"Slytherin's Keeper is racing toward the goalposts at top speed, but he's too late to get back!"
"Ravenclaw's Chaser is about to score—wait—there's a Bludger behind her!"
Just as Ravenclaw's Chaser prepared to throw, she heard a whistling sound from behind. She decisively twisted sideways, and a Bludger passed through her swinging golden ponytail.
"She noticed it—she only needed to shift slightly to dodge it—she hasn't lost her chance to shoot!"
"Something's wrong—why did she suddenly brake?!"
Ravenclaw's Chaser secretly sighed in relief, grateful for her sharp ears that had caught the sound of the Bludger behind her. Otherwise, getting hit just then might have knocked her off her broom.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw another Bludger hurtling toward her from the side.
After swiftly judging the distance, she urgently pulled her broom into a sharp stop. Yet the tremendous momentum still carried her drifting a short distance, and the rapidly approaching Bludger struck the arm holding the Quaffle.
In pain, she instinctively let go of the Quaffle, and the pursuing Slytherin Chaser swiftly snatched it away.
Her movement had been predicted!
Ravenclaw's Chaser rubbed the spot where she had been hit. Quidditch players had specially made protective gear over vital areas, and while it offered strong protection against Bludgers, the blow still hurt even if it did not cause injury.
Furiously, she shook a fist at Matthew. He had hit that Bludger, and she had been just a little short of scoring!
Matthew merely smiled and waved back at her. Then he ignored her, steering his broom toward the Bludger.
When it came solely to reacting quickly and getting ahead of the play, Ravenclaw's Chasers were better than Slytherin's.
Thus, they had tailored their counterattack tactics around that point.
At the start, their Chasers