Chapter 187: Finals, World-Class Performance, and Reverberations

Walking out of the library, the originally faint commotion immediately became much more real. Ciel couldn't help but click his tongue. This floor of the Castle, where the library was located, was already the quietest corner of Hogwarts. To hear such a big commotion even here, one could imagine what it was like elsewhere. Truly worthy of being the Quidditch Cup finals, with even greater fanfare than any previous match. As he walked toward the corridor, he discovered that notices for a day off from classes were posted everywhere in the corridors today. This gave students ample time to watch and celebrate. Everyone in the corridors looked different from their usual sleepy classroom demeanour. Each person was spirited and animated, discussing with flying spittle how intense and exciting today's match would be. Especially the Hufflepuff students. Even those who usually loved sleeping in weren't sleeping anymore. Each one was glowing with health, holding cheering flags in their hands. After all, this was Hufflepuff's first time reaching the Quidditch Cup finals in many years. In a sense, today was already new Quidditch history for Hufflepuff. If they could win, everyone would probably be sleepless tonight. This would be an even crazier celebration than after the last match ended. But in the corridors, several Slytherin students brought news with sinister expressions. "Don't you know yet? Hufflepuff's captain Cedric broke his back and can't participate in today's match. They plan to have Ciel Sprout serve as the new Seeker. Tsk. We're very much looking forward to how 'exciting' today's match will be." The little snakes emphasised the word "exciting". As if they were already certain today's finals would be a one-sided slaughter. Having lost their captain, with even their tactical core changing positions, how could they possibly win? Although Gryffindor's victory wasn't the result they wanted to see either. Compared to Hufflepuff, which repeatedly made them lose face, they'd rather see their "arch-enemy's" victory. The little badgers dismissed the little snakes' claims with disdain. This was just the usual underhanded tactics of the devious Slytherins. Disrupting morale before the match to affect their performance. The little badgers wouldn't fall for it. Until they saw him walking down the corridor, they were still talking about this matter. "Ciel. We just heard a ridiculous rumour from Slytherin. To affect our Hufflepuff's performance, they actually made up news that Cedric can't participate. Don't you think that's laughable?" But immediately after, the little badgers saw the captain's armband he was wearing. Their expressions immediately froze. Their faces also turned pale. "Ce... Cedric really can't participate?" The little badgers then forced out smiles. "It's okay, it's okay. As long as we stick to our previous winning tactics, we're still confident about beating Gryffindor. Ciel, you're not really going to play Seeker like they said, are you?" After he nodded slightly, confirming this statement, the little badgers' faces immediately turned completely white. Like they'd fallen into an ice cave. "Merlin's beard." Someone despaired. "How could this happen? We were just one step away from the trophy. If we miss this chance, who knows how many years we'll have to wait?" But moments later, the little badger who spoke dejectedly was immediately stepped on hard by someone next to him. The dejected words stopped abruptly. Replaced by the little badgers' forced encouragement. "Ciel. It's okay; we all believe in you. Play well today. No matter what, we've already made history." He showed some smile at this. He smiled and said, "Don't worry. We'll win. And you won't have to wait long. When the match starts, you need to watch carefully. Better not even blink." The little badgers looked at each other in confusion. Before they could ask for details, he had already quickened his pace toward the player assembly entrance. Moments later, Hannah Abbott was still swaying her pigtails, eyes full of worship. "Since Ciel said so. We'll definitely win today. We just need to do as he said. He has never broken his word." The first-year little badgers' faces also showed similar worship. So far, he had indeed led them to create countless miracles. Among first-years, his prestige was extraordinarily high. Acting captain, changing positions... so what? As long as he said it, it would definitely come true. Today he would definitely bring back the Quidditch Cup! Soon, the atmosphere spreading among first-year little badgers also infected more badgers. Hufflepuff had always placed strong trust in their companions. He had already led the team to the finals. Creating another miracle to win this match... what was impossible about that? Other houses might not believe this. But Hufflepuff's little badgers were willing to give such trust