Chapter 44: Batsman, Enlightenment

On the Quidditch pitch, the Hufflepuff team had already gathered.

When Char stepped onto the field, the entire team warmly welcomed him. But what truly caught their attention was Char's custom-made Nimbus 2000. Their eyes gleamed like gourmets spotting a world-class delicacy.

After a while, Cedric Diggory, the Seeker and captain, reluctantly interrupted their enthusiasm.

"Alright, alright! This is Char's first Quidditch practice," he said, clapping his hands. "Could you all please stop drooling over his new broom?"

With a smile, Cedric approached Char and extended his hand.

"Hello, Char. I'm Cedric Diggory, third year. I'm the team's Seeker and captain."

"On behalf of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team—welcome."

Char responded with a friendly nod. He knew Cedric. Among the students in the original story, few possessed both exceptional talent and unwavering character. Cedric was one of them.

It was tragic. He was the first casualty after Voldemort's return—taken from Hogwarts by a Portkey. Not even the castle's protective enchantments could save him.

But Char quickly shook off the melancholy as practice began.

The veteran players went off to train on their own. As a newcomer, Char stayed with Cedric, who took the time to explain Quidditch and the responsibilities of a Beater.

Char reviewed the rules as Cedric spoke:

Chasers score by throwing the Quaffle through the opponent's goal hoops—10 points per goal.

Seekers search for the Golden Snitch. Catching it ends the game and grants the team 150 points.

Beaters, on the other hand, use bats to strike Bludgers—enchanted balls that zoom around the pitch—to either protect their teammates or disrupt the opposing team.

Cedric sighed. "Everyone thinks the Seeker decides the match, but Quidditch is a team sport. You can't win on one position alone."

"Even in the World Cup, sometimes a Seeker catches the Snitch, but the team still loses if they're trailing too far behind in points."

He looked at Char seriously. "Chasers, Keepers, Beaters—they all matter. Our team's always struggled with Beaters. Hufflepuffs are gentle by nature, not exactly suited for brutal positions like this."

His expression turned admiring. "But you, Char—you might just be the exception."

"I still remember that scene in the Great Hall. You knocked out Malfoy's front teeth with a goblet. The precision. The power. And your flying skills…"

"You're a natural Beater."

Then Cedric's tone turned stern.

"You have the talent. But to excel, you'll need consistent training."

He handed Char a bat, then took out a small wooden box.

"This bat is enchanted with a Strengthening Charm—it hits harder. The box contains weakened Bludgers. They'll fly at you and attack, but they're not like the real ones. At worst, they'll leave you with a bruise or a black eye."

"Beater training involves flying and intercepting Bludgers mid-air. Just ride your broom and give them a solid hit."

Cedric smiled. "Ready? Don't worry—I'll be watching."

Char examined the bat. He wasn't impressed.

"It's too light," he muttered. "Do you have a heavier one?"

"Oh—by the way, is there a weight limit for Beater bats in official games?"

Cedric blinked.

"Well… no. There's a minimum weight requirement, but no upper limit. The concern is usually stamina—if your bat is too heavy, you won't last an entire match."

Char didn't hesitate.

"Then give me the heaviest one. The heavier, the better."

Cedric hesitated. "Are you sure?"

He scratched his head. "We've got this one bat made by the Weasley twins in Gryffindor. It looks normal, but it's ridiculously heavy. They used it to challenge our Beaters, see who could swing it. Our guy lost and had to bring them supper for a whole semester."

"The bat's been with our team ever since. I'll go get it."

Five minutes later, Cedric returned, floating the bat in via Levitation Charm.

"Char… are you really sure you want this? I'm not joking—only a troll could swing this thing."

But then he stood frozen.

Char had lifted the bat—one-handed—with ease. He even looked a little disappointed.

"Still lighter than I'd like," Char muttered. "But better than the last one. This actually feels like I'm swinging something."

He gave it a casual swing.

