Outside the dressing room, a petite girl with chestnut curls and a vibrant scarf stood braving the wind. "Congratulations on your triumph!" she exclaimed with genuine joy.
"Shouldn't you be lamenting Gryffindor's defeat?" Luke strolled leisurely, fingers entwined with Hermione's as they navigated through the bustling corridor.
"But I still believe you'll emerge victorious!" Hermione didn't retort, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Turns out I was right."
"If Harry and the others heard what you said, it might make things awkward," Luke remarked, casting a glance at the disheartened Harry in the distance.
"Harry? I don't really know him!" Hermione shook her head, correcting Luke's assumption. Despite Gryffindor's setback, she clung to hope for Luke's success.
It wasn't about glory; it was about heart. Watching the devoted girl by his side, Luke couldn't deny being touched. Leaning in slowly, their foreheads met under Hermione's evading gaze.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance," Luke said, a smile gracing his face as his azure eyes locked onto hers.
Hermione, slightly irritated, attempted to push him away, but the crowded space made it futile. "It's quite crowded here; you should control yourself."
"You didn't hold back last time," Luke teased, prompting Hermione to playfully punch him twice.
The Quidditch match, originally slated for the entire day, concluded in the morning due to Slytherin's dominating prowess. In the afternoon, Luke took Hermione to seek out the twins to discuss launching their store and marketing strategies.
"Hey, we suffered a lot at your hands this morning," Fred and George greeted Luke with feigned agony, referring to the numerous goals they conceded during the game.
After this resounding defeat, Gryffindor's captain, Wood, intensified their training regimen in a bid to stage a comeback. Despite his desperate quest for a championship, Wood had yet to taste victory.
Even the mischievous twins refrained from taunting Luke, mindful of potential additional training if they weren't cautious.
"Hermione observed the game intently, then pointed out, "Flint and Roll kept blocking Luke's position during the match."
Fred let out a sigh, "Blame it on them for messing up our line of sight. Luke was practically invisible!"
Luke, scratching his head, made a surprising announcement, "Don't give me that look. I won't be doing Quidditch next year," much to the disappointment of the twins.
"What?" Fred and George exclaimed in unison, thinking they misheard.
"You're not participating next year?" Hermione chimed in, her curiosity piqued.
"Well, this kind of competition isn't interesting," Luke explained, revealing that he felt dizzy during the morning's race. Despite his endurance, the increasing dizziness hinted at the rapid growth of Dragon Slayer Magic. As he looked at his hand hidden in his robe, he noticed the appearance of blue scales, a manifestation of dragon slayer magic.
As a second-generation dragon slayer, he lacked a dragon seed, eliminating the possibility of transforming into a dragon. However, dragon features, like the scale pattern on his arm, were not surprising. Examining closely, one could see occasional arcs along the lines, a phenomenon called thunder scales, caused by transforming the skin into a dragon's physique.
"That's a pity," Fred expressed regret, though a mischievous smile betrayed his true feelings."
Luke's departure marked a significant loss for Slytherin, leaving a noticeable void in their ranks. Despite the challenges faced in previous years without him, the team showed resilience, proving they were far from feeble.
"Yeah, it's a real shame," Luke acknowledged, exchanging a glance with Fred.
Miss He O.1min, positioned on the sidelines, brought up the idea of reviving Fairy Tail. Fred, ever confident, responded to Luke's petite girlfriend, "Don't worry, George and I have got it all sorted."
"We'll have to stick to selling within Hogwarts for now; rents outside are just too darn high," Fred explained, adopting a Western flair in his speech. The twins had diligently researched the exorbitant prices in Diagon Alley, and the risks associated with Knockturn Alley were not worth the more reasonable rates.
"We'll kick off with a simple sale at Hogwarts and then make our move to Diagon Alley once the coffers are a bit fuller," Fred declared, outlining their strategic plan. Luke nodded in agreement, placing his trust in the capable hands of the entrepreneurial twins. The prospect of a new venture added a layer of excitement to the air, promising intrigue and challenges ahead.
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