"Listen, fellas,"
Roger said with a solemn face.
"We won the Quidditch Cup last year. Not because each of us was stronger than the other teams, but because we were more united and smarter than any other team!
"We were willing to devise a hundred plans and stick to them strictly!"
He gathered everyone around for the final pep talk before the match.
"We prepared two of the most complete plans, many of which we've been practicing.
"But now, everyone, throw the previous plans away!
"Let's terminate that defensive counter-attack plan! We're going to attack! Attack! And attack again!
"Use insane offense so the opponent can't pay attention to our Seeker—"
Roger's voice suddenly rose.
"We will give everything for Ravenclaw, and then, win that bloody Quidditch Cup!"
The Ravenclaw Quidditch team boiled over, morale reaching a fever pitch.
"Wood, Davies, shake hands."
Madam Hooch said crisply. Wood and Roger shook hands.
Both narrowed their eyes, sizing each other up.
"Mount your brooms... on my whistle... three—two—one—"
Madam Hooch blew her whistle.
Sean lightly mounted his broom. The Nimbus 2001 flew faster and shot higher than any other broom.
Beside him was Harry, looking as if he were facing a formidable enemy.
"Good luck, Harry. I'll give it my all."
Sean said, then turned into a stream of light on the horizon.
"I know."
Harry gritted his teeth, keeping pace with Sean.
The entire Quidditch stadium watched as the two sped into the high sky like lightning.
"The match has begun, and the biggest excitement of this game is still them!
"Harry Potter and Mr. Sean Green!
"They have contributed many exciting matches for us in the past—
"Yes, we all know they are absolute rising stars. If someone said they could become professional Quidditch players, I would agree—"
Lee Jordan almost jumped up.
"Jordan, can you tell us about the match situation?"
Professor McGonagall's voice cut in.
The professor looked a bit more excited than usual. Holding binoculars, her gaze never left the two of them for a moment.
"No problem, Professor—we can see Ravenclaw has started attacking—Merlin, it's simply insane offense!"
Lee Jordan said anxiously.
"Ravenclaw's Roger almost scored—are they crazy? At this rate, they'll run out of stamina soon..."
In the stands, Lee Jordan guided the wizards' attention; on the Quidditch pitch, two wizards who were a level faster than the other players attracted the players' attention.
Their speed had reached a point where it was difficult for Beaters to aim, not to mention the Beaters were nearly brawling with each other now.
"The Golden Snitch has appeared! Sean Green is leading now, he's too fast—Harry Potter must be a bit more aggressive, even using his broom to sneak attack dear Mr. Green—"
Lee Jordan suggested urgently.
"Jordan!"
Professor McGonagall trembled upon hearing this and scolded him.
"Ah, Professor—look! That was too close—Mr. Sean Green was only a knuckle's distance away from catching the Golden Snitch. Harry must take action, using his broom, broom tail, elbow—"
Lee Jordan wished he could go on the field himself.
He completely failed to notice that the Head of House beside him was looking rather unwell.
"Attention, that is a shameful trick!"
Professor McGonagall reminded loudly.
"Professor, can't worry about that, can't worry about that—"
Lee Jordan's body was almost leaning out of the stands.
Professor McGonagall stared intently at the high sky, feeling a nervousness and excitement like she used to have.
"Just missed again!"
Lee Jordan screamed.
"Harry has finally taken action, accelerating recklessly. The two are entangled, both losing direction—Heavens, Harry recovered first, great opportunity—"
Lee Jordan shouted with pleasant surprise, but Professor McGonagall looked worried.
"No—Mr. Green is catching up from behind—"
Lee Jordan looked grim, but Professor McGonagall secretly pumped her fist.
"The winner is about to be decided—it's about to be decided—both are accelerating with all their might—collisions, turns, too fast, I can't see clearly—"
A whistle suddenly sounded throughout the Quidditch stadium.
Madam Hooch signaled that the Golden Snitch had been caught.
The Quidditch stadium suddenly froze. They looked up at the high sky, waiting for the return of the two Seekers; the stands were also quiet for a moment, everyone waiting for the final result.
"Who is it? Who is it? It's Mr. Sean Green—oh!"
Lee Jordan roared in frustration.
"Well done!"
Professor McGonagall didn't scold Jordan. She shook her fist in the direction of the returning pair, shouting excitedly, her hat falling off.
"Professor?"
Lee Jordan was confused. Didn't they lose the match?
Or rather, weren't they Gryffindor?
The whole stadium erupted. Sean flew high above the crowd, a strange buzzing in his ears. The small golden ball was tightly gripped in his hand, its wings flapping slowly.
He looked at Harry immediately. Harry was flying by himself in frustration until Sean approached him.
"Just a little bit..."
He was still muttering to himself.
"Yes, very close. You did great, Harry."
Sean admitted.
"Next time, Sean, I'll be stronger than this time."
Harry didn't look at Sean, speaking seriously.
"I look forward to that time."
Sean nodded.
When he turned back, he subconsciously saw Professor McGonagall excitedly shaking her fist at him.
The professor seemed many years younger, radiating vitality.
"Well done."
Sean knew what the professor was saying.
He shifted his gaze again and could see Professor Snape nodding slightly with the corners of his mouth raised, and the excited Justin and others.
As soon as he landed, Roger and Toya rushed over like crazy, wrapping their arms around Sean's neck and crying and shouting with abandon.
Others also pounced:
"We won the Cup! We won the Cup!"
Many arms were locked together, the Ravenclaw players hugging in a ball, shouting hoarsely.
Streams of blue torrents rushed over the barriers and poured onto the pitch.
Countless hands rained down on their backs.
In the chaos, Sean only felt many voices and bodies pressing towards him, and then he and the other players were lifted up by the crowd.
He was suddenly hoisted into the light, at which point Roger roared hoarsely and excitedly:
"Operation Mercenary was a perfect success! Ravenclaw's back-to-back championships!
"We are the champions! We are the champions!"
Over there, Justin and Hermione were trying hard to squeeze towards Sean, and Harry was also swept along by them. Several people were laughing excitedly.
Sean was carried towards the stands, where Dumbledore stood, holding the huge Quidditch Cup.