Whoosh!

A sharp gust of wind whipped past Cedric's face, stinging his cheeks.

He stared at Char like he'd just witnessed a dragon hatch from an egg.

When did the Sprout family start mixing with giants?

He couldn't help but feel excited. If Char's strength translated to performance, then this season might be Hufflepuff's best in years.

"Alright," Cedric said, eyes sparkling. "Let's start training."

In the next second, Char mounted his Nimbus 2000 and shot into the sky like a streak of lightning. The wind rushed past him, the ground blurred beneath.

Compared to school-issue brooms, the Nimbus 2000 was a completely different experience. He couldn't help but laugh.

"This is amazing!"

Meanwhile, Cedric opened the Bludger box.

The weakened Bludgers zoomed out immediately, one heading straight for Char.

But compared to his Nimbus 2000, it was painfully slow.

Char grinned.

He spun in midair and charged directly at the incoming Bludger.

With a powerful swing of the heavy bat—

Bang!

The Bludger shot off like a cannonball, vanishing in the distance.

The entire team stood frozen, mouths open.

Cedric's face turned red with excitement.

"Incredible!" he shouted. "Char, you're the strongest Beater I've ever seen. The Bludgers you hit will be the other teams' nightmares!"

"With you, our offense and defense get a huge boost. We might actually win the Cup this year!"

Char narrowed his eyes. He remembered how eager Professor Sprout had been for Hufflepuff to win.

If there was even a slim chance—he'd go all in.

"Captain," he said, "let's keep training. We're winning the Quidditch Cup this year."

Those words sparked a fire in the hearts of the surrounding Hufflepuff players. The once-distant dream of winning didn't seem so impossible anymore.

The team trained for hours.

When several players were so exhausted they literally fell off their brooms and collapsed on the grass, Cedric—drenched in sweat—finally called it a day.

Compared to his teammates, who looked like they'd been flattened by a herd of Hippogriffs, Char looked fresh, even a little energized.

Just then, he felt something stir inside him.

A strange sense of growth.

Curious, he checked his system panel.

Sure enough, the light surrounding his learned spells—the Wand-Lighting Charm, Loosening Charm, and Pruning Charm—was noticeably brighter.

Char was stunned for a moment, then smiled in realization.

"Magic is tied to the mind and will," he murmured. "Before, I was always tense. But Quidditch—flying, swinging, moving freely—it helped me relax."

"Balancing tension and release. That's good for the mind."

"And what's good for the mind… is good for magic."

Char nodded to himself.

"I shouldn't just bury myself in spellbooks all day. A bit of Quidditch is good. Letting off steam, then practicing—it's the most efficient way."

Satisfied, Char started walking—not back toward the castle, but toward the greenhouses.

Cedric called out.

"Char, the castle's that way! You heading the wrong direction?"

Char smiled.

"I know. But it's still early. I'm not tired yet."

"I've got plants to tend in the greenhouses."

"See you all tomorrow."

The rest of the team could only watch him walk off, dumbfounded.

Then they glanced at each other.

They looked like they'd been trampled by Thestrals, while Char was striding away like he'd just returned from a nap.

Cedric wiped his face. "What a monster."

But behind that exclamation was genuine hope.

The stronger Char performed, the more real their chances of winning became.

They thought back to the cannonball-like Bludgers Char had struck.

Smiles crept onto their tired faces.

"They always said Hufflepuff Beaters were too soft, too weak," someone muttered.

"Well, this year," Cedric grinned, "they'd better not cry when they see what we bring."

From that day on, Char's life fell into a steady rhythm: the castle, the greenhouses, and the Quidditch pitch.

Day by day, his magical plants—especially the Glow-in-the-Dark Mushrooms—grew closer to maturity.

With every branch he trimmed, his Pruning Charm and magical intuition subtly improved.

And before he knew it, ten days had passed.

For more chapters

patreon.com/Ben479