With his formidable Level 3 mental strength, Marius Cloud could now do things that would terrify any normal eleven-year-old. In fact, even most adult wizards couldn't compare. Summoning a broomstick across a distance? It was as easy for him as eating or drinking.
"Heh, excellent. Just keep falling deeper and deeper into my charm—sinking until you can't get out!" Marius grinned shamelessly.
Hermione shot him a glare, puffing her cheeks in mock fury.
"The school supply list clearly states that first-years aren't allowed to have their own broomsticks! It's against the rules!"
"I haven't officially become a first-year yet, have I?" he replied innocently.
Bantering with Hermione was endlessly fun. Marius loved it.
"Hmph… You always have an excuse for everything. You're insufferable!" Hermione huffed. But somewhere deep inside, she couldn't help noticing—wasn't this kind of back-and-forth starting to feel a bit like… flirting?
"Enough talk. Are you getting in the car or not, Miss Granger?" Marius said, striking a dramatic pose with his hands on his hips. "Or do you want to be the only one left behind at the station, all alone, simply because you didn't want to associate with a rule-breaker?"
Hermione gave an annoyed little snort. But in the end, she obediently climbed on behind him.
"Alrighty then—this old driver's hitting the road!" Marius snapped his fingers.
The broom levitated smoothly into the air, and with the two of them aboard, it soared steadily into the night sky, heading toward the glowing silhouette of Hogwarts.
Below them stretched the rippling surface of the Black Lake. The breeze caressed their faces, cool and fresh. Stars shimmered above like scattered gemstones.
"Wow… this is so beautiful," Hermione murmured, eyes wide in wonder. It was her first time riding a broom—and she had to admit, the feeling was incredible.
For humans, the dream of flying had always been an ancient one. Wizards had realized that dream centuries ahead of Muggles. But no matter how far time marched on, some dreams never changed.
Feeling the exhilarating emptiness underfoot, and surrounded by starlight and silence, Hermione couldn't help but be swept up in the moment.
"Do you like it?" Marius asked with a smile.
Hermione nodded vigorously. "Yes!"
"Oh? So do you like the feeling of me flying with you—or the feeling of being flown by me?" Marius teased with a smirk.
Hermione froze.
That question… it hadn't specified what she liked. She'd just answered instinctively—and walked right into his trap.
"B-both…" she mumbled.
Hermione knew she was being toyed with again. The proud little bookworm hated that she kept getting caught up in his games.
But this time… the comeback "I don't like either!" somehow wouldn't come out of her mouth.
Maybe… just maybe… I kind of like both after all, she admitted to herself, blushing furiously as she rubbed her warm cheeks beneath the night sky.
Seeing her looking down, lost in thought and red in the face, Marius chuckled quietly and decided to let her off the hook.
"Hey! Look up there! Someone's flying!"
"What? No way—someone's flying to the school!?"
Beneath them, the first-years were gliding across the lake in their boats when they spotted the figures in the sky.
All at once, excited voices erupted across the lake.
"Wait a second—that's the kid who argued with the giant earlier!"
"I remember his name! Marius Cloud! He's flying to school? That's so cool!"
"Ugh, lucky… I wish I had a broom. That looks amazing…"
Envy flickered across many young faces, especially when they noticed the girl riding with him.
"Is that a girl flying with him?! Why wasn't it me who stayed behind with him…?"
No one knew which jealous young witch had muttered that one—but in truth, who wouldn't want to soar across the lake under the stars on a magical broom?
But among the crowd, there were also those who knew what they were looking at.
Harry's glasses sparkled as they caught the moonlight.
"Wow! That's awesome!" he shouted, clinging to the edge of the boat in excitement. "Mr. Cloud, is that a Nimbus 2000?!"
"Hey Harry, be careful!" Hagrid warned, startled by the sight above. "Don't lean over like that—you'll fall out!"
But no one was listening. Harry's shout had set off a wave of whispers.
"What?! That's a Nimbus 2000!?"
"That's the newest model from Nimbus! I heard it can hit three hundred kilometers per hour!"
"Are you serious? That's insane!"
As Marius drifted overhead, hearing the amazement and awe below, he smiled faintly without responding. Instead, he dipped low—just enough to pass near Hagrid.
"Who would've thought… even Professor Dumbledore can misjudge someone," Marius said with a sigh, as if genuinely disappointed.
"Such a pity. Imagine if I were to tell the Headmaster that his appointed escort, Mr. Rubeus Hagrid, left two poor, helpless first-years stranded at the station—all because of personal feelings. I do wonder how the Headmaster would take that…"
Hagrid's face drained of color before the words had even finished.
He had stood silently as Marius flew closer, but now he trembled.
He didn't want to disappoint Dumbledore—not ever. The thought of Dumbledore losing faith in him sent a cold sweat trickling down his back.
This boy… was terrifying.
Seeing Hagrid's panic, Harry quickly tried to step in. "Please don't do that, Mr. Cloud! Hagrid didn't mean any harm—he just—"
"There's no need for you to defend me, Harry!" Hagrid croaked, swallowing hard. "I didn't do anything wrong! I was just… following the rules!"
"Ahh, perfect!" Marius clapped in delight. "A man of rules! Then I'm sure in your 'rule-following' little hut, there's nothing illegal or dangerous stashed away, right?"
"Because… just imagine—gasp—what if the Forbidden Creatures listed by the Ministry of Magic are being secretly raised near a school full of children? That would be horrifying, wouldn't it, dear rule-abiding Mr. Hagrid?"
Marius cast him a final glance—cold, sharp, and utterly uninterested—and then sped off with Hermione toward Hogwarts.
Hagrid was left frozen in his boat, trembling from head to toe, eyes wide and unfocused.
How…?
How did that boy know about my creatures…?
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T/N:
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