[Chapter Size: 1800 Words.]
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Harry felt his throat dry, his heart pounding violently, and his legs growing weak.
The reason was simple: the Quidditch match was about to start, and the intense tension made him lose all appetite, even with his favorite bacon and eggs placed in front of him.
"Harry, you should eat something. You can't go without eating," Hermione advised.
"Yeah, Harry," Ron said. "We don't know how long the match will last. If you don't eat, you won't be able to keep up."
"But I really don't have an appetite," Harry said, somewhat distressed.
"Harry, you need to eat something," Parvati and Padma were nearby. At that moment, Parvati spoke up, "The Seeker is the main defensive target of the opponent. You need to stay energized."
Today's match was against Slytherin, and many girls from Ravenclaw had come to cheer for Harry.
Harry had always been popular with girls, or rather, with young women. It had been that way in his Muggle primary school, and it was the same when he came to Hogwarts.
As the game approached, nearly everyone cheering for him was a girl. Fred and George, who were watching from the sidelines, shouted out in envy, only to be severely dismissed by Angelina Johnson, a stunning Chaser and professional Quidditch player.
But who were the twins? Harry treated their eye-rolls like a wink, not caring one bit about the girls' dismissal, even feeling a bit pleased.
Although Harry knew they were right, he still couldn't eat and could only force himself to sip some cereal porridge with milk.
"Brother, you'll be fine." As the game was about to start, Ron gave Harry a big hug. He didn't have to play today, but his enthusiasm hadn't waned one bit.
…
It was Harry's first time wearing full Quidditch gear, especially the protective equipment.
Although the helmet was heavy, tiring, and uncomfortable on his head, Wood had firmly stated it was necessary.
Bludgers flying across the field were a major threat to players, and even with the protection of a Beater, they were completely unable to handle them. Players on the field still needed to protect themselves.
After donning red protective gear and cloaks, Captain Wood gave a brief motivational speech before the match. However, the atmosphere was ruined by Fred and George's outbursts.
Nonetheless, it made Harry, who had been so nervous his legs felt weak, feel much more relaxed. When Wood concluded his speech with a hearty "Let's go," Harry finally managed to follow him, his feet trembling.
Though it wasn't his first time entering a Quidditch stadium, it was the first time he was entering a stadium full of spectators.
Students from all four houses, sitting in different sections, and professors and staff, seated in their own designated areas, were all watching as the two teams entered.
When both teams walked onto the field, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause.
Professor Hooch, the referee, was waiting in the middle of the pitch with her broom. After both teams were in position, she loudly announced, "I hope everyone plays with style and gives their best!"
Madam Hooch checked the time, released the Golden Snitch, then the Bludgers, and raised her hand: "Everyone, please grab your brooms."
All the players mounted their brooms, and Harry mounted his Nimbus 2000.
Madam Hooch blew her silver whistle loudly, then soared into the air with the fourteen players.
Madam Hooch's skill level was so high that she received invitations from major international clubs to teach. Her flying abilities were far beyond what any small prodigy could match.
Even using a semi-old and very outdated broom, she managed to rise into the air faster than Harry, who was on the Nimbus 2000. There she was, holding a Quaffle in one hand.
When the Quaffle was thrown into the air, the match officially began.
On the sidelines, Lee Jordan was making an entirely biased commentary on the game.
As a Gryffindor student and close friend of Fred and George, Lee was also the type of guy who constantly pushed the limits of breaking school rules. Right now, he was in "suicide mode" again, blatantly fawning over and licking up to Angelina Johnson, who had grabbed the Quaffle.
Those who fawn over others often end up with nothing. This was what countless boys and girls were thinking about Lee Jordan at that moment.
This sentiment was especially clear among the Gryffindor team, because everyone on the team knew that Angelina had no interest in him.
This was Harry's first time watching a formal Quidditch match, and he was doing so from the super VIP position, the Seeker's position.
The sensation was very special, and as there was no sign of the Golden Snitch, he even forgot that he was actually participating in the competition.
He had heard of Quidditch matches and played in a few practice games. However, in practice matches, everyone focused on improving their skills, and the competition wasn't very intense, nor did they give it their all.
But at that moment, the six Chasers on the field were speeding down the pitch at an average speed of more than 60 kilometers per hour. Facing interceptions from their opponents, they were executing all sorts of stunning turns and reversals in the air. The level of brilliance was simply incomparable to that of regular competitions.
