Chapter -60 .
Harry was feeling really upset—like, the angriest he'd ever been. It was almost too much to handle!
He had lost an argument with Malfoy the day before, which didn't help his mood at all.
But then Ron shared some good news that lightened his spirits a bit: flying lessons were starting this afternoon!
Flying is something that everyone dreams about, except for those who are afraid of heights, of course. Harry was determined to do well in class and show Malfoy what he was made of. He was tired of hearing Malfoy brag about his flying skills and all the fancy broomsticks he'd tried.
Harry knew Malfoy was just showing off. At first, he believed him, but then Malfoy claimed he had once flown so well that he narrowly avoided a Muggle helicopter. Harry couldn't help but think that if you brushed past a helicopter, you'd end up in a pretty bad situation. No amount of magic could fix that!
"Dudley, today's flying lesson is for both our houses," Hermione said, fidgeting and mumbling to herself in the library that morning.
"What am I going to do? I haven't prepared at all! No matter how many books I read, I can't learn to fly!" Hermione was clearly worried.
Flying, especially on a broomstick, is something you really have to practice. You can't just read about it and expect to be a pro!
"What if I can't do it?" she fretted, imagining everyone else soaring through the air while she was stuck on the ground. That would be so embarrassing!
"I'll stay down here with you," Dudley said without thinking.
"What if I fall off the broomstick?" Hermione asked, her concern still evident.
"I'll catch you!" Dudley patted his chest confidently, trying to reassure her.
Hermione was a bit taken aback. While it sounded sweet, it still felt a little off.
At three-thirty in the afternoon, the first-year wizards from Slytherin and Gryffindor gathered on the lawn outside the castle. Whether they came from wizarding families or were Muggle-born, all the little wizards were buzzing with excitement about flying.
Except for Dudley, who was yawning and looking bored. Honestly, he wasn't too keen on a class that was all about practice. He knew he couldn't fly and preferred to rely on his own two feet rather than any flying tools. Plus, it was such a lovely day—perfect for a nap!
Across the lawn, the dark trees marked the edge of the Forbidden Forest, and dozens of broomsticks were lined up on the ground, surrounded by eager little wizards.
Before long, Madam Hooch arrived.
"What are you all waiting for?" she called out, her excitement even more contagious than the students': "Everyone stand next to a broomstick and hurry up!"
"Extend your right hand, place it above the broomstick handle, and say, 'Up!'"
It was a simple spell, easy to follow.
"Up!" Harry shouted, and his broomstick jumped right into his hand—he was the first one to do it!
While others struggled to get their brooms to respond, Harry's talent for flying was clear.
Soon, one by one, the other little wizards' broomsticks followed suit and jumped into their hands. But some, like Hermione's, just rolled around a bit before giving up. Dudley's broom didn't react at all; to him, it was just a regular broom. So, when no one was looking, he hooked it with his foot and lifted it effortlessly.
Curious about the broom, Dudley decided to take a closer look. It seemed like a simple stick, but he learned that there was an invisible cushion on it to make flying more comfortable. He thought to himself that it wasn't as cool as a magic carpet.
Before long, the little wizards were zooming into the sky one after another, while Hermione and Dudley remained on the ground. Hermione tried a few more times, but her broom just wouldn't cooperate, so she decided to give up. After all, flying class wasn't a major subject and wouldn't be on the O.W.L.s.
Feeling a bit embarrassed next to Dudley, who was still examining his broom, Hermione said, "You know, you don't have to stay here with me." She thought he was just being nice.
"Uh? Uh-huh." Just then, a scream from above caught their attention. The chubby Neville had lost control of his broom and fell from the sky. Luckily, he wasn't too high up and only ended up with a broken arm, which Madam Hooch helped him with as he headed to the infirmary.
"What a klutz," someone whispered. "Mr. Bottom really hit rock bottom this time."
Meanwhile, Harry and Malfoy were at it again, continuing their argument from the night before, but Dudley couldn't be bothered to listen. He was tired of their constant bickering.
"Doesn't this mean class is over?" Dudley thought, pinching his chin as he looked around at the chaos of little wizards doing their own thing. Even though Madam Hooch said she'd be back soon, it was clear she wouldn't be in the mood to teach after a student got hurt.
Suddenly, Dudley had a bold idea. He hadn't done this since arriving at Hogwarts. "Hermione," he said, turning to her.
Hermione, who had been watching him, was surprised when he suddenly looked her way. Their eyes met, and her cheeks flushed as she quickly looked away. "What?"
"Do you want to go to the Forbidden Forest?" Dudley whispered, leaning in close.
"?!" Hermione was taken aback by the suggestion. "Now?"
"Of course! While it's still early, we can be back in time for dinner." They could explore the edge of the Forbidden Forest and see what they could find.
"But we're still in class," Hermione protested, though her excitement was hard to hide. 'Skip class? With Dudley? How thrilling!'
"We've done it before," Dudley reminded her. They had skipped class together back at Oxford Primary School, after all.
Note : Guys, some power stones will be really helpful.
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