Hogwarts: Dumbledore reigned over the wizarding world.

Chapter 291 Professor McGonagall: Meow meow meow, what do you think Vaughn is doing?

Two months into the new school term, after a summer vacation, they still haven't produced the "product" he requested. So far, they've only made some progress in modifying cameras and projectors.

Even so, it's because film cameras primarily use optical principles and are not affected by magical fields.

"It seems I can't continue letting Fred and George do whatever they want. At the very least, I can't just state my needs without understanding anything and then sit and wait for them to keep trying and making mistakes according to my requirements—that's too inefficient. I need to have some knowledge of alchemy to better guide them!"

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"The ritual for traversing the ether needs to be moved up!"

While making plans, a heavy burden was suddenly added, which gave Vaughn a bit of a headache.

Fortunately, the invitation to Ether was not a last-minute addition; he had already planned to complete the ritual this semester and officially become an alchemist.

The plan has to be moved up now because of the needs of the practical course.

It wasn't exactly rushed. In fact, Dumbledore had prepared the materials and rituals needed for the ceremony last semester. The reason it hadn't started yet was simply because he wanted to read more of the alchemists' notes and prepare more thoroughly.

After a moment of reflection, Vaughn spoke again: "Record it. The focus for the next two cycles: preparing for the Aether Invitation Ceremony!"

The lively Halloween celebrations have passed in the blink of an eye.

Many young wizards fondly recall the day of the festival: the dazzling fireworks, the live bats fluttering and squeaking in the corridors, and the giant pumpkin lanterns as big as carriages that people could crawl into.

Of course, there was also the Skull Band, specially invited by the school—they played a very explosive death rock song at the end of the dinner, supposedly music from Muggles, a fact confirmed by Muggle wizards like Dean Thomas who came from big cities.

The entire auditorium was abuzz with the deathly, smoky voice of the Skull lead singer, so much so that even two days after the festival ended, young wizards would often run to Mrs. Pomfrey, saying that the roar and music kept echoing in their heads.

This waste of medical resources infuriated Mrs. Pomfrey, who complained that Dumbledore shouldn't have been so lenient with his students.

However, the young wizards have a great fondness for Dumbledore. His reputation has been soaring in all the houses recently, even among the self-proclaimed "noble" Slytherins.

Everyone is already looking forward to next year's Halloween.

The only ones who weren't happy were probably Harry and Ron. Well, not counting Hermione, since she had personally observed the ghosts' lives on Halloween Eve and even had a late-night rendezvous with Vaughn—she was having a blast!

Harry and Ron, however, received nothing—no food, no fireworks, no light show, not even a band.

This was already painful enough, but then everyone kept talking about the day's spectacle in the common room and courtyard. Every word they said was like a knife stabbing into their hearts, reminding them how foolish it was to have attended the ghost party.

It wasn't until the fourth day after the holiday, when a new topic of discussion emerged and Halloween was completely over, that the two finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The new hot topic is naturally the annual Hogwarts Quidditch Cup.

The Quidditch Cup usually starts around Halloween, depending on the school's schedule; this year it's a bit later than last year.

However, on Wednesday morning, as Harry and Ron were walking from the Gryffindor Tower toward the Great Hall, they passed a notice board and found that this year's Quidditch schedule had already been posted there.

"The Quidditch Cup is about to begin!"

Harry was somewhat dazed.

Standing outside the crowd, Ron tiptoed to look at the schedule announcement and immediately saw that the Gryffindor match was scheduled as the second match.

The first match is Ravenclaw versus Slytherin, which is not worth paying attention to. Those "delicate and weak" guys from Ravenclaw are no match for the Slytherin barbarians.

As Ron said this, he placed Gryffindor at the top of the social hierarchy without any hesitation.

Looking at the match schedule, Ron grinned from ear to ear: "Gryffindor starts with Hufflepuff and Harry, the first point is practically guaranteed!"

Hearing this, Harry snapped out of his reverie, a slight smile creeping onto his lips before he quickly suppressed it: "Hufflepuff isn't weak at all; their Seeker, Cedric Diggory, is quite formidable."

Last semester, he faced off against Cedric Diggory, who was a magnanimous and righteous man. During a Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff match, Harry was in poor condition due to rigorous training, and Diggory noticed this and requested a postponement of the match.

Harry had a very good impression of him.

In contrast, Ron wasn't so fond of Cedric: "Don't be so cocky, buddy. Everyone saw how you performed last semester. Aside from Vaughn, nobody could beat you. Vaughn's quitting Quidditch this year—what a great opportunity to rise to the top! You need to step up!"

