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Chapter 207: Overwhelming Support
This went on until the second week.
Before the game started, all Hufflepuffs became nervous and had no mood to do anything else. It was the weekend, but no one in the common room was doing their homework.
The outcome of this game will determine who can get the match point and take the initiative in the final, so they cannot help but take it seriously.
Harris was so nervous that he walked around the lounge aimlessly with a broom in his hand like a clockwork toy, repeating the same precautions that he had already said a dozen times.
Next to him, two batsmen were practicing their swings.
Everyone at Hogwarts knew that the Gryffindor Weasley brothers were the best Beaters.
In order not to drag the team down, they can only use this method to slightly make up for the gap in strength.
But Kyle felt that if this continued, these two people would probably be sent to the school hospital before the game because of arm weakness.
Fortunately, Professor Sprout sent a pot of soothing sunflowers, which allowed them to save their arm.
Ever since Hufflepuff won the championship last year, Professor Sprout has started to take an interest in Quidditch matches.
The sunflower she brought this time is a very rare plant, a bit like the three-headed dog in Fantastic Beasts, and very rare.
In addition to being able to relieve mood, its flowers and leaves are also the main ingredients for making elixir.
Kyle was a little jealous, but this was obviously not the time to target Sunflower.
After waiting for a long time until noon, when they entered the auditorium, everyone's eyes turned to them.
Surprisingly, except for Gryffindor, almost everyone in the hall supported Hufflepuff.
Needless to say, the Slytherins would rather see Gryffindor win than lose themselves.
Ravenclaw's thoughts were complicated. Although they were shut out in the last game, as long as Gryffindor also fell behind by a large margin this time, they would be able to wash away the shame.
See...it's not that we are weak, it's just that our opponents are too strong. It will be the same no matter who comes.
It's like an exam. It doesn't matter if there is one person with a perfect score, as long as everyone else fails.
And to some extent, there is no difference between zero score and failing.
For Gryffindor, this was the first time they encountered such overwhelming support, and this kind of treatment was usually only given to Slytherin.
While eating, Wood was so angry that he almost cut the plate into pieces.
"Don't worry about what those people say, we are the best!"
Looking at the gloomy atmosphere around him, Wood pushed away the plate of steak that had been cut into dumpling fillings in front of him and encouraged the others: "Support rate doesn't mean anything. We have to win the game and show them who is the strongest team in Hogwarts."
"You're right!"
Angelina, the Chaser, also pushed away the plate in front of her, raised a glass of pumpkin juice high, and said firmly, "Then let them see who is the strongest!"
As soon as she finished speaking, two more glasses of pumpkin juice were raised.
"Hey, don't forget we are Gryffindors."
"You shouldn't be at our table like this now."
It was Fred and George.
"Yeah, that's right."
"We will definitely win!"
More and more people began to raise their glasses, and then everyone started laughing. The previous gloomy atmosphere was instantly swept away.
Harry was among them, his arms raised high, his face flushed with excitement.
……
After lunch, the competition was about to begin.
As students arrived at the Quidditch field one after another, the stands became increasingly lively.
In the team locker room, Harris gave his usual morale-boosting words.
"Captain, you have said these words eight hundred times. Let's be quiet for a while."
Goalkeeper Ferro peeked out the door, took a deep breath and said, "The stands are full of people supporting us. I feel more nervous than in last year's final. What if I don't perform well...
Wait, who is that person...Oh my God, Dumbledore is here too!"
"Dumbledore?"
The locker room suddenly became quiet, and everyone rushed to the door to check.
"Great!"
After seeing the silver-white beard, Harris excitedly waved his arms and said, "If Dumbledore were watching the game, Snape would never dare to embarrass Kyle too much!"
The biggest problem that had been bothering him was solved at once... This made Harris feel relieved.
Soon, the locker room door was opened and the players lined up to walk towards the field.
"Look, the Hufflepuffs are entering!"
Lee Jordan’s voice was recalled in the stands.
"They are the most popular team and their strength is no worse than Gryffindor. Ravenclaw, who defeated Slytherin in the last game, couldn't even get a single point in front of them."
