After everyone finished their assignments, which were several feet thick, the Easter holidays quietly came to an end.
This also means that the last Quidditch match of the year is about to begin, with Hufflepuff against Slytherin. The outcome of this match will determine the champion.
In everyone's memory, no match has ever arrived in such a tense atmosphere.
Everyone can feel that the relationship between the two houses has become tense to the point where conflict could erupt at any moment, but fortunately both sides are still somewhat restrained, and no incidents of conflict or fighting have occurred yet.
Mainly because Hufflepuff is famous for its unity, wherever they go, they move as a large group, never alone.
Especially Cedric, he has almost been treated like a protected animal, whether in class or eating in the auditorium, he is always accompanied by at least five students above the sixth year.
Flint has tried to ambush them several times, but always ended up fruitless.
The treatment of the other team members is similar, although not as luxurious as Cedric's, the advantage lies in their numbers, with a dozen people gathering together, even if they are not that old, is still quite intimidating.
The only exception is Kael, who is accompanied by just one person... Conna.
But not a single Slytherin dares to come and trouble Kael; sometimes when they meet occasionally in the corridor, they don't even think about sneaking in to trip him.
Those from Pure-Blood Families mostly know from home about Professor Snape's relationship with the Prince surname, naturally avoiding trouble.
Additionally, Kael is not as easy to deal with as the others.
Three Special Contribution Awards to the school and a Second-Class Merlin Knight Order medal are displayed glaringly in the trophy room; if a fight were to break out, it's uncertain who would beat whom.
Thus, in this tense atmosphere, Kael's days are unusually tranquil, as if nothing has changed from usual.
The day before the match.
Kael and Conna went to Herbology Class together.
As they walked out the castle gate, they saw Malfoy holding a big stick popping out from behind the gate.
Two legs stretched out in front of him, seemingly trying to trip him... it was Crabbe and Goyle, Malfoy's two henchmen.
"Malfoy, what do you want to do!" Conna said angrily.
Seeing clearly who it was, Malfoy halted his hands holding the stick in mid-air, looking bewildered.
Why were Kael and Conna here... didn't Montague say it was that Beater?
"Damn, that bastard tricked me!" Malfoy also realized he had been conned and felt a rush of anger.
Malfoy still remembers the experience on the Hogwarts Express three years ago; he certainly doesn't want to mess with Kael.
And then there's the Prince... if she goes to Professor Snape to complain, regardless of the reason, and regardless of who is right or wrong, he is doomed.
"I, I... I'm training..." Malfoy switched up his thinking, immediately swung the stick twice out of thin air, "Besides being a Seeker, I find myself quite capable as a Beater too, you see..."
Saying this, he swung the stick twice more... to be honest, it did look somewhat convincing.
This moment, Crabbe and Goyle also silently retracted their extended legs, then turned their faces aside, feigning an attitude of knowing nothing about it.
"Well, you train hard..." Kael said nothing, and once the path ahead cleared, he and Conna left the castle and walked towards the greenhouse.
Malfoy and his friends also quickly left the entrance hall... preparing to go find Montague to settle accounts.
However, Kael did not see this scene; he and Conna arrived near Greenhouse Three.
Class hadn't started yet, everyone was waiting at the door.
About five minutes later, Professor Sprout finally arrived, she opened the greenhouse door, letting all the students inside.
But she stopped Kael.
"How's your confidence for tomorrow's match?" Professor Sprout asked a bit nervously.
"Of course, Professor." Kael replied with a grin, "This year's Quidditch Cup is definitely ours, Hufflepuff's."
"I believe in you." Professor Sprout said, "You must win, okay?"
Kael was a bit surprised; if these words were spoken by Professor McGonagall, he wouldn't be surprised at all. As a seasoned sports fan, the weight of the Quidditch Cup in her heart even surpasses the House Cup.
Fred and George said so; they said only when Gryffindor loses a match does Professor McGonagall show disappointment. Other times, even if Gryffindor loses a hundred points, her expression doesn't change.
But Professor Sprout... honestly, Kael always believed she only cared about her greenhouse.
But he wasn't wrong.
Before, Professor Sprout was indeed uninterested in Quidditch, only when Hufflepuff began to win consecutive championships did she gradually start watching the matches.
And when last year, Hufflepuff went from two consecutive wins to three, she watched more frequently.
There's mainly a different feeling.
She's been at Hogwarts for over a decade, and in those previous years, the two grand events at Hogwarts, the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup, were mostly unrelated to Hufflepuff, only occasionally winning.
But now it's different, after Hufflepuff's third consecutive win, Professor McGonagall looks at her with an unmistakable envy.
This feeling is so fresh, before she didn't find it special, but after experiencing it she realized it indeed feels different, as if talking now feels more confident.
Moreover, the most important thing, she always felt the types of plants in the greenhouse were too few, there should be more, but earlier she only had this idea, never dared propose it.
After all, the more precious and rare a plant, the higher the price, sometimes seeds can sell for hundreds of Galleons, and since the school's greenhouse is for teaching, naturally they can't buy just one seed.
The expense is too much, every time she wanted to discuss the matter with Professor McGonagall, she felt rather guilty.
But now, she decided to talk with Professor McGonagall about this matter after Hufflepuff wins its fourth consecutive Quidditch championship.
Like Snape... when Slytherin won the House Cup five times before, he applied for a large batch of precious potion materials, and Dumbledore agreed.
If Snape could do it, there's no reason she shouldn't be able to... moreover, Hufflepuff has also won three times in the House Cup.
Today's lesson was about Fanged Geranium, a kind of dangerous plant with sharp fangs; although not as deadly as Poisonous Tentacles, being bitten can be unpleasant.
The wound remains red and numb for a week until it heals.
"Everyone put on your gloves."
Professor Sprout reminded, "And always be aware of your surroundings later; these little things are in their teething period, always wanting to bite something, be careful not to let their branches wrap around behind you."
Saying this, she also reached out to flick away a slender twig near her shoulder.