Quidditch is similar to football in the Muggle world—from its inception, it has been a team sport.
Victory cannot be achieved through the efforts of just one person alone.
From the first day Harry encountered this sport, he recognized this fact.
So, when Wood attributed Gryffindor's ability to win entirely to him personally, Harry felt very embarrassed.
"Oliver, this isn't just my achievement alone, it's all thanks to everyone—"
"It IS your achievement!"
Wood waved his hand dismissively. "From the moment you joined us in first year, I knew we could definitely win the cup. If it weren't for various accidents, we would have won three championships in a row!"
Speaking of this, Harry felt even more ashamed.
Because the incidents in first and second year were both directly related to him.
After this, Wood excitedly shared some good news with Sherlock and Harry: just recently, he had successfully signed with the Puddlemere United team, becoming a reserve player for the squad.
Puddlemere United was founded in 1163 and belongs to the British and Irish Quidditch League. As the oldest existing team in the Quidditch League, it had been active in the England region since medieval times. By the end of the 20th century, Puddlemere United had accumulated 22 Quidditch League Cup championships and won the European Cup twice in 1290 and 1379.
That Wood could join such a powerful team immediately after graduation showed his abilities had been recognized—even if only as a reserve player.
After a while, the excited Wood finally released Sherlock and Harry.
At this moment, Ginny seized the opportunity to tell Wood about her plan to apply to join the Gryffindor Quidditch team this year.
"That's wonderful!"
Wood immediately became excited upon hearing this: "How about it? Want to be a Keeper? I have a feeling the new captain will be Angelina. I can put in a good word for you. If you're interested, I can even tell you some goalkeeping techniques—like how to judge a Beater's fake moves."
"No, I'm not suited for that position," Ginny said with a slight tremor in her voice but firmly, "I want to start as a Seeker."
"A Seeker? But we already have the best Seeker in the whole school!"
Wood, true to his name, was like a block of wood and naturally didn't understand a young girl's heart.
"I can be a reserve first."
Ginny stole a glance at Harry, then quickly looked away, silently adding in her heart, "Harry's personal reserve."
"Starting as a reserve is indeed a good idea."
When discussing Quidditch, Wood always appeared energetic and spirited.
"Actually, thinking about it now, Gryffindor should have had reserves long ago. How can we rely on just seven main players? What if someone gets injured and there's no one to replace them?"
He sighed, his tone full of reflection: "When Harry was in first year, if we had a reserve Seeker, we wouldn't have had to compete with one person missing. Harry, don't take it the wrong way, I'm not blaming you. As captain, this was something I should have considered."
After saying this, he looked at Ginny with an appraising gaze.
"Your build is just right for a Seeker."
Wood began circling around Ginny, examining her: "Light, agile—it's a pity I haven't seen you fly, otherwise I could definitely give better advice. How about trying now?"
"I don't think the Ministry will agree," Hermione interjected. "Just now, two children were playing on broomsticks and they went to find their parents."
"Ah, that's such a shame—but never mind, as long as you work hard, you'll definitely get your chance!"
After saying goodbye to Oliver Wood, Ron asked curiously, "Ginny, when did you decide to join the Quidditch team?"
"Just now," Ginny's heartbeat skipped a beat. She blinked quickly and pulled out a natural smile. "I suddenly remembered when I saw Wood, the former captain."
"Speaking of which, I'd also like to join—"
Ron touched his nose, his eyes showing some hesitation, and his voice lowered.
In terms of flying skills alone, he certainly couldn't compare to Harry, nor to Malfoy. But they were already fourth years this year. Even his own sister was starting to actively and eagerly think about joining the house Quidditch team—he couldn't very well be worse than his sister, could he?
"Come on, Ron!"
As soon as Harry heard his good friend also wanted to play Quidditch, he immediately said excitedly: "Wood has graduated, so Gryffindor needs a Keeper. If you can successfully compete for it, you could directly become a starting player."
