Quidditch Trouble

The Slytherin common room at night.

The fire in the fireplace burned brightly, filling the entire hall with warmth. A few people sat scattered across the dark green sofas; some were reading, some were playing chess, and some were chatting quietly. Outside the windows, the waters of the Black Lake flowed slowly through the night.

Malfoy had stood by the entrance to the common room for quite a while before finally gathering the courage to walk over.

He awkwardly approached Astoria, moving slowly, taking two steps before stopping again, as though he could not decide whether to keep going. His eyes were fixed on Astoria's still-reddened ears, where a faint red mark remained.

"What's wrong, Draco?" Astoria was as cheerful as ever. She sat on the sofa with her legs swinging back and forth, holding an open textbook that she was clearly not reading.

Malfoy stood before her, opened his mouth, then shut it again. Several seconds passed before he finally forced out a sentence. "Are you all right today? Oh, I mean... how have your studies been lately? I... I can lend you my notes too..." His voice grew quieter and quieter.

Astoria blinked her large eyes at Malfoy. "Draco, Theodore already lent me his! What is wrong with you?"

Malfoy's face turned even redder. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but not a single word came out. He pulled his hand from his pocket, put it back in, then pulled it out again. He stood there in utter embarrassment.

Astoria suddenly looked up curiously, rose onto her tiptoes, and kissed Malfoy on the cheek. Then she ran away. After a few steps, she looked back and giggled. "Hehehe, Draco is so strange today!"

Malfoy remained where he was, as though someone had cast a Full Body-Bind Curse on him. He raised a hand to touch the cheek she had kissed, lowered it, then raised it again.

Su Yu stood behind the wall, smacking his own forehead. Malfoy was finished. In front of Astoria, he really was like a raw recruit being toyed with like a dog. Su Yu nearly laughed out loud and hurriedly covered his mouth, though his shoulders still shook.

Blaise leaned against the wall, laughing so hard he could barely breathe. He buried his face in his arms, his shoulders trembling violently as muffled laughter occasionally escaped. He looked up at Malfoy once, then dropped back down and kept laughing.

Daphne could only sigh helplessly. Sitting on a nearby sofa with a cup of tea in hand, she watched her younger sister's retreating figure with an expression that said, I knew this would happen. The little girl had been clever and mischievous since childhood and had never given anyone peace at home. All Daphne could do was silently pray for Malfoy and hope he would survive what lay ahead.

Theodore had gone to meet his little girlfriend, so he was not here. Blaise desperately wished he could drag him over to witness their young master Malfoy, hahaha.

Not long after, Sister Fa and Sister Ka returned from leading the team's training. After changing clothes and coming to the common room, they heard Su Yu's account. Sister Fa laughed so hard she collapsed against Su Yu's shoulder, while Sister Ka held her stomach and leaned against the sofa.

Only Pansy's world had been hurt. She had gone out to train for a while, and her home had been stolen...

She sat by the fireplace with a teacup in hand. Her gaze crossed the common room and landed on Malfoy, who sat on the sofa with one hand still touching that side of his face. Pansy stared at him for three seconds, lowered her head, took a sip of tea, then spat at him.

Time passed bit by bit. During this period, the Slytherin first-years had improved greatly as well. Every night, they could be seen practicing spells in the common room. Though they were still not very proficient, they were much better than they had been at the start of term. Su Yu had also issued them Slytherin-exclusive badges imbued with the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox and himself. Whenever a new first-year received one, their eyes shone like stars.

During that time, Su Yu had also borrowed Ginny's diary and returned Luna's radish earrings to her.

That afternoon, Su Yu found Ginny in the corridor. She was alone by the window, absorbed in the old diary she held in her hands. Sunlight streamed through the glass and fell over her red hair as though coating it in gold.

"Ginny," Su Yu called.

Ginny looked up. The moment she saw Su Yu, her face flushed bright red. She hurriedly shut the diary and hid it behind her back, moving as quickly as though she had been caught doing something shameful.

"Su... Su Yu, why are you here?" Her voice trembled slightly.

Su Yu walked over and stated his purpose directly.

Ginny was reluctant to part with the diary, but since Su Yu wanted to borrow it, she still handed it over with a red face. After taking the notebook, Su Yu also told Ginny the truth.

