Chapter 42: The Gift

The speed displayed by the two as they chased the Golden Snitch was remarkably fast, yet in Madam Hooch’s eyes, Chu Yang, trailing Harry by just a single body length, appeared far more composed and at ease.

Her eyes were filled with sheer amazement.

For a beginner to reach Harry’s level on their first flight was already characteristic of a prodigy, but the talent Chu Yang exhibited was even more astonishing.

Because he was flying while standing upright…

A racing broomstick required delicate control; at high speeds, every single movement made on the broom could potentially cause a drastic deviation in direction.

Next was observational skill. The faster one moved, the blurrier the surrounding scenery became, necessitating exceptional dynamic visual acuity simply to keep track of teammates and opponents.

Most importantly was temperament!

Only by remaining sufficiently calm and collected could one make the correct choices amidst a fiercely competitive match.

And in all three aspects, Chu Yang surpassed Harry by leaps and bounds.

"If Harry Potter were to represent Gryffindor in a Quidditch match, he would undoubtedly win the cup for the house," Professor McGonagall couldn't help saying, keeping her gaze fixed on Harry.

"Professor McGonagall, no offense, but if Chu Yang were to play Quidditch, he would undoubtedly excel far beyond Mr. Potter," Madam Hooch said, lifting her chin proudly. "In this matter, I am the professional."

Professor McGonagall was left speechless.

Madam Hooch was not only the referee for Hogwarts Quidditch matches but also occasionally officiated at official national Quidditch games.

Thus, her claim of being a professional was by no means an exaggeration.

Professor McGonagall muttered softly under her breath, "Headmaster Dumbledore shouldn't have sent Chu Yang to Slytherin. If he had come to Gryffindor as well, he and Harry Potter could have secured our consecutive victories in the Quidditch championship for many years to come."

Just as Madam Hooch and Professor McGonagall were arguing, Harry, overly engrossed in his pursuit of the Golden Snitch, flew right past the boundaries of the training grounds and sped rapidly toward the direction of the Whomping Willow.

"Hey! Harry, you can't go that way, it's dangerous!"

Realizing something was amiss, Chu Yang quickly shouted to halt Harry's advance.

With his focus narrowed entirely to the Golden Snitch, Harry couldn't hear Chu Yang's voice at all!

Receiving no response, Chu Yang had no choice but to follow Harry out of the training grounds.

Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch were still debating whether Chu Yang or Harry would perform more brilliantly in a Quidditch match.

Finally, unable to watch any longer, Hermione shouted, "Both Chu Yang and Harry are gone, Professors! They’ve flown toward the Whomping Willow!"

Professor McGonagall lifted her head in shock. Upon confirming that the two students were nowhere to be seen above the training grounds, her expression shifted drastically, and she gathered her dark green robes as she bolted outward.

Madam Hooch did the same, though with even greater panic than Professor McGonagall; if anything were to happen to these two boys, it would be during her class, and she would bear inescapable responsibility.

The Whomping Willow was by no means a gentle-tempered magical plant. Over the years at Hogwarts, numerous students had been injured by it, prompting the school to strictly forbid students from approaching the area.

None of them could have anticipated that Harry would approach it merely in pursuit of the Golden Snitch.

Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch took the lead, running desperately, followed closely by a large crowd of students. The spectacle was so grand that anyone unaware might have thought Hogwarts was hosting some kind of athletic competition!

By the time Professor McGonagall arrived, Harry, Chu Yang, and the Golden Snitch—the two boys and the ball—were circling the Whomping Willow like a swarm of flies, while the tree, much like the Monkey King in Journey to the West growing endlessly exasperated, thrashed its branches wildly in a frantic attempt to swat these annoying "flies" to death!

Standing as tall as a three-story building, any random branch whipped out by the Whomping Willow was thicker than an adult man's thigh.

Driven by its frantic flailing, the sound of the branches breaking through the air was hair-raising.

"Mr. Potter! Mr. Chu! Get down immediately, stop chasing the Golden Snitch, it's far too dangerous!" Professor McGonagall shouted at the top of her lungs, her expression laced with intense anxiety. Harry was, after all, the Seeker she had just selected.

"What you're doing is far too dangerous, get down right now!" Madam Hooch's face had turned pale, and holding her broom, she attempted to fly upward, yet the Whomping Willow lashed its branches into an impenetrable barrier, making approach impossible.

"This isn't something I can control, Madam Hooch!" Harry replied in a terrified voice as he continuously dodged the branches assailing him from all directions.

At this point, where was there any sign of the Golden Snitch?

It had most likely been smashed to pieces by the Whomping Willow!

The more Harry thought about it, the more distressed he felt. This was not the outcome he had desired; he had merely wanted to catch that flying golden sphere.

Seemingly recalling something, Professor McGonagall cried out, "The knot!! Just stroke the knot on the trunk of the Whomping Willow, and it will calm down instantly!"

Hermione was frantic to the point of tears. "Professor, we can't even get close to that tree, let alone touch the knot on its trunk."

Gazing at the twenty-year-old Whomping Willow, Professor McGonagall sighed. If this continued, she would have to resort to magic to burn the tree down; ensuring the safety of her students had to be her utmost priority.

At the very moment Professor McGonagall hesitated, Harry, whose magical energy and stamina had hit rock bottom, saw his flying speed gradually dwindle until his broomstick was struck a vicious blow by the Whomping Willow.

With a cry of agony, Harry was sent hurtling directly through the air!

Witnessing this scene, Hermione covered her eyes and shrieked, while Ron desperately screamed Harry's name.

The other students instinctively covered their eyes amidst gasps of shock!

The hearts of Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch leaped straight into their throats!

Another figure in mid-air looped around from the opposite direction, swooping in by the narrowest of margins to grab hold of Harry's clothes and rescue him.

"Hold on tight!"

Harry raised his head and saw Chu Yang, who was looking at him with a reassuring smile. Instantly, Harry felt a wave of relief wash over him. Then, he noticed a small golden sphere clutched in Chu Yang's hand.

"You caught it?!" Harry was initially filled with pleasant surprise, followed swiftly by a trace of disappointment. The joy came from knowing Chu Yang was his friend and being happy for his success, while the disappointment stemmed from the realization that he hadn't caught it himself.

"It's yours! Consider it an overdue birthday present." Chu Yang tossed the Golden Snitch to Harry, offering encouragement. "You're bound to become an exceptional Seeker. Once you win the championship, you can buy me an identical one in return."

Cradling the Golden Snitch, Harry watched as a glint seemed to flash across his eyes.

The broomstick descended slowly onto the grass, and Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch, leading the students, hurried over.

"This was utterly reckless! Mr. Chu, Mr. Potter, you have no grasp of how serious this was!" Professor McGonagall scolded with a stern face, though her eyes betrayed an unusual gentleness.

Having finally released the breath she was holding, Madam Hooch gazed intently at Chu Yang. She was certain that based on the skill Chu Yang had just demonstrated, he was entirely ready to participate in official matches!

And Harry Potter possessed extraordinary potential as well.

Whichever one of them it was, both were destined to become the fresh star players of Hogwarts in the future!