Quidditch season was approaching, and the schedules for each team were being announced one by one.

On a Wednesday evening in early October, Hermione Granger, the coach of the Freshman team, called a meeting to discuss subsequent tactical arrangements and targeted training directions based on the order of opponents the Freshman team had drawn.

Due to the expansion of the number of participating teams to five, each team had to play more games than in previous years.

The team locker rooms under the stands of the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch numbered only four. The "Magic Master's Team," which had overwhelmingly defeated the Freshman team, naturally qualified to enjoy one of the locker rooms – the one formerly used by Ravenclaw, who had withdrawn from the competition this year.

As a temporary, bottom-of-the-barrel team, Hermione could only apply for an empty classroom in the castle as a fixed activity room.

In the "Moonlight Team's" activity room on the corner of the sixth-floor staircase of Hogwarts Castle, Hermione spoke to her seven players, her voice carrying a convincing power.

"Undoubtedly, the Quidditch Cup this year will be more difficult than in previous years. Any team in the school right now would have been able to lock in the championship in the past few years—which is why Ravenclaw withdrew."

She said to the players sitting in front of her, pacing back and forth near the blackboard at the front of the classroom.

"If we follow tradition, we will be separated next year, and I won't be able to continue speaking here as the head coach."

"Although the official competition has not yet started, judging from the current situation, our chances of winning are very slim against any Quidditch team. Well, we have already experienced one of them – a crushing defeat – and this is clearly not their full strength, otherwise the score might be even more embarrassing..."

Hermione swallowed, as if this memory was still a sugar cube stuck in her throat.

"But we are not entirely without opportunity. We have the most complete – the most complete – competition database in the school, and our tactics and strength are completely unknown to other teams. No one will take us seriously, which is also an advantage."

She said, reaching out to press on the blackboard covered with paper, her eyes flashing with the confident light she usually had.

"We have the most agile Chasers. I've analyzed the data, and our turning speed is the fastest."

Hermione's gaze lingered on Irina Ivanovich, Ginny Weasley, and Cho Chang.

"The integration of our Beaters into the tactical system far exceeds that of the other colleges. Most teams are now falling into the misconception of pursuing power, but according to legendary players in professional Quidditch and the previous Hogwarts champion lineups, angle and timing are the most important—you see, Slytherin's Beaters have only just entered their second year."

"But, Miss Granger, the Weasley twin brothers of Gryffindor..."

Verner and Hofa, the two boys who had just joined Ravenclaw, frowned in unison, looking at a certain point on the blackboard.

Although they hadn't seen Gryffindor's matches yet, by extrapolating from the previous sessions of commentary, Gryffindor's current team of Beaters could be said to be the most powerful characters in this position.

"Gryffindor's tactical system is based on the Seeker...This is their most fatal weakness!"

Hermione said calmly, recalling the analysis and comments that Aileen had written in that "secret book."

"Charlie Weasley left too many traces in the team, so much so that after losing the Seeker core, the Gryffindor team directly slumped in the past few years—which is why Wood was so looking forward to Harry and Aileen joining."

"But, once the strongest point is broken, they will instantly become cats without claws."

Hermione turned her head, looking at Luna with a complex and expectant gaze.

"If you, Luna, can fly in the sky without interference, then our chances of winning the game will be very high. Statistically speaking, we can at least guarantee a win rate of more than 50%—most of the time, luck will be on our side."

The starting lineups of each Quidditch team had already been announced. In Hermione's opinion, apart from the fact that Charlie Weasley of the "All-Star Team" would inherently suppress Luna, neither Draco of Slytherin nor Harry of Gryffindor could pose a threat to Luna. Hufflepuff was the more troublesome one.

"You forgot Aileen, Hermione," Luna said, calmly reminding the coach.

"Gryffindor has a free-agent spot. Apart from the Beater position, which Professor Dumbledore forbids her from taking, Aileen can appear in any position—don't forget, she was the Seeker last year."

"It doesn't matter," Hermione shook her head, saying in a light tone, "At least before the final, we shouldn't encounter Aileen in an official match. I estimate that she won't even play in the first round of the group stage—I do hope that she can crush Hufflepuff or the 'All-Star Team' at the beginning, but according to my understanding of her, this possibility is close to zero."

"Okay, let's get back to the topic... After Halloween, we will start the official competition."

Hermione drew her wand, tapped the blackboard lightly, and said with a smile.

"Fortunately, this time our opponent is the Gryffindor team."

"Compared to the other teams, their suppression on the offensive end is not strong. If we can seal off the Seeker, that is, Harry's point, our chances of winning are not small. But even with Gryffindor's lowest offensive intensity, our defense has to last long enough to give Luna space to grab the Golden Snitch. The previous training intensity is definitely not enough, and that also means..."

Hermione's expression gradually became serious, and her wand waved gently.

Immediately afterwards, several pieces of parchment, like course schedules, floated up from the table and landed in the hands of each little wizard, filled with subsequent training goals, training times, and self-charging tasks outside of training.

"Don't worry about homework, I've already found out..."

Hermione glanced at the players in the classroom whose expressions instantly froze, and said softly and gently.

"Currently, all the courses you are exposed to, whether it is homework or knowledge content in class, I should be able to help you answer one or two... Um, including second-year and third-year courses, Cho, don't worry—"

"Since we don't have to analyze and learn new tactics for the time being, the previous discussion session will be adjusted to a concentrated homework blitz. I will supervise everyone to complete their homework as soon as possible, so that we have more time to go to the pitch to train. Professor Dumbledore said that if we can complete our homework on time and everyone gets an Outstanding, he might be able to get us a batch of new brooms."

As a qualified coach, gentleness and consideration are not the ultimate goals.

"In this world, there must always be someone to force everyone to do things they are unwilling to do. If you want to be a qualified coach, then you must first learn how to grasp this balance..."

On a certain night a few days ago, Aileen leaned close to Hermione's ear and said softly.

"So, try to become a gentle demon king, Miss Granger."

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Coo coo