Ginny was terrified. She clung to Su Yu and nearly burst into tears, but then she realized something was wrong. Her diary could not talk, and her father had helped her buy it. Sniffling, Ginny asked whether Su Yu had made some kind of mistake.

Su Yu was full of question marks. This was not right. He quickly opened the diary and found it packed full of Ginny's love letters to herself. Ginny stopped crying beside him, but her face grew redder and redder. Oh no, my secret has been discovered... Should I get rid of him...? Ginny's thoughts ran wild.

Su Yu also realized something was wrong. This was not Voldemort's diary! Where had that diary gone?

He then asked Ginny about what had happened in Diagon Alley during the summer and learned that the incident had indeed taken place, but Ginny had not received the diary in the end.

At this point, Su Yu had no idea where the diary had gone. He could only hug Ginny again, intending to take her diary back and examine it carefully.

Su Yu placed a hand on her head and gently rubbed it. Only then did Ginny's confused mind gradually return to normal. She looked up with red eyes and a red nose, tears streaking her face.

"It's all right," Su Yu said. "I'll take the notebook. I'm really glad you're okay. What happened today was my fault, and I apologize. I made you worry for half the day. Another time, I'll take you to the Slytherin common room to see the Giant Squid!"

Ginny nodded, wiped away her tears with her sleeve, and stood up. She lowered her head and remained silent for a long while. Then she took a small bag from her pocket and stuffed it into Su Yu's hand.

"I made these gummies," she said, her voice still hoarse. "You... take them back and eat them."

Su Yu accepted the bag and opened it for a look.

"You're amazing! Thanks, Ginny," Su Yu said.

Ginny shook her head and turned to run away. After a few steps, she stopped and looked back at Su Yu. Her lips moved as though she wanted to say something, but in the end, she merely waved at him before disappearing around the corner of the corridor.

Things were much the same with Luna.

Su Yu stopped Luna after a Charms class. She was carrying a stack of books, humming a tune Su Yu had never heard before. Her dreamy eyes gazed toward the corridor window as though she were looking at something no one else could see.

"Luna," Su Yu called to her.

Luna stopped and turned around. Her gray-blue eyes calmly watched Su Yu as she tilted her head like a curious little bird.

"Su Yu," she said softly, "you smell like gummies today."

Su Yu froze for a moment, then took the pair of radish earrings from his pocket and handed them to her. "These are yours, right? I found them in Switzerland. I'm returning them now."

The instant Luna saw the earrings, she froze completely.

Something different appeared in those eyes that were always so dreamy and distant.

She took the earrings and held them in her palms, lowering her head to stare at them for a very, very long time. Her fingers gently brushed over the tiny radishes.

"I thought... I thought I had lost them..." Luna's voice was very soft. "I searched for them for a very, very long time..."

"These were... left to me by my mother."

Her eyes reddened. Then she could no longer hold back and hugged Su Yu tightly. Her body was light, like hugging a bundle of cotton. She buried her face against Su Yu's shoulder, trembling slightly. She did not make a sound, but Su Yu could feel her tears soaking into his robes.

It was not that she did not care. She was simply enduring it in her own way.

"Thank you." Luna's voice was muffled against his shoulder, small and soft.

Su Yu patted her back. "You're welcome."

Luna let him go and stepped back, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. She put the earrings back on, touched the pendants, and smiled. It was a faint smile, but a beautiful one.

"I'll take good care of them from now on," Luna said.

Su Yu nodded and turned to leave. After a few steps, Luna's voice came from behind him. "Su Yu."

He turned back.

"You're a good person." Luna's expression was extremely serious as she said it, her gray-blue eyes looking directly into his.

Su Yu smiled. "I know."

Luna smiled again, waved to him, and turned toward the Ravenclaw common room.

Su Yu stood in the corridor, touching the diary in his pocket, then the bag of gummies.

During Friday's Charms class, Professor Flitwick stood atop a stack of books and explained the Lumos spell.

"Everyone, watch my wand movement carefully," Professor Flitwick said. His voice was high-pitched but patient. "Keep your wrist flexible, not stiff. When chanting the incantation, press the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth..."

Everyone raised their wands and began practicing. Soon, little balls of light appeared throughout the classroom.

