Study Days at Hogwarts

  Chapter 72 Tracing the Origin of Quidditch

   "Then... just take a look here, let's go out and fly for a while." Fred glanced at Albert's broomstick next to him, turned around and left the dressing room with the others.

   Albert picked up the book and the broomstick and went to the auditorium, found a seat, opened "The Origin of Quidditch" and read carefully:

  The name of Quidditch comes from the birthplace of Quidditch Marsh.

   Albert's understanding of Quidditch is only the simplest common sense. As for the origin of the name, it seems unexpected but reasonable.

  In the 11th century, there is a related description in the diary of the witch Gerty Kidder who lived near the Quetzal Marsh:

  One day, a group of people rode broomsticks to play ball over the Quetta Marsh. As a result, the ball fell into the vegetable field of the witch Getty and was confiscated by her.

  The next day, the ball players did not give up. They made a new ball and started throwing the ball into the woods at the end of the swamp to score.

   On the third day, the players brought two rocks and flew them in the sky, trying to knock them off their brooms.

  This is the original ghost ball, scoring ring and bludger.

   Albert stretched out his hand and gently turned another page:

  In a Quidditch game in 1269, Barber Bragg, the chairman of the Wizarding Council, came to watch. He told the players on the field that whoever could catch the Golden Snidget in the game would get 150 Galleons.

   At that time, hunting Jin Snidget was popular, and any wizard who caught Jin Snidget could gain fame.

  Since then, Golden Snidget and Quidditch have been in contact.

  Later, Quidditch had a hunter who was responsible for catching Golden Snidget.

   If any hunter can capture and kill the Golden Snidget, his team will earn 150 points to symbolize the 150 Galleons promised by Breno.

   "150 galleons in 1269? The chairman of the wizard council is really rich." Albert muttered softly. "No wonder, later catching the Snitch gets you 150 points."

  However, it was not difficult for Albert to guess what would happen to Jin Snidget.

   Sure enough, in the middle of the 14th century, the number of Snidgets dropped sharply due to the Quidditch competition, and they were regarded as protected species by the Wizards Council led by Alida Cragg.

   Later, Bowman Wright, a metalsmith from Godric's Hollow, invented the Snitch. Eventually the Snitch became the Snidget's replacement, and the sport of Quidditch continued.

  Albert had seen a golden snitch before. It was really hard to imagine that a wizard at the end of the fifteenth century could make such an exquisite golden snitch.

Of course, since the Shock Absorbing Charm was not invented until the 19th century, Albert could not help but maliciously speculate how the Quidditch players before that could overcome Dandan’s sadness and compete on broomsticks .

  In the second half of "The Origin of Quidditch", there is also an introduction to the rules of the Quidditch game. What caught Albert's attention the most was the rules about the Golden Snitch.

   It is a foul for any player other than the Seeker to touch or grab the Snitch. In other words, there is no such thing as a coquettish operation in which players catch the Snitch and hand it over to their own Seekers.

   The game will not end until the Snitch is caught.

  Of course, there is another situation, that is, with the consent of the captains of the two teams, the game can also end.

   It can be simply understood as one party admitting defeat.

  In any kind of game, throwing in the towel is always allowed.

   Albert continued to scroll down and found several interesting rules.

  In a Quidditch match, if the team becomes disabled, no other player is allowed to replace the player, but it is allowed to treat the injured player. If the player leaves the field, the team will continue the game after the injured player leaves the field.

  Hmm, so no substitute?

  Albert discovered another problem, that is, when players cannot be replaced, Charlie finds them as substitutes?

   "I see, the real candidate?" Albert couldn't help but smile bitterly.

   Probably several people in the team will graduate next year, so Charlie is busy looking for players who can replace them!

  After all, the selection will be made next year. How can it be so fast to start cultivating outstanding players this year? As long as the time comes, as long as you are in a formality, you won't worry about others gossiping.

  In the later period of "The Origin of Quidditch", Albert really discovered that players can really be replaced during the Quidditch match. That's when the game goes on for several days, and the team will be allowed to send substitute players to the field, and the players will be replaced to sleep.

   This is the only situation in which substitutions are permitted.

   Having said that, the audience is not crazy, how could it be possible to watch the game for several days without sleep?

  Actually, Albert felt that once a Quidditch match lasted more than one day, it would lose the meaning of continuing the match.

  He continued to scroll down, and in the later stage of the rule, it was some foul means:

   Such as igniting the opponent's broom tail.

  Use the stick to hit the opponent's broom. (Albert is sure that Erin and Mark have definitely done this kind of thing.)

   In addition, there is intentionally hitting an opponent while flying or using an elbow to bump an opponent. (Basically all Quidditch players except the goalkeeper have done this kind of thing)

   Grabbing the handle of an opponent's broom to slow the opponent down or impede his progress. (Malfoy did this to Potter.)

  …

  Of course, if you violate the above rules, you will only be fined in most cases, and you will be banned if it is serious.

  Actually, Mark is the best example. There are many things that deliberately bump into opponents.

  If he used his elbow to get the opponent's Seeker off the court, Albert felt that he would do the same.

   Albert thought viciously: That match that lasted for three months must have happened like this!

  Both sides got rid of the opponent's Seeker, no one caught the Snitch, and neither side wanted to concede defeat, so the game naturally needed to continue.

   After realizing that someone was falling beside him, Albert turned his head, and he saw that Charlie and his party had finished their training.

   Charlie asked, "Why didn't you go to practice flying?"

   "There seems to be something wrong with the broom, it's shaking badly."

"It's probably too old. The school's brooms have been used for a long time, and there are more or less faults." Charlie sighed softly, and greeted the few people who were still flying in the sky, "George, Fred, and you guys, all come down to listen to the tactical analysis."

   "Is the training over?" Fred and the others also landed one after another and came to Charlie's side to ask.

   "Not yet, I will tell you about Quidditch tactics later, and you should come and listen together."

   "But we've heard it."

   "I listened to you all summer vacation."

  The twins looked at each other and said each sentence.

"Shut up."

  Angelina was very happy. Charlie was able to explain tactics to a few people, so he didn't treat them as outsiders.

  After putting the ghost ball and the Bludger into the box, Charlie led several people into the locker room. He stood in front of the blackboard and began to explain to everyone the Quidditch tactics he had come up with during the summer vacation.

  (end of this chapter)