Quidditch Match

Hogwarts, the Quidditch Pitch.

Today was the annual intra-school Quidditch house tournament, the day Gryffindor played against Slytherin.

In the middle of preparing the pitch, Hermione and the other six players had already changed into their red and gold uniforms.

Each of the seven people held a broomstick in their hands, while Hermione and George each had an extra bat in theirs.

In the stands, Ron was holding a crystal ball, which reflected the view of the entire pitch in front of him.

At this moment, Harry quietly walked over, pulled on Hermione's sleeve, and said in a low voice:

"Do you have time later?"

Hermione said indifferently, "Spit it out if you have something to say."

Harry said directly, "Lately, Ron and I discovered some things and want you to help take a look."

"Sure." Hermione agreed, "Come to the library after the match ends."

Having gotten his reply, Harry's mood settled somewhat.

These days, quite a few baffling things had been plaguing him, and after discussing them with Ron for an entire night, they still hadn't come to any conclusion.

Right when he was agonizing over it, Ron suddenly thought, why not ask the miraculous Hermione?

Just a single sentence caused Harry's mind to clear up instantly.

Right, when in doubt ask Hermione-this was the style for the two of them!

Thinking?

Think my ass!

With that time, chatting about gossip with Ron and badmouthing Snape behind his back for a bit-wasn't that much sweeter?

Hermione glanced at Harry.

She didn't know what the brat wanted to do either, but today everything else had to take a back seat. Her sole goal today was to win the match and beat her opponents black and blue!

Before entering the pitch, Madam Hooch inspected the broomsticks one by one as usual.

When it came to Hermione, her wand paused on the broomstick for a very long time.

There was a round little thing added to the front tip of the broomstick handle, and a section of gold-red metal casing fitted over the tail twigs as well.

"What is this?"

"The one in the front is a decoration." Hermione's expression didn't change. "Popular over on the Muggle side, looks nice."

"The one in the back prevents the broomstick from shedding bristles. This is my new Nimbus 2000, it's quite expensive."

Madam Hooch cast two more detection spells, and her brow relaxed.

No dark curses, no acceleration charms, not even the residue of the simplest Levitation Charm. It was clean beyond belief.

"...Within the rules." She handed the broomstick back.

Not far away, Flint glanced over and let out a sneering laugh.

"Look at that, the Gryffindors still have the heart to hang decorations on their broomsticks before the match."

The Slytherin players burst into a round of jeers.

The preparation time ended, and both sides were about to enter the pitch.

The stands of the entire oval pitch were packed with teachers and students. Upon seeing the two teams fully geared up, they all erupted into excited screams and cheers.

"Gryffindor! Gryffindor! Gryffindor!"

"Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin!"

Feeling this enthusiastic atmosphere, Hermione couldn't help sighing. The teachers and students of Hogwarts truly loved Quidditch.

Harry patted Hermione and simultaneously pointed toward the Gryffindor stands.

Ron, Neville, Seamus, and the others were waving their arms and shouting loudly at the two of them with excited expressions.

Although they were drowned out by the roaring human voices, Hermione could still tell what they were saying from their lip movements.

Good luck.

Listening to the cheering and shouting all around, Hermione's emotions were also gradually stirred up, and a surge of hot blood filled her chest.

It felt as though she had dreamed of returning to the scene of watching a game live at the Quidditch World Cup in her past life.

Hermione gripped the broomstick in her hand tighter.

She originally thought that after time-traveling, she would never feel these emotions again, and that only acting and the pursuit of power would remain in her life. Yet until now, she realized it wasn't entirely like that.

Wood glanced at Harry. "Nervous?"

Harry nodded.

"It's fine, I was like that the first time too."

"And then?"

"Then... then I don't remember. I was knocked unconscious by a Bludger two minutes into the match and was out cold in the hospital wing for a week."

Harry swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

That was a great consolation; let's not console anyone next time.

"This time, I don't want to be knocked out by a Bludger again."

After Wood finished speaking, his gaze fell on Hermione, only to find that the latter wasn't looking at him at all. Instead, she lightly swung her bat, looked toward the opposite side, and wore an eager expression.

Wood suddenly felt a pang of angina.

Hermione definitely hadn't forgotten that besides interfering with the other side, a Beater's other duty was to protect their own teammates, right!

She definitely hadn't forgotten, right!

"Welcome both teams to the pitch!"

In the commentary box, the Black lad Lee Jordan held a large megaphone, his voice booming.

As the commentator's voice fell, the players from both sides straddled their broomsticks and flew up into the sky simultaneously, spinning around the pitch several times before finally coming to hover and confront each other right above the field.

"Today's match is the Gryffindor Quidditch Team versus the Slytherin Quidditch Team!"

The commentator Lee Jordan began introducing the players from both sides one by one.

Every time a player was introduced, it would spark a wave of cheers within the pitch.

When it was Gryffindor's turn, he said in astonishment, "For this tournament, the Gryffindor Quidditch Team has aggressively brought on two first-year substitutes, namely Harry Potter..."

Saying this, he paused. "...and the renowned 'Library Witch', Hermione Granger!"

As soon as the words "Library Witch" came out, aside from Slytherin, every house erupted into even louder and higher cheers than before.

Senior Wood smiled. "Looks like you're quite popular."

The Weasley Twins nearby also bantered, "Of course, the prettiest and also the most genius female student among the first-years-who couldn't like her? Our Ron is..."

Hermione glared fiercely at the two of them.

Although she hadn't deliberately cultivated any personal popularity, her pretty appearance coupled with invincible magical prowess had unknowingly earned her many fans.

Though she was usually cold and disliked interacting with people, she couldn't stop many people from simply adoring this style.

The more mysterious and unapproachable she was, the more it filled people with interest.