At the Quidditch Pitch, a dazzling streak of gold cut across the sky. A Golden Snitch beat its tiny, nimble wings as it circled gracefully around Gryffindor House's goalposts.
Harry gave the chase everything he had, his eyes fixed on that tiny golden speck, but at that very moment, Cho Chang appeared like a phantom, blocking his path.
"Harry, this is no time to be a gentleman!" In the stands, Seamus Finnigan shouted urgently. Harry had swerved sharply at the crucial moment, deftly avoiding a collision with Cho Chang. "Knock her off her broom!"
Hermione watched the score closely: eighty to sixty. Gryffindor was ahead for now, but that lead was far from secure in such a fierce match. The Ravenclaw Team needed only one more goal to draw level. To win this match, Harry had to catch the Golden Snitch!
"Meow..."
As Hermione concentrated on the match, a soft meow suddenly reached her ears. Stirred by the sound, she looked down and saw her cat, Crookshanks, gently scratching at her trouser leg with his front paws. She carefully picked him up, lightly squeezed his soft cheeks, and asked quietly, "Where have you been, Crookshanks? Why are you alone? Where's Jerry?"
She scanned the surrounding stands but could find no sign of Jerry. Crookshanks, meanwhile, pawed anxiously at her clothes, as though he had something important to tell her.
A flicker of unease rose in Hermione's heart. She examined Crookshanks closely and suddenly noticed a wound on his hind leg, still slowly seeping bright red blood.
"What happened? Crookshanks, where's Jerry?" Hermione's voice grew urgent. Clutching Crookshanks, she hurried out of the stands.
To hell with the match! Gryffindor, Ravenclaw—either of them could win for all she cared!
The Forbidden Forest.
Jerry gently stamped out the last flicker of flame