Gryffindor happened to be short of a qualified Seeker, and Harry's performance looked very promising.
42. Chapter 42 Gift
42.
Both of them were incredibly fast in their pursuit of the Golden Snitch, but in Madam Hooch's eyes, Chu Yang, who was one body length behind Harry, flew with even greater ease.
Her eyes were filled with astonishment.
For a novice, reaching Harry's level on their first flight was already considered genius, but Chu Yang's displayed talent was even more exaggerated.
Because he was flying while standing...
Flying brooms require exquisite control; at high speeds, every movement you make on the broom can cause a significant change in direction.
Secondly, observation skills are crucial; the faster you go, the blurrier the surroundings become, requiring excellent dynamic vision to observe the positions of teammates and opponents.
Most importantly, composure!
Only with sufficient calmness and composure can one make correct decisions in intensely competitive matches.
And in these three aspects, Chu Yang was not just a little stronger than Harry.
"If Harry Potter represents Gryffindor in Quidditch matches, he will surely bring the trophy back to the house," Professor McGonagall, who had been watching Harry, couldn't help but say.
"Professor McGonagall, I mean no offense, but if Chu Yang participates in Quidditch matches, he will definitely be even better than Mr. Potter," Madam Hooch said, raising her head proudly. "In this regard, I am a professional."
Professor McGonagall was speechless.
Madam Hooch was not only the referee for Hogwarts Quidditch matches but also occasionally served as a referee for official Quidditch games.
So when she said she was a professional, she really wasn't boasting.
Professor McGonagall muttered softly, "Headmaster Dumbledore shouldn't have sent Chu Yang to Slytherin. If he could also come to Gryffindor, he and Harry Potter would surely allow us to win many consecutive Quidditch championships."
Just as Madam Hooch and Professor McGonagall were arguing, Harry, too focused on chasing the Golden Snitch, flew out of the field and sped towards the Whomping Willow.
"Hey! Harry, you can't go there, it's very dangerous!"
Chu Yang realized something was wrong and quickly shouted for Harry to stop.
Highly focused, Harry's eyes only saw the Golden Snitch; he couldn't hear Chu Yang's voice at all!
Without a response, Chu Yang had no choice but to follow Harry out of the field.
Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch were still arguing about who would perform better in the Quidditch match, Chu Yang or Harry.
Finally, Hermione couldn't stand it anymore and shouted, "Chu Yang and Harry are gone, Professors! They flew towards the Whomping Willow!"
Professor McGonagall looked up in surprise. After confirming that the two students were no longer visible in the sky above the field, her expression changed, and she ran outside, holding her dark green robes.
Madam Hooch did the same, and she was even more panicked than Professor McGonagall. If something happened to these two, it would be during her class, and she would not escape responsibility.
The Whomping Willow was not a docile magical plant; many Hogwarts students had been injured by it over the years, and the school strictly forbade students from approaching it.
No one expected Harry to get close to it just to chase the Golden Snitch.
Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch led the desperate run, followed by a large group of students. The scene was spectacular; those who didn't know might have thought Hogwarts was holding some kind of sports competition!
By the time Professor McGonagall arrived, Harry, Chu Yang, and the Golden Snitch were circling the Whomping Willow like flies, and the Whomping Willow was like the Qitian Great Sage from A Chinese Odyssey, tirelessly waving its branches, trying to swat these annoying "flies" dead!
The Whomping Willow, as tall as a 3-story building, had branches that were thicker than an adult man's thigh.
As it swung them wildly, the whooshing sound made one's scalp tingle.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Chu Yang, please come down quickly! Don't chase the Golden Snitch, it's too dangerous!" Professor McGonagall shouted loudly, her expression very tense. Harry was the Seeker she had just chosen.
"You are too dangerous like this, come down quickly!" Madam Hooch's face was pale. She held her broom, wanting to fly up, but the Whomping Willow was waving its branches so densely that it was impossible to get close.
"I can't decide that, Madam Hooch!" Harry replied, his expression panicked, as he constantly dodged branches coming from all directions.
Where was any trace of the Golden Snitch now?
It was probably smashed by the Whomping Willow!
The more Harry thought about it, the more upset he became. This wasn't the outcome he wanted; he had originally just wanted to catch that flying golden ball.
Professor McGonagall seemed to remember something and shouted, "The knot! Just stroke the Whomping Willow's knot, and it will immediately calm down!"
Hermione was so anxious she was almost in tears. "Professor, we can't even get close to that willow tree, let alone touch its knot."
Professor McGonagall looked at the Whomping Willow, which was already twenty years old, and sighed. If this continued, she would have to use magic to burn down the tree; she had to prioritize the students' safety.
As Professor McGonagall hesitated, Harry, whose magic and stamina were running low, gradually slowed down, and finally, the flying broom beneath him was violently struck by the Whomping Willow.
Harry screamed and was flung directly away!
Hermione, witnessing this, covered her eyes and shrieked, while Ron anxiously shouted Harry's name.
Other students also instinctively covered their eyes amidst the exclamations!
Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch's hearts leaped into their throats!
Another figure in mid-air circled around from the opposite direction and, with a narrow miss, grabbed Harry's clothes, saving him.
"Hold tight!"
Harry looked up and saw Chu Yang, who had caught him. The latter looked at him with a smile, and Harry immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he saw Chu Yang holding a small golden ball in his hand.
