Chapter 41: A Once-in-a-Millennium Prodigy
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Yes, the wire was George’s secret weapon for controlling the broomstick.
When it comes to flying a broomstick, how well you fly mainly depends on how skilled the wizard is at handling the broom. By wrapping a thin wire around the broomstick, in addition to controlling it through magic, George could also use his magnetic power to make more precise adjustments—a double safeguard.
In fact, with his current body's weight of just a few dozen pounds, he could fly with just his magnetic ability, though it wouldn't be as fast as using a broomstick.
He applied the same technique to his wand, which had a wire wrapped around its base. This way, if it ever slipped from his hand, he could instantly summon it back with magnetic force.
"Hold your brooms steady, rise a few feet, then lean forward slightly, and descend straight back to the ground.
Wait for my whistle: 3-2-1!"
At Madam Hooch’s signal, the young wizards pushed off the ground in unison, each one ascending into the air on their broomsticks.
Most of them wobbled once airborne, cautiously maintaining their balance. However, a few students with prior experience, like Ginny, flew confidently and swiftly.
"Excellent, Ginny! That’s very impressive!"
Ginny’s exceptional flying skills quickly caught Madam Hooch’s attention, and she couldn't help but loudly praise her. She was about to award points to Gryffindor when a chorus of gasps interrupted her.
She turned toward the Slytherin group and was immediately struck with disbelief.
"Oh, Merlin! That’s the Starfish and Stick, the Woollongong Shimmy, the Sloth Grip Roll, and a Wronski Feint—this is impossible!"
What had she just witnessed? She had just seen George, Slytherin’s rising star, executing advanced Quidditch maneuvers that only world-class Quidditch players could perform.
The Starfish and Stick is a maneuver used by elite broomstick goalkeepers. When a Quaffle is about to enter the goal but the keeper can’t reach it in time, they hang upside down from the broom, spreading their limbs to block the ball.
The Woollongong Shimmy is a complex zigzag flying technique used by Chasers to confuse their opponents.
The Sloth Grip Roll is a high-difficulty maneuver where a player hangs onto the broomstick with both hands and feet, spinning rapidly like a drill to deflect Bludgers.
The Wronski Feint is an advanced Seeker technique where the player pretends to spot the Golden Snitch far below, diving toward the ground at high speed to trick the opposing Seeker. Just before hitting the ground, they pull up, leaving the other Seeker to crash.
These moves require absolute control of the broomstick, especially the Wronski Feint, which is notoriously difficult to execute.
Mastering even one of these moves would guarantee a spot on a national Quidditch team, whether as a Seeker, Chaser, Beater, or Keeper.
Even Madam Hooch herself couldn’t execute all four moves flawlessly, and certainly not on one of the school's aging Cleansweep series broomsticks. These broomsticks had decades of history and were fine for regular lessons, but at higher speeds, they would tremble and become difficult to control.
Yet George had not only managed to control one but had also flawlessly performed all four iconic, high-difficulty moves.
"Slytherin, 20 points! You're free to practice now. George, come with me!"
As George landed smoothly, Madam Hooch, filled with excitement, shouted and quickly pulled him aside, leading him toward the castle.
"Was that really your first time riding a broomstick?"
She asked in disbelief as they walked.
George, feigning shyness, nodded slightly.
"Yeah, I’ve never had the chance to ride one where I live. But I’ve read a lot about Quidditch in books and studied it."
He knew his plan had succeeded.
With his body’s strength and his magnetic control stabilizing the broomstick, not only could he perform those four moves, but he could probably dance ballet or pull off a few Thomas flairs on it as well.
"Oh, you really... That’s just unbelievable," Madam Hooch stammered, struggling to find the right words after hearing George’s explanation.
In the Slytherin Headmaster's office, Severus Snape was sitting in his chair, jotting down notes on his research into a new potion when he was suddenly interrupted by a rapid knocking at the door. Frowning, he waved his wand to open it.
"Madam Hooch, is there something particularly urgent that requires such haste?"
Upon seeing that the visitor was Madam Hooch, the flying instructor, accompanied by one of his most promising students, Snape's frown eased slightly.
With excitement, Hooch pushed George forward to Snape's desk.
"Professor Snape, Slytherin has produced a once-in-a-millennium Quidditch prodigy! You won’t believe it—his first time riding a broomstick, he performed—”
“Is what you’re saying true?”
At Hooch’s words, Snape, usually expressionless, showed signs of agitation. As the head of Slytherin, he held deep feelings for the house, and he had been haunted by last year’s loss to Gryffindor—especially with Harry Potter on their team.
If George truly possessed such extraordinary talent for flying, Slytherin would not suffer another defeat in the upcoming seven years.
"I’m not yet at an age where my vision is failing, and many of the students in your house witnessed it as well," Hooch replied, a bit defensively.
Snape quickly responded, "I’m not doubting you; I’m merely surprised."
He turned to George, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. "George, you did very well—extremely well.
This Saturday, I will personally arrange for you to join the Slytherin Quidditch team. Gryffindor may have an exception, but so can we!"
"Um, Professor, I’m not really interested in joining the Quidditch team," George replied, pretending to be a bit shy.
Hooch and Snape both froze for a moment, then almost simultaneously asked, "Why?"
Joining the Quidditch team was every young wizard's dream, especially for someone with George's flying talent—he was practically a natural Quidditch player.
George glanced at Snape and cleared his throat. "Well, it's because I prefer studying magic over Quidditch, especially Defense Against the Dark Arts. With Professor Lockhart’s class, I’ll need more time to self-study.
But if I join Quidditch, I’ll have to train often, and I won’t have enough time… sigh… self-studying is really challenging."
"You make a good point; studying magic is indeed fundamental. That Lockhart fellow is also quite the imbecile… hmm."
At this, Snape fell into deep thought.
In his view, the study of magic was far more important than Quidditch, and while he had little interest in the sport himself, as head of Slytherin, he naturally wanted the house to win the Quidditch Cup.
"Here’s what we’ll do: you can join the Slytherin team, and I’ll do my best to ensure they won’t require much of your time for training. I’ll dedicate half a day every weekend to help you catch up on Defense Against the Dark Arts."
(End of chapter)