Chapter 13: The Out-of-Control Broom + Extra 2: The Awkward Slytherin (Harry's Perspective)
Draco hadn't planned on going to that Quidditch match.
Since his rebirth, he gradually realized that any noisy occasions could not move his withered heart, they could only bring him endless desolation.
The bustle and laughter at this moment could not bring him any joy, but instead kept reminding him of the cruelty and tragedy of the Battle of Hogwarts.
Sometimes, he would look at some students in the school who were smiling brightly with his dead eyes, as if he was lost.
At the dinner table, in the corridor, in the classroom, their smiles are everywhere.
Occasionally, he would run into people whose joy was blinding.
You're not so naive as to think that Draco Malfoy would be infected by these smiles and gain a little fresh joy, are you?
No.
He could only think of the scene of them lying in the ruins with stunned expressions and lifeless eyes.
He would only think about how easy it was to die, the fragility of life and the impermanence of the world.
He would even be afraid of images of decay—the falling of oak leaves, the fading of poppies, the drying up of bushes.
He was often afraid of the dying candle, the bleak wind in the sky, and the darkness of the night.
He feared the smile of the innocent.
When he knew that some people were destined to die, it was hard for him to treat them with a normal heart, and it was hard for him to want to contact them. Their ignorant smiles at this moment seemed so shocking.
There was nothing Draco Malfoy could do about it.
He is cowardly, timid and selfish.
He couldn't save himself, so how could he save others? He couldn't be responsible for anyone, and he was afraid that he couldn't save them.
He was even more afraid of the hurt and pain that the deceased would bring to the living, so he chose not to get close.
Perhaps in this way, in the end, when those people wither away in this world, he can remain calm and indifferent in his heart, and he will suffer less torment.
In fact, for some people, he is the "harm" itself.
Keeping a safe distance might be the best way to protect her, Draco thought tiredly.
But he still came, standing in the stands of the Quidditch field reluctantly. He already knew how the game would end - Slytherin would lose miserably, what was there to watch?
There was no "inconspicuous" way to change the fate of Slytherin's crushing defeat by Gryffindor. The only thing to do seemed to be to turn a blind eye and not get upset.
But he had to go. This was the perfect opportunity to prove to the Potter trio that there was something wrong with Quirrell.
Ever since they talked about "Quirrel's strangeness" in the library, the seed of "suspicion" about Quirrell had been planted in Hermione's heart; but this was just a guess after all, without any concrete evidence, so she was still a little skeptical about it.
Draco needed to add more fuel to the fire to make her fully believe it.
Hermione Granger was always difficult to persuade. But if she was persuaded, she would become the most tireless person in the world, and she would do her best to persuade Potter and Weasley, two reckless and arrogant guys.
She was like this in her previous life. She used her bulky books and formidable idealism to lead the unlucky Potter step by step out of danger and onto the right path.
As the brains of the Potter trio, she is good at thinking and is also an excellent puzzle solver.
As for Potter and Weasley... they always habitually ignored her cleverness and benefited from her wisdom with peace of mind.
Thinking of this, Draco shook his head slightly, secretly regretting the extreme waste of her personal talent.
Her brilliance should have been seen by more people, but people always felt that those adventurous achievements were entirely due to Potter.
Normal people would be jealous and resentful about this, but she said she didn't care.
How could there be someone like her? In his previous life, he always felt puzzled about her.
The incomparable Hermione Granger always cared more about the safety of her friend - Potter's safety - than the halo.
Just like in the previous life, Potter's broom stopped working about five minutes into the match.
As soon as Potter's broom began to shake unusually, Draco stood up, strolled leisurely, and quietly left the auditorium, going straight to the back of the auditorium where Quirrell and Professor Snape were sitting.
There, he raised the telescope hanging around his neck and observed Potter's situation in the sky, while quietly waiting for the figure of the petite girl wearing a Gryffindor scarf.
She will come.
In his previous life, he had seen what she did - running behind Professor Snape to cause trouble - but strangely, he did not complain to Professor Snape. Instead, he thought she was very courageous.
But not everyone dares to provoke the Slytherin Snake King. I don't know whether she is ignorant or fearless.
Then, after she'd done her damage, she'd sneak off down the row of seats like a chipmunk that had stolen someone else's fruit.
