Hobbies Shouldn't Challenge the Professionals / The Weasleys Apologize Just in Time

"This outcome is actually quite tragic, isn't it..."

Looking at the cheering crowd below the stadium, notably missing Ginny, Harry's expression was a half-smile, conveying an indescribable sense of mockery.

For a Quidditch Cup, a twelve-year-old girl had to sacrifice her reputation; and for a House Cup, the two houses were locked in a bitter feud, wishing the other side were wiped out...

This kind of campus value orientation is quite healthy.

"I don't know if it's sad or not, but I just feel it's incredibly unfair." Suddenly, Will complained for no reason, "Putting aside whether using Firebolt in the competition is cheating or not, what kind of rubbish were those Slytherin House students playing? They were committing so many fouls and they weren't even disqualified. The person who made these rules must have something wrong with their head. And then there's the Golden Snitch's point value; catching it gives you 150 points. The Seeker's presence is way too much!"

It seems that after watching three games in a row, Will can no longer suppress the spirit of complaining in his body.

"I think the rules should be revised and made more reasonable. For example, the rule against ejection should be abolished! Also, the necessity of the Seeker, this kind of disruptive role, is really questionable."

On the way back after the game, Will talked at length to Harry about the problems he had summarized from the three games and the reasonable reforms he believed should be made.

But after listening, Harry simply smiled noncommittally.

Hmm... some kids have finally figured out what they like.

Chapter 421 Hobbies Shouldn't Challenge Professionals

Harry and Will initially shared similar views on the idea that the rules of Quidditch Match were unreasonable.

He could even offer more and better suggestions than Will, such as the point value of the Golden Snitch and how to end the game.

Even so, he never considered going to Madam Hooch or anyone else to discuss in detail a rational improvement plan for Quidditch Match.

Firstly, he wasn't interested in the sport; it wasn't his business, so he didn't need to worry about it.

Secondly, Quidditch is different from Flying Class; it is not a subject limited to Hogwarts School of Design, but a global sport.

Changing the Quidditch rules is completely different from the curriculum reforms Harry has been planning for Muggle Studies.

Harry, however, hadn't expected Will to care so much about this.

This also gave him a glimpse into Will's thoughts.

Unlike his crown prince father, eleven-year-old Will is not very shrewd, so he often gets overly excited about things he cares about.

For example, Sir Cadogan's situation wasn't the Jazz's fault, and there's also the Quidditch rule today.

However, Harry didn't mind giving him some pointers... after all, he would definitely give his younger brother his full support when he had a hobby.

"Will, tell me the truth... do you want to play Quidditch?"

"Uh...yes." Harry's question startled Will, but he eventually nodded silently.

"I've always been interested in Quidditch, ever since I first learned about it... but I just can't accept many of the Quidditch."

"So you're actually torn between whether or not to participate in the House Team selections next year, and whether or not to accept these rules, right?" Harry easily saw through Will's thoughts.

It's not surprising that Will wanted to play Quidditch, after all, Harry always knew he was an extremely adventurous child who also longed for the blue sky... otherwise, why would he have chosen to join Ravenclaw?

Privately, Will had talked to Harry more than once about wanting to serve in the air force in the future. Now that he had seen Quidditch, a sport that allows people to fly, he naturally showed a strong interest in it.

And to be honest, judging from Harry's discerning eye, Will's Flying Broomstick riding was indeed quite good; he truly deserves to be a prince who will one day be able to fly airplanes.

"First of all, using Firebolt is definitely not cheating, and as for the boos from the others, it's purely out of jealousy. Secondly..."

After a moment's thought, Harry patted Will on the shoulder. "Let me put it this way, Will, your ideas are perfectly valid, but you're just a student right now. Thinking about these things is just worrying unnecessarily. If you really want to play Quidditch, then confidently participate in the House Team Selections and play the way you like. Just be careful not to get injured."

"I don't care about getting injured, after all, no competitive sport is without injuries, but... these rules are clearly unreasonable, why doesn't anyone take the initiative to propose a change?" Will complained, full of doubt.

"That's because once these rules are changed, it will inevitably have a ripple effect," Harry said, shaking his head slightly. "For a global sport, every small change, in your opinion, will inevitably cause a huge upheaval. Take the foul and ejection rule you mentioned, for example. Do you know how many changes this rule will bring to game tactics and team operations? And how many teams will experience significant upheaval because of this change?"

"Even so, we can first optimize the competitions within the school. This way, at least everyone can see the benefits of making the rules more reasonable."

Will felt that Harry's words made some sense, and after thinking about it, he considered whether he could settle for a less desirable option.

