Backstage Manipulator

The Gryffindor students were still basking in the excitement of winning the Quidditch Cup. The Common Room brimmed with cheerful energy as everyone talked about the amusing moments from the match.

But what excited them even more was that they had won their bets.

Yes, they had made money.

And they had won it from the Slytherin bookies. Nothing could have made them happier.

Of course, the money had not been easy to win.

They could only be considered victorious if Gryffindor Team scored first, Harry successfully caught the Golden Snitch, Gryffindor Team defeated Slytherin Team, and they ultimately claimed this year's Quidditch Cup. Only by meeting all four conditions would the Slytherin bookies have to pay double the odds.

"How did it go?"

The moment Kenneth returned to the Common Room, a crowd surrounded him, all talking over one another as they asked whether Slytherin had paid up as promised.

"Unfortunately, they don't have enough Galleons to repay all our debts right now. But I've recovered everyone's stakes first. Slytherin will repay the remainder before the school holiday."

"How can they do that?"

Everyone was dissatisfied with the Slytherin students' refusal to pay their debts, and worried that they might never pay at all.

"They really don't have the money. They lost too badly. The other three houses all won, while they were the only ones who lost. Don't push them too hard. Give them some time," Kenneth said quite understandingly.

There was no helping it. The Slytherin bookies had lost so badly that even stripping the trousers off their backs would not have been enough to cover it.

Kenneth estimated that Slytherin would have to pay out at least several hundred Galleons. Split among those bookies, each of them would owe at least thirty or forty Galleons. He