Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is not meant to infringe upon copyrights.
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As the most popular sport at Hogwarts, Quidditch has always been incredibly popular.
The selection tournament had barely ended when news spread that Kyle had scored twenty-one goals in ten minutes.
For the next few days, everyone was discussing it.
Some were shocked, some excited, and some skeptical.
"That's too unbelievable," Zabini said disdainfully at the Slytherin table. "While I admit that Kell has some skill, and his maps are passable enough to satisfy me, when it comes to Quidditch, he's far from good.
Twenty-one goals in ten minutes—even I can't do that, how could he!"
"Are you better than Kyle?" Malfoy glanced at him sideways.
"You don't believe me?"
Zabini said smugly. "My fifth father was a professional Quidditch player. He said I'm a once-in-a-century Quidditch genius, and if I wanted to, countless professional teams would be vying to have me join them right after graduation."
Hearing this, many people around him subconsciously twitched their lips.
Lady Zabini is a very beautiful witch in the wizarding world. She has been married seven times, and each of her husbands died mysteriously, leaving behind a large inheritance.
"I've heard that kind of talk before, more than once," Malfoy scoffed.
He had known for a long time that such statements were nothing but insincere flattery, but he hadn't expected anyone to actually believe them.
"It's true, he certainly wouldn't lie to me!" Zabini retorted, sticking out his neck.
"In that case..." Malfoy glanced at him, "why don't you apply to join the House team?"
"What nonsense are you talking about, Draco? I'm only a freshman; I can't play Quidditch."
"But Potter…"
Malfoy started to retort, but then abruptly shut his mouth.
He clearly already knew that Harry Potter had joined the team, and every time he thought about it, it made him extremely unhappy.
What was even more upsetting was that this outcome was because of him.
Just thinking about Potter and Weasley's faces that morning made Malfoy feel nauseous, like he had eaten a pile of fake cockroaches.
If he had known it would turn out like this, he would never have taken that big oaf's Memory Ball.
But Zabini didn't know this. He thought Malfoy had admitted what he had just said, and immediately changed his tune, saying confidently, "Just you wait and see, next year I will definitely join the team and teach that Kyle a lesson."
"But Draco… you definitely won't make the team."
He suddenly looked at Malfoy and mocked, "I saw you playing with your flying broom before, and let me tell you, you weren't even as fast as my grandma walking."
Malfoy's face flushed red. He was a Quidditch genius who had narrowly dodged Muggle helicopters several times; when had he ever been insulted like this?
"Hmph..."
Malfoy turned his head, drawing out his words, "Which grandmother are you referring to, the third? Or the seventh..."
Zabini's face flushed red; he hated it when people mentioned that.
"How dare you! I'll make you pay!"
Enraged, he raised his fist and slammed it down on Malfoy's face.
"Bang!"
"Ah..."
Malfoy, clutching his face, screamed in disbelief, "Damn it, you dare hit me! My father never hit me!
What are you all standing there for? Get him! I'm going to kill him!"
At Malfoy's command, his two henchmen, Crabbe and Goyle, rushed forward.
They were at least half a head taller than their peers, and with their burly builds, they quickly overpowered the frail Zabini, giving him a thorough beating.
Malfoy stood up, about to add a few more kicks, when Professor McGonagall appeared beside them.
"A fight?"
Professor McGonagall's expression was very serious. She casually used her wand to separate the three people rolling on the ground.
"Nothing like this has ever happened at Hogwarts."
"Malfoy insulted me first, Professor!" Zabini mumbled in protest.
His face was swollen from being punched by Crabbe and Goyle, and he had lost a few teeth, so his speech was somewhat slurred.
"Save that for Professor Snape. He's the one who decides how to punish you."
Professor McGonagall said sternly, "Now, all four of you, come with me!"
"Excuse me, Professor... perhaps I misheard. You said four people?"
Malfoy suddenly stepped forward, covering his face with an innocent expression, and grumbled, "Everyone here can testify that I didn't fight, and I was the victim."
"You heard me right, Mr. Malfoy."
Professor McGonagall glanced at him calmly. "Come with me... don't make me say it a second time."
Malfoy dared not say anything more, and could only lower his head and carefully follow Professor McGonagall out of the Great Hall.
Seeing his disheveled state, Harry Potter almost jumped for joy.
"Look, Ron! Malfoy's in for it!"
Ron, also holding a chicken leg, exclaimed excitedly, "Serves him right! He deserved it!"
The two danced around for a while, seemingly more excited about Malfoy's misfortune than the points they'd earn for the house.
In short, the Slytherin incident didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the others for Quidditch, especially among the Hufflepuffs.
Harris had been acting like he'd drunk an expired potion lately; whether in the common room or in class, he'd inexplicably burst into laughter, startling those around him.
One day on his way to class, he ran into Oliver Wood from Gryffindor in the corridor. Coincidentally, they were both grinning foolishly when they met.
"It's Wood! Hello, hello!"
"Nice to see you, Harris."
The two greeted each other warmly, like long-lost friends.
"What class are you going to?"
"History of Magic. What about you?"
"Pretty much. I'm in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"That's pretty much it."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, they suddenly asked at the same time, "What were you laughing at just now?"
After asking, they both fell silent. "Uh, you know."
After a brief silence, Wood spoke first, "My owl had its second litter. New life... what a wonderful thing! Every time I think about it, I feel a heartfelt joy."
" Pretty much the same as you," Harris said calmly. "My owl found its other half at school. Such beautiful love... I'm really happy for it."
"I see." Wood said in surprise, "Then congratulations!"
"Haha, same to you," Harris quickly replied.
Then the two fell silent again, inwardly cursing each other's shamelessness.
[End of the chapter]