"If I were a player like Wood, preparing to play in the professional league after graduation, and happened to be benefiting from your reforms to the intramural competition system, I would definitely not thank you." Harry smiled and tapped Will's forehead. "Will, think about it carefully. When the rules of the intramural and professional leagues are not aligned, or even completely contradictory, are you helping them or harming them?"

"This...does this mean we can only let these unreasonable rules exist?" Will frowned deeply. "And I really can't imagine why, after hundreds of years since Quidditch was invented, no one has ever thought of making it more reasonable."

"Irrational things can certainly be changed, and should be changed... But Will, I'm telling you, if you don't really want to get into this industry, don't rashly overturn its traditions."

Harry looked intently into Will's eyes, his tone gradually becoming serious. "Don't use your hobbies to challenge other people's professions, because you have no right to interfere. Your suggestion is good, but even if you report it to the headmaster, he still can't help you implement it, because you're just a first-year student, not Quidditch player or coach, nor the manager of any famous club."

"There is only one way to change these unreasonable rules in Quidditch Match... and that is to truly enter the game and achieve widespread recognition. Only then will you have the right to criticize, and even change, tradition!"

"Okay, I understand..."

After talking with Harry, Will seemed a little hesitant, as if he was secretly deciding between his hobbies and his major.

However, Harry didn't ask any further questions. He had already given all the necessary advice, and it was up to Will to decide what to do next.

Anyway, if Will is really interested in Quidditch, Harry has plenty of ways to help him dominate in school games.

If Ginny got the Firebolt, Will will certainly get it too; he might even get a better broom in the future.

As for whether anyone would dare to commit a malicious foul against Will on the field during a school competition?

He simply didn't want to stay at Hogwarts anymore.

Also, speaking of Quidditch...

Reminded by Will, Harry suddenly remembered that the Weasley Brothers were planning to gamble on the Quidditch World Cup this year, and he wondered if their plan would actually succeed.

After the Hogwarts match, the Firebolt blunder will surely be known to everyone in the Weasley family... Suddenly finding themselves burdened with four-figure debt, will Mrs. Weasley hang those two unfortunate children up and give them a good beating?

Chapter 422 The Weasley family's apology was timely.

It should be said that things didn't turn out too unexpectedly for Harry.

The day after the Quidditch Match, Molly Weasley came straight to the school, bringing the twins and Ginny with her to find Harry.

"Please have a seat, Mrs. Weasley."

Inside the doorman's hut, Harry poured Mrs. Weasley a cup of hot tea and then calmly waited for her to explain her purpose.

In fact, Harry knew perfectly well why she had come... After all, Ginny's anxious and utterly disappointed expression alone was enough to explain everything.

"Granger, I think you know why I'm here today," Mrs. Weasley, rising from her seat without taking a sip of tea. "Fred, George, and Ginny ... I'm so sorry for the trouble my three children have caused you."

She pressed down hard on the back of the twins' heads with both hands, while glancing at her daughter, and the four of them bowed to Harry together.

Upon seeing this, Harry quickly stood up, choosing not to accept their apology.

After all, there is a proper order of seniority, and even if Harry is in the right, he cannot sit there and suffer in silence.

"These two little rascals are so reckless!" After apologizing, Mrs. Weasley twisted the twins' ears tightly, completely ignoring their cries of pain as they made a fool of themselves.

"Even if it really is a Christmas present, you can't accept something so valuable! Good heavens... a Firebolt, that's... Anyway, you two little rascals, you're driving me crazy!"

Harry could tell that Mrs. Weasley's voice was gradually becoming embarrassed, and she seemed to be losing her composure.

After all... a thousand Galleon of Firebolt is practically incomparable to the Weasley family.

People rush about in a panic, all for a few coins; yet these few coins can relieve countless sorrows in the world.

Even if Mrs. Weasley was usually very proud and upright, she couldn't help but feel ashamed of this huge hole.

"Granger, name a deadline." However, Mrs. Weasley ultimately gave a sincere promise, "It will be difficult, but our family will absolutely do our best to pay it back."

"Pay back the money? Didn't I already write an IOU?" Harry raised an eyebrow at the twins. "I promised Fred and George that this debt could be gradually deducted from my paycheck when they start working."

"No... Granger, I know you're a good boy, but you really don't need to take their side," Mrs. Weasley said sternly, shaking her head. "They're still students, and it'll be years before they can work. Besides... that's a thousand Galleon! They simply can't afford to pay that back!"

Are you kidding me? When her husband Arthur worked at the Ministry of Magic, he only earned a maximum of ten Galleon a month!

A thousand Galleon... How long will it take the Weasley family, ten or twenty?

As for selling the Firebolt... Mrs. Weasley never even considered it.

