Despicable Tactics? That's Called Clever

On Saturday, the first game of the Quidditch season took place as scheduled.

Before 11 o'clock, all the teachers and students went to the Quidditch Pitch and gathered on the platform.

Inside the Slytherin locker room, Marcus led six members of the team, who had changed into their green uniforms and were ready to go.

"This is the first time we've used a completely new tactic, but I have enough confidence. Everyone has witnessed the results of the training over the past two months." Marcus looked at the team members standing in a row and said seriously, "Look at the Nimbus 2001 in your hands. They're the latest model and have an absolute speed advantage."

We must win this game no matter what, because we cannot afford to lose.

"Next, let's hear from the greatest Seeker in Slytherin's history."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked towards the doorway. Aaron, with a dark expression, lifted the green curtain and walked in.

"You had the Prefect call me here just for this?"

"Boosting morale is essential," Marcus said seriously. "I'm sure Wood is doing the same thing now."

"The problem is I have something else to do, something very important, something extremely important."

A few days ago, when Aaron was looking at that book, he found that it recorded the Basilisk's weakness: the crowing of a rooster.

This discovery thrilled him, giving him a sense of sudden enlightenment.

But he didn't dare show it; he just wanted to secretly steal—no, borrow—one or two of Hagrid's roosters for protection.

After all, the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. If we accidentally expose ourselves, the Heir of Slytherin will know that he has discovered the monster's identity, which is no small matter.

However, he rarely finds an opportunity to strike; Hagrid is an exceptionally dedicated forest ranger.

The day of the Quidditch Match was long and arduous, and most of the students and teachers came to the castle, including Hagrid, who also left his hut to watch the match live.

This is a rare opportunity, when everything is essentially undefended.

Catch two roosters, lock them in the dormitory, and do it without anyone noticing.

As for whether Hagrid will have any doubts? There are plenty of creatures in the Forbidden Forest, and it's normal for one or two to occasionally sneak out and have a craving.

But just as he was about to act, Prefect Niall came over in person and invited him here to cheer on the Slytherin House Team.

He missed a great opportunity, and to make matters worse, he had nowhere to vent his frustrations, so naturally, he wasn't in a good mood.

"Today's Quidditch Match is the most important thing for Slytherin."

I even swallowed my pride and had Niall invite you; you certainly wouldn't refuse the Prefect's request.

Aaron forced a smile and gave Marcus a thumbs up. "You're pretty good."

"Thank you for the compliment," Marcus said, clearly pleased.

Aaron's gaze swept over the Slytherin members. "I won't say much more about encouragement; I'm sure you've all heard plenty of that already."

I'm a person who likes to speak the truth. If anyone wins this match, I'll personally award them 100 Gold Galleons.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Slytherin House Team, including Marcus, was excited, even the wealthy Draco was.

To be honest, they've had enough inspirational quotes these days and are already immune to them.

They didn't want to lose this match, but in addition to honor, getting some tangible benefits would also be a huge motivation.

"Are you serious?" asked the Chaser Adrian.

"Senior, you know me, you keep your word." Aaron said meaningfully, "However, I definitely can't produce it right now. After we win, I'll give it to Draco and have him distribute it to you."

"You all heard that. Now we have another reason not to lose," Marcus said. "Get ready to go on stage."

Seeing the seven players standing at the stadium entrance, Aaron hesitated for a moment and called out to Draco, "I didn't want to come, but since you're here, I have to remind you."

"You say."

"I know you don't like Harry Potter, but this is a team game, so... don't let your personal feelings get in the way."

Draco nodded. "Don't worry, I'm fully prepared and won't let you down."

"Then let it be."

"Also, don't be too nervous. Protecting yourself is also an important part of Seeker." Aaron said, glancing at the crowded field and noticing the particularly conspicuous Giant Hagrid, which stirred something within him.

Let's proceed as planned! This match is all about endurance, so there should still be plenty of time.

The doors slowly opened, sunlight shone on everyone's faces, and then came a deafening cheer.

Fourteen members of Gryffindor and Slytherin rode brooms and flew into the air above the pitch.

The two captains' gazes met, as if a fire had exploded in mid-air, and the atmosphere suddenly became much more serious.

The other team members also glared back, none of them willing to back down.

