Chapter 465: Mercenaries

“Listen up, lads,”

Roger said with a serious face,

“We won the Quidditch Cup last year—not because each of us was stronger than the other teams, but because we were more united and smarter than any of them!

We’re willing to devise a hundred plans and stick to them rigidly!”

He gathered everyone in a circle for their final pre-game speech.

“We prepared two complete plans, including several we’ve been training for relentlessly.

But now, everyone—forget the old plans!

Abandon that defensive-counterattack strategy! We’re going on the offensive! Offensive! Still offensive!

With wild, relentless attacks, we’ll make the other team ignore our Seeker—”

Roger’s voice suddenly rose,

“We’ll fight with everything we have for Ravenclaw—and win that damn Quidditch Cup!”

The Ravenclaw Quidditch team erupted, their morale soaring to unprecedented heights.

“Wood, Davis—shake hands.”

Madam Hooch said crisply; Wood and Roger shook hands.

Both squinted at each other.

“Mount your brooms… listen for my whistle… three—two—one—”

Madam Hooch blew her whistle.

Wizard Sean lightly mounted his broom; the Firebolt 2001 flew faster and higher than any other broom.

Beside him was Harry, tense as if facing an enemy.

“Go hard, Harry—I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”

Wizard Sean said, then became a streak of light across the sky.

“I understand.”

Harry gritted his teeth and matched Wizard Sean’s pace.

The entire Quidditch stadium watched as the two hurtled through the air like thunder.

“The match has begun—and the biggest excitement remains them!

Harry Potter and Mr. Wizard Sean Green!

They’ve given us many thrilling matches before—

Yes, we all know they’re absolute rising stars; if anyone said they could become professional Quidditch players, I’d agree—”

Lee Jordan nearly jumped out of his seat.

“Jordan, can you tell us what’s happening in the match?”

Professor McGonagall’s voice cut in.

She looked more excited than usual, her binoculars fixed unblinkingly on the two.

“No problem, Professor—we can see Ravenclaw launching an attack—Merlin, it’s insane!”

Lee Jordan exclaimed anxiously,

“Roger nearly scored—have they gone mad? If they keep this up, they’ll run out of stamina in minutes…”

In the stands, Lee Jordan directed the wizards’ attention; on the pitch, the two Seekers—faster than any other player—held the attention of the entire match.

Their speed had reached a point where Chasers couldn’t even aim at them, let alone now that the Chasers were tangled in chaos.

“The Golden Snitch has appeared! Wizard Sean Green is ahead—he’s too fast—Harry Potter must become more aggressive, even if he has to ram his broom into dear Mr. Green—”

Lee Jordan urged urgently.

“Jordan!”

Professor McGonagall flinched and snapped.

“Oh, Professor—look! So close—Mr. Wizard Sean Green missed the Snitch by less than a finger’s width! Harry must act now—use his broom, the broomtail, his elbow—”

Lee Jordan wished he could be on the pitch himself.

He didn’t notice his Head of House’s face had darkened.

“Watch out—that’s a disgraceful trick!”

Professor McGonagall shouted loudly.

“Professor, we can’t care anymore—”

Lee Jordan leaned so far out of the stands he nearly fell.

Professor McGonagall stared intently at the sky, feeling a tension and excitement she hadn’t known in years.

“So close again!”

Lee Jordan shrieked,

“Harry finally acted—he pushed himself to the limit, the two tangled together, both lost direction—oh, Harry came to first, perfect chance—”

Lee Jordan cried out in delight, but Professor McGonagall looked worried.

“No—Mr. Green caught up—”

Lee Jordan’s face fell; Professor McGonagall secretly clenched her fist.

“It’s about to be decided—about to be decided—both are pushing to the limit—colliding, turning, too fast—I can’t see—”

A whistle suddenly pierced the entire Quidditch pitch.

Madam Hooch signaled that the Golden Snitch had been caught.

The Quidditch pitch fell still; all looked up, waiting for the two Seekers to return; the stands fell silent for a heartbeat, everyone waiting for the final result.

“Who? Who? It’s Mr. Wizard Sean Green—oh!”

Lee Jordan groaned in frustration.

“Well done!”

Professor McGonagall did not scold Jordan; she waved her fist toward the returning players, shouting excitedly, her hat falling off.

“Professor?”

Lee Jordan was stunned—hadn’t they lost the match?

Or weren’t they Gryffindor?

The entire stadium erupted. Wizard Sean soared high above the crowd, a strange buzzing in his ears; the tiny golden ball clutched tightly in his hand, its wings fluttering slowly.

He immediately looked for Harry, who flew alone, dejected, until Wizard Sean drew near.

“So close…”

He murmured to himself.

“Yes, it was close—you did brilliantly, Harry.”

Wizard Sean admitted.

“Next time, Wizard Sean, I’ll be stronger than this.”

Harry said firmly, not looking at Wizard Sean.

“I look forward to it.”

Wizard Sean nodded.

As he turned, he unconsciously saw Professor McGonagall waving her fist at him, thrilled.

She looked years younger, brimming with vitality.

“Well done.”

Wizard Sean knew what the professor meant.

He shifted his gaze again and saw Professor Snape with a faint smile and slight nod, and Jia Jia Siting and others beaming with excitement.

No sooner had he landed than Roger and Toya rushed over, throwing their arms around Wizard Sean’s neck, crying out in wild joy.

Others surged forward:

“We won the cup! We won the cup!”

Many arms locked together; Ravenclaw players hugged in a tight, hoarse cheer.

A blue tide surged over the barriers and flooded the pitch.

Countless hands rained down on their backs.

In the chaos, Wizard Sean felt voices and bodies pressing in on him, then he and the other players were lifted up by the crowd.

He was suddenly hoisted into the light, and Roger, hoarse and ecstatic, roared:

“The Mercenary Plan succeeded perfectly—Ravenclaw’s back-to-back championship!

We are champions! We are champions!”

Over there, Jia Jia Siting and Hermione were pushing through the crowd toward Wizard Sean, Harry carried along with them; all were laughing with excitement.

Wizard Sean was carried toward the stands, where Dumbledore stood, holding the massive Quidditch Cup.