Eliot's first official Quidditch match was scheduled for the second Saturday in November: Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff.
The week leading up to the match was intense. Captain Marcus Belby had the team practicing every evening, running drills until their muscles ached and their reflexes were razor-sharp.
"Remember," Belby told Eliot during their final practice, "Hufflepuff's Seeker is Cedric Diggory. He's older, more experienced, and has a better broom. But you're smarter. Use that."
Eliot nodded, gripping his school-issued Cleansweep Seven. It was decent, but nothing compared to Diggory's Nimbus 2000.
"What do you know about his flying style?" Eliot asked.
"Aggressive. He likes to use his size and speed to intimidate opponents. He'll try to crowd you, maybe even bump you if the referee isn't watching."
"Physical intimidation," Eliot mused. "But that means he's predictable. If I can anticipate his moves..."
"Exactly. You've got the analytical mind for this. Trust your instincts."
---
The night before the match, Eliot sat in the workshop with Susan, ostensibly working on their latest project but actually too nervous to concentrate.
"You're going to be brilliant," Susan said, not looking up from her runic calculations. "You caught three practice Snitches in a row yesterday."
"Practice is different from a real match. There will be hundreds of people watching, Bludgers flying around, commentary echoing across the pitch..."
"So? You've handled pressure before. Remember your first day in Potions? Snape tried to intimidate you and you answered every question perfectly."
Eliot smiled despite his nerves. "That's different. Potions is just knowledge and preparation. Quidditch is... chaos."
"Controlled chaos," Susan corrected. "There are rules, patterns, strategies. You're good at finding patterns."
She was right, of course. Eliot had been studying Quidditch tactics with the same systematic approach he applied to everything else. He'd analyzed game footage, studied player statistics, even created probability models for Snitch behavior.
"You know what?" he said, pulling out a fresh piece of parchment. "Let me show you something."
He began sketching a three-dimensional diagram of the Quidditch pitch, marking typical flight patterns and strategic positions.
"See, most Seekers focus on pure speed and reflexes," he explained. "But the Snitch isn't truly random. It responds to magical fields, air currents, and the emotional energy of the crowd. If you map those variables..."
"You can predict where it's likely to appear," Susan finished, studying his diagrams with interest. "That's brilliant! You're not just chasing the Snitch—you're hunting it."
"Exactly. And if Diggory tries to intimidate me physically, I can use his aggression against him. Redirect his momentum, force him into suboptimal positions..."
"Like magical aikido?"
"Something like that."
---
Match day dawned cold and windy. Perfect flying weather, according to the team veterans.
The Great Hall buzzed with excitement during breakfast. Students wore house colors and debated the likely outcome. The Ravenclaw table was optimistic but nervous—they hadn't won the Quidditch Cup in three years.
"Just remember," Roger Davies told Eliot as they headed to the changing rooms, "it's not about being the best flyer. It's about being the smartest."
The Ravenclaw changing room was a mixture of nervous energy and focused determination. Belby gave a rousing speech about house pride and teamwork. Cho Chang, their star Chaser, led them through their pre-game ritual.
When they walked onto the pitch, the roar of the crowd was overwhelming. Hundreds of students filled the stands, cheering and waving banners. The Hufflepuff team was already warming up, their yellow and black robes bright against the gray sky.
Eliot spotted Cedric Diggory immediately—tall, handsome, confident, riding his Nimbus 2000 with casual grace. He looked every inch the experienced Seeker.
*Don't be intimidated,* Eliot told himself. *He's just another variable in the equation.*
---
Madam Hooch called the captains to the center of the pitch for the traditional handshake. Then she released the balls: two Bludgers, the Quaffle, and finally the Golden Snitch, which hovered for a moment before disappearing into the gray afternoon.
"Mount your brooms!" Hooch commanded.
Eliot kicked off, rising smoothly into the air. The wind was stronger up here, buffeting him from multiple directions. He'd have to account for that in his calculations.
The whistle blew, and the match began.
Immediately, the pitch erupted into controlled chaos. Chasers streaked back and forth, passing the Quaffle with practiced precision. Beaters swung their clubs, sending Bludgers careening toward opposing players. The crowd roared with every near-miss and spectacular save.
Eliot rose above the main action, scanning for any sign of the Snitch. Diggory was doing the same on the opposite side of the pitch, his superior broom allowing him to cover more ground.
*Patience,* Eliot reminded himself. *The Snitch will appear when the conditions are right.*
---
Twenty minutes into the match, Ravenclaw was ahead 40-20. Cho Chang had scored twice, her flying as graceful as her name suggested. But Hufflepuff was rallying, their Chasers working in perfect synchronization.
Then Eliot saw it—a glint of gold near the Hufflepuff goal posts.
Diggory saw it too. They both dove simultaneously, racing toward the tiny winged ball.
Diggory had the advantage of speed, but Eliot had position. He angled his dive to intercept the Snitch's likely flight path rather than chasing it directly.
The older boy realized what was happening and tried to cut Eliot off, using his larger frame to crowd him away from the Snitch.
But Eliot had anticipated this. At the last second, he pulled up sharply, letting Diggory's momentum carry him past. The Snitch, startled by the sudden movement, darted upward—directly into Eliot's waiting hand.
The crowd exploded. Ravenclaw had won, 190-20.
---
"Brilliant flying!" Belby shouted over the noise, clapping Eliot on the back as they landed. "That was textbook Seeker strategy!"
"More like textbook physics," Eliot replied, grinning despite his exhaustion. "Momentum conservation and trajectory prediction."
Cedric Diggory approached, looking disappointed but sporting. "Good catch," he said, offering his hand. "I've never seen anyone use positioning like that. Where did you learn it?"
"Engineering background," Eliot said, shaking the older boy's hand. "I tend to overthink things."
"Well, keep overthinking. It's working."
---
The celebration in the Ravenclaw common room lasted well into the evening. Students who'd never spoken to Eliot before were suddenly his best friends. Even the portraits were congratulating him.
"You were amazing out there," Susan said when she finally managed to reach him through the crowd. "The way you outmaneuvered Diggory was incredible."
"Thanks. Though I have to admit, I was terrified the entire time."
"You didn't look it. You looked... calculating. Like you were solving a particularly complex equation."
"I suppose I was. Quidditch is just applied mathematics when you break it down."
"Only you would reduce the most popular sport in the wizarding world to a math problem," Susan laughed.
"Hey, it worked, didn't it?"
---
Later that evening, after the celebration had died down, Eliot sat in the workshop reviewing the match in his mind. He'd won, but there were things he could improve. His positioning had been good, but his speed could be better. His tactical thinking was sound, but he needed to work on his physical conditioning.
He pulled out a notebook and began writing:
*Post-Match Analysis - Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff**Strengths: Strategic thinking, positioning, pattern recognition**Weaknesses: Raw speed, physical endurance, broom handling**Improvements needed: Fitness training, advanced flying techniques, equipment upgrades*
*Note: Consider designing aerodynamic improvements for standard brooms. Current designs prioritize tradition over efficiency.*
He paused, pen hovering over the parchment. A thought was forming—something about broom design and magical aerodynamics.
What if he could apply his engineering knowledge to improve flying technology? Not just for himself, but for everyone?
He added one more line to his notes:
*Project idea: Magical aerodynamics research. Potential for broom design improvements.*
Another invention was beginning to take shape in his mind.
But that was a project for another day. Tonight, he was content to be the Seeker who'd won Ravenclaw's first Quidditch match of the season.
Using nothing but his brain.