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Watching the twins and Lee depart, Erwin turned to Cho.
"Let's head back too."
By this time, Cho had grown somewhat tired, her eyes unfocused as she nodded in agreement without truly processing his words.
Looking at her condition, Erwin could only shake his head helplessly.
He extended his arm and drew the girl close.
The two made their way to the Ravenclaw common room.
After walking for a while, Cho's awareness gradually returned.
However, feeling the warmth of the young man's embrace, she remained silent, simply enjoying the moment.
"Thank you, Erwin."
After speaking, Cho gathered her courage and gently pressed her lips against his cheek in a fleeting kiss.
Without looking back, she immediately fled toward the girls' dormitory, clearly flustered.
Erwin stood frozen in place.
Recalling that barely-there sensation, he muttered to himself.
"What are you running for? I hardly felt anything."
Smiling ruefully, Erwin returned to his own dormitory and fell asleep with that trace of warmth lingering in his thoughts.
****
On Thursday, students from Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Gryffindor gathered on a large lawn in front of the castle.
Today marked their first flying lesson of the term.
Many young wizards from wizarding families were boasting constantly to their companions about their childhood flying experiences.
The Slytherin students were particularly vocal.
Draco Malfoy complained loudly that the rule preventing first-years from playing Quidditch was terribly unfair.
During his monologue, his eyes kept darting toward Harry and Erwin, who were chatting with Hermione.
He seemed determined to make them feel inadequate for never having ridden a broom in their childhood.
Erwin had no time for Malfoy's boasting.
He was currently comforting the anxious girl before him.
"It's alright, Hermione. Harry and I have never ridden a broom either, and most of these young wizards are just talking big. You don't need to be so nervous."
Erwin spoke softly to the bushy-haired girl.
Hermione had been acting strangely ever since learning they'd have flying lessons.
According to Harry, during breakfast that morning, Hermione had been constantly reciting passages from Quidditch Through the Ages.
Neville, beside her, was also listening intently to Hermione's nervous rambling, hoping to learn something useful for the upcoming training.
He couldn't help but notice that the Remembrall in his hand kept flashing red again.
After a while, their instructor, Madam Hooch, arrived.
With a wave of her wand, she directed a collection of broomsticks to float toward them.
Each student received one.
Erwin looked at the broom in his hand with sudden apprehension.
It was extremely worn, with numerous branches and bristles missing from the tail.
"Very well then, everyone, stand by your broom. Extend your right hand over the handle."
Madam Hooch blew her whistle sharply.
"Then say: 'Up.'"
"Up." Erwin concentrated and called out to the broom lying on the ground.
The broom immediately jumped into his hand, as did Harry's.
However, the other students weren't as fortunate.
Hermione's broom merely rolled a few times and ignored her completely.
Malfoy also had to shout several times before his broom finally flew into his hand, nearly hitting his nose in the process.
A while later, most people succeeded.
Next, Madam Hooch explained various techniques, then signaled for everyone to attempt their first flight.
"Listen for my whistle. Three. Two. One. Kick off."
Erwin pushed off lightly with his feet and floated smoothly into the air.
He discovered his riding ability was surprisingly competent; the blue [Flight Experience] card was clearly quite effective.
The broom responded to his thoughts, changing direction and rising or falling at his mental command.
Neville, not far away, wasn't so fortunate.
Perhaps due to excessive nervousness, when he kicked off the ground, he seemed to use every ounce of strength he possessed.
"Whoosh"
Neville shot straight into the sky at nearly a ninety-degree angle.
His speed was so tremendous that Madam Hooch barely had time to react before he was already twenty feet off the ground.
More unfortunately, Neville's grip slipped from the broomstick, and he began plummeting straight toward the grass below.
Madam Hooch was horrified and hurriedly attempted to catch him with a Levitation Charm, but perhaps because everything happened so quickly, her spell missed Neville entirely.
The group of young wizards turned pale with fright.
Several of the girls had already covered their eyes, as if they could foresee the tragic outcome about to unfold.
"[Wingardium Leviosa]."
At that moment, a firm and clear voice rang out; it was Erwin.
Erwin's Levitation Charm struck Neville squarely in midair.
Neville's falling speed instantly decelerated, and with a wave of Erwin's wand, he descended gently to the ground.
The rest of the students stared at the scene in stunned silence.
Even the girls who'd covered their eyes lowered their hands to look at Neville, who remained safe and unharmed.
"Wow."
In an instant, most of the young wizards erupted in cheers, and some even applauded.
"Oh, Merlin."
Madam Hooch recovered her composure as well and hurried over to help Neville up, checking him thoroughly for injuries.
Still worried, she decided to escort Neville to the Hospital Wing for a proper examination.
"Ten points to Ravenclaw. What wonderful spellwork, Mr. Gaunt."
Before leaving, she didn't forget to award points to Erwin.
After all, if not for Erwin's quick thinking, Neville would have been seriously injured today, and if she'd allowed such a terrible accident to occur, her own situation wouldn't have been much better.
****
Once Madam Hooch had departed, Malfoy began laughing loudly at Neville's expense.
He also noticed Neville's Remembrall lying on the grass and picked it up.
At this point, Harry could no longer remain silent.
"Give it here, Malfoy," Harry said quietly but firmly.
Malfoy laughed mockingly.
"How about I leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find? What if I put it up a tree?"
Without waiting for Harry's response, he mounted his broom and took off, shouting provocations down at Harry.
"Come and get it if you can, Scarhead."
Harry's temper flared at the insult.
He mounted his own broom and flew toward Malfoy.
The genes inherited from James Potter allowed him to quickly master broom control, and he chased Malfoy through the sky with surprising skill.
Erwin watched the scene unfold before him.
This was precisely how Harry would be drafted onto the Quidditch team in his first year.
'As expected of the Chosen One, when you can't rely on academic strength, athletic ability works just as well. In here, people with strong sporting talent are far more popular than those who simply study hard.'
Admiring the aerial chase between the two boys, Erwin rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
At that moment, a sudden scream erupted from beside him.
It was Hermione.
Seeing Harry rush into the air, she'd grown extremely anxious and jumped involuntarily, but she'd forgotten that she was still maintaining the mounted position on her broom, ready for takeoff.
In this manner, Hermione shot into the sky like an arrow released from a bow.