Harry knew why Ron was urging him on, and he said helplessly, "Ron, Cedric is not like his father."

Although Harry tried to persuade Ron, he knew it was no use.

During his summer stay at the Burrow, Ron took him around the Weasel Hills and the area around Autry-San Catchpol, where they inevitably ran into the Diggory family, who also lived nearby.

Mr. Amos Diggory was a rather talkative man, especially fond of boasting about his son, Cedric Diggory, in front of others.

Boasting naturally requires comparison.

Aside from the dazzling Vaughn, the Weasley children, such as Bill, Charlie, and Percy, were all excellent students. Even the most mischievous twins were actually quite good students.

Only Ron————

Poor Ron!

Each time they met, Mr. Amos Diggory could find new "flaws" in him to highlight Cedric.

In this situation, it would be strange if Ron could remain calm and not take his anger out on others!

Moreover, Ron was right about something he just said: last year's Quidditch matches were entirely a competition between Gryffindor and Slytherin, or more precisely, a competition between Harry and Vaughn, the two Seekers.

Slytherin's infamous "savage tactics" are actually centered around Vaughn's superb flying skills and flexible tactical transitions. He often takes on multiple roles during matches, not only keeping an eye on the Golden Snitch but also assisting in defense, attacking, and disrupting other players.

Last year, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were almost powerless against this tactic. On the other hand, although Harry suffered a major defeat in Gryffindor, he grew rapidly and later became the core of the team. With Wood's help, he also imitated Vaughn's tactics and posed a great threat to Slytherin.

So much so that in the last game of the previous semester, Slytherin had to resort to a trade, relying on several batters and chasers to launch suicidal attacks to defeat the tenacious Gryffindor.

Anyone who understands Quidditch knows that Gryffindor ultimately lost to Slytherin not because Gryffindor or Harry were weak, but because Vaughn Weasley was too strong.

With Vaughn, the Dark Lord, no longer participating in this year's Quidditch, it's truly Harry's chance to prove himself!

This wasn't just Ron's idea, nor was it Harry's self-indulgence; it was a consensus across Gryffindor.

So, all morning, Harry found himself back in the spotlight, with every lion cub he saw patting him on the shoulder as soon as he entered the Great Hall.

"Good luck this weekend, Harry!"

"This is the most promising year yet, go Harry!"

"Harry, take down Hufflepuff and get off to a flying start!"

Harry's face flushed red from the enthusiastic slaps, and he felt dizzy and lightheaded until Hermione hurriedly walked in and sat down next to him at the start of Transfiguration class, at which point he finally returned to reality.

Hermione has been elusive lately, and the two haven't had a proper conversation for several days. Harry has a feeling that she's avoiding him.

But thinking about it carefully, we haven't had any major conflicts recently!

Clenching his neck to look, Harry saw that Professor McGonagall hadn't started her lesson yet, and seized the opportunity to ask, "Hermione, are you coming to watch my training tonight?"

"Training? Today?" Hermione asked in surprise.

In Hermione's memory, Quidditch practice usually takes place on Friday night and Saturday and Sunday. Today is only Wednesday, so why hold Quidditch practice at this time? It will disrupt the normal classes, and the professors will be furious. Even Professor McGonagall will object.

Hearing her surprised question, Ron, who was sitting on Harry's other side and pretending to open his book, raised an eyebrow: "You don't know? The Quidditch Cup is about to start. The first match is on Saturday, and on Sunday it's Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff. It's the season opener, so the school won't be interfering much lately."

The new season has already started!

Hermione suddenly realized.

She doesn't actually like Quidditch that much. Her previous expression of liking it was because of Vaughn. After Vaughn announced his retirement this year, she naturally reduced her attention to it and refocused her energy on her studies.

Hearing Harry's invitation, she honestly wanted to refuse. Wouldn't it be better to spend that time in the library?

but----

Thinking about what she had "hidden" from Harry, and seeing the expectant look in his eyes, Hermione softened and could only nod: "Okay, remember to call me then."

"That's great!" Harry said happily. "You've been avoiding me these past few days, and I thought I'd done something wrong. Looks like I was overthinking it."

Hermione felt a little guilty and didn't know how to respond. Just then, Professor McGonagall walked up to the podium, and she quickly sat up straight: "Shh, class is about to begin."

Hermione quickly immersed herself in Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration lessons.

Harry and Ron always admired this about her most; she could quickly immerse herself in anything related to knowledge.

The two of them simply couldn't do it, and this was their usual way of comforting themselves—"We just don't have the talent for learning!"

Then you can slack off without feeling guilty.

