Harry's crisis was temporarily averted, though several Slytherin players were still circling him, making it impossible for him to break free or confirm the Golden Snitch's location. mm
Ron finally stopped clutching the telescope and tracking Harry anxiously.
But just as he turned to watch the Quaffle skirmish on the other side, he spotted something unsettling — Snape, seated in the Slytherin stands.
"Merlin, why is that old bat here?"
Hagrid looked over in confusion. "Old bat? Who?"
"Professor Snape!"
Hagrid snorted, but quickly composed himself and said with a straight face, "Ron, don't talk about a professor like that… even if he is—well, anyway, Dumbledore trusts him."
"I don't. Look how he's glaring at Harry! If he got the chance, I wouldn't put it past him to curse him!"
Up in the air, Harry's situation grew even more chaotic.
Fred couldn't fend off two Slytherins by himself, and George had to rush in to help, but Flint and Psy were relentless. No matter how hard the twins tried to lure them away, they refused to leave Harry's side.
With the four of them tangled up, Harry's field of vision became a blur. Worse still, his broom suddenly began to swerve wildly, as though it no longer wanted to carry a rider.
Harry's face turned pale as he gripped the broomstick tightly with his knees and hands.
Not far away, Vaughn was once again luring a Bludger to disrupt Gryffindor's offense. He glanced at Harry, eyes flashing strangely.
"The Noseless Man made a move again? Just how much does he hate Harry—"
While speeding past, Vaughn's sharp eyes caught sight of both Quirrell and Snape in the stands. He couldn't make out how they were casting, but he knew at once, they were dueling in secret.
He didn't know whether Hermione had noticed anything yet, or whether she could manage to disrupt Quirrell's curse by sheer luck.
But he wasn't going to leave it up to chance.
"It's time to end this game." He soared through the chaos in front of the Slytherin goalposts, gesturing subtly to his teammates. As the fight intensified, so did their hidden movements.
Gryffindor's players suddenly found themselves completely entangled.
Vaughn slipped free of the pack, climbed higher, widened his view, and began scanning below.
At the same time, Ron and Hermione noticed something was wrong with Harry. Remembering Ron's earlier suspicions, Hermione raised the telescope — and spotted Snape, eyes fixed on Harry, murmuring something under his breath.
"Is it really Snape?" Shaken, she didn't hesitate. She dashed off toward the Slytherin stands. Ron, pale with worry for Harry, didn't even notice she was gone.
Moments later, fire broke out in the Slytherin stands. Chaos erupted.
Snape flailed his robes, struggling to extinguish the blue magical flames, a flame that could only be doused with a proper incantation.
But once he stopped chanting the counter-curse, Harry's broom went completely wild.
Hermione stood frozen, watching the broom still bucking. "It wasn't Snape? Then who…?"
She scanned the crowd in a panic, but the situation on the field had already changed.
Without Vaughn, Slytherin's defense buckled. Angelina seized the opportunity, broke through Bletchley's guard, and slammed the Quaffle into the goalpost.
The young woman who had been hounded by Vaughn the entire game let out a victorious roar.
But no one in Slytherin cared — and even Gryffindor barely noticed.
Vaughn had found the Golden Snitch.
He dove.
The silver trim on his dark green cloak streamed behind him like streaks of lightning — he was a falling arrow, a hunting hawk.
"Oh my God! Vaughn spotted the Snitch! He's diving! Look at that speed — he's like a missile! But where's Harry? What's going on with Harry?" Lee Jordan's commentary trembled with tension.
In the sky, Fred and George finally abandoned any pretense of following rules. With brute force, they shoved Flint and Puse away.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Fred shouted.
"My broom's out of control!" Harry gasped.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the broom flipped. Thrown by inertia, Harry lost his grip and plummeted.
Fred tried desperately to catch him, but Flint intercepted again. The brute didn't seem to care if Harry lived or died.
In fury, Fred swung his bat and launched the Bludger straight into Flint's face.
Too slow to dodge, Flint was hit squarely and collapsed on his broom.
As Harry tumbled through the sky, his mind went blank. The wind roared in his ears. Distantly, he heard Lee Jordan shouting:
"Professor — someone help — wait, Vaughn Weasley didn't go for the Snitch! What's he doing?!"
Everything blurred into seconds.
Harry glimpsed the stands whirling past and heard screams around him. I'm falling… I hope it doesn't hurt too much…
Just then, a streak of green and silver sliced through the sky.
Vaughn Weasley.
He swept past like lightning, then turned sharply — and caught Harry in a brutal, bone-rattling grab. Pain exploded through Harry's body, but he was safe.
It was Vaughn!
His red hair was flying behind him like fire, and he asked loudly over the wind, "Harry! You okay? Can you stand on your own?"
Harry couldn't speak; he just nodded again and again.
Vaughn slowed, dropped to the ground, placed Harry gently down, and shot back into the sky.
Lee Jordan's voice cracked with emotion:
"Merlin's beard, Vaughn saved Harry! He gave up the Snitch — he saved him! I swear, the Sorting Hat messed up. I always knew there'd be one wicked Weasley in Slytherin — I mean, good wicked! Sorry, Professor!"
"Look at that lightning — Vaughn's back in the air! He's flying again — my God, he just made a 180-degree turn at full speed! The Snitch can't escape —"
"Vaughn Weasley catches the Snitch — the match is over — Slytherin wins!"
On the field, Harry stood in a daze, staring up.
Vaughn raised his hand high. The Golden Snitch gleamed in his palm.
For days, Harry had been tense and determined to win — but now, all at once, it lifted. He had lost… and yet, somehow, it didn't matter.
The game was over. Vaughn had caught the Snitch, secured 150 points, and Slytherin had triumphed.
The stands erupted in cheers. Even the disheartened Gryffindors didn't hesitate — they had all seen what Vaughn did.
Slytherin's team hoisted him up as they marched toward their roaring crowd.