08: Flying and Duel?

Old broomsticks were placed at the feet of each young witch and wizard.

Madam Hooch dressed sharply and instructed each young witch and wizard.

With countless reminders to be careful, yet there was still an accident.

Neville lost control of his broomstick and flew directly towards the clouds, and the Remembrall fell.

Although the free fall went through a buffer, his arm was still broken after falling.

Madam Hooch also couldn't bother teaching anymore, and hurriedly brought Neville to the hospital wing for treatment.

Leaving behind the young witches and wizards of the two houses looking at each other in dismay.

Malfoy picked up Neville's Remembrall, and started taunting Harry with the intention to tease him with the Remembrall, but was unexpectedly discovered by Professor McGonagall of Harry's talent for Seeking.

John did not get involved, partly because Harry was there, and partly because he was still struggling with the broomstick.

After several attempts, John finally flew up.

Hermione wanted to tell him not to follow those two in breaking rules, but missed her chance, and could only stomp her feet angrily on the spot.

Although a bit unsteady at first, after getting used to it for a while, John finally stabilized.

[Ding, gain blessing: Flying]

[Flying: Increase broomstick flying speed, increase control over broomstick]

"It can do this?"

After stabilizing, John could begin freely flying.

Professor Snape, passing by, saw his performance and sneered coldly before turning away.

Since ancient times, flying has been a power humanity has longed for.

After mastering the ability of flight, John flew around until the end of class, reluctantly landing.

During dinner time, John met Malfoy.

Malfoy, accompanied by his two cronies and no longer acting timid, spoke loftily: "Wick, didn't you want to duel with me? I now challenge you, meet me at the trophy room at 11:30 tonight."

Having said that, Malfoy left like a victorious rooster, accompanied by his two cronies.

John looked at his departure like looking at a fool, muttering: "Has this kid been listening to too many Imagine Dragon songs and become so brave?"

"Didn't he know I had to clean the trophy room?"

Carrying a bag of cat food sent by Mrs. Wick, John routinely went to the trophy room as usual.

Mrs. Norris sat at the door, meowing when she saw John with her glass-like red eyes.

"Hello again Mrs. Norris! Here you go,"

During this period, John was basically acquainted with Mrs. Norris. He opened the cat food and poured it out for Mrs. Norris.

After John finished polishing the trophies, Mrs. Norris had also finished eating.

He reached out and picked Mrs. Norris up. He took out a comb from his pocket and combed Mrs. Norris's tangled hair.

Mrs. Norris enjoyed it very much and purred comfortably.

Filch was probably catching students, and knowing John wouldn't sneak around, had also gotten used to letting John clean the trophy room alone.

"I'll just see what you're up to."

Knowing Malfoy wouldn't rashly challenge him to a duel, John prepared to see what trick the other party wanted to pull.

Anyway, he had also been assigned to clean here as punishment so he didn't mind going back a little later.

He waited until half past eleven.

Malfoy didn't arrive, but whispers came instead.

Four people walked into the trophy room - The Golden Trio consisting Harry, Ron, and Hermione, plus a wild Neville.

Neville had forgotten the dormitory password after visiting the hospital wing for his arm treatment and had been stuck outside for a few hours, finally running into the trio when they came out.

The four, seeing John after entering, were all taken aback.

"What are you all doing here?" John looked puzzled.

Harry was also befuddled, saying: "Malfoy invited us, are you his duel assistant?"

John looked at the savior who was looking at him with alertness, and relayed in a flat tone: "Do you think Malfoy would forget that beating on the first day of school?"

This made sense, leaving Harry speechless.

Four Gryffindors plus one Slytherin.

The five stared at each other in silence, before Harry angrily shouted: "We were fooled by Malfoy!"

Ron was also angry and said, "Despicable Slytherin... John, I'm not talking about you."

With the incident at the beginning of school, John's heroic figure of fighting three annoying guys successfully became the only Slytherin that Gryffindor liked.

Whenever the four houses mentioned John Wick, their first reaction was that the Sorting Hat must be faulty, as he was clearly a Gryffindor.

