Quidditch and the Professors

This was undoubtedly a terrible Saturday.

Harry hadn't slept well all night and had a nightmare that morning, yet he still had to get up early to practice Quidditch.

By eleven o'clock, the entire school, students and teachers alike, began heading to the Quidditch pitch.

The weather today was a bit muggy and humid, with distant thunder rumbling in the air.

Harry greeted Ron and Hermione, who had rushed over to wish him luck, and the next moment, snapping back to attention, he said to Ron:

"Remember to tell Hermione about that thing!"

"Mate, today's an important day, can't you stop thinking about that stuff for now? I'll tell her later."

Ron cheered Harry on and quickly left.

Harry was a little annoyed by his nonchalant attitude and his gaze unconsciously drifted to the spectator stands where the professors were. Professor Li Wei was standing expressionlessly among the spectators.

The shadow of yesterday's nightmare had not yet dissipated, and just looking at him now, Harry felt a sense of dread.

Meanwhile, in the faculty spectator box, Snape was talking to Li Wei.

"I didn't expect you to come watch a Quidditch match?"

His voice was calm, devoid of the usual mockery.

"Mm, my mindset has changed recently."

Amidst the deafening cheers, Li Wei watched the fourteen Quidditch players soar into the leaden-grey sky. Harry immediately drew everyone's attention with his highest flying altitude.

It had to be said, he was quite dazzling when playing Quidditch, possessing a demeanor that was somewhat worthy of the title 'The Chosen One'.

"How novel—as if anyone ever changes permanently."

Snape's eyes flickered with light, still staring intently at the Quidditch field, not looking at Li Wei.

"You'll never change, will you?"

"."

Snape turned his head slightly, his peripheral vision catching Li Wei's upright posture as he continued to watch the match on the field, as if his earlier statement was just a casual remark.

He suddenly realized that since his last conversation with Dumbledore, Li Wei seemed genuinely different. When had this guy ever spoken to him in such a conversational tone?

Recalling what he had said yesterday, a certain thought began to stir in Snape's mind. "Don't think you know me very well."

He first tried to save face for himself.

Li Wei ignored him, and the voice of the Quidditch commentator, Lee Jordan, dominated the spectator stands:

"The Slytherin team is far ahead, the score is sixty to zero! I heard they got their hands on a batch of super brooms from who knows where.

Clearly, they have a huge advantage in flying. This is an unfair victory, Professor McGonagall! I get it now."

The commentator, whose bias was quite evident, quieted down after being warned by his own Head of House.

Snape listened to Lee Jordan's words, and instead of getting angry, his mood improved.

Seeing that Li Wei wasn't engaging, he thought for a moment, cleared his throat, and asked:

"How long are you planning to stay at Hogwarts as a professor this time?"

"I don't know—maybe a year, maybe a few years—but it's not up to me.

Perhaps at the end of the year, it will be lucky if I can pack my bags and leave safely."

"Isn't that just a legend? Even you believe it?"

"A legend? More than thirty professors have rotated through this position before me. Are you going to tell me to attribute all of this to mere coincidence?

Rather than believing that, I'd rather interpret it as a result of both magic and human intervention.

As far as I know, many former Professors of Defense Against the Dark Arts did not fare well after leaving Hogwarts. Many died quietly in some unknown corner within a few years—I suspect this has a lot to do with those Death Eaters who are still loyal to the Dark Lord."

Snape let out an annoyed "Tsk" upon hearing Li Wei's analysis.

If it were himself, he certainly wouldn't believe in this curse, as he himself was a Death Eater.

However, facing this curse now with Li Wei, he found himself unable to ignore its existence.

Therefore, for now, it was best to assume that he could only work with Li Wei for one academic year.

"Rumble—"

Accompanied by muffled thunder, the rain intensified, and the match entered an increasingly critical phase.

The Gryffindor team had only scored 10 points so far, while the Slytherin team, thanks to the Malfoy family's funding of brand-new Nimbus 2001s, had already scored 120 points.

If they scored a few more points, even if Harry caught the Golden Snitch, it would be impossible to turn the tide.

Snape's mood improved further.

However, this good mood quickly vanished—the Golden Snitch, symbolizing the most crucial moment of the entire match, was now just a few inches above Malfoy's left ear, but he seemed completely unaware of it.

And Harry was already charging towards Malfoy—Snape's smile completely disappeared.

Through the hazy curtain of rain, Harry, under everyone's gaze, reached out and grabbed fiercely—his fingers closed around the Golden Snitch, but the broomstick between his legs plummeted straight towards the ground!

With a splash, water flew everywhere.

Everyone crowded around, and Harry excitedly raised a hand – the Golden Snitch was firmly clutched in his left hand.

"An incredible comeback! Harry Potter! Our Chosen One, saving the Gryffindor team once again!"

Lee Jordan's voice echoed throughout the stadium.

"What an idiot, only caring about mocking the enemy and not even realizing what's happening around him!"

Snape was clearly not satisfied with Malfoy's performance, muttering unhappily under his breath.

He then casually glanced at Li Wei – he swore that if the other person dared to mock him even a single word, he would leave immediately.

However, what felt subtle to Snape was that Li Wei wasn't looking at him at the moment, nor at Harry on the field. Instead, his gaze was fixed on Professor McGonagall – he had been watching her ever since he noticed signs of Harry's comeback a minute ago.

"This is a side of Professor McGonagall we don't usually see, isn't it?"

Following Li Wei's line of sight, she was currently cheering and clapping with joy over the Gryffindor team's victory, her smile impossible to hide.

Looking at Professor McGonagall like this, Li Wei felt her image suddenly become much more vivid in his mind, no longer just a pen pal he communicated with through letters.

He seemed to be understanding more and more what Dumbledore meant by 'moments'.

"Cough—Li Wei."

Just as he was lost in thought, Snape's voice suddenly rang out again.

"What is it, Snape?"

"Look at him."

Li Wei followed his gaze – Harry was currently being hoisted high into the air by the crowd, surrounded by everyone.

"Students these days are really getting worse. Such minor achievements make them so proud they forget themselves."

"He's just celebrating, aren't you being a bit too sensitive?"

Snape, retorted by Li Wei, forgot his original intention for a moment. He abruptly turned his head and glared at Li Wei, stepping closer and gritting his teeth, saying:

"Speaking of which—our respective houses clearly lost, yet you look so happy? Have you even figured out which side you should be on?"

"The middle."

"?"