The day after Gilderoy Lockhart was drugged by Glenn, the Quidditch match of the season was set to begin at eleven in the morning.
As always, the opening match featured the two old rivals and championship favorites: Gryffindor and Slytherin.
Glenn and Hermione had initially planned to spend the day quietly researching in the library. However, Hermione's friends, with their playful pleading, managed to "kidnap" her—and by extension, Glenn—to the stands.
The reason? No one wanted to miss out on a warm "heater" in the cold, biting wind.
Of course, their main goal was to help Hermione relax. Lavender and Parvati had recently noticed that Hermione seemed overly stressed. Upon hearing that she intended to spend her weekend researching, they immediately protested.
"Girls need to be cherished and cared for, especially someone as adorable as Hermione. She should be treated like a princess," Lavender said, hugging Hermione from behind and pressing their cheeks together. She then turned to Glenn with an air of authority. "Glenn, you need to make sure she doesn't overwork herself. Ideally, you should keep her in your arms at all times—well, except for times like now, when you need to share her with us. Got it?"
"Otherwise, we'll come and beat you up!" she added, raising her fist in mock threat.
"Lavender!" Hermione's cheeks turned a noticeable shade of red. With a loud squeal, she turned and tried to pin Lavender down on the seat to take the upper hand.
Glenn, having grown accustomed to such antics, said nothing.
Cheers erupted from the Quidditch pitch as the green and red teams emerged from their respective locker rooms. Both Slytherin and Gryffindor wore expressions of utmost seriousness, exuding unparalleled determination.
Even though the Slytherin team had received Nimbus 2001 broomsticks as gifts from Lucius Malfoy, they hadn't slacked off in their training. Like the Gryffindor lions, they could be seen practicing on the Quidditch field in all weather conditions.
Of course, territorial disputes between the snakes and lions were common. Yet the Slytherins were unfazed by Gryffindor's provocations. They always came prepared, acted with discipline and organization, and knew exactly when to stop during confrontations. This left Oliver Wood and his team both furious and helpless.
Harry himself was already seething, but no one was more frustrated than Wood. If someone were to measure Wood's blood pressure, it would undoubtedly be higher than average. Even Fred and George, who usually wore mischievous smiles, now had grim expressions, glaring at the Slytherin team led by Marcus Flint as if they wished to pelt them with dung bombs.
In fact, they had already done so. With their arsenal of prank gadgets, the Weasley twins were masters of guerrilla tactics. The Slytherin locker room often reeked of mysterious odors, and it was undoubtedly their doing.
Had George and Fred not vehemently denied any involvement in the attack on Harry, Ron, and Lockhart the previous day—swearing on their younger brother's ten years of life—some young wizards might have pinned the title of Slytherin's Heir on them.
Ron: ?
As a result, both teams were brimming with pent-up frustration, ready to unleash it on each other during the upcoming match.
The game began. Madam Hooch's whistle blew, and fourteen players soared into the sky. The weather had darkened considerably, and the air grew heavy.
Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter flew higher than the other players, facing off at the top of the pitch.
"Ready to face your defeat, Potter?" Draco said, his face still wearing that proud smile.
Proud, but not arrogant.
"Oh, really? You equipment-reliant cowards," Harry retorted without backing down.
"Then let's see who's better, you... Gryffindor hero of the toilet bowl!" Draco said nonchalantly, completing his taunt combo.
"You..." Harry scowled. Just then, a black spherical object shot toward him from below at high speed. Distracted by Draco's words, Harry couldn't dodge in time. The tail of his broomstick was struck, sending him into a spiral.
It was a Bludger.
"Watch out, Harry!" Amidst the spinning, Harry vaguely heard George's voice. Once he steadied himself, he saw George wielding a bat and striking the Bludger fiercely toward the Slytherin players.
Where was Malfoy?
Harry suddenly realized he had lost sight of him. He quickly began searching, only to see Draco diving rapidly toward the ground!
"Did he spot the Golden Snitch? So soon?" Harry had no time to think and plunged vertically toward Draco's direction.
There was still a chance! I can barely interfere with him!
"Move, Harry!" Fred's voice came from above, tinged with urgency.
Harry turned his head just in time to see the Bludger veering sharply again, hurtling toward him at high speed.
Spotting Draco not far below, Harry acted on instinct. He rolled sideways, narrowly avoiding the Bludger, which, due to its momentum, was now heading straight for Draco.
A sense of danger prickled the back of Draco's neck. Frowning, he dodged the incoming Bludger as well.
Only then did Harry realize that there was nothing in front of Draco—no trace of the Golden Snitch. The guy had been trying to trick him into crashing into the ground!
It was a Wronski Feint!
That was close! I almost fell for it!
Harry exclaimed inwardly.
"Lucky you, Potter." With his ruse exposed, Draco skillfully pulled up his broomstick and ascended back into the sky.
Frustrated at being duped, Harry gritted his teeth and pulled up his plummeting broomstick, aiming to return to the sky.
But the sound of rushing wind behind him startled Harry into ducking. The black spherical object whooshed past, grazing his hair and taking a strand with it.
It was that familiar Bludger again.
"What's going on?"
By now, rain was pouring down on the Quidditch pitch. Large droplets splattered on Harry's glasses, blurring his vision and mirroring his confusion. Harry felt utterly disoriented in the wind.
"Slytherin leads! Eighty to zero!" announced Lee Jordan reluctantly.
At this point, the Weasley twins also noticed the anomaly around Harry. They flew down together, sticking close to him and using their bats to fend off the rogue Bludger, shielding him.
However, this also meant that Harry couldn't see the Golden Snitch through their flailing arms.
"What on earth is happening?!"
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