Chapter 35: Quidditch Tryouts
Since the start of school, Vaughn’s top student persona has long been deeply ingrained.
In the past, Hermione even wanted to compete with him.
But perhaps after spending too much time with a slacker, she gradually became less fixated on earning points.
Currently, only point deductions can still enrage her.
When the owl delivered the package, Vaughn was pretending to think. Ron, sitting opposite him and extremely eager for the results, had almost his entire body draped over the long table, as if getting closer would allow him to hear the answer sooner.
As a result, the package dropped by the owl hit him directly on the head.
“Damn Zhu Weiqiong, I knew it, it’s always had it in for me!”
Ron angrily cursed his family’s owl, whose name was chosen by Ginny.
This young eagle owl is the successor to Errol and currently serves the entire Weasley family.
Zhu Weiqiong, landing beside Vaughn, glanced dismissively at Ron, as if looking at a piece of trash.
Ever since Ron called her “little pig” once, she had never looked him in the eye again.
Harry didn’t want to deal with Ron arguing with a bird.
He looked at the package, whose shape was familiar, and stared blankly, asking Vaughn, “Vaughn, is this…”
Vaughn, who had opened the package, had a cheerful expression and nodded, saying, “Just as you thought, Harry, a flying broomstick, the Nimbus 2000!”
“Merlin’s beard…”
Ron clutched his chest with both hands. It was as if he saw Gold Galleons shining from that package. He glared at Vaughn, “You, you actually bought a Nimbus 2000?”
“Of course, I didn’t buy it, it was Professor Snape.”
This familiar plot made Harry increasingly uneasy. Not long ago, he also received a Nimbus 2000, bought for him by Professor McGonagall to celebrate him becoming the Gryffindor Seeker.
Hermione also thought of it, covering her mouth, “Vaughn, did you also join the Quidditch team?”
“That’s right, Hermione. Professor Snape believes I have great Quidditch talent and hopes I will lead Slytherin to victory!”
Vaughn smiled at her.
His tone was cheerful, but Harry couldn’t feel happy at all.
He recalled that on the day of his first flying lesson, when he and Vaughn were circling the field, Vaughn’s astonishing adaptability and reaction ability to flying.
Their performances that day were equally matched.
This made Harry worried for the next period of time, and he even forgot to ask Vaughn about things. It wasn’t until just before falling asleep that night… that he suddenly remembered.
Vaughn still hadn’t told him who Nicolas Flamel was.
Ron, in the bed next to him, was furious about Vaughn joining Quidditch: “…Snape, that old bat, definitely did it on purpose. He just can’t stand to see you doing well, Harry. That’s why Professor McGonagall made you the Seeker, so he made Vaughn the Seeker too!”
“Truly malicious!”
He suddenly shouted, startling Seamus Finnigan, who had just fallen asleep, making him jump up with no sleepiness left.
Ron paced back and forth in front of Harry’s bed, “Harry, you must not fall for Snape’s poisonous scheme. He’s trying to break our friendship. He wants you and Vaughn to turn against each other. He…”
Harry had to interrupt him, “What are you talking about? It’s getting more and more ridiculous.”
“Uh, I saw you’ve been very unhappy…” Ron stammered, “Don’t you think Vaughn will steal your thunder? You can learn from me. I’ve lived in his shadow my whole life, and I haven’t lost a single piece of flesh…”
Listening, Harry suddenly felt some pity for Ron.
But he still interrupted Ron, “I haven’t, don’t talk nonsense. I’m worried… Vaughn is very strong. I’m worried about losing to him. Everyone on the team has placed their hopes on me, and I’m very afraid of disappointing them…”
Ron scratched his face, unsure how to comfort him.
…
On Saturday, the time officially entered October, and the temperature in the Scottish Highlands dropped again.
In the morning, frost had even formed on the grass.
Today was the Slytherin Quidditch team’s training day. As the Seeker who, after Harry Potter, was the second to be exceptionally admitted to the Quidditch team as a first-year, Vaughn attracted a large number of students to watch.
When Harry and Ron arrived, the stands were already packed. Not only were there students from Slytherin Academy, but also from Hufflepuff. Cedric Diggory, with a few classmates who often discussed Transfiguration with Vaughn, was holding a banner that read “Go Vaughn.”
The stands occupied by Ravenclaw were even more crowded with young ladies, and the air seemed to become sweet. They conjured fireworks and teased and screamed at Vaughn, who was flying in the air.
Not to mention Slytherin, even a considerable number of people from Gryffindor were present. The twins waved a bedsheet with a comic strip magically drawn on it, depicting Vaughn riding a broom and catching the Golden Snitch.
Hermione was also there, casting a spell on the bedsheet, wanting to make the drawing move.
Ron was very angry and shouted at the twins, “You two traitors!”
The twins replied, “He’s our brother, Ronnie.”
“And your brother, Ronnie.”
“Those two guys must be sucking up to Vaughn,” Ron said indignantly to Harry. “I bet if I joined the team, they wouldn’t do that. I wonder how they would mess with me!”
Harry was not in the mood to talk. He saw Wood and led Ron to squeeze through.
Wood didn’t seem to be in a bad mood. He even comforted Harry, “Don’t worry, Harry, I don’t believe anyone can be as talented as you!”
Until Slytherin’s training began.
Today’s training content was mainly to test Vaughn’s ability to catch the Golden Snitch. The other players acted as opposing players, interfering with him through Bludger hits and other means.
Vaughn wore windproof goggles and rode his brand new Nimbus 2000, looking down at the crowd below.
“…I seem to have underestimated Quidditch’s popularity…”
Although he knew from the original work that Quidditch was the most popular sport in the Wizarding World.
But having never watched a match since arriving in this world, Vaughn ultimately had no real sense of it.
He was contemplating a question: Quidditch’s accumulated popularity should also count towards reputation, right?
With so many young wizards below, and their families behind them, if he could win them over by playing, it should at least add 1 point to his monthly settlement of reputation points.
“Time to get serious!”
Vaughn gripped the broom handle, his feet on the broom’s footrests, and slightly lifted himself.
With a whistle, Captain Flint released the Golden Snitch, and the other players quickly moved, obstructing Vaughn’s vision and flight path.
But those were all in vain!
Harry’s feeling was correct; Vaughn’s reaction ability was indeed on par with his. As Vaughn tilted the broom, the Nimbus 2000’s terrifying performance immediately reached its limit.
Several players responsible for close-quarters interception only saw a dark shadow flash past.
One of them even narrowly avoided colliding with Vaughn.
But Vaughn still reacted, weaving through the formation, brushing past his broom.
He darted through the crowd like a shuttle, dodging tackles and Bludgers, straight towards the fluttering golden speck below.
One minute later, Vaughn raised his hand high, the Golden Snitch shining brightly in his grasp.
Cheers erupted from the stands!
Harry looked up and saw Wood’s pale face…
