As the first Quidditch match approached, the weather grew increasingly foul, with driving wind and rain and rumbling thunder.
Oliver Wood hurriedly stopped Harry in the corridor just after class to give him some bad news.
"We're not playing the Slytherin Quidditch Team on Sunday!" he said furiously. "Flint just came to see me and told me we'd be facing Hufflepuff instead."
"Flint's excuse was that their Seeker, Draco Malfoy, still hasn't recovered from his arm injury," Wood continued through gritted teeth. "It's obvious why they're doing this. They don't want to play in this weather because they think it'll hurt the Slytherin Quidditch Team's chances of winning."
The wind howled and rain poured down. Dark clouds blanketed the sky, and thunder rumbled in the distance, as though providing a soundtrack to Wood's words.
"Malfoy's arm was never as bad as he claimed. It should have healed ages ago!" Harry protested angrily. "He's faking it!"
"Of course I know that, but we have no proof." Wood sighed helplessly. "We've been training with tactics designed to counter Slytherin, and now we have to face Hufflepuff, who play completely differently. Especially since they've got a new captain and Seeker this year—Cedric Diggory."
"What do we do now?" Harry asked anxiously. "Those underhanded Slytherin bastards!"
"Sorry, Jerry, I didn't mean you," Harry hastily explained, turning back to Jerry in case he had misunderstood.
"Harry, come straight to the Quidditch Pitch after school. We need to start training specifically for Hufflepuff right away! There's no time to waste! I'm going to tell the others, especially Angelina and Katie. We can't have them forgetting how to ride their broomsticks the moment they see Cedric on the pitch!" Wood rattled off, then hurried away.
"Good luck, Harry!" Ron clapped him on the shoulder encouragingly.
Harry chuckled