The Quidditch Match

Under the gaze of those deep, pool-like eyes, he sighed. "A diversion. If Professor Snape hadn't been clever, who knows what disaster might have happened on Halloween! Listen, Luo Bin, Harry Potter: neither of you is to tell anyone about the Fourth Floor. Otherwise, I'll report you to Headmaster Dumbledore and have you both expelled!"

"Mr. Filch, Harry and I are well-behaved students. You won't catch us doing anything wrong! Professor Snape, here's my Potions Class homework. Oh, I'll take Quidditch Through the Ages with me!"

"Stop! Come back! Did I say you could give Potter his book back?"

"He's already too far away to call back. I've heard others speak of Luo Bin's talent for Potions. I don't think you need to see Madam Pomfrey just yet!"

Snape rubbed his itching, injured leg and said coldly, "Of course he's talented. Look whose student he is! Filch, don't tell anyone else what happened tonight!"

"Don't worry. My lips are sealed!"

Was it a ghost who'd just told everyone about the Third Floor Corridor?!

Snape gave him a suspicious glance, then turned to brew a potion to take by mouth.

"Luo Bin, thanks for getting my book back! You're incredible. You dared to look Snape in the eye and talk back to Filch!" Harry said gratefully, clutching the book.

"Mr. Filch is too strict, and Professor Snape often looks cold, but Harry, that doesn't make either of them a bad person! We know what happened on Halloween now. I hope you'll stop misunderstanding the professor!"

"He... could be lying. Yes, he must be lying. Filch got something out of it and helped him cover it up!"

That prejudice ran deep. "I couldn't disagree more, but I know nothing I say now will convince you. Let time prove it, then! Harry Potter, I'll see you on the pitch tomorrow!"

"See you tomorrow. I'll give it everything I've got. I won't go easy on you!"

The next day, Saturday, at eleven in the morning, the Quidditch Pitch was packed.

Students and professors filled the stands, and a lively buzz reached every corner of the pitch.

Draco, his hair combed until it shone, sat on the highest row with an air of studied elegance. Crabbe and Goyle held up a huge silk banner that read "Slytherin Will Win." Beneath the words was a venomous snake with its tail coiled, head raised, and tongue flicking. The banner had been enchanted, too; its lettering flashed so brightly that it was impossible to miss!

Beside it, Hermione and Ron's dirty bedsheet banner, covered in doodles, looked especially shabby!

"Ron Weasley, you pauper. If I were you, I'd rather shout myself hoarse than wave around a ratty bedsheet!"

"Draco, what kind of wizard just runs his mouth? After the match, do you dare face us?" Hermione challenged him.

"Hmph. Fine! Who's afraid of you?"

"Hermione, look! Harry's coming out. Wow, he looks brilliant in those red robes!" Ron cried excitedly, pointing to one end of the pitch.

The moment the red and green teams appeared, deafening cheers and applause erupted from the stands. Marcus Flint met Wood's gaze and taunted him. "Don't cry when you lose, Wood!"

Wood ignored him and called loudly to his teammates, his meaning clear. "Listen up. I expect everyone to play fairly and honestly."

Flint spat to show what he thought of that!

After the warm-up, Madam Hooch called out in a ringing voice, "Everyone, mount your Broomsticks!"

Once they had, she blew her silver whistle hard. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Fifteen Broomsticks, including the referee's, soared into the sky. The stands roared as everyone watched, excited and nervous!

As Seekers, Luo Bin and Harry could neither chase the Quaffle nor strike the Bludgers. They hovered at opposite ends of the pitch, eyes and ears alert for the Golden Snitch. The rest of the players were locked in a fierce contest!

"Oh, look! Gryffindor Chaser Angelina Johnson isn't just charming—she's a remarkable player, too. Beautiful! Good heavens, she's got the Quaffle! She's flying straight for the opposing hoops."

"Oh no, Flint and Derrian are catching up! A high pass to the side—beautiful! Alicia Spinnet has it. Less than five seconds later, the ball's back with Angelina. She races forward and—bang! Oh, heavens, Flint's rammed her and stolen the ball."

"Steady, girl! Don't fall off your broom! There, she's managed it! Meanwhile, Flint's hurtling across the pitch with the Quaffle. He aims for a hoop and throws hard. Thud! It's knocked away! You have to admire the way Keeper Wood whipped his broom around..."

Commentator Lee Jordan breathlessly narrated every turn of the match. Harry flew over to Wood and watched the pitch with him. Luo Bin remained where he was, his dark eyes darting about in search of the golden ball.

Suddenly, a large black ball came spinning toward him. Luo Bin swerved aside.

It smashed several bricks loose, showing just how much force it had carried!

"Listen. We can't let them score again. Plan B!"

Flint spoke quietly, and the scene on the pitch changed at once.

Gryffindor players were injured one after another, while Slytherin scored goal after goal. Hermione and Ron shouted that Slytherin was cheating and demanded that the referee send the players off.

Unfortunately, there were no red cards in Quidditch!

Buzz, buzz! Buzz, buzz!

What was that sound?

Luo Bin pricked up his ears. After listening for quite a while, he determined that it was coming from the passage below. He looked around to make sure no one was watching, then lowered his broom and slowly entered the passage.

The little golden ball's wings beat so fast they were a blur. It hovered in the air. Luo Bin held his breath and edged closer, afraid the slightest noise would scare it away!

His fingertips were about to touch it when it suddenly shot forward. Luo Bin sped after it.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The ball and Luo Bin circled the passage at least five times. He smashed through six wooden rails, yet still could not catch it!

Huh. It hadn't flown this fast in training. Either it had been holding back, or someone had put a spell on it. Suddenly, the golden ball burst through the fabric canopy and flew straight upward. Luo Bin tilted back and chased it into the sky!

"The Golden Snitch! I see it!"

Harry flew over excitedly and drew level with Luo Bin. As the two of them closed in on the golden ball, Harry surged ahead and reached for it.

His broom tilted as that scoundrel Flint slammed into him and knocked him aside.

"Luo Bin, catch it!"

"Foul! Foul! Foul!"

The Gryffindor students roared in anger!

"Oh, heavens, does Flint really have Troll blood? Just look at him..." commentator Lee Jordan protested.

"Luo Bin, what are you waiting for?" Flint urged, undeterred by the protests around him.

"I want to win, too, but not like this!"

Because of Flint's foul, Gryffindor was awarded a Free Shot. Meanwhile, Harry was struggling against his own broom. He gripped the handle desperately and clamped his legs around it, while the Broomstick bucked violently up and down, jerked from side to side, and spun through full circles, trying to throw him off!