chosen - harry potter

Chapter 7 - Troll in the Dungeon

The morning following the odd adventure that Cassia, Harry, and Ron had, they showed up to breakfast looking tired, but perfectly happy and cheerful. This was much to Malfoy's dismay, realizing his plan didn't work and that the group wasn't expelled as he had hoped.

The trio was talking about their adventure from the previous night and the package from Gringotts that was delivered to Hogwarts.

"It's either really valuable or really dangerous," Ron said.

"Or both," Harry said.

"Or, more unlikely, they're trying to prevent someone from getting it," Cassia said in a jokingly ominous tone.

All they knew was that the object was around two inches long, so they didn't have a good chance of guessing what it was.

Hermione hadn't been talking to Harry and Ron, so Cassia hadn't been around her much. She felt bad, but Hermione insisted she wasn't mad at her.

Despite Cassia suggesting that they all stayed as far away from Malfoy as possible, Harry and Ron were plotting ways of getting back at him. She didn't participate when they went back and forth with ideas, but she did laugh when Harry suggested they somehow snuck temporary hair dye into his shampoo.

The owls flew into the great hall, delivering the student's mail. Everyone looked towards that long, thin parcel being carried by six different owls. She watched as the owls dropped the package right in front of Harry, and smiled at him as he ripped open the letter attached to it. She read it over his shoulder and gaped at the words written on it. Professor McGonagall had sent him a Nimbus Two Thousand, but he wasn't allowed to open it at the table.

"A Nimbus Two Thousand!" Ron groaned. "I've never even touched one."

They exited the great hall. They wanted to unwrap the broomstick before their first class began, but they were interrupted by a certain trio of Slytherins in the hall. Malfoy grabbed the package from Harry's hands.

"That's a broomstick," Malfoy said, throwing it back at Harry. "You'll be in for it this time, Potter, first years aren't allowed them."

"It's not just any old broomstick, it's a Nimbus Two Thousand," Ron said. "What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty? Comets look flashy, but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus."

Malfoy opened his mouth to say something, but Cassia cut him off before he could.

"What, are you going to make some awful joke about his family being poor again? You've already done that one, Malfoy, think of something more clever," Cassia said. 

"Not arguing, I hope, kids?" Professor Flitwick asked, having approached after Cassia's comment. 

"Potter's been sent a broomstick, Professor," Malfoy quickly spat out, hoping to get Harry in some sort of trouble.

"Yes, yes, that's right," Professor Flitwick said, "Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances, Potter. And what model is it?"

"A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir," Harry said. "And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that I've got it."

The three stifled laughter after looking at Malfoy's look of horror and disgust.

Professor Flitwick dismissed them, and they bolted upstairs. They all laughed at Malfoy and his disgust at Harry's words.

"Well, it's true," Harry laughed as they went up the stairs, "If he hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall I wouldn't be on the team...."

"So I suppose you think that's a reward for breaking rules?" said Hermione from behind them. She was staring at them disapprovingly, and Cassia gave a weak wave to her.