Chapter 228: The End
Chapter 228: The End
Winter nights arrived early, and by five in the evening, darkness quickly enveloped Hogwarts. Yet, the Quidditch pitch remained illuminated, with torches lit by professors to ensure the match could continue.
Wrapped in thick cloaks in the stands, Albert braced himself against the rapidly dropping temperature as night fell. Compared to him, the other spectators were in a worse situation, their empty stomachs rumbling loudly.
Still, the audience maintained an enthusiasm Albert couldn't quite fathom, enduring the cold and hunger to remain glued to their seats, captivated by the Quidditch match unfolding before them.
However, the players flying overhead were faring even worse, their faces etched with fatigue from battling the chilly winds.
The high-altitude winds were bitter cold, growing more intense as night deepened, especially for the rookie players who had been tense and hadn't eaten much. Their dwindling energy reserves were quickly sapped by the freezing temperatures, leaving them hungry, thirsty, and freezing.
The initially exuberant commentator, Lee Jordan, had lost his initial fervor, his voice now hoarse from continuous commentary. With the help of Professor McGonagall, he persevered using a Sonorous Charm, a challenging test for his first time as a commentator.
"Look, they've spotted the Snitch, and the chase is on!" Lee Jordan shouted from the stands. "Currently, Gryffindor trails Ravenclaw 210 to 270. Ravenclaw has a slim lead, but the game isn't over yet. Whichever Seeker captures the Snitch will bring victory to their team!"
A fierce contest for the Golden Snitch was taking place high above the pitch, with both Seekers eager to bring this protracted match to a close.
Hours had passed, and all the players were exhausted.
"They're diving at full speed! Oh no, they're going to crash! They hit the ground, I hope they're alright." Lee Jordan cried out in alarm. "Wait, no! The Ravenclaw Seeker has caught the Snitch!"
No one paid attention to Lee Jordan's commentary anymore, as cheers erupted across the pitch, celebrating the match's conclusion.
Albert joined the throng of Gryffindor spectators who rushed onto the pitch, where the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw players had gathered around Charlie.
The two Seekers were in a sorry state, having sustained injuries from the fall. They were swiftly attended to by Professor McGonagall, who arranged for them to be taken to the hospital wing on stretchers.
"Don't worry, Charlie will be fine." Albert reassured the Weasley twins, who were also in a delicate state, shivering from the cold wind and showing signs of exhaustion.
"Here, have some candies." Albert offered the twins some sweets and then waved his wand to dispel the dampness and chill from their bodies.
"Thanks, you're a lifesaver!" Fred said wearily, accepting Albert's support. He was too tired to refuse, his energy nearly depleted.
"I didn't expect the game to last this long," George added.
The four of them hurried back to the castle, taking their seats at the crowded dining table. Only after warming themselves with bowls of steaming corn soup did they feel like discussing other matters.
"I recall you mentioning that the game would be a long one," Lee Jordan said between bites of fried potato, looking up at Albert.
"I never said that. Don't put words in my mouth," Albert retorted, giving Lee Jordan a sideways glance. "I merely suggested they eat more so they'd have the energy for the game."
"Same difference," Lee Jordan mumbled.
"But we still lost," George said glumly, the weight of their defeat settling on his shoulders despite their best efforts in training.
"Charlie did his best," Albert consoled.
"I know," Fred replied, a bit dejectedly. "He just had bad luck. Ravenclaw won because their Seeker got lucky. They dove together without slowing down, and the Ravenclaw Seeker managed to grab the Snitch when they crashed."
Speaking of luck, they all turned to look at Albert, acknowledging his fortuitous streak. If only...
They didn't dwell on what could have been, knowing that it wouldn't change the outcome.
After a quick bite to eat, Albert accompanied the Gryffindor players to the hospital wing to visit the injured Charlie. Madam Pomfrey had already treated him, but his condition wasn't ideal, requiring an overnight stay for observation.
Thankfully, Charlie wasn't alone. Another patient kept him company—the equally unfortunate Ravenclaw Seeker who had collided with him.
As they left the hospital wing, the four of them ran into Professor Smith in the corridor.
"Albert, I've been meaning to speak with you," Professor Smith said amicably, beckoning Albert to his office for Dark Magic Defense.
"This is what I mentioned before." He handed Albert a piece of parchment, the same one Albert had seen in the Room of Requirement earlier that day.
Indeed, Professor Smith had also ventured into that mysterious room.
"This is the history of Hogwarts' founding," Albert said after taking the time to read the parchment.
"I know," Professor Smith nodded. "Did you find anything peculiar about it?"
"Peculiar?" Albert pondered for a moment. "Not really. It's just a historical account, similar to what I've read in the library."
A hint of disappointment flickered across Professor Smith's face, despite Albert's findings aligning with his own.
"If I had to point out something unusual..." Albert hesitated before asking, "Was the situation truly that dire for ancient wizards?"
Albert was well aware of the answer, but he was trying to divert Professor Smith's attention.
"It wasn't ideal," Professor Smith explained. "In those days, magical knowledge wasn't as organized and synthesized as it is now. Wizards had to learn as they went along. Knowledge was extremely valuable, and a single parchment could be worth a baron's income for a year or more. Many wizards during that time didn't possess a wide array of magical skills, especially those from Muggle families. They had magical power but lacked any formal training."
Without wands or an understanding of how to wield magic effectively, possessing magical power alone was a curse. Muggles feared such power, and any wizard who revealed their abilities was seen as a monster and faced dire consequences. Those like Tom, who explored magic on their own and used it aggressively, were the exception rather than the rule.
"There's no doubt that the four founders of Hogwarts were extraordinary," Professor Smith continued. "Wizards of their caliber were rare in those days, and even rarer were those willing to selflessly share their knowledge with others, as the founders did."
"I thought it was a prosperous time for magic," Albert muttered. "With all the ancient and powerful magic at Hogwarts..."
"You're right," Professor Smith agreed, his brow furrowing slightly. "That era did witness an abundance of wondrous and potent magic. While traces of those ancient magics can still be found today, no one practices them anymore... Perhaps Dumbledore knows some of those ancient spells, but such cases are few and far between."
(End of Chapter)
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