Chapter 520 Lifetime Ban

Chapter 520 Lifetime Ban
October ended with a storm, and November arrived, cold as iron, with a layer of frost every morning and icy winds cutting hands and cheeks. The sky and the ceiling of the Great Hall turned a pale blue-grey, the mountains around Hogwarts were capped with snow, and the temperature in the castle dropped so much that many students wore thick dragonhide gloves when they rested in the corridors between classes.

On Saturday, November 11, dark clouds rolled over the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch, the cold wind brought fine raindrops that wet the players' robes, and the air was filled with a tense and intense atmosphere. The first Quidditch match, Gryffindor vs. Slytherin, officially began.

At the beginning of the game, both teams quickly launched attacks and defenses, but soon, Gryffindor fell into trouble. Ron's performance was worse than ever. He was so nervous that he couldn't even hold the club steadily. He missed several interception opportunities, allowing Slytherin's chasers to score easily. In the stands, Slytherin students burst into laughter, while Gryffindor supporters looked ugly. Hermione was so nervous that her fingers were tightly clasped around her scarf.

The score was getting bigger and bigger, and Slytherin's Bludger Cassius Warrington frequently hit the Gryffindor players with his Bludgers, forcing them to constantly distract themselves. Harry Potter stared at the sky, trying to find the Golden Snitch, while Draco Malfoy was roaming around him with a nonchalant smile, as if he was in no hurry at all.

It was not until the second half of the game that Harry finally caught a glimpse of golden light from the corner of his eyes—the Golden Snitch was flying across the edge of the field! He dived without hesitation, the wind whistling in his ears, but just as he was about to reach out and grab the Golden Snitch, a huge force suddenly hit his side—

"boom!"

He was knocked out hard, lost his balance and rolled several times, his fingers almost touched the tail of the Golden Snitch, but still missed by one step. The next second, a white hand firmly grasped the golden ball - Draco Malfoy was riding on a broom, with a smug smile on his face, holding the Golden Snitch high to greet the deafening cheers from the Slytherin stands.

As Madam Hooch blew the whistle, the game ended and Slytherin won a resounding victory with a large score.

The Gryffindor players bowed their heads and left the field in silence, while the Slytherins gathered together to celebrate their victory. Draco, surrounded by Pansy, had a sarcastic smile on his face and deliberately said loudly when Harry passed by: "It's so pitiful that the savior was knocked away? Do you want us to find you a stroller so that you can sit in it during the next game?"

Pansy laughed exaggeratedly: "Maybe he should go to the dance instead of Quidditch - after all, he is much better at chasing girls than guarding the Golden Snitch."

The Slytherin students around him burst into laughter, but Harry's fingers clenched tighter and tighter. His chest rose and fell violently, and a rage of unwillingness to admit defeat burned in his chest like a flame.

He lost to Draco for the first time.

Why?
He is clearly the savior, and the peace that the wizarding world has today is all thanks to his parents' sacrifice.

In the first grade, it was thanks to him that Voldemort's plot to resurrect was prevented.

He is the protagonist of this world. He was able to fly without any instruction the first time he did so. His ability in finding the Golden Snitch was unrivaled in the entire Hogwarts. He was also the first person in Hogwarts to possess a Firebolt.

Losing to Shalling in the Triwizard Tournament was fine, but losing to Draco in the Quidditch match was something he absolutely could not swallow!

"They're laughing at you, Harry."

Harry shuddered, and a deep voice sounded in his mind, with a familiar, cold breath. His reason told him that this voice did not belong to him, but it was like a poisonous snake that entangled his thoughts, taking root and growing in the gaps of anger.

"They don't take you seriously at all."

"You are Harry Potter, the man who defeated the Dark Lord. Are you going to be humiliated in public like a coward?"

Harry gritted his teeth, and wanted to turn around and leave, but his feet seemed to be fixed in place by invisible chains. His hand unconsciously reached for the wand, and he didn't even realize when he made this move.

"Malfoy is no match for you. You were just careless because of Ron."

"They have no right to laugh at you."

"In the world of Quidditch, you are the best!"

Harry's eyes narrowed slightly, staring at Draco's smug face. Anger made his mind fall into chaos, and he didn't even think, his hand had already raised the wand -

"Black Bat leaves the cave!"

