piratefiction Chapter 322 The Champion
Chapter 322 The Champion
Chapter 322 The Champion (6K) (1/2)
Time flies by as quickly as the scenery outside the window of the Hogwarts Express.
Several months slipped by quietly amidst the changing headlines of the Daily Prophet, the hustle and bustle of Hogsmeade weekends, and the changing of classes within the castle.
The uproar within Wizengamor and the Ministry of Magic regarding the Black-Peter affair gradually shifted from angry denunciations to more practical political maneuvering and the exchange of interests.
Barty-Crouch demonstrated another side of himself that enabled him to remain in the position of Chief Justice for many years, besides his iron-fisted approach: a keen political sense and the wisdom to survive by assessing the situation.
He did not, as some had predicted or feared, tear everyone apart in desperation and fight to the death.
Instead, he cleverly used the vague evidence he possessed regarding the possible "negligence" or "cooperation" of certain pure-blood families in the events of that year, as well as the Ministry of Magic's urgent need for an "experienced" official to take some responsibility without causing the entire system's credibility to collapse, to reach a cold deal with the pure-blood forces.
The core of the deal was clear and brutal: Crouch would no longer delve deeper into or expand the investigation, maintaining the characterization of it as a "procedural flaw," and "voluntarily" relinquish his central position in the Department of Law Enforcement; in return, the pure-blood family and its allies within the Ministry of Magic—including those officials around Minister Fudge who hoped to quell the situation quickly and avoid getting burned—would need to use their influence to ensure his "smooth transition" to the position of Director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation.
This position was prestigious enough to preserve most of his dignity, and it was also conveniently located far from domestic law enforcement and core power, which relieved all parties involved.
The pureblood families swallowed a mouthful of blood mixed with broken teeth, acknowledging the condition.
After some behind-the-scenes maneuvering by Lynch's First Order, a transfer order was issued: Barty Crouch was transferred to the position of Director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation "due to his extensive experience in international affairs and his contributions to postwar international cooperation."
A political storm that could have swallowed many people eventually came to an end with a cold-blooded power swap.
Meanwhile, at the center of another storm, Sirius Black experienced some of the most tumultuous and awkward months of his life.
The interview he personally dictated and refined, which appeared on the Shita Chamber of Commerce's news board, was like adding an authoritative ingredient to a boiling pot of public opinion.
The article presents the facts objectively and calmly, without resorting to sensationalism, yet it is all the more powerful because of its authenticity and restraint.
It successfully quelled many absurd rumors, but it also firmly pinned him to the center of public attention.
He received mountains of letters, filled with sympathy, adoration, and strange gifts from all over the world, including dozens of bizarre sachets and recipes that were said to "soothe the aftereffects of Azkaban"—as well as countless invitations to banquets, lectures, and charity events.
His image has been repeatedly portrayed: a resilient prisoner, a loyal friend, a tragic hero, a rebellious Blake—he was forced to learn to put on a gloomy and reserved smile when a reporter from the Daily Prophet suddenly appeared; to roll his eyes at the tearful interview outlines from The Wizarding Weekly and throw them straight into the fireplace; and to be as concise as possible in the few public appearances he had to make, so as to avoid being over-interpreted.
He was utterly fed up with it all.
The old house at 12 Grimmauld Place remains gloomy, and the aging Kreacher remains annoying, but at least it provides a barrier.
He spent more time getting familiar with the world he hadn't seen for twelve years, keeping up with Harry's activities, building a good relationship with him, and meeting with Remus and Lynch, who occasionally visited, to discuss some "serious" matters.
Of course, there's also the challenge of adapting to how a "free man" should live—which is harder than staying conscious in Azkaban.
On a sunny but chilly weekend, the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch was filled with noise and colors representing the different houses.
Today is the last match of the school year, and a crucial battle to determine the champion: Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff. The air is thick with tension and excitement far exceeding that of usual.
This year's Academy Cup Quidditch competition was exceptionally fierce.
Gryffindor had a poor start to the season: At the beginning of the match against Ravenclaw, Harry was attacked by Dementors and dropped his broom, leading to a crushing defeat. Then, due to the shocking events at Hogsmeade over the weekend, Harry had to stay at St. Mungo's for a while, missing the crucial match against Slytherin – a game in which the Finder, a substitute, played, and despite their best efforts, they still lost. Therefore, Gryffindor is currently at a disadvantage in the standings.
Today's situation is both very simple and extremely difficult: Hufflepuff currently leads in points. Gryffindor must win this match, and by more than 240 points, to miraculously overtake them and win the championship based on point differential.