He laughed out loud for no apparent reason. Crabbe and Goyle asked him if it was Potter who was shaking in the sky. He followed the figure of the girl wearing a golden scarf and said lazily, "Yeah, isn't it funny? He can't even keep his broomstick steady."
In this life, as long as Potter is in danger, she will definitely come again, Draco thought firmly.
A moment later, Hermione rushed over in a panic - this little Gryffindor lion who wanted to be angry but didn't even have all the claws grown - if he hadn't held her arm in time, she would have almost fallen into his arms.
Hermione was in a state of extreme shock. Her three views were truly shattered by this cruel reality - she could not believe that a professor who was supposed to love and care for students would attack an innocent student!
But this actually happened, there is evidence and it is irrefutable.
"Draco, I just saw it through the telescope! Quirrell and Professor Snape... were both muttering something and staring at Harry... but I don't know who it is... who should I stop..." she said breathlessly.
Her brown eyes were filled with anger, and her hand was shaking as she clenched her vinewood wand, as if ready to cast a half-hearted evil spell at the professor's chair, or simply cast a barrage of evil spells in an indiscriminate attack.
She's on the verge of tears, Draco thought. Clearly, her confusion was only making the situation worse.
"Hermione Granger, where is your sanity? Calm down!" He placed his hands on Hermione's shoulders and held her tightly, keeping her in place to prevent her from doing anything impulsive.
Hermione knew that she was in a terrible state, and her hand holding the wand was unsteady.
But he supported her, and there seemed to be some magical power in his calm and gentle light gray eyes, which made her gradually come out of her intense anger and regain her rationality.
There was a lot of noise nearby, but Draco didn't dare to speak too loudly, fearing that the people around them would notice what they were talking about. So, he tried to get closer to Hermione's face, close enough to see her confused and trembling thick eyelashes.
"Listen to me, the curse will stop as long as the eye contact is broken. Listen to me, Hermione, come back to your senses!" He frowned slightly and quickly told her the plan he had in mind, "We have to split into two groups. One person must deal with Quirrell first; if dealing with Quirrell doesn't work, then go to deal with Professor Snape on the other side. This is the only chance to distinguish between good and evil, please believe me."
The light and refreshing scent came close to Hermione, making her mind confused and clear at the same time.
Hermione took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. The boy's hand on her shoulder was like a stabilizing force, making her realize that she wasn't alone in this.
He's here. He'll help her.
He held her shoulders, calm as a rock, and spoke his plan clearly into her ears, word for word.
His approach was methodical. She could understand the meaning of his words.
Their purpose is the same.
He wanted to use a simple time difference to find the culprit, which was a direct and efficient method - coincidentally, she also wanted to find the criminal - which required their mutual cooperation.
"You're still planning to deal with Professor Snape?" She was surprised at the indiscriminate direction in his words and asked him with wide eyes.
That was the Snake King whom no one dared to provoke, the august head of Slytherin House, and the person that all Hogwarts students least wanted to offend.
No Slytherin would want to take on Professor Snape, just as no Gryffindor would dare to challenge Professor McGonagall.
"Would you like to deal with Professor Snape?" she continued, wanting to make sure he wasn't joking.
"If necessary, I will," he said without emotion, his lips pursed in a firm line.
This made Hermione feel a little more at ease.
They had to make a quick decision. Hermione looked up nervously, glancing at Harry in the air from a distance. He seemed to be hanging in the air with only one hand holding the wildly vibrating broom, looking very dangerous.
By now, almost all the students in the auditorium were on their feet, staring in horror at the movement in the sky. The Weasley twins flew up, trying to pull Harry safely onto one of their brooms, but it was no use—each time they got close to him, the broom would soar higher and higher.
The two brothers then dropped down a little and twirled around underneath Harry, obviously trying to catch him as he fell.
Something must be done immediately! Hermione thought urgently.
"I'll go first, I'll deal with Quirrell!" she whispered in his ear.
Without any hesitation, she acted decisively and rushed to the aisle behind Quirrell, pretending to squeeze through, but actually kicked Quirrell, who was sitting in the front row, hard on the back, causing him to fall headfirst into the front seat.
At the same moment, a suspicious blue flame silently shot out from her wand and stained the hem of Quirrell's turban.
