A First Year Joins Quidditch

Breeze looked Hermione up and down carefully until Hermione blushed, then Breeze said, "Are you alright? You're not someone who drank Polyjuice Potion and turned into Hermione, are you?"

"Why would you waste time on something like Quidditch? You know it takes a lot of extracurricular time to practice. Is it really worth it for just a hundred and fifty points?"

"Hmph, don't always think about points. You need to have some extracurricular leisure activities too." Hermione pouted unhappily, as if her visit had a less than pure objective.

Breeze narrowed his eyes and said in a firm tone, "Don't think I'll participate. I don't want to be flown around on a broomstick and watched by a crowd."

At least a hundred and fifty points couldn't sway Breeze.

"Alright," Hermione sighed deeply, helplessly. "Then I..."

"Hermione!" Breeze seriously grabbed Hermione, staring into her eyes. "Hermione, do you like Quidditch? Do you like flying?"

Hermione looked at the sincerity filling Breeze's pure black eyes and couldn't help but blush. Then, hearing Breeze's serious words, for some reason, a voice kept echoing in her heart, questioning if she truly wanted to participate in Quidditch.

"Hermione, do what you want to do, and I'll support you. It's like moonlight watching a mermaid sing for the first time. You understand, mermaids are brave and fearless, pursuing freedom and beauty..."

Hermione slowly nodded, then quickly said with determination, "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 would participate!"

Breeze let go with satisfaction, then secured the book tucked under his arm. "Then I'll come cheer you on today. But you know, I have to return this book to the library today, so I need to quickly jot down important things before you officially appear."

"Of course, it's great that you can come. Thank you, Breeze."

"It's nothing, we're friends."

Breeze chuckled and walked beside Hermione, but in his heart he thought... How could I lead Hermione to waste her study time? This is truly detestable. Although it will definitely affect Gryffindor's in-class points...

Breeze was a bit conflicted. He had never had any friends he got along with. Hermione was one, Cedric was another, and the Weasley twins counted as one combined.

Was it really appropriate to use the methods he used to deal with the little idiots at the orphanage on his friends?

Before Breeze could figure it out, he heard the enthusiastic cheers from the Quidditch field for the tryouts. Slytherin was up first.

Breeze and Hermione sat to the side. When they heard that participants needed to go to the back field to prepare, Hermione handed The History of Quidditch to Breeze for safekeeping and left. Breeze sat alone in the stands, flipping through the rules and introductions of Quidditch. After finishing, he happened to catch Malfoy's debut.

"He flies quite well. It looks like Malfoy will join the Slytherin team," Breeze commented on Malfoy with fairness. "It's a shame his personality is too flamboyant. As a nimble Seeker, he might be careless. He's more suited to be a Chaser."

With his mind elsewhere, Breeze picked up his notes and began writing in the noisy Quidditch stadium. He thought he might be able to return The Secrets of Transfiguration to Madam Pince before dinner. Books from the Restricted Section could only be borrowed for a short time, and Professor McGonagall only wanted to test his talent, not giving him too much time.

As expected, Malfoy joined the team, but it wasn't yet determined if he would replace the current Seeker or be a reserve.

The next match was Ravenclaw. Cho Chang was the first to appear. Because Ravenclaw had more female students, the team's female voices inevitably carried more weight.

"Oh!"

Suddenly, a cheer erupted. Cho also performed a somersault on her broom in the air and then firmly caught the Golden Snitch!

"It seems she's Ravenclaw's Seeker," Breeze said, happy for the girl, and continued writing his Transfiguration notes.

Honestly, The Secrets of Transfiguration was indeed profound, a difficult subject to learn and master, but Breeze clearly had a talent for it.

He casually pointed his wand at a small pebble beside him, and the pebble quickly turned into a Golden Snitch with flapping wings. Breeze held it in his palm for a moment, then transformed the Golden Snitch into a mouse. This was a deeper level of Transfiguration, turning an inanimate object into a living creature. However, Breeze hadn't fully mastered it; if one were to feel the mouse closely, they would find a hard lump inside.

"It seems Transfiguration structural theory isn't that simple either. I haven't actually touched a mouse before."

Turning the mouse back into a pebble and placing it aside, Breeze paid no attention to the astonished looks of those around him. Learning was always a solitary pursuit; showing off was a waste of time.

"Is he sure he's only a first-year? I can't guarantee I'll be able to do this well even in my third year," one of the Ravenclaw students sighed with frustration. "He should have come to Ravenclaw. Slytherin doesn't suit him. Ambition, scheming... perhaps he truly seeks glory."

