Madam Hooch, thankfully, didn't seem to blame Evan but instead rushed over to check on Neville's condition.
"Madam Hooch, is Neville alright?" Evan asked, his voice laced with concern.
He hoped his intervention had been enough to prevent any serious injury.
"He's fine, just a little banged up," Madam Hooch said after a quick inspection, helping a bruised and battered Neville to his feet.
The sight of Neville plummeting straight down from the sky had nearly given her a heart attack. Even though Neville's injuries were minor, Madam Hooch insisted on taking him to the hospital wing.
"Alright, children, I'm taking Neville to the hospital. I expect all of you to stay here and not fly until I get back. No exceptions!"
With that, she led a tear-streaked Neville back towards the castle.
Once they were out of sight, the Slytherin students burst into laughter, with Draco Malfoy leading the mockery.
"Did you see that? The big oaf, the sniveling mess falling from the sky—I bet he'll never ride a broom again."
"That's enough, Malfoy!" Harry couldn't stand it any longer and stood up to silence him.
But Malfoy, far from feeling remorse, only intensified his taunts. "Oh my, our Potter is friends with that oaf!"
"Of course, we're friends, and don't you dare call Neville that!" Harry retorted angrily.
Evan frowned at this. He remembered from the movies that Malfoy was a brat, not evil at heart.
As Evan mulled this over, he suddenly heard Malfoy pointing at him.
"Friends? The kind who get points added and then drop the big oaf from the sky?"
Evan's lips twitched, and he stepped forward, rolling up his sleeves and landing a punch straight to Malfoy's face, knocking him to the ground.
MMP, brats are the worst...
"You dare hit me? My father will have you expelled!" Malfoy, clutching his swelling cheek, scrambled up from the ground, spewing threats.
Evan was unfazed by Malfoy's threat. Old Malfoy might be a school governor, but he didn't have the power to expel a student on a whim, and Dumbledore wouldn't expel him over such a trifling matter, especially since he was now somewhat of a friend to Harry, the savior.
"Well done, Evan..." Ron also rolled up his sleeves, ready to join in. He'd had enough of Malfoy's nonsense.
"Enough! Evan, Ron, what will Madam Hooch think if she comes back and sees you fighting? You could get expelled!" Hermione was livid, looking almost hysterical.
Malfoy took advantage of the distraction to mount his broom and soar into the air.
Perhaps feeling secure from his aerial vantage point, Malfoy, despite being roughed up, doubled down on his antics and took out a crystal ball, brandishing it high and taunting everyone below.
"Look what I've got? The oaf's crystal ball! Where should I hide it? Maybe toss it into a tree? Aren't you friends with the oaf? Come and get it!"
"Malfoy!"
Harry was about to explode with rage, ignoring Hermione's pleas and chasing after Malfoy into the sky.
Despite it being his first time flying, Harry managed it with aplomb, and soon the two were entangled in a mid-air scuffle.
Evan, seeing this, naturally wanted to help. He positioned the broom between his legs, trying to mimic Harry's takeoff, hoping to experience the thrill of flying.
But the broom seemed to have a mind of its own, remaining stubbornly still no matter how Evan jostled it.
Move, come on... why won't you move?
Evan slapped the broomstick in frustration, only then remembering he hadn't even completed the first step of connecting with the broom.
Fortunately, before Evan could embarrass himself further, Hermione stepped in front of him with her arms crossed.
"Evan, are you planning to break the rules too?" The little witch glowered at him.
"No, I think Harry can handle it on his own." Evan quickly took the opportunity to drop the broomstick, shrugging indifferently and nodding towards the sky.
Harry, riding the broom in the air, was a natural, quickly gaining the upper hand over Malfoy. Hermione even began to wonder if Harry had practiced before coming to school.
Malfoy, however, was not one to concede easily. Realizing he was no match for Harry, he threw the crystal ball far away.
"Here, catch..." Malfoy said venomously.
The ball flew off into the distance with Harry in hot pursuit, narrowly avoiding a collision with the castle's walls before diving after it.
"No, Harry, stop!"
Hermione screamed, terrified, while Malfoy laughed uproariously—until he saw Harry execute a stunning dive and catch the ball, his laughter freezing on his face.
Neither Malfoy nor Harry noticed Professor McGonagall's shocked expression from a recently opened window in the distance.
Those on the ground, worried for Harry, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Ron, fired up, drew his wand.
"We need to teach Malfoy a lesson!"
"Locomotor Mortis!" Ron bellowed the Leg-Locker Curse he had just learned in class.
In class, he had managed to cast it once, making a toad hop around with its legs stuck together for an entire lesson.
But luck was not with Ron this time. His wand emitted a puff of strange smoke and then nothing.
Malfoy, flying above, initially panicked, ready to dodge, but upon seeing Ron's embarrassment, burst into laughter.
Ron's cheeks flushed red with anger, wishing he could fly up and shove his wand down Malfoy's smirking mouth!
"I'll handle this..." Seeing Ron's frustration, Evan sighed. He'd rested enough to cast one or two spells without trouble.
But to avoid any mishaps, he turned to Hermione, who seemed overwhelmed by the turn of events.
"Hermione, you remember the incantation for the Levitation Charm, right?"
"Of course..." Hermione gave Evan a puzzled look, nodding absently.
What did he need that for?
"That's good..." Before Hermione could piece it together, Evan murmured, raising his wand...