Chapter 201: The Interrupted Match
On Saturday, the Quidditch match was finally about to begin. The first game would pit Slytherin against Ravenclaw.
As the Slytherin team strode into the stadium, loud cheers erupted from the far-right table, as though their supporters were already celebrating a win. Even the players themselves looked relaxed, showing not the slightest hint of pre-match nerves. To them, last season's game against Ravenclaw—where they'd shut them out—had been nothing more than a practice round for the other teams. Winning today seemed inevitable. What could possibly go wrong?
Marcus had even started rehearsing a victory dance with his teammates. He swayed clumsily in the center of the hall, resembling a baboon under the effects of an Elixir to Induce Euphoria.
"Don't let it get to you, Cho," Cedric reassured the girl beside him. "Believe me, you're not weak."
Cho gave him a look but said nothing. She knew Cedric meant well, yet hearing him say things like that always felt a bit off. It was like a straight-A student telling someone who'd flunked a test that they weren't unintelligent—just that the questions had been particularly tough. However well-intentioned, it made her want to punch him.
"To be honest, your Chasers are really just average," Kyle said suddenly. "So the key to this game is you. You have to catch the Golden Snitch before Ravenclaw falls 150 points behind."
"I'll try my best," Cho sighed. She knew it all too well, but the Golden Snitch wasn't like Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans—she couldn't just catch it whenever she felt like it.
"Kyle's right," Cedric nodded. "And there's also the issue of your broom—it's too old. Even if you spot the Snitch first, you'll still be at a disadvantage. If you don't mind, I could lend you my..."
He was cut off by a large group of owls that swooped in, their flapping wings and hoots drowning out the rest of his sentence. Kyle noticed that six long-eared owls were carrying an elongated package, which they deposited right in front of Cho.