Simultaneously traversing: the pinnacle of all realms

The second week, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw finally got their flight lessons scheduled.

Gryffindor and Slytherin have their flying lessons before them—the first lesson on Wednesday morning, while Hufflepuff's is on Wednesday afternoon.

"Have you heard?"

Ernie McMillan sneaked over mysteriously in the common room, holding a bag of butter cookies he'd pilfered from the kitchen.

"Something terrible happened during Gryffindor and Slytherin flying lessons this morning!"

Zacharias Smith rolled over on the sofa, looking unimpressed. "What could be so serious? Someone just fell off a broom. That happens every year!"

"It didn't fall down, it flew up!"

Ernie was so excited that cookie crumbs fell everywhere. "That Harry Potter—you know, the boy who survived—he flew in his flying lesson! And he flew really well!"

Mrs. Hookie said he was a genius, and I heard that Professor McGonagall later recommended him to the Gryffindor Quidditch team as the Seeker!

"A freshman can make the team?"

Justin Finley looked up from his book, his face full of surprise. "This doesn't make sense..."

"Harry Potter, you know."

Zacharias shrugged, his tone carrying an ambiguous or indescribable quality.

"Nothing he does is surprising."

(In the original storyline, he left the DA before the Battle of Hogwarts and did not participate in the battle. In the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998, he was the only DA member who did not participate in the battle, and during the school evacuation, he even pushed and shoved first-year students in order to be the first to escape.)

As for other behaviors, such as questioning Harry's teaching—which is somewhat understandable, acting as a biased Quidditch commentator, and harassing Ginny, etc., it's clear that not all Hedgehogs are good people. Similarly, we shouldn't hold stereotypes about other houses.

Xavier didn't say anything, but secretly took Ernie's biscuit and stuffed it into his mouth.

He quietly flipped through "A History of Magic," finding these secret matters quite interesting.

And he wanted to find out if there was any fairy rebellion...

As a result, although there are records, those are all from before the 18th century.

The alliance of fairies and werewolves in 1752; the fairy rebel leader Vargate in 1762; and an 18th-century fairy leader named "Lala the Slovenly"—

It's a bit of a shame that there weren't any legendary transfer students from a hundred years ago.

After all, things like the Avada Kedavra lightning chain and the man-eating kale are indeed memorable.

He glanced up at the fake round window in the common room, where a magical projection was casting a golden autumn sun.

He seemed to remember something, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Malfoy must be furious.

-

The afternoon flight lessons took place on the lawn behind the castle.

The Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students stood in two rows, with the school's flying brooms neatly arranged in front of them.

Xavier glanced down at the weapon in front of him—a worn-out "Meteor," whose manufacturer had reportedly gone bankrupt over a decade ago.

The wooden handle has several scratches, and the branch at the end is crooked, making it look like it has been used for at least twenty years.

"It's even worse than what's depicted in the Harry Potter movies," Xavier thought to himself.

Mrs. Hookie was a witch with gray hair, yellow eagle eyes, and a shrill voice.

She stood at the front of the line, hands on her hips, scanning the group of first-year students.

"Alright, what are you all waiting for?" she shouted. "Everyone stand next to your broom! Put your hands over your brooms and shout—'Get up!'"

"Get up!" they all shouted at the same time.

Xavier's broom shook as if he hesitated for a moment, then swiftly and cleanly flew into his hand.

He looked around—some brooms rolled several times on the ground and refused to get up; others did get up, but flew to the feet of other students a few meters away.

Mrs. Huqi walked back and forth among the students, correcting their posture.

When she walked up to Xavier, she stopped, looked down at the broom in his hand, and then at his posture.

"Have you ever ridden a broom before?"

"No, Professor," Xavier replied truthfully.

Mrs. Hugh stared at him for two seconds, then nodded. "Very good." She then walked over to the next student who was still struggling with his broom.

Xavier gripped the broom in his hand, feeling the slight vibration emanating from the wooden handle—somewhat like the hum of an invisible engine.

Mrs. Hugh had everyone ride on broomsticks, hovering a foot off the ground.

"Listen to my whistle—after I blow it, gently push off the ground to let the broom lift you up. Remember, don't push too hard, otherwise—"

Before the whistle even blew, a Ravenclaw boy suddenly pushed off the ground, shooting twenty feet into the air like a rocket, before screaming as he slid off his broom and crashed onto the lawn.

"—That's how it is." Mrs. Hu Qi sighed and quickly went over to check the boy's injuries.

"It's just a sprained ankle. I'm taking him to the medical wing. No one is allowed to leave the ground until I get back! If anyone dares to fly—"

She didn't finish speaking, but that look was enough to make everyone obediently put their brooms down.

Unfortunately, of all the first-year courses at Hogwarts, flying class probably has the highest accident rate among students.

This also explains why Mrs. Hughes's temper isn't very good.

Xavier took advantage of the break to observe his surroundings.

At the end of the lawn was a patch of low bushes, and further on was the edge of the forbidden forest.

He could even see some dark figures moving around in the Forbidden Forest—probably ranger Hagrid doing something.

Suddenly, his sixth sense kicked in.

The feeling was subtle, like a chill in the air, or like someone gently breathing into his ear.

He instinctively turned his head to look in the direction of the castle—there was nothing there, only a few tightly closed windows.

"What's wrong?" Ernie asked him in a low voice.

"Nothing," Xavier said, looking away. "I was just wondering what it would feel like to fly."

-

In the week leading up to Halloween, the atmosphere at Hogwarts became noticeably more lively.

The corridor began to smell sweetly of pumpkins, and decorations of bats that could make their own noise were hung in every corner. Mischief became even more active—he went around throwing his "pumpkin bombs," blasting passing students until they were covered in pumpkin juice.

Xavier had very limited expectations for Halloween.

He knew what would happen on this day—a troll, an accident, and the official formation of the Iron Triangle.

But the problem was, "I can't exactly go to Gryffindor and say, 'Hey, watch out for trolls tonight,'" Xavier thought to himself as he mechanically poked at his fried egg with his fork while eating breakfast. "That would be a real hassle."

Besides, it's hard to say whether Dumbledore, who has the authority of a schoolmaster, would be unaware of this matter.

At Hogwarts, the headmaster's authority is a mysterious thing; it requires the castle's approval.

Besides, isn't the White Demon King still a Demon King? (laughs (￣︶￣))