Chapter 404: Kanna’s Patronus
The rematch between Gryffindor and Slytherin took place in the second week of school, with Slytherin emerging as the victor.
According to Fred and George, Harry had tried to ask Professor McGonagall for his Firebolt, but she turned him down. Despite the match's importance to Gryffindor's chances for the Quidditch Cup, Professor McGonagall wouldn't allow Harry to use his Firebolt, prioritizing his safety. With his Nimbus 2000 still undergoing repairs, Harry had no choice but to ride a Shooting Star out onto the pitch—a relic from the Hogwarts Broom Cupboard, typically reserved for first-year flying lessons.
The Shooting Star's main merit, as Harry saw it, was that he wouldn't feel bad if it crashed. When Kyle spotted the broom in Harry's hands, he knew Gryffindor's fate was sealed.
And just as he predicted, Slytherin won in a landslide. By the time Malfoy caught the Golden Snitch, Harry was still trailing far behind, gasping for breath. The Slytherin stands erupted with thunderous cheers, while the Gryffindor side sat in stony silence.
Oliver Wood avoided looking at Marcus's smug expression, leaving the pitch quietly, his broom slung over his shoulder, with the rest of the Gryffindor team trailing after him.
As unfortunate as it was for Gryffindor, it was actually good news for Hufflepuff—and, in fact, for the other three houses. With a Firebolt in play, Gryffindor would have been practically unbeatable. But today, with only thirty points on the board, Gryffindor had effectively played a man down, giving the other teams a precious chance to catch their breath.
"The next game is key. We can't let them pull too far ahead of us!" Cedric declared excitedly in the common room. "One loss doesn't ruin the season. As long as we beat Gryffindor in total points, we can still win the championship!"
"Captain, don't you think you're stressing a bit too much?" Mikel replied casually. "I mean, isn't there something wrong with their Firebolt? They're still stuck with an old Shooting Star... Gryffindor will be at the bottom for sure this year."
"It's not exactly a problem; it's a suspicion. And the professors are investigating it," Cedric corrected him. "I saw Professor McGonagall today, and she didn't look happy. My guess is they'll wrap up the investigation soon. By the time we play Gryffindor next month, we'll probably have our answer—and it'll likely be revealed on the field."