to their companions. The previously downcast atmosphere immediately became high-spirited again. Susan Bones even pulled out a magical camera, nervously reviewing how to use it. She didn't want to miss that brief moment of victory! Soon, the Quidditch pitch finally opened for entry. The young wizards who had been waiting eagerly surged in first. They wanted to find the best positions for themselves. Professor McGonagall also met with Professor Sprout. Both wore supporting robes. The roaring lion and adorable little badger on their robes seemed to be competing with each other. Even the looks the two heads of house gave each other were full of gunpowder. Perhaps normally they were colleagues and friends. But today, there could only be one winner. Walking in side by side, Professor McGonagall couldn't help but speak. "I heard Cedric was injured? That's really unfortunate news. But with Ciel switching to Seeker, this actually favours us even more. We spent all that time preparing for Hufflepuff's Beater tactics. Now it looks like the match will end quickly." Professor Sprout was equally unyielding. "Is that so? I think continuing to use Beater tactics would be too boring to win. We have a hundred ways to win the match. Now we've just found one that gives you the most suspense. But the final championship... don't even think about touching it." The gunpowder smell between the two heads of house grew thicker. Even after sitting in the stands, their gazes toward each other remained extremely sharp. As if overpowering the other's momentum could bring some benefit to their own team. At this time, the little badgers were cheering vigorously, creating waves of people and sound. The little lions did the same. Every wave of their flags could produce lion roars. This time, Slytherin all chose to stand with Gryffindor. Although Ravenclaw didn't have any arch-enemy relationship, most Ravenclaw students preferred Gryffindor over the dull Hufflepuff. The entire pitch was now clearly divided into two sides. Until a sharp whistle sounded. Players from both sides entered. The pitch immediately fell silent. Gazes fell on the player entrance tunnel. Especially on the figure who emerged first from Hufflepuff. Indeed, it wasn't Cedric Diggory. It was him. He wore Hufflepuff's captain armband! The position marked on his jersey had also changed to Seeker! After personally confirming this scene, Gryffindor's players collectively breathed sighs of relief. They'd been worried Hufflepuff would play some trick and change their decision just before entry. Now it seemed they could finally relax. Harry clenched his hands tightly. As if seeing the Quidditch trophy beckoning to him. But what made him vaguely uneasy was that in his line of sight, the Hufflepuff players' faces seemed to show no anxiety whatsoever. Instead, they looked like this match had no suspense at all. As if it had already been settled. Harry immediately remembered the first match against Hufflepuff. They'd been completely crushed by Hufflepuff's Beater tactics from start to finish. The Hufflepuff players then seemed to have similar expressions? The next moment, Harry vigorously shook his head. Pushing out all these thoughts detrimental to his confidence. He kept telling himself. "I've become much stronger than in the last match. But Hufflepuff have abandoned the tactics they trained all year. Ciel is temporarily serving as Seeker... he can't possibly fly as well as me. Get the Golden Snitch as quickly as possible after the match starts, and we'll win!" Harry breathed deeply, eliminating all distracting thoughts. His focus reached its peak. The surrounding world seemed to freeze. Even time appeared to stop. Until another sharp whistle sounded, announcing the match's start. Harry also instantly pushed off, his Nimbus 2000 whooshing into the sky. A wonderful feeling came, more perfect than any previous takeoff. Harry felt his flying condition was excellent! Not only that, but from the corner of his eye, the moment he took off, he'd already seen a golden flash. The Golden Snitch! Harry drew a lightning-like trajectory, heading straight for the Golden Snitch. He had an incredible thought. This match might be about to end. With him catching the Golden Snitch within three minutes of the start! All his previous training had been for this. He could do it! At this moment, commentator Lee Jordan from the announcing booth also burst into exclamation. "Harry! He's already found the Golden Snitch; he's diving straight for it! Beautiful form, so fast, he turns like lightning! This match might be about to end!" The commotion in the stands suddenly erupted. The scene seemed about to explode. But the next moment, Lee Jordan's voice became hoarse and sharp like a broken gong. "Merlin's beard! What is that?! Ciel Sprout, he's appeared! He's faster than Harry, much faster... how is this possible? Where did he come from?!" Then Lee Jordan seemed about