True courage

Neville stared wide-eyed as Zhang Xiao jumped off his broom and hurtled after him.

Hermione, who had been watching the two of them anxiously, suddenly screamed. She drew her wand and ran toward where they were falling. The young witches and wizards stopped chatting and looked up at the sky in confusion, then screamed in unison.

Madam Hooch felt as though someone had clenched a fist around her heart. She blew her silver whistle and shouted sternly:

"Everyone, stay exactly where you are! Anyone who moves will be expelled!"

There was a rare tremor in her voice. She picked up her broomstick, then thought better of it and set it down. Like Hermione, she drew her wand and ran toward where the two boys were about to land.

The commotion even alerted the Heads of House who had just stepped out through the doors. Professor McGonagall swore she had never hated Hogwarts' Anti-Apparition Jinx as much as she did at that moment.

With her lips pressed tight, she could only run toward the students as fast as she could. Her bun came loose as she ran, but the meticulous Head of House did not even have time to sweep her hair aside. Finally, Professor McGonagall simply leaped into the air, transformed into a cat, and raced along on all fours.

Snape's face was equally grim, and venom poured ceaselessly from his mouth:

"Poor Mr. Longbottom must have forgotten to bring his brain today. With that empty head of his, he mistook an excellent Slytherin for his brain and took him up into the sky.

"Minerva, this would never happen in my House, because I would have persuaded Mr. Longbottom to go home on his very first day!"

Despite his words, he was not slowing down at all. His enormous cloak billowed in the wind, making him look as though he were gliding as he sped just above the ground.

Knowing he could not get there in time, Professor Flitwick drew his wand and chanted hurriedly, yet with perfect clarity:

"Light as a feather!" "Run swiftly!"...

He cast spell after spell on the two professors, noticeably increasing their speed.

Zhang Xiao had no idea what was happening below. His gaze stayed fixed on Neville as he straightened his body to reduce air resistance. At last, he caught him and shouted into the sobbing boy's ear:

"Neville, has anyone ever told you? You're a true Gryffindor-a reckless lion through and through!"

With that, he slapped the talisman in his hand hard against Neville's back. "You're not going to die! I said so!"

It was as though Neville had suddenly opened a parachute. His falling speed dropped sharply until he was drifting on the wind like a weightless feather, slowly descending.

Zhang Xiao, meanwhile, continued plummeting toward the ground like a meteor.

Watching Zhang Xiao fall, Harry grabbed his broomstick and was about to mount it when Seamus hurriedly caught hold of him.

"Harry, are you mad? Madam Hooch said anyone who moves will be expelled!"

Harry looked at him with his green eyes and said firmly:

"If it's a choice between a friend's life and being expelled, I'd rather live with Dudley!"

Who was Dudley? Seamus looked bewildered. Before he could work it out, Harry had already mounted his broomstick and kicked off hard, shooting into the sky. Another figure rose into the air behind him.

It was Ron!

"Harry, you're right! A friend's life matters more than being expelled!" he shouted, his face flushed red. "If I back down, I won't be able to respect myself! I'm a member of the Weasley family!"

Several of the young Slytherins grew visibly restless too. They hesitated, but remembering that they had never handled a broomstick before, they reluctantly abandoned the idea.

In the crowd, Malfoy watched the two figures fly into the sky, his expression shifting uncertainly. He snorted and muttered, "Idiots!"

Yet his hand still drifted toward his broom of its own accord. Under the indifferent gazes of Pansy Parkinson and the other pure-bloods, Malfoy suddenly mounted his broom and shot into the sky as well.

He muttered to himself:

"It's fine. My father's a school governor. They wouldn't dare expel me. I can't let that idiot Zhang die. He hasn't taught me Chinese yet, and I haven't finished Dragon Ball either..."

The ground drew closer and closer, but Zhang Xiao still had not found his second Floating Talisman. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He could now see Hermione raising her wand and firing spells at him over and over, probably Levitation Charms. Beside her stood Madam Hooch, wand raised and ready.

Farther away, two dark figures were racing toward them at tremendous speed.

Hmm... looks like I'm not going to die. Zhang Xiao spread his hands, then copied Tom Cat, crossing his legs in midair and pillowing his head on his hands. He whistled, enjoying a moment of peace and the lovely view.

The clear sky, the howling wind, and the sensation of plummeting gave him a strange feeling of floating bliss.

Then three dark shapes suddenly intruded at the edge of his vision, spoiling the mood. Zhang Xiao turned to look and saw Harry, Ron, and... Malfoy???

They were approaching rapidly on their brooms. Harry was the fastest, reaching out to catch Zhang Xiao.

"Don't! The broom can't support two people!"

Harry understood at once, but instead of pulling his hand back, he grabbed Zhang Xiao's clothes and gave him a sharp upward tug before immediately letting go. Zhang Xiao's downward momentum eased considerably.

Wow! Was this what talent looked like?

Zhang Xiao watched in amazement as Harry swooped up and down around him like a nimble swift. Each time, he gave Zhang Xiao a single tug and immediately let go, actually managing to slow his fall little by little.

All the while, Harry kept shouting encouragement to him. Malfoy and Ron were not bad flyers either, but neither was as agile as Harry. They could only keep circling nearby, spitting at each other or giving loud snorts whenever their paths crossed.

As they neared the ground, Harry's broom suddenly gave a sharp crack. He immediately lost his balance and slipped downward with a startled cry. Fortunately, he was only a few meters above the ground.

Ron shouted and lunged toward Zhang Xiao, wrapping both arms around him. The two tumbled awkwardly across the ground several times. Harry limped over, waving excitedly to show he was all right. Malfoy landed beside them too, but kept his face cold and said nothing.

The young witches and wizards in the distance erupted into cheers, waving their arms as they ran toward the boys.

Zhang Xiao struggled to his feet. Ron had cushioned his landing at the last moment, so he was not in much pain. Ron, however, lay groaning on the ground and seemed to be hurting badly.

"Ron... Harry, and you too... Malfoy..." For once, Zhang Xiao found himself at a loss for words. The silver tongue he had honed in his previous life seemed utterly inadequate in the face of such sincere, unfeigned friendship.

He did not even know how to express how moved he was. Looking at Harry and Ron's silly grins, and the concern Malfoy could not hide despite his sour expression, Zhang Xiao suddenly felt a sting in his nose.

He reached out and pulled all three of them into a hug, murmuring in a muffled voice:

"Thank you..."

Behind a distant clump of bushes, an old man wearing half-moon spectacles let out a soft sigh. He spoke quietly to the fiery-red bird perched on his shoulder:

"Ah... how lovely, Fawkes. The innocence and courage of youth are such beautiful things... What a moving friendship... I think we're no longer needed here."

A flash of fire swept past, and the figure vanished, leaving only a clear, ringing cry.