He swung his wand vigorously, and in the blink of an eye, Harry's spell hit Draco. His entire face was covered with the flapping wings of the monster. He let out a terrible scream and tried to tear the monster off his face.

The Bat Curse, a modified version by Ginny, was very powerful. Terence Higgs saw this and immediately took out his wand and used "End of All Curses" to remove the magic on Draco. But Draco still curled up on the ground, groaning and wailing, with blood on his nose and face.

The next second, a sharp shout resounded throughout the stadium: "Porter! Stop!"

Madam Hooch's figure was walking quickly towards them from a distance, holding a whistle in one hand and a wand in the other. Her broom was lying a few feet away, and her face was very livid.

"You actually attacked your opponent maliciously after the match?! Go see Professor McGonagall immediately!"

Madam Hooch was furious and issued a punishment almost on the spot. Harry's face turned pale and blue, anger, regret and unwillingness mixed together, but in the end, he put away his wand silently and turned to walk towards the castle.

Behind him, a sneer was faintly visible on Draco's lips, while Pansy looked at his back with a gloating look.

……

Harry stood in Professor McGonagall's office, his stomach heavy as lead, his ears still ringing, the emotional storm on the Quidditch field had not yet subsided, and his hands were still shaking slightly.

Professor McGonagall stood behind her desk, her expression stern and cold, her eyes swept between Harry and his wand. She took a deep breath and was about to scold him when the door of her office was suddenly pushed open with a dull bang.

Umbridge walked in hurriedly with her usual small steps, with a smug look on her face and a piece of parchment tightly in her hand. Her pink coat was particularly dazzling against the light of the fireplace, and a sweet but disgusting smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"Minerva, I'm sorry to interrupt you," Umbridge's voice was high-pitched and false, "but I don't think you've had time to see the latest Educational Order."

She waved the parchment in her hand, as if to show some supreme authority, then cleared her throat and read in a deliberately slow tone: "Educational Order No. 25-The Senior Investigator has the highest authority over all punishments, sanctions, and deprivations of rights involving Hogwarts students, and has the right to modify such punishments, sanctions, and deprivations of rights imposed by other teachers."

She raised her chin, her eyes flashing with morbid excitement, and her gaze stayed on Professor McGonagall's face, waiting for the other's angry reaction. However, McGonagall just stared at her with an expression that was cold and almost dangerous, her lips tightly pursed, and her eyes behind the glasses were as sharp as a knife.

"So -" Umbridge sighed pretentiously and turned to Harry, her smile widening a little. "I'm sorry, Potter, your Quidditch career is over."

Harry's head snapped up and he stared at her in shock. "What?"

Umbridge's eyes revealed a kind of malicious pleasure. She said slowly: "According to my highest authority, you are banned for life, your broom will be confiscated, and you will be locked up in the dungeon immediately."

Harry's breathing quickened suddenly. He could feel the blood in his body rushing backwards. An incredible anger was churning in his body. His Quidditch career... was over? Because of an impulsive spell? Because of Malfoy's provocation? He didn't even have time to explain or defend himself!
"You can't do this!" he roared, clenching his fists. "This is Professor McGonagall's office. She decides -"

"Oh no no no, Potter." Umbridge gave a fake laugh, her eyes full of sarcasm, "I'll decide."

She paused deliberately, then turned to Professor McGonagall with a sweet smile on her face. "Of course, Minerva, if you want to appeal to the Minister of Magic... you can try that."

Professor McGonagall's face was extremely cold. She stood straight, and the anger in her eyes almost set Umbridge on fire. There was an indescribable tension in the air, and the firelight from the fireplace flickered on her glasses, reflecting a chill like a knife blade.

But Umbridge was unmoved, she knew she had won. She shook the parchment in her hand, her smile deepened, and then turned and left the office, her steps brisk as if she had just enjoyed a hearty meal.

The door slammed shut and the room fell into dead silence.

Professor McGonagall took a deep breath, her face still livid, but she just took off her glasses, rubbed her nose, and said in a very low voice: "You can go back, Potter."

Harry stood there, anger boiling in his chest. He was unwilling to be deprived of the right to fly, deprived of his favorite sport, and deprived of the sky that belonged to him. But what could he do? The orders of the Ministry of Magic were iron laws, and Umbridge now had absolute power.

He turned around suddenly, pushed open the office door, and rushed out with anger all over his body.