"Remember! When standing on the broom, keep your feet in the right position, maintain balance, lean forward slightly, and keep your knees naturally bent."
Madam Hooch paced back and forth between two rows of students, correcting anyone whose posture was incorrect.
"Malfoy, don't be so stiff with your arms! Relax a little so you can control the broom properly!"
She made several rounds, and each time she passed Malfoy, she noticed his rigid stance and had to correct him again. His face turned redder with each critique, and instead of improving, his movements became even stiffer.
Ron snickered beside him, finding amusement in Malfoy's struggle.
Dylan, however, ignored the commotion and focused on mastering the correct flying posture. It didn't take him long to adjust properly.
When Madam Hooch began inspecting each student, Dylan passed without any issue. Ron, who had been laughing earlier, was also scolded for his crooked posture, wiping the grin off his face.
In truth, almost everyone except Dylan received some form of criticism.
While Madam Hooch continued to check on the others, Dylan took a moment to examine the broomstick in his hands.
Since brooms weren't required items on the Hogwarts admission checklist, the school provided them for lessons. Unless a student played Quidditch, they typically didn't buy their own broomsticks at this stage.
Dylan hadn't purchased one either, but he was familiar with common low-end models.
For instance, the Shooting Star—a basic broomstick used in schools—cost around twenty Galleons. A Comet 140, a mid-range broom, was priced at about eighty Galleons.
The cost of mid-range brooms typically ranged from one hundred to three hundred Galleons. High-end brooms, such as the Firebolt, were still in development, and their starting price would likely be in the five-figure range. Meanwhile, the Nimbus 2000 was available for just over 300 Galleons.
Recently, Dylan had earned a substantial number of Galleons through various achievements. Buying a broom wouldn't be an issue, but he planned to wait until he fully mastered flying before purchasing a Nimbus 2000.
There was no need for a cheap transition broom, as he wouldn't be flying often. If he had spare time, he'd rather study Apparition instead.
He continued to fiddle with the broomstick, testing its enchantments.
"There really is a standardized Levitation Charm on it," he muttered.
A wizard could enhance a broom's lift by casting the Levitation Charm, but the broom itself already had built-in enchantments, including levitation, propulsion, and balance spells.
Dylan also sensed the presence of a Cushioning Charm, which answered a question that had always puzzled him.
He had previously wondered how wizards could sit comfortably on brooms while flying. Wouldn't it be uncomfortable? Wouldn't their legs and lower back ache from straddling a wooden stick for extended periods?
However, after studying the broom's enchantments, he realized that the Cushioning Charm created an invisible cushion, making it far more comfortable than it looked.
"It's still just a basic broom," Dylan murmured. "It only has a few simple spells."
He examined the interior but found no special engravings or high-quality materials.
Not particularly valuable for research.
Satisfied with his analysis, he placed the broom between his legs and sat on the invisible cushion, waiting for Madam Hooch's next instructions.
Once everyone's posture was adjusted correctly, Madam Hooch prepared them for their first takeoff.
"Listen carefully! When I blow the whistle, push off the ground firmly. Do not hesitate! Imagine yourself soaring straight into the air."
She stood in front of them, clad in her black Quidditch referee robes with green lining. Although she wasn't as imposing as Professor Snape, she still commanded authority.
Raising her wooden whistle, she continued, "You only need to rise a few feet, hover briefly, then tilt your body backward to descend. Stay calm and controlled."
"Ready? Three, two—"
Before she could finish counting, Neville, who stood next to Dylan, panicked and pushed off the ground too soon.
In an instant, he shot into the air.
"What are you doing? Come down immediately!" Madam Hooch barked.
At first, she assumed Neville had taken off deliberately, but his flailing arms and frightened expression made it clear he had lost control.
As his panic intensified, he only rose higher.
Dylan's eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, he pulled out his wand from his waist.
"Finite Incantatem!"
He cast a general counter-spell, but it had no effect.
His frown deepened.
The spells on the broom were already integrated into its enchantments. Unless Neville controlled it himself, Dylan's spell wouldn't be able to override the broom's magic.
Neville continued to rise, flailing wildly.
Dylan tried again.
"Retardo Motus! Arresto Momentum!"
Both spells hit their target.
This time, Neville's rapid ascent slowed significantly.
However, Dylan hadn't fully mastered these spells yet, so the effects weren't as strong as he hoped.
Still, Neville was no longer rocketing upward, which was an improvement.
But before Dylan could relax, Neville suddenly flipped upside down.
"Huh? I didn't cast that spell!" Dylan muttered in confusion.
"Ahhhhhh!" Neville screamed.
His fingers slipped from the broom's handle, and he plummeted toward the ground.
Dylan reacted instantly.
"Impedimenta!"
A shimmering wave of magic shot from his wand, forming bands of energy that wrapped around Neville's body.
The rapid fall slowed dramatically.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
Dylan cast the Levitation Charm next, ensuring Neville descended gradually and landed softly.
The moment Neville touched the ground, his face remained frozen in terror. His hair, blown in every direction by the wind, stuck to his sweaty forehead.
"Oh my God!" Harry exclaimed.
Ron and Seamus exchanged wide-eyed looks.
Even Hermione, who had been skeptical of Dylan, was astonished.
Not only had he cast multiple advanced spells in quick succession, but he also performed them with impressive precision.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
How did Dylan become so skilled?
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