Chapter - 019 I hope you all are safe and healthy in your homes. "Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today." – Thich Nhat Hanh Soon the match started. The Weasley twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was doing the commentary for the match. "And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor — what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too —" Lee Jordon got distracted. "JORDAN!" Professor McGonagall, who was closely watching him rebuked. "Sorry, Professor." Soon the Gryffindor team scored their first goal, the Gryffindors let out a huge cheer. The Slytherin team was also trying their best but to no avail. And in no time Gryffindors scored for the second time. Harry, on the other hand, saw the snitch when Flint, the Slytherin captain drove him in a corner. The Gryffindors demanded a foul, but it was enough time for the golden snitch to disappear once again. After the foul, the score was thirty to zero, with Gryffindors in the lead. Flint after seeing that they were behind, took the bat from one of the Slytherin beaters and sent a Buldger flying towards Angelina Johnson. "BAAM" The Buldger hit Angelina on her back, and she was down for good. This stunt from Flint received criticism from the Gryffindors, but it was not a foul, so the game continued. Suddenly a commotion broke out. Harry, who was high in the air, lost control over his broom and was hanging by it. The Slytherins were the ones who made the most commotion. It was nothing out of the ordinary many of them, had placed their bets on Harry. The sooner he falls, the better for them. Even some Gryffindors were looking at Harry with expectations. Alex glanced towards professor Snape only to see him looking at Harry without blinking and muttering nonstop. Alex knew what it was, 'A curse'. But knowing his professor, Alex knew that it was most likely a counter curse. Now the question was who was strong enough to make his master focus like this. When everyone was looking at Harry, Snape's robes caught fire. This was enough for Harry to gain control over his broom, and a wave of disappointment flowed among the students. [ Even the Gryffindor students were a bit disappointed] As the game continued, the disappointment among students grew, and occasional curses could be heard. At last, Harry caught the snitch and lead Gryffindors to victory. Gryffindors won by one hundred and eighty points to one hundred and ten. Although many of the Gryffindor students lost their money, the victory on their arch-rival made up for it. On the other hand, the Slytherin students felt their stomach churning with anger. After the match ended, students gathered around the gambling den on the lawn. The gambling house ought to have sacked huge profits today, well that's what everyone thought. Alex stood on the sides waiting for his turn when Daphne showed up. She looked dejected. Alex remembered that she placed her bets on Slytherin's victory and Harry being knocked out within ten minutes. [Should he console her? But how?] Soon Nicole and Hermione too joined them. Nicole looked dishearted just like Daphne, and the two of them soon found solace in each other. After a while of mopping on their loss, the two of them came out of their depression. Nicole began to dance in front of Alex, celebrating Gryffindor's victory. "Brother this game is so exciting, much better than any of the muggle games we have seen". Nicole said. She enjoyed the thrill of the game to its extent. "You know I might join the team, just like that Johnson girl". Nicole continued to tell Alex. "It's dangerous you might get hurt, are you sure?" Alex said. He was concerned about her but was not going to stop her if she truly wanted to do something. "Yup, I will try next year". Nicole said with determination. "You need to work hard in that case, You are not like Harry, I can't say for the rest but he is indeed natural in Quidditch". Alex reminded her. "Yes I will work my fingers to the bone," Nicole said while pumping her fists in the air. "No don't do that" Alex said with a worried look. Hermione, Daphne and Nicole giggled.