Even if it's just a win, even by 200 points, the championship trophy will still belong to Hufflepuff.
This was a near-impossible task, but the Gryffindor team—especially their graduating captain Oliver Wood, who was burning with a thirst for the championship—refused to give up any hope.
The high stands for faculty, staff, and special guests offered a wide view.
Sirius Black, dressed in a brand-new, well-tailored black robe—chosen by an employee of the Stone Tower Merchant Guild to suit his current image—leaned against the railing.
Standing next to him was Lin Qi, who had also been invited to watch the game. Lin Qi was still wearing an elegant suit with a black overcoat and a warm smile on his face.
The match hadn't even started yet, and the stands were filled with cheers and chatter from the students.
Sirius's gaze swept over the familiar little figure among the Gryffindor team waiting in the stands below, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face, but it was quickly replaced by annoyance.
"See that?" He gestured with his chin to a few guys below who were clearly neither students nor faculty, holding up small, telescopic lenses—a mix of Muggle and wizard technology—and constantly adjusting the angle in his direction. "After the Daily Prophet's interview," they weren't giving up; they wanted to take some photos of Black watching his godson's game, "his genuine emotions." Merlin's beard, "I just wanted to watch a game in peace! Why couldn't Dumbledore keep them out of the school?"
Lin Qi glanced in the direction of his gaze, and the wizards who looked like reporters immediately shrank back guiltily and turned their cameras away. Clearly, they had been warned against discussing anything related to this high-ranking member of the Stone Tower Chamber of Commerce.
"Fame is a double-edged sword, Blake. You're the talk of the town now," Lynch said calmly. "At least they don't dare make things up anymore."
"Yeah, thanks to your exclusive interview." Sirius snorted, his tone ambiguous between gratitude and complaint. "It saved me a lot of trouble, but it also attracted a lot more attention. Sometimes I think that being surrounded by people like a precious hunchback wherever I go isn't much better than being called a 'traitor' by everyone."
He scratched his still somewhat wild and unruly black hair after the trimming: "By the way, speaking of your chamber of commerce—I've been looking through the economics section and some old development data lately. Don't look at me like that, being locked up for so long, I need to find something to understand the world now—I've discovered that your Stone Tower Chamber of Commerce has expanded very quickly in the past few years, and the areas you're involved in are quite diverse. Antique appraisal, international trade in potion ingredients, and even some magical creature trading—some of the names on the list of partners look quite familiar."
He spoke casually, but his grey-blue eyes sharply swept over Lynch.
"For example—the Nott family, the Caro family, and even some smaller families with ties to the Malfoy family. I remember these families didn't used to look down on emerging merchant guilds, especially those—those with some connection to Muggle technology." He paused, as if mentioning it casually, "How did you manage to bring them all together? Was it simply Galleons? Or was there some other—shared interest?"
The air was filled with the noise from the stadium below, but the atmosphere in this corner of the stands seemed to become subtle because of this seemingly casual question.
Sirius made no attempt to hide his probing.
Having experienced betrayal and injustice, he is instinctively wary of any complex interplay of forces, even those who help him clear his name.
Lynch's expression remained unchanged, his gaze still fixed on the team warming up below, as if Sirius had merely commented on the weather.
"Business partnerships are rarely based on a single factor, Blake," his voice was as steady as ever. "Garons are fundamental, but reputation, stable channels, the ability to solve specific problems, and—a consensus on certain future trends—may be even more important. The history and resources of pure-blood families are undeniable; ignoring or rejecting them is unwise. It's about finding a mutually acceptable way to cooperate, each getting what they need, nothing more. The Stone Tower Merchant Guild provides the platform and some of the services they need," they provide resources and connections. "It's fair."
He turned his head to look at Sirius, his gray eyes calm and deep, making it impossible to see through him.
"This world isn't just black and white; more often, it's a world of varying shades of gray, constantly checking and trading against each other."
Coexistence. Just like this Quidditch game,” he pointed down, “there are rules, there is competition, there is tactical cooperation, and even some little tricks that skirt the edges of the rules. The ultimate goal is to keep the game going and—make sure you win the game you want.”
Sirius stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly pondering the meaning behind his words.
Finally, he grinned, revealing a complex smile that carried his usual arrogance yet seemed to indicate a degree of understanding.
"That's right, there are rules, and there are underhanded tactics." He turned back, resting his arms on the railing, his gaze returning to the field. He didn't press further, but his tone was meaningful. "As long as we win in the end, the methods—can be a bit more flexible, right?"
