The morning of Ravenclaw's first Quidditch match dawned gray and windy. Perfect flying weather, according to Captain Marcus Belby, though Eliot wasn't entirely sure he agreed.
He'd been practicing for weeks, but this would be his first real match in front of the entire school. The pressure was different from anything he'd experienced in either life.
"Just remember," Belby told the team as they gathered in the changing room, "Hufflepuff plays a defensive game. They'll try to wear us down, make the match last as long as possible. Our advantage is speed and precision."
Eliot nodded, checking his equipment one final time. His school-issued Cleansweep Seven wasn't the fastest broom on the pitch, but he'd learned to work with its limitations.
"Clarke," Belby continued, "Diggory is their Seeker. He's bigger, stronger, and has a better broom. But you're smarter. Use that."
"Yes, Captain."
"And remember—catch the Snitch quickly. The longer this match goes on, the more it favors them."
---
The walk to the pitch felt surreal. Hundreds of students lined the stands, wearing house colors and cheering. The Ravenclaw section was a sea of blue and bronze, with banners reading "CLARKE'S CALCULATIONS" and "MATHEMATICAL MAGIC."
"Looks like you have fans," Cho Chang said with a smile as they entered the pitch.
"Terrifying," Eliot muttered.
The Hufflepuff team was already warming up, their yellow and black robes bright against the gray sky. Cedric Diggory looked confident and relaxed, performing casual aerial maneuvers on his Nimbus 2000.
Madam Hooch called both teams to the center of the pitch.
"I want a clean game," she announced. "Captains, shake hands."
Belby and the Hufflepuff captain—a seventh-year named Herbert Fleet—shook hands with professional courtesy.
"Mount your brooms!"
Eliot kicked off, rising smoothly into the air. The wind was stronger up here, buffeting him from multiple directions. He'd have to account for that in his calculations.
The whistle blew, and the match began.
---
Immediately, the pitch erupted into controlled chaos. Chasers streaked back and forth, passing the Quaffle with practiced precision. Beaters swung their clubs, sending Bludgers careening toward opposing players.
Eliot rose above the main action, scanning for any sign of the Golden Snitch. Diggory was doing the same on the opposite side of the pitch, his superior broom allowing him to cover more ground.
*Patience,* Eliot reminded himself. *The Snitch will appear when the conditions are right.*
Twenty minutes into the match, Ravenclaw was ahead 30-10. Cho Chang had scored twice, her flying as graceful as her name suggested. But Hufflepuff was rallying, their Chasers working in perfect synchronization.
Then Eliot saw it—a glint of gold near the Hufflepuff goal posts.
Diggory saw it too. They both dove simultaneously, racing toward the tiny winged ball.
---
This was where Eliot's analytical approach paid off. Instead of simply chasing the Snitch, he calculated its likely trajectory based on wind patterns, magical field fluctuations, and the positions of other players.
The Snitch wasn't truly random—it responded to environmental factors in predictable ways.
Diggory had the advantage of speed, but Eliot had position. He angled his dive to intercept the Snitch's probable flight path rather than chasing it directly.
The older boy realized what was happening and tried to cut Eliot off, using his larger frame to crowd him away from the Snitch.
But Eliot had anticipated this. At the last second, he pulled up sharply, letting Diggory's momentum carry him past. The Snitch, startled by the sudden movement, darted upward—directly into Eliot's waiting hand.
The crowd exploded. Ravenclaw had won, 180-10.
---
"Brilliant flying!" Belby shouted over the noise, clapping Eliot on the back as they landed. "That was textbook Seeker strategy!"
"More like textbook physics," Eliot replied, grinning despite his exhaustion. "Momentum conservation and trajectory prediction."
Cedric Diggory approached, looking disappointed but sporting. "Good catch," he said, offering his hand. "I've never seen anyone use positioning like that. Where did you learn it?"
"Engineering background," Eliot said, shaking the older boy's hand. "I tend to overthink things."
"Well, keep overthinking. It's working."
---
The celebration in the Ravenclaw common room lasted well into the evening. Students who'd never spoken to Eliot before were suddenly his best friends. Even the portraits were congratulating him.
"You were amazing out there," Susan said when she finally managed to reach him through the crowd. "The way you outmaneuvered Diggory was incredible."
"Thanks. Though I have to admit, I was terrified the entire time."
"You didn't look it. You looked... calculating. Like you were solving a particularly complex equation."
"I suppose I was. Quidditch is just applied mathematics when you break it down."
"Only you would reduce the most popular sport in the wizarding world to a math problem," Susan laughed.
"Hey, it worked, didn't it?"
---
Later that evening, after the celebration had died down, Eliot sat in the workshop reviewing the match in his mind. He'd won, but there were things he could improve. His positioning had been good, but his speed could be better. His tactical thinking was sound, but he needed to work on his physical conditioning.
He pulled out a notebook and began writing:
*Post-Match Analysis - Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff**Strengths: Strategic thinking, positioning, pattern recognition**Weaknesses: Raw speed, physical endurance, broom handling**Improvements needed: Fitness training, advanced flying techniques, equipment upgrades*
*Note: Consider designing aerodynamic improvements for standard brooms. Current designs prioritize tradition over efficiency.*
He paused, pen hovering over the parchment. A thought was forming—something about broom design and magical aerodynamics.
What if he could apply his engineering knowledge to improve flying technology? Not just for himself, but for everyone?
---
"Working late again?" Susan asked, entering the workshop.
"Just reviewing the match. And thinking about our next project."
"Oh? What did you have in mind?"
Eliot showed her his notes about broom aerodynamics. "What if we could design improvements to existing brooms? Small modifications that would increase speed and maneuverability without changing the basic design?"
Susan studied his sketches. "Like magical performance upgrades?"
"Exactly. Streamlined bristle configurations, weight distribution optimization, maybe even some kind of magical propulsion enhancement."
"That's... ambitious. And probably expensive to develop."
"True. But think about the market. Every Quidditch player in the world would want better performance from their broom."
Susan grinned. "Now you're thinking like a real entrepreneur."
---
They spent the next hour brainstorming ideas for broom improvements. Eliot's engineering background provided the theoretical framework, while Susan's practical knowledge of magical manufacturing helped ground their concepts in reality.
"We'd need to test everything extensively," Susan pointed out. "One mistake and we could seriously injure someone."
"Absolutely. Safety first, performance second."
"And we'd need approval from the Department of Magical Sports and Games for any modifications used in official matches."
"Good point. We should probably start with recreational improvements and work our way up to competitive applications."
As they worked, Eliot felt the familiar excitement of a new project taking shape. The torchlight and heat controller had been successful, but this could be something bigger. Something that could genuinely change the wizarding world.
"You know," he said as they packed up for the night, "I think we're going to need a proper business plan soon."
"Thinking beyond Hogwarts already?"
"Thinking about how to change the world," Eliot replied. "One invention at a time."
Outside the workshop windows, the castle was quiet and dark. But inside Eliot's mind, the future was bright with possibilities.
He'd won his first Quidditch match using nothing but his brain. Now it was time to see what else he could accomplish with the same approach.
The game was just beginning.