Ron's wand suddenly exploded as he cast the spell. It flew past Hermione's hair—making her duck as the blast ruffled her hair into the air—then struck Professor Flitwick squarely on the forehead.

Professor Flitwick had been standing on tiptoe, watching every student's movements. The blow sent him stumbling backward, nearly toppling him from the stack of books. He steadied himself against the blackboard and looked up, a large dark bruise already swelling on his forehead.

The classroom fell silent for a second. Then the Slytherin little snakes doubled over laughing. Malfoy laughed so hard he sprawled across his desk, Crabbe laughed until he dropped his wand, and Goyle laughed until he knocked over the ink bottle on his desk, spilling ink everywhere.

Professor Flitwick rarely lost his temper. His face turned bright red, his lips trembled, and he pointed at Ron. His voice was shrill and sharp. "Mr. Weasley! You—you—Gryffindor loses twenty points!"

Ron's face turned as red as his hair. He lowered his head, wanting to explain, but not a word came out. Harry patted his shoulder beside him, while Hermione sighed and tucked her windblown hair behind her ear.

Saturday arrived.

Because Sister Ka was taking the Slytherin Quidditch team to train, she dragged Su Yu out of bed early and made him go with her.

Su Yu poked his head out from beneath the blankets and rubbed his eyes. The Nine-Tailed Fox was still curled up under the covers, with only the tip of her nose exposed.

"Can't you go by yourself?" Su Yu's voice came from under the blankets.

"No." Sister Ka's tone allowed no argument. "Hurry up. You're my boyfriend, aren't you?"

Su Yu sighed and crawled out of bed. The Nine-Tailed Fox muttered something beneath the blankets, rolled over, and continued sleeping.

After washing up, Su Yu staggered sleepily out of the common room and found a whole group already waiting outside.

Daphne leaned against the wall with a cup of hot tea in hand. She looked as though she had been up for quite some time. When she saw Su Yu come out, she handed him the cup.

"Drink something warm. It's cold outside," Daphne said.

Su Yu accepted the cup and took a sip. It was steaming black tea with a little honey in it. He gave Daphne a grateful look. She smiled, then reached out to straighten his collar.

Pansy stood beside Daphne, holding a copy of Quidditch Tactics Weekly. She looked at Su Yu's half-asleep state and snorted. "Chief, can you really manage in that condition?"

"I'm not playing Quidditch," Su Yu muttered again.

Astoria had appeared at some point as well. Wearing a Slytherin scarf and gloves, she excitedly spun around the common room, her face full of anticipation.

Blaise leaned against the fireplace with a cup of coffee in hand. His expression plainly said, I'm here to watch the show. Theodore stood beside him, adjusting his glasses with a blank expression. However, Su Yu noticed that he was wearing new clothes today—probably because he was meeting his little girlfriend that afternoon.

Goyle and Crabbe stood at the back, each holding a huge sandwich as they ate breakfast. Their expressions were simple: food made them happy. Still, they had brought some for everyone, and Su Yu took one and started eating too.

The large group poured out of the castle. Together with Malfoy and the rest of the Quidditch team, there were more than a dozen people as they marched grandly toward the Quidditch pitch.

The moment Su Yu reached the stands, he heard Wood's voice from far away.

Wood was saying that Colin Creevey, the little boy taking photos with his twisted camera, was a Slytherin spy. That hateful little spy wanted to secretly photograph Gryffindor's tactics!

"But he's a Gryffindor," Harry said hurriedly. He walked over to Wood and tugged on his sleeve.

"Slytherin doesn't need to send spies, Wood," George said, leaning against his broom.

"Why not?" Wood did not understand.

"Because they came themselves." George pointed to the side.

Sister Ka entered the pitch with several people in green uniforms carrying brooms.

"I don't believe it!" Wood said angrily under his breath. "I booked this pitch for today. Let's go see what's going on."

Wood shot down like an arrow, landing heavily on the ground and stumbling slightly as he dismounted his broom. Harry, Fred, and George followed close behind.

"Slytherin!" Wood shouted toward them. "This is our training time! We're holding special practice, and you're not allowed to watch!"

Marcus Flint was even taller than Wood. "There's plenty of room here, Wood." His voice carried a deliberately provocative edge.

Pansy and Astoria also walked over and stood behind Malfoy, glaring sideways at Wood.