Ten seconds later, Quirrell, wearing the burning turban, rushed out of the audience and fled to the stands.
Across the stands, Professor Snape stared at Harry, muttering something to himself. Hermione ran over to Draco, tugging at his shirt with one hand, feeling uneasy about having just attacked a professor.
"How is it? Are you okay?" Hermione asked the calm boy anxiously, as he raised his telescope to track the figure in the sky.
She hadn't brought her binoculars. In her haste to get here, her binoculars had been left in the Gryffindor stands—left to Ron and the others. Harry's broom had flown so far from the stands that he could only make out vague figures.
"It's already crawled back onto the broom. Do you want to see it?" Draco asked calmly, with a look of "as expected" on his face.
"Yes!" she said eagerly.
He really would go to great lengths to help his friend. He curled his lips and was about to take off the binoculars hanging around his neck and hand them to her, but she was so anxious that she slipped between his arms and started looking through the binoculars while he held her arm up.
"Thank you!" she said irritably, completely oblivious to the mood of Draco, who was practically surrounding her, holding the binoculars for her.
It was a novel feeling. Hermione Granger actually snuggled into his arms and looked through his telescope! Draco thought in surprise.
This was absolutely unimaginable in the previous life.
However, however... in this life, she always seemed to challenge his imagination with practical actions.
She becomes more and more daring and reckless, yet always naive and willful.
She had no guard against him at all, and just put her little head with thick brown hair in front of him. The hair was hot, and a few strands of hair were protesting against him, tickling his cheeks a little.
She also...she also took it for granted that he held the telescope for her!
Merlin, he is the young master of the Malfoy family. Who dares to trouble his noble hands?
Did she realize this?
And last time, in the restricted corridor on the fourth floor, she casually put her head on his shoulder!
Did she ever consider whether what she did was reasonable?
Clearly, Hermione was oblivious to the shock the boy behind her was experiencing. All her attention was on her friend, Harry. When she confirmed through the telescope that Harry was securely atop his broomstick, a genuine smile of relief finally broke out on her worried face.
Now, she finally felt relieved.
Then, there was a surge of anger.
Draco was right—Professor Snape was the one who helped Harry, not the one who cast the curse.
The real villain is the stuttering, honest-looking Quirrell! He doesn't deserve to be called a professor! Hermione thought indignantly while casually holding Draco's hand and trying to adjust the angle of the telescope according to Harry's movement.
She was still very worried about Harry and continued to stare at the small figure in the telescope, fearing that he would have another accident.
As for the silence and stiffness of the boy behind her, she completely ignored it.
Suddenly, people saw the young Gryffindor Seeker dive to the ground quickly, then cover his mouth as if he was about to vomit.
Something golden fell from Harry's mouth into his hand. He caught the Snitch.
"That's great!" Hermione said tearfully.
She turned around and happily hugged the silent boy behind her tightly.
Draco's pupils dilated slightly, unexpected emotions surging in them.
Amidst cheers from near and far, she was hugging him tightly.
It seemed as if her fresh and unrestrained scent had stained his stiff and cold body.
She... was simply challenging his bottom line... Her sudden hug left him at a loss... She seemed to really enjoy being close to him... She didn't dislike him at all... and wasn't afraid of his cold face.
How could she embrace him? How could she? His insides seemed to twist and turn, and at the same time, they seemed to be screaming madly.
Suddenly, his heart, which had been stagnant for a long time, seemed to start beating for some reason.
It was a very light beat.
Perhaps it was not a beating, but a silent bird passed by his heart and dropped a slender feather on it.
The light feathers are so light that they seem like an illusion.
"Thank you, Draco! We won!" She quickly released him and smiled at him joyfully.
He remained silent, staring at her with his gray eyes.
What could he say to her? His heart was in turmoil.
His frozen heart shouldn't be beating.
But things are a little out of control at this moment.
Hermione was puzzled by his frozen expression. Harry was out of danger, had the Snitch, so why wasn't he smiling?
She looked around and suddenly realized that she was very close to the Slytherin audience. Her golden-red scarf stood out against the silver-green crowd.
He must be very disappointed that Slytherin lost, she thought anxiously.
"Oh, sorry! I'll go back first!" said Hermione.
