Nothing at Hogwarts comes easily — except for the Quidditch match where Hufflepuff effortlessly crushed Ravenclaw.
The moment Cedric caught the Golden Snitch, Ravenclaw students in the stands sat in stunned silence, too shocked to speak.
Professor Flitwick showed up halfway through the match, but only stayed a few minutes before leaving, clutching his chest.
In less than half an hour, the score was three hundred and twenty to zero. Even though Ravenclaw was used to finishing last in Quidditch, such a massive gap was still hard to swallow.
Especially that painfully glaring "0" on the scoreboard!
If only they'd managed to score just one goal…
"Cedric, why did you fly so fast?" Back on the ground, Kyle muttered, "We were already winning — catching the Snitch didn't matter."
"I have to keep searching for the Snitch. I don't have time to watch the score." Cedric shot back, irritated, "Besides, have you ever seen a Seeker let the Snitch go on purpose? That would be throwing away honor. No Seeker would ever do that!
And you lot — just for a second I wasn't paying attention, and suddenly it was seventeen to zero! Isn't that a bit much? Couldn't you have eased up a little? Or do you not care about Charms class anymore?"
"I wasn't paying attention either…" Kyle grimaced, "Everything was going so smoothly that before I knew it, the match was over."
The two exchanged glances and sighed in unison.
✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭
In the days that followed, Ravenclaw's mood hit rock bottom. Their relationship with Hufflepuff, once friendly, had shifted entirely.
There weren't any fights, but tension between the two houses was thick. Even when Hufflepuff students greeted them, Ravenclaws acted as if they hadn't heard and simply walked away.
In this tense atmosphere, Kyle and Cedric had been avoiding Cho all week, too embarrassed to talk to her.
Cho, however, wasn't bothered. Whatever disappointment she'd felt faded after the match. In her eyes, Hufflepuff had simply played better, and Ravenclaw lost because they weren't good enough.
After a Transfiguration class, she noticed Kyle about to slip out of the classroom. Annoyed, she pursed her lips and called, "Hey, Kyle!"
"Uh…" Kyle froze, turning stiffly as if just now noticing her, "Oh, it's Cho… ahem, I didn't even realize you were here."
Cho was amused by his flimsy excuse. She shook her head, took a deep breath, and said, "I forgot to take notes during class. Can I borrow yours?"
"Of course, no problem." Kyle quickly pulled out a black notebook and handed it over, "Feel free to look through it. Return it whenever you want… or, well, you don't have to return it at all."
"Thanks." Cho said, taking the notebook.
Kyle smiled awkwardly, "Don't mention it, don't mention it…"
After he left, Cho slipped the notebook between the last pages of her textbook.
Of course, as a Ravenclaw, she hadn't really forgotten to take notes. She'd only used that excuse to keep Kyle and Cedric from overthinking things and treating her like she was Voldemort.
Seeing how relieved he looked, Cho rolled her eyes and sighed, "Hmph, stupid boys."
Kanna, standing beside her, nodded in wholehearted agreement.
✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭
Meanwhile, after lunch in the Great Hall — and recounting the encounter to Cedric — Kyle left the castle and headed for the Forbidden Forest.
Dumbledore had healed Fluffy just the day before.
Kyle had visited the restricted area as well. The moment he entered, Fluffy bounded over, all three huge heads nuzzling into his arms, showing no sign of having been tormented by Dark Magic.
The creature was certainly thick-skinned… though perhaps that was the upside of being a bit dim.
This time, Kyle wanted to check on Hagrid. While Fluffy was being treated, Hagrid had stationed himself at the entrance every day, refusing to let anyone near and barely eating a thing.
The food Kyle had brought him those days remained untouched. He suspected that if Dumbledore had taken any longer, Fluffy's hallucinations might have become real.
When Kyle arrived at the wooden hut, Hagrid was brewing something. He looked much thinner, but his spirits seemed high.
"Kyle, you're here!" Hagrid greeted him warmly.
"Just finished class, thought I'd drop by." Kyle said with a smile, "Are you making lunch?"
As he spoke, he peeked into the pot — then instantly regretted it.
Inside was a stew of the strangest color: brown mixed with streaks of red and a hint of purple. The thick liquid bubbled occasionally, and as soon as he leaned in, a powerful, rancid smell hit him.
"Hagrid, are you… brewing a potion?" Kyle asked, eyeing the pot with suspicion.
He'd only ever seen liquid like that in Potions class — or, more accurately… in Michael's cauldron.
"A potion? Of course not! I don't brew that sort of thing." Hagrid said, shaking his head, "This is for Fluffy. It's got dragon blood, dragon liver… all the things he likes. Poor thing must've been terrified these past few days. He needs to get his strength back."
Learning it was for Fluffy, Kyle said nothing more. Judging by the three-headed dog's taste, this failed potion — er, stew — would be quite a treat.
Hagrid stirred the pot with a large spoon, then brought out rock cakes and tea for Kyle.
"Fluffy's fine now, just as lively as ever. Nothing could make me happier." Hagrid wiped the corner of his eye and added, "Poor little creature. If I ever find out who used Dark Magic on him, I won't let them get away with it!"
As he spoke, he squeezed the rock cake in his hand until it crumbled. The larger crumbs landed in the pot with a series of tinkling sounds.
Kyle gave a dry laugh. Only Hagrid would call a ten-foot-tall, fierce-looking, three-headed dog a "little creature"…
Letting Hagrid's odd choice of words slide, Kyle asked curiously, "Has Professor Dumbledore found out who did it yet?"
"No." Hagrid sighed, "But he'll find out. Nothing escapes Dumbledore at Hogwarts. Otherwise he wouldn't have put the Philosopher's Stone in… oh, I shouldn't have told you that."
✭✭✭
T/N: Hey! Liked what you read? Support your friendly neighborhood translator on Patreon! Think of it as buying me a coffee... or ten!
For just $1.50 (that's less than your daily meme budget), get extra chapters! Want more? $2 gets you bonus content, $5 unlocks premium stories, and $10 makes you my hero (and gets you everything I have, including earlier acess to new books)! You can have access to almost 15 books!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)
https://www.patreon.com/collection/1305453