The Ravenclaw student thought of the nickname "Mr. Know-it-all" that had been circulating about the first-year, as well as his point-earning feats, and didn't say anything further.

Next was Gryffindor, the house with the most participants and the most comical ones. They seemed to consider whether they were capable or not, but only whether they had come.

Didn't Professor McGonagall, who was maintaining order in the distance, have a dark expression? Those two Weasley twins were still egging on the Little Lions to compete, not even sparing Neville, who had fallen off his broom during flying class.

"Full of vitality, Gryffindor. I hope Hermione can save some energy for studying, otherwise I'll feel too guilty for encouraging her to participate in such a time-wasting sport."

When Hermione came onto the field with her broom, Breeze put down his notes, his eyes following Hermione's acrobatic maneuvers in the air until Hermione caught the Quaffle and sent it into the opposite goal.

"Oh, it's in, it's in! Good girl!"

The Weasley twins below cheered loudly. It was clear they all knew Hermione would make the team. Professor McGonagall also smiled and nodded, finally regaining some face, especially in Quidditch, which she loved.

As Hermione left the field, Breeze applauded, and then it was Harry's turn.

Professor Snape, who had not left, let out a cold snort. He was also one of the professors managing order today, but he hadn't said a word since the start, only coldly watching each young wizard who took the field.

"Congratulations, Hermione. I think you've gotten what you wished for."

Breeze chuckled, "You flew wonderfully. Perhaps this year's Quidditch House Cup will be yours. Though saying that might dampen Slytherin's spirits a bit."

Breeze glanced in the direction of Slytherin. Malfoy's surprised expression made his hair sparkle, which was too dazzling.

But it seemed he had gotten what he wanted.

"You really should have participated, Breeze. It would have honed your flying skills," Hermione said happily, sitting beside Breeze, ready to watch the remaining few tryouts.

"Oh, Harry flew well. I knew I couldn't compete with him for the Seeker position, and I prefer being a Chaser."

Hermione clenched her fist, her face full of righteousness. "I will open up every dangerous Bludger!"

"Haha, alright, but I think I need to head back," Breeze said, handing The History of Quidditch to Hermione.

"I need to go to the library to return the book, so I can't stay to see the end. See you at dinner."

"See you at dinner, Breeze."

Hermione was clearly still excited and didn't insist on Breeze staying.

Hogwarts Castle was deserted today, with everyone at the Quidditch pitch. However, Breeze ran into someone he didn't want to meet.

"Professor Quirrell?"

Seeing Quirrell blocking his path, Breeze felt a slight unease but showed nothing on his face, instead politely asking, "Is there something you need?"

Professor Quirrell stammered, "On Monday, I, I have a class on the History of Dark Arts, and I want you to be, to be prepared. I need to ask, ask questions."

"Of course, I'll be prepared, don't worry, Professor Quirrell." Breeze's expression showed some hesitation, as if embarrassed, and he finally said, "I'm sorry, Professor, because Professor McGonagall gave me a pass to borrow books from the Forbidden Section, and I only have a few days to read them. So, I can only look at the notes you gave me on Sunday. Don't worry, I won't neglect you."

Hearing this, Quirrell's expression changed, and he finally forced a smile, "Oh, it's fine, I, I mean, as long as you remember,"

As he was leaving, Quirrell added, "I heard you, you're not doing, not doing well in Slytherin. Perhaps you, you could learn some simple little, little curses..."

"Uh, thank you for your concern, Professor Quirrell."

Breeze smiled and saw Quirrell off, but his gaze darkened. Did this Quirrell take him for a fool? He wasn't a stupid person.

However, if others saw these notes, they might truly be unable to resist learning them. Slytherin's pursuit of power combined with Ravenclaw's thirst for knowledge – what an easy path to the abyss.

But these notes from Quirrell still needed to be discarded, and he had to remove that faint contract without attracting Quirrell's attention.

What exactly did this guy want to do?

Pushing the matter aside, Breeze returned the book to Madam Pince and then headed to the Great Hall for dinner with the notes.

The results of this afternoon's selections were out. Hermione and Harry had been selected, and Malfoy from Slytherin had also been selected. As for the other first-years, they were all politely declined, which led to Hermione and Harry being surrounded by a group of Little Lions.

As for Malfoy, his nose was practically touching the ceiling.

Breeze, going upstairs alone, knocked on Professor McGonagall's office door with the notes, but there was no response.

"It seems Professor McGonagall isn't here. I'll have to show her the notes later during class."

As Breeze was about to head to the tower to rest, a red-haired, stern-looking man approached him.

"I am the fifth-year prefect of Gryffindor, Percy Weasley. Professor McGonagall wants you to go to the Headmaster's office."