No matter what, it was something Harry 'given' to Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley, who loved her daughter dearly, knew very well that Ginny definitely wanted to keep it.

"Mrs. Weasley, I think you might be underestimating your two sons. They are both very talented, and it shouldn't take them long to earn a thousand Galleon." Harry shook his head as well. "Besides, this isn't really about the money."

"How can this not be..."

"That's definitely not true for me."

"Hmm..."

Staring blankly at Harry's still indifferent face, Molly Weasley was speechless.

To be honest, she had always felt sorry for Harry.

This child lost his parents when he was just over one year old, and his childhood was quite tragic. His background is absolutely pitiful to anyone.

But the Harry who appeared before her now was so confident and composed, and he also possessed a fortune that her family could never hope to attain in a lifetime.

Moreover, he even possessed an imposing, authoritative air about him, making even adults like myself often hesitant to meet his gaze.

My sympathy for him is probably really laughable...

"Mrs. Weasley, I'm not trying to boast, but a thousand Galleon is really nothing to me." Seeing that she didn't speak, Harry continued softly, "What we should really be concerned about is what your sons did this time. They deceived their family for what seemed like a righteous purpose, even damaging their sister's reputation—that's the crux of the matter. Of course, your daughter was also a bit blinded by excitement; otherwise, a lie like that should have been easily exposed by her."

"Harry ..." Ginny quickly and excitedly looked up when she heard someone she cared about mention her.

To her dismay, Harry's gaze remained indifferently fixed on his mother, showing no intention of giving her any attention whatsoever.

At that moment, Ginny felt as if all the strength had been drained from her body, and she couldn't even hold onto the Firebolt in her hand.

Yes, Harry never paid any attention to me from beginning to end, nor did he seem to have any intention of giving me a gift.

The origin of that Firebolt was merely a wonderful lie that Fred and George told themselves in order to win the Quidditch Cup.

"Yes, we know we were wrong!"

"Harry, I'm sorry! We will never do anything like that again!"

The twins bowed and scraped to Harry desperately, while also winking and making faces, clearly pleading with Harry not to tell their mother about their plan to 'solve' the debt.

"You two, you'd better clarify this in front of the whole school right now!" Mrs. Weasley said, giving the twins a disapproving look. "Now, go apologize to Ginny!"

"Yes, Ginny," "We..."

"Aaaaaah!!"

Just as the twins turned to Ginny, the little girl suddenly let out a heartbroken, hysterical scream.

Her eyes were red and swollen, and large tears streamed down her cheeks. She covered her lips tightly with her hand, trembling, as if she didn't want anyone to hear her crying.

"Harry... I'm so sorry, this is all I can say to you now..."

She gave Harry a quick, slight bow, then grabbed the Firebolt and ran off, leaving her bewildered brother and mother behind.

"You two, hurry up and go check it out too." Harry glared at the twins, "In the future, if something like this happens again, can you think it through before you act?"

"Um..."

"We understand."

The two brothers were also feeling a bit down. After saying goodbye to Harry, they went to find Ginny.

"Ginny... sigh, those two little rascals!" Mrs. Weasley looked at her two sons' retreating figures with a face full of disappointment and frustration.

"Mrs. Weasley, they already know they were wrong, so I don't think you need to be too harsh on them," Harry said softly. "After all, they wanted your approval, and they really did achieve their goal this time. At least barring any unforeseen circumstances, Gryffindor will definitely win this year's House Cup."

"But this form of acquisition..." Mrs. Weasley's face showed obvious struggle again. She knew that her two sons had good intentions.

But their methods are ultimately unacceptable.

"Granger, you are truly a very good boy." After a moment of silence, Mrs. Weasley said to Harry earnestly, "I want to apologize to you again, and also... thank you for all the help you have provided to our family!"

"Mrs. Weasley, if you really want to thank me, I happen to have something to ask." Upon hearing this, Harry suddenly revealed a slightly mysterious smile.

"I'd like to know, has your husband, Mr. Arthur Mr. Weasley, found a job recently?"

(P. S. The original book doesn't explicitly describe Arthur Weasley's salary, but there are some analysis posts online, and those that have shown specific figures seem to say it's around 100 Galleon per month.)

But Sanmiao personally think that's unlikely. If Arthur really earned that much, he wouldn't be so stingy as to not even be willing to buy Ron a 7 Galleon wand. So, based on the price of wands, Arthur probably doesn't even earn 10 gold coins a month.

Also, I'd like to give a shout-out to my friend's new book, <The Mastermind Behind the Pokémon World>.

The author is Black Cat, and as for the content and style, well, he told me it's not dark (~￣▽￣)~).