At the edge of the field below, Wood was gathering his players together for a final pep talk.
Even from a distance, you could see him waving his arms vigorously, his face flushed with excitement and tension. His voice, breaking through the noise, carried in fragments: "—Remember! It's not just about victory! It's about 240 points! Every goal is crucial! Defense must be impenetrable, offense must be explosive! For Gryffindor, for our seven years of hard work! Let today be legendary—!" His teammates surrounded him, nodding emphatically, their faces filled with a do-or-die determination as they shouted, "Gryffindor!"
The players then began to take off.
Harry rode his newly acquired Firebolt, a precious gift from his godfather who had just been exonerated after his discharge from St. Mungo's.
He rose gracefully into the air, habitually surveying the entire scene to adjust his state.
Then, his self-illumination fell on the faculty and staff stands.
He immediately spotted the familiar, slightly wild black hair, and the face looking in his direction with an undisguised smile of pride and encouragement—Sirius.
His heart skipped a beat, and a warm, solid sense of strength surged up within him. Then, he saw the quiet figure standing beside his godfather—Uncle Lynch.
Lin Qi was also looking at him, and when their eyes met, he nodded almost imperceptibly.
Harry felt a strange sense of relief.
Despite the grim situation, knowing that the most important person was there watching him and cheering him on made his fingers grip the broom handle even tighter. He nodded vigorously toward the stands, then took a deep breath and focused all his attention on the golden snitch about to be released into the air.
For Gryffindor, for Wood, and for all those who believed in him.
In the stands, Sirius's self-glow closely followed Harry's figure, and the smile on his face never disappeared.
"Look at that child, how beautifully he rides the broom, just like his father—" he murmured.
Just then, Ms. Hooch's whistle pierced the sky, and the Quaffle was thrown high into the air!
The game officially begins!
A huge cheer, like a tsunami, engulfed the stands and drowned out Sirius Black's voice.
The Golden Snitch vanished into thin air in an instant, and the Running Ball began to whistle fiercely. The final battle of the Hogwarts Quidditch season had begun.
The spectators in the stands, each with their own thoughts, turned their attention to the ever-changing events unfolding on the field.
Sirius almost held his breath, all his attention focused on the small, thin figure riding a fire bolt, darting through the air.
Both sides knew that this match was not only about victory, but also about who would win the championship, and they gave it their all in every move.
Hufflepuff had clearly studied Gryffindor's tactics; their style of play was steady and difficult to deal with.
The three ball chasers cooperated well, using their physical advantages to make short passes and penetrate the defense, not rushing into attacks, but patiently looking for opportunities.
Their batters are also excellent, and the run is always precisely directed to the Gryffindor chasers, especially Angelina Jensen, who is frequently disrupted when trying to organize a quick counter-attack.
Meanwhile, their Seeker, fifth-year Cedric Diggory, has already shown remarkable talent and composure. Riding a rather impressive Comet series broom, he calmly patrols the skies, putting considerable pressure on Harry.
Just like Wood's pre-match roar, Gryffindor launched a fierce and relentless offensive, constantly assaulting Hufflepuff's defense.
Gryffindor's goal is clear: before the Seekers decide the winner, they must widen the score gap as much as possible—not just a regular lead, but a huge advantage of more than ninety points, because even if they catch the Snitch and get 150 points, the total score difference must reach 240 points to win the championship.
"Gryffindor scores!" Lee Jordan's voice echoed throughout the arena through the magic microphone.
"Ten to zero! Good start! But we need two hundred and forty, guys! Keep it up!"
However, Hufflepuff quickly retaliated.
"Ten to ten! The Hufflepuffs have shown their resilience! Cedric Diggory is watching from above, and he looks incredibly calm!"
The game turned into a suffocating tug-of-war.
Gryffindor's offense is fierce, but Hufflepuff's defense is as solid as their house symbol.
Wood made several crucial saves, denying several sure-fire goals, but he also conceded two goals.
Meanwhile, the Gryffindor Chasers, through the tunnels desperately cleared by the Weasley twins with their running balls, struggled to break through the opponent's goal line time and time again.
High in the air, Harry and Cedric cautiously maneuvered around each other, each occasionally making feints to try and lure the other into making a mistake or distracting him, but Cedric remained unusually calm and was not easily fooled.
The numbers on the scoreboard kept rising, but the gap never widened enough to be reassuring.
Thirty minutes had passed, and the score was 90 to 70, with Gryffindor leading by only 20 points. They were far from the needed 90-point lead. The Gryffindor students in the stands were hoarse from shouting; anxiety, like cold vines, coiled around everyone's hearts.
