Breaking the Record

Luo Bin disliked sickly-sweet chocolate, but he liked collecting the cards. He had given Draco all the chocolate from the Chocolate Frogs he had received before.

Later, after the Flower Fairy Xiao Ying happened to taste chocolate, she became hopelessly hooked. She would rather go two days without honey than miss out on a piece of chocolate.

Honey and chocolate were all the same to Luo Bin, so he let her indulge.

"I've only been saving them for three or four weeks. Luo Bin, you know Gryffindor and Slytherin have never got along. Harry, Ron, and I all want Hufflepuff to win, but... you're my friend, and I don't want you to lose either," she said, her brows knitted in conflict.

Children's feelings were so pure. Luo Bin opened a Chocolate Frog, gave her half, and smiled. "Hermione, it's all right. I understand. I'm glad you came to explain it to me in person."

"Really?"

She felt terribly guilty about not cheering for her friend in the match.

"Of course. Things change in an instant during a Quidditch match. The players have their eyes glued to their teammates, their opponents, the balls, and the iron hoops. Who has the attention to spare for what the spectators are shouting?"

"That's a relief. Oh, right! Lend me your Defense Against the Dark Arts notes so I can check a few words. You know, Professor Quirrell sounds just like a cassette tape during a thunderstorm—hissing and crackling. It's so hard to make out what he's saying!"

"Here you go!"

After clearing the air, Hermione felt much better. She walked like a cat that had caught a gray mouse, proud and eager to show off.

The Quidditch match officially began the following afternoon!

In the changing room, Luo Bin put on his green team robes. After Flint sprayed spit everywhere while delivering a long, pointless pep talk, they each took a Nimbus 2000 and walked onto the pitch.

The moment the players in green and yellow team robes appeared, deafening cheers erupted from the stands.

The cheering continued for a full three minutes before gradually fading. By then, the players on the pitch had finished warming up.

Snape blew his silver whistle and said coldly, his gaze hard, "Now mount your broomsticks. Remember, I am far stricter than Madam Hooch. If I catch anyone committing a foul, the opposing team will immediately receive a free shot. On my command. One, two, three—take off."

Snape was indeed strict. Half a minute into the match, Slytherin received a free shot because a Hufflepuff Chaser's broom had brushed the top of his head while pursuing the ball, leaving a tuft of his already gleaming, greasy hair sticking straight up.

His cold, gloomy gaze swept across the laughing stands, section by section. His lips turned purple with anger.

Well, anyone would have hated becoming the center of attention in such spectacular fashion!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

It was the Golden Snitch!

Luo Bin dove and accelerated after it. After several months of training, his flying skills had improved considerably, and his timing with the Gale Spell had become increasingly precise.

As he turned, he secretly channeled the magic inside him to cast the Gale Spell. He shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. Three seconds later, gasps and cheers rose from the stands.

Beside the dull gray stone wall, Luo Bin held his arm high. In the warm light, the golden gleam was especially dazzling. With 150 points secured, the Slytherin students went wild. Their piercing cheers made the other houses' students' ears ache.

"Oh, my goodness! Only four minutes—three minutes and fifty-four seconds, to be exact—and Luo Bin Sear has caught the Golden Snitch! He's broken the Hogwarts record. That's amazing!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly.

"Hermione Granger, you traitor! How can you praise a Slytherin student without any principles at all? Have you forgotten how Draco bullied Neville?" Ron snapped angrily.

"Luo Bin has never bullied anyone. In fact, he even lent Neville his notes. Ron, you're so petty. You just can't stand seeing anyone else do well. Harry, tell us who's right."

Harry looked at Hermione, her chin raised proudly, then at Ron, with his pout and red nose. "Listen, Snape is biased, but Luo Bin caught the Golden Ball through his own skill. That alone deserves praise. All right, stop arguing. Didn't we agree to help Neville get revenge?"

"Hmph. Say whatever you like. Hermione's still a traitor as far as I'm concerned. Neville, come on. We're going to corner Draco!"

"B-but... can I really do it?"

It was Neville Longbottom's first time fighting back, and he was so nervous that he stammered.

"Neville, the Sorting Hat doesn't make mistakes. It put you in Gryffindor, the house of courage. That means you have strength and courage inside you. Remember, the spell is Locomotor Mortis!" Hermione urged.

Then the three of them left with Neville in their midst!

Meanwhile, after circling the pitch three times, Luo Bin dove down and landed. Snape slowly descended beside him, his haughty gaze sweeping over every section of the stands, as though saying, Hah! It only took a few minutes to decide the winner. That is Slytherin's strength.

"Well done, young fellow. You're even more outstanding than I imagined!"

Dumbledore patted Luo Bin's shoulder, then lowered his voice. "Show a little restraint next time. You flew too fast. You'll attract their attention!"

Their?

Did he mean the people behind the wizard–Magical beast fusion experiments on Kedrona Island?

Luo Bin was about to follow him and ask for clarification when he suddenly found himself airborne. Then, as though he were lying on a trampoline, he was tossed into the air and caught in the arms of seven or eight people, over and over. Cries of "Champion!" "Genius!" "Well done!" and "Brilliant work!" poured into his ears.

Although this way of celebrating him left his head spinning, Luo Bin was happy. He felt as though he had returned to high school, to the sports meet held once every term, to winning the long-distance race and being surrounded by his entire class...

So Luo Bin let them carry on. An hour later, he dragged his exhausted body into the changing room. He had just finished changing when Harry rushed in. "Luo Bin, lend me your broomstick."

Harry sounded frantic, as though he would mount the broom and fly off the very next second if Luo Bin agreed.

Luo Bin guessed that the protagonist wanted to pursue Snape. Slytherin had won the Quidditch match in November, which meant Harry Potter had not played in the February match. Naturally, he lacked the equipment needed to follow Snape—a broomstick!

"Harry, I'd love to lend it to you, but... it won't let you ride it!"

To prove his point, Luo Bin handed over the broom. The moment Harry mounted it, the Nimbus 2000 began shaking violently, apparently determined not to stop until it had thrown him off.

There clearly wasn't enough time to fetch one from the broom shed. After thinking for a few seconds, Harry said, "Luo Bin Sear, Hogwarts needs you. You might not believe what I'm about to say, but I swear on my integrity that it's all true. Snape is a bad person. He wants to steal the Philosopher's Stone beneath the Living Wood on the fourth floor. I just saw him heading into the Forbidden Forest. He must be going to..."

Ugh, he really did have a one-track mind!

No wonder he had believed Snape was evil right up until Snape died!

"Harry Potter, Snape is a professor I deeply respect. I don't believe he would do any of those terrible things you've described!"

Just as Harry sank into disappointment at being unable to follow the villain, Luo Bin spoke again. "Get on. We'll go to the Forbidden Forest together and let the facts prove which of us is right."

"Okay!"