Panic and Reversal

The person who suddenly appeared and sternly called out Harry Potter's name was none other than Professor Minerva McGonagall.

Just moments ago, she had been discussing Animagus research with Katelyle in her office when she witnessed Harry and Malfoy fighting over the Remembrall. Harry's final chase after it, in particular, had greatly impressed Professor McGonagall.

But the sight of the flying broom suddenly going out of control had also filled Professor McGonagall with worry and fury.

Only then did she realize that these two children had mounted their brooms without Madam Hooch's guidance and engaged in such a dangerous game.

Harry's predicament, in particular, enraged Professor McGonagall.

Harry had not even fully mastered flying yet. If Professor Katelyle had not acted in time, Harry would truly have been finished.

He would have become the first student in Hogwarts history to die while independently controlling a broom during a flying lesson.

"Harry Potter!"

"In all my years at Hogwarts, I have never seen anyone as recklessly suicidal as you."

"Gryffindor's spirit of adventure may be brave and fearless, but you are only a first-year student, and this is merely your first flying lesson."

"Do you know what you just went through?"

"You could have broken your neck falling from up there."

"You could also have become the first student to die during a flying lesson. That would have been a disgrace."

"Do you want to become everyone's joke after you die?"

The more Professor McGonagall spoke, the angrier she became, and the paler Harry's face turned.

Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley grew increasingly worried as well.

"It wasn't Harry's fault, Professor!"

"Silence, Miss Granger."

Hermione tried her best to explain on Harry's behalf, but the angry Professor McGonagall rebuked her.

"But Malfoy, he—"

"Enough. I saw everything that happened, Mr. Weasley."

Professor McGonagall cut Ron off as well, then looked toward Malfoy.

When Malfoy saw Professor McGonagall looking at him, his expression shifted slightly.

"Mr. Draco, what you did had a terrible impact. Ten points from Slytherin," Professor McGonagall said sternly.

"Mr. Potter, your actions and their impact were also extremely bad. Ten points from Gryffindor."

Malfoy's face turned deathly pale again. Because of him, Slytherin had already lost fifteen points today.

Harry did not look too good either, but he did not dare argue at this moment.

"Potter, you need to come with me!"

"Don't let me discover that you've vanished behind my back."

With that, Professor McGonagall turned and strode away without leaving any room for argument.

A sudden sense of dread rose in Harry's heart, and he looked toward Katelyle.

Katelyle reached out, patted Harry on the head, and smiled. "Go on. Don't worry too much!"

Katelyle then remembered that this was not a bad thing for Harry.

But seeing how nervous and frightened they were, he did not explain any further.

Looking rather awkward, Harry hurried after Professor McGonagall, afraid that if she turned around and failed to see him, Gryffindor would lose more points because of it.

As Harry left, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle all smiled smugly at him.

They knew Harry was about to be expelled.

Harry pressed his lips together and caught up with Professor McGonagall, wanting to defend himself, but the flight earlier had left his throat in poor condition.

Even with Katelyle's reassurance, Harry's heart remained full of panic.

Was this it?

He had not even been at Hogwarts for two weeks. In another ten minutes, he would be packing his things and getting thrown out.

Being expelled must feel awful.

If Dudley Dursley's family saw him standing at their doorstep, they would surely be overjoyed.

Professor McGonagall remained silent throughout the journey. The more silent she was, the more anxious Harry became. He wanted to explain himself, but could not summon the courage, and could only follow behind her pitifully.

Was Professor McGonagall taking him to see Dumbledore?

With Dumbledore's tolerant nature, would he let Harry off?

If he was expelled, could he stay at the school as a groundskeeper like Hagrid?

Thinking of a groundskeeper made Harry think of Hagrid. Perhaps he could become Hagrid's assistant, patrol the Forbidden Forest with him, and envy Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and the others as they became wizards.

As all these thoughts surfaced in his mind, Harry's brows knitted tightly together, adding a touch of weariness and sorrow to his adorable face.

"Sorry, Professor Flitwick. Could you let Wood come out for a moment?"

Professor McGonagall's voice rang out, and only then did Harry realize that he had unknowingly followed her to the outside of a classroom.

But he did not understand why Professor McGonagall wanted Wood to come out.

Harry knew who Wood was. He was the current captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, a fifth-year senior, and he was very strong. A punch from him to the face would definitely hurt, and he certainly knew far more magic than Harry did now.

Wood did not know why Professor McGonagall wanted him, but Professor Flitwick agreed, so he had no choice but to come out.

Professor McGonagall glanced at Wood and said, "You two, come with me."

After coming out, Wood looked at Harry. He was small, but famous.

Wood was even more puzzled.

"Go in!"

Professor McGonagall pointed at a classroom and said.

"Ah, someone's here! Run!"

The classroom door opened. Peeves, who had been scribbling something across the blackboard, saw Professor McGonagall and immediately grinned nastily before rushing out of the classroom.

Harry glanced at the blackboard. The mischievous Peeves had been writing insults aimed at Bloody Baron.

Heavens knew how terrified Peeves was of Bloody Baron.

Professor McGonagall entered, slammed the door shut, then looked at Harry and Wood with a solemn expression.

"Harry, this is Oliver Wood."

"Wood, this is the Seeker I found for you."

Wood's expression changed from confusion to delight.

"Are you sure, Professor McGonagall?"

Professor McGonagall replied seriously, "Absolutely sure, Wood."

"Harry is a genius. Today was his first flying lesson. Although uncontrollable circumstances arose afterward, his performance was flawless."

Professor McGonagall then recounted what had happened between Harry and Malfoy.

After hearing it, Wood excitedly grabbed Harry's hand and said with a smile, "Harry, welcome to the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. You'll be our Seeker."

At that, Wood said to Professor McGonagall, "Professor, his build is perfect for a Seeker. Also, we must get him a proper broom, something like a Nimbus 2000 or a Cleansweep Seven."

Unlike Wood's joy, Harry was utterly dumbfounded.

What?

Wasn't I about to be expelled?

How did I become a Seeker?

Thinking of the damned broom Harry had encountered during flying class, Professor McGonagall said, "All right, I need to speak with Headmaster Dumbledore and see whether we can make an exception for a first-year student."

"If it is approved, I need you to train hard. I do not want to keep watching you get crushed by the Slytherin Quidditch Team. It has already made me too embarrassed to face Severus Snape for several weeks."

"And Mr. Potter, I hope you will train hard and not disappoint me. Otherwise, I will change my mind and revisit old matters."

Professor McGonagall delivered those final words with great seriousness.

Hearing them, Harry instinctively shuddered.

But his heart was filled with excitement!

For the time being, he did not need to be expelled.