Potter!! Where Are You Looking!!

On the afternoon of Flying Class, Ron was lively all the way there.

"Finally, we don't have to sit in a classroom." He glanced at the textbook Hermione was carrying, then added, "Surely riding a broom doesn't require writing a whole roll of parchment first?"

"We should at least find out how to take off and land first," Hermione said.

"I know."

"And how to hold the handle."

"Of course I know that too. I'm not an idiot."

Harry looked at the two of them and couldn't help laughing. Beside him, however, Neville looked down at his hands.

"I've never ridden one before."

"Neither have I." Harry patted his shoulder. "Let's hear what the professor says first. Don't worry."

They passed through the Entrance Hall and walked out onto the grass outside the castle.

The afternoon breeze gently stirred the blades of grass, and the distant Forbidden Forest looked deep in the sunlight.

Two rows of brooms lay neatly on the ground. A few had slightly bent handles, and the twigs at their tails weren't particularly tidy either.

Ron glanced down. "Fred said some of the school brooms veer to one side when they fly, just like... that."

Neville's shoulders, which had only just relaxed, tensed again.

"Maybe he was the one veering to one side," Harry said.

Hermione nodded, clearly finding that explanation more believable.

On the other side, the Slytherin students had already arrived, and that long platinum-blond hair stood out.

Malfoy stood between Goyle and Crabbe, her gaze sweeping over the brooms on the ground before settling on Harry's face.

She seemed to be in quite a good mood today.

"Potter."

The girl suddenly called to him, a malicious smile curling her lips.

"Don't tell me... you've never even ridden a Flying Broomstick?"

Before Harry could answer, she seemed to remember something suddenly and covered her mouth in feigned surprise.

"Oh~ where's my memory!"

"I almost forgot. Our famous Chosen One grew up in a Muggle home."

Malfoy looked Harry up and down, her gray-green eyes filled with undisguised contempt.

"Those Muggles probably don't even know what a Flying Broomstick is, do they?"

At that, the girl finally couldn't resist lifting her chin smugly.

"But you don't need to worry too much."

"If you can't even get on your broom later, I won't laugh at you."

Of course.

As if!

She already couldn't wait to see this so-called magical genius make a fool of himself in front of everyone!

"I certainly haven't," Harry answered promptly this time.

Malfoy stared at him for two seconds. He had said the same thing in Potions Class.

"That had better be true."

"Muggle homes do have brooms." Harry thought for a moment. "But people generally aren't allowed to ride them. They're used to sweep the floor."

Malfoy froze.

Sweep the floor?

Such a magical Flying Broomstick was nothing but a floor-sweeping tool to Muggles?

What an ignorant bunch!

Just as she was about to deliver a few more jabs, Harry suddenly smiled.

"But, Miss Malfoy, you're so concerned about me. Could you be worried about me?"

"Wh-who's concerned about you?!" The girl's eyes immediately widened. "I only wanted to remind you that flying isn't something you can learn by memorizing a few books!"

"Oh, I see." Harry nodded thoughtfully.

"Then if I run into any trouble later, sorry for the trouble, but I'll be counting on your guidance, Miss Malfoy."

"Hmph! Who said I'd teach you!"

Malfoy turned her head away indignantly.

In your dreams! I came specifically to watch you embarrass yourself today!

I'm not going to stupidly play teacher for you like I did in Potions Class last time!

Madam Hooch soon came over.

Her hair was very short, and her eyes were a bright yellow. As her gaze swept across the students' faces, their conversation gradually died away.

"Everyone, stand beside a broom."

"Hold out your right hand over your broom, then say, 'Up.'"

Harry looked down beside his feet.

There were several shallow scratches on the broom's handle, and a thin twig stuck out at the end.

He held out his hand.

"Up."

The broom stirred slightly, then leaped into his palm.

Harry gripped the wooden handle, feeling a little surprised.

This step had gone more smoothly than he'd imagined.

Beside him, Ron already had his broom in hand too. Hermione's rolled over on the grass, and she frowned before calling again.

