The Admiral of Hogwarts

October ended in a whirlwind of storms, and November arrived, as cold as frozen iron. Each morning brought a layer of hard frost, and the biting wind stung hands and cheeks.

The sky and the ceiling of the Great Hall had turned a pale blue-gray, the mountains around Hogwarts wore caps of snow, and the temperature inside the castle had dropped so much that many students wore thick dragon-hide gloves between classes in the corridors.

"Why do wizards like to hold Quidditch matches at this time of year? It's cold enough on the ground, it must be even worse up in the air," Hermione grumbled, rubbing her hands together as they walked towards the Quidditch pitch.

Although she was now a ship girl, ordinary weather didn't affect her senses, but some habits from her time as a human still subconsciously made her complain about the weather today.

"There's no choice. For Hogwarts students, there are only a few activities that the whole school can participate in, and compared to exams, Quidditch is clearly the only thing that can get everyone excited," Hugo said with a smile.

"Especially with that old woman here this year, everyone is very repressed. So the students even hope that the game can come sooner, so that everyone can relax a little."

In fact, Hermione wasn't the only one complaining now. For example, Gryffindor, who was playing their first game today, was also complaining, because Ron's performance at the table this morning could be described as appalling.

Except for Slytherins, who habitually sat together, students from the other houses tended to mix together, so when Hugo sat down, besides Luna, who was relatively familiar with Hermione and Veneto, there was also Ginny from Gryffindor.

"What's wrong, Ginny? You don't seem to be in a good mood," Hermione asked warmly, because Ginny now seemed to have 'unhappy' written all over her face, and her complexion was extremely unsightly.

"Don't even mention it, my brother is so embarrassing," Ginny immediately began to pour out her inner dissatisfaction to Hermione when she saw that a friend was willing to listen.

"You know today is my brother Ron's first game, but he was trembling all over and his hands and feet were ice cold. Seriously, even when Harry participated in the Triwizard Tournament last year, he wasn't this scared before the first task."

"Maybe he's just a little too nervous for his first game," Hugo comforted. "He might adapt once he's in that environment on the field. After all, I think your brothers who play on the Quidditch team are all pretty good."

"Actually, my parents were both on the Quidditch team back in their day, so I hope my brother won't embarrass us," Ginny shrugged. "After all, so far, everyone in our family who's played Quidditch has been pretty good."

Soon the game began, and the Gryffindor players launched an attack after a series of dodges and passes, but unfortunately, the shot was saved by Slytherin's keeper, Bletchley.

Next, Slytherin launched an attack, and at this moment, the singing that had been coming from the Slytherin stands since the beginning of the game became clearer and clearer.

"—Weasley can't save a thing, he cannot block, Slytherins all sing, Weasley is our King. Weasley born in a bin, he always lets the Quaffle in, Weasley will make sure we win, Weasley is our King."

Quidditch is somewhat similar to rugby and basketball, so using trash talk to interfere with the opponent's players is also a part of the game. The players are naturally aware of this.

Unfortunately, Ron didn't seem to be used to this kind of situation. Hugo could see that he missed two balls that he theoretically should have been able to save.

And as the singing from the Slytherin side grew louder and louder, Ron's actions seemed to get worse and worse. Fortunately, at this moment, Harry seemed to have noticed something and swooped down towards the Slytherin half of the field.

As a Seeker, Malfoy's level was also good, but whether it was skill or broom, he was a notch below Harry, so in the end, Harry successfully caught the Golden Snitch.

It was at this moment that Crabbe perfectly demonstrated the character and quality of a pure-blood: just as the final whistle had already blown, he hit Harry in the lower back with a Bludger.

The next scene even more embodied the qualities of those so-called superior pure-bloods: Malfoy directly insulted Ron's mother and Harry's mother to their faces, which directly caused a brawl. Fortunately, Madam Hooch managed to separate them.

"It looks like Harry and the others are going to be detentioned today," Hermione said, shaking her head as she watched the group head towards Professor McGonagall's office. "Impulsiveness is the devil!"

"Detention? I think you're thinking too positively about the situation. Don't forget that that old woman has been looking for an opportunity, and this brawl is a perfect excuse," Hugo raised his eyebrows and said.

"Banned from playing for life, this is simply—" By the time they were eating lunch, everyone knew the final outcome of the brawl. To be honest, it was obviously a bit too harsh.

"The core isn't this, the core is that that old woman now has Educational Decree Number Twenty-five," Hugo said, tapping the table with his finger.

"According to this decree, the High Inquisitor now 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 made by other faculty members."

"In other words, the school professors have lost the right to reward and punish students, and this right has been concentrated in Umbridge's hands," Veneto said, stroking his chin. "It shows that the Ministry of Magic has taken another right away from Hogwarts."

"With this move, the other side has seized the initiative," Hugo added from the side. "Don't forget, Umbridge has now removed Gryffindor's Seeker and Beaters, which can be regarded as giving Dumbledore a warning."

The reason he said this was because Umbridge had been interfering with the formation of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and only reluctantly let it go after Dumbledore gave the order.

Therefore, in Umbridge's view, the Gryffindor team was her dueling arena with Dumbledore, so dismantling the Gryffindor team was where she could show the headmaster her power.

"By the way, what about Crabbe hitting the Bludger after the whistle? Did she ban him?" Hermione asked, as if she had remembered something.

"No," Hugo shook his head. "He was only punished to write lines. I heard Montague laughing about it at dinner. Obviously, Umbridge has put her hostility on the surface, and isn't even willing to make any pretense."

"That's normal. That group of pure-bloods who have taken the good spots have never hidden their hostility towards us," Veneto interjected at this time. "And that's the meaning of everything we do."

"You're right, I was indeed thinking too simply before," Hermione sighed. "And I think this group of pure-bloods won't be willing to share the benefits, so we will be facing a bloody future."

Hearing this, everyone fell silent for a moment, but soon, Hugo, looking out the window, noticed faint smoke rising from Hagrid's hut, which had been empty for a while.