Nimbus 2000

When they reached the trophy room, the person who had sent the challenge never showed up. Instead, they heard Filch and Mrs Norris. Fleeing in a panic, they ended up in the Forbidden Corridor on the Fourth Floor. After using Alohomora to unlock a door, they ducked into the forbidden room.

Then they came face-to-face with a giant three-headed dog. After a terrifying scramble, they made it out of danger.

On the way back, Hermione pointed out a Living Wood trapdoor beneath the dog's paws. Harry immediately thought of the Daily Prophet's report on the break-in at Vault 731—and the shabby bundle Hagrid had taken from it.

And so the curtain rose on the Philosopher's Stone!

The next day, Harry and Ron appeared in the Great Hall with smiles on their faces. Draco's eyes nearly popped out. He wanted to demand how they had escaped Filch and Mrs Norris, but he feared exposing the trap he had set for them.

The Main Character Group sat together, whispering. Two long dining tables away, Luo Bin couldn't hear what they were saying, but he knew their discussion centered on the hidden room beneath the Living Wood trapdoor.

Luo Bin had no intention of joining the Main Character Group. After breakfast, he went ahead to the classroom to prepare. A week later, during breakfast in the Great Hall, thirteen long-eared Owls swept in, causing quite a stir.

One carried two envelopes. The other twelve flew in two groups of six, each group clutching a long, narrow parcel in their talons. Judging by the shape, they had to be Broomsticks!

One letter landed in front of Harry and the other in front of Luo Bin. The parcels were delivered the same way!

Their deliveries complete, the Owls flapped away. White feathers spiraled through the air, setting off a wave of chatter!

"Oh my goodness! Wasn't Robin Sear raised in an orphanage? Who would spend that much money on a flying broom for him?"

"Maybe the Ministry of Magic did. He's so talented that his professors call him a genius who comes along once in a century. And since he has no wizarding family behind him, the Ministry might be trying to recruit him early!"

"Hmph! I can't stand the way he shows off. It's just a lousy broom, probably secondhand from who knows where. If he falls off it and dies, he'll have no one to blame. My family has a whole row of Broomsticks in storage. Have I ever bragged about them?"

Surprise, doubt, jealousy, and envy filled the Great Hall. Luo Bin ignored them and tore open his envelope.

[Open the parcel. Inside is an incredibly cool Nimbus 2000 Broomstick. Once you unwrap it, Slytherin is bound to become the center of attention, and you're bound to bear everyone's envy. Your first practice begins tonight at seven on the Quidditch Pitch—Marcus Flint!]

The letter's contents suited Marcus's loud, overbearing personality perfectly.

Luo Bin unwrapped the parcel. The golden words "Nimbus 2000" gleamed, catching every eye. The mahogany handle felt smooth and warm, with a rich sheen. Even the thickness and length of the twigs at its tail had been carefully designed. It truly was aristocracy among Broomsticks, dozens of times better than the ones the school provided for lessons!

The broom was too large and too eye-catching. Luo Bin wanted to run his hands over every inch of it, then mount it and soar through the sky. But he still had classes, so he had to finish breakfast quickly and return it to his dormitory before lessons began.

Harry Potter had the same idea. But as soon as he stepped out of the Entrance Hall, Draco blocked his way. Their argument drew Professor Flitwick over, and they got a scolding. Of course, that little setback did nothing to dampen Harry's spirits!

Seven that evening, on the Quidditch Pitch outside the castle!

Broomstick in hand, Luo Bin greeted Harry, then headed toward the Slytherin Quidditch Team!

"Well, look at you! You're barely taller than your broom. Don't fall off the moment you mount it and go crying for your mummy. Right, Adrian?"

"Captain, did you hear wrong? When Professor Snape told the first-year to join the team, he didn't mean as Seeker. He must have meant to put him on equipment duty!"

The speakers were Terence Higgs and Adrian Pucey. Clearly, neither welcomed Luo Bin to the team!

"My name is Robin Sear, and I'm glad to be joining the team. If you two have a problem with it, sorry for the trouble, but take it up with Professor Snape. Complaining won't stop me from becoming Seeker. It'll only spread bad feeling and hurt team unity. Hah. You two are the ones better suited to equipment duty!"

Luo Bin lived by a simple rule: leave him alone, and he'd leave you alone. Cross him, and he'd pay you back double. Putting two small-time bullies in their place would take no time at all!

"You... You're talking back to your seniors! No manners. No wonder you were dumped in an orphanage!" Terence said, breathing hard.

"That's enough, all of you! Luo Bin, watch from the sidelines for now. After practice, I'll teach you about the balls and how to catch the Golden Snitch!"

At the other end of the pitch, Wood opened a case and appeared to be explaining the different Quidditch balls. The players in red wore warm, friendly smiles.

Hah. They made the Slytherin Quidditch Team look even colder!

Luo Bin looked away and fixed his gaze on Flint. It was so cold and blank it rivaled Snape's, and it made Flint's hair stand on end. "Luo Bin, Quidditch isn't that simple. Without a solid grasp of the basics, you won't be able to keep up with practice!"

Stalling. Couldn't he come up with anything new? Did he really think Luo Bin hadn't done his homework? "Chasers go after the Quaffle. Put it through the other team's hoops, and your team gets ten points. Beaters go after the Bludgers. They hit them to keep them from flying around and injuring their teammates..."

Luo Bin went on explaining the essentials of Quidditch. The longer the players in green listened, the deeper their frowns grew. Things were plainly not going as they had expected!

"Luo Bin, memorizing what a book says won't help. You have hardly any practical experience... Hey, what are you doing?"

Flint reacted a beat too late to stop him. The vicious black Bludger burst free of the cardboard box and tore through the air, nearly smashing into players' heads several times!

"Luo Bin Sear, I'm telling Professor Snape! You're going to get kicked off the—ah!"

The Bludger struck Adrian Pucey square on the nose. Two streaks of blood ran from his nostrils, making him look exactly like a clown!

"Terence, let's have a match. Loser takes equipment duty!"

Holding a wooden bat, Luo Bin mounted his Nimbus 2000 and raised an eyebrow.

"You said it. Don't cry when you lose!"

Terence had been on the team for some time and was certain he would win. He grabbed a bat, mounted his Broomstick, and flew after the Bludger.

Seeing him accept, Luo Bin's lips curved upward. He pushed hard off the ground with both legs and rose into the air!

"Captain, that Bludger's dangerous. Luo Bin could get hurt. Shouldn't we... get a professor?" a more timid teammate suggested quietly.

"Slytherins don't back down. I trust Terence to control the force of his hits!"

In Flint's mind, Terence was the best choice for Seeker, but he didn't dare defy Snape's decision. This wager solved his immediate problem!

But he had overestimated Terence's character and ability.

High in the air, Terence put all his strength into a swing that sent the Bludger at Luo Bin's left leg. He wanted his opponent to know what a broken bone felt like.

Luo Bin leaned sideways and dodged. The Bludger shot more than ten meters past him, then curved around, heading straight for the back of the black-haired boy's head!