The mastermind behind Hogwarts

Chapter 53: A brutal beating of Gryffindor!

On Tuesday afternoon, students from all four colleges flocked to the Quidditch stadium stands, only to be surprised to find that all the professors were present, seated in the stands.

Professor Dumbledore was sitting to his left, wearing a very festive Gryffindor scarf.

The Church of Strange, located to Professor Dumbledore's right, was quite surprising.

Professor Snape's perpetually greasy, sticky hair seemed to have become clean—not just seemingly, but absolutely!

Stranger's hair is absolutely clean now! It's flowing and smooth again!

The news quickly spread among the students, and all the teachers and students focused their attention on Professor Si, noticing that he was wearing an exquisite wizard's robe with silver and dark green stripes!

The young wizards whistled excitedly: "That annoying, unhygienic old bat has transformed into a refined professor!"

In the locker room, Jericho nudged Moriarty with his elbow and said, "I can't believe Professor Snape would actually dress up for our match—well…! I bet if we lose, we'll have double the homework every single day for the next six years!"

"When dressed up, Stab looks like a prince who has stepped out of the Middle Ages." Moriarty changed his clothes and smiled faintly.

Jericho grinned. "Spirit is a prince? Then who's her princess?"

"I never thought American cowboys would be so bold as to gossip about professors' love lives. Jericho, if you dare ask Professor S about what you just said, I'll wash your socks for a whole semester!" William said casually, stroking his broom.

Jericho wasn't fooled at all: "Pah! Who would believe your nonsense? You're graduating this year!"

"Then let Leon wash your socks for me."

Jericho remarked, "That's a great idea! In that case, why not have Prefect Leon ask Professor Stalin the question I was asking?"

"The glory of Slytherin pales in comparison to the shamelessness of the two of you," Leon said expressionlessly.

Unlike the cheerful laughter in the Slytherin dressing room, a serious atmosphere pervaded the Gryffindor dressing room.

Charlie repeatedly gave instructions to every player, including his brother Bill.

Oliver Wood was sweating nervously; the atmosphere was too oppressive, and he didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

Meanwhile, a burst of enthusiastic celebration erupted outside. The little lions exchanged glances: "Slytherins are entering!"

"Good afternoon, everyone. I'm your Quidditch commentator, Tonks!"

We see Mr. Moriarty walking at the very front of the Slytherin team. Yes, Captain William will graduate in five months, and he must want to use this match to complete the handover of power and the passing of the torch within the Slytherin team!

Tonks's passionate voice echoed across the Quidditch pitch as she declared, "Next year, I might see the youngest Quidditch team captain in history!"

For the first time, the students didn't cheer; everyone was digesting the weight of those words: Slytherin was going to have a second-year captain?

What was originally an unbelievable event seemed perfectly natural once it was linked to Moriarty. The next moment, applause and cheers erupted from the Slytherin stands. The little snakes rallied the hawks and badgers, chanting in unison, "Shining forever! Shining forever!"

The Gryffindor team also chose this moment to enter the field, and the little lions shouted their hearts out, with more than a dozen of them cheering for Gryffindor with their "loudest voices," drowning out the voices of Tonks.

Tonks had to conjure several huge fireworks with his wand. "Quiet! Quiet! We've seen the passion of Gryffindor, but in this match, the two teams are truly in stark contrast!"

Slytherin is about to produce a young captain, while Gryffindor is still relying on its past glory?

Tonks pointed this out without reservation, and all the students in the three houses knew she was referring to Bill Weasley's return.

Every cheer from the little lions was met with enthusiastic boos from the others.

It took a lot of effort for Tonks to quiet them down before he said loudly, "But it is undeniable that Mr. Moriarty's dominance on the pitch has been challenged and impacted by the Weasley brothers!"

In the previous match, we witnessed the eternally shining divine hand! We also saw the perfect teamwork between the two Weasley Kings!

So, will Gryffindor defeat Slytherin, wash away their shame, and ascend to the top as champions? Or will Slytherin slay the lion and maintain their dominant position?

Listen! The silver whistle blows, the match begins! Merlin, the Golden Snitch!!! I've never seen the Golden Snitch show himself at the start of a match before!

Tonks' voice trembled slightly, and the teachers and students looked up at the sky above the stadium as she reminded them. They saw the Golden Snitch flying straight up into the sky like a rocket, without any extra or winding paths!

The teachers and students spotted a flash of gray light, and Tonks shouted, "Moriarty! It's Moriarty! He spotted the Golden Snitch first, and he flew over!"

"Stop him!" Charlie yelled. "Beater? Chase? Stop him, all of you!"

Two Gryffindor batters hit a runner at Moriarty, while two chasers flew toward Moriarty, one in front and one behind, attempting to block and cut off Moriarty's path forward and backward!

Meanwhile, Charlie was also in hot pursuit of Moriarty.