Lee Jordan's intention to instigate was too obvious by belittling two teams supporting Hufflepuff at once.
But his words were quickly drowned out by boos and a shower of snack packets and every-flavor beans, along with several pairs of shoes, were thrown at him.
"Jordan!" Professor McGonagall waved her wand and gave him a disapproving look.
"Oh, sorry Professor McGonagall, I was just being honest."
The boos around got louder.
Even Snape, the referee, glared at Lee Jordan fiercely, wondering whether he should be allowed to enjoy the same treatment as Kyle during the next Potions class.
Li Qiaodan suddenly felt cold all over, as if he was being stared at by something scary.
Seeing that he had angered everyone, he no longer dared to add his own opinions and began to explain in a proper manner.
"This commentator is really good at messing with people's mentality. It will be embarrassing if we lose, and we will also become a stepping stone for Gryffindor."
On the field, Cedric whispered.
"It doesn't matter, as long as we win."
Kyle smiled and said, "As long as we give Gryffindor a zero, he won't say that again next time."
"Then I must catch the Snitch as soon as possible."
Cedric laughed too.
Soon, the captains of both teams shook hands, Madam Hooch blew the whistle, and the game began.
Kyle took advantage of his broom and grabbed the Quaffle first.
Harris followed him tacitly, and the two of them rushed towards the Gryffindor goalposts at a rapid speed.
Angelina and Spinnet wanted to intercept it, but their brooms could not catch up with the Nimbus 2000 and they could only follow it from a distance.
Kyle dodged a bludger shot from Fred with ease.
Kyle came to the scoring area and pretended to pass the ball to Harris on the left, then threw the ball back to the right goal post.
The cheering in the stands stopped, and everyone stared at the Quaffle nervously.
Only Li Jordan was still explaining quickly:
"Kyle threw the ball... another fake move... Wood was able to... beautifully, Wood saw through his trick, the ball was intercepted, and now the initiative is in Gryffindor's hands!"
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 208 Snape's Solo Show
As the only goalkeeper captain among the four teams, there is no need to say much about Wood's strength.
However, Kyle did not expect to score at the beginning. After a tentative shot, he knew that this game would definitely be a tough battle.
"It's troublesome."
Kyle's face was serious and he felt a little regretful.
In this situation, it is not so easy to give Gryffindor a zero... If he had known this, he would not have boasted to Cedric just now.
On the other side, Wood raised his eyebrows at Kyle proudly, then threw the Quaffle to his teammate on the other side.
"Now Gryffindor has the ball... It's the Chaser Alicia Spinnet. She is a talent discovered by Oliver Wood. She was only a substitute last year."
Li Qiaodan continued to explain, but his voice was obviously much louder than before and more passionate.
"The ball is passed to Katie Bell again... Oops, Hufflepuff has snatched the Quaffle, and it's Kyle again, he looks like he can really fly, my god... He doesn't slow down to dodge the Bludgers, this flying skill is incredible, why doesn't he become a Seeker... Sorry, Diggory, I don't mean anything against you."
Cedric looked at the commentary desk speechlessly, but what Lee Jordan said was right, Kyle's flying skills were really good.
As for why Kyle didn't compete for the Seeker position... He had asked the same question before, and had made it clear that he didn't need to consider his feelings, and he was willing to compete fairly.
But Kyle refused without hesitation, saying, "I enjoy the process of playing Quidditch, not playing hide-and-seek with the Golden Snitch."
Obviously, the seeker is a very important position... Cedric shook his head helplessly and continued to search for the whereabouts of the Golden Snitch in mid-air.
at the same time……
"Kyle also came to the goal post again... He was able to score this time... Wait, he passed the ball to Harris, Wood was fooled... Hufflepuff scored!"
"Damn it... Can Bokov's luring technique be used like this?"
"Jordan!" roared Professor McGonagall.
"Sorry Professor McGonagall, I won't do that next time."
With Harris's successful goal, the score became 10:0
But just as the little wizards were about to start cheering, a sharp whistle suddenly sounded on the court.
It was Snape. He thought that Kyle's action of dodging the Bludger just now was a foul, so he directly canceled the goal.
The score returned to 0:0 again.