"You caught it?!" Harry was first surprised, then a little disappointed. Surprised because Chu Yang was his friend, and he was happy for Chu Yang; disappointed because it wasn't him who had caught it in the end.
"It's for you! Consider it your belated birthday present," Chu Yang threw the Golden Snitch to Harry and encouraged him, "You will definitely become an excellent Seeker. When you win the championship, give me an identical one."
Harry held the Golden Snitch, and a light seemed to flash in his eyes.
The flying brooms slowly descended onto the grass, and Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch led the students to surround them.
"This was truly reckless! Mr. Chu Yang, Mr. Potter, you completely failed to realize how serious this was!" Professor McGonagall scolded the two with a stern face, yet her eyes were unusually gentle.
Madam Hooch, who had finally breathed a sigh of relief, looked intently at Chu Yang. She was certain that with the level Chu Yang had just displayed, he could absolutely participate in official matches!
And Harry Potter also had extraordinary potential.
Both of them would become new star players for Hogwarts in the future!
Chapter 43 Am I a Druid?
"Professor! The Whomping Willow hasn't calmed down; instead, it's becoming more and more agitated! It looks like it's about to come out of the ground!"
Following the sound, everyone looked towards the Whomping Willow and found that the willow tree was indeed twisting its body wildly, trying to break out of the ground!
"What's going on?" Professor McGonagall's eyes widened. Although the Whomping Willow was a magical plant, that didn't mean it could move like a real creature. For the past 20 years, it had been rooted in the soil.
The Whomping Willow's Root was deeply hidden underground; if it were completely pulled out, it would be even two-thirds longer than its visible body.
"Good heavens, it's got that Ent vibe!" Chu Yang exclaimed in admiration, intending to admire the Whomping Willow's might for a bit longer, but Hermione and Harry, one on his left and one on his right, grabbed him and started running.
Ron and Neville cleared the way ahead.
The two were like the Hum and Ha Generals, screaming and pushing their way through.
Everyone was fleeing in a panic. Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch took out their wands, guarding the students and the Whomping Willow, ready to burn down this tree that had accompanied Hogwarts for many years.
The Whomping Willow's Root constantly broke through the soil, tearing the lush green grass, and the flat ground immediately revealed spiderweb-like cracks.
The next second, the Whomping Willow fell straight to the ground like a patient with lower body muscle weakness, with a loud crash, raising dust everywhere!
Seeing this, the students all stopped and looked back.
Professor McGonagall let out a long breath, her body still trembling slightly, but she feigned composure and quipped, "See? This is the result of trying to run before learning to walk. Besides making people fall, there's no better outcome!"
As expected of the Deputy Headmistress, she could still think about educating students at such a critical moment!
"Ah ah ah ah!"
The students screamed again!
Professor McGonagall turned around and found that the Whomping Willow, which had fallen to the ground, had not completely lost its vitality but was crawling like an animal!
Its thick Root branches were like a spider's eight legs, supporting its massive body and moving at high speed.
The Whomping Willow bypassed Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch in the blink of an eye, charging straight towards the students, as wild as a mad bull.
Professor McGonagall pulled out her wand and cast a flame charm, attempting to burn down the Whomping Willow, but she didn't expect the Whomping Willow's crawling speed to far exceed her expectations; the flames only burned off some branches.
"Wait a moment." Chu Yang broke free from Harry and Hermione's arms. He sensed that the Whomping Willow's state was very strange.
The other party was clearly coming in his direction, but it was uncertain whether it was targeting him or Harry.
"Chu Yang, run!" Hermione anxiously tugged on Chu Yang's clothes.
Chu Yang explained, "No! Harry and I have to run separately from you guys. That Whomping Willow is coming for us!"
Hermione turned and saw that the Whomping Willow was indeed charging towards them.
"What are you waiting for! Get on your brooms and fly in the opposite direction! Don't go where there are many people!" Chu Yang handed the flying broom to Harry. He didn't need it; at his speed, the Whomping Willow would never catch him in its next life.
If Chu Yang were the only one here, he wouldn't need to escape at all. Whether it was Wood Release or physical techniques, Chu Yang could easily deal with the Whomping Willow.
In broad daylight, Chu Yang couldn't use such extraordinary power, or else people from the Ministry of Magic would take him for research tomorrow, or directly lock him up in Azkaban.
"I should have brought my wand with me. Why is Charms class only tomorrow?!" If he had a wand to cover it up, Chu Yang could use some of his Wood Release power. He had some regrets and secretly vowed to change this bad habit.
After complaining, Chu Yang dashed out!
"Chu Yang, what about you?" Harry tried to stop him but didn't react in time. He gritted his teeth, got on the broom, and flew into the air.
"Damn it, I shouldn't have waited for you guys here!" A furious Hermione turned and ran, her two short legs moving like clockwork.
After only a few steps, Hermione felt no movement behind her. Instead of feeling relieved, her heart sank, because this meant Chu Yang was absolutely right.
When she turned around, the Whomping Willow indeed changed direction and charged towards Chu Yang alone!
"Hermione, its target is Chu Yang!"
Harry, flying in mid-air, was filled with regret!
It was his fault for not listening to advice and chasing the Golden Snitch, leading to the Whomping Willow's rampage!
More importantly, Chu Yang had given him his flying broom!