Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 208: The Match

In the quiet corridor.

Sir Cadogan was searching for someone to duel, while the monks nearby skillfully avoided him.

With the sound of boots pounding on the ground, a tall witch appeared before the portrait, her expression slightly annoyed:
"Perhaps your reputation for integrity and loyalty isn't always accurate?"

"Don't rush, ma'am,"

Sir Cadogan tipped his hat, then watched out the window as a large owl flew into the night.

"A knight never lies."

……

The next morning, the weather was clear and cold. The restaurant was filled with the enticing aroma of roasting sausages, and everyone was excitedly chatting and looking forward to an exciting Quidditch match.

"Hufflepuff is nothing to fear."

Michael said excitedly.

Then he noticed Justin sitting not far from the long table, looking slightly puzzled.

"Oh, never mind."

Michael quickly buried his head in the pudding.

"Are you going to watch the game, Sheehan?"

Justin took the opportunity to ask a question.

Sheen noticed that everyone in the Hope Hut was looking at him.

They acted together for a long time, with Sheen being the only exception.

Sheen is always moving between the professors; I heard he even took an alchemy class last week.

Merlin—that's a sixth-grade course.

So everyone always feels like something is missing.

"Ah."

Surprisingly, this time Sheen nodded.

"marvelous--"

Justin murmured something, and then the owl sent another letter, drowning out his excitement about the competition with a chorus of flapping wings.

Seeing everyone discussing it so enthusiastically, Sheen began to understand the significance of Quidditch for the young wizards.

It is a bond that connects some shared and beautiful memories.

The Great Hall was soon empty, as almost all the young wizards had rushed to the Quidditch pitch.

The professors' seats were also full of people—Principal Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, and Hagrid, too.

Sheen and the others huddled together, Harry and Ron discussing tactics, saying they would analyze the weaknesses of the other two opponents through this match;

Hermione gave a helpless snort, and Harry and Ron then remembered that Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were there.

Ron slapped his forehead and lowered his head:
"We're so sorry..."

"What are you apologizing for? Shouldn't we have discussed this in person?"

Justin rarely cracked a joke.

"Yes—oh no! No—"

Ron realized that no matter what he said, it was wrong.

Whether he answers "yes" or "no," it doesn't sound like a compliment.

"Fool."

Hermione quietly distanced herself from Ron and Harry.

Two physically strong but seemingly simple-minded idiots.

"Sheen, what do you think—what about Sheen?"

Justin asked instinctively, only to find that Sheehan had disappeared.
“Oh… okay, I think I understand.” He continued to mutter to himself.

The Ravenclaw locker room at this moment.

Sheen thought, watching the game from the stadium is still watching the game, right?
"I knew you'd come! Now Prefect Penelope won't have to tear me apart—"

Roger immediately grabbed Sheehan's hand and shook it vigorously.

“Senior Lotte, you can retire from the Seeker position—let our strongest rookie take over!”

“I’d be happy to—come on, Mr. Green—”

Lotte is the captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. He is a seventh-year wizard, and this is his last year playing for Ravenclaw. He dreams of leaving a Seeker seed for Ravenclaw.

He previously discovered Cho Chang and Roger Davis, but now, he probably has better options.

“Gryffindor always brags about having the best team, but guys, do you know what?”
In my heart, you are the best team! Let them know that eagles should always soar in the highest skies!

The Ravenclaws then erupted in a great cheer.

There was no wind at the Quidditch pitch, and the sky was a uniform pearly white, which meant good visibility without the glare of the sun.

Lee Jordan was giving a passionate commentary, with Professor McGonagall standing right next to him:
“We’ve seen the final lineup that Ravenclaw just finalized,”

He looked at a piece of parchment and said...
"Last year's batter is gone, but Lott seems to have found two good new Ravenclaws who reportedly flew quite well as substitutes in the past."

But Lott withdrew, giving the opportunity to a newcomer in his final year—a rare occurrence—Merlin!

He suddenly started shouting.

"Jordan!"

"Professor McGonagall shouted."

"I'm sorry, Professor. In fact, I couldn't have imagined it was this name."

Oh—let's see—Ravenclaw's new Seeker, the only one in years to get flight clearance, pass the flight test with a perfect score, the writer of Green's Notebook, oh, and I think that's the most important thing—anyway, Ravenclaw's new Seeker is—Mr. Sean Green!

"You mean-"

Professor McGonagall stood up instantly.

"professor."

Jordan found this scene somewhat familiar, as if it had just happened.

Ravenclaw locker room.

The team members stood up, shouldered their flying brooms, lined up, and walked out of the locker room into the dazzling sky.

They received a thunderous welcome, and Sheen could hear singing, though it was drowned out by cheers and whistles.

"Oh my god! Sheehan!"

In the stands, Hermione and Justin were frantically doing something on a flag.

"Ron, hurry!"

“I’m already trying!”

Ron transformed a scarf into a large flag, reaching the limit of his Transfiguration abilities.

Three minutes later.

A huge banner, enchanted with color-changing magic, was erected, sometimes displaying Sheen's large head, sometimes the words "Victory is certain."

Sheehan wasn't particularly fond of Quidditch, but when he saw Hermione, Justin, and the others excitedly making flags and waving at him; and when Professor McGonagall nodded at him with an incredibly joyful and gratified look and subtly raised her fist, his feelings for Hogwarts deepened.

The only slightly unpleasant thing was that, on the other side of the stands, Professor Snape's eyes were terrifyingly grim:
"A foolish sport organized by well-developed idiots... Don't let me find out who seduced... a destined Potions Master, ha—"

His low-pressure radiation reached the surrounding wizards, and the Slytherins wisely retreated a few meters away.

Only Headmaster Dumbledore, with his deep blue eyes, leaned closer:

"I have to say, he does resemble Minerva quite a bit, doesn't he..."

Professor Snape gave Dumbledore a fierce look, and the long-bearded headmaster chuckled and stopped talking.

(End of this chapter)