Neville's broom only shifted a little.

"Up..."

His voice grew quieter and quieter.

"More clearly, Longbottom." Madam Hooch walked over. "First, let it know what you want to do."

On the other side, Malfoy already had a firm hold on her broom.

She glanced at the wooden handle in Harry's hand, the smile at her lips fading slightly.

He actually succeeded on his first try.

Still, that was only calling it up. Actually riding it wouldn't be so easy.

Madam Hooch began demonstrating how to grip the handle and sit astride the broom.

Harry tried copying her movements, holding the broom securely between his legs while keeping both feet on the grass.

At a thought, the panel opened.

[Recorded: Flying.]

[Current status: Not mastered.]

[Grip too tight. Recommended action: Relax both hands.]

Harry loosened his fingers slightly. The wooden handle wobbled, and he instinctively tightened his grip again.

"Ha ha ha! Potter."

Malfoy's voice came from beside him.

"Are you trying to snap it in half?"

Harry turned his head.

The girl was already astride her broom, her hands positioned very naturally and her back held steady and straight.

"Move your hands forward a little."

She glanced at his posture.

"And don't tense your shoulders. Like that, you'll pull yourself off course when you turn."

Harry adjusted his posture as she instructed.

"Like this?"

"Yes."

Malfoy had only just nodded when she noticed Goyle watching her.

The girl immediately lifted her chin.

"I just don't want someone falling into me later and damaging my broom."

Beside her, Goyle turned to glance at his young mistress, but she very wisely said nothing.

After checking their posture, Madam Hooch returned to the front of the group.

"Anyone who has ridden a broom before, raise your hand."

Several hands went up. Malfoy raised hers with perfect composure.

"Very good. Malfoy, demonstrate first. Keep low, circle the marker ahead, then return to your original position."

The girl's eyes lit up.

"Yes, Professor."

She pushed lightly off the ground, and her broom rose steadily, the wind lifting the hem of her robes back a little.

Her long platinum-blond hair slipped over her shoulder, then gently floated outward as she turned.

Harry's gaze followed her.

She flew very steadily. As she approached the marker, her broom tilted slightly and swept around it in a smooth arc.

There was no hesitation, nor any sudden veering off course.

Returning to the front of the group, the girl gently lowered her broom, and her feet touched the grass again.

"Very good." Madam Hooch nodded. "Pay attention to her movements when she turns. They don't need to be very large."

Malfoy raised her chin, but her gaze had already landed on Harry.

Did you see that, Potter?

That's not something you can do by memorizing a few books.

Harry nodded to her. "Very pretty."

Malfoy froze slightly.

Pretty? Was he complimenting her?

A faint blush immediately spread across the girl's fair cheeks, and she could barely keep the corners of her lips down.

"Hmph. At least you have some taste."

She brushed the long platinum-blond hair on her shoulder with feigned casualness, striving to maintain the reserve befitting a Miss of her standing.

Inside, however, she was already feeling smug.

Heh heh.

Potter, don't think I'll forgive you just because you've praised a fact everyone already knows!

Harry, however, gave her a puzzled look. "I meant your flying just now was very pretty."

"..." The smile froze on Malfoy's lips.

Flying? He meant her flying?!

Damn it!

Couldn't you make yourself a little clearer?!

As the girl flushed with embarrassment and annoyance, she noticed Harry's gaze suddenly move down from her face.

Finally, it stopped at...

Harry shook his head slightly, looking rather disappointed, and even gave a soft "tsk."

Malfoy's eyes immediately widened, and she instinctively covered the front of her school robes.

"Wh-what are you looking at, Potter!"

"The broom."

With an innocent expression, Harry pointed at the Flying Broomstick in her arms.

"I thought the Malfoy family's Miss would use some particularly impressive broom."

He glanced once more at the old school-issued broom and shook his head regretfully.

"But there's nothing special about it after all. It's very flat... and plain."

"Harry! Potter!!!"

The girl's cheeks instantly turned bright red.

That bastard!