to faint, gripping the microphone and roaring. "Ghost start! The signature move of the Wales team Seeker from several World Cups ago? Hiding under a teammate's broom during takeoff, using the teammate to break through airflow so the broom can reach top speed faster? This is extremely difficult even in professional fields... one wrong move could crash both yourself and your teammate. Ciel has gone mad!" In the near-explosive noise from the stands, Harry's originally elated mood also plummeted. From the corner of his eye, he saw him. Fast. Too fast! Harry had no energy to pay attention to Lee Jordan's commentary. He couldn't understand how he could be so much faster with the same broomstick?! At this rate... This was bad. At this time, everyone in Gryffindor realised this too. Experienced captain Oliver Wood roared. "Breakthrough formation!" This roar reminded all Gryffindor players of their hellish training content during this period. Using themselves and their brooms to block his movements and seal off his positions. Creating an opportunity for Harry to catch the Golden Snitch quickly. After hearing about Hufflepuff's personnel changes, they'd thought they wouldn't need this plan. After all, using such tactics in regular confrontation would be too unseemly. But now, if they didn't use it, they might have no chance at all. For a moment, Gryffindor players rode their brooms, trying to intercept his route. Even if they could only hinder him for a few seconds, that would work. Harry could use this opportunity to secure victory. All spectators in the stands widened their eyes. No one expected this finals match, thought to be a tug-of-war, to seem like it would end in just a few minutes? Everyone held their breath, not daring to blink, afraid they'd miss some victory-deciding detail in that blink. At this moment, among Gryffindor's encircling figures, he drew a floating, eerie yet beautiful arc. Like a leaf spiralling in the wind. He easily shook off Gryffindor Chasers Angelina and two others who tried to intercept him. Angelina and the others stood stunned on their brooms like they'd been struck by lightning, recognising this famous flying manoeuvre. Lee Jordan also roared in his commentary. "Falling Leaf Spiral! And it's a combat Falling Leaf Spiral, getting past three people at once... even in World Cup finals, this would be a moment for the history books!" But his performance wasn't over yet. Ahead of him were the Weasley twins. Fred and George, usually carefree twins, now had unprecedentedly serious expressions. With the championship trophy right in front of them, they didn't want to miss it. "You won't get past us! Even if we have to knock you off your broom!" He read their meaning from their lip movements. Then a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. Just before colliding with them, he pulled his broom. The broom suddenly jumped up. He actually leapt over the twins' heads. When the Weasley twins turned around, they could only watch him speed away without any reduction in velocity. Their expressions became incredibly colourful. "What kind of flying is that? Acrobatics? That's too awesome! Ciel, do you take apprentices?" Lee Jordan was now roaring again about the origin of his move. "Over a hundred years ago in first-division league play, this move first appeared and was immediately recognised as top-tier evasion. Pendulum Soar... this is already the third world-class technique he has used! Am I dreaming? Is this still the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup? I thought I was commenting on the World Cup finals!" At this time, only Gryffindor captain Wood stood before him. This Keeper blocked his path like a mountain, seemingly wanting to guard the "goal" behind him. But he showed a sly expression. His broom flickered back and forth like a dragonfly touching water, completely confusing Wood. He couldn't judge which direction he would fly at all. In a moment of distraction, he brushed past him. Harry's heart instantly plummeted to the depths. "He flies so much better than me. He's so fast, he's overtaken me. He's going to catch the Golden Snitch!" Just as Harry despaired, the Golden Snitch's movement gave him a glimmer of hope. The Golden Snitch, about to be caught by him, suddenly made a high-difficulty turn, trying to shake him off. He seemed about to brush past the Golden Snitch. If so, Harry, following close behind, might catch the Golden Snitch! Harry's heartbeat accelerated wildly. But the next second, he widened his eyes, stunned on his broomstick. Because the moment the Golden Snitch turned, he didn't hesitate... he pushed off his broom and leapt into the air. Like a swooping falcon, he quickly pounced through the air, precisely catching the Golden Snitch in his palm. As he fell toward the ground under gravity's influence, his broom, having changed trajectory from that earlier kick, traced an arc and steadily caught him