Today was another day of slacking off. Ron was daydreaming about watching Harry train after school and seeing what tactics he would learn. As for Harry himself—he was already picturing flowers, applause, and the smile of Ravenclaw, the girl from the Far East.

Therefore, his mind wandered.

When evening finally arrived, and Oliver Wood appeared in the common room with the ball, Harry, who usually avoided him like the plague, almost couldn't wait to drop his quill and grab Hermione and leave.

Ron didn't need to be dragged along. Five minutes before Wood appeared, he ignored Hermione's murderous glare, pushed his homework aside, and waited expectantly.

"This is our best chance yet, Harry!"

Like all the little lions today, Wood patted Harry on the shoulder and spoke in the same enthusiastic tone as last year, saying the same things as last year.

But both he and Harry believe that this year will be different!

That evening, the heavens seemed to be on their side. The heavy rain and gloom that had lasted for several days in late autumn gradually dissipated by the afternoon. By the time Harry and his party walked out of the castle, the clouds in the sky had thinned, and the afterglow of the sunset pierced through the thin clouds, casting shadows on the clouds from the west.

The sky was a deep crimson color.

Stepping into the vibrant colors, Wood, Harry, and Ron marched proudly, the light illuminating their eyes as if they were victorious.

Then-

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. It was Sunday, the same evening, but instead of the fiery clouds that filled the sky, a torrential downpour fell from the sky. Harry, who was riding on a broom and was instantly soaked to the bone, took off his glasses in a daze, wiped them, and put them back on.

What he saw before his eyes was not the bustling scene he had imagined so many times over the past three days.

The Gryffindor stands were devoid of waving lion flags and the vibrant red and gold hues that once filled the stands. The little lions who came to support the Gryffindor Quidditch team stood there, just like Harry, bewildered and soaked to the bone by the rain.

In contrast, the Hufflepuff stands were filled with yellow and black badger banners, and the usually mild-mannered Hufflepuffs were now wildly waving everything they could shake or move, letting out excited and frenzied shouts.

For their academy, for their heroes.

"Hufflepuff! Cedric!"

"Hufflepuff! Cedric!"

Yes, just one minute ago, in the instant the dark clouds descended and a downpour began, the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, which had been under pressure from Gryffindor for over an hour, suddenly went berserk, sending out two Chaser players who didn't hesitate to foul, dragging Harry up in the air.

This gave Cedric Diggory a precious opportunity to capture the Golden Snitch in a flash!

As Cedric raised his hand high to catch the Golden Snitch, Madam Hooch blew the final whistle. The enormous final score of 230-250 displayed atop the stands struck Harry, Wood, the twins, and indeed, the entire Gryffindor community—like a hammer blow to the heart.

How could this happen?

They had the advantage all along; Gryffindor was leading Hufflepuff by 130 points, and the situation seemed almost certain to win.

Why is this happening?

The sky seemed to collapse as a torrential downpour soaked the lion cubs from head to toe, but it couldn't drown out the Hufflepuffs' fervent cheers.

They stormed onto the field, surrounding Cedric, who had caught the Golden Snitch and scored a game-winning 150-point victory, cheering and singing as they carried him up to Hufflepuff Tower.

At this moment, no one cares about Gryffindor as the loser.

Oh, except for Slytherin—they came very few, only Draco Malfoy with his cronies, holding up umbrellas in the Slytherin stands with only a dozen or so people, loudly mocking Harry and Gryffindor.

Normally, the brave Gryffindors would have argued with them, but now, none of them were in the mood.

Everyone seemed to have lost all their strength.

After standing there frozen for what seemed like an eternity, the little lions finally came to their senses and realized that the outcome of their defeat was already decided and could not be changed. One by one, they left dejectedly.

Harry was also in a daze and had no idea how he left the arena. When he came to his senses, he was already back in the locker room.

Surrounded by Angelina Jensen, Katie Bell, and Arya Spinnet, they, like Harry, looked lost as if the rain had not only soaked their bodies but also washed away their souls.

Fred and George, who are usually the most active, looked like washed-out Muggle photos, huddled on the sofa, looking ashen and motionless.

Hermione and Ron were also there. Hermione looked at Harry with a worried expression, opening her mouth several times, but not knowing what to say.

Ron, like his brothers, had a face so pale it was almost transparent, and looked as if he were in a dream or in a daze.

"Where's Wood?"

After a long silence in the locker room, Harry, who is now the team's core player, finally spoke, his voice so hoarse that it startled even himself.

But at this moment, no one cared about any of that. Angelina glanced at Harry and replied in the same hoarse voice, "He's still outside."

Harry glanced back.

