Chapter 293 The Quidditch Final
If Gryffindor were to win the match, this team would go down in history as legends.
For Harry and the rest of the team, winning the Quidditch Cup would bring them glory, ensuring they would be remembered and their names permanently enshrined in the Trophy Room.
This was almost the highest honor a school wizard could receive. After all, not every young wizard could win a special contribution award like Voldemort.
Of course, Evan was an exception.
Not only did he receive a special contribution award in his first year at school, he broke the record and became the youngest wizard to enter the Trophy Room in history.
Recently, he also received the Order of Merlin, Second Class.
Nevertheless, his family did not know what the Order of Merlin, Second Class stood for, and Evan himself did not value this honor at all. Due to this medal, for a long time, Filch's attitude towards Evan was surprisingly respectful.
Evan was simply an exception. Not everyone had the chance and the strength to fight against Voldemort, the Basilisk Serpent, the Dementors, and the evil dark wizards while still students. For common students, the Quidditch Cup was the only chance for their names to enter the Trophy Room.
Especially considering that after seven years, Gryffindor had a chance to win the Quidditch Cup again and Wood was about to graduate, the victory in this match was particularly significant.
The game was still in progress, and now all attention was on Harry. Apparently, he realized this. After Lee announced that Gryffindor was 50 points ahead, Harry abandoned the idea of following Malfoy and flew alone into the sky in search of the Golden Snitch.
Malfoy pursued him and seemed a bit impatient.
On the field, Angelina made persistent efforts and achieved great success.
She waved to the air as she flew around the end of the field; the sea of scarlet below her screamed with joy.
Just at that moment, a sudden accident occurred.
Without warning, Marcus Flint from Slytherin suddenly lunged at Angelina as fast as he could, like a giant cannonball, and in full view of everyone, almost threw her off her broom.
While the crowd below booed, Flint shrugged and casually explained, "Sorry, I didn't see her!"
This seemed to be a signal. Fred was very upset by the attack on Angelina.
A moment later, he threw his beater's bat towards Flint's head.
Flint's nose smashed against the handle of his broom and started bleeding.
"That's enough!" shouted Madam Hooch, zooming between them. "Penalty shot for Gryffindor for an unprovoked attack on their Chaser! Penalty shot for Slytherin for deliberate harm to their Chaser!"
Madam Hooch's punishment did not quell the fury of both sides but exacerbated the situation, or more precisely, it was Slytherin's course of action, who began using various excuses to frequently attack Gryffindor's players.
Everyone was very angry at what Slytherin was doing.
Ron yelled at Flint, Hermione frowned and wanted to stop him, and Lee Jordan was heard shouting, "BLOODY HELL, CHEATING B*******..."
"Jordan, if you can't comment impartially...!" Professor McGonagall interjected.
"I'm saying it like it is, Professor!" said Lee Jordan, "look at these blokes' performance. It's really disgusting."
Indeed, this was the dirtiest quidditch match Evan had ever witnessed.
Due to Slytherin's frequent fouls, the gap was rapidly closing.
They resorted quickly to any means to reach the Quaffle. Bole struck Alicia with his bat and tried to claim he thought she was a Bludger. However, Angelina was the main target...
The players from Slytherin, as strong as bears, seized every opportunity to swoop down on Angelina, hoping to knock her off her broom.
Facing Slytherin's provocation, Fred and George did not lag behind. Fred twirled his wand around Alicia and Angelina to protect them both. George retaliated by elbowing Bole in the face.
But it didn't work. Flint and Derrick took advantage of Fred and George's absence to aim both Bludgers at Wood. They struck his stomach, one after the other.
Wood twisted in the air, clutching his broom, completely breathless.
Madam Hooch was furious and scolded Flint and Derrick. "DO NOT TARGET THE KEEPER UNLESS THE QUAFFLE IS INSIDE THE SCORING AREA! Penalty for Gryffindor!"
The penalty was not a deterrent for Slytherin; they didn't care at all. Instead, they frequently used the advantages brought by the foul to narrow the gap between the two sides.
The Gryffindor players were clearly unprepared, and Wood's tactical training never considered this would happen.
They couldn't give up on the match; they could only hold on for dear life.
The wave of anger in the stands was higher than the waves, and Ron and several other boys even wanted to rush to the opposite stands and teach the Slytherins a lesson.
Fortunately, Gryffindor was still sixty points ahead, and they could secure the Cup as long as Harry caught the golden snitch!
In the air, Harry could almost feel hundreds of eyes following him as he flew around the field. He was flying higher than anyone else, with Malfoy rapidly following behind.
All the tension before the start of the game vanished. He was in better shape than ever. Flying alongside Ravenclaw's stands, he saw the Golden Snitch shining twenty feet above him.
Harry accelerated suddenly; the wind roared in his ears.
He reached out, about to grab the golden snitch, but at that moment, the Firebolt stopped abruptly.
Horror-struck, Harry looked around.
He saw Malfoy approaching fast, grabbing the Firebolt's tail and pulling it back.
"What are you doing?" Harry was angry enough to hit Malfoy, but he couldn't reach him.
Malfoy panted from the effort of holding the Firebolt, but his eyes gleamed maliciously. He had achieved what he wanted. The Snitch had disappeared again.
"Penalty! Penalty for Gryffindor! I have never seen such tactics!"
Madam Hooch screeched, rising to where Malfoy was gliding back on his Nimbus Two Thousand and One.
"CHEATING SCOUNDRELS!" Lee Jordan shouted on the megaphone, dancing beyond Professor McGonagall's reach. "DIRTY, CHEATING M..."
Lee Jordan didn't need to pause; Professor McGonagall didn't even bother to reprimand him.
She wagged her finger in Malfoy's direction, her hat askew, shouting furiously.
Beside her, Sirius was even more furious, and without a word, he brandished his wand directly. A red light shot straight towards Malfoy. No one knew what curse it was.
This behavior, clearly irrational, was in Sirius' style.
The whole crowd shouted hoarsely. They saw Sirius' spell blocked by a silver light in the air, and both collided in a brilliant flash. It was Snape's magic, who looked provocatively at Sirius with a sinister smile on his face.
Professor McGonagall was greatly surprised by what had transpired. She promptly restrained Sirius and told him not to take any further drastic actions.
This unexpected event allowed the game to continue. Under Madam Hooch's instructions, Alicia took the penalty for Gryffindor.
But she was so angry that she missed the goal by several feet.
The Gryffindor team was losing focus, and the Slytherins, delighted by Malfoy's foul on Harry and Snape's solid performance, were being propelled to greater heights.
Their entire team was encouraged to fly higher and faster.