as he fell less than a few metres. At this moment, Lee Jordan's roar of "human-broom separation" and the whistle announcing the match's end sounded almost simultaneously. "Ciel caught the Golden Snitch. Match over! Final score 150-0, Hufflepuff wins!" The entire venue erupted at this moment. Harry sat dejectedly on his broom, witnessing the frozen moment when the match was decided. One minute and twenty-six seconds – that was all. But besides helplessness, he really couldn't generate any jealous thoughts. Only bitterness spread across his face. His grip on the broom tightened. He had almost single-handedly shaken off the entire Gryffindor team. Was this the gap? Wood and other Gryffindor players gathered around, all sighing and comforting Harry. "It's okay, Harry. Losing this way, we really tried our best. His flying skills... he shouldn't be a first-year; he should be playing World Cup finals." Harry nodded silently. After a long while, he said to Wood, "After today ends. I want extra practice." Wood patted Harry's shoulder hard. At this time, the bitterness of these losers had nothing to do with Hufflepuff. The Hufflepuff stands erupted with the most deafening noise yet. Professor Sprout frantically waved a large flag, face flushed, gasping for breath, showing unprecedented wild joy. All the little Hufflepuff badgers hugged together everywhere, crying and laughing. No one expected this year's Quidditch Cup champion would be Hufflepuff. How many years had it been? Hufflepuff could finally welcome a championship trophy. Gradually, after coming to their senses, wavelike cheers came from the stands. "Ciel! Ciel!" The little badgers called his name. He flew to his teammates. As if planned, they flew extremely fast. In the blink of an eye, they reached the front row, unexpectedly lifting up Cedric, who was watching from a stretcher and applauding excitedly. He put the captain's armband back on Cedric's arm. Together with his teammates, they carried Cedric for three laps around. The little badgers understood. Their shouts became even more earth-shaking. "Cedric Diggory! Lauren Teyes!" Every Hufflepuff player's name was shouted in the stands. This was the entire team's victory! When the heavy trophy was brought to Hufflepuff, Professor Sprout directly announced. "Today is Hufflepuff's special day. The kitchens will supply food all night. Come on, children, this is what everyone deserves. Today, screw classes, screw weight control, and screw underage drinking laws. Everyone, let's celebrate! There's going to be a dance, I'm sure it's ready. Girls and boys, go invite your favourite players and dance until exhausted!" Streams of confetti fell in the common room. Then burning gazes from Hufflepuff girls searched for him in the common room. But to their confusion, he seemed to have evaporated, disappearing from the common room. At this time, he, under his Invisibility Cloak, wiped cold sweat from his forehead. He felt Aunt Sprout had been planning this for a long time, determined to make him spark something with Hufflepuff girls tonight. She definitely wanted him to get married right after graduation. Good thing he reacted quickly and put on the Invisibility Cloak. Otherwise, if he wanted to leave, he'd probably lose a layer of skin. He shook his head slightly. It wasn't that he didn't want to participate in Hufflepuff's celebration. If it were second or third year, he would be happy to do so. After all, while Hogwarts wasn't particularly safe then, whether it was basilisks, Dementors, Sirius, or Pettigrew, they all revolved around Harry. Unlike this first year's two-faced spy, who focused much attention on himself. The end of the first year wasn't far away. When Quirrell finished his leave and returned to Hogwarts, the fight for the Philosopher's Stone would reach its most frenzied moment. He had already decided not to participate in anything then. But making more preparations was never wrong. What if Quirrell really still harboured evil intentions toward him? Now wasn't the time to relax. Then his steps headed toward the small greenhouse. Several plants inside were not far from maturity. In this final period, he didn't want any factors affecting the final quality. But just as he stepped into the small greenhouse, suddenly, silver light began flickering in his vision. His gaze suddenly fell on Demeter's silver chalice. Silver radiance was emanating from the flickering patterns on its surface. Just like when he had previously gained unprecedented worship and faith from the trolls, his heart stirred. In his mind appeared the increasingly fervent worship in the little badgers' eyes after winning today's match. Could it be that some of this had already reached faith standards? Could Demeter's chalice help accelerate the ritual magic cooldown?! Then he took out his wand. Gently tapping Demeter's chalice. A crisp, pleasant sound immediately echoed through the small greenhouse.