[ sis con] "Btw brother do you know what happened to Harry's broom?" Nicole asked while changing the topic. "Curse" Alex replied. "Well, I and Hermione came to the same conclusion". Nicole said. "She thinks it was Professor Snape". she continued. "Bulls**t, he was trying to save him". Alex snapped all of a sudden. Hermione who was beside Alex looked at him strangely. Although she knew what she saw, but seeing how Alex was defending Snape she felt like believing him. "So who do you think did it?" Nicole asked. "Maybe someone, jealous of his fame". "Malfoy". Nicole guessed. He was the only one who had a bone to pick with Harry. "I am sure he would love to, but he is not capable enough". Alex crossed Malfoy's name from the start. "Then who could it be?" "I don't know, but you better not meddle into any of this". Alex flicked Nicole's forehead and said. "Fine, I won't". Nicole agreed while rubbing her forehead. While they were talking, Hermione and Daphne stood beside them, listening. After a while, the crowd in front of the gambling house thinned a lot. Alex and Nicole got through the crowd and came in front. "Your name". The boy behind the table asked. "Nicole Ashbridge" "You betted two hundred galleons on Gryffindor's victory, here are your two hundred and seventy-four galleons. Your other bet was on Harry being knocked out within ten minutes you have lost it". The student at the reception explained while going through the records. Nicole felt dishearted again. She lost more than a hundred galleons in one day, She regretted betting in the first place. Alex moved ahead. "Name". "Alexender Ashbridge". As soon as the name reverberated in the ears of the students standing behind the reception, they looked towards him. If and only if this guy was not there, they would have racked so much profit. The gambling houses were operated legally within the school premises after they get permission from the school. In return, they need to pay a certain amount of fees to the school. After that everything else was profit for them. Today's match, because of the unexpected emergence of Harry Potter, was meant to be a hit. But this guy ruined it all. The guy looked through the books and said "You betted two hundred galleons on Slytherin's victory, but you lost them". As soon as the voice of the boy settled, other's around Alex looked at him pity. Harry and Ron just came at that moment. "Huh... how unlucky. Next time bet on Gryffindor you might win back what you lost". Ron said with a smug 😏😏 face while Harry looked pleased. "Shut your mouth, Ron". Nicole said while glaring at Ron. "Next you placed two hundred galleons on Harry being knocked out within two minutes, you lost them too". The boy continued. Now the Gryffindors around Alex burst into waves of laughter. Ron was almost dancing🕺💃 with joy. Harry too had a smile on his face. "Brother don't listen to them, you have so much money, and you can earn even more without anyone's help". Nicole said. She was angry at all of them, but if she did anything it will prove them right. "Indeed there is nothing to worry about". Alex agreed, he wasn't the least bit bothered. "You placed eight hundred galleons on Harry being knocked out within five minutes, you lost them too". The boy said while sweating. No one knew what he was thinking. There was pin-drop silence for a while before all the students irrespective of their houses began to clamour. "This guy is crazy rich on top being unlucky". One of them said, jealous of Alex's deep pockets and happy about his loss. "Even I pity him". Someone from Gryffindors said. "Are you crazy? You lost so much money in a day" Hermione and Daphne said synchronically. Nicole looked towards his brother. There was not a tinge of emotion on his face, but she knew there was nothing to worry about. Well even if he lost all the money she won't be bothered, after all, she didn't earn a single penny. "Next you betted eight hundred galleons on Harry being knocked out within ten minutes, again you lost them". The boy said while wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead. He did not look pleased in the slightest. This time the people around them were less surprised by the extent to which Alex was jinxed. They looked more surprised by the wealth he held. "You also placed eight hundred galleons on Harry being knocked out within twenty minutes, you lost them too". The boy said. He looked anxious. Ron could not take it any more and broke into laughter. Harry on the other hand, though was displeased with how Alex placed all the money on him being knocked out but seeing Alex losing money after the other he felt a bit satisfied. "Dude how jinxed you can be? I take it back you can't recover the money you lost even if Gryffindor plays daily for you for seven years". Ron 🐵🐵said while chiding Alex. After all this time now he was able to get the upper hand on Alex. He could not let the chance slip by. "Let's go," Harry said to Ron, there was nothing more left to see. "Sure, I can't see this guy lose anymore, even I felt pity towards him". Even though he wanted to see more, Ron agreed. As Harry and Ron turned to leave someone in the crowd came to a realization. "Hey, if this goes on, then this guy should have placed on the next one too, right?" "Yeah, if he placed the same amount on that, won't he recover his loses?" Someone else mentioned. "Not only recover, but he will also have a huge gain" Others also calculated. "Hey, you behind the table go on". Someone said not able to hold the excitement. Harry and Ron froze after they heard it... * * *