Chapter 325 Quidditch

The stands were packed with people and there was a lot of noise everywhere. The Hufflepuff students were distributing small yellow flags, and most of the Gryffindor students were wearing red ornaments. Even Percy had a rose on his chest. Anthony followed Professor McGonagall straight across the field and came to the commentary table.

"I have to monitor the commentary," Professor McGonagall whispered to Anthony.

The young man named Lee Jordan was already sitting behind the commentary desk. He greeted them with a smile.

"It's a lovely day, isn't it?"

Anthony smiled at him and nodded. He remembered that Jordan was a good friend of the Weasley twins.

Professor McGonagall sat down next to the commentary table, took off her hat and put it aside, then motioned for Anthony to sit next to her.

"Thank you, Minerva," said Antony, looking around with curiosity.

There was a magic microphone and a small telescope placed on the slightly old table. The knobs on the telescope looked a little worn. Lee Jordan picked up the microphone, tossed it carelessly between his left and right hands, and looked down toward the Gryffindor dressing room.

Anthony looked down too. There was no obstruction in front of them, and they had an unobstructed view of the oval lawn of the Quidditch pitch and the crowded auditorium. At eye level with them, the goalposts shone golden in the sun as Mrs. Hooch flew around them, performing final inspections. Across the audience sat Umbridge, sitting with Snape among the Slytherin students, clutching her annoying clipboard.

Professor McGonagall noticed his gaze: "Yes, this is a game that attracts much attention."

"They definitely care," said Lee Jordan. "If we lose -" he saw Professor McGonagall's face, "of course that's not going to happen - I mean, if we win, Slytherin won't There must be a Quidditch Cup. They've been trying to take it away from Professor Flitwick's office."

Before Professor McGonagall could speak, a deafening cheer erupted from the audience. Anthony looked over and saw the Gryffindor team in red uniforms and the yellow Hufflepuff team coming out of their respective dressing rooms, brooms in hand. Mrs. Huo Qi stood in the middle of the field, opened the box in front of everyone, and released the balls one by one. Anthony saw Wood putting a hand on Fred or George's shoulder from a distance, with his head very close to the twins, as if he was emphasizing something with them.

Lee Jordan immediately grabbed the microphone: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the fourth Hogwarts Quidditch match of this school year, Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff!"

A golden light flashed and the golden snitch was released. The audience burst into cheers. The snitch flashed in the sunlight and then disappeared.

The players from both sides walked towards Mrs. Huo Qi. Surrounded by all the team members, Harry did look particularly small. Anthony looked in the direction he turned back and spotted Hagrid - quite conspicuous - in the crowd, as well as Ron, Hermione and Neville sitting next to Hagrid. They were all applauding the Gryffindor team.

"The game is about to start. I am Lee Jordan, the commentator for this game." Jordan said, "The captains of both sides shook hands - Mrs. Hooch reiterated the basic rules -" A whistle sounded, "The game begins!"

Everyone got on their brooms and flew into the air. Harry flew higher than everyone else, while Cedric hovered below him, looking for the Snitch.

"Hufflepuff's Chaser grabbed the Quaffle right from the start - Gryffindor was chasing it very closely - Nice pass, the Quaffle is still in Hufflepuff's hands - Well done, Wood! Gryffindor holds the goal! Fly, Johnson, fly - Gryffindor has got the bludger!"

Angelina's broom made a sharp turn in the air, dodging a Bludger that whizzed by.

"I'm fine!" she shouted, speeding past the commentary table with the Quaffle and flying towards the Hufflepuff goal.

Lee Jordan said: "Come on, boys! Weasley, what are you doing with your bats? - Angelina Johnson reverse pass, beautiful - Oh no, Hufflepuff Intercepted the Quaffle, and the cooperation was very tacit - there was no obstruction in front, he ran all the way with the ball - chased after him, Spinnet - "

Before Anthony could react to what was happening, the Hufflepuff chaser suddenly lurched and his broom paused. Alia Spinnet immediately overtook him and snatched the Quaffle away.

"What a Bludger!" shouted Lee Jordan. "It hit the heart!"

One of the Weasley twins flew down from above and stopped in front of the announcer's table. "Here's the bat, man." He raised the bat toward Jordan and squinted at one flying towards him. Bludger, and then swiped it towards the Hufflepuffs trying to stop Arya.

"Another Bludger - blocked - pass from Alia Spinnett, who only became a regular last school year and is now on her own - to Johnson - in ! The goalkeeper failed! Score for Gryffindor!"

The whole audience burst into cheers. Professor McGonagall also showed a smile on her tense face, and clapped her hands reservedly.

Wood shouted to one of the twins in front of the commentary desk from a distance: "What are you doing there, Fred? Fly up! Watch Harry!"

"I'm George." The red-haired young man in front of Anthony complained. He pulled the broom and flew towards Wood. "There are no crazy Bludgers, Oliver, and there are no crazy brooms!"

Wood shouted: "This is just the beginning!"

Angelina followed closely the Hufflepuff Chasers, flying around the field, and then echoed: "What if there is a crazy Golden Snitch?"

