Chapter 231: The Twists and Turns of the Award Ceremony
In the end, Diana didn't show up. Crowded places like Hogwarts weren't her style. But she still made her presence felt—by sending Dumbledore a Howler.
No one knew the exact contents of that Howler, but afterward, students spotted a Phoenix circling the Quidditch Pitch, and the castle portraits were abuzz with chatter. In particular, a few older figures in the portraits seemed more boastful than usual.
"That girl is awful..." a big-nosed wizard was overheard muttering to a witch beside him as they strolled down a corridor. "She even insulted us... By Merlin's socks, what do we have to do with Dumbledore hiring Death Eaters as professors? I've been dead for over three hundred years!"
Dumbledore? Death Eaters? A passing student, thinking he'd stumbled on a juicy bit of gossip, paused to listen. But when he glanced back, the portrait figures were now chasing a dwarf horse and had gone silent. Nearby, two witches sipped their afternoon tea, and he scratched his head in confusion, wondering if he'd misheard.
That afternoon, Chris did arrive, though he seemed more interested in catching up with old friends than discussing anything serious with Kyle. He chatted warmly with Professor Flitwick, exchanging stories and laughing heartily. Later, Professor McGonagall joined them, and the three seemed to get along so well that they decided to head to The Three Broomsticks for a drink together. Kyle watched them leave the castle in disbelief, giving them an amused, silent thumbs-up as they departed.
Meanwhile, Harry was still lying dejectedly in the Hospital Wing. He hadn't expected the Dursleys to visit, of course, but he was disappointed for another reason—he wouldn't be able to play in the final Quidditch match. Madam Pomfrey had refused to let him leave, no matter how much he pleaded, and to keep Oliver Wood from sneaking in, she'd even stationed Filch at the door.
Without Harry as Seeker, Gryffindor's morale hit rock bottom, and they suffered a resounding defeat at the hands of Ravenclaw. Cho Chang caught the Golden Snitch just seven minutes into the game, ending it before Gryffindor could score a single point. The loss dropped them into a tie with Slytherin, who had also endured a string of losses, for last place.
In the aftermath, Professor McGonagall's expression was reportedly a terrifying shade of green. Rumor had it that some younger students saw her leading Wood toward the Astronomy Tower, as if planning to hang him from the castle's highest point to "reflect on his actions." However, this turned out to be a mere rumor; Professor McGonagall had actually retreated to her office after the game and hadn't emerged since.
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