The scene before him seemed to have returned to last year: the rain was torrential, the sky was dark and gloomy, and against the backdrop of the sky as if it were about to collapse, Wood stood alone in the rain, as if he wanted to drown himself.

Just a few hours ago, he was laughing heartily.

A sudden fear rose in Harry's heart, making him afraid to face the other person. He turned his head away and continued to stare blankly with his head down.

The atmosphere in the locker room was so heavy it was suffocating.

After an unknown amount of time, someone burst through the door with a bang. Harry instinctively looked up and saw Professor McGonagall.

This made him even more frustrated.

Professor McGonagall loves Quidditch. As long as it doesn't interfere with her classes, she will do everything she can to help the team during weekend training sessions, such as arranging facilities and solving logistical problems for them. If it weren't for the fact that her position as vice principal makes it inconvenient, she might even participate in the team's tactical planning.

Not to mention, it was Professor McGonagall who specially recruited him into the Gryffindor team; she was the one who discovered his talent.

But what about his reward?

hehe----

Harry didn't know what to say, or even what expression to make, as he faced Professor McGonagall's serious, disappointed face.

"What are you all standing there for?"

In the somber dressing room, Professor McGonagall spoke, her tone sharp and cold, just as Harry had expected: "On the way here, I thought I would hear you discussing the reasons for the defeat and summarizing the mistakes that occurred during the match, but seeing you in person, I am very disappointed. Has one defeat really broken you?"

"We did not collapse."

In the corner, one of Fred's or George's twins whispered in defense, "We just think—this loss was too stupid—"

Yeah, that's so stupid.

Harry sighed inwardly.

Throughout the match, they held the advantage for 95% of the time, but perhaps it was precisely that 95% advantage that lulled them into a false sense of security, making the remaining 5% the crucial turning point.

What made Harry most ashamed was that Hufflepuff's tactics were nothing new; they were the same tactics that Vaughn and his Slytherin had used last semester.

Duizi!

The only difference is that when Vaughn led the Slytherin, they relied on individual abilities to fully utilize the tactics, while Hufflepuff chose to conceal their true intentions and only reveal them at the most crucial moment.

Just a few days ago, I thought that Vaughn's withdrawal from Quidditch would give me a chance.

Wow, that was a quick slap in the face!

Harry thought to himself with a self-deprecating smile.

After all the twists and turns, it turns out that even after Vaughn left, he could still live in the shadows.

In fact, the current situation could have been avoided.

"It's all my fault, Professor."

Harry was lost in thought when Wood's voice suddenly came. Everyone in the dressing room looked in the direction of the voice and saw Wood standing by the door. He looked disheveled, soaked to the bone, with his robes wrinkled and clinging to his body, and his wet hair messy.

He lowered his head: "Hufflepuff beat us with the tactics Vaughn Weasley used last semester, and in fact, the team that executed Vaughn's tactics best last semester, besides Slytherin, was us."

Professor McGonagall asked sternly, "Why is this happening?"

"Because I underestimated them. I thought the other teams' tactical thinking was still the same as last semester, ignoring that they would also grow. Also, because—I was jealous of Vaughn Weasley and didn't want to use his strategies!" Wood said.

Harry looked up in surprise, as did the other team members, including the twins.

Ron and Hermione, who were listening in, stared wide-eyed.

Professor McGonagall remained unmoved, simply staring at Wood with a stern gaze.

At that moment, Harry raised his hand: "Me too!"

"what?"

Ron was genuinely shocked. He stared at Harry with a look that said, "Dude, are you kidding me?"

But Harry was serious. He said softly, "When training started, Wood asked me if I wanted to practice Vaughn's tactics from last semester. I refused. I was too confident and thought that we would win without Vaughn. I underestimated the other teams."

That was when he was most conflicted about Vaughn.

Even though he eventually resolved his inner conflict, Harry thought that subconsciously he might still see Vaughn as a rival, so he still hadn't corrected this problem, which now seems fatal.

He felt that it might also be due to jealousy.

It's strange, when did it take root and sprout in his heart?

"Uh—" On the other side, the twins also raised their hands with a laugh and said, "And us, even though Vaughn is our younger brother, for some reason, we've been finding him really annoying this semester."

"Of course I hate him! Even though he's our brother, that doesn't change the fact that he's also a despicable capitalist who always exploits us!"

"Correct answer, my brother George. Also, I should clarify that we believe Vaughn bears 50% of the responsibility for today's defeat. It was his tactics that beat us. What's worse, just yesterday, the day before the match, he asked us to run errands for him, to retrieve his package from Hogsmeade!"