What was that look in his eyes supposed to mean?!

And that disappointed expression!

Just what about me disappointed you!!!

No, wait! Why should she care whether this fellow was disappointed?!

For their first practice, Madam Hooch had the students take off in groups.

Harry and Malfoy were both in the first group.

"Push off gently. You only need to rise a little. Hold your broom steady, and once your feet leave the ground, keep your balance first."

The whistle sounded.

Harry pushed off, and the broom really did carry him off the ground.

The grass suddenly fell a little farther away, and wind slipped beneath his robes. Holding the wooden handle, he couldn't help feeling his heart beat a little faster.

He was flying.

The thought had only just appeared when the broom swayed to the left.

Harry hurried to correct it, only to veer off again.

[Center of gravity shifting. Smaller adjustments recommended.]

Harry read the prompt clearly, but his hands failed to keep up right away.

For the first time, he realized that to "make it a little smaller," he first had to figure out just how much "a little" was.

It was like being told to add an "appropriate amount" of salt and an "appropriate amount" of water when cooking.

On the ground, Ron moved half a step aside. Hermione hugged her broom tightly, looking very much as though she wanted to warn him.

But Malfoy had already spoken.

"Stop staring down, you idiot Potter!"

Harry raised his eyes. "Look ahead. The more you stare at your feet, the more your body leans that way."

The girl was right beside him, her broom hovering steadily, with barely even a flutter at the hem of her robes.

Harry did as instructed, and the wooden handle, which had been swaying from side to side, finally began to steady.

Madam Hooch looked over from the front of the group.

"Very good. Hold it there."

Harry slowly let out a breath.

He was only a little way off the ground, but the feeling of empty space beneath his feet was already completely different from riding a bicycle.

This thing had not even left him a wheel.

"Now land slowly," Madam Hooch said.

Harry tried lowering the broom.

His movement was a little too abrupt, and when his soles touched the grass, he had to take a step forward before regaining his balance.

[Basic takeoff and landing completed for the first time.]

[Flying: beginner (5/100).]

Harry looked down at the wooden handle.

I can learn this, but it really will take more practice.

Malfoy landed too.

Her movements were much lighter. The moment her feet touched the ground, her broom had already come to a steady stop.

"Well, you idiot Potter?"

The girl looked at him, the smugness in her eyes almost impossible to hide.

"Flying won't get any easier just because you answered Professor Snape's question correctly."

Harry nodded in wholehearted agreement. "I can see that."

That answer briefly stalled the next remark Malfoy had prepared.

"If you hadn't reminded me just now, I might have kept wobbling for a while."

Harry looked at her and added with a smile, "As expected of the nobly born Miss Malfoy. You teach really well."

The girl's fingers shifted slightly around her broom.

He admitted it?

Potter finally admitted that I, Miss Malfoy, am better than him?!

Malfoy's chin rose little by little, but the corners of her mouth refused to cooperate, curling upward no matter how hard she tried to press them down.

"Hmph."

"As if you needed to tell me something so obvious!"

She turned her head, pretending to inspect the twigs at the tail of her broom.

Good. This is how it should be!

Now this is a normal lesson!

Crabbe looked at her, then at Goyle. Her mouth had only just moved when Goyle caught her sleeve first.

Please, don't say it.

At least not now.

Madam Hooch had already moved on to the next group of students.

Neville sat astride his broom, his round face taut.

Harry looked over. "Neville, relax a little first. Just push off gently."

Neville nodded, but his hands still gripped the wooden handle tightly.

"Listen for my whistle." Madam Hooch raised her hand. "Everyone ready. Don't move yet."

Before she had finished speaking, Neville suddenly pushed off with his feet.

The broom shot upward.

"Longbottom, stop!"

Neville hurriedly pushed downward, but his body tilted backward first.

The next instant, the front of the broom jerked sharply upward.

The students on the grass all looked up. The broom had already soared above their heads and was still shooting higher.

Neville clung tightly to the wooden handle, his voice suddenly changing.

"H-help!"

"I-I can't stop!"