Sorry for the large delay, everyone! I was busy prepping for a new fanfic, but I come bearing treats: four chapters back-to-back! 🎉
Enjoy the extra content—I hope it keeps you hooked! (It's been 7 days since my last upload, so this one's a little special!)"
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Next week, Gryffindor had trounced Hufflepuff with a staggering score of 210–20, leaving the yellow-and-black team reeling.
Even without James Potter, Gryffindor had proven they were still a force to be reckoned with.
Adrian had stepped up Ravenclaw's training, putting the team through tougher drills to sharpen every pass and dodge.
Lockhart, of course, had spent extra time on snitch-hunting and grasping the snitch properly, determined not to repeat the embarrassment of the previous incident.
At last, the day arrived for Gryffindor to face Ravenclaw. The teams converged at the centre of the pitch, brooms at the ready, excitement and tension buzzing through the air.
Emma Halloway, the new captain of the Gryffindor team, extended her hand toward Adrian, giving a respectful nod before stepping back to rally her team.
The stands buzzed with energy as Gryffindor and Ravenclaw took their places in the air on the pitch.
Madam Hooch's whistle cut through the air, and with a whoosh of broomsticks, the game began.
Gryffindor's chasers—Emma Halloway, Gawain Robards, and Clara Johnson launched themselves into action with surprising ferocity.
Emma's determination anchored their plays, Robards threw himself into reckless charges, and Clara darted between players like a golden dart, her speed making up for her lack of experience.
"An aggressive start from Gryffindor!" Xenophilius Lovegood's eccentric voice rang out from the commentary box.
"Emma Halloway leading the charge, and heavens—what a throw! Oh, denied! Adrian Chambers with a flawless save for Ravenclaw!"
Adrian blocked the quaffle with steady confidence, sending it back into play. Ravenclaw's chasers—Pandora Leonis, Miriam Goldstein, and Cedric Clearwater moved as though tied together by invisible strings, passing the quaffle between them with quick precision.
Pandora's creativity, Miriam's speed, and Cedric's tactical eye formed a trio that flowed across the pitch with seamless coordination.
Back and forth the game went. Gryffindor's raw aggressive play crashed again and again against Ravenclaw's precision teamwork.
Goals came from both sides—Gryffindor's strength keeping the score close, but Ravenclaw's coordination seemed to pull them ahead.
Meanwhile, Lockhart circled high above, eyes scanning the field, trying to look like he didn't care. He wasn't about to let this drag into a slow battle of goals—or worse, let Gryffindor luck into a win.
Across the pitch, Gryffindor's young seeker Sarah Fenwick was doing the same, but her eyebrows gave away the slightest hint of tension.
Then—there it was. A glimmer of gold near the Gryffindor hoops.
Lockhart angled his broom subtly, pretending to follow the chasers below. Inch by inch he drifted closer, biding his time while the crowd roared for another goal.
And then, in a sudden burst, he shot forward. His hand closed around the Snitch so quickly that half the stadium didn't even realize what had happened until he raised it high above his head, grinning ear to ear.
"RAVENCLAW WINS! Lockhart catches the Snitch in record time!" Xenophilius shouted, nearly toppling out of the box in excitement.
"Final score: Ravenclaw, two hundred and twenty—Gryffindor, fifty!"
The Ravenclaw section erupted in cheers, their players swarming Lockhart before he had even touched down.
"Damn, Lockhart," Pandora said breathlessly, her eyes alight with excitement. "Didn't even see you move for it!"
Adrian clapped him on the shoulder, laughing. "Well played. Subtle and quick—that's how you win games."
Lockhart only flashed a dazzling smile, basking in the mix of admiration and irritation he'd caused. The boos coming from the red and gold filled stands made his victory feel sweeter.
These Griffindors are so easy to rile up, lmao.
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The following week, Slytherin faced Hufflepuff, and it quickly became clear who was in control.
From the sidelines, Lockhart now a spectator, sat with Amelia in the stands watching as the green-and-silver team took the pitch, their Beaters already hurling Bludgers at anyone who dared cross their path.
Hufflepuff looked tense, their Chasers struggling to keep up with the sheer aggression of Cassius Selwyn and Lyra Blackthorne, the Slytherin chasers.
Edgar Summers, Hufflepuff's Keeper and captain, dove desperately at every Quaffle, but with Slytherin's cunning plays and bludgers hurtling toward him, he had little choice but to let the Quaffle slip through the hoops.
Lockhart winced as Hufflepuff struggled to even get a shot off, the scoreboard climbing fast:100-20.
Lydia Abercrombie, the Hufflepuff Seeker, dodged Bludgers like a pro, but it wasn't enough.
Regulas Black floated calmly above it all, raising the snitch he had caught high above his head. Lockhart shook his head with a wry grin. "That's… brutal," he muttered, looking at the final score:270-30
Lockhart leaned back slightly, letting out a low whistle. "Well… that was one-sided," he muttered, shaking his head.
From the sidelines, it was clear who dominated, and who barely got a chance to breathe.
Amelia, standing nearby with her arms crossed, smirked. "You look like you're impressed, Gilderoy."
"You could say that," he replied, grinning. "Hufflepuff barely got a shot off, and Regulus… well, the boy makes catching the Snitch look effortless."
She chuckled softly. "You say that like it's a surprise. Slytherin's been ruthless all season."
Her smile dropped, and her eyes narrowed with frustration. "Honestly… Hufflepuff's performance this season is pathetic. They've got spirit, yes, but skill? They're barely holding their own. If they want to matter on the pitch, they need to train harder—and fast."
Lockhart leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough for her to hear. "You're right. And it makes me wonder about the next match, Gryffindor versus Slytherin. They're used to Slytherin's dirty tactics, so they won't be largely affected—but will it be enough to take down Regulus and his team? That's what I'm curious about."
Amelia's eyes twinkled. "Sounds like you're planning to watch very closely, then."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he said, with a sly grin.
In my previous life, I used to read about Quidditch, finding it fascinating but actually playing, or even just watching from the sidelines, has my blood pumping.
It was like watching a sport back on my Earth, only faster, wilder, and with way more chaos.