"What?" Fred flew down from above and knocked away the Bludger that hit Angelina. "A Golden Snitch that specifically hits people?"

"I'd be glad to see that," Cedric interjected, circling deftly to avoid the Bludgers flying toward him.

"Go away!" Fred said to him, hitting another Bludger.

Cedric grinned and flew away briskly.

…

More than an hour passed, and neither the Golden Snitch nor the crazy Golden Snitch appeared. There were a few times when Harry and Cedric flew down from above and everyone thought they saw the Golden Snitch, but in fact they just wanted to say something to their teammates.

Anthony already felt a little bored, but Jordan beside him was still explaining passionately.

"The score between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff has become sixty to seventy, very close. Now the focus is still on the seekers of both sides - Gryffindor got the Quaffle, and it was the chaser Kay. Ty Bell, she was caught between two Hufflepuff Chasers - oops, another Chaser was flying towards her, standard Parkin pincer maneuver - and she tried to pass the ball ——Oh, it was a fake move! But she failed to deceive her opponent, and her situation was still very dangerous - Weasley hit the Bludger - missed - Bell tried to pass the ball to Johnson - Oops, The ball was blocked and Hufflepuff got the Quaffle!"

There was a small cheer from the Hufflepuff stands, waving small yellow flags, but it soon fell silent again, watching the game with bated breath.

"Pass - perfectly coordinated, all the way to the Gryffindor post - Wood circling - Bludger, no use, Hufflepuff batsman defending very tight - oh, wave Te flew down again - Digory flew over almost at the same time, God, they must have found something - Hufflepuff scored, but who cares about that - Sorry, Professor McGonagall - Grant Findor and Hufflepuff sixty to eighty - Potter galloping, brilliant tumbling, dodging the Quaffle - Digory close behind - they really look like two arrows - Potter catches The golden snitch!”

The whole crowd cheered. Mrs. Hooch blew the whistle vigorously and seemed very satisfied with the game.

Lee Jordan shouted: "Gryffindor caught the Golden Snitch. The game is over. Gryffindor beats Hufflepuff, two hundred and ten to eighty. Gryffindor wins! Let us congratulate Gryffindor. Gryffindor! Harry Potter, who caught the Golden Snitch, is Gryffindor's seeker. He joined the Gryffindor team as a first-year student last school year and has helped Gryffindor win five awards. A victory!”

Still holding the Snitch high, Harry spiraled down to the ground. His teammates landed next to him and immediately hugged him.

Wood happily pulled the Weasley twins off the broom, one on the left and the other on the right, and patted their backs hard, ignoring that both of them almost tripped over the broom handle. He didn't notice Mrs. Hooch calling him until someone reminded him, and he quickly ran over with a smile to shake hands with the Hufflepuff captain.

Hagrid stood in the cheering crowd, clapping excitedly, while Ron, Neville, Seamus and Dean were also discussing happily. Hermione stuffed a book into her bag before turning her head and applauding vigorously, joining her friends in their joy.

The Ravenclaw and Slytherin audience began to slowly leave the auditorium. The Hufflepuff students also stood up and slowly left the field, not forgetting to say a few words of encouragement to the sweaty Hufflepuff players as they passed them.

Professor Sprout squeezed through the crowd and came to them: "Congratulations, Minerva! A wonderful game!"

Professor McGonagall said: "Hufflepuff also played well."

"I know, we tried our best." Professor Sprout said with a smile, "I'm also glad that Dolores didn't interrupt the game. I will definitely thank Severus."

Anthony looked across and saw that Snape had left the table. He found the opponent's figure on the path outside the stadium.

Snape was walking towards Hogwarts Castle. Even from such a distance, you could tell that his face looked terrible. It was hard to tell whether it was because of Gryffindor's victory or because of Umbridge beside him. They were followed by several Slytherins, and Anthony vaguely remembered that they seemed to be Slytherin prefects—of course members of the investigation team—those students were gesticulating and saying something.

Professor McGonagall said slightly surprised: "He promised you?"

Professor Sprout was even more surprised and asked: "He didn't promise you?"

Professor McGonagall said arrogantly: "I think Gryffindor's strength is not afraid of those dark tricks. No, I have no interest in asking Severus to do anything."

Professor Sprout smiled: "Okay, I asked him. I told him that if he can make Dolores stay in the stands and not affect the game, I will give this batch of mandrakes Give him the best ones when they mature. Of course, if he doesn’t agree, he will never get the sap, bubble pods or cookies again.”

"I would call that a threat," Anthony said.

"Stern threats." Professor McGonagall agreed. "Sounds like you made cookies again, Pomona?"

"Right. So, greenhouse?" Professor Sprout said. "We can call Filius. He should be putting some finishing touches on the construction of that zoo."

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Sounds good."

As they talked, they walked down the stands. Just then, a discordant shout suddenly broke out from the noisy crowd. Professor Sprout and Professor McGonagall stopped together.

Anthony looked in the direction of the noise and saw a familiar scene.

Red and green mixed together, and Gryffindor and Slytherin fought.