Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is not meant to infringe upon copyrights.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Don't worry, Cedric is fine. Madam Pomfrey said he'll be discharged tomorrow morning."
Upon returning to the Hufflepuff common room, Kyle immediately announced the good news.
The Badgers hadn't gone anywhere since leaving the hospital wing, waiting here the entire time. The Quidditch players had also arrived, though their expressions were not very good.
Seeker Cedric's injury and departure was a huge blow to the team's morale. Although a substitute player eventually took over as Chaser, they still lost, 60 to 220, a full 160 points behind.
Fortunately, Cedric's condition wasn't serious, which was good news.
Beater Jazelle rejoiced, "If that's the case, we can still make it to afternoon training."
Jazelle was a seventh-year student whose greatest wish was to win the Quidditch Cup for Hufflepuff before graduation.
"Damn it," Captain Harris pounded the wall angrily. "We can't just let this go."
"Yes, there must be an explanation," someone said indignantly. "How dare that Slytherin hit our Seeker so brazenly? It's obvious he doesn't take you seriously, Captain. I can't stand this!"
"Captain," someone said in a low voice. "I've heard. Someone from the Slytherin team is going to Hogsmeade tomorrow. How about we..."
"Shut up, Henry." Harris turned and glared at him. "Remember, don't hit the Slytherin players. I'll take care of this."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kyle, who was not far away, heard Harris' words and glanced back at him.
The captain was quite clear-headed. He really couldn't openly pick on Slytherin at this moment.
Hufflepuff's house points were only about ten points lower than Slytherin's, a very small gap. If Snape found the opportunity, he would definitely not mind deducting a hundred points from Hufflepuff.
Of course, if deducting 100 points could give them a good beating, it wouldn't be a big deal, since Hufflepuffs wouldn't care about that anyway. But if they didn't manage to beat anyone up, and lost the points, that would be a bit disgusting.
And the possibility wasn't small.
Kyle guessed that a professor was probably watching them closely, and maybe he was the one who spread the news that the Slytherin players were going to Hogsmeade.
Kyle shook his head and didn't listen any more. He called Mikel and Ryan, and the three of them went back to the dormitory together.
"Kyle, there's nothing you can't say outside." Mikel was just discussing Quidditch with others, and was suddenly called back to the dormitory by Kyle, and he was somewhat reluctant.
He looked at the Wimbourne Wasps poster beside Kyle's bed and said with a hint of lingering satisfaction, "I just discovered how fun Quidditch can be. It's a pity first-years aren't allowed on the team. I'm definitely going to sign up next year. What about you guys? Do you want to join?"
Mikel closed his eyes and reveled in the feeling of soaring across the Quidditch pitch on his broom. He caught the Golden Snitch, surrounded by deafening cheers, everyone screaming his name.
It felt so good...
"Wake up, you need to go back to sleep later!"
Just then, a cold voice ruthlessly pulled him out of his sweet dream.
"Quidditch next year, you have more important things to do right now."
Kyle waited for Mikel to open his eyes, then reached out and handed him a bottle of blue potion. "Mikel, it's time to take your medicine."
Seeing the magic suppressant potion, Mikel's grin suddenly disappeared.
"No way, I just drank it a few days ago!" Mikel swore confidently.
"The first sixty days?" Kyle said. "You drink it once every two months, you should know that."
"Two months already? So fast!" Mikel was still a little bit incredulous.
The disgusting taste was so unforgettable, it seemed like it happened yesterday.
"Um, did you forget?"
Ryan whispered, "Halloween was just two days ago."
That quickly brought Mikel to reality.
Yes, Halloween had already passed, so it had been two months.
"Okay, you're right," Mikel said, his eyes wandering. "But I have something to do later. Leave it on the table. I'll drink it when I get back tonight."
"Okay, then don't forget." Kyle placed the demon-suppressing potion on the table.
Mikel sighed with relief. "Don't worry, I won't forget. I'll go to the library to do my homework. See you tonight."
He was about to leave.
Behind him, Kyle silently drew his wand.
"Incarcerous."
A thick rope shot out from the tip of the wand, binding Mikel tightly.
"What are you doing? What are you doing?"
Mikel struggled desperately, but it was all in vain. He could only watch as Kyle, the demon-suppressing potion, approached him.
"Don't come over here, don't come over here!"
"Don't blame me, I'm heartbroken too." Kyle walked over to him and said sincerely, "But there's nothing I can do. This is a mission given to me by Headmaster Dumbledore, and I have to complete it."
"I'm fine, really."
Mikel felt he could still be saved and said quickly, "Professor Sprout said I'm making great progress and there won't be any accidents like that again."
"That was the Illumination Charm. We've learned the Levitation Charm now."
"Then I can do without my wand!" Mikel continued to struggle. "I can do without my wand, right?"
Kyle shook his head.
Charms without a wand is like playing Quidditch without a broom.
Kyle gave Ryan a wink, and Ryan understood instantly, rolling up his sleeves and coming over.
With their cooperation, the magic suppressant potion was smoothly downed, without any waste.
Ryan held the empty bottle and asked curiously, "What is this?"
"Magic Suppression Potion, a very precious potion."
"Precious?"
"Yes."
Kyle thought for a moment and said, "Let me put it this way, if it weren't at Hogwarts, it would cost at least fifty Galleons to buy this potion, and that's the lowest quality."
"Fifty Galleons!!"
Ryan swallowed his saliva. Wow, his wand was only seven Galleons, and this bottle of potion could actually buy seven wands?
"But, that bottle was brewed by Professor Snape himself." Kyle continued, "If the work of a potion master like him was placed in Diagon Alley, the price would be at least double, which is one hundred Galleons."
This time, even Mikel, who was lying on the ground pretending to be upset, sat up after hearing this number.
He just drank something that cost a hundred Galleons?
Mikel smacked his lips. Why is there still a slight sweet aftertaste?
[End of the chapter]