Ron had only mentioned it casually, but now that Harry brought it up like this, he really started considering the idea.
This worried Ginny, who was standing nearby.
She was joining Quidditch to have more opportunities to spend time alone with Harry. But once Ron joined, he would inevitably take Harry away—after all, Harry could discuss tactics with him too, couldn't he?
No, she had to think of something!
Sherlock took in this scene completely, preparing to speak, but Hermione beside him stopped him and made a shushing gesture.
She understood Sherlock too well.
Once Sherlock opened his mouth, the current situation would inevitably become extremely awkward.
Sherlock raised an eyebrow, and the words that had reached his lips were swallowed back.
Those words could be said or left unsaid anyway, and since Hermione had stopped him, he couldn't be bothered to bring them up.
This made Hermione quietly breathe a sigh of relief.
But then she paused.
Hadn't her actions just now confirmed what Gemma had said to her before parting?
Instinctively protecting Sherlock, preventing him from saying things that might cause trouble.
No!
But she quickly became resolute again.
She did need to keep an eye on Sherlock, but not for Gemma's sake—it was for herself and for Sherlock himself!
After parting with Wood, they were soon pulled aside by another enthusiastic classmate.
Ernie Macmillan, a Hufflepuff in their year.
This big fellow was quite a character.
In second year, he had insisted that Harry was the heir of Slytherin, that he had opened the Chamber of Secrets and released a monster that was attacking wizards from non-pure-blood families throughout the school.
He had even stuck out his neck and said something ridiculous like "If you question my bloodline, I can trace it back nine generations of pure blood."
He completely failed to consider what the consequences would be if he confronted someone like that face-to-face, if Harry really were the mastermind who released the monster.
However, after the misunderstanding was cleared up, he immediately sincerely apologized to Harry and asked for forgiveness.
Harry, being so kind, naturally chose to forgive him.
Although nearly two years had passed since the Chamber incident, Macmillan still looked guilty whenever he saw Harry. He held onto him and talked for quite a while, and even wanted to invite Harry to sit in their family tent.
"Harry, come sit in our tent! My mum baked pumpkin pies, they're delicious!"
Harry quickly waved his hands, pointing to the water bucket in his hand: "No thanks, Macmillan, we need to get back to deliver the water. Everyone's waiting for us."
Only then did Ernie give up. After saying a few more words of blessing, he reluctantly let go.
Watching Ernie's departing figure, Ron couldn't help but curl his lip: "Ever since he found out he misunderstood Harry, every time he sees Harry, he acts like he owes Harry hundreds of Galleons. He's more rambling than Percy."
"He's a straightforward person," Sherlock said calmly, his eyes showing some understanding. "What he just said was all sincere."
Along the rest of the way, they encountered quite a few acquaintances:
Neville was holding a book and when he saw them, nervously waved his hand, almost dropping the book on the ground.
The Patil twins were discussing the upcoming match and enthusiastically invited them to predict the champion when they saw them.
Hannah Abbott excitedly pulled Sherlock over and introduced him to her parents—it was thanks to Sherlock's help that Hannah's father, Mr. Abbott, had been cleared of suspicion back then.
Sherlock briefly chatted with Mr. Abbott. Since that incident, he was no longer as dedicated to his Ministry work as before.
If it were in the past, encountering a grand event like the Quidditch World Cup, he would definitely have actively involved himself.
But now, as long as there were no special assignments, he immediately stayed far away, bringing his wife and daughter—just like Mr. Weasley, participating only as a spectator.
Every time they met an acquaintance; they inevitably had to stop and greet them.
Like this, they walked and stopped, finally returning to the tent.
"Why did you take so long?"
George pointed to the bonfire pile not far away. They could see Mr. Weasley crouching by the fire, enthusiastically adding wood to it. The flames were already leaping half a person's height.
"If you'd come back any later, Dad would have burned all the wood around the tent."