"But I booked this pitch!" Wood was clearly furious. "I booked it early this morning."

"Oh?" Marcus said. "But I have a special authorization note from Professor Snape." As he spoke, he pulled out a slip of paper and waved it in front of Wood. It read: "I, Professor Snape, in light of the need to train a new player—the Seeker—hereby authorize the Slytherin team to practice at the Quidditch pitch today."

"You found a new Seeker?" Wood's attention was diverted. "Where?"

A seventh person stepped out from behind the six tall figures. He was shorter, with a pale face carrying a smile. His light blond hair was neatly combed, and his gray eyes gleamed in the morning light. His chin was slightly raised, and a half-smile rested on his lips.

It was Draco Malfoy.

"You're Lucius Malfoy's son?" Wood looked at Malfoy with disgust.

Malfoy's smile did not change, but he raised the Nimbus 2001 in his hand and smashed Wood to the ground with it. The movement was fast and vicious. Wood had no time to react before he was flung backward and hit the ground hard, the back of his head striking the grass with a dull thud.

"Watch your eyes, trash!" Malfoy said coldly.

Harry was dumbfounded. How had they suddenly started fighting? And was that how flying brooms were supposed to be used?

Fred and George hurriedly stepped in front of Malfoy to stop Wood from getting hurt again. Their expressions changed as well, losing their usual lazy grins and turning serious, hard, and angry. "What are you Slytherins trying to do?"

Malfoy spat. "No skill, yet you still come here pretending?"

At that moment, Hermione and Ron also hurried over and helped Wood up. Grass and dirt clung to Wood's face, and a lump had swollen on the back of his head, but he gritted his teeth without crying out. Hermione brushed the dirt from him while Ron supported his arm.

"What happened?" Ron asked Harry. "Why did practice stop? Why is Wood on the ground?"

"I'm Slytherin's new Seeker, Weasley," Malfoy said smugly, raising his chin even higher. "Wood is lying there admiring the new brooms my father bought for our team!"

The Slytherin team erupted into laughter.

Ron finally understood what had happened. Marcus and the others blocked Fred and George, and Ron drew his wand and pointed it at Malfoy. These Slytherins had gone too far—they had actually hit someone?

Hermione had barely shouted, "Can't everyone just talk properly?" when a deafening BANG echoed across the pitch. A burst of green light shot from the other end of Ron's wand and struck Ron in the stomach. Ron immediately fell straight backward and landed sitting on the grass, his mouth wide open and his eyes bulging.

Malfoy had not even used his Shield Charm when Ron blasted himself. The laughter from the Slytherin side immediately grew louder.

"Ron, Ron! Are you all right?" Hermione screamed, crouching down and grabbing Ron's shoulders.

Ron opened his mouth wide, trying to speak, but no words came out. He coughed hard—several slugs fell from his mouth and landed on his thighs.

The Slytherins were laughing so hard they could barely breathe. Marcus leaned against his brand-new broom, his body nearly bent into a bow. One hand clutched his stomach while the other braced against the broom to keep him from falling. Malfoy laughed until he collapsed onto the ground, pounding the grass with both hands as tears streamed from his eyes.

The Gryffindors formed a circle around Ron. Fat, glistening slugs kept spewing from his mouth, one after another, dropping onto the ground, his robes, and the grass. No one dared step forward to help him.

"We'd better take him to Hagrid's. It's closest," Harry told Hermione. Then he helped Ron to his feet and led him away.

"What happened, Harry? What happened? Is he sick? You can cure him, right?" Colin ran down from the stands, bouncing around beside them with his camera held high, snapping photos nonstop.

At that moment, Ron opened his mouth wide, and a huge pile of slugs fell onto his chest before plopping all over the ground.

"Ah? Ah?" Colin hurriedly raised his camera. "Harry, can you hold him steady? I want to take a—"

"Get lost, Colin!" Harry said angrily. His voice was hurried and furious. Colin jumped back in fright, nearly dropping his camera. Harry and Hermione supported Ron out of the pitch and headed toward the edge of the forest.

Su Yu and the others watched the farce below from the stands without bothering with it. He leaned against Daphne, his eyes half-open as he watched the chaos beneath them.

Wasn't children fighting perfectly normal?

Su Yu continued lying on Daphne's lap, basking lazily in the sun.