Hogwarts' Golden Glory

A loud yawn came from the other hospital bed.

Hagrid woke up.

As he sat up, all three hospital beds simultaneously groaned in pain.

Rubbing his eyes, Hagrid looked around in confusion: "I'm in the medical wing? What happened? Where's Tooth?"

"Toothie's alright," Mrs. Pomfrey said quickly. "It's in your cabin, Hagrid. You were petrified, but now—"

"Petrified?!" Hagrid jumped to his feet, nearly bumping into the ceiling light. "The Forbidden Forest! I have to get back! Those spiders... they're migrating, I need to know why..."

"Hagrid," Dumbledore's voice was gentle but firm, "the Forbidden Forest matter can wait. Now, you need to rest."

"But--"

"No buts." Ms. Pomfrey put her hands on her hips. "You've only just recovered from petrification; you need to be observed in the medical wing for at least three days! Now, lie down!"

Hagrid reluctantly lay back down, but his eyes kept glancing out the window toward the Forbidden Forest.

Dumbledore went to his bedside: "While you rest, the Forbidden Forest will be looked after by Kane Malfoy and the centaurs. They will come to report on the situation every day."

Hagrid's eyes widened: "Kane? That kid...is he alright?"

"He's very good," Dumbledore said, "and much more capable than you think."

The door to the medical wing was pushed open again.

Kane and Snape walked in.

Kane had clearly come straight from morning training; the hem of his robe was still damp with the dew of the Forbidden Forest.

Snape was holding two bottles of recovery potion...

He looked somewhat surprised. Damn it, why are there so many people in this room?

"Hagrid's awake?" Kane's grey-blue eyes swept across the room, finally settling on Hagrid. "Perfect timing. Don't worry, your spiders are fine; they've returned to their original location."

He looked at Dumbledore:

"The centaurs wish to formally begin preparations for the 'Habitat Survey.' They need some ancient maps and astronomical data from Hogwarts."

Dumbledore nodded. "I'll have Mrs. Pince prepare it. Have you had breakfast?"

"not yet."

"Um?"

"Then stay and eat with us." The old headmaster waved his wand, and a long table appeared in the center of the medical wing, laden with a sumptuous breakfast. "To celebrate our friend's recovery, and to celebrate... a new beginning."

So, on this ordinary yet extraordinary morning, a peculiar breakfast meeting was held in the medical wing:

Colin, clutching his new camera, excitedly took pictures of everyone.

Including Snape, who had a stern but tacit expression ("One sheet, Mr. Crevy. Any more and I'll confiscate your equipment.").

Hagrid devoured the smoked meat while anxiously asking Kane for every detail about the Forbidden Forest.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Colin sat together, discussing the magical principles behind the camera.

Snape's face was cold; he wanted to escape this place!

Damn it, why did he sit down!

Dumbledore sipped his tea quietly, his blue eyes watching everything with gentle warmth.

Outside the medical wing, another spring is unfolding at Hogwarts.

The castle awoke in the morning light, and students made their way to the auditorium to prepare for class.

On the Quidditch pitch, Wood had already begun his early morning training, and the sound of the Quaffle cutting through the air could be faintly heard.

Everything returned to normal.

But something has changed forever.

Colin Crevey is no longer an annoying freshman who just chases after celebrities for photos.

Harry Potter learned how to accept the adoration of others.

......

On the last Saturday of May, Quidditch Stadium was packed to capacity.

The final match between Gryffindor and Slytherin captivated the attention of the entire school.

The entire Slytherin team rode Nimbus 2000s, their silver-green uniforms gleaming expensively in the sunlight.

Draco Malfoy rode at the very front, his chin held high, as if victory was already within his grasp.

And the Gryffindor team...

"Merlin's beard!" Commentator Lee Jordan's voice boomed across the stadium through the megaphone spell, "Look at Gryffindor's new brooms! Seven Nimbus 2001s! Professor Black, have you donated your entire fortune?!"

From the teachers' table, Sirius lazily waved his hand, his gray eyes gleaming with the light of a triumphant prank.

Although Professor McGonagall beside him had a stern face, she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes—this was the first time since she started teaching that Gryffindor had been as well-equipped as Slytherin.

Harry held his new Nimbus 2001, feeling the gentle magic emanating from the broom.

He looked at Draco opposite him, and their eyes collided in mid-air, sparks flying.

"Listen," Wood rallied his team one last time before the tournament began, "we've waited five years! Five years! Today, right here, we're going to knock Slytherin off their championship throne!"

The whistle blew.

The competition was intense from the very beginning.

Nimbus 2001 is indeed faster, but the equipment difference between the two teams is not that significant!

The twins' "Weasley Barrier" rendered the Slytherin beaters helpless, Angelina and Katie's teamwork was fluid and seamless, while Harry...

Harry flew like a red lightning bolt.

Draco kept up, but he soon discovered a harsh truth: Nimbus 2001's top speed was indeed faster than 2000's!

Although the difference isn't that big!

But it's always just a little bit short!

Harry—who grew up in a cupboard and was used to maneuvering in cramped spaces—turned the Quidditch pitch into his playground.

Diving, turning sharply, skimming almost along the edge of the stands...

"Potter's gone mad!" Draco gritted his teeth, his Nimbus 2000 screeching as it made a high-speed turn.

Just then, Harry saw it.

The Golden Snitch flashed behind the Slytherin goalpost for a moment, then disappeared.

He didn't chase after it immediately—it was a trap.

The Malfoy Seekers will definitely be waiting there for him to take the bait.

Harry made a bold decision.

He climbed higher and higher, until the entire audience had to crane their necks to see him. The wind whistled in his ears, and the clouds seemed within reach...

"What is he doing?!" Ron stamped his foot anxiously in the stands.

Hermione stared at the pitch and suddenly understood: "He's waiting... waiting for the thief to show up on his own."

The Golden Snitch's magical ability: When the Seeker moves away, it relaxes its guard and resumes its regular movement.

Thirty seconds.

One minute.

Harry hovered high in the air, like an eagle waiting for its prey.

Suddenly, he swooped down.

It wasn't rushing towards the goal, but towards the center of the field—the Golden Snitch had just flashed there for a moment, and was now flying towards Slytherin's half in a strange zigzag pattern.

Draco realized what was happening and gave chase with all his might.

The two brooms were neck and neck, ten feet off the ground. Draco reached out to grab them, his fingertips brushing against the thief's wing...

Harry turned to the side.

He didn't use his hands, but his entire body, to crash into Draco's Nimbus 2000.

"Foul!" roared the Slytherin stands.

But the referee, Ms. Hooch, saw it clearly—Harry didn't touch Draco; he simply used the tail of his broom to precisely strike the balancing rune at the tip of Draco's broom.

The Nimbus 2000 shook violently.

Draco was forced to slow down and adjust.

In that brief moment of hesitation, Harry's hands had already come together.

The cold, metallic wings struggled in the palm of the hand.

silence.

Then--

"Harry Potter has caught the Golden Snitch! Gryffindor wins! Gryffindor has won the Quidditch Cup!"

A sea of ​​red enveloped the stadium.

Wood jumped off the broom, knelt on the ground, and burst into tears—five years had passed, and he had finally waited for this day.

The twins carried Harry on their shoulders, Angelina and Katie embraced, and even the usually serious Percy was waving the Gryffindor flag.