"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"
Boom—
Rain poured down without end. Thunder rumbled overhead, and fierce winds battered the Castle walls, shrouding Hogwarts in mist. Yet inside the Dining Room, the atmosphere was electric and the crowd was buzzing. Hogwarts had a Quidditch match today.
Normally, something happened every Halloween. Will remembered that Black was supposed to break into the Castle this year, but Halloween had actually passed with unusual calm.
After Halloween, the biggest event was the Quidditch match.
Quidditch was the most popular sport among Wizards, and it had a huge following among students too. So huge that even a storm like today's wouldn't get the match canceled.
At the Slytherin table, Will glanced at Malfoy. As the Slytherin Quidditch Team's Seeker, the boy was discussing tactics with his teammates, shoveling down Oatmeal while they talked about how to beat Harry.
In this timeline, Buckbeak hadn't injured Malfoy's arm, so the Slytherin Quidditch Team had no reason to swap match dates with Hufflepuff. They would have to face the storm.
Marcus Flint, the Slytherin Quidditch Team's captain, had considered making excuses, but the Hogwarts professors weren't that easy to fool.
As for watching a match in the middle of a storm, Will's choice was simple: he couldn't be bothered.
Sleeping in while listening to the wind and rain would be far more enjoyable.
He cast the Impervius Charm on Sylvia's robes several times over. Under her resentful gaze, Will held up the Parchment in his hand. "I've got something important to do. Next time. I'll watch with you next time."
Sylvia had no choice but to link arms with Hermione and head through the wind and rain toward the Quidditch Pitch. Will watched them disappear into the curtain of rain, then returned to the Room of Requirement. He was about