Wood shouted anxiously in front of the goal, his voice hoarse.
"We need to be faster! More accurate! We have to seize every opportunity!" he roared at the chasers flying past him, his eyes bloodshot with tension.
High in the air, Harry felt immense pressure.
Cedric Diggory is a tough opponent; he is technically gifted, makes accurate judgments, and is extremely patient.
Harry knew that the longer the game went on, the more physically demanding it would be, while Hufflepuff was clearly willing to drag it out, as long as the score difference wasn't too big, they would be the champions.
He couldn't help but glance again in the direction of the stands.
Sirius stood there, fists clenched, brows furrowed, but whenever Harry looked over, he would immediately pump his fist in an encouraging gesture.
Lin Qi remained calm, but his gaze followed the situation on the field closely.
A sudden turn of events occurred: Hufflepuff's batter made a mistake, and the walker hit his own chaser! Angelina seized the opportunity to steal the ball, made a one-on-one run, and passed it to Katie Bell for a shot and a goal! Gryffindor's lead extended to thirty points.
This goal ignited Gryffindor's fighting spirit.
For the next ten minutes, the Weasley twins seemed to transform into ball-dominating demons, their ball movements becoming unpredictable and severely limiting the Hufflepuff Chaser's effectiveness. The Gryffindor Chaser trio played with increasing confidence, their fast breaks flowing like mercury.
As time went by, the gap widened steadily but with difficulty.
Just then, Cedric Diggory moved! The broom burst forth with incredible speed, swooping down!
Following Cedric's dive, Harry caught a glimpse of a faint golden light flashing near the Hufflepuff goalpost.
It's a thief!
But it flew close to the GG banner at the edge of the field, its trajectory low and concealed.
"The thief! Both Seekers saw it!" Lee Jordan screamed.
Without the slightest hesitation, Harry instantly demonstrated the advantage of the Firebolt, swooping down like a red lightning bolt and closing the distance to Cedric in an instant.
The two rode side by side, rushing towards that point of golden light.
The entire audience stood up and held their breath.
The thief flew swiftly along the banner, then suddenly made a sharp turn and darted towards the center of the field.
Harry and Cedric simultaneously yanked their brooms, giving chase. The wind whistled past their ears as they raced at top speed.
Below, the Quaffle is still fiercely contested.
Angelina received a desperate pass from George, who had squeezed through two Hufflepuff batters, with the last Hufflepuff defender in front of her. Instead of forcing her way through, she passed the ball across to Katie Bell, who was making a run down the other side!
Katie caught the ball, finding herself in an open space. She mustered all her strength and charged towards the goal. In mid-air, Harry's arm stretched to its limit; his fingertips were a hair's breadth away from the frantically flapping ball. Cedric's hand also reached out from the other side, his fingertips almost touching Harry's sleeve—
"Katie Bell shoots!!!" Lee Jordan's roar and the muffled thud of the Quaffle hitting the rings exploded at the same time!
Goal!
Right now!
Almost at the same instant, Harry felt a familiar, slight tap on his fingertips.
He suddenly clenched his fingers, gripping them tightly!
He caught the thief!
Cedric's fingers merely grazed the golden afterimage left by the thief's escape.
Harry gripped the struggling Snitch tightly, stopped the bolt, his heart pounding, and immediately looked at the scoreboard.
Ms. Hodge's whistle rang out sharply, signaling the end of the match!
The entire room fell silent.
The numbers on the scoreboard flashed and then finally stopped:
Gryffindor 350: Hufflepuff 110.
Net points: 240!
"Two hundred and forty points! It's two hundred and forty points!" Lee-Jordan's voice was distorted with ecstasy. "Gryffindor won!"
They not only won the game, they scored over 240 points! They are the champions! The Quidditch Cup belongs to Gryffindor!
A miracle! An incredible miracle!
The momentary silence was shattered by overwhelming ecstasy.
The Gryffindor players rushed in from all directions and tackled Harry and Katie to the ground.
Wood jumped off the goalpost and ran over to join the human pyramid. Tears streamed down his face. His seven-year dream had finally come true in the most dramatic and perfect way!
Even the Hufflepuff students couldn't help but applaud the miraculous comeback and the exciting match. Cedric Diggory landed on the ground, and although he couldn't hide his disappointment, he still reached out his hand to Harry, sincerely congratulated him, and gave him his applause.
In the stands, Sirius Black excitedly hugged Lynch next to him, shaking him vigorously and laughing loudly, as if he himself had won the championship.
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