Before Aileen's enrollment, Slytherin had won the House Cup for six consecutive years.

While Professor Snape's bias might have played a small part, the Slytherin students' abilities were the more significant factor.

Whether acknowledged or not, as the House with nearly 100% pure-blood wizard families, Slytherin's students undeniably started with an advantage over the other Houses.

And in the magical world's studies, that slight head start could largely determine the distance of the average finish line.

If not for Aileen's sudden emergence last year, and Dumbledore's shameless machinations in the original story, Slytherin's dominance would have continued—in fact, even after missing out on the House Cup last year, most Slytherin students firmly believed that Slytherin's overall strength was at the top of the four Houses.

However, with the frequent "temporary duels" at Hogwarts during this period, Gryffindor's limelight vaguely began to overshadow Slytherin.

Even though Slytherin students constantly used win rates to emphasize and corroborate, people obviously believed what they saw with their own eyes more than inaccessible numerical descriptions:

Gryffindor's wins in the dueling arena were almost the sum of the other Houses combined.

In the face of overwhelming victories, the already strained relationship between Gryffindor and Slytherin quickly entered a new phase of taunts and jeers.

And this House competition was undoubtedly the contest both sides craved the most.

Many Slytherin students even engaged in brutal "bets" with Gryffindor students.

No matter the outcome, one side was bound to suffer a social death at Hogwarts, which undoubtedly ignited the enthusiasm of most of the spectator students.

Unfortunately, Slytherin's first two matches all failed to achieve a "sure-thing" result due to various reasons.

After two consecutive defeats, the atmosphere in Slytherin was extremely tense. If Hannah and Luna hadn't suppressed it in time, the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch might have become a large-scale Slytherin "internal purge" meeting. However, with Cassiopeia's clean and neat victory in the first match, the solemn atmosphere in the Slytherin stands finally eased slightly.

The House competition adopted a points accumulation system.

Individual matches were worth three points, tag team matches were worth two to four points, and team matches were worth five points.

If either side gained more than five points in advance, then the team match would naturally not need to be conducted.

The one-to-one score in the individual matches undoubtedly made the team match the key to the final victory, while the tag team match was not as important.

More importantly, just as Slytherin's individual lineup was considered luxurious, everyone knew Gryffindor's dominance in the tag team arena.

The Weasley twins had maintained a perfect record in tag team duels so far. As one of the only two sets of twins at Hogwarts, their teamwork and coordination were impeccable, and the rules of the tag team match were simply tailor-made for them... The only suspense was whether they could achieve a "one-pass-two" victory.

However, the upperclassmen of Slytherin were not particularly nervous.

Because they had also prepared a secret weapon, just like Ginny in the first grade, the Slytherins chose to bet their "surprise" on the tag team match.

In fact, if everything went according to their plan, they would have at least two wins in hand now, and even had the capital to end the game early.

After all, before this, no one would have thought that the "Shadow Prefect" who had defeated several upperclassmen would unexpectedly lose.

Nor would they have thought that the descendants of the ancient and proud Malfoy family would throw a match in full view.

As for Cassiopeia's victory, it was within the expectations of many informed people – Slytherin's selection of players was a duel screening.

As the fastest spellcaster in Slytherin's third grade, Cassiopeia's storm-like magic attacks had also amazed many people in the previous secret selection.

Of course, in addition to these factors, Slytherin also had the most important dependence...

"Who do you think will win?"

Professor Snape suddenly turned to look at Professor McGonagall next to him and asked softly.

"Of course, it's the Weasley twins. If you really want to ask, you might as well ask how long it will take them to achieve a 'one-pass-two' victory."

Professor McGonagall replied with a smile, curiously glancing at Snape who seemed to be "asking for humiliation," and responding to his previous ridicule without hesitation.

"Is that so? I think they might not even be able to pass the first hurdle smoothly..."

Professor Snape glanced at the bottom with a meaningful look, and the corners of his mouth inadvertently curved into an elusive arc.

"...So, you're not going to personally help the students cheat again, are you?"

Professor McGonagall was stunned for half a second, and her smile faded.

In the Hogwarts House Cup competition in the past few years, similar off-field assistance behaviors had happened too many times.

"Just a little help."

Professor Snape said inscrutablely, moving his gaze to Madam Hooch not far away and raising his eyebrows.

"Besides, you and Madam Hooch have also given the students some small help. If I am cheating... what about you?"

"I am the Quidditch teacher at Hogwarts, I am neutral," Madam Hooch said somewhat unnaturally.

"Well, but I heard that Hogwarts' Bludger inventory is almost empty. I don't know how we will train for the subsequent Quidditch matches—"

Professor Snape's deep black eyes swept across Madam Hooch, and his gaze returned to the field not far away.

Below, the Gryffindor and Slytherin students had already entered the arena.

…………

As before, Aileen simply repeated the rules.

In mid-air, the magic countdown began to tick, and her figure gradually disappeared into the air once again.

"You guys are quite lucky. If the Weasley fireworks weren't banned, you might have had to find a potion to grow hair."

Fred Weasley shrugged regretfully, generously took out a glass bottle from his arms, and shook it in front of the other party.

"However, they're not that lucky—" George Weasley said, "After all, that way, it might hurt a few times before they realize they can't win."

The two said in unison, taking out specially made metal Beater bats from their waists.

They held their wands in their left hands and the Beater bats in their right hands, looking at the two almost non-existent opponents not far away with a playful smile.

The Hogwarts Quidditch pitch was their home field, and for the sake of this victory today, Professor McGonagall specially helped them entrust Madam Hooch to collect nearly thirty "lively" Bludgers. Under the restraint of the magic light curtain, the Bludgers that were constantly bouncing and charging could be said to be the top-level helpers—they could win without even casting spells.

"Those bottles... are all Bludgers, right?"

Just then, the two wizards standing opposite them exchanged a look, revealing a strange smile.

"Unfortunately, your opponents are not the two of us—from the moment you stepped onto the stage, the match was already over."

"What are you talking about?"

Fred Weasley was stunned.

The two of them were originally the 100% win rate holders in tag team duels, and now they had dozens of Bludgers.

In Percy and Miss Granger's deduction, their winning rate in this tag team match was almost 100%—their deduction model was a "one-pass-two" victory.

However, the two Slytherin students did not answer him, but instead took out a crystal bottle from their arms.

Inside the bottle, there was some shimmering light yellow potion.

As the countdown above reached zero, the two opened the bottle caps and drank at the same time.

Poof—

A light purple mist spread across the dueling arena.

There was no spell sound.

Just as everyone began to be confused, Aileen's calm voice suddenly sounded in mid-air.

"Tag team match, round one, Slytherin wins."

…………

And at the same time, in the Hogwarts professors' seats.

Professor McGonagall stood up abruptly, staring at Professor Snape next to her like an angry eagle.

"Did you poison them?!"

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Yay!