Chapter 53 – The Quidditch Match
After Halloween passed, November arrived, and the temperature dropped sharply.
The mountains around the school were soon blanketed in snow, and even the surface of the Black Lake had frozen solid.
Under these conditions, Cedric finally agreed to resume training near the lake.
Quidditch season had officially begun—but it had little to do with Russell. He wasn't particularly interested in the sport. Though his flying skills were decent, he mainly practiced broomstick riding as a means of escape in dangerous situations, not for glory on the pitch.
"Russell, tomorrow's the first Quidditch match of the term. Want to come watch it with me?"
Cedric threw an arm around Russell's shoulders, though his eyes kept wandering as if he were searching for something.
"Cedric, you just want Cho Chang to see your heroic performance, don't you?" Russell said dryly.
"How can you say that?" Cedric flushed, stubbornly refusing to admit it.
"Relax, she will be watching," Russell said, brushing his arm aside. "I even heard she plans to try out for Ravenclaw's team next year."
"That's… that's great!" Cedric beamed—then quickly tried to rein in his expression under Russell's gaze.
"What I mean is… you really should come too. After all, it's my first match."
"Fine." Russell nodded. He had nothing better to do, and watching a match wouldn't hurt.
---
Saturday morning arrived cold and gray. The Great Hall was filled with the rich aroma of toasted bread.
Russell glanced out the window. Heavy clouds pressed low against the sky, dark and rolling, stirring an uneasy feeling in his chest.
It looked like rain.
Even so, the match went ahead as scheduled.
Today's game was Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff. Since the two houses were on fairly good terms, the atmosphere wasn't particularly tense.
If anything, only matches between Slytherin and Gryffindor ever carried that unmistakable air of war.
Because of the gloomy weather, Russell brought along a raincoat—he hadn't yet learned any weather-proofing spells.
James and Rosen were just as obsessed with Quidditch as Cedric. Both planned to try out for the team next year and were aiming for the Chaser position, which had turned them into friendly rivals in recent days.
"Ravenclaw's definitely winning," James declared confidently. "I heard from the upperclassmen—we've beaten Hufflepuff more often than not in recent years."
"Not so fast," Rosen countered. "I heard Hufflepuff recruited a new Seeker. Could be a huge advantage."
"All right, you two—quiet down," Russell said helplessly when it looked like they were about to start arguing again.
"Who knows? You might both make the team next year. There's more than one Chaser position."
At that, the two of them fell silent and nodded thoughtfully.
"That's… actually true."
"Russell's right."
"Sorry, mate. I shouldn't have said that."
"No, I'm the one who should apologize."
They had only just made up when the match was about to begin.
Madam Hooch, acting as referee, blew her silver whistle sharply.
Fifteen broomsticks shot into the air, soaring high above the pitch. The match had begun.
Russell opened Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1. He planned to practice the Cutting Charm. In fact, aside from the Cutting Charm and the Repairing Charm, he had already mastered nearly every spell in the book.
First-year spells weren't especially difficult—most of them were everyday magic rather than combat-oriented magic.
"Brilliant! Goal!"
Ravenclaw scored first, earning ten points.
The stands were getting noisy, so Russell closed the book and turned his attention to the pitch, searching for Cedric.
Even to an outsider like him, Cedric's flying was impressive—swift and fluid as he wove through the players, dodging Bludgers with ease.
"Diggory's spotted the Golden Snitch! He's after it—he's almost got it! It hasn't even been ten minutes—could the match be over already?!"
The commentator's excited voice echoed across the stadium.
Cedric reached out—his fingers nearly brushed the Snitch. A grin spread across his face.
Then—
A crash of thunder exploded overhead.
Cedric's head rang. His hand hesitated for just a fraction of a second.
The Snitch vanished.
At the same time, the sky opened up in a torrential downpour.
Students in the stands jumped to their feet and rushed for the castle. Only the most devoted Quidditch fans remained, shouting in the rain.
In weather like this, there was no way the match could continue.
Cedric was devastated. He had been this close—so close—to catching the Snitch.
Though the rest of the Hufflepuff team didn't blame him and comforted him instead, Cedric couldn't forgive himself.
"I was this close," he muttered again.
"Oh Merlin, spare me," one of the twins groaned. "You've said that a hundred times today."
"Two hundred," the other corrected.
They immediately began arguing over it.
The twins had watched the match too—and were genuinely impressed. Who would've thought a first-time player could perform at that level?
"Cedric, you were amazing. Don't be so hard on yourself."
Cedric started to wave it off—then froze.
That voice didn't belong to any of his usual friends.
He turned around.
Cho Chang stood behind him, her face faintly flushed.
"If you're free sometime… could you teach me Quidditch?"
"O-of course!" Cedric blurted out. "I mean—yes. I'd love to."
His dejection vanished instantly, replaced by a dopey grin.
So she really does like guys who are good at Quidditch, Russell thought to himself. That tracks—her boyfriends in the original story were all players, too.
While things were cheerful on this side of the hall, a rare disturbance broke out at the Slytherin table.
A blond-haired boy suddenly jumped to his feet, rage written across his face, and stormed out of the Great Hall.
"I knew it'd happen sooner or later," Fred sighed, watching him go.
"You know him?" Russell asked, curious.
"Sure. His name's Iver Prewett—our cousin," George said after a moment's thought.
"We're not close… but we're not exactly enemies either."