Both of them were flying incredibly fast as they chased the Golden Snitch, but in Madam Rolanda Hooch's eyes, Chu Yang—who was one body-length behind Harry—looked far more at ease.
Her gaze brimmed with amazement.
For a beginner's first flight, reaching Harry's level already counted as genius-tier talent—but what Chu Yang displayed was even more outrageous.
Because he was flying standing up.
Flying a broom required exquisitely precise control. At high speed, even the slightest movement on the broom could cause a drastic change in direction.
Next came observation. The faster one flew, the more blurred the surroundings became. Exceptional dynamic vision was needed to track teammates, opponents, and targets.
Most important of all—mentality.
Only someone calm and composed enough could make the right decisions in the midst of an intense contest.
And in all three aspects, Chu Yang surpassed Harry by far more than just a little.
"If Harry Potter represents Gryffindor in Quidditch, he'll definitely bring the Cup back to the house," Professor Minerva McGonagall couldn't help saying as she kept her eyes on Harry.
"Professor McGonagall, no offense," Madam Hooch replied proudly, lifting her chin, "but if Chu Yang competed in Quidditch, he would undoubtedly outperform Mr. Potter. On this matter, I'm the professional."
McGonagall was left speechless.
Madam Hooch wasn't just the referee for Hogwarts' Quidditch matches—she occasionally officiated official Quidditch games as well.
When she said she was a professional, it wasn't an exaggeration.
McGonagall muttered quietly, "Headmaster Albus Dumbledore shouldn't have sent Chu Yang to Slytherin. If he were in Gryffindor too, he and Harry Potter could help us dominate the Quidditch Cup for years."
While Madam Hooch and McGonagall were debating, Harry—too focused on chasing the Golden Snitch—flew straight out of the pitch, racing toward the Whomping Willow.
"Hey! Harry—don't go that way! It's dangerous!" Chu Yang realized something was wrong and shouted to stop him.
But Harry, utterly fixated on the Snitch, heard nothing.
With no response, Chu Yang had no choice but to follow Harry out of the pitch.
McGonagall and Madam Hooch were still arguing over who would perform better in Quidditch—Chu Yang or Harry.
Finally, Hermione Granger couldn't stand it anymore and shouted, "Professor! Chu Yang and Harry are gone! They flew toward the Whomping Willow!"
McGonagall snapped her head up. Seeing no sign of the two students in the sky above the pitch, her expression changed instantly. Gathering her emerald-green robes, she ran at full speed.
Madam Hooch did the same—looking even more panicked. If anything happened to those two during her lesson, she wouldn't be able to escape responsibility.
The Whomping Willow was no gentle magical plant. Over the years, many Hogwarts students had been injured by it, which was why the school strictly forbade anyone from approaching it.
No one had expected Harry to chase the Golden Snitch all the way there.
McGonagall and Madam Hooch sprinted at the front, followed by a large crowd of students. The scene was spectacular—anyone unaware of the situation might have thought Hogwarts was holding a sporting event.
By the time McGonagall arrived, Harry, Chu Yang, and the Golden Snitch—two people and one ball—were circling the Whomping Willow like flies. The tree, like an exasperated Monkey King from Journey to the West, wildly lashed its branches, trying to swat the annoying "flies" to death.
Standing three stories tall, each branch of the Whomping Willow was thicker than an adult man's thigh.
As it flailed, the branches tore through the air with bone-chilling whistling sounds.
"Mr. Potter! Mr. Chu Yang! Come down immediately—stop chasing the Golden Snitch! This is far too dangerous!" McGonagall shouted, her voice tense. Harry was the Seeker she had just mentally chosen.
"This is too dangerous—come down at once!" Madam Hooch cried, pale-faced, gripping her broom but unable to approach. The Whomping Willow's branches formed an impenetrable barrier.
"This isn't something I can control, Madam Hooch!" Harry shouted back, desperately dodging the branches.
At this point, there was no sign of the Golden Snitch anymore.
It had probably been smashed to pieces by the Whomping Willow.
The thought made Harry feel miserable. This wasn't what he wanted—he had only wanted to catch that tiny golden ball.
McGonagall suddenly remembered something and shouted, "The knot! If you press the knot on the Whomping Willow, it will calm down immediately!"
Hermione looked like she was on the verge of tears. "Professor, we can't even get close to the tree—how are we supposed to touch the knot?"
McGonagall gazed at the Whomping Willow, now over twenty years old, and sighed. If this continued, she would have to use magic to destroy it—student safety came first.
Just as she hesitated, Harry—his magic and stamina exhausted—began to slow. Then his broom was struck hard by the Whomping Willow.
Harry screamed as he was flung violently away!
Hermione screamed and covered her eyes. Ron Weasley shouted Harry's name in panic.
Other students cried out and instinctively covered their eyes as well.
McGonagall's and Madam Hooch's hearts leapt into their throats.
From the opposite direction, another figure swept in. At the critical moment, he grabbed Harry's clothes and saved him.
"Hold on tight!"
Harry looked up and saw Chu Yang gripping him, smiling calmly. He finally relaxed—and then noticed a small golden ball clenched in Chu Yang's hand.
"You caught it?!" Harry exclaimed. First came joy—for Chu Yang was his friend, and he was genuinely happy for him. Then came a flicker of disappointment—it hadn't been Harry who caught it.
"It's yours," Chu Yang said, tossing the Golden Snitch to him. "Consider it a late birthday present. You'll become an excellent Seeker. When you win the championship, give me another one just like it."
Harry held the Golden Snitch, a strange light flickering in his eyes.
The brooms descended slowly onto the grass as McGonagall, Madam Hooch, and the students rushed over.
"This was utterly reckless!" McGonagall scolded sternly, though her eyes were unmistakably gentle. "Mr. Chu Yang, Mr. Potter—you have no idea how serious this was!"
Madam Hooch, finally able to breathe again, stared intently at Chu Yang. She was certain—based on what she'd just seen, Chu Yang was fully capable of competing in official matches.
Harry Potter, too, possessed extraordinary potential.
Either of them could become a brand-new star player for Hogwarts in the future.
(End of Chapter)