บท 619: Chapter 616: A Different Draco (Edited)
After Halloween, Hogwarts finally witnessed its first Quidditch match of the year.
Since there was no Quidditch match last year due to the Triwizard Tournament, the Hogwarts students had been eagerly waiting for this moment and arrived early to secure a good spot in the stands.
As in previous years, the opening match continued to be an old rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin.
With Dumbledore's intervention, Umbridge had finally approved the reorganization of the Gryffindor team, but she had delayed the approval until the day before the match, as the team had not yet been reorganized, which meant they couldn't get permission to practice on the field. This meant that Harry and the others hadn't had any time to practice at all.
"It doesn't matter. Even without training, we can still beat the Slytherins."
In the Gryffindor common room, Angelina roared loudly as if possessed by Wood, cheering on the team members.
Everyone else was in good spirits, except for Ron, who was nervous about playing for the first time. Harry could only whisper reassuring words to him.
When the time came, Harry entered the field with his teammates and was greeted by a thunderous applause. He looked around and saw the three houses, except Slytherin, cheering for them...
Apart from Slytherin always being unpopular, there was also the influence of the Order of the Cat.
"Take it easy, Ron," Harry whispered once again to calm him down. "Goyle and Crabbe might be on the team, but they can't even tell the front of their broomstick from the back."
Ron: "..."
Although it seemed like Harry was being derogatory by comparing Ron to those two idiots, Goyle and Crabbe, it should be said that his words had a pleasing effect, and Ron instantly became less nervous.
They headed towards the center of the field, where the Slytherin team and Lady Hooch were waiting.
Harry's eyes scanned Slytherin's new captain, Montague, and Goyle and Crabbe, who were wielding their bats, before settling on Draco.
Draco leaned against his Nimbus 2001, his gray eyes calmly gazing at Harry.
When their gazes met, Harry inexplicably felt a sense of nervousness different from the one he felt for the game they were about to play. He tried to avoid Draco's gaze, but reacted in time to prevent his head from turning away and looking angrily at Draco.
Draco, however, seemed to realize that Harry was being severe and flashed a slight but mocking smile before turning away on his own accord.
Though the two hadn't exchanged a single word or even made any gestures, just pure eye contact, Harry felt, for some reason, that he had just outdone Draco.
It wasn't the first time it had happened, but since the start of the term, Harry had noticed that Draco had changed from his former self, and as time went on, it became increasingly evident...
Draco was no longer a monstrosity to him and Ron with his two lackeys, as he had been in the past, and he mostly kept quiet, except for his usual taunts with Snape in Potions class...
Certainly, in the eyes of Harry and Ron, it was a gloomy spectacle.
Harry should have been glad that Draco no longer bothered them, but instead of feeling happy, Harry had a sense of frustration.
He could sense that Draco wasn't attempting to make amends with them or that he was scared, as Ron had said, but rather subtly displayed disdain for engaging with them.
To Harry, it was more unacceptable than provocative, but he couldn't go after Draco for not going after him, and to be honest, he now distrusted Draco a bit.
At first, he wasn't sure why, but gradually Harry realized it: Draco was now a smaller version of Professor Snape, which both frightened Harry and made him hostile towards him.
"Both captains shake hands."
Mrs. Hooch's voice interrupted Harry's thoughts, causing him to avert his gaze from Draco and look at Angelina.
Montague was roughly the same size as Dudley, Harry's cousin, and he smiled and extended his hand, threatening to break Angelina's fingers, but Angelina didn't flinch and offered her hand to shake.
"Mount your brooms..."
Mrs. Hooch spoke just in time, causing Montague to release Angelina's hand as she quickly pulled it away with a grimace and joined the other players on their brooms.
The whistle blew, and fourteen players took flight. Harry glanced at Ron out of the corner of his eye and saw him heading straight for the goal hoop, just as he had done in practice, and then he relaxed, dodging the Bludger as he flew in a wide circle, searching for the elusive Snitch that had yet to make an appearance.
On the other end of the field, Draco had taken the same course of action.
While most students had gathered on the Quidditch pitch to watch the highly anticipated match, Fish strolled alone through the castle.
Hermione wasn't with him as she had some business to discuss with the Order of the Cat Prefects, and the noisy Quidditch field provided the perfect cover since everyone was too engrossed in the game to pay attention to them.
Not to mention the fact that there were other members of the Order of the Cat keeping watch and providing cover.
Hermione had invited Fish to accompany her, but Fish didn't enjoy the noise and preferred to rest in the dormitory.
After a good night's sleep and feeling somewhat bored, Fish left the dormitory and aimlessly wandered through the empty castle.
"Ahem, ahem." A familiar cough came from behind Fish, and Umbridge, with her fake little girl voice, pretended to say, "Oh, look, it's Mr. McGonagall. Didn't you go to the match?".
In fact, Fish had already caught Umbridge's scent, and her equally recognizable footsteps hadn't escaped Fish's sensitive ears.
From Fish's perception, Umbridge had actually been behind him five minutes ago. Fish wasn't interested in what she wanted to do, so he didn't bother, and if it was her who wanted to attack him, then Fish would have a reason to strike back.
After defeating Umbridge the last time, he has no memory of it, which is quite depressing for Fish...
It was a pity that she had taken the initiative to greet him, but it seemed like he couldn't do anything about it.
"What's wrong with Fish not liking Quidditch, nya?"
?(?ω?)?
Fish asked, not very pleased, as he turned around.
"Of course, there's no problem," Umbridge said with a happy smile and continued, "I don't really like Quidditch either, it's too wild!" She began to make an approach, "Since we've met so casually, would you like to come to my office?"
To get Fish to say yes to her invitation, Umbridge added, "I have some tea from Professor Trelawney and refreshments from my dear subordinates that I think you'll like."
Although the memory of Umbridge's attack had been erased by the Memory Charm, Fish hadn't forgotten that Trelawney had given him a prophecy.
The existence he hated the most would cause him great problems and relentlessly pursue him for a long time...
It's the same as when he was turned into a woman-toad.
Umbridge, who was initially skeptical, now fully believed in Trelawney's prophecy. In addition to causing trouble for many people at Hogwarts, she had been talking with Professor Trelawney for some time.
Knowing what she was up to, Professor Trelawney naturally played her and gave her a prophecy about Dumbledore: "In the future, Dumbledore will suffer misfortunes."
In addition to this thrilling prophecy, the disdain Professor Trelawney showed towards Dumbledore during the prophecy made Umbridge think she was a teacher who could be won over by the Ministry of Magic...
So Umbridge went to her more often, and that's where the tea came from.
"Very well, nya."
(`´)
In response to this obviously unsuspecting invitation, Fish said yes without hesitation.
And Umbridge laughed even more.
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