Preparing for Quidditch

Sometimes, Allen truly didn't know how to complete the tasks assigned by the system, as Roger forced them to seize every minute for Quidditch training.

"Big news, big news! Harry Potter has been appointed as the Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team." Roger panted as he ran into the Ravenclaw Quidditch locker room to announce the news to everyone.

"Whoa, that makes him the youngest Seeker in history!"

"I wonder how good he is?"

"If he weren't skilled, he wouldn't have been specially recruited, right?"

"Could it be because of his fame?"

"If that's the case, the Gryffindors will have to hold mattresses and run underneath him to keep him from falling!"

Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, bursting into laughter from time to time.

Allen's expression remained completely unmoved. He naturally knew that Potter would be a formidable rival. Although he wasn't sure just how powerful his skills would be, Allen would give his all to help Ravenclaw secure victory.

Quiet Allen seemed out of place in the locker room, yet he appeared exceptionally steady and reliable. Roger couldn't help but ask for Allen's opinion. "Allen, what do you think about Potter being appointed as Seeker?"

"No matter how strong the opponent is, victory belongs only to Ravenclaw!" Allen's gaze was resolute, revealing a thirst for victory.

"That's right, victory will be ours." Infected by Allen's aura, the team members felt their spirits soar; they grabbed their brooms and headed toward the pitch.

The next morning was clear and cold. The Great Hall was filled with the enticing aroma of grilled sausages, and everyone was chatting excitedly, looking forward to a spectacular Quidditch match.

When the owls swarmed into the Great Hall as usual, everyone's attention was drawn to a long, thin package carried by six long-eared owls. With Harry's precedent, almost everyone guessed it was a broomstick, but who could the owner be?

Allen quickly moved the food in front of him. It was a good thing he did, as the owls circled down and landed right in front of him. The tail of the package knocked over Edward's milk, and Anna quickly handed him a napkin as Edward wiped it up in a flurry.

"Whoa, whoa... this must be yours..." Although there were still milk stains on him, Edward was extremely excited. He had guessed what was inside, but halfway through his sentence, he clapped a hand over his mouth and reminded Allen, "Allen, don't open it here, let's go back to the dormitory."

Allen readily agreed; eating too much before exercise was never a good thing.

Roger, not far away, saw this and jumped up, losing all the maturity and composure of an upperclassman as he quickly followed Allen and Edward.

Back in the dormitory, they opened the package. The sleek lines, the clearly defined tail twigs, the well-maintained, soft, and comfortable handle—it was exactly Allen's "Neptune"!

To bring the broom into Hogwarts in a reasonable and legal way, Allen had to sneak through a secret passage to Hogsmeade and use the public owl post to have the broom mailed back openly.

"My god, Allen, you own a Neptune? This is a limited edition Neptune!" Roger looked at the broom eagerly.

"I have never been as certain as I am now that victory belongs to Ravenclaw." Roger's tone was more confident than ever before.

"Allen, can you lend it to me to ride after the match?" Edward asked Allen cautiously.

"Of course, after I finish the match, you can ride it for as long as you want." Allen agreed immediately.

By eleven o'clock, it seemed the entire school had arrived at the stands surrounding the Quidditch pitch. Many students even brought binoculars. The seats were raised high into the air, but it was still difficult to see the game clearly at times.

Carrying his Neptune, Allen was surrounded by Roger and the other team members as they walked to the locker room. Everyone felt it was necessary to protect the Neptune before the match—this was their trump card!

"Hey, guys, the glory that belongs to our Ravenclaw is about to arrive. We are the best team in Ravenclaw history, and we have the Neptune!"

Roger glanced eagerly at Allen's broom and continued, "Victory must belong to us. Time is almost up, let's go embrace victory together. Good luck to us!"

Allen followed Roger out of the locker room and toward the cheering, boisterous pitch. He felt not a shred of fear; instead, his blood was boiling. He spotted Edward in the stands at a glance. He didn't know where he had gotten a giant banner that read "Ravenclaw Must Win," with the names of the seven players spray-painted in color around the Ravenclaw house emblem—the eagle.

As expected of a house with a Charms professor as its Head, the clever Ravenclaws didn't just hold the banner foolishly; they used the Levitation Charm to make it hover high above the Ravenclaw stands. The fully unfurled banner fluttered gently in the cool breeze, and with its light blue background, it seemed to blend into the azure sky. The giant eagle and the names of the seven players gained a 3D effect, especially the eagle, which looked as if it were about to break through the sky and spread its wings to fly.

"Listen, I want a fair and honest game from all of you." Madam Hooch, acting as referee, stood in the center of the pitch with her broom in hand. She spoke as soon as the players from both sides gathered around her.

"Please mount your broomsticks."

Allen straddled his Neptune.

Madam Hooch blew her silver whistle hard.

Fifteen broomsticks shot upward, rising high into the sky. The match had begun.