So that's what they were planning… No wonder she stepped in to speak up for me.
Ron shot Chu Yang a knowing look as well. Harry, on the other hand, just smiled shyly.
After everyone else had left, Neville hurried over to Chu Yang. His chubby face still bore faint tear marks. "Chu Yang, you helped me again. I really don't know how to thank you."
Chu Yang was just about to offer a polite response when Neville scratched his head awkwardly and added, "If you could teach me how to fly, I'd be even more grateful."
Chu Yang: "..."
Madam Hooch, returning to the castle to fetch something, happened to run into Minerva McGonagall.
"Professor McGonagall, where are you headed?" Madam Hooch asked.
"I was just on my way to find you," McGonagall replied.
Madam Hooch looked surprised. "Is there something you needed?"
McGonagall asked eagerly, "I was watching the flying lesson just now—what was going on with Chu Yang's strange flying posture? Is that some new technique you've developed?"
Madam Hooch quickly waved her hands. "Oh no, that was an accident. Chu Yang did it unintentionally."
McGonagall shook her head. "He looked quite comfortable up there. His control over the broom was remarkably smooth—it didn't seem like a simple accident."
Madam Hooch hesitated for a moment, then smiled lightly. "Perhaps it's just talent. Some people are like that—the broom feels like an extension of their body. They don't need much formal training to use it naturally."
McGonagall agreed with that assessment.
Still, she felt Chu Yang was even more unusual than most such cases. After all, he had already demonstrated many extraordinary traits.
A short while later, Madam Hooch returned carrying a box, with McGonagall following her. McGonagall said nothing, choosing instead to stand to the side and quietly observe the lesson.
Madam Hooch enjoyed the atmosphere at the start of flying class—everyone was full of curiosity and excitement. But as the lesson progressed, many students would give up and start slacking off.
Learning to fly had a threshold.
Flying well required even greater talent and a significant investment of time.
Modern wizards rarely devoted much effort to broom flying. After all, it wasn't as accessible as Floo Powder, nor as fast and convenient as Apparition.
As a means of transportation long since eclipsed by other magic, broomsticks would have been relegated to the dustbin of history if not for the popularity of Quidditch.
Once everyone had grasped some of the basics, Madam Hooch prepared to release the Golden Snitch, reminding the students that they could try to catch it shortly.
Aside from Chu Yang, Hermione, and Harry—none of whom had ever watched a full Quidditch match—the other students were visibly thrilled, including Ron and Neville.
Who hadn't dreamed of being a Seeker while growing up, influenced by their parents?
Even though this wasn't an official match, it was the closest these young witches and wizards had ever come to that dream.
That was why everyone was so excited.
But then… things took a strange turn.
A group of first-years stood on their broomsticks, faces full of anticipation, shouting "Up! Up! Up!"
The brooms did rise—
—and promptly threw everyone off, without exception, sending them tumbling in every direction.
Only then did they realize how incredibly difficult it was to maintain balance while standing on a broom.
"I can't believe you can actually fly like that!" Lavender Brown said, rubbing her backside as she climbed up from the grass, staring at Chu Yang in disbelief.
"Did you go through some kind of special training?" Dean Thomas muttered, completely baffled as he looked down at his broom. "Or were you in a circus or something?"
"Hah! I don't believe you can do it a second time!" Pansy Parkinson sneered, her tone sharp and mocking. "You'll fall off just like the rest of us!"
The so-called point-deduction trio and Neville had all crashed to the ground as well. Ron had even rolled all the way to Chu Yang's feet. When their eyes met, the air instantly filled with awkward silence.
Chu Yang cleared his throat, then stepped onto his broom.
All eyes immediately focused on him.
Madam Hooch and McGonagall both fixed their gazes on the broom beneath his feet, sensing the magical fluctuations flowing through it.
The broom slowly rose.
Chu Yang stood firmly atop it, steady as a rock, without the slightest sign of losing balance.
"He did it!" Daphne Greengrass exclaimed in delight—only to have Pansy quickly clap a hand over her mouth, shooting her an annoyed look.
"Mr. Chu Yang," Madam Hooch and McGonagall stepped forward, astonished and perplexed. "How exactly are you doing this?"
Chu Yang explained, "Maybe it's because I've always had a good sense of balance. Standing on a broom just doesn't feel that difficult to me."
Madam Hooch eyed the broom suspiciously, then tossed her own broom onto the ground and tried stepping onto it.
The next second, she stumbled and hopped off decisively, abandoning the idea altogether. This was clearly not a posture ordinary people could attempt.
She shook her head at the equally curious McGonagall, who showed a faint trace of disappointment.
Madam Hooch then addressed the students with a teasing smile. "Everyone should stick to the conventional flying posture. Standing on a broom appears to be a privilege reserved for Mr. Chu Yang."
After witnessing Chu Yang's unique flying style, switching back to the standard posture left many first-years feeling slightly dissatisfied.
But there was nothing to be done. Only those who had tried knew how difficult it truly was. Not only did you need to maintain balance, you also had to keep your magic in constant, stable contact with the broom.
Magic was an extension of the body. If the body wasn't stable, magic would naturally be affected as well.
Once everyone returned to the conventional posture, Harry mounted his broom and immediately took off smoothly, circling through the air with ease.
"Whoever catches this Golden Snitch gets to keep it as a souvenir!" Madam Hooch announced as she released the Snitch.
With a sharp whoosh, Harry shot forward, so fast he left an afterimage in the air.
At the same time—
Chu Yang launched himself forward as well.
He followed closely behind Harry, both of them chasing the Golden Snitch.
Chu Yang wasn't particularly concerned with catching it. He simply wanted to test how fast he could go flying this way.
While the other students were still struggling just to hover, the two of them had already begun a fierce pursuit high above the grounds.
Whether it was Harry or Chu Yang, both flew with remarkable ease over Hogwarts, nothing like beginners attempting flight for the first time.
Just as McGonagall was about to leave, her eyes lit up with excitement. As the Head of Gryffindor, her attention naturally lingered on Harry.
Gryffindor was in dire need of a capable Seeker—
and Harry's performance showed immense promise.
(End of Chapter)