"Professor McGonagall, isn't this a bit..."
Wood looked as if he were in agony.
As captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, he didn't doubt Professor McGonagall's judgment. After all, she was a Quidditch medalist in her day.
However, no matter how talented the newcomers were, they were still first-year students. They'd probably only had their first flying lesson. Could they really handle these positions?
Gryffindor Quidditch had been struggling in recent years, consistently overshadowed by Slytherin. But with only a month or two before the official matches, no matter how talented they were, outperforming the seniors seemed unlikely.
What's more daunting was having two rookies at once.
With just one, they might manage. But two? It seemed like a recipe for disaster.
Though he doubted victory was possible, he didn't want to lose too embarrassingly.
But seeing Professor McGonagall's hopeful expression, Wood chose to stay silent and smiled at Hermione and Harry, "Welcome to the Quidditch team, juniors."
Harry beamed with excitement.
Hermione simply shrugged.
After Professor McGonagall left, Wood thought for a moment and said, "How about this, after class, I'll take you both outside to explain the rules of Quidditch and let you experience it firsthand."
...
As the sun set, the lawn cleared of students.
Hermione and Harry followed Wood to the field, where a box floated before them.
Hermione lifted the levitation spell, and the box thudded to the ground.
After class, Wood immediately arranged for the use of the lawn and brought out the Quidditch gear.
Seeing Wood panting from exertion, Harry hurried over to help carry it.
Since Hermione was a girl, they didn't expect her to assist.
Halfway there, Hermione couldn't resist.
"Um... Senior Wood, you do realize we're wizards, right?"
"Of course, why?"
Wood was confused.
"So, we don't have to strain ourselves carrying things. We can use a bit of magic, like this..."
Hermione raised her wand: "Wingardium Leviosa."
Harry and Wood felt the weight lighten considerably.
"..."
The two exchanged glances, speechless.
"Ahem..." Wood cleared his throat, "Actually, even though we're wizards, we shouldn't rely on magic for everything. It's good to exercise when we can..."
Hermione stared at him blankly.
"...Okay, I forgot." Wood admitted sheepishly.
Clearly, he didn't use spells often.
"But Hermione, being able to levitate such a heavy box and move it so far doesn't seem like something a new student could do," Wood remarked, surprised.
Unexpectedly, as a new Quidditch recruit, he'd met the two most talked-about freshmen.
"The Boy Who Lived" and "The Library Witch."
Opening the box, three balls were revealed, with the middle one noticeably larger than the others.
"Quidditch rules are quite straightforward..." Wood explained patiently.
Through Wood's explanation, Hermione grasped the basics.
Quidditch is a sport where wizards ride flying broomsticks, using three different balls simultaneously.
Each team has seven players: a Keeper, three Chasers, two Beaters, and a Seeker.
Chasers aim to pass the "Quaffle" through the opponent's hoop, equivalent to scoring.
Beaters protect teammates and hit the "Bludgers" flying around.
The Seeker's job is to find and catch the smallest, fastest "Golden Snitch."
The Keeper's role is self-explanatory.
Wood was the Gryffindor team's Keeper.
As he spoke, Wood pulled out the largest ball.
"This is the Quaffle. Scoring earns 10 points."
He handed Hermione something like a baseball bat and said, "You're a Beater. You handle these two Bludgers."
The two smaller balls bounced restlessly in the box, eager to escape.
Wood released one.
The Bludger shot up, darting around.
"Remember, protect our teammates from the Bludgers!"
Seeing Hermione swing the bat, Wood grinned, then dashed away, with Harry following.
They noticed Hermione's swing looked less like a sports move and more like preparing for a fight.
As the ball neared, Hermione's face lit up with excitement, and she swung fiercely.
"Take-that!"
With a "bang," the Bludger rocketed toward the two onlookers.
Harry, wide-eyed, ducked just in time. The Bludger grazed his scalp.
Wood wasn't as lucky, taking the hit in the stomach and collapsing. He clutched his abdomen, wincing like a cooked shrimp.
Harry rushed over to check on Wood, relieved he was okay, yet still shaken.
If not for his quick reflexes, Harry might've been nearly headless.
Wood rose with difficulty.
"You've got quite the swing, but maybe... aim more carefully next time..." Wood suggested, breathless.
Hermione offered an apologetic smile.
Harry suddenly shouted, "Hermione, behind you!"
Hermione reacted instantly, feeling the wind on her neck, and swung again instinctively.
"Oh no!"
Seeing the Bludger hurtling back like a missile, Harry and Wood could only mutter "Oh no" before hitting the ground.
"Look at what you've done!" Wood screamed internally.
Hermione pondered for a moment and had a sudden idea.
"Senior Wood, I have a tactic for winning!"
"What?" Wood asked, puzzled.
"Let's adjust. Instead of Chasers and a Keeper, use six Beaters to chase the opposing players, leaving just one Seeker for the Snitch..." Hermione declared proudly, "I call it the Invincible Six Protecting One!"
Wood's expression twitched. "Each position has a set number of players. You can't change the rules like that."
"Oh..."
Hermione sounded disappointed, then brightened.
"Then can I use a spell to knock down opponents, or summon the Snitch with a spell?"
Wood swallowed nervously, "That's... also against the rules. Magic is forbidden in Quidditch, and the balls are enchanted to resist spells..."
"Hmm..."
After thinking, Hermione looked up again.
"Can I bring knives to throw at opponents, or just use the bat..." Hermione waved the bat, aiming at Wood's head with one eye closed, "You know."
Wood broke out in a cold sweat.