Flying was every human's dream.
Even Vaughn—who hadn't been particularly excited beforehand—couldn't stop the shout of exhilaration that tore from his throat the moment he lifted off the ground. The wind howled past him, his robes snapped behind him, and for those few seconds, he felt weightless, unburdened, entirely free.
He and Harry received Madam Hooch's permission, circled the Quidditch pitch a few times, and returned flushed and windblown.
By then, Ron, Malfoy, and a few others had finally managed to rise shakily into the air.
Everyone except Neville.
Neville Longbottom was wobbling helplessly, broom shaking beneath him like a dying squirrel. His Remembrall blinked red so furiously it looked like a malfunctioning Muggle alarm system.
Malfoy and his goons jeered loudly.
Ron and Seamus looked ready to punch someone—but Harry intervened first.
And then—
Neville's broom shot upward.
Neville went white.
Then he tipped forward—
—and began falling.
Madam Hooch hadn't even touched her wand before two voices shouted:
"Impedimenta!"
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
Neville froze mid-air, curled like an anxious hedgehog, suspended five feet above the grass.
Tear-streaked, snot dripping—but alive.
"Well done, Mr. Vaughn Weasley—five points to Slytherin!" Madam Hooch cried in relief.
Neville was lowered gently and escorted immediately to the hospital wing.
The moment she disappeared—
Malfoy struck.
"Did you see that, Potter? Little baby Longbottom crying for his mummy—
Oops! I forgot. He hasn't GOT any parents!"
Hermione gasped.
Ron swore.
Even Vaughn's brain glitched.
How does this boy generate such toxic dialogue?
Harry snapped.
He rammed Malfoy mid-air, completely losing his temper.
Ron yelled encouragement from below. Crabbe and Goyle, unable to balance their own brooms, flailed uselessly.
Malfoy fled toward the castle towers.
Harry chased him.
Hermione screamed.
"Harry! HARRY!"
Then she turned to Vaughn in desperation.
"Please—stop them! If a professor sees this, BOTH Houses are doomed!"
Vaughn had already taken off.
(Spectacle first. Responsibility second.)
Chaos Above Hogwarts
By the time Vaughn reached them, Harry and Malfoy were weaving between turrets like deranged snitches.
Malfoy shouted venomously:
"You and Longbottom are practically FAMILY—no parents, no talent—"
Vaughn's eye twitched.
He genuinely considered jinxing Malfoy.
Harry roared and body-checked him.
Malfoy tumbled.
Harry dove.
Their battered school brooms—never designed for rescues—snapped under the weight of two boys.
They plummeted.
Vaughn and another voice shouted at once:
"Impedimenta!"
"Arresto Momentum!"
The boys froze mid-drop.
Vaughn's Levitation Charm guided them to the nearest tower window.
He hovered before the dark silhouette waiting inside and bowed.
"Good afternoon, Professor McGonagall."
"It is most certainly NOT a good afternoon, Mr. Weasley!" she snapped.
Her fury was volcanic.
Her hands trembled. Her spectacles flashed dangerously. She looked moments away from exploding.
"This is the most RECKLESS, disgraceful behaviour I've witnessed in YEARS!
Dueling in MID-AIR—during class—
YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!"
Harry and Malfoy—still clinging to each other from magical aftereffects—quivered.
McGonagall exhaled sharply.
"Weasley… you DID disobey Madam Hooch. But you also prevented a catastrophe.
Twenty points to Slytherin.
Now—return to the pitch. Inform Madam Hooch."
"Yes, Professor."
Vaughn flew off, leaving McGonagall's blistering lecture echoing inside the tower.
House Points and Heart Attacks
Hermione nearly fainted when Vaughn described the scene.
"I KNEW IT!" she cried. "I KNEW THEY'D GET IN TROUBLE!"
Ron sprinted up, sweating.
"He won't be expelled, will he?! Harry?"
"Oh, NOW you're worried?!" Hermione snapped.
"Why were you cheering him on like a lunatic?"
Ron had no answer.
The trio dragged Vaughn to the hourglasses.
Gryffindor: –60 points
Slytherin: –40 points
(Vaughn's +20 recovery made it bearable.)
Malfoy had caused the incident…
…but since Harry physically attacked first, the penalty hit Gryffindor harder.
Hermione looked ready to burst into tears.
Later that day, Harry returned from McGonagall's office with unexpected news:
He had NOT been expelled.
He had, in fact, been recruited for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team.
Ron exploded with joy:
"YOU'RE A SEEKER! A FIRST-YEAR SEEKER!"
Hermione refused to celebrate.
Harry looked conflicted.
Because McGonagall had given him one last instruction:
"Harry Potter, you and Draco Malfoy will serve detention.
Together."
Harry visibly considered throwing himself off a tower.
(End of Chapter 29)
PS : Impedimenta – Slows a target suddenly (used for falling students).
Quidditch Team (Gryffindor) – Harry's future placement as Seeker.
Hourglass Points System – Hogwarts' gemstone counter for House points.
McGonagall's Office Tower – Location of the professors' rescue intervention.