At the beginning of October, the Quidditch season was approaching.
Cedric had been looking increasingly nervous lately, always carrying a notebook wherever he went, writing and drawing in it.
Moreover, the books he usually read had changed from "Development and Change of Medieval Magic" to "One Hundred Quidditch Tactics Explained".
According to Cedric, "When Harris was captain, the team never lost a single game. I have to keep the Quidditch Cup in Hufflepuff."
The second weekend in October.
Kael was planning to sleep in, but Cedric came running early in the morning and without a word dragged him to the auditorium.
"Training, Kael, you've missed three times already!"
While eating beef sandwiches, Cedric said seriously, "You don't have anything else this time, do you..."
"Uh... shouldn't be anymore." Kael said somewhat guiltily, looking at Cedric's unfriendly eyes.
Lately, the Mandrake plants he'd planted in the Room of Requirement had started to become active, indicating they were about to mature.
While it was a few months later than expected, they were finally reaching maturity.
To ensure nothing went wrong at the last minute, Kael would visit the Room of Requirement whenever he had time.
He didn't have time for training, not even breaks; he was extremely busy.
The good news was that his efforts weren't in vain... all the Mandrake plants had matured, were healthy, and the sound they made was full of energy.
Even though Kael wore earmuffs the entire time, judging by their appearance and behavior, it seemed true.
"Are you sure you have nothing else?" Cedric looked at him suspiciously.
"I'm sure!" Kael nodded.
The Poisonous Tentacles needed a little more time, probably until the end of the year would be just right.
But that's still a ways off.
Plus, it was hard to justify missing so many training sessions ever since Cedric became captain.
Anyone unaware might think he was dissatisfied with Cedric as captain.
Kael didn't want to leave others with such an impression.
Being the captain meant not only recruiting new players but also being responsible for training plans and match tactics, which was extremely busy work. It was better left to Cedric.
"That's for the best."
Cedric took a sip of pumpkin juice. "The match is coming up, no matter how busy you are, you should try to participate in training as much as possible, at least to cooperate with the new players... this time we have four new players."
A team has seven members, four of whom are new, which means more than half have changed. No wonder Cedric was really nervous now.
"Wait a minute..." Kael suddenly realized something and looked up to ask, "How many did you say?"
"Four!"
"Wasn't it three?" Kael looked at him in confusion, "Two Chasers, one Keeper... I remember there were only three in the same year."
"Which means you've hardly paid any attention to the team..." Cedric's eyes turned unfriendly again.
However, after hesitating for a moment, he still explained, "After the seventh-year Beater Wright graduated, he wanted to become an Auror, but his grades were not outstanding, only barely meeting the minimum requirements.
And Quidditch training took up too much time, so to earn more certificates after graduation... just yesterday, he submitted his resignation from the team."
"Yesterday?" Kael frowned, "It's been so long, can Ms. Hooch agree to us changing players?"
"She agreed."
Cedric said, "Because graduation is approaching, many people hesitate between Quidditch and certificates. Cases like Wright's aren't uncommon.
Probably not wanting to delay their graduation, any seventh-year student can resign anytime... even just before the last match."
Kael nodded, he hadn't known this before.
"Did you find a replacement?" Kael asked.
"There are a few candidates." Cedric lowered his voice and said, "I think your roommate is pretty good, that guy named Mikel."
"Mikel?" Kael was a bit surprised.
"Yes." Cedric said, "Remember back in the second year, when he managed to carry a Bludger across half the pitch; that's not something an average person can do and requires considerable arm strength.
Thinking about it now, he seems to have a talent for being a Beater... of course, he needs a bit of training."
After that, the two called on Mikel, who had just finished breakfast along with two other students, and headed to the Quidditch Pitch together.
But they had just arrived when another team wearing red robes entered the pitch, all holding Broomsticks.
"Cedric?" Oliver Wood strode over. "Isn't your training time supposed to be in the afternoon?"
"That's true." Cedric explained, "But something unexpected happened, and Ms. Hooch allowed us to reserve the pitch today to recruit new players."
"New players? But it's already... oh..." Wood hesitated halfway through speaking and suddenly realized, asking tentatively, "Your seventh-year Beater?"
"Ah, yes." Cedric didn't hide it, "He quit to have more time for studying... so we must quickly select a new Beater.
Sorry, but you might have made the trip for nothing."
Oliver Wood instinctively showed a smile, but quickly suppressed it.
"No worries, your matter is clearly more important." He said in a lighthearted tone, seemingly unconcerned about losing training time.
"I'm guessing Oliver must be secretly thrilled." Fred whispered to Harry on the way back, "He always thought Hufflepuff was our biggest opponent."
"But this year, they seem to have run into some trouble." George said, "Three of their old players graduated, plus the resignation of Wright."
"Which means..." Harry thought for a moment and said, "We'll be facing a Hufflepuff team this year that consists mostly of inexperienced new players?"
"You're right!"
At that moment, Oliver Wood turned his head and said, "This is a great opportunity for us... the glory days of Hufflepuff are over, this time we'll definitely take the Quidditch Cup back from them!"
He clenched his fist, "Ever since Harry joined the team, I've believed winning the Quidditch Cup was a sure thing, but it hasn't happened yet, this is the last chance..."
Wood was in seventh year, and would graduate the next year, after which any achievements the team accomplished would have nothing to do with him...he was eager for a victory.
...
"I'm guessing Gryffindor is probably laughing to themselves right now." Kael whispered as he watched them leave the pitch. "But replacing so many experienced veterans at once is unavoidable."
"But there's one thing they've got wrong."
Cedric smiled and said, "New players don't necessarily mean less strength; match experience is something that can be gradually accumulated in games."
"Besides..." He glanced at Kael, "We have Hogwarts' best Chaser."
"Hmm, you're right." Kael admitted without embarrassment.
Cedric was indeed suitable to be captain... at least his eye was sharp.
...