Having witnessed Moriarty's flying skills firsthand, Charlie dared not be complacent. If no one intercepted Moriarty, he would surely catch the Golden Snitch.

Gryffindor will become a laughing stock – the first team in history to be defeated in under a minute! And with a shutout no less.

Tonks was also amazed by Charlie's courage: "Gryffindor sent five players to chase Mr. Moriarty! But where's the Quaffle? Oh! What's that? Another redhead! Bill Weasley is charging into Slytherin's formation!"

Bill's target was none other than the Quaffle that Mrs. Hodge threw at the start of the match! He was going to face three Slytherin Chaser all by himself!

"Come on!" Jericho shouted, "Let me see just how capable the student council president is!"

Jericho mastered an improved version of the sloth's tree roll—he learned it too—and dashed swiftly toward the Quaffle.

"Watch out! Bill is different from the others, don't underestimate him!" Leon tried to warn Jericho, but it was too late!

Bill maneuvered his broom and used the Woolong "Z" maneuver to crash into Jericho in mid-air!

"Come on!" Jericho was enraged. "I don't believe you dare to run me over!"

He picked up the broom, like pulling the reins of a horse, the broom handle raised high like a sword, waiting for Bill to fly over and pierce Bill's body!

However, Bill tilted his head and suddenly dropped down just before he was about to collide with Jericho, passing by Jericho one above the other. Then, he instantly picked up his broom and bypassed Jericho!

He grinned coolly: "You fell for my trap, kid!"

With a "thud!", the Quaffle landed smoothly in Bill's arms and flew towards the Slytherin goal!

The lion cubs laughed heartily, mocking Jericho for being too young!

"Leon! You three, block Bill from both sides!" William's voice came from the goal. He was the last line of defense for the Slytherin team, the goalkeeper!

He quickly instructed: "The batter should use the walk to force Bill to the left side of the goal, making it difficult for him to shoot to the left!"

And you, Jericho! Go help Moriarty! As long as he gets rid of Charlie's gang, we've got this in the bag!

The six players split up to act according to William's instructions, and Tonks cheered loudly: "We can see William's experience and decisiveness as a veteran captain! He puts young Jericho in a partnership with the equally young Mr. Moriarty!"

Meanwhile, the five veteran Slytherin players will face Bill, who is wielding a Quake!

Hey! The situation on the court has turned out like this...

Tonks seemed to have discovered something and shouted, "Everyone, look up at the sky above the stadium! Moriarty is being chased and intercepted by five Gryffindor players all by himself!"

Near the Slytherin goal, Bill was also facing the defense of five Slytherin players!

This is a game where one goal decides the outcome! Young Moriarty and student council president Weasley Wong each bear the weight of their team's fate!

People realized this, and cheers resounded through the sky. Everyone stood up because they could no longer see Moriarty!

Moriarty's method of getting rid of the Gryffindor Chaser and Beater was actually very simple. He didn't use world-class skills, there was no physical contact, and he didn't even change the flight path!

He rode a broomstick straight into the sky!

Players, brooms, air, white clouds, blue sky...

Scenes flashed past his eyes.

Shouts, Jericho's cries, Charlie's roars, and the sound of the wind! All of these filled Moriarty's ears.

The wind was the loudest and most intense, filling Moriarty's ears. As they flew higher and higher, the strong wind whipped Moriarty's gray hair, and his emotions surged.

At this moment, Moriarty was absolutely certain that wind element was also a type of elemental magic on the path to advancement in elemental magic!

Before he knew it, Moriarty had chased the Golden Snitch up to a height of two hundred feet!

The students of Hogwarts had never flown to this height before. Moriarty looked down and saw that the Gryffindor players were long gone. A small black dot was Charlie, trembling on his broom.

Tonks shouted at the top of his lungs so that Moriarty could hear him: "Moriarty has shaken off all the pursuers! Similarly, Bill has broken through Leon and the others' blockade!"

Bill faces off against William! Two of the best seventh-graders are going head-to-head! Bill is flying back and forth in front of the goal; when will he finally shoot?

Bill was searching for an opportunity like a circling eagle, but William's face shone with confidence.

Suddenly, Bill realized something. He knew that if he didn't attack soon, Moriarty might catch the Golden Snitch. So he threw the ball with all his might toward the right goal!

"It's definitely the right flank!" William smiled confidently, grabbing the broom handle with one hand, hooking one foot on it, and stretching out his limbs!

With a loud "smack!", William swatted the Quaffle away!

"Merlin!" Tonks covered his mouth. "That's a starfish hanging upside down! William also has world-class skills! Bill missed that shot! Gryffindor has lost their last chance!"

At the same time, Moriarty heard Tonks's shout, smiled slightly, and used his signature move, standing on his broom, to reach out and grab the Golden Snitch in front of him!

200 feet equals 61 meters. Thanks to Lin Lingqi and 3-methylindole for the donations; our book has received donations too, we're so happy!

(End of this chapter)