The smarter someone is, the more they trust what they see with their own eyes.
The more they care about something, the easier it is to be fooled by appearances.
Hermione happened to be both—sharp-minded, and emotionally invested in someone...
"Hermione! Hermione!"
"Huh? What is it?"
"What do you mean, 'what is it'?! Do something!"
Ron Weasley, never the most observant, didn't notice Hermione's pale face or realize why she'd been staring blankly at the sky.
"Do something..."
"Yeah! Any ideas? No one can get close to Harry like this!"
Ron's words snapped Hermione back to the present—Harry was still in danger. Professor Hooch was trying to reach him, but there was no way she could catch up with a Nimbus 2000 in full frenzy. She didn't have the skill or speed...
"It's Dark Magic!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Someone's cursed Harry's Nimbus 2000. Hagrid said it earlier—only Dark Magic can make a broomstick go completely out of control like that."
Not long ago, Hagrid, who had been sitting beside them, had explained exactly that before hurrying off to find help.
If it wasn't Dark Magic, there was no way to interfere with a broom like this. That's why Hermione was so certain.
As for why she was so confident in that conclusion—Ron, flustered and panicking, didn't stop to think.
"Then—what do we do?!"
Hermione's words had clearly shaken him. He looked like he was on the verge of losing it, pale as a ghost. To anyone watching, he might've seemed like someone facing the death of a best friend.
"We have to stop—"
Hermione abruptly cut herself off.
Because if her theory was right... then the person she suspected couldn't possibly be allowed to stay at Hogwarts.
Worse, that person might even be sent to Azkaban—for attempting to murder a fellow student...
For a brief moment, hesitation crossed Hermione's face.
And more importantly—what if she was wrong?
…
While Hermione stood frozen, Harry's situation took another turn.
The broomstick was shaking so violently now that Harry—already slight and in poor health—was clearly struggling to hold on. His strength was failing.
Half his body was already dangling off the broom.
"Think, Hermione! Do something!"
"But I—"
Before she could finish, a collective scream erupted from the crowd.
"He's falling—he's falling!!"
"No, he's diving! That broom's trying to kill him!"
"No way they'll catch him in time!"
"It's over!"
What had seemed like a broom just trying to shake Harry loose now looked much worse. It had shifted course—diving straight down toward the stands at full speed, as if dead set on crashing Harry into the ground.
Below, young witches and wizards stared up in horror. In the distance, Professors Snape and McGonagall had already drawn their wands.
As for Professor Hooch... well, no one was expecting much from her.
In truth, Professor McGonagall had rushed toward Harry the moment she realized something was wrong. But the broomstick seemed to have a mind of its own, constantly dodging anyone who tried to approach, and no one could match the speed of a Nimbus 2000.
And from this distance, trying to cast a spell to save Harry was nearly impossible...
That tiny red speck high in the sky was Harry, clinging desperately to the rogue broomstick.
As he plummeted, you could see his terrified expression even through binoculars.
The sight left all the young witches and wizards frozen in fear. The more timid ones couldn't even bear to look, turning away from what might be a terrible scene.
And that wasn't all...
"Hermione! Get out of the way!"
"Huh?"
Hermione looked around, confused to find that Ron and the others had all backed away without her noticing. She hadn't realized that Harry Potter was now plummeting straight toward her from above.
It wasn't until the Gryffindors reached out and pointed frantically at the sky that Hermione's eyes widened—and the next moment, she collapsed to the ground, completely stunned.
"Come on! Get over here!"
"I... my legs won't move... ugh..."
Normally, Hermione was brave—she'd faced a full-grown troll and still found the courage to tell Draco to run first.
But after being picked on by a certain someone recently, and thinking she'd uncovered Draco's dark secret, her reaction was delayed. Her usual sharpness and composure failed her.
And as everyone stood there, helpless, watching the moment unfold...
Smack!
Rip!
The sound of the Nimbus 2000 being kicked aside—followed by the tear of a Quidditch robe under strain—and a muffled grunt echoed through the air.
Every witch and wizard gaped in stunned silence.
Stillness.
Then, a calm voice broke through the quiet...
"Counting this one, that makes twice."
...
With the sun behind him, Hermione couldn't make out his face through her tear-blurred eyes. But she could see one thing clearly—those gray eyes that made her heart skip a beat.
A green-clad figure hovered in the air on a broomstick.
With hair as brilliant as sunlight...