"So what you're saying is, you told me outside the dormitory last night that you wanted to support me as the new generation Quidditch captain, and now you've changed your mind to take the captain's throne yourself?"
Terry looked at Sterling like he was looking at a heartbreaker.
"That's right, I shall save Ravenclaw's glory!"
Sterling raised his head boldly, every strand of his hair seeming to proclaim his confidence.
"You scoundrel! Lady Ravenclaw will not favor you!"
That was impossible. If not for that diary burning up, Sterling would have shown him what a legitimate Ravenclaw looked like.
He might even have done something like "wielding the diary to command Ravenclaw students" from that classic book called The Prince, gaining support to become the new Ravenclaw Head of House...
No wait, Professor Flitwick was still teaching diligently. It felt like Headmaster Dumbledore hardly stayed at school anyway, so he could just kick him out and take over.
Sterling stroked his chin, falling into fantasy time.
"Did I say something too harsh? No, wait, does he really respect Lady Ravenclaw that much?"
Seeing Sterling suddenly fall into contemplation and then smile mysteriously, Terry whispered to Hermione.
"I think he's been led astray by your words again and is thinking of something completely fantastical."
Hermione didn't look up, continuously flipping through the "Guide to Quidditch" she'd borrowed from the library.
Though Hermione allowed herself to have subjects she wasn't good at, since she didn't yet know if this was one of them, she was quite willing to invest some time.
As that senior called "Cho Chang" had said, "cramming at the last minute."
They were now on the Quidditch field's lawn. The morning wind was a bit cold, but fortunately they were all at a healthy age and didn't mind the chill at all.
After a while, the other little Eagles and a group of little Badgers also arrived at the field. Unlike Ravenclaw's tendency to move in small groups, Hufflepuff often acted collectively.
Perhaps this was why they wrote "unity" into their House characteristics.
Padma, who was walking with another Ravenclaw group today, waved hello to Hermione. She was friends with all the first-year little Eagles, so she could be seen in any group.
"Hi! Hannah, how are you feeling right now?"
Terry waved at Hannah. They'd become familiar ever since they worked together to make Sterling's cake.
Hannah's face showed no anxiety at all. She smiled shyly.
"Very good. I often rode children's broomsticks when I was little, and after receiving my acceptance letter, Dad even let me try a normal one... I fly pretty well."
Great, so the real flying lesson expert was here.
Sterling ignored their small talk, recalling the feeling of using the Draconic Levitation Charm to change direction and accelerate in the air last night. Most importantly, remembering the weightless sensation of soaring through the air.
As long as he got used to the feeling of weightlessness, flying shouldn't be too difficult, right?
This time, before the class bell rang, Madam Hooch, with her sharp eagle-like eyes, came to the field with a series of floating broomsticks.
Looking at those molting, pitiful-looking broomsticks, most people frowned.
"This model of broomstick... I've only seen them in second-hand shops, and not even quality second-hand shops!"
Sterling was looking at a particularly old broomstick. Merlin, its handle had splinters. Sterling didn't dare imagine what would happen if he rode it and made a sudden stop in mid-air...
"Alright, everyone gather around!" Madam Hooch was very efficient.
After everyone had gathered, she waved her wand and distributed the broomsticks to each person.
Thank heavens, that terrifying broomstick wasn't given to Sterling or anyone he knew. He hoped that little Badger wouldn't get hurt.
Sterling prayed silently...
"Now, put your right hand over your broomstick." Madam Hooch wouldn't waste any time. "Say firmly: Up! Remember to be firm, very firm."
"Up!"
The broomstick jumped into Sterling's hand almost the instant he spoke. Terry's did too. Hermione was much slower. Her broomstick just rolled on the ground.
"Belief, Hermione. You can't doubt whether you can make it rise."
Sterling immediately saw Hermione's problem. Flying broomsticks were magical tools after all, and anything related to magic naturally needed belief for support. As Madam Hooch had just said, firmness.
This summoning phase had nothing to do with flying talent. As long as you firmly believed the broomstick belonged to you, even someone with acrophobia could probably succeed.
Sure enough, when Hermione said "Up!" again, the broomstick in front of her also jumped into her hands.
Only after seeing everyone holding their broomsticks did Madam Hooch nod with satisfaction.
"I'm very pleased that none of you tried to pick up your broomstick and pretend you'd successfully summoned it to deceive me, like some have done before."
"I'm not just the Flying instructor; I'm also the Quidditch match referee... So you know, I have very sharp eyes. Now, watch my posture carefully."
Hooch demonstrated the proper riding position, then walked among the young wizards, correcting their postures one by one.
Terry got scolded. He was used to riding however he wanted at home, and suddenly switching to the standard riding form felt very awkward.
Sterling, who was good at imitation, escaped this fate. Madam Hooch gave a small nod when she passed him.
"I don't think I'll be good at Flying lessons."
Hermione reached this conclusion, though she wasn't unhappy about it. She hadn't been interested in this sports-oriented subject to begin with.
"Alright, children. I think you all know how to ride a broomstick correctly and safely now."
Correcting postures had taken a long time. Sterling understood why Madam Hooch had been in such a hurry earlier. Otherwise this lesson might not have any practical time left.
Seeing all the young wizards looking at her with expectant eyes, Madam Hooch smiled happily. She was a true Quidditch enthusiast who naturally loved students who yearned to fly.
"What are you waiting for? Try flying, but be careful not to fly too high! You're still beginners, and going too high or too fast will cause problems."
As soon as she finished speaking, several broomsticks slowly left the ground.
Fortunately, neither the honest Hufflepuffs nor the cautious Ravenclaws would disobey the professor's instructions. Everyone obediently flew at a safe height.
Occasionally, when one or two young wizards didn't control their altitude well, Madam Hooch, who kept her eyes on them constantly, would immediately remind them.
Sterling followed Terry in slow flight through the air. His expression looked quite bored.
"What's wrong? Feeling unhappy about flying slowly?"
Terry asked. Sterling shook his head.
"I just feel that even this kind of flying isn't really free... being constrained to a broomstick."
Only when he actually sat on the flying broomstick did he realize that this kind of flying gave him less joy than last night's Draconic Levitation Charm. At least then he'd relied on his own magic, completely free.
"Terry, I've decided to support you as Quidditch captain after all. Ravenclaw's glory is entrusted to you to carry forward."
"You really change your mind at the drop of a hat... Alright, future Prefect, the Quidditch captain is at your service."
"How did you know I'd changed my goal to Prefect?"
"Obviously, your original target was aimed at Prefect Robert's position. Now that you don't want to be Quidditch captain, that leaves Prefect."
Terry reached out and bumped fists with Sterling.
"When the time comes, you'll earn extracurricular points, I'll earn match points, and we'll show Slytherin that Ravenclaw can win the House Cup consecutively too!"
"What about classroom points?"
"Don't worry. Hermione will handle those."
Hearing the hearty laughter over there, Hermione helplessly shrugged at Padma beside her.
"Ah, boys... No wait, slow down and wait for me! Too fast. Be careful, or Madam Hooch will dock points!"