Twins were still egging the Little Lions on to try out, and they hadn't even spared Neville, who'd fallen off his broom during Flying Class.
"Gryffindor's full of energy. I hope Hermione has enough left to study afterward, or I'll feel terribly guilty for encouraging her to join such a time-wasting sport."
When Hermione took her broom onto the pitch, Breeze put down his notebook. His eyes followed her as she performed a twist in the air, right up until she caught the Quaffle and sent it through the opposing team's goal.
"Oh, she scored! Nice work!"
The Weasley Twins shouted from below. They clearly knew Hermione would make the team. Professor McGonagall smiled and nodded, finally salvaging some pride, especially when it came to the sport she loved, Quidditch.
As Hermione came off the pitch, Breeze applauded. Then it was Harry's turn.
Professor Snape, who hadn't left, gave a cold snort. He was one of the professors overseeing the tryouts today, but from the start he hadn't said a word. He'd only watched each young wizard take the field with a cold stare.
"Congratulations, Hermione. I think you got what you wanted."
Breeze smiled. "You flew wonderfully. Maybe you'll win the House Cup in Quidditch this year, though that might put a damper on Slytherin's spirits."
Breeze looked toward the Slytherin section. The delight on Malfoy's face made his hair seem to gleam. It was blinding.
Still, it seemed Malfoy had gotten what he wanted.
"You really should have tried out, Breeze. It would have improved your flying skills." Hermione sat happily beside him, ready to watch the last few tryouts.
"Oh, Harry flies well. I knew I wouldn't be able to take the Seeker position from him. Besides, I prefer being a Beater."
Hermione clenched her fists, looking righteous. "I'll knock every dangerous Bludger out of the way!"
"Haha, all right. But I think I should head back." Breeze handed The History of Quidditch to Hermione.
"I need to return this book to the library, so I can't stay until the end. See you at dinner."
"See you at dinner, Breeze."
Hermione was clearly still caught up in the excitement and didn't press him to stay.
Hogwarts Castle was quiet that day. Everyone had gone to the Quidditch Pitch, but Breeze ran into someone he'd rather not meet.
"Professor Quirrell?"
Breeze felt a little uneasy when he saw Quirrell stop him, but he didn't let it show. Instead, he asked politely, "Can I help you?"
Professor Quirrell stammered, "On Monday, I—I'm teaching History of Dark Arts. I'd like you to be prepared. I need to—I need to ask you questions."
"Of course. I'll be prepared, don't worry, Professor Quirrell." Breeze looked hesitant, as though embarrassed, but eventually said, "Sorry, Professor. Professor McGonagall gave me a note to borrow a book from the Forbidden Section. I only have a few days to read it, so I can't look at the notes you gave me until Sunday. Don't worry, I won't neglect you."
Quirrell's expression shifted when he heard that, but in the end he forced a smile. "Oh, that's all right. I—I mean, as long as you remember."
As he was leaving, Quirrell added, "I heard you're not doing too well in Slytherin. Perhaps you could learn a few simple jinxes..."
"Um, thank you for your concern, Professor Quirrell."
Breeze smiled as he watched Quirrell leave, but his gaze darkened. Did Quirrell take him for a fool? He wasn't stupid.
Still, if anyone else saw those notes, they'd probably be reluctant to pass up the chance to learn from them. Slytherin's pursuit of power combined with Ravenclaw's thirst for knowledge—what an easy path into the abyss.
But he had to get rid of Quirrell's notes eventually, and remove the faint contract without attracting Quirrell's attention.
What exactly was this man trying to do?
Putting the matter aside, Breeze returned the book to Madam Pince, then headed to the Great Hall for dinner with his notebook.
The results of that afternoon's tryouts were out. Hermione and Harry had made the team, as had Malfoy for Slytherin. All the other first-years had been turned down, leaving Hermione and Harry surrounded by a crowd of Little Lions.
As for Malfoy, his nose was practically touching the ceiling.
Breeze went upstairs alone with his notebook and knocked on Professor McGonagall's office door, but no one answered.
"Looks like Professor McGonagall isn't here. I'll have to show her the notes during class."
Breeze was about to head up to the Owlery to rest when a red-haired man with a brisk, serious air came toward him.
"I'm Percy Weasley, a fifth-year Prefect from Gryffindor. Professor McGonagall wants you to go to the Headmaster's Office."
Before you continue