The opening of the Chamber of Secrets caused a massive stir throughout Hogwarts. For several days, the students talked of nothing but the attack on Mrs. Norris.
While a small minority felt sympathetic, the majority were secretly gloating, simply because Filch was so universally disliked.
The location of the Chamber remained an unsolved mystery. News regarding the Basilisk had not been made public, as it would have incited absolute panic among the student body. However, a few students were in the know—namely Hannah, Hermione, and the "Father-Sorrowing Squad."
Kyle, however, didn't have much time to dwell on the Chamber. Following Halloween, the Hogwarts Quidditch season was about to begin. In previous years, the opening match was traditionally a clash between Gryffindor and Slytherin.
But that was in the past.
According to the rules, the two teams competing in the opening match were the champion and runner-up of the previous season. It was only because Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw had historically been such "bottom-feeders"—relegated to a perpetual third and fourth place—that the opening match had defaulted to a duel between the Lions and the Snakes.
This year, things were different. It was Hufflepuff versus Gryffindor.
The match promised to be a spectacle. By Saturday morning, the entire school—students and faculty alike—had gathered early at the Quidditch pitch.
In the Hufflepuff locker room, Kyle and Cedric bumped fists.
"The twins spent the entire summer practicing their 'Bludger Snooker' technique," Cedric noted. "They're looking to avenge their previous defeat in this match. How about it? Feeling the pressure?"
Hearing Cedric's words, Kyle curled his lip disdainfully.
"They dare use my own techniques against me? They won't even know what hit them."
Jack Sparrow, the former captain who had recently stepped down, was holding an enamel mug like a retired official, leisurely sipping coffee on the sidelines.
"Good luck. I've got high hopes for you two."
A pair of Keeper's gloves suddenly slammed into him with a thwack. "If more than five Quaffles get past you, your training load for next week doubles."
Soon, the "Hufflepuff Delinquents" marched onto the field, clad in their yellow-and-black robes. The crowd in the stands immediately erupted into cheers. Kyle even heard someone screaming: "Kyle! I want to have your babies!"
Had it been a girl shouting, Kyle might have been flattered. But as he looked out, he saw a burly man who looked to weigh at least a hundred and eighty pounds yelling it at the top of his lungs. It was terrifying. He couldn't possibly reciprocate that much "heavy" love—he decided to leave that fan to Cedric.
The friendship between the Lions and the Badgers went back a long way, but that didn't stop them from trading trash talk before the game.
Kyle flashed a "V" sign at the twins. "You're twenty thousand years too early to beat me at Quidditch."
While Madam Hooch wasn't looking, Fred pulled a piece of Explosive Clay from his pocket and lobbed it at Kyle. Kyle reached out, snatched it from the air, and with a casual flick, stuck it onto Harry instead. Fred scrambled frantically to peel the clay off Harry's robes.
George extended ten Chakra Threads from his fingertips, twisting them into a thick, sturdy rope which he lashed toward Kyle.
Overheat: String Whip!
Kyle lunged to the side to avoid it, then grabbed the Chakra Threads to pull George toward him. Simultaneously, he cocked his knee, aiming it directly for George's "third leg."
Leg Meat: SHOOT!
In the blink of an eye, Kyle and the twins had exchanged a dozen moves. By the time Madam Hooch looked their way, the three of them had returned to their "friendly" facade, hypocritically shaking hands.
There were no friends more "superficial" than these.
Madam Hooch was the only person on the field who didn't know what had just happened. The spectators in the stands, however, had seen every dirty trick clearly. Their brows twitched collectively—were these two teams playing a ball game or starting a brawl?
Soon, with a sharp blast of Madam Hooch's whistle, the first match of the Hogwarts Quidditch season officially began.
Lee Jordan's commentary boomed across the pitch.
"Angelina starts with the ball! But her position is terrible, she's surrounded by three Hufflepuffs!"
"She chooses to pass to Alicia! Oh, what a shame! Intercepted by Cadwallader!"
"Cadwallader has the ball now! What is he doing? Is he going for a shot from midfield?!"
"There it is! Kyle's Bludger Snooker!"
"The shot was a feint! Cadwallader and Kyle executed a perfect combo, drawing the Gryffindor players away!"
"Cadwallader breaks through the Gryffindor defense! He's going to shoot!"
The red Quaffle hissed through the air toward the Gryffindor goal. As Keeper, Wood reacted with lightning speed, diving toward the hoop to his left rear according to the Quaffle's trajectory.
But just as he was about to catch it, a ghost-like Bludger struck his broom handle with surgical precision. Wood's flight path veered wildly, and—as expected—he missed the Quaffle entirely.
"Argh! Another Bludger from Kyle!" Lee Jordan roared in frustration.
The next second, he was stunned.
Just as the Quaffle was about to pass through the hoop, the other Bludger on the pitch appeared out of nowhere, positioned right in the center of the ring.
CLANG! CLANG!
The crisp, metallic sounds of the Quaffle hitting the Bludger, and then the Bludger hitting the goal post, echoed across the stadium.
"What am I seeing?! What am I seeing?! The Weasley twins have also mastered Bludger Snooker! They've successfully defended the goal against the 'Demon of the Skies' himself—Kyle!"
A smirk tugged at the corner of Kyle's mouth. Now this is getting interesting.
He activated the first two of the Eight Inner Gates, while simultaneously channeling magic into his arms, employing the techniques of Monstrous Strength.
Both black Bludgers were now under the twins' control. The brothers shared a look, wordlessly communicating their intent before slamming the Bludgers toward Kyle with everything they had.
Kyle effortlessly pivoted his broom, spinning in mid-air to evade their twin assault.
CRACK!
A sharp impact sounded behind Kyle. The two Bludgers had collided with the Quaffle in mid-air. Following the impact, one of the Bludgers ricocheted, spinning at a sharp angle directly toward the back of Kyle's head.
Listening closely to the sound of the air being torn behind him, a cold light flashed in Kyle's eyes.
"Feel the pain!"
Bolstered by Monstrous Strength, Kyle's bat slammed into the incoming Bludger with terrifying force. The power was so great that even the bat—which Kyle had secretly Transfigured into solid metal—bent under the sheer impact.
A black streak of light flashed across the Quidditch pitch, striking the tail of the Savior's broom with unerring accuracy.
The meticulously trimmed twigs of the Nimbus 2000 suddenly disintegrated into a cloud of flying wood chips.
In a state of utter confusion, Harry suddenly realized that the broom in his hands had been reduced to nothing but a bare, naked handle.
Harry: "???"
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Harry's panicked screams echoed throughout the entire Quidditch pitch.
From the nearby stands, Dumbledore's clear voice rang out as he cast a spell. His voice carried a steady, calming power that instantly restored Harry's... composure?
Yeah, right.
Harry was still screaming in terror.
"Aresto Momentum."
Harry's downward plunge came to a sudden halt, and he drifted safely to the ground.
By then, the "Demon of the Skies" had already bent his metal bat back into shape and was soaring toward the other Bludger.
————
Supporting me on Pa-treon to gain early access to advanced chapters and enjoy expedited updates. Your support is greatly appreciated.
pat-reon .c-om/Dragonhair
(Just remove the hyphen - and space, to access Pa-treon normally.)