CLANG!
That was the sound of the Quaffle slamming into Gryffindor's goalpost.
And the sound of Oliver Wood's heart shattering into pieces.
At the same time, Harry's right hand—stretched out to grab the Golden Snitch—was smashed by the rogue Bludger. A sharp crack rang through the stadium, but he didn't let go. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he forced his left hand forward, desperate to clutch the Snitch and end this match.
But the Bludger wasn't done yet. Twisting in midair, it looped around and came hurtling back toward him.
Harry grinned triumphantly, still unaware that Slytherin had already racked up one hundred and sixty points!
Just then—CRASH!
Harry and Eve, who had just fired her final shot and hadn't even had time to slow down, collided head-on.
Behind them, the rogue Bludger barreled forward like a deadly missile.
It was a disastrous mid-air collision, and everyone in the stands watched in horror as two of the greatest flyers at Hogwarts were thrown from their brooms!
From the Slytherin stands, Nolan let out a sharp breath, then leaped into the air.
As he jumped, his body morphed into a massive raven, wings cutting through the stormy sky as he dove toward Eve. At the last second, he shifted back into his human form, catching her just before she could crash into the ground.
They landed in a tangled heap, sliding across the rain-slick grass. Nolan's boots scraped deep grooves into the pitch as he fought to slow them down. By the time they finally skidded to a stop, they had traveled nearly ten meters.
Harry wasn't so lucky.
Several professors had their wands raised, trying to cast Arresto Momentum, but it all happened too fast. All they could do was watch helplessly as Gryffindor's Seeker plummeted straight to the ground with a sickening thud.
The match was over. Slytherin had won.
But no one was celebrating.
No one was mourning, either.
Everyone's attention was fixed on the two fallen players.
…
"Eve? Can you hear me?"
Nolan's voice was uncharacteristically soft as he brushed damp silver strands away from her face.
"I'm fine..." Eve winced, furrowing her brows. "But my leg... I think—"
"It's broken," Nolan said flatly, running a careful hand over her left leg. "Not too serious, but you'll need some time to recover."
"I got hit by that damn Bludger..." Eve muttered, frustration flickering in her eyes. "That thing went berserk... Someone tampered with it."
"I know." Nolan nodded grimly.
From the stands, Cho Chang was already sprinting toward them. Nolan gently shifted Eve into her care before pushing himself to his feet.
Anyone who knew Nolan well enough would recognize that expression.
He was furious.
And when Nolan Von Draugr was furious, someone was about to suffer.
…
"SOMEONE STOP THIS BLOODY THING!"
Fred Weasley was still swinging his bat at the rogue Bludger, trying to keep it away from Harry.
The match was over, yet the Bludger was still attacking, as if it had a singular purpose—to kill Harry Potter.
Nolan moved swiftly. The moment the Bludger lunged toward Harry again, he kicked it.
BANG!
The force sent it soaring into the sky.
For a moment, it seemed as if he had stopped it. But then, like a vengeful beast, the Bludger slowed, arced through the air, and came hurtling back down.
Nolan didn't hesitate.
He cracked his knuckles.
His body shuddered, shifting under the strain of his Animagus transformation. His bones popped, the air around him buzzing with raw magic.
As the Bludger dove straight for him, Nolan threw a punch.
BOOM!
The impact drove the Bludger deep into the earth.
It thrashed violently in the dirt, trying to break free.
Nolan pressed his boot down on it.
It kept struggling, twisting under his weight, as if it had a mind of its own.
"Thanks, mate," Fred breathed, still clutching his bat. He stared at the Bludger warily. "What the hell is wrong with that thing...?"
Nolan turned his head sharply. His piercing gaze made Fred flinch.
Then, he lifted his wand and murmured, "Sonorus."
His next words echoed across the entire stadium.
"Silence."
A hush fell over the crowd instantly.
With his foot still pinning the rogue Bludger to the ground, Nolan spoke in a calm, deadly voice.
"This Bludger was cursed."
A ripple of unease spread through the spectators.
"I don't know who did it," he continued, voice like ice. "And frankly, I don't care why they did it. Whether they wanted Potter dead or just wanted to cause chaos—it doesn't matter."
He lifted his gaze to scan the crowd.
"But if the culprit is among you..."
He smiled.
A cold, merciless smile.
"Then start praying I don't find you."
The stadium was deathly silent.
Younger students swallowed hard. Even older students—sixth and seventh years—felt uneasy under his gaze.
Nolan tapped his boot against the Bludger and muttered, almost casually,
"If I find you... I will gut you."
Someone in the crowd gasped.
"I will curse you until your mind shatters."
The air grew colder.
"I will peel your flesh away strip by strip and feed it to the Hippogriffs."
A first-year whimpered.
"I will mount your ugly face on the front gates of Hogwarts as a warning. And then..."
His fingers twitched.
He snapped them.
BANG!
The rogue Bludger exploded.
Shards of iron rained down.
Nolan plucked a jagged fragment from the air, tucked it into his pocket, then turned to Harry, his eyes burning with contempt.
"Harry Potter."
Harry flinched.
"I have to say," Nolan mused, "you have a talent for attracting trouble."
Harry was still pale from the pain in his arm. "I didn't—"
"Next time," Nolan cut him off, "die somewhere less inconvenient."
A muscle twitched in Harry's jaw. "I almost got killed!"
Nolan tilted his head, unimpressed.
"Then die properly, Potter."
Harry stared at him, stunned.
Before he could respond, Hermione stepped in front of him.
"Nolan! That's enough!"
She lowered her voice, pleading, "Just go take care of Eve, alright?"
A flicker of irritation crossed Nolan's face.
Then, he sighed. "You're right."
Without another glance at Harry, he strode away.
Harry exhaled shakily. His relief was short-lived.
Because at that exact moment, Gilderoy Lockhart arrived.
"Ah, no need to panic!" Lockhart grinned, brandishing his wand. "I'll have that arm fixed up in no time! No time at all!"
Harry's eyes widened in horror.
"NO—WAIT—DON'T—"
Lockhart flicked his wand.
BANG!
Harry's arm flopped uselessly.
Ron winced. "I knew this was gonna happen..."
He poked Harry's arm. It jiggled like jelly.
Fred cringed. "Merlin's beard, mate. You've got no bones left."
Harry wanted to cry.
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