"Burn it all and we'll just gather more!"
Mr. Weasley said without looking up, still holding a branch and poking at the flames, his eyes shining with childlike curiosity: "Anyway, the fire is already going. We just need to keep it burning. How simple!"
However, since the water had been brought back, there was naturally no need for that anymore.
The time was about right, so everyone began cooking.
Calling it cooking was actually just boiling eggs and sausages.
Just then, footsteps suddenly came from the direction of the woods. Three red-haired men strode toward them.
Walking at the front was one wearing horn-rimmed glasses and a crisp shirt—it was Percy Weasley.
The other two redheads followed half a step behind him, chatting and laughing, their voices full of ease.
"They're my brothers, Bill and Charlie."
Fearing that Sherlock, Harry, Hermione, and Sirius wouldn't recognize them, Ginny quickly moved forward and introduced them in a low voice.
Unlike when mentioning Percy and Ron, her eyes carried a hint of pride.
Obviously, her eldest and second-eldest brothers were people she had admired since childhood.
Hearing this, Sherlock couldn't help but smile: "Ginny, you might not know, but we've actually all seen them before."
"Huh?" Ginny was stunned upon hearing this. "How could you have seen them? Did they go to Grimmauld Place before?"
"No, what Sherlock means is that we've seen them in photographs."
Sirius said leisurely, his tone carrying some nostalgia. "It's a photograph I'll never forget for the rest of my life."
Around this time last year, Mr. Weasley had won the Daily Prophet grand prize.
They used the prize money for travel, choosing Egypt where Bill worked.
The Daily Prophet ran a story titled "Ministry Employee Wins Grand Prize" with an accompanying photograph.
All nine members of the Weasley family stood in front of a huge pyramid, including Bill and Charlie.
At the time, Ron had sent the newspaper clipping to Sherlock, Harry, and Hermione respectively.
As for why Sirius said he had a deep impression of this photograph, it was because Fudge, who went to inspect Azkaban, happened to bring that newspaper with him.
Sirius immediately recognized the pet rat Scabbers perched on Ron's shoulder—that bastard missing a toe was Peter Pettigrew, whom he believed had died long ago.
It was precisely because he recognized Peter's disguise that Sirius made up his mind to escape, leading to the subsequent story.
Now, with things having changed, looking back on this matter, Sirius couldn't help but feel like it was a lifetime ago.
A year later, Peter Pettigrew had met his end.
Not only had Sirius Black shed his status as a fugitive, he had also become a guest of honor at the Ministry of Magic.
Thinking of these things, Sirius couldn't help but reveal a relieved smile.
He looked at Harry, then at Sherlock, his eyes full of gratification.
It was wonderful that Harry had a friend like Sherlock.
Sherlock, who was being watched, was also observing the two brothers Bill and Charlie.
Looking at a photograph and seeing someone in person were naturally two completely different experiences.
William Weasley, the eldest, was nearly six feet tall, currently the tallest of the Weasley family.
However, judging from Ron's current height growth, he would likely surpass this eldest brother in the future.
His long red hair was tied in a simple ponytail at the back of his head, and he wore an earring with something like a small fan hanging from it.
His outfit looked fashionable, as if he were going to a rock concert, and he wore boots made of dragon hide on his feet.
He was also the most handsome of the six Weasley brothers.
Mature and steady, outstanding work ability, tolerant and with his own opinions, has his own unique aesthetic views.
Charlie Weasley, the second eldest, had a build similar to the twins, even shorter than his brother Ron who had grown another stretch, but much sturdier than the beanpole-like Percy.
He had a broad, good-natured face, weathered and covered with dense freckles, looking almost brownish-black.
His arms were muscular, and one arm bore a large, shiny scar from a burn.
Loves freedom, focused and persistent, low-key and reliable with great empathy, has a very good relationship with his family.
His gaze sweeping over Bill and Charlie, Sherlock had already formed a basic assessment of the two.
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