Her feet left the ground, dangling in midair, becoming unsteady and terrifying.
The air rushed toward her face and body, and now, the only reason she had not fallen was this broomstick beneath her, which she did not quite trust.
And was it truly safe for two people to ride on the same broomstick? She could not help but worry and clutched his robes tightly.
If Draco knew her hesitation, he would have told her that under normal circumstances, a broom could only support one adult wizard. But in an emergency, a broom could support two adult wizards, let alone the weight of two underage wizards.
However, these words would probably have to wait until later. At this moment, Hermione was too frightened to ask any questions. She was focused on clutching his robes, immersed in the tension of her first flight, and frantically realizing that she had completely lost control of her surroundings.
She was like a feather floating in the air, drifting in his hands, her rise and fall entirely beyond her control.
Amidst the rushing wind, Draco shouted wildly a few times ahead, seemingly finally experiencing genuine joy. "You have to experience the joy of flying for yourself! That freedom! Otherwise, you will never understand!"
"No, Draco..." Hermione finally cried out, but the howling wind swallowed her words. She tried to look around. The thick clouds seemed both near and far, and the wind blew in from all directions, making her shiver.
Hermione had to admit that she had absolutely no faith in the broomstick. Two months ago, the broomstick had been merely a cleaning tool to her, but now she was being asked to believe that it could carry people flying.
So she could only turn to the only person in the sky who could give her a sense of security, the one who could control the flight. Her face turned pale, her heart raced, and without thinking, she stretched out her arms and wrapped them around the boy's waist.
That is better, Hermione thought. He seems quite familiar with broomsticks and is not afraid of flying at all. If I hold on to him, I probably will not fall off the broomstick.
"Look! Look down!" Draco shouted from the front. "You have to see how beautiful it is!"
Only after he reminded her did she dare to continue looking.
Good heavens, they had flown so high! The Hogwarts grounds had become a vivid picture beneath her feet, a vast world unlike anything she could see from within them.
The magnificent Hogwarts Castle looked like exquisite building blocks, the towering Gryffindor Tower stood at their feet, and the dense and deep Forbidden Forest resembled a giant piece of broccoli... Scenes that could only be seen from the window before or after takeoff and landing were now presented to her without any obstruction, a complete view without any blind spots.
Then she saw something further away. Rolling mountains and calm, still waters stretched out like a magnificent oil painting, with the sky and earth as its canvas and the contours of the lakes and mountains as its brushstrokes.
They were as insignificant as a drop in the ocean, yet as effortless as mayflies in the vast universe. He rode his broomstick, carrying her leisurely through the beautiful scenery, like two linked shooting stars streaking across the boundless cosmos.
The sight made Hermione forget to breathe, forget her fear. She was overwhelmed with awe and her heart pounded. At that moment, any words were pale and powerless, unable to describe even a fraction of its magnificence and splendor.
"So beautiful..." she said in a dreamy voice, resting her head on his shoulder and embracing him tightly. He laughed in front of her, and a few vibrations came from deep in his chest.
"Draco, would this not be breaking school rules..." Hermione thought with admiration, but her voice betrayed a hint of nervousness. "We need to get down quickly."
"Give me five minutes!" Draco shouted.
Merlin! He had not flown freely and joyfully for far too long.
Flying was the only thing that could still make him feel emotional. Only the thrill and exhilaration brought by the high altitude could make him feel that he was still truly alive, could make him certain that everything he was experiencing was real, not an illusion.
"Hold on tight!" he suddenly shouted. On a whim, he swooped down with Hermione from the sky, almost vertically, toward the still Black Lake.
Hermione let out her first small scream in the air, like a fledgling bird attempting to fly for the first time. She clung to his back, gripping even tighter the only sense of security she could find high in the sky.
The sudden feeling of weightlessness awakened the fear she had just forgotten, and her heart pounded like a drum. The fierce wind was tearing at her cheeks and hair, and she dared not look around anymore. She could only press her face firmly against his back and neck, avoiding the cold wind and desperately seeking his warmth.
