Chapter 99

Flitwick sighed and patted Hooch's arm before stepping forward. 

"If I'm not wrong, you crafted this broom on your own, didn't you?"

Alex nodded and Flitwick continued, "And you probably used cores as a central thing that keeps the broom working?"

"Yes…"

"Good. You also used more than seven cores?"

"Yes…"

Flitwick sighed when he heard the answer, "Well, that is against the rules. Since you broke the rules, you will not be allowed to play the next match and your team will be disqualified this match. Hufflepuff wins."

The team protested but Flitwick simply walked away. Sprout looked down at Alex before crossing her arms.

"You will also be doing detentions for a whole week with me. You will not attend your quidditch practice either. Every day from four to seven and meet me in my office on time."

Alex nodded and after the professors left the grounds, he did too. His teammates didn't look too happy with him but he didn't really care at that moment as he only wanted to sleep.

He woke up after about ten whole hours of sleep and grimaced when he saw the time.

'This sloth is getting annoying and hard…. I don't even know what to do…'

He ran to Sprouts' office and saw her playing with her plants. 

"Um, Professor Sprout?"

"What is it?", she said and turned around to look at him before continuing, "Oh… the detentions start from tomorrow, not today."

"Okay…. But professor, could you tell me why you want me punished? I think I already got what was deserved for bringing a broom that surpassed the standards or whatever."

Sprout sat down on her chair and looked up at him sternly, "If you were an adult, you would be banned from selling brooms or playing quidditch for your whole life."

"Oh okay… I didn't know about the rule. I'm sorry professor.", he said and left the place. He knew why he was given detentions and the reason was not what Sprout had just told him.

'She hates it when the kids in her house are harmed by others huh…. Well, it's a reasonable thing, I guess. Maybe next time I'll make sure to break the whole team's bones….', he began to make up various pointless scenarios in his mind as he walked towards Flitwick's office.

Alex went straight to the office and looked inside to find him drinking some butterbeer.

"Professor, may I come in?"

"Yes yes, sure. Why are you here?"

Alex looked down at him and said, "Professor, I want to quit the team."

"We made a deal, Alex. You know it."

"Yes, we did professor. But I've already fulfilled my end of the bargain. I secure at least one position in the tryouts and beat the original Ravenclaw quidditch team. I've done them both so I would like to quit. Or rather, I'd like to make a new deal."

Flitwick stared at him for a few seconds before making up his mind, "All right, what's the deal? Also, do not expect me to give you free marks in exams. That will never happen."

"I am completely capable of earning my own marks, professor. As for the deal, you talk to professor sprout and convince her to cancel my detention. In return, I'll play any three matches you want me to as long as I'm a student of Hogwarts."

"What if I don't? There is a reason you got the detention, Alex."

"Professor, you know what is actually going on in Professor Sprout's mind. I think I already got the punishment I need and if I remember correctly, you were the one who gave it to me.

Also, to answer your first question… If you don't want to, it's completely fine. I'll just play for Ravenclaw as you want me to and make sure I will break every single player's bones."

"What will you do if I simply kick you out of the team?"

Alex smiled as a golden yellow chain emerged from his hand and flew around him. Flitwick had no reaction to it and that was a good sign for Alex. The chain shot into Flitwick's chest and after he saw that his plan had worked, he spoke.

"Oh? Absolutely nothing. That's what I actually want. I'm simply placing an offer in front of you because I know that you want to see Ravenclaw win the quidditch cup and I don't want the detentions. If you reject me, both of us won't get what we want."

Flitwick inhaled deeply and for some reason, his heart was beating unnaturally fast. "Then tell me, how are you going to get me the quidditch cup when you won't play the next match? The team scored thirty points before getting disqualified and without a trained beater, I doubt they will be able to do well in the next match.

So, tell me, Alex. How will you cover up the difference in points in just a single match? Slytherins and Gryffindors have really strong teams."

"The match doesn't end if the snitch isn't caught. Goals aren't scored if there are no chasers... goals aren't saved if there are no keepers…. We can ignore the beaters."

Flitwick felt a chill run down his spine as he heard Alex speak like he didn't really care. Like it was as easy as drinking water.

"So, what do you say, professor? Professor?"

"Huh? Oh yes.", he said and exhaled, "Well, just keep your promise then. I'll talk to Professor Sprout." 

Alex nodded and left the room, leaving Flitwick alone who stared at the wall for almost an hour after he was gone.

He didn't want to take the risk but killing sloth was more important than acting like a good kid. While he was used to it, he didn't really like doing it as it got pretty annoying when he had to deal with people like Susan.

Instead of going to his dormitory, he headed to the room of requirements to do his daily routine.