"What...?" Despite the molten adrenaline inside him, Harry couldn't believe that Hermione was not only condoning his urge to take off after Malfoy, but also willing to get in on the act. Harry's broom felt heavier from the possibility of Hermione getting in trouble than her physical presence in general. "Hermione, are you sure...?"

"You pilot. I'll hex, if necessary," was Hermione's response, coupled with a reassuring smirk.

Now heartened by Hermione's words, Harry nodded and pushed off from the ground. Hermione locked an arm around his waist while she used her free hand to fish her wand from her robes. Hermione was silently awed by how graceful Harry's navigation of his broom was: there was no shaking in the broom's motion or perilous tilting from Harry's end.

Maybe her being so impressed by how naturally Harry soared was why she felt no apprehension as she ascended on a broom with no more flying experience than he? Or perhaps it was something else? But what?

Hermione and Harry left their fellow classmen behind, gasping and pointing in amazement. Hermione could've sworn she heard some of the Slytherins proudly hiss to the Gryffindors, "The frizzy-haired one is ours!"

Someone actually expressed a preference for her, a Muggle-born, instead of that pure-blooded prat. She hadn't been desperate for acceptance within Slytherin House, so where did this twinge of relief stem from?

"Give it here," Harry called, "or I'll – we'll knock you off that broom!"

"Really, now?" Malfoy called back, shaking his head. "Playing co-commander on a broom to a Gryffindor, Granger? If my view of you could sink any lower..."

Hermione threateningly exhibited her wand. "Crabbe and Goyle can't guard you up here, Malfoy! So I'd mind my words!"

She could see the realization set in behind her fellow Slytherin's snobbery. There was no one to protect his backside from harm up here, and it didn't help that it was two against one. But Hermione had the feeling that a cornered serpent would be just a tad more astute.

"I've read up on a few offensive spells before coming to Hogwarts, Malfoy! One might say I've just been aching for the moment to test them out! I'll opt out of such if you surrender the Remembrall!"

Malfoy merely tossed the Remembrall in one hand to another to taunt her. "Catch it if you can, then!"

"Don't you dare –!" Hermione squealed. "FLY TOWARDS HIM, HARRY! QUICKLY!"

Harry flew a perfect beeline towards Malfoy as Hermione shifted into a side-saddle position as gracefully as she could without sliding off the broom. At the second the two brooms' handles were adjacent, Hermione leapt from Harry's broom to Malfoy's, though not before he flung the Remembrall into air.

Hermione locked her legs around the broom and grabbed onto Malfoy's waist as to prevent the inertia of her jump from sending her past the broom and plummeting to the ground. Malfoy was gaping in alarm and outrage.

"GET OFF MY BROOM, GRANGER!" he howled.

Hermione grabbed a fistful of his platinum hair and yanked his head backwards as though she were reining a rowdy horse, making Malfoy emit a painful cry that could be heard by the students below them. She then put the tip of her wand to his neck.

"TO THE GROUND – NOW!"

Knowing better than to object, Malfoy flew down to the humiliation awaiting him at the sight of Hermione with his wand to his throat, having been forced into submission.

"GOOD SHOW, GRANGER!" Lizzie screamed when Hermione was walking towards her. Some of the other Slytherins were even clapping as she approached them. "You and Potter deserve an O for improvisation!"

Hermione gasped. "Harry!"

Hermione whipped around – looking past a bitter-faced Malfoy being helped by Crabbe and Goyle – to see Harry toppling gently onto the grass with the Remembrall clutched safely in his hand. The Gryffindors clapped for him.

Wow, Potter was a natural, thought Hermione.

"HARRY POTTER!"

The clapping died out at the sight of Professor McGonagall running towards them. With horror, Hermione realized Professor McGonagall had arrived on the scene only after she and Malfoy had landed, but had witnessed Harry's descending from the air to the ground.

Hermione spotted Malfoy running his finger across his neck with a look of triumph...