He stood firmly, allowing her to draw closer without trembling. Strangely, a refreshing scent wafted from his neck.
I must be mad, Hermione thought, because in the midst of this terrifying, uncertain, and suffocating fall, I actually have the energy to think about other things. The smell is rather nice.
Her scream snapped Draco from his reverie. She was terrified. He skillfully swerved the broom, gliding nimbly across the mirror like surface of the Black Lake before they plunged headlong into it.
The screams stopped abruptly, but her heart was still pounding.
The wind suddenly softened, and the warm sunlight made one feel somewhat drowsy, as though the weightlessness that had just overwhelmed Hermione had never existed.
But the crisp scent on his neck told her that they had indeed plummeted straight down, and it was not a fantasy, but reality. Besides, at this moment, all her strength had been drained by the screams and the fall.
The Black Lake was still and calm today. At this time of day, the Black Lake was usually deserted, which was why Draco felt safe bringing her here to fly.
A gentle breeze caressed their cheeks. "Look at this lake. Is it not beautiful?" Draco's voice was filled with excitement. The lake shimmered beneath their feet, reflecting their image like a bird soaring through the sky.
"Yes, it is beautiful, but I am worried..." Hermione's voice trembled as she clung to him tightly, afraid that the broom might slip and pull her into the lake.
"Do not worry. I shall make sure nothing happens to you." Noticing the tension in Hermione's movements, he spoke loudly from ahead, then quickly glanced back, only to see her curly brown hair fluttering in the wind.
His voice was clear and bright, carrying an unusual joy. He did not seem as aloof and proud as usual, but rather revealed a touch of genuine childlike enthusiasm. This unusual quality was not unpleasant. Hermione calmed herself slightly, attempting to listen to him and experience the wonderful feeling of flying through the air.
However, due to the lingering effects of the dive, she was still terrified. She simply closed her eyes, clinging to him like a sloth, inhaling his faint, refreshing scent, pretending she was on flat ground, sitting on the back of someone's bicycle or something similar. Her hands remained tightly wrapped around him, not daring to let go for even a moment.
They did fly for only five minutes. But it felt like she had run a marathon.
When she released the broom, her legs went weak and she nearly tripped. So Draco, that troublesome boy, reached out and steadied her.
"Little daredevil, how was that? Want to try again?" His eyes shone brightly, and the smile on his lips looked both smug and triumphant. Miss Know It All's messy hair seemed even more disheveled by the wind, making her look like a little madwoman, which made him smile even wider.
This was the first time Hermione had seen him smile so joyfully. It was as radiant as the sun, as bright as the stars. She was speechless, momentarily dazzled by his captivating smile.
He should smile more, a strange thought surfaced in her wildly beating heart.
Of course! Now was not the time to think about this! She quickly came to her senses and began to become angry in a serious manner. "You... I am certain you are breaking the school rules!"
"Nobody saw it anyway," Draco shrugged nonchalantly. "If you obey all the rules, you will miss all the fun."
"Draco Malfoy, you madman! All boys are insane when they encounter broomsticks!" she snapped at him, overwhelmed by the lingering fear of flying and the deep turmoil within her.
This mad boy! I no longer consider him a little gentleman! When he goes mad, he is even more outrageous than Harry and Ron...
What was worse, she could not explain what it felt like to fly in the air.
Undoubtedly, she hated flying at high altitudes. At times, she felt like being sick. But she did not hate the feeling of holding him in the air, nor did she hate his scent, nor did she hate the way he smiled at her.
He said he wanted to do it again, and for a moment she actually considered whether she should try again.
But I clearly hated the feeling of flying high in the sky, the fear of being out of control, the emptiness of feeling lost and adrift... so why would I be willing to try it again?
What chaotic and complex feelings these are!
She stormed off, her face flushed. Pretending to be angry at Draco, or perhaps somewhat irritated by the wind, she was probably actually frightened by her own chaotic emotions.
Good heavens! She hated flying! And this confused mood of hers! It all came down to boys being far too obsessed with that ridiculous broomstick!
That is merely a broom!
Who would truly believe it can fly?