Chapter 55: Quidditch Invitation
After circling on his broomstick several times, Shawn approached Madam Hooch with continued formality.
"Madam Hooch, may I fly a bit higher?"
"For troublemakers, my answer is no, but..." Madam Hooch raised her hand, and an equally worn broomstick flew into her grip. "Come on. What are you waiting for?"
The wind bit sharply. Shawn hovered ten feet above the ground, able to see every indentation the Bludgers had carved into the pitch's grass.
The southwestern stands where the Golden Snitch usually appeared lay just ahead to the right. Those gilded railings glimmered with gentle light in the morning sun.
Below stretched carefully manicured grass. Several young wizards peered up from the ground, gasping at the sight of this wizard flying with Madam Hooch's accompaniment.
With Madam Hooch's approval, Shawn climbed higher, surrendering to this long-missed freedom. His broomstick trembled slightly under his control but obeyed his commands.
When his altitude exceeded fifty feet, Hogwarts' entire outline suddenly spread before his eyes. The castle's spires pierced the morning mist. The Black Lake stretched like a dark mirror. In the distance, the Forbidden Forest rolled like a sea of deep green.
[You practiced Flying once at Proficient standard, Proficiency +10]
[You practiced Flying once at Expert standard, Proficiency +50]
...
[A new Flying domain title has been unlocked]
Madam Hooch followed unhurriedly at Shawn's back. Perhaps having been away from the Quidditch circuit too long, she'd forgotten the terrifying talent of top players. She didn't mind that Shawn had flown so high. Instead, spotting such skill, she eagerly taught him many practical techniques.
Under Madam Hooch's instruction, Shawn felt his exhaustion fade away. This made his emerald eyes gazing into the distance grow deeper.
Magical power was generated within witches and wizards, yet descriptions of it became vague beyond that simple fact. One thing remained certain: its total volume and level grew as the wizard grew.
So, when utterly exhausted and unable to cast spells, was the wizard's magical power truly depleted?
If that was true, then from where did emotion or spiritual level pry loose more powerful magic?
As he glided over the grass, Shawn found his answer.
Just as a normal person couldn't mobilize all their muscle strength at once, so too did magical power work within wizards. Flying training allowed dormant magic within the wizard to slowly awaken. This process was certainly gradual, but profoundly meaningful.
Of course, Shawn realized that daily Charms practice, Transfiguration practice, and even potion-brewing all accomplished the same thing. Only the speed of progress differed.
In a room where a fireplace burned brightly, a hand that had been constantly grading papers suddenly paused.
Minerva McGonagall felt a sudden breeze. She raised her sharp eyes and caught sight of a small wizard flying with fluid grace. His robes billowed, like a bird flying free.
"Quidditch..." Professor McGonagall's lips curled upward uncontrollably. She lowered her head to continue her work.
Then she suddenly raised it again, walking to the window almost instinctively for a second look. Unmistakable. Not only a first-year student, but that Green child.
That sickly seed she'd brought here was flying in the sky?!
"Thank you, Madam Hooch," Shawn said as he descended slowly to the ground, limbs completely numb with exhaustion and drenched in sweat. Still, he preserved enough strength for a Cleaning Charm to leave the broom spotless for Madam Hooch's smooth landing.
"Interested in Quidditch?" Madam Hooch nodded with greater satisfaction. Disciplined enough, restrained enough, talented enough. Such naturally gifted children were rare.
Shawn froze. His knowledge of Quidditch remained confined to books.
[The first Quidditch World Cup was held in 1473. Many fouls were recorded then. Examples include transfiguring a Chaser into a skunk, attempting to behead a Keeper with a cutlass, and releasing a hundred vampire bats from beneath the Transylvanian team captain's robes.]
Shawn shook his head silently.
"What if you'd become an excellent Seeker?" Madam Hooch seemed surprised.
[The Seeker position holds considerable allure because they are historically the finest fliers on the field. Therefore, "Take down the Seeker" is the first rule in Brutus Scamander's Beater's Bible.]
Shawn shook his head more vigorously.
What terrifying Bible...
"I believe you could very likely join the national team. Each squad has excellent mascots and..."
Madam Hooch's words stopped abruptly.
[The Bangtail team captured a Hebridean Black Dragon from the Hebridean Isles to serve as their squad's mascot.]
Because Shawn was now shaking his head like a propeller.
Compared to a Hebridean Black Dragon, he felt he was more likely to be a mascot himself.
Shawn thought the Hebridean Black Dragon could be the Seeker instead.
He quickly escaped the Quidditch pitch and made his way with light steps to verify his theories about wizard magical development.
He didn't notice the tall witch in deep green robes watching him depart.
In the classroom, Hermione and Justin spoke in hushed tones about something.
It proved difficult to end a conversation when the topic involved a person everyone found interesting.
Shawn focused intently on practicing Aguamenti. Both spells needed to reach at least Entry-level.
"...eight, nine... one more!" Shawn murmured with slight excitement. Though he couldn't confirm whether this magical awakening was permanent, it proved quite significant. Shawn had never read such descriptions anywhere.
"Perhaps I've simply read too few books," Shawn thought carefully.
He opened the panel again:
[Aguamenti: Apprentice standard (45/300)]
Progress continued to grow slowly but steadily.
[Title: Junior Flier]
[Slightly increases perception of broomstick magic. Significantly improves Flying talent.]
Significantly improves Flying talent?
Shawn looked down curiously:
[Wizard Shawn, Flying Talent: Gold]
No change.
Perhaps "significantly" was based on normal standards. Or perhaps it had improved but hadn't broken through the gold legend limit.
While waiting for exhaustion to fade, Shawn opened the Advanced Potions Guide. Learning to fly was nearly as perilous as climbing Ravenclaw Tower. Learning Charms was for the upcoming scholarship. But learning Potions was for a longer-term goal: earning Galleons.
Sufficient resources would support his magical studies more effectively.
As a first-year orphan at Hogwarts, Shawn's options were limited. Particularly after Professor Snape's deliberate and careless words, combined with lengthy contemplation, Shawn had clarified his objective.