Although race cars are faster, there is a huge difference in terms of luxury. After all, in a car race, you can't see the people, you can only see a piece of metal.
After watching for a while, Harry had basically figured out the flow of the game based on his experience during this period.
Putting himself aside, and the two opposing Seekers who hadn't done much, Slytherin was slightly ahead of the other six players.
This was understandable, as the Slytherin team was mostly made up of students above the fourth year. On the Gryffindor side, Wood was the only fifth-year player, while the other five main players were just third-years, two years younger than their opponents, on average.
The reliable Chaser Katie Bell was only a second-year student and, like Harry, had only been on the team for two months.
Although, according to Wood, the current Gryffindor team was the most talented in the last decade, no matter how talented you are, it takes time and hard work to realize that talent.
If they could get used to each other in two years, or even one year, maybe Gryffindor would be able to dominate the school, but for now, they were still a little bit behind.
Furthermore, Slytherin's brooms were better than Gryffindor's. Although the difference wasn't that big, the gap in physical strength and experience made the level a bit different.
Both teams' scores were rising alternately, but as Slytherin became more involved in the game, their score gradually increased.
Soon, the score reached 90:50, with Gryffindor trailing by four goals, although Wood had performed above his usual level and scored three goals.
Harry felt that something was wrong. Slytherin's style of play was very rough. Especially since their Chasers were three tall boys, physical collisions were inevitable when they fought for the Quaffle, and the three Gryffindor girls were at a great disadvantage in this moment.
Seeing his team's situation deteriorating, Harry suddenly realized that he wasn't a spectator, but a member of Gryffindor, and the most powerful Seeker.
If he could catch the Golden Snitch before the other team's Seeker, he would score 150 points, instantly changing the course of the game.
Thinking this, Harry immediately turned his broom and flew higher to begin searching for the Golden Snitch.
Slytherin's Seeker, Terence Higgs, was a skinny boy with excellent flying skills. When he saw Harry move, he thought he had spotted the Golden Snitch and immediately followed him on his broom, which made Harry very angry.
Before Harry could find the Golden Snitch, the situation on the field changed again.
When Wood was trying to save a ball, he was hit in the head by a Slytherin player who flew right through him. Although Wood was wearing a full set of protective gear, he was still knocked off his broom and fell to the ground.
Match suspended.
From Harry's perspective, the Slytherin player had definitely done this on purpose, a typical malicious foul.
Although Madame Hooch refused to admit it firmly, she still called a foul against him. However, the penalty seemed minimal in Harry's view, it only gave Gryffindor possession of the ball.
But it wasn't completely without effect.
Under normal circumstances, if a player is injured and can't continue playing, they can't be substituted. However, since Wood's injury was caused by a foul, Gryffindor was allowed to use their reserve Keeper.
Reserve Keeper Ron comes in.
Harry and all the Gryffindor players encouraged Ron, but he was still trembling with nervousness.
Although he had said several times before the game that it would be great if he could play, he wasn't mentally prepared to step onto the field.
In the next five minutes, Ron let five balls go past him. Gryffindor only scored two goals, and the gap between Gryffindor and Slytherin was reduced to 70 points.
Angelina, the temporary captain on the field, had to call a timeout.
Off the field, the three Gryffindor Chasers looked very tired. The Slytherin players were excellent at using their physical advantages, often crowding the three Gryffindor Chasers in the air.
Girls with lower physical fitness could only dodge, which increased the difficulty of controlling the Quaffle and their range of movement, leading to much higher physical energy consumption.
"This isn't going to work. They're lazy!" complained Katie Bell, a second-year Chaser who had just joined the regular draft this year. Being the youngest and thinnest, she was the most targeted.
Angelina looked at Ron, whose face was pale and fierce, and instead of blaming him, she comforted him with a few words. His sudden entrance, without any preparation, and the harsh wisdom she showed only made Ron more nervous.
"Ron…" Harry thought for a moment, then approached Ron, patted him on the shoulder, and said in a very affirming tone:
"Don't worry about anything. Just do your best. I know you can. Don't be nervous. Don't be afraid of letting the ball go. I'll definitely catch the Snitch before the other team."
Ron lifted his head, and the confusion and fear in his eyes slowly faded. Even deep in his eyes, a hint of determination gradually emerged.
******
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