Chapter 1816: Quidditch
Chapter 1816: Quidditch
"Professor Hagrid might look a bit intimidating, but he's actually a very gentle person."
After leaving the Hunting Lodge, Daphne no longer felt as averse to the messy place.
And no one would refuse to be friends with a kind person.
The conversation didn’t last long before they encountered a group of players heading to the Quidditch pitch for training at the castle entrance.
"Anderson, I was just looking for you."
The lead man greeted Alice enthusiastically, "They said you left early this morning."
"Who are you?"
Alice frowned, still not recognizing the man in front of her.
"My name is Grym, Grym Water, the Quidditch captain of Ravenclaw", the man introduced himself.
Alice vaguely guessed why he was looking for her but still asked, "Mr. Grym, what do you need me for?"
"Anderson was once an excellent Seeker, and I believe you must have inherited his talent in this area, so... would you like to try out for the Quidditch team?"
After Alice’s reputation as a prodigy spread, Grym had this idea.
"First-year students can't become Quidditch players, right?" Alice politely declined.
"An exception can be made", Grym said without hesitation. "You could also be a reserve player."
Each house needs to hold tryouts every year. More exposure and familiarity with Quidditch helps cultivate the personal qualities of students who want to join the team.
"Even if you don’t participate, we’ll still find time to let you experience Quidditch."
In other words, "We’ll take you for a ride."
"Since we’re not doing anything important right now."
Daphne was very interested in the witches' sport but still looked at Alice for her opinion.
It turned out that Alice had indeed inherited Albert’s athletic talent. She borrowed someone else’s flying broomstick and took Daphne for a ride in the sky, fulfilling her short-lived dream of flying.
Alice’s exceptional flying skills left everyone speechless, and Grym invited her again to join the Quidditch team, but Alice still declined, having no interest in competing for a spot as a regular player.
"You’re far better than they are. I think you could easily become a regular player for Ravenclaw", Daphne couldn’t understand why Alice refused.
"I don’t have a flying broomstick, and I’m not a prodigy", Alice corrected her. "When I was very young, Dad took me on a flying broomstick, and he never refused to let us ride one. So, flying well isn’t about talent; it’s about the amount of time we’ve spent on flying broomsticks compared to others."
Seeing Daphne’s skeptical expression, Alice shook her head. "You’ll see next year. Every child from Avalon can fly well."
Honestly, Alice missed the happy times of learning to fly a broomstick.
Unable to convince Alice to join the Quidditch team, Grym immediately sought out Professor Flitwick, hoping the head of his house could help persuade Alice to join the Ravenclaw team.
Ravenclaw desperately needed someone to lead them to victory, and Grym saw that potential in Alice.
"Sorry, Professor, I prefer to fly freely. I have little interest in Quidditch and hate the rigorous training."
When her head of house came to her, Alice bluntly refused.
"And I also think it wouldn’t be a good idea for a player who was finally selected to be eliminated because of me."
Professor Flitwick seemed to see a familiar figure in Alice's eyes and said gently, "Alright, if the day comes when Ravenclaw needs you to play, I hope you won’t refuse!"
True to Albert’s child, she already had her own mind at such a young age!
He decided to write a letter to Albert.
The reply came quickly. In the letter, Albert expressed that he had no other expectations for his daughter, only hoping that Alice would have a happy time at Hogwarts.
After reading the letter, Professor Flitwick couldn’t help but chuckle, "Is this how geniuses are?"
However, fate seemed to play a trick on Alice. After returning to Hogwarts from a pleasant Christmas break, she was informed by Professor Flitwick that their Seeker was currently in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. As a reserve player, she might need to step in.
Spending the winter break at the Dragon Reserve, almost being scorched by a rogue dragon?
Could it get any more dramatic?
"But Professor, I don’t have a flying broomstick."
Alice made a final attempt to resist. She actually knew she could firmly refuse, but she really didn’t want to do that.
"I’ll write to Albert. He’ll definitely get you a new broomstick."
A few days later, Alice suddenly found a long box on her bed. Under everyone’s urging, she opened it and was stunned.
An old, somewhat aged broomstick.
"This is…"
"Was it sent by mistake?"
"No, no, this is… my dad’s broomstick. I used to fly around on it all the time!"
Alice picked up the letter, her expression particularly complex. They had always used it, and it was the broomstick she was most familiar with. She never expected Albert to send it to her as a birthday gift.
Though Alice was delighted that her father had left the broomstick to her, she knew her younger siblings would be very upset.
This broomstick was also a part of their childhood!
"I thought it would be a Firebolt?"
Daphne flipped through the Compendium of Flying Broomsticks but couldn’t find this model.
She had always assumed that Alice’s new broomstick, if not a Firebolt, would at least be the latest model. She never expected it to be an old broomstick.
Although the broomstick was beautifully styled and well-maintained, it couldn’t hide the marks of time.
Alice gently ran her hand over the broomstick and said softly, "It’s more precious than a Firebolt!"
"A broomstick that carries childhood memories is certainly precious, but is it fast enough? As a Seeker, you need a broomstick that can fly fast!" Daphne was worried about the broomstick’s performance. She didn’t want her friend to lose a match because of it.
"Don’t worry, it’s very fast."
Alice had never been concerned about this. The broomstick, crafted by Albert with no expense spared, couldn’t possibly perform poorly.
The materials and techniques used were even more valuable than those of a Firebolt.
Not only was it more stable and safer, but it was also faster.
Of course, this couldn’t convince anyone else, but Alice had no intention of explaining. She knew that when she rode the broomstick to victory for Ravenclaw, people would truly realize its exceptional quality.
(End of Chapter)
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