HBWnovel Chapter 40 – The Golden Snitch can't fly anymore
Chapter 40 – The Golden Snitch can't fly anymore
In the next few minutes, Hoare was unstoppable, blocking players and balls alike, scoring three goals in a row.
"Slytherin scores another 10 points!!!" Lee Jordan shouted until his voice was almost hoarse.
"Henry William's Bludger play is truly impressive! Let's all recognize this first-year Beater from Slytherin, Henry William!!!"
"So, what kind of stance will Henry William use to hit the Bludger next?... Wait! The Bludger is gone? All the Seekers on the field are looking for it, where did it go?"
Hoare sat on his broom, realizing the Bludger was missing, and considered a possibility.
But then he thought it was impossible; Quirrell's injuries were so severe, how could he have left the infirmary in just half a month?@@@@
If it weren't for Headmaster Dumbledore wanting to keep a close watch on Quirrell, such serious injuries would have required treatment at the more advanced St. Mungo's.
Hoare flew around on his broom, scanning the surroundings for any suspicious figures, just as he thought he might be overthinking it.
Lee Jordan shouted, "The Bludger has appeared!!! Let's see, oh, it's chasing Harry Potter now, it seems our Bludger really likes Harry."
"Ah! No, it looks like the Bludger is attacking Harry, it seems this young Seeker is in trouble, could he be forced to quit on his first outing? That would be such a shame..."
"Oh my! Slytherin's Henry William is flying towards Harry Potter! What's he going to do? Is he going to kick him while he's down? No! He's preparing to... save Harry!? Oh my! This is so touching! A Slytherin actually saving a Gryffindor, and on the Quidditch pitch no less..."
Lee Jordan's voice was chattering away until the professors in the stands gave him a stern look, making him fall silent.
Hoare clearly saw the Bludger moving in a bizarre manner, trying to attack Harry.
Damn! Is it really Quirrell?
Is he like a worm? Cut him in half and he still revives!?
Hoare flew directly to Harry's side, shouting, "Get down!"
Harry heard the familiar voice, and before he could think, his body reacted instinctively, pressing tightly against his broom. He felt the Beater's bat brush past his scalp, leaving a cool sensation.
"Bang!"
Hoare used all his strength to deliver a powerful blow.
The Bludger shot away at an incredible speed, far from the pitch.
The entire stadium fell silent.
"Uh... Henry William, without the Bludger, the game can't continue."
"Harry! The Golden Snitch!" The Weasley twins shouted, pointing in a direction for Harry.
But Harry hesitated; if it weren't for helping him, Hoare wouldn't have had to send the ball out of the pitch.
"Slytherin scores another ten points!!! Henry William!!! That was an incredible shot!!!"
"Oh my! Under the Bludger is... the Golden Snitch!!!"
"Emmm... our Golden Snitch seems unable to fly."
Lee Jordan tried to explain the situation, seeing this for the first time, unsure who the winner was.
On the field, Gryffindor and Slytherin players surrounded the still-spinning Bludger.
"What do we do now?" Oliver Wood scratched his head.
George tested it with his bat.
Immediately, the side of the bat that touched it became flat, shaved off.
"If we go up now, won't we be hit by the Bludger?" George looked at his now flat bat, shivering.
Slytherin's side was silent too.
Without removing the Bludger, they couldn't get the Golden Snitch.
Removing the Bludger would definitely cause injuries.
Finally, Hoare flew over on his broom, looking at the still-spinning Bludger, and silently cast "Finite."
The Bludger's speed gradually slowed.
It all happened in seconds, and everyone only saw that when Hoare arrived, the ball's speed decreased.
Then Hoare used his bat to flick the Bludger aside, grabbing the Golden Snitch.
Right under the noses of all the Gryffindor players.
"Wait, isn't that cheating!?" George shouted, "You're not a Seeker!!! How can a Beater grab the Golden Snitch!!!"
"Oh." Hoare seemed to just realize it.
He had really forgotten that Beaters couldn't catch the Snitch.
On the Gryffindor side, Harry had already taken off to grab it, but Hoare turned and flew towards Marcus Flint, the Slytherin Seeker.
Handing it to him.
Lee Jordan announced the final result in a daze.
"...S-S-Slytherin has caught the Golden Snitch! Adding 150 points!!!"