"Let Slytherin know our strength!" everyone responded to Angelina's pep talk in unison.
"It's time." Angelina glanced at her watch, "Let's go, wish us luck—especially you, Ron, let those Slytherins who look down on you know your power!"
"Don't worry, Captain!" Ron said confidently.
The locker room was right below the stands, and they could easily hear the sound of numerous feet climbing onto the stands.
Someone started singing, and the team members stood up with their brooms.
They lined up, walked out of the locker room, and into the dazzling sunlight, receiving a thunderous welcome.
The Slytherin team members were already standing there, also wearing crown-like silver badges.
The new captain Monty was similar in build to Dudley, and Harry wondered if he had encountered another pig in a wig.
However, he thought that this Monty guy wasn't even half as pleasing to the eye as Dudley.
Behind Monty stood the equally burly Crabbe and Gall, one tall the other short and stocky, blinking stupidly in the sunlight, waving their freshly issued batons.
"See that?" Ron whispered to Harry, sideling his head, "Look at them, don't they look like gorillas wielding clubs?"
Harry pursed his lips, struggling to hold back his laughter.
Next to Crabbe and Gall, Draco stood squinting under the sun, his pale golden hair glinting brightly.
He caught Ron's eye, patted the silver badge on his chest, and smiled smugly.
"Captains, shake hands," shouted referee Mrs. Hooqi, as Angelina and Monty stepped forward.
Harry could tell Monty wanted to crush Angelina's fingers, but she didn't flinch.
"Mount your brooms..."
Mrs. Hooqi blew her whistle hard through her lips.
And they're off, soaring into the sky.
Harry didn't rush to find the Golden Snitch, observing around instead.
Within his line of sight, Angelina quickly captured the Ghost Flying Ball, executing an incredible maneuver through the Slytherin defense players.
The Slytherin captain Monty tried to give the opposing new captain an intimidating lesson with a foul move, but George's bat heavily sent the Wandering Ball flying towards Monty's head, forcing him to dodge to avoid being knocked out by the Wandering Ball.
Taking advantage of this help, Angelina spiraled into an accelerating sprint, launching the Ghost Flying Ball into the hoop.
"Well done! Johnson! Johnson scored within the first ten seconds of the match, Gryffindor scored!"
Lee Jordan shouted at the top of his lungs.
Harry suddenly heard a song floating from the stands—he looked in the direction of the singing, seeing the sea of silver and green Slytherin in waves.
"Weasley's a king, he blocks no ball, Slytherin's song fills the hall, Weasley is our king."
"Weasley acts like a trash bin, always tosses the ball in, Weasley ensures our win, Weasley is our king."
Harry turned around to see Ron's face was as usual, as if he hadn't even noticed the song.
It was Slytherin's turn to attack, and Worlington flew towards Ron's goal with the ball.
He got closer to Ron, yet Ron remained unfazed.
Gryffindor's defense players had already started, coming in from both sides, trying to stop this Chaser from attacking Gryffindor's goal.
Worlington used a dazzling "Saki Scissors" move to dodge the defense and fiercely threw the ball at the goal.
The Slytherin's song grew louder, convinced the ball would surely go in.
However, Ron didn't panic; he completed an Inverted Golden Bell move in mid-air, catching the Ghost Flying Ball that was about to score in his hands.
"Nice one, Ron!" Angelina cheered loudly, waving her arm.
The golden-red sea of Gryffindor began to cheer too, waving their house banners.
In contrast, the Slytherin side fell silent.
They had thought this psychological tactic would cause Gryffindor's new Goalkeeper to falter, but instead, they were thoroughly impressed by Ron's performance.
Really, guys?
You did that Inverted Golden Bell stunt, seriously?
Everyone's a rookie, why are only you so skillful?
At this moment, Jordan was commenting excitedly, his face dark but his bright white teeth extremely noticeable.
"Worlington dodged Gryffindor's defense, only the Goalkeeper in front, now facing Gryffindor's new Goalkeeper Weasley's first test, he's the younger brother of batters Fred and George, a rising star of the team... Why another Weasley? Eh? Why did I say another? … Oh no, Gryffindor's goal is in danger, he throws—Beautiful! A fantastic save! Weasley snatched the inevitable goal with a fancy move, a huge blow to Slytherin's morale! Well done! Weasley is our king!"
"Jordan!" Professor McGonagall sternly reminded.
"Just kidding, Professor, just adding some flavor—" Lee Jordan turned around with a grin and said.
"Attack!" Ron shouted, passing the ball to Katie Bell.
Katie caught the ball, and along with two other chasers, began breaking through at high speed in a V formation.
The Wandering Ball flew forcefully towards Katie, but George appeared just in time, swinging his club to deflect the Ghost Flying Ball.
"Well done!" Angelina praised loudly.
Slytherin's defense players started pressing, yet Katie seized the opportunity, passing the ball to Alicia, who caught another open spot, passing it between two players to an unguarded Angelina.
Angelina quickly gained altitude, aiming the Ghost Flying Ball downwards...
"Johnson has the ball, shooting... no, she doesn't shoot; she chooses to pass... Spinnit catches it, shoots! Goal!"
Lee Jordan screamed wildly, expressing his excitement.
"Brilliant! What an incredible fake-out move, Johnson! Such an exceptional performance, such an outstanding player! She's undoubtedly the backbone of Gryffindor in this match!"
The golden-red sea of Gryffindor erupted once again with thunderous cheers, letting out their excitement.
Luna was also waving her magic wand to make her comical Lion Hat roar, jumping and raising her arms in joy.
Just a few minutes into the game, Gryffindor had already taken a 20-point lead!
And it's foreseeable that as the new Goalkeeper, Ron could also keep the goal secure—they could even see a glimpse of peak Oliver Wood in Ron!
"Put in more effort!" Slytherin captain Monty said with a sullen face: "I need to remind you all to strengthen your defense—Crabbe, Gall, are you both slow?"
"It's because the brains aren't fully developed." Fred wittingly cut in.
"And the cerebellum hasn't developed at all." George joined in.
Upon hearing these words, Crabbe and Gall chuckled.
"Fools!" Monty angrily slapped them on their heads: "He was mocking you!"
Crabbe and Gall stopped giggling immediately.
Slytherin was on the attack again.
Lee Jordan continued his commentary.
"Go, Gryffindor!" he called out loudly.
"Jordan!" Professor McGonagall was genuinely angry this time, "As a commentator, you need to be neutral!"
"Got it, Professor, I was just cheering for Gryffindor as a fan." Lee Jordan grinned cheekily, "Don't worry, Professor, I won't say 'Long live the great Gryffindor' during commentary..."