With a whistle, the Bludger, the Quaffle, and the Golden Snitch all leaped out of the box.

The twelve team members moved swiftly to find Quaffle that could score.

Neither Harry nor Draco participated; instead, they flew to a higher position, searching for the intermittent golden lights on the field.

Harry carefully looked around, and within two minutes he noticed something was wrong.

Draco, on the other side, showed no interest in searching for the Golden Snitch. Instead, he stared at Draco warily, making Draco feel uneasy.

Why are you looking at me like that?

"I'm not doing anything, I'm just looking for the Golden Snitch."

Do you think I believe that?

Draco shrugged. "Whether you believe it or not is none of my business."

Ding-dong!

The sound of gongs rang out.

Just as the two were locked in a standoff, Slytherin scored a goal, earning ten points.

"So fast?" Harry looked at the referee's table, somewhat incredulous.

"Tsk tsk tsk!" Draco clicked his tongue. "That's the advantage of equipment. Gryffindor can't keep up with Slytherin's speed at all."

Our original plan was to score a goal every three minutes, which is barely satisfactory.

"You..." Harry was about to say something when he heard the swift sound of wind in his ear.

He instinctively looked down, and a swimming ball grazed past his head.

"Be careful, Potter, winning too easily is no fun."

Harry glared at him fiercely, then decided to stop searching for a target and immediately steered his broom in the opposite direction.

But a short while later, Draco appeared beside him.

"Should I let you have your way?"

"It's not so easy for Nimbus 2001 to keep up with Nimbus 2000; I still have to control the deceleration."

Harry gritted his teeth, didn't reply, and just kept whining.

No matter how he flies, there is always a green shadow beside him.

Even after flying around the field several times, Draco was still like a leech, impossible to shake off.

"That's enough." Harry suppressed his anger and stopped mid-air. "Why aren't you looking for the Golden Snitch and instead keeping following me?"

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Who said I didn't look for the Golden Snitch? But by sheer coincidence, we found the same one."

Harry simply ignored this ridiculous explanation and continued searching for the Golden Snitch on the pitch.

As for Draco, as long as he doesn't attack me, I'll just follow him!

Persistence pays off. Harry spotted the Golden Snitch behind Draco on the field and immediately turned and rushed over.

At the same time, Draco heard the sound of rapidly flapping wings coming from behind him and immediately realized the location of the Golden Snitch.

Remembering the Slytherin House Team's tactics, he suppressed the urge to grab Harry without even turning his head, and blocked him with a sideways movement just before Harry flew past.

After the black broomstick head disappeared from Harry's sight, the Golden Snitch also vanished without a trace.

Then the gong sounded again, and Marcus threw the Quaffle into the Gryffindor goal.

"Slytherin scores again, 70 to 10, Gryffindor House Team is behind." Commentator Jordan pressed the scoreboard with satisfaction.

Upon hearing this, Harry couldn't help but turn around and look at the referee's position; the score felt like a Hammer blow to his chest.

It wasn't that it hurt a lot, but I felt particularly heavy-hearted.

In just over twenty minutes, the gap had widened to sixty points, something that would only have happened in the past when a team was missing players.

Now the Seeker is under even more pressure. If he can't snatch the Golden Snitch before the score difference reaches 150 points, Gryffindor lose this game.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Harry's mind, and a surge of anger rose within him as he looked at the smiling Draco.

"Is this your tactic?"

"You figured it out?" Draco, somewhat surprised. "But it doesn't matter anyway, it doesn't matter to you even if you know our tactics."

"What a despicable tactic."

"That's a bit insulting," Draco said shamelessly. "I'd accept it if you called me cunning, but I personally think it's shrewd."

Harry didn't want to argue with him, and stopped paying attention to the Golden Snitch, simply turning his attention to Wood.

Draco smiled slightly and chased after him.

Just in case, he called Flint along the way, not thinking he could take on two opponents at once.

"What are you doing here? The Golden Snitch is your mission," Wood said, somewhat angrily, just moments before Slytherin had scored another goal.

"Wood, I've made a major discovery, Slytherin's tactics are..." Harry started to say, but a swimming ball came flying at him, forcing him to dodge it.

"Their tactic was to have Malfoy hold me off as the Seeker, allowing the others to use their speed advantage to win by the final score."