The next day…
Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch.
This morning marked the opening match of this year’s Quidditch Cup.
Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff.
Long before the match began…
Every stand surrounding the pitch was already packed.
Students from all four Houses wore robes in their House colours, cheering enthusiastically for their teams.
Ravenclaw’s captain was Roger Davies, who also played as one of the Chasers.
The other two Chasers were Penelope Clearwater and a boy named Bernard Bob.
Their Keeper was a broad-shouldered student named Kingsley Joel.
Just looking at him made people feel their goalposts were in safe hands.
The two Beaters…
Were a couple.
Frank Caesar and Gloria Dulles.
To be fair…
None of them lacked ability.
Their teamwork was excellent.
Yet Ravenclaw’s Quidditch results were never particularly impressive.
Charlotte suspected the problem lay with their Seekers.
After all…
In later years, Ravenclaw’s Seeker would be Cho Chang.
She wasn’t a poor Seeker…
But compared with opponents like Harry Potter—the boy seemingly favoured by fate— Or Cedric Diggory, a genuine prodigy…
She simply couldn’t compete.
Since catching the Golden Snitch was usually what decided a match…
Unless your team led by well over one hundred and fifty points…
The moment your opponent caught the Snitch…
The game was effectively over.
Compared to those two…
Cho often felt more like someone making up the numbers.
Both teams now lined up, waiting to enter the pitch.
Roger stood beside Charlotte and smiled.
“Nervous?” “Not at all.” “If anything…” “I’m looking forward to it.” Roger nodded.
“Good.” “Let’s go.” He kicked off on his broomstick first.
Charlotte and the rest followed closely behind.
The instant they flew into the stadium…
Thunderous cheers erupted from every direction.
High above the stands…
A dark-skinned boy with curly hair served as the match commentator.
The moment both teams appeared…
He excitedly shouted, “Welcome, everyone, to this year’s Quidditch Cup!” “Today’s opening match is…” “Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff!” “Both teams have taken their positions!” “Madam Hooch has stepped onto the pitch!” “And now…” “Let’s begin!” The fourteen players hovered in a great circle above the centre of the field.
As the two Seekers…
Charlotte and Cedric floated above everyone else.
Madam Hooch walked to the crate containing the Quidditch balls.
After offering a few words of encouragement…
She gave the box a sharp kick.
Click!
The lid sprang open.
The Quaffle…
The two Bludgers…
And the Golden Snitch…
Burst into the sky.
The Snitch was astonishingly fast.
It vanished like a streak of golden lightning almost the instant it appeared.
As a Seeker…
Charlotte wasn’t allowed to interfere with the Quaffle or the Bludgers.
Doing so would result in a penalty.
Therefore…
Until the Snitch revealed itself…
A Seeker was practically invisible.
Many people even called the Seeker…
The loneliest player on the Quidditch pitch.
“The Quaffle’s been taken!” The commentator’s excited voice echoed across the stadium.
“Just as expected from Ravenclaw’s captain!” “Roger Davies dives beautifully and claims the Quaffle!” “A reverse pass!” “He doesn’t charge Hufflepuff immediately!” “Instead, he passes backwards to Penelope Clearwater!” “The Parkin’s Pincer!” “Hufflepuff have launched the famous Parkin’s Pincer manoeuvre!” “They’re closing in from both sides!” “But Roger’s reverse pass breaks their formation perfectly!” “Another reverse pass!” “Bernard now has possession!” “He’s charging straight towards Hufflepuff’s hoops!” “Hufflepuff are moving to intercept!” “The Keeper is using the classic Double Figure-Eight defensive pattern!” “…” The match instantly exploded into an intense battle.
Both teams displayed remarkable skill.
The crowd roared again and again with excitement.
Meanwhile…
Charlotte continued circling the edges of the pitch.
Waiting.
Watching.
Ready to seize the Golden Snitch the instant it appeared.
Suddenly…
The commentator nearly screamed himself hoarse.
“A Double Bludger!” “Brilliant!” “It’s a Double Bludger strike!” “Frank and Gloria truly are Ravenclaw’s dream couple!” “Their flawless teamwork has produced one of the most difficult Beater combinations imaginable!” “My word!” “The Bludger has smashed directly into Hufflepuff’s Keeper’s broom!” “GOAL!” “Ravenclaw take full advantage!” “They score first!” The stadium erupted.
Ravenclaw students practically leapt out of their seats.
Professor Flitwick enthusiastically drew his wand…
Leading Ravenclaw’s cheering squad.
“RAVENCLAW!” “VICTORY!” “RAVENCLAW!” “VICTORY!” Amid the deafening chants…
The match continued.
Whoosh!
A golden blur suddenly flashed past Charlotte’s eyes.
The Golden Snitch!
Just as he leaned forward to give chase…
His broomstick began shaking violently.
It felt as though it would fly out of his control at any second.
Bloody hell!
It’s got to be Voldemort!
Aren’t you supposed to be targeting Harry Potter—the one you actually want revenge on?
Why the hell are you coming after me?!
Fortunately…
Charlotte was no ordinary wizard.
His magical power far exceeded that of most people.
He quickly regained control.
Unfortunately…
The broom itself suddenly became completely unresponsive.
As though it had fallen asleep.
Leaving Charlotte hanging motionless in mid-air.
“Flight Charm.” Ignoring the confused stares from everyone below…
Charlotte suddenly shot forward.
His speed was breathtaking.
At that moment…
He wasn’t flying with the broom.
He was using the Flight Charm to carry both himself and the broom.
With the Flight Charm already mastered…
Its speed wasn’t merely equal to a racing broom.
It was actually slightly faster.
If Quidditch rules hadn’t required players to remain mounted on their broomsticks…
Charlotte would gladly have thrown the useless thing away.
Hidden in a corner of the stands…
Filch stared blankly at Charlotte.
Disbelief filled his face.
Impossible…
I clearly cast the spell successfully.
The moment Charlotte started flying…
His broom should have slammed him into the ground hard enough to splatter his brains.
So why didn’t it work?!
Thinking about the punishment awaiting him if he failed…
Filch shivered.
Quietly…
He slipped his wand from beneath his robes, preparing to cast another spell.
But just then…
He noticed someone watching him.
Severus Snape.
The Potions Master was staring at him with an icy, terrifying expression.
Filch instantly forced an awkward smile.
Then he hurriedly put away his wand…
Pretending to focus entirely on the Quidditch match.