On the other side of the Quidditch pitch, Madam Hooch was hurrying toward Hogwarts' hospital wing, supporting Neville Longbottom as they went.
Just moments ago, Neville's broomstick had suddenly lost control and crashed into the castle, causing him to plummet from the sky.
After Madam Hooch escorted Neville away, Draco Malfoy noticed something lying on the ground where Neville had fallen—his Remembrall.
Picking it up and twirling it between his fingers, Draco scoffed, "I seriously wonder if Neville is really a Longbottom. He's from a pure-blood family, for Merlin's sake, and yet he managed to fall off a broom? What an embarrassment to pure-bloods."
At that moment, Harry Potter walked over and addressed Draco.
"Malfoy, hand over the Remembrall. I'll return it to Neville when he's back in the Gryffindor common room."
Draco frowned at Harry's request. "Harry, don't you get it yet? Not just anyone is worthy of being our friend. We're different, special. Stop wasting your time on these weaklings! Just like that Weasley over there—he's no help to your future."
Harry glanced back at Ron, but Draco continued speaking before he could respond.
"Harry, don't you admire Wentworth? Do you know who he keeps as friends? Kirk—Hufflepuff's prefect, who earned ten O.W.L.s last year! Cedric Diggory—the school's acknowledged prodigy, scoring Outstanding in every subject two years in a row!"
Draco sighed in frustration and shook his head. "Geniuses surround themselves with geniuses. The strong befriend the strong! Harry, I can't change the Sorting Hat's decision, but as your friend, I can't stand by and watch you waste away in Gryffindor!"
With that, Draco mounted his broom and shot into the air, casting a cold glance at Harry from above.
Gasps erupted from the crowd of students watching.
Without hesitation, Harry jumped onto his own broom and took off after Draco. As he trailed him through the sky, Harry's voice rang out:
"Draco, I admire Wentworth—not because he's powerful, but because when he stood before me in his expensive suit, he didn't care that I lived in a cupboard under the stairs or that my clothes were in rags. He simply smiled at me and said, 'Harry Potter, welcome home.'"
Not waiting for Draco's response, Harry sped forward, pursuing him.
Now high above the ground, Draco, without a second thought, flung Neville's Remembrall toward the towering Hogwarts castle.
Harry sighed at Draco's antics but quickly turned and dived after the Remembrall.
By the time he reached it, it was mere inches from smashing against the castle wall. Pushing his broom to its limit, Harry reached out and grabbed it just in time.
However, his momentum was too great, and he was unable to correct his course. He slammed into the castle and tumbled off his broom.
Gasps of horror rang out from the gathered first-years, but none of them could do anything.
Draco, still hovering in the air, cursed under his breath, "Idiot!"
Then, without hesitation, he shot downward, urging his broom forward. Just before Harry hit the ground, Draco managed to catch him midair.
Unfortunately, the old Hogwarts broom struggled to support both their weights, and in the end, they both tumbled to the ground.
Luckily, they weren't far from the ground, and neither of them was hurt.
The moment they landed, first-years from Gryffindor and Slytherin rushed forward, encircling them.
Harry scrambled to his feet, immediately turning to Draco. "Draco, are you—"
Before he could finish, Draco grabbed him by the collar, his face filled with fury.
"Harry Potter! Are you a complete idiot? Do you have a death wish?!"
Ron immediately stepped forward, bristling. "Malfoy, let go of Harry!"
Behind Draco, the Slytherin students also stepped up, glaring at the Gryffindors. "What are you going to do about it?"
The tension thickened, and a fight seemed inevitable. But before anything could happen, Harry stretched out an arm to stop Ron, while Draco turned and barked at the Slytherins, "This is between me and Harry Potter."
Reluctantly, the Slytherins stepped back, and Hermione pulled Ron away as well, whispering, "Let them settle this themselves."
Harry tossed the Remembrall back to Ron before turning back to Draco with a grin. "Draco, thanks for catching me back there."
Draco scoffed. "Why don't you ever listen to me? If you did, you wouldn't keep getting into trouble!"
Harry chuckled. "Draco, Neville is actually a good person. If you got to know him—"
Draco cut him off with a dismissive wave. "Harry, I think you've spent too much time in the Muggle world. You've forgotten who you are! 'Good people'? Good people are useless to us wizards! The wizarding world only respects power!"
He fixed Harry with a serious look. "Good people don't earn a wizard's respect. The strong do. Those were Wentworth's words to me at last year's Quidditch World Cup."
Draco fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. Then, he looked Harry directly in the eye and said slowly:
"Harry, let's duel. A proper wizard's duel."
Harry stared at him, confused. "What? What are you talking about, Draco?"
Draco's expression was deadly serious. "If I win, you'll listen to me from now on. No more wasting time with people who don't matter. But if you win, I'll never question who you choose to be friends with again."
Harry met Draco's gaze, realizing just how much this meant to him.
The challenge had been made.
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