Humans have never lacked the burning desire to soar into the sky, nor the adventurous spirit to match it.
Human history itself was proof of that.
Likewise, the wizards of the wizarding world could not escape that same nature.
Otherwise, Quidditch would never have become the most popular and beloved sport among wizards.
Beyond that.
Compared to Muggles, wizards had no shortage of ways to take to the skies. In fact, flying was a perfectly ordinary part of their daily lives.
With only a few Galleons, they could ride a Broomstick and enjoy the pleasure of soaring through the blue sky to their heart's content.
More importantly, they could use one anytime, anywhere.
After all, Broomsticks could be considered a wizard's main means of transportation. Every household owned at least one.
In short.
By normal logic, flying into the blue sky should not have made Fleur, who could be considered quite experienced, this excited.
But in reality.
At that moment, Draco felt as if his waist was about to be snapped by Fleur's small arms wrapped around him.
That completely unreserved strength, along with the body pressed tightly against his back, made it very clear just how much Fleur was looking forward to what was about to happen.
"Calm down. We haven't even taken off yet."
They had not even taken off yet. They had only just sat down on Norberta's back, and Draco could already feel Fleur's body behind him gradually warming, then growing hot.
Her excitement was almost enough to burn him.
It seemed that beneath her cool and alluring exterior, Fleur also hid a heart that longed for adventure.
...
At Draco's teasing... or rather, his reminder.
Fleur's face flushed slightly. Embarrassed, she quickly spoke up in her own defense.
"This is a dragon! No one could stay calm in a situation like this!"
"....."
"Or do you have a problem with that? This is a chance for you to get close to a beautiful girl, you know."
As she spoke, Fleur even pushed out her chest.
That bold move. Should he say she really did live up to being an older sister?
It had to be said that this was the first time Draco had ever heard such words from a girl, and also the first time he had ever been teased by one.
For a moment, Draco, who had not reacted right away, felt a strange sense of novelty.
He blinked, glanced back at Fleur, then said with an amused smile, "In that case, let's set off."
"Huh? Wait, let me get mentally prepa... Aaaah!"
Without giving Fleur any chance to finish, Norberta spread her wings at Draco's signal and shot forcefully into the sky.
The violent jolt nearly made Fleur bite her tongue mid-sentence.
At the same time, Draco's voice reached her ears.
"Well then, Norberta, let's give our new friend a welcome gift."
"Roar-ga-ga!"
A welcome gift?
Fleur did not know what that meant, but a sudden bad feeling flashed through her heart.
She did not even have time to think.
In the next second, Norberta beat her wings and began climbing rapidly.
If someone had looked up from the ground then, they would have seen the enormous black shadow shrink into a tiny black dot almost instantly before disappearing into the clouds.
...
Clouds and mist.
Blue sky.
Whether it was because she was riding a dragon, or because someone was there with her, the sight felt especially different.
It was clearly a view she could have seen on a Broomstick, yet in Fleur's eyes, it had become a memory she would never forget for the rest of her life.
Holding Draco, Fleur murmured softly, "It's so beautiful..."
"Is it? I don't think it's anything special."
"...Shut up."
"..."
Draco shrugged and did not ruin the mood by continuing to pour cold water on her.
He did, however, give Fleur time to enjoy this rare moment.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, when even the buildings below could no longer be made out with the naked eye, Fleur finally spoke in satisfaction.
"I really like this welcome gift."
"Hm?"
"What do you mean? Isn't this what you wanted me to see?"
"No... you misunderstood. What comes next is what I wanted you to experience."
"Experience?!"
Suddenly, Fleur's sixth sense began blaring in warning.
Before Fleur could even refuse, she felt a powerful sense of weightlessness hit her, and she watched helplessly as the scenery around her rushed backward at a terrifying speed.
Fleur clamped her thighs together with all her strength, as if something was about to leak out.
At the same time, a string of terrified screams burst from her lips, along with a tearful, delicate roar.
"Aaaah! Draco, I'm going to bite you to death!"
They were falling.
More precisely.
Norberta, carrying Draco and Fleur on her back, was diving straight down in a vertical plunge.
That terrifying speed.
And the ground drawing closer and closer.
That uncontrollable sensation of weightlessness was enough to drive a person mad with fear.
It had to be said.
Compared to any Broomstick she had ever used before, riding a dragon was far more thrilling.
At least, that was certainly true for Fleur at this moment.
...
Fleur's shrill scream rang out over the base.
The young wizards lucky enough to hear it showed no surprise at all. Instead, they looked toward the central building with interest.
"It's Norberta!"
"Looks like Mr. Malfoy is back."
"That voice... I haven't heard it before."
"A new girl?"
"Keep your voice down. Don't let Parkinson and the others hear you."
From these conversations, it was clear that this was not the first time such a scene had happened. The same thing had definitely occurred before, and the reason for the screaming had been exactly the same.
In fact.
It was not only the young wizards on the streets who heard the commotion. Even those indoors could faintly hear that high-pitched scream.
Among them were Pansy, Hermione, and the others.
The Department building.
High up in the building, Pansy and the others were in that very room.
The instant the scream rang out, Pansy and the others seemed to notice something. With uncanny understanding, they all turned to look out the window.
Having gone through something similar herself, Pansy's eyes lit up at once. "Draco's back... Wait, whose voice is that?"
"Who knows? It sounds a little familiar."
"It does sound familiar. It should be someone we know."
"Tsk!"
Perhaps it was just an illusion.
But in the room where Pansy and the others were, the temperature inexplicably began to drop, as if winter had suddenly arrived.
Not only that.
A faint, sour smell seemed to spread through the air.