Ron was scolded into silence.
Harry, who had wanted to say something, wisely kept quiet.
Since they met, Hermione had always been calm and composed. This was the first time she showed such an angry expression.
Fortunately, Madam Hooch didn't notice the exchange and continued, "When I blow the whistle, push off the ground hard to fly into the air, steer your broom, circle a few times, then lean forward slightly to land..."
Before she could finish, Madam Hooch's eyes widened.
She saw Neville Longbottom suspended several feet above the ground, wobbling in the air.
"Mr. Longbottom, what are you doing! Come down immediately!"
Neville felt himself drifting further from the ground, his face filled with panic, and he shouted, trembling, "Come down! Come down!"
Unfortunately, the broom ignored him, climbing even higher. In just a few moments, it soared dozens of meters.
Amid Neville's terrified cries, the broom flew erratically like a wild dog off its leash, repeatedly banging against the castle wall, leaving Neville dizzy and disoriented.
Finally, after a chaotic flight, Neville was caught on a rack above the wall.
With a tearing sound, his robe could no longer support his weight and ripped apart, sending Neville plummeting from several floors up.
Instantly, gasps erupted from below.
Some timid wizards turned away, unable to watch what was sure to be a tragic scene.
From that height, even wizards with sturdier physiques than Muggles would be severely injured by such a fall.
This was already a teaching accident... Hermione thought, exasperated. If not for wizards' remarkable healing abilities, saving someone with just a breath left, countless would perish each year just trying to earn a flying license.
As Neville descended rapidly with a scream, just when everyone thought they were about to witness a disaster, a clear voice rang out from behind.
"Arresto Momentum!"
With the spell's effect, Neville's speed abruptly slowed, as if cushioned by a powerful force, halting his fall. He hovered less than half a meter above the ground.
Everyone was stunned for two seconds, then turned around in realization.
They saw Hermione standing with her wand extended.
An accident resolved just like that.
Madam Hooch, finally reacting, sighed in relief and looked at Hermione gratefully.
Though such incidents were common in flying classes, they were always due to her inability to watch over all the students. Even if not blamed, she felt responsible.
But... this little one reacted so quickly.
And was that deceleration spell something a first-year could learn?
Judging by her proficiency, even many senior students preparing for their O.W.L.s weren't as adept.
Yet, considering her reputation, Madam Hooch wasn't too surprised.
She had heard from other professors that a new Gryffindor student, Hermione Granger, was a prodigy beyond imagination.
Who would have thought a wizard from a Muggle family could have such talent?
Hermione lifted the spell and put away her wand.
Neville's feet touched the ground with a "click."
His ankle twisted, fracturing on the spot.
Hermione's lips twitched, feeling her efforts had gone to waste.
You are so clueless, really.
Madam Hooch hurried over to check, shaking her head. "Mr. Longbottom, you really must thank Miss Granger, or it wouldn't be just a fracture."
Then she addressed the field: "Stay where you are. I'll take Mr. Longbottom to the hospital wing. If I see anyone flying during this time, they'll be expelled before seeing a Quidditch match!"
After leaving a stern warning, Madam Hooch escorted the limping Neville away.
Once they were out of sight, all the Gryffindor students rushed over, surrounding Hermione, and exclaimed in unison:
"Hermione, Hermione, what spell was that!"
"So cool!"
"Where did you learn it? Can you teach us?"
"Hermione, you're amazing!"
Overwhelmed by their enthusiasm, Hermione quickly said, "I found it in the library. You can look it up yourselves."
Then she stopped speaking, stepping back half a step to shield Harry and Ron.
Library?
Everyone recalled that the girl before them also had a nickname: "Library Witch."
She truly lived up to her reputation.
Compared to Gryffindor's enthusiasm, Slytherin was much colder, with most looking displeased.
Even a few who were intrigued and wanted to ask Hermione something hesitated, seeing the surrounding atmosphere, and gave up.
Hermione noticed and understood.
Had it been anyone else, Slytherin might not have reacted this way, but a Muggle-born wizard with such power naturally irked these pure-bloods.
Even their dormitory's entry code was "pure blood," underscoring their obsession with purity.
But they didn't want to provoke her.
Recently, some dared to cause trouble, but Hermione dealt with them using the ultimate secret: reporting them to the teacher for collective punishment.
Most Hogwarts professors were kind, with no bias against Muggle-borns. With Hermione's stellar student reputation, those she reported not only lost house points but received harsh punishment, leaving them resentful.
After a few instances, no one dared to pick a fight without reason.
In the original book, Harry and others never fully utilized this tactic, preferring to solve things privately, which was time-consuming and troublesome.
Children often wanted to save face.
As everyone crowded around Hermione, Draco Malfoy noticed something on the ground.
"Ha! This is Longbottom's Remembrall. If he squeezed it, maybe he'd remember to land on his butt."
Malfoy boasted, holding the transparent ball.
Everyone's attention shifted, and a few students chuckled.
They couldn't afford to provoke Hermione, but Neville, the weakest and clumsiest in Gryffindor, naturally became a target for some Slytherins, especially Malfoy's gang.
Harry's sense of justice flared, and he stepped forward, saying firmly, "Give me the ball, Malfoy."
Seeing it was Harry, Malfoy sneered, "No, I'll hide it so Longbottom can search."
Then he mounted his broom and flew into the air.
Harry gripped his broom tightly, eyes blazing with anger, watching Malfoy, but didn't move further.
Hermione waited, but Harry remained still. She couldn't help but poke him in the back.
"What are you waiting for? How can you stand this? Go up there and beat him!"
Harry: ???