Chapter 424: I’m Training

After everyone finished their towering stacks of homework, the Easter holidays came to an end. This also marked the approach of the year's final and decisive Quidditch match: Hufflepuff versus Slytherin. The outcome of this match would determine the Quidditch Cup champion.

No one could remember a match with such a charged atmosphere. The tension between Hufflepuff and Slytherin had reached an all-time high, but fortunately, both houses had managed to avoid outright clashes.

True to their reputation for unity, the Hufflepuffs stuck together in tight-knit groups, never wandering alone. Cedric, in particular, had almost become a "protected species"; he was constantly flanked by at least five sixth-year students, whether in class or at meals in the Great Hall. Slytherin's captain, Marcus Flint, had led a few ambush attempts, but all had ended in failure due to Hufflepuff's numbers.

The rest of the Hufflepuff team received similar protection. While they weren't always surrounded by seniors, they traveled in groups of ten or so, which was still an intimidating presence, especially for younger students.

The only exception was Kyle, who typically walked around with just one companion—Kanna. However, no one from Slytherin dared to mess with him. Even when they passed him in the corridors, there was no sign of the usual underhanded tricks, like trying to trip him.

Most Slytherins from pure-blood families knew of the connection between Snape's family and the Prince name, and none wanted to take their chances. Besides, Kyle's accomplishments were hardly ignorable: his three Special Awards for Services to the School and a Second-Class Order of Merlin were prominently displayed in the Trophy Room. In an actual fight, it was anyone's guess who would come out on top.

In this tense climate, Kyle's days were actually quite peaceful, almost ordinary.

The day before the match, Kyle and Kanna were on their way to Herbology class. Just as they stepped out of the castle, they saw Malfoy suddenly leap out from behind a nearby doorway, brandishing a large bat. Positioned in front of him, crouched with legs outstretched to trip someone, were his loyal henchmen, Crabbe and Goyle.

"Malfoy, what do you think you're doing!" Kanna snapped, her voice furious.

Upon seeing Kyle and Kanna instead of his intended target, Malfoy froze, his bat raised in mid-air, looking thoroughly bewildered.

Why are they here? Malfoy's mind raced. Didn't Montague say the Beater would be coming this way?

"Damn it! That idiot set me up!" Malfoy clenched the bat in frustration, feeling a surge of anger.

He still remembered the "lesson" Kyle had given him on the Hogwarts Express three years ago. Picking a fight with Kyle was the last thing he wanted. And Kanna—if she decided to report him to Professor Snape, no matter the reason or the fault, Malfoy knew he'd be doomed.

"I… I was just practicing," Malfoy stammered, swinging the bat awkwardly in the air. "Besides being a Seeker, I thought I might as well try out as a Beater."

He swung the bat twice more, as if to make his case. Crabbe and Goyle, sensing the shift, quietly withdrew their outstretched legs and turned their faces away, pretending they'd never been involved.

"Well, keep practicing then…" Kyle said, not pressing the matter. Once the way was clear, he and Kanna headed out of the castle toward the greenhouses.

Meanwhile, Malfoy and his cronies quickly shuffled off, no doubt ready to track down Montague and give him a piece of their minds.

Kyle didn't see any of this, though. He and Kanna were soon at Greenhouse Three, where their classmates were already gathered, waiting for class to start.

After about five minutes, Professor Sprout arrived, unlocking the greenhouse doors and ushering everyone in. But as Kyle moved to enter, she gently held him back.

"So, feeling confident about tomorrow's match?" Professor Sprout asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"Absolutely, Professor," Kyle replied with a smile. "The Quidditch Cup is as good as Hufflepuff's this year."

"I'm sure it is," Professor Sprout said with a supportive nod. "Just make sure you win, all right?"

Kyle was a little taken aback. If this had come from Professor McGonagall, it wouldn't have surprised him at all. As a die-hard Quidditch fan, the Cup meant everything to her—Fred and George often said the only time McGonagall ever looked truly disappointed was after a Gryffindor loss. House points meant little to her in comparison.

But Professor Sprout… he'd always thought her main concern was her greenhouses.

He wasn't wrong about that, but things had shifted for Professor Sprout over the past few years. At first, she hadn't paid much attention to Quidditch. However, once Hufflepuff had won two championships in a row, she'd begun attending matches more frequently, enjoying the change in atmosphere. After Hufflepuff's third consecutive win last year, she found herself genuinely invested.

Winning felt… different. Hufflepuff had long been Hogwarts' underdog house, rarely in contention for either the Quidditch Cup or the House Cup, and victories had been few and far between. But after three consecutive championships, Professor Sprout had noticed the other heads of house—especially McGonagall—growing envious, and she couldn't deny that it was a good feeling. Winning gave her a new sense of confidence.

But there was another reason Professor Sprout was rooting so passionately for Hufflepuff's continued success. For years, she had quietly hoped to expand the greenhouse's collection with more rare and exotic plants, but the high cost of these specimens always held her back. Some seeds were hundreds of Galleons apiece, and considering the greenhouse was primarily used for teaching, it was hard to justify.

Now, however, she had a plan. If Hufflepuff won the Quidditch Cup for the fourth year in a row, she'd have solid grounds to request funding—just as Snape had done years ago. After Slytherin had won the House Cup five times consecutively, Snape had requested a large quantity of valuable potion ingredients, and Dumbledore had approved it. If Snape could do it, she could too—especially with Hufflepuff also having won the House Cup three times in a row.

Today's lesson was on the Fanged Geranium, a rather aggressive plant with razor-sharp teeth. Although not as dangerous as the Venomous Tentacula, a bite from the Fanged Geranium was unpleasant. Its bite left the skin red, swollen, and numb, with symptoms lasting a full week.

"Everyone, put on your gloves," Professor Sprout reminded them. "And be cautious. These little ones are teething and eager to bite anything in sight. Watch your backs—these branches can wrap around you before you know it."

As she spoke, she brushed a twig off her shoulder.