Chapter 80 – Dueling (2)
Hearing Krum say the words quickly made me feel he was not talking about doing it via magic and waving our wands at each other... so... I holstered my wand.
"I'm listening."
"Know fly?" He asked, and I nodded, already guessing his intentions. I heard he is a great player... but one can't be sure about it until you see it, no?
"Want to play quidditch? Just so you know, I am a weirdo, as I am the least interested in the sport that seemingly everyone loves."
"No. Not play. Race."
By then, more and more people were gathering around us, noticing the ruckus. After hearing him challenge me, it became an exciting event.
"The route?"
"Around castle." He nodded towards it, and I couldn't help but agree. Simple, and if one wants to cut off corners, one needs to fly through narrow gaps of towers and walkbridges.
"Fine."
The moment I agreed, there was no going back. Two senior students quickly brought brooms over, both being the shabby, old Comets that the first-year students practiced with. Krum didn't hesitate, nor did he complain; he just clutched one firmly, testing its balance once before mounting it and rising to the air. The way he did it, the ease and speed... I knew the sayings were correct. He was good.
We kicked off to the spell of Quincy firing into the air and began the race around the castle. The fact that he suggested it, knowing full well I was at an advantage, being a student here, told us a lot. He was confident in his skills... and I saw them for myself when we passed the first hundred yards. The way he turned, even on this shitty broom, was perfect. His reflexes were sharp, and he noticed the best routes at the same time as me. We were cutting through low, our feet almost touching the ground, flying around the first tower and under the bridge connecting it.