The Hogwarts Murder

Lee Jordan's voice grew louder and louder, and everyone stood up and cheered.

"Quaffle! She scored! Ten to zero, Gryffindor Quidditch Team takes the lead!"

Win or lose, Angelina, you cool girl, I'll wash your underwear for this month!

William stood up and applauded. He had never seen such a wonderful Quidditch Match before. Both teams showed a high level of tactical awareness from the very beginning.

In Quidditch Match, the Seeker can indeed play a huge role, since catching the Golden Snitch earns 150 points and can end the game.

But this sport is not one for lone heroes.

This is a team sport, and the Beater will control their movement to interfere with the Seeker.

There are over 700 fouls in Quidditch, and it's not easy for the Seeker to catch the Golden Snitch.

Similarly, 150 points may seem like a lot, but a match can sometimes last for months. Even the Quidditch World Cup final lasted three days and three nights.

At this point, 150 points doesn't seem so outstanding; the main scoring method relies entirely on teamwork and goals from the Chaser.

William pressed the telescope tightly against his eyes.

Then, Hufflepuff scored again, bringing the score back together.

"The formation has changed! Hawkshead Attacking Formation! A beautiful transition, so fluid and seamless."

Lee Jordan also demonstrated sufficient tactical knowledge, explaining the formation Gryffindor was using at that moment with great familiarity.

William could see the three Gryffindor Chaser speeding close together, closing in on the Hufflepuff players.

Then, Angelina pretended to rush upwards with the Quaffle, drawing away Warrington who was chasing the ball, before throwing the ball to Neymar.

Walcott, one of Hufflepuff's Beater, swung his short bat at the Accio Bludger, sending it flying towards Neymar; Neymar ducked to avoid the Bludger and threw Quaffle, which Angelina, hovering below, caught.

"Angelina scores again!" Lee Jordan roared, and the whole stadium erupted in cheers and applause, shaking the Quidditch pitch.

Qiu jumped up and down excitedly, waving her arms incessantly.

Soon, forty minutes had passed in the game, but the score remained neck and neck between the two sides.

Hagrid roared excitedly, "This is absolutely the most exciting final in recent years!"

Unlike previous years, Slytherin students often resorted to fouling tactics, disrupting the game.

Slytherin's skill in using fouls is one of the reasons they have won the championship multiple times.

Hufflepuff and Gryffindor are much cleaner; at least there's no iron elbow or deliberate ramming.

Suddenly, a loud phoenix cry rang out in the sky above Hogwarts Castle.

A large silver creature burst through the window, landed gracefully, and raised its proud head.

This is a phoenix, a silver phoenix— Dumbledore's Patronus.

The phoenix, graceful Winky radiant, landed lightly in the center of the arena.

The Patronus opened its mouth wide and spoke in Dumbledore's loud, deep, and slow voice.

"The final match is suspended. Everyone, under the professor's protection, must immediately return to their respective common lounges."

The phoenix vanished, as if it had never existed.

Professor McGonagall paused for a moment, then glanced back at the castle.

Dumbledore rarely uses his Patronus to deliver messages unless there is a particularly urgent emergency.

Without much thought, McGonagall leaped up, displaying agility beyond her years, and appeared on the stage, snatching the microphone from Lee Jordan's hand.

"Prefect of each college, please organize the students and keep them calm. Return to the common room in order!"

Many people were unaware of what had happened, but Professor McGonagall's words still echoed across the field. The Prefect began to stand up, and the teachers from various subjects maintained order.

Boos and shouts of discontent rose from the crowd; they were unwilling to miss such a thrilling Quidditch final.

Oliver Wood looked dejected. He landed on the ground and, without getting off his broom, ran towards Professor McGonagall.

"But Professor!" he cried, "We must compete... in the Quidditch Cup... in Gryffindor... and we're about to win!"

At this point, the two sides were only twenty points apart, and he really dared to say that.

Professor McGonagall ignored him and continued speaking into the microphone, "All students must return to the college's common room, where the college administrators will provide you with more information. Please leave as soon as possible!"

Muttering amongst themselves, they crowded together toward the castle. Some were grumbling about the cancellation of the competition, while others looked very nervous.

Everyone was discussing what major event had occurred, so serious that even the Quidditch final had to be canceled.

Marietta joked that Death Eaters had appeared.

Bradley, however, believed that the final exam questions had been burned.

Many young wizards approve of or even expect this result, as it seems they won't have to take the exam.

As they approached the Ravenclaw Common Room, Professor Flitwick suddenly appeared at the back of the crowd.

"Mr. Stark, I have something to ask you. Please come with me."

William had a bad feeling and gave Qiu an innocent look, indicating that he didn't know what had happened either.

William genuinely didn't know, but he suspected that his secret passage entry yesterday had come to light.

William followed Professor Flitwick away from the crowd and up the Marble Staircase, but this time they were not taken to anyone's office, but instead to the Hospital Wing.

"Listen, William, what I'm about to say might shock you."

As they approached the hospital, Professor Flitwick said in a serious voice, "A death has just occurred..."

William's heart seemed to skip a beat. He thought for a moment, and realized that all his friends were at the Quidditch Pitch, so it couldn't be that his best friend was dead.

Professor Flitwick said in an extremely sorrowful tone, "It's Prefect Robert Hilliard."

"This... how is this possible?" William paused, then said incredulously, "Just two hours ago, I ran into him at the entrance of the lounge."

"Yes," Professor Flitwick said sadly, "The attack happened during the finals. He was killed with... Dark Magic."

Who did it?

"The investigation hasn't yielded any results yet," Professor Flitwick said. "We found a bottle of the Draught of Living Death in his possession."

Madam Pomfrey said you made it; you asked her about the key points of making Potions when you were brewing them before.

"Yes, that's right." William quickly recounted their Dialogue from that morning.

Have you noticed anything else unusual?

William thought about it carefully again, then shook his head. "No, Professor."

Professor Flitwick sighed; it seemed the last clue had been lost.

Dumbledore walked in, looking serious, and Professor Flitwick shook his head at him.

Dumbledore was about to say something, a series of unsteady footsteps suddenly echoed down the corridor.

Filch rushed over, panting heavily, stammering, "Headmaster, hurry... you must hurry... Professor Tywin... he..."

"Dead."

(Third update, please vote, everyone!)