Maybe it was because all their attention was on Harry, but Ron and Hermione didn't notice anything strange around them—let alone realize that two more people had appeared right behind them.
"Ron, Hermione."
Neville, who stood nervously off to the side, tried to warn them, but his timid voice was completely drowned out by the roar of the crowd and never reached their ears.
"Go, Harry! Show them you're the best new player out there—"
Before Ron could finish shouting, he felt a sharp knock to the back of his head.
Fuming, he whipped around to see who had the nerve.
"Oops, didn't see you there. With that bright red hair of yours, you really don't stand out at all in a sea of Gryffindors."
"Hahaha!"
Goyle and Crabbe chimed in, laughing as usual. Ron froze for a moment, confused as to why these two were even here. Then his anger caught up with him, and he glared at them furiously.
"What's your problem? You looking for a fight?"
Old grudges flared up as Ron shot to his feet and snapped at them.
"Oh? Look who's got a mouth. You think you're tough with that scrawny frame that couldn't even take down a chicken?"
Goyle sneered with perfectly timed contempt, like he'd just heard the world's biggest joke.
When it came to brawling, they didn't fear anyone—except maybe that maniac Draco.
"If you've got the guts, then bring it on!"
Maybe it was because he was on Gryffindor turf, or maybe it was the reassuring presence of Dumbledore nearby, but Ron stood his ground with surprising confidence.
By now, other Gryffindor students had started to gather, drawn by the rising tension.
Whether they were there to watch the drama unfold or to step in, no one could say for sure...
...
Hermione frowned.
To be honest, she really didn't like those two who constantly came over to cause trouble—and she also thought Ron was far too easy to provoke. Even knowing the other side had bad intentions, he still charged in like a bull seeing red. It left Hermione exasperated and with a pounding headache, but she couldn't just sit by and do nothing...
"Ron, calm down. Professor Snape is watching us. If you start a fight and end up costing Harry the match—"
Hermione's warning wasn't far-fetched.
Knowing how Snape always seemed to target Harry Potter, who could say he wouldn't shamelessly blame the entire incident on the Gryffindor team?
In fact, that's exactly what Snape did...
"That's another penalty for Hufflepuff. How many is that now? Honestly, some of these calls are seriously questionable. Fred glared at him once and got penalized? I think Snape's being oversensitive. Maybe Fred just looked at him the wrong way..."
"Jordan! I must remind you—that's your professor. You shouldn't speak about him like that!"
Professor McGonagall, visibly annoyed, didn't actually refute what Lee Jordan had said—she was just angry he'd used Snape's name so bluntly.
Maybe she agreed that Snape, acting as referee, was going too far?
Either way, Hermione's warning wasn't without merit. Thinking about the possible consequences, Ron finally cooled down.
With Ron no longer about to explode, Hermione turned her attention back to the not-so-unfamiliar duo—Goyle and Crabbe.
"Do you two even realize what you're doing... does Draco?"
"....."
"....."
Of course he didn't.
Goyle and Crabbe pretended not to hear her at all, completely ignoring Hermione's presence.
Truthfully, until they figured out what was really going on between Hermione and Draco, they had no intention of getting involved. As Draco's friends, they knew just how protective he could be...
Their silence and indifference made Hermione's frown deepen. Being ignored like that really rubbed her the wrong way.
Just as she raised her eyebrows, ready to press the issue further, a sudden cheer from the pitch broke through the tension—and Goyle seized the moment to mock Ron again.
"Wonder how long Potter's going to stay on that broom this time? Anyone wanna bet? Oh wait, I almost forgot—Weasley, you don't have any spare Galleons."
Ron didn't even have the energy to respond—Snape had just handed Hufflepuff another penalty. This time it was because George had sent a Bludger hurtling toward Snape's nose, and Lee Jordan had even praised him for it.
Hermione wasn't interested in the exchange between Ron and the Slytherins. She had her binoculars fixed firmly on Draco in the distance, her expression serious, as if trying to confirm something...
"Do you know how Gryffindor selects its team members?"
Not long after, Snape awarded Hufflepuff yet another penalty without any clear reason. The crowd booed loudly, and Lee Jordan, who had just insulted Snape, was booted from the commentator's box by Professor McGonagall.
But Crabbe wasn't finished.
"They pick people they feel sorry for—like Potter, who's got no parents. The Weasley twins, broke as dirt. Hey, Neville Longbottom, you should've made the team too—since you've got no brain."
If Draco had been there, he might've looked at Crabbe differently. He didn't realize the guy had such a knack for cutting insults.
"I'm better than twelve of you put together, Goyle, Crabbe!"
Neville, red in the face from the sudden blow to his pride, spun in his seat and stammered out the words.
Goyle and Crabbe burst into mocking laughter.
"Longbottom, if brains were worth Galleons, you'd be poorer than the Weasleys—and that's saying something."
"You bastards! Shut your filthy mouths!!"
All that talk about money and poverty hit a nerve. Ron had always been sensitive about that. Combined with Snape's blatantly unfair calls, he finally snapped and lunged at Goyle with his fist raised.
In an instant, the whole area turned into an all-out brawl.
"You lot! What do you think you're doing!?"
The commotion startled Hermione. She turned to see Ron pinned to the ground, taking blow after blow from Goyle.
His face had gone pale, and he clutched his stomach like he was about to be sick.
Meanwhile, Neville, who had tried to help, was now crying and flat on the ground, held down by Crabbe like an overturned turtle—utterly helpless...
...
[Upto 50 chapters ahead for now]
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