bacchusnovels Chapter 323 The Coming Quidditch Match
Chapter 323 The Coming Quidditch Match
Chapter 323 The Coming Quidditch Match
Sean gave an approving smile and nodded. "That's right, the eyes are indeed the hardest part to fake. Remember that; it will save your life when you're in danger."
Harry's heart stirred slightly after hearing this, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
After a while, Sean began to steer the lecture back towards the werewolves.
"Everyone, turn to page 394," Sean said, his tone becoming slightly more serious. "Can any of you tell me how to distinguish between a werewolf and a real werewolf?"
The classroom fell silent as the students quickly opened their textbooks.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances. Hermione's hand shot up almost instinctively, held high as she usually did when answering questions, clearly prepared beforehand.
But when she realized that this was Professor Phillips' class, she hesitated for a moment before she could withdraw her hand. "Miss Granger?" But before Hermione could withdraw her hand, Sean smiled and called her name.
“There are several ways to distinguish between werewolves and real wolves,” Hermione began, her voice slightly softer than usual. “First, werewolves only transform on the night of a full moon, while real wolves always retain their wolf form. Second, although werewolves resemble wolves in appearance, their eyes retain human features, especially noticeable when they are angry or hungry. Also, werewolves don't gait like ordinary wolves; although they appear to be on all fours, their movements are actually more human-like, clumsy.”
After she finished speaking, she glanced at Sean unconsciously, secretly hoping for his opinion.
"That's a very comprehensive answer." Sean nodded, a smile of approval playing on his lips, his gaze lingering on Hermione for a second longer.
Hermione's heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly lowered her head to avoid meeting his eyes.
Harry and Ron exchanged a quick glance, clearly noticing Hermione's change in expression.
Neither of them quite understood why Hermione seemed so uneasy in front of Professor Phillips.
Sofia, standing to the side, was fiddling with the camera hanging around her neck—she wanted to take a picture, but because it was during class, she seemed a little hesitant.
"Anything else to add?" Sean looked around the classroom, trying to get more students involved in the discussion.
Parvati hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand and said, "Professor, werewolves are much smarter than ordinary wolves—they have human memories and consciousness, right?"
“That’s right, Parvati,” Sean nodded in agreement. “Because werewolves have human memories and consciousness, they are more dangerous, because they not only possess the ferocity of wolves, but also the cunning and wisdom of humans.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Sean's tone turned slightly somber: "But don't forget, werewolves don't always become such creatures voluntarily."
Often, they are also victims.
A silence fell over the classroom as everyone seemed to be pondering Sean's words.
"Alright, students," Sean's tone softened again, "werewolfs are just one point of discussion for today."
Next, we will learn about other magical creatures. After class, please review the relevant content in the textbook. Werewolves are not the only magical creatures that can utilize human intelligence.
"Each of you write a paper and submit it to me on how to identify other people's disguises. I require you to fill two rolls of parchment with this paper and hand it to Miss Granger on Monday morning."
Hermione blushed again upon hearing the task Sean had assigned her.
"Professor, will you be teaching our Defense Against the Dark Arts class from now on? Where is Professor Lupin going?"
As soon as Parvati asked the question, the classroom fell silent, and all eyes turned to Sean.
Everyone was waiting for his answer, especially regarding Professor Lu Ping's whereabouts. The students were filled with doubts, especially... during this special period.
Sean instantly sensed the sudden tension in the classroom. His gaze swept across the students' faces, finally settling on Parvati, who had asked the question.
She seemed a little hesitant, but her curiosity made her unwilling to give up on the question easily.
He sighed softly, his expression turning slightly serious. "Professor Lupin has had a minor health issue and needs to rest for a couple of days," Sean explained, trying to keep his tone gentle. "But don't worry, he'll be back soon. And during his break, I'll temporarily take over his classes."
Upon hearing this, the students exchanged doubtful glances, seemingly wanting to ask more questions, but seeing Sean's slightly serious expression, they dared not press further.
"Alright," Sean continued, with a hint of reassurance, "although your courses will be slightly different,
But your learning progress will not be affected. That's all for today's lesson.
As the students got up and left the classroom, the four little ones walked at the back of the line. Hermione was still feeling uncomfortable because of the homework assignment, and the blush on her face had not completely faded, while Harry and Ron exchanged a complicated look.
"Do you really think what Professor Sean said is correct?" Harry asked in a low voice, his tone tinged with uncertainty.
