Chapter 208: The Match
The corridor was silent.
Sir Cadogan was challenging anyone he could find to a duel, though a monk in a nearby painting skillfully dodged his provocations.
With the sound of leather boots clicking on the floor, a tall witch approached the portrait, her expression tinged with irritation.
"Perhaps your reputation for integrity and loyalty isn't always accurate?"
"Easy there, my lady," Sir Cadogan doffed his hat with a flourish, then gazed out the window at a large owl flying into the night. "A knight never lies."
The next morning dawned clear and cold. The Great Hall was filled with the mouth-watering scent of fried sausages, and everyone was chattering excitedly, anticipating a spectacular Quidditch match.
"Hufflepuff is nothing to worry about," Michael Corner declared enthusiastically.
Then, noticing Justin sitting further down the table with a puzzled look, he quickly corrected himself. "Oh, pretend I didn't say that." He buried his face in his pudding.
"Are you going to watch the match, Sean?" Justin took the opportunity to ask.
Sean felt the eyes of everyone in the Room of Hope turn towards him.
They had been doing everything together for a long time, except for Sean.
Sean was always shuttling between professors. Rumour had it he even attended a sixth-year Alchemy class last week.
Merlin's beard—that was N.E.W.T. level material.
So the group always felt something was missing.
"Yes."
Unexpectedly, Sean nodded.
"Fantastic—" Justin whispered, just as a flurry of owls arrived with the morning post, drowning out his excitement in a flutter of wings.
Seeing everyone's fervent discussions, Sean began to understand what Quidditch meant to these young wizards.
It was a bond, a thread connecting shared, beautiful memories.
The Great Hall soon emptied as almost every student headed to the Quidditch pitch.
The staff stand was also full—Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, and even Hagrid were there.
The Room of Hope group huddled together. Harry and Ron were discussing tactics, claiming they would analyze their future opponents' weaknesses through this match.
Hermione huffed in exasperation, reminding them that members of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were sitting right there.
Ron slapped his forehead and hung his head. "We're sorry..."
"Sorry for what? Discussing it in front of us?" Justin joked rarely.
"Yes—oh! No—" Ron found himself unable to say the right thing. Whether he answered yes or no, it sounded bad.
"Idiot." Hermione silently distanced herself from Ron and Harry. Two muscle-brained idiots.
"Sean, what do you think—where's Sean?"
Justin asked instinctively, only to find Sean had vanished.
"Oh... well, I think I understand."
He muttered to himself again.
Ravenclaw Changing Room.
Sean thought to himself, Watching the match from the pitch counts as watching the match, right?
"I knew you'd come! Prefect Clearwater won't skin me alive now—" Roger Davies immediately grabbed Sean's hand and shook it vigorously.
"Captain Lott, you can retire from the Seeker position now—make way for our strongest rookie!"
"I'd be delighted—come on, Mr. Green—"
Lott, the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain, was a seventh-year student. This was his final year playing for Ravenclaw, and he dreamed of leaving a successor for the Seeker position.
He had previously scouted Cho Chang and Roger Davies, but now, it seemed there was an even better choice.
"Gryffindor is always boasting about having the best team, but lads, you know what? In my heart, you are the best team! Let them know that eagles should always soar in the highest skies!"
The Ravenclaws erupted in cheers.
The air in the Quidditch pitch was still. The sky was a uniform pearly white, offering good visibility without the blinding glare of the sun.
Lee Jordan was commentating passionately, with Professor McGonagall beside him.
"We have Ravenclaw's finalized lineup," he said, looking at a piece of parchment. "Their Beater from last year has left, but Lott seems to have found two decent Ravenclaws to fill in. Rumour has it they flew quite well as reserves.
"But Lott has stepped down. In his final year, giving his spot to a rookie—that's rare—Merlin's beard!"
He suddenly shouted.
"Jordan!" Professor McGonagall warned.
"Sorry, Professor. Actually, I couldn't imagine seeing this name. Oh—let's see—Ravenclaw's new Seeker, the only student in years to get flight clearance, passed the flight test with full marks, author of Green's Notes—oh, I think that's the most important part—anyway, Ravenclaw's new Seeker is—Mr. Sean Green!"
"You mean—" Professor McGonagall stood up instantly.
"Professor." Jordan found this scene familiar; it felt like it had just happened.
Ravenclaw Changing Room.
The players stood up, shouldered their brooms, and marched out of the changing room into the dazzling sky.
They were greeted by thunderous applause. Sean could even hear singing, though it was mostly drowned out by cheers and whistles.
"Oh my god! Sean!"
In the stands, Hermione and Justin were frantically working on a banner.
"Ron, hurry!"
"I'm trying!" Ron was transfiguring a scarf into a large flag, pushing his Transfiguration skills to the limit.
Three minutes later.
A huge banner, enchanted with colour-changing charms, rose up. One moment it showed a giant portrait of Sean, the next it flashed the words "VICTORY."
Sean didn't particularly like Quidditch, but seeing Hermione, Justin, and the others happily making the banner and waving at him; seeing Professor McGonagall nodding at him with immense joy and relief, even subtly raising a fist in encouragement... his feeling for Hogwarts deepened.
The only downside was the terrifyingly dark look on Professor Snape's face in the staff stand.
"A stupid sport played by muscle-bound idiots... Don't let me find out who lured... a destined Potions Master into this, hmph—"
His gloomy aura radiated outwards, causing the surrounding Slytherins to wisely retreat several meters.
Only Headmaster Dumbledore, with his twinkling blue eyes, leaned closer.
"Have to say, he's quite like Minerva, isn't he..."
Professor Snape shot a glare at Dumbledore, and the long-bearded Headmaster chuckled and fell silent.
(End of Chapter)
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