Even the little lions of Gryffindor thought so. The Weasley twins thought that the hat must have been blinded by too much dust, so they prepared to wash the sorting hat with a lot of detergents.

While the little guys chatted, they heard Filch's voice coming from outside.

John instantly understood Malfoy's intentions, he must have also challenged Harry to a duel wanting to catch them in the act of wandering at night.

Harry also realized, exclaiming in alarm: "No good, it's Filch, let's run!"

The four had no time to worry about the details, hurrying to run out.

Along the four, Neville grabbed one of John's hands, and Hermione grabbed the other, forcibly dragging him out.

"Hey, I don't have to hide—"

Neville: "H-He'll hear us!"

Hermione: "Shut up and just come with us!"

One could say it's not without reason for these two to enter Gryffindor, the infamous reckless house.

Without giving John any chance to explain, they turned the originally innocent John into a fugitive.

John helplessly followed the run, also subconsciously reaching out to pull Neville, who nearly fell, preventing a faceplant.

The few fled with Filch in hot pursuit behind them.

From time to time, there was a cat's cry to guide Filch.

John knew it was Mrs. Norris who reminded Filch, and he couldn't help but complain in his heart: "The cat food was fed in vain."

After feeding so much cat food, at the crucial moment Mrs. Norris betrayed him without hesitation.

The few ran from the trophy room all the way to the classroom near Charms.

After running so far, the four little Gryffindors lacking exercise leaned on the cold wall, panting heavily.

Only John's face was not red and he wasn't out of breath.

Strength vs magic, round two.

Strength wins.

...

Hermione panted in complaint: "I—told—you."

"Malfoy deceived you, do you understand now? He never intended to duel you, and must have tipped off Filch."

Harry also realized this point and wanted to apologize but a boy's pride prevented him from saying it out loud.

They could only return to the Gryffindor common room first before discussing further, or they would be expelled if caught.

"Despicable Malfoy!" Harry cursed inwardly.

They wanted to leave the room, but things were often not that simple.

Suddenly, the classroom door in front creaked open with a bang, and Peeves popped out dressed as a clown.

"Oh! On a night walk are we!?"Catching sight of the few students, he let out a piercing shriek.

Seeing Peeves, Harry felt a chill - he pleaded: "Peeves, please, you'll get us expelled."

"Hehehe! I'll tell Filch to have you all arrested, it's for your own good."

Ron tried threatening but to no avail, angrily swatting at Peeves.

Now the hornet's nest was stirred, Peeves immediately started wailing loudly, attracting Filch over.

John glanced at Peeves, unable to suppress his anger.

No wonder Peeves was so disliked, he truly deserved a beating.

Peeves saw John, remembering how violently he fought on his first day, also feeling a fear akin to facing Bloody Baron.

"Once this is over, let's see if I can finish off Peeves."

When passing Peeves during their escape, John fiercely made a slashing motion across his throat with his right thumb.

He seemed to recall a magic that was very effective against Peeves - he must learn it for revenge.

Peeves didn't understand the gesture's meaning.

The few arrived at a locked door at the end of the corridor.

Despairing at the unopenable door, Ron whimpered: "We're done for."

"Alohomora!" John directly took out his hidden wand from his sleeve, casting at the door.

With a click, the lock opened.

The few hastily entered and shut the door, carefully pressing their ears to it.

Outside, Filch ran into Peeves, who teased and toyed with him, leaving Filch raging and cursing wrathfully.

John idly surveyed this room, but turning back, he saw three enormous heads.

The massive bodies nearly filled the whole room, their six eyes spinning menacingly - right now they seemed more startled.

Swallowing, John's voice slightly trembled: "Hermione, Harry, Ron, Neville, you should see this."

"What is it—!!!!!!"

Hearing him, the others turned back, also freezing in shock.

Compared to death by this giant dog, punishment from Filch was more welcoming and pleasant.

Therefore John wasted no time, reaching for the doorknob and flinging the door open.

"Run!" Calling out to alert the four still motionless from shock, John dragged the already weak-legged Neville out, and the rest hurriedly fled.

Bang!

The door closed shut.

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