Before his cold lips could utter any insulting words, she glanced into his unfamiliar, questioning gray eyes and fled in haste.
So she didn't see his eyes suddenly soften, nor did she see the light that suddenly flashed in his eyes.
"Really... congratulations." Draco whispered to the lively figure that was getting farther and farther away, feeling mixed emotions.
Don't think about it. She's gone.
Think of something else, Draco told himself, gazing at the mass of luscious brown hair.
Think about how Potter was safe and sound, think about how Professor Snape's grievances were temporarily cleared, and think about how Slytherin lost the Quidditch game.
Slytherin's house cup is in danger this year...
Lucky Potter! Swallowing it in his mouth, how can he catch the Snitch? He thought unconvincedly.
Draco had always loved Quidditch. He loved the feeling of being free and soaring through the air.
He had once given up several Quidditch matches to complete the Dark Lord's suffocating mission, a fact he had always regretted. Back then, a personal hobby seemed insignificant in the face of life and death.
Whether in his past life or this life, he has always envied Potter's success.
What an honor it is to represent the college to play against Quebec! Draco couldn't help but think.
How could he not help thinking about this?
He once thought that he would never fall in love again.
He had thought he could be indifferent to everything.
However--
Those indifferent grey eyes turned back to the boiling crowd, and Draco suddenly realized that the cheers no longer just made him feel "lonely".
Somehow, his long-dormant heart came alive again on this side of the court.
His heart seemed to suddenly wake up.
It was trembling slightly and felt a little itchy. Could it be because some invisible feather had touched and moved it?
At a certain moment, he suddenly had a desire to represent Slytherin and compete with Potter again in a fair competition.
If he wins, will anyone cheer, jump for joy, and be happy for him?
Just like Hermione was happy for Harry's victory today? He kept a straight face, but couldn't help thinking.
After the Quidditch game, the Potter trio finally realized that they had completely suspected the wrong person due to their own prejudice.
"Who would doubt the stuttering Professor Quirrell? He looks so kind and doesn't put on airs with his students," Potter said to him.
In the empty stands, Potter and Weasley came over to apologize to Draco who was standing near the audience seats.
"It's not our fault. It's Professor Snape who always flies around like a giant bat, attacking all non-Slytherin students indiscriminately with harsh words." Weasley said rather rudely.
"If you could use your brains more instead of your mouths when making potions, maybe Professor Snape would have no reason to speak ill of you." Draco finally stopped being stunned and thinking about it. Instead, he faced the two boys who came to "provoke" him and began to retort.
Weasley was furious, but couldn't utter a word in rebuttal.
"Forget it, I've already won, so I won't bother with you." After holding it in for a long time, Weasley said incoherently.
It hurts. Weasley really knows how to hurt. Draco gave them a cold look and walked away arrogantly.
This red-haired brat! He has a good brain, but it's a pity that he only has a mouth.
Draco rolled his eyes and headed towards the castle in a bad mood. He was very sure that he still had no good feelings towards the Weasley kid.
Extra 2: The Awkward Slytherin (Harry's Perspective)
Harry always owed Draco a Chocolate Frog.
When he first met Draco, he made a bet with Hagrid, saying not to judge a person by appearances.
How did he do that? Because Professor Snape was so sharp-tongued and mean, he blamed all the bad things on him. Harry was extremely ashamed.
In fact, according to Hermione, when Professor Quirrell was cursing him, it might have been Professor Snape's protective spell that saved him from falling off the hurtling broom.
Thanks to Draco's reminder, they did not wrongly accuse a good person.
Speaking of Draco, although this guy often looks arrogant, mysterious and indifferent, he will always lend a helping hand to them at the critical moment.
He's also always too shy to admit he's done good things and always asks them to keep it a secret. I really don't understand.
The Slytherins are all so awkward.
Professor Snape might be Draco grown up. Harry shuddered at the thought.
God, I hope Draco doesn't turn into that greasy, unkempt-hair-wearing guy.
However, even if Professor Snape continued to mock him in the next Potions class, he would not be too angry.
It's not that he identified much with Professor Snape, he just couldn't stand Professor Snape's blatant favoritism towards Slytherin students.
But because, this biased professor, he had tried to save him, hadn't he?
This mean professor still has some kindness in him, doesn't he?