Chapter 125: The Golden Snitch and Serial Night Patrols!

Harry left with Professor McGonagall and didn't meet up with Dudley in the Great Hall until dinner.

As expected, as Harry said, Professor McGonagall recommended him to Oliver Wood, the current captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch school team.

Due to Eris being sick in bed, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classes for all seven grades at Hogwarts were temporarily suspended.

This gave Oliver Wood, who was supposed to have a Defense Against the Dark Arts class in the afternoon, enough free time to take Harry alone to familiarize him with the rules of the Quidditch game and the magic props needed.

"Cousin, Wood showed me the Quaffle, the Bludgers, and the Golden Snitch! The Golden Snitch flies so fast! Wood said I could become the Seeker. As long as I catch the Golden Snitch in the game, I can help the Gryffindor school team win!"

Harry excitedly told Dudley.

Dudley wasn't very interested in Quidditch, but he knew a bit about the rules of this sport. He corrected Harry, saying,

"For a team to win by catching the Golden Snitch, there is another necessary condition. That is, your team mustn't be trailing the opposing team by more than 150 points. Otherwise, if you catch the Golden Snitch to end the game, you'll actually be doing a big favor to the other side."

"I know, cousin! I'm confident that I'll catch the Golden Snitch in a short time and won't give the opposing team many chances to score!"

Harry was full of confidence, and his excitement was hard to hide.

Dudley could tell that Harry had an inborn endowment. This endowment made him instantly fall in love with Quidditch when he saw it. This was a good thing, but not entirely so.

Dudley hoped his cousin could be happy, but at the same time, he also hoped his cousin wouldn't delay his progress in getting stronger.

He looked a bit more serious and said to his cousin, "Harry, you can practice and play with flying brooms and Quidditch well. I have no objections.

But at the same time, you can't neglect your studies, especially the progress of learning to cast spells. Tonight, go to the Room of Requirement. I'll teach you Occlumency.

Also, you can try drawing your wand and casting spells while flying on a broom at high speed in the air.

After all, there are rules to follow in a Quidditch game, but there aren't so many rules when fighting an enemy."

"Yes! Cousin!"

Harry's reply was still firm, powerful, and full of energy.

He knew his cousin was thinking about him and didn't have any resistance.

Dudley nodded in satisfaction, then smiled and gave Harry another task:

"Write a withdrawal letter when you have time and give it to Hagrid. Ask him to go to Gringotts in Diagon Alley to withdraw Galleons, and then go to the Quidditch specialty shops to buy a brand - new set of Quidditch equipment and donate it to the Gryffindor school team.

Then, bring me the Golden Snitch that the Gryffindor school team used for training before. By the way, does that Golden Snitch show any signs of aging or wear?"

"No. I saw it today. That Golden Snitch is well - maintained! It's very fast and very sensitive!"

Harry first nodded to indicate that he accepted Dudley's task and then explained to Dudley.

"That's good!"

I think the Golden Snitch that has been chased for many years must have more experience and be more sensitive than a new one!

Forget it. For the sake of safety, you ask Hagrid to buy one more new Golden Snitch and give it to me so that I can make a comparison."

Dudley thought for a while and added.

He had already decided to fusion a Golden Snitch to gain superb flying ability.

Using transfiguration and the Strength Enhancement incantation to perform light - body skills is not only spectacular but also time - and energy - consuming. The speed achieved in this way was indeed slower than that of a flying broom, let alone comparable to the flexible and extremely fast flying ability of a Golden Snitch.

"Okay, cousin!" Harry readily agreed and continued to enjoy the sumptuous dinner with Dudley.

Just now, when Dudley was talking to Harry about some confidential matters, he used the Muffliato incantation to prevent others from eavesdropping.

However, the 'hissing' sound produced by the Muffliato incantation piqued the interest of the clever Ron sitting beside them. Instead of asking Dudley and Harry, he looked at Hermione sitting across from him and exchanged a mysterious look with her.

It seemed that they had silently confirmed some major action plan.

Dudley noticed it, but he didn't care too much. Everyone had their own secrets, and in most cases, he respected his friends' privacy.

...

Late at night, in the first - year boys' dormitory in the Gryffindor common room.

Dudley and Harry got up as tacitly as usual, changed their pajamas into wizard's robes, cast the Invisibility Charm, and slipped out.

Before going out, Dudley vaguely sensed a slight movement in Ron's bed, but he didn't care.

When walking from the boys' dormitory to the Gryffindor common room, Dudley and Harry were surprised to find that Hermione was sitting in an armchair, looking a bit anxious, as if waiting for someone.

Dudley and Harry glanced at each other, said nothing, and decisively quickened their pace. They pushed open the door of the Gryffindor common room and quickly slipped out.

Hermione didn't notice Dudley and Harry who were almost invisible under the Invisibility Charm at first, but when the door of the Gryffindor common room opened by itself, it couldn't escape Hermione's sight.

She suddenly stood up, wanting to shout loudly but not daring to. She could only whisper, "Is it Dudley and Harry?"

But Dudley and Harry had already closed the door and walked away, unable to respond to Hermione.

Just then, someone suddenly tapped Hermione on the shoulder. She immediately drew out her wand and spun around quickly. The tip of the wand directly poked into Ron's nostril, scaring Ron so much that he almost made a sound.

"It's me! Hermione!" Ron took a step back to avoid Hermione's wand.

Hermione gave Ron an annoyed look and put down her wand.

"It's all your fault! Why did you have to do this sneaky following! If we want to go on a night patrol with Dudley and Harry, we could just go with them!"

Hermione complained, "Now, it seems that someone cast the Invisibility Charm or wore an invisibility cloak and slipped out just now. We don't even know if it was Dudley and Harry."

"It was them!" Ron said firmly, "I haven't slept all the time. I saw the whole process of them changing clothes, becoming invisible, and opening the dormitory door!"

Seeing that Hermione still had a bit of a temper, Ron thought for a while and then said:

"Alright, alright!"

Dudley and Harry walked past you without calling you. Obviously, they didn't want to take you on the night patrol. Let's just go on the night patrol by ourselves!"

"Otherwise, why do you think I didn't immediately drag you to chase after them?" Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron again and softened her tone a bit. "Let's go!"

Saying that, Hermione stepped forward without hesitation and pushed open the door of the Gryffindor common room that had just closed.

This made the Fat Lady in the portrait outside the door yawn twice more in sheer exasperation.