Ron shrugged, looking somewhat annoyed. "I don't know, but I think Professor Lupin's illness came on rather suddenly," he said. "He was perfectly fine the whole time, so why did he suddenly—fall ill?"
"A curse, it must be that Defense Against the Dark Arts curse." Sophia, always eager for drama, added fuel to the fire.
Hermione pursed her lips, seemingly deep in thought.
She had been harboring doubts about Sean, but she couldn't articulate them clearly in words. She could only silently follow behind Harry and Ron, beside Sophia, her mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.
"Hermione, do you think Professor Phillips's classes are a little... different?" After a while, Harry finally couldn't help but ask, his gaze shifting between Hermione and Sophia.
Hermione quickly glanced at Harry, a hint of nervousness flashing across her face, but she tried to remain calm. "Different? I think—he's just teaching very seriously."
"Hmm, maybe." Harry shrugged, but he still had some doubts. He felt that Sean seemed to be hiding something.
Ron, however, seemed nonchalant: "Alright, forget about that. Let's wait for our match against Hufflepuff. I have a feeling it'll be very interesting!"
The next day, Harry woke up very early, before dawn.
He thought the howling wind had woken him, but soon he felt a cool breeze on the back of his neck and sat up abruptly.
Just then, Mischief-loving Pikachu floated beside him, blowing hard into his ear with a smug grin.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked angrily.
Peeves puffed out his cheeks, blew hard, and then flew out of the room with a giggle, leaving Harry alone to lie back on the bed, still feeling indignant.
Harry reached for the alarm clock and saw it was only 4:30 a.m.
He cursed the rascal under his breath and tried to turn over and go back to sleep, but he was already fully awake.
Thunder rumbled overhead, winds lashed against the castle walls, and the distant Forbidden Forest echoed with the cracking of snapping branches. In a few hours, he would be playing Quidditch in this weather.
Finally, Harry gave up on going back to sleep, put on his clothes, picked up his Nimbus 2000, and quietly left the dormitory.
Harry had just reached the door when he suddenly felt something brush against his leg.
He bent down and caught the tip of Crookshank's furry tail, pulling it outside.
"I think Ron is right," Harry whispered to Crookshanks. "There are a lot of rats here. Go catch them and stop bothering Scabbers."
He gently nudged Crookshank with his foot, signaling it to get down to business, and then went down the stairs.
Upon reaching the common lounge, the sound of the storm outside intensified.
Harry knew in his heart that the match would not be canceled—Quidditch matches are almost never suspended due to weather.
Nevertheless, he began to worry. Wood had shown him Cedric Diggory, the Hufflepuff's new Seeker, who was taller and stronger than Harry. Although Seekers were usually light, Diggory's weight was an advantage in this harsh weather.
Harry waited by the fire for dawn, getting up every now and then to stop Crookshanks from sneaking back to the boys' dormitory, until he felt it was time for breakfast, and then he went through the portrait hole alone.
"Stop! Let's duel, you mangy dog!" Sir Cadogan shouted.
"Shut up," Harry replied lazily, yawning as he walked toward the Great Hall.
He ate a large bowl of porridge and felt somewhat refreshed. As he began eating bread, the other team members arrived one after another.
"It's definitely going to be a tough battle," Wood said with a serious expression, having barely eaten anything.
"Don't worry, Oliver," Arya comforted him, "we're not afraid of this little drizzle."
However, this was by no means a "light rain." The storm outside was raging, but the entire school, teachers and students alike, still crowded into the stadium to watch the game as usual. Everyone bowed their heads to shield themselves from the strong winds, and almost all of their umbrellas were blown away.
Just as Harry was about to enter the dressing room, he saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle holding a large umbrella and walking towards the open-air stadium, pointing at Harry and laughing incessantly.
The players changed into their bright red team jerseys, and Wood tried to give them a pre-game pep talk as usual, but he hesitated several times before speaking.
He could only manage a choked sob, and finally shook his head helplessly, signaling his teammates to follow him.
The wind was so strong it was almost impossible to stand. They walked with difficulty toward the pitch, and the rain lashed against Harry's glasses, making it almost impossible for him to see ahead.
He couldn't help but wonder: how was he going to find the Golden Thief under these circumstances?
The Hufflepuff players, wearing pale yellow jerseys, walked from the other end of the field.
The two team captains walked together and shook hands. Diggory smiled at Wood, but Wood, too nervous to do more than nod. Ms. Hodge blew her whistle, and the game began.