Two months later.
The Quidditch pitch was buzzing with deafening noise.
Today was the final match of the year's Hogwarts Quidditch Cup, pitting Slytherin against Ravenclaw.
This was also a highly anticipated rematch. An unprecedented accident had occurred during the first game between Slytherin and Ravenclaw before Christmas: the broomstick Damian Black was riding had exploded mid-air. At the time, because Slytherin had to forfeit, Ravenclaw had been declared the winner. However, after much debate, the school board decided that the two teams would replay the match after the rest of the season had concluded.
Currently, the Slytherin and Ravenclaw teams were tied for the lead, with both houses holding two victories.
This year, the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff teams had not performed particularly well, with both houses securing only one win each. Gryffindor had managed to beat Hufflepuff, and Hufflepuff had managed a surprise victory over Ravenclaw.
After the terrifying accident involving Damian's broom, several strict pre-match rules had been added to Hogwarts Quidditch games. Before any player could take to the sky, a newly formed refereeing panel had to thoroughly inspect all broomsticks for tampering to prevent such a malicious incident from ever happening again.
Up in the stands, Geralt was sitting closely next to his Ravenclaw girlfriend, Lisa.
Geralt had been acting very strangely lately; it was a known fact among his dormmates that he hadn't changed girlfriends for over half a year.
"Geralt! Want to make a bet?" Jerry shouted over the noise. The stadium was packed, and the roaring chatter of the crowd made it hard to hear. "The loser has to write out a hundred diary entries during the summer break!"
Geralt shouted back confidently, "You're on! I bet on Slytherin to win!"
Jerry rolled his eyes. "Damian is playing; do you really think betting on Slytherin to win is fair? Let's bet on how many opposing players Damian manages to completely eliminate from the game today! Whoever guesses the closest number wins!"
Geralt thought for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, he felt a sharp, warning pinch on his waist. He instantly remembered—his girlfriend, Lisa, was a die-hard Ravenclaw!
Geralt's brain worked rapidly, and he instantly changed his tune. Looking around evasively, he tried to backtrack. "Well, I think... the Ravenclaw team is actually quite strong... perhaps this will be a thrilling, evenly matched game... we should look at this rationally..."
Jerry interrupted with a grin. "Just give me a number!"
The stands had clearly been enchanted with warming charms to ward off the high-altitude chill, but Geralt was suddenly covered in nervous sweat. The hand pinching his waist seemed to be twisting tighter and tighter.
Geralt turned his head and saw Lisa's deceptively gentle smile. Giving up, he forced a fawning smile and said loudly, "I think the Ravenclaw team is incredibly strong, and Damian probably won't be able to lay a finger on them! I bet Damian won't eliminate anyone today!"
Jerry threw up a victory sign and laughed. "Then I'll bet that Damian eliminates at least one person!"
As long as Damian knocked one or more Ravenclaws out of the game, Jerry would win the bet.
Geralt shot him a furious glare, conveying a clear message with his eyes: You set me up on purpose, didn't you?!
Jerry smirked back, his eyes replying: That's retribution for always showing off your relationship in front of me!
"Look, it's starting!" Lisa exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly and finally releasing Geralt's waist.
Down on the pitch, after the refereeing panel finished inspecting the broomsticks, they delivered them to the players waiting in the locker rooms.
Up in the high stands, the commentator stepped up to the enchanted microphone. The person serving as the commentator was still Lee Jordan, the energetic Gryffindor third-year.
However, there were two additional professors sitting at the referee's table today: the Heads of the houses participating in the match. Professor Snape, Head of Slytherin, sat stiffly beside Professor Filius Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw.
"The final Quidditch match of the term is about to begin!" Lee Jordan's magically amplified voice echoed across the stadium. "The winner of this match will take home the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup, carving their names into school history! Let's see who will claim the ultimate honor!"
The players from both sides, who had been waiting nervously for hours, walked out onto the pitch one after another, waving to the roaring stands.
"Entering the field first—the Ravenclaw team!" Lee announced.
"Ravenclaw has been truly formidable this year. After a shocking loss to Hufflepuff in their first match, they quickly adjusted their strategy. They have been advancing steadily ever since with a practically impenetrable defensive formation, winning every subsequent match!"
Deafening cheers erupted from the blue-and-bronze section of the stands, warmly welcoming the Ravenclaw players as they mounted their brooms.
"And now, entering the field—the Slytherin team!"
A wave of boos from Gryffindor was drowned out by the thunderous roar of the Slytherin section.
"Slytherin is a long-standing powerhouse," Lee continued. "This year, their only blemish is the unfinished match against Ravenclaw. They boast the most aggressive attacking tempo in the league, and the addition of first-year Damian Black has given them the ultimate weapon. Their fast-break tactics are practically unstoppable!"
Lee leaned into the microphone. "Today is a classic duel between the unstoppable spear and the unbreakable shield! Will Slytherin's spear shatter Ravenclaw's shield? Or will Ravenclaw's defense break Slytherin's attack? I can't wait to find out!"
The cheers in the stands were instantly ignited, the wave-like roars bringing the atmosphere of the pitch to a fever pitch.
Madam Hooch, standing in the dead center of the pitch, tossed the red Quaffle high into the air and blew her silver whistle sharply.
Fourteen players kicked off the ground simultaneously, shooting into the air. However, just like the first match, it was a Ravenclaw Chaser who snatched the Quaffle first.
"And they're off!" Lee Jordan shouted. "Once again, Ravenclaw takes the immediate initiative! The Slytherin Chasers are notoriously slow off the block, which is a huge, glaring flaw for a team that relies on fast breaks!"
High above, the play developed rapidly.
"Two Slytherin Chasers are in hot pursuit! They've hit top speed—they're trying to execute a classic Pincer Movement to flank the Ravenclaw Chaser from both sides!"
"Wait—the Ravenclaw Chaser has slowed down! Did she do that on purpose?"
The Ravenclaw Chaser tucked the Quaffle tightly under one arm and gently pulled up on her broom handle. Her flight speed dropped drastically in the blink of an eye.
Just as she slowed, the two Slytherin Chasers, who had been aggressively pursuing her, flanked her from the left and right—and completely overshot her.
The two Slytherins swore loudly, hurriedly pulling their brooms into a steep dive to avoid violently colliding with each other.
The Ravenclaw Chaser quickly leveled out, instantly bypassed the tangled Slytherins, and rocketed toward the goal hoops.
"Wow!" Lee Jordan yelled, practically vibrating with excitement. "She really did slow down on purpose! With a brilliant deceleration and a quick change of elevation, she completely shattered the Slytherin blockade!"
"She is approaching the scoring area rapidly! The match has barely begun, and the Slytherin Keeper is out of position! I didn't expect Ravenclaw—a team famous for dragging out defensive games—to attempt a blitz score in the first ten seconds!"
Seeing the golden goal hoops getting closer and closer, a flash of pure joy crossed the Ravenclaw Chaser's eyes. She had gambled, and it had paid off.
At the start of the match, all players kicked off from the center of the pitch. By snatching the Quaffle immediately and entering a sheer, reckless dive toward one specific hoop, she had created a massive timing advantage. The opposing Keeper simply couldn't cross the distance fast enough to defend that specific hoop.
Just like now, the left goal hoop in front of her was completely unguarded. She was unstoppable!
She pulled her arm back, ready to throw.
But just as she was about to release the Quaffle, her ears caught a terrifying, high-pitched whistling sound tearing through the air directly behind her.
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