Chapter 117: 117: The Interloper in the Quidditch Match

"Don't hold back," Cho Chang said to Eve Stock as the two stood on the Quidditch pitch, their brooms poised for takeoff. "You either," Eve replied curtly, her competitive edge as sharp as ever. "Find the Golden Snitch before I rack up a hundred points, and maybe you'll stand a chance." Cho's lips pressed into a thin line. Ravenclaw's Chasers, overhearing the exchange, couldn't help but feel annoyed at Eve's audacity. But then again, no one could match Eve's speed, and they knew it. Even Roger Davies, a fourth-year Chaser, was visibly unnerved by the second-year girl's sheer talent. Having someone like Eve on the opposing team was more than just intimidating—it was demoralizing. Cho, however, found herself relieved to be a Seeker rather than a Chaser. Any Chaser going up against Eve Stock was bound to be outshone spectacularly. It wasn't just Eve's flying skills that grated on her. Cho hated the thought of losing to Eve in any capacity. As Madam Hooch blew the whistle, the brooms shot into the sky. Ravenclaw, known for their tactical brilliance, immediately formed a tight defensive formation. Their strategy slowed Eve down at first, forcing her to weave through their coordinated blocks. For a while, it seemed like Ravenclaw might hold their ground. But the strain of maintaining such high-intensity flying began to show. Broomsticks creaked ominously, and one by one, the Ravenclaw Chasers began to falter, unable to keep pace with Eve's unrelenting speed. In the stands, Nolan observed the scene unfold with a faint smile. When the Ravenclaw players began struggling to keep up, he remarked quietly, "The match is over." "Really? Not even a shred of concern for the other girl?" Miles Bletchley teased, gesturing toward Cho, who was scanning the skies intently for the Golden Snitch. "Cho? At this rate, she'll have to find the Snitch in ten minutes to turn the game around," Nolan said matter-of-factly. "That's not an easy feat." The moment the words left his mouth, Cho's eyes flashed. She had spotted a glimmer of gold high above the pitch. With a determined glint in her eye, she leaned forward, urging her broom into a steep climb. "There she goes!" Miles exclaimed. "You're such a jinx, Nolan!" "Relax," Nolan replied coolly, his voice carrying a note of reassurance. "We still have Higgins." No sooner had he spoken than the Slytherin Seeker, Higgins, was hit squarely by a Bludger. He tumbled from his broom with a bone-jarring crash onto the ground below, clutching what looked like several broken ribs. "Shut up, Nolan!" the Slytherin students chorused in frustration. Despite the chaos, the Slytherins in the stands remained hopeful. They had been dominating the season, and this match was meant to cement their undefeated streak. "Stop her, Eve!" Alicia yelled, clutching her hands tightly in anticipation. "Go, Eve!" Miles bellowed, waving an enormous flag emblazoned with Eve's name. "EVE! EVE! EVE!" the Slytherins chanted, their collective voice thundering across the pitch. On the field, Eve had abandoned the Quaffle entirely. Like a streak of silver lightning, she shot upward, hot on Cho's heels. "You think you can take the Snitch from me?" Cho snarled through gritted teeth, forcing her broom to climb even faster. "If you get it, Slytherin loses!" Eve barked back, her voice cold as steel. Without hesitation, she rammed into Cho, forcing her rival to swerve sharply to avoid collision. "Dirty tactics!" Cho shouted angrily, veering off-course. "Victory at any cost—that's the Slytherin way," Eve retorted, her eyes locked on the fleeing Snitch. As the two girls tangled in a high-stakes pursuit, a low, ominous growl rumbled across the stadium. On the Gryffindor stands, Harry Potter went pale. Grabbing Hagrid's sleeve, he stammered, "Hagrid, that sound... it's familiar. What is it?" Hagrid's face blanched as he followed Harry's gaze toward the commotion. "Merlin's beard... It's Norbert! How'd he get out?!" The pitch erupted into chaos as Norbert, Hagrid's beloved baby dragon, swooped onto the Quidditch field. Though still young, Norbert was a fearsome sight. He had jagged teeth, razor-sharp claws, and scales capable of deflecting most spells. Flames licked at his nostrils as he growled menacingly, his massive wings casting a shadow over the pitch. For many of the students, it was their first time seeing a dragon up close. The crowd screamed in a mix of terror and awe. Even in its juvenile state, Norbert was a force to be reckoned with—a living, breathing danger to every young witch and wizard present. The Slytherins and Ravenclaws screamed the loudest, their panic fueled by the horrifying realization that their pride—their Chasers and Seekers—had now become the dragon's primary targets. "EVE!" Alicia's shriek cut through the chaos as she clutched her chest, looking as though she might faint. Eve and Cho were in dire straits. They had caught Norbert's attention, and the ugly, hulking dragon was relentless. It circled them aggressively, spurting flames in random directions as it flew. More than once, Cho's Silver Arrow broom was nearly set ablaze, only for Eve to ram into her just in time, knocking her out of harm's way. "Merlin, someone do something!" a student cried out, wide-eyed in horror. "Madam Hooch is going in! Oh no—her broom's on fire!" another screamed. "She's falling! Get out of the way—quick!" Madam Hooch plummeted from the sky, but just before she could hit the ground, she was caught mid-air by a perfectly cast Levitation Charm. Gently, she was lowered onto the grass. The source of the spell? Nolan Von Draugr, who stood at the edge of the Slytherin stands, wand outstretched. "I told that oaf long ago," Nolan said coldly, glaring at Hagrid through the chaos. "Only an idiot would try to hide something like this from Dumbledore." "What are you doing, Nolan?!" Miles Bletchley shouted in alarm, trying to grab Nolan's robes as he moved past him. "That's a dragon! We can't win against that thing!" Nolan shook him off, his eyes fixed on the aerial battle. "Come back! Dumbledore's on his way! They'll be fine!" Miles yelled after him, but Nolan ignored him. "In moments like this, I trust no one but myself," Nolan muttered as he climbed onto the edge of the stands. Without a second's hesitation, he leapt into the open air. Gasps rippled through the remaining students in the stands as Nolan's body began to shift mid-fall. In an instant, he transformed into a massive raven, its dark feathers gleaming in the sunlight. With a powerful beat of its wings, the Animagus soared toward the sky. "Someone's going up there!" a student exclaimed, pointing. "Wait—that's not a bird. It's Nolan!" "Nolan's Animagus form!" "Go, Nolan!" "Our prince! Slytherin's prince!" Though most of the students had already been evacuated by the professors, a few lingered on the stands, shouting Nolan's name. Their hope hung on him, willing him to save the two girls from the dragon's clutches. Nolan flew with incredible speed, but Norbert wasn't slow either. The dragon's sharp senses picked up on the raven, and its head swiveled to track the new threat. Eve, still in danger, forced herself to stay calm. Her focus narrowed to one goal: buying time. She continued weaving through the sky, guiding Cho into sharp, looping maneuvers to keep Norbert distracted. Seizing the opportunity, Nolan swooped down and positioned himself above the dragon. In one swift motion, he transformed back into his human form, free-falling directly onto Norbert's scaly back. "Stupid lizard," Nolan growled as his boots landed firmly on Norbert's spine. With a flick of his wrist, a gleaming silver dagger materialized in his hand. "Time to pay the price, you blind beast." Norbert roared in fury, thrashing violently as it tried to shake Nolan off, its wings beating with enough force to send gusts of wind rippling across the pitch. But Nolan held on, steady and determined, ready to take control of the chaos.