Anxiety [hp]

- 1.8

[The next morning, in the great hall. The gang is sitting, eating. Harry is twirling his food on a fork.]

Ron: Take a bit of toast, mate, go on.

Hermione: Ron's right, Harry. You're gonna need your strength today.

Harry: I'm not hungry.

"Tell Avery to make him eat." Dorcas teased.

Jasper: I bet you if Aves asked, the whole plate would've been empty in a second.

"See he gets it!" Dorcas laughed.

[Snape appears at the table.]

Snape: Good luck today, Potter. Then again, now that you've proven yourself against a troll, a little game of Quidditch should be easy work for you...even if it is against Slytherin. [Snape walks off, limping. Harry notices this.]

Harry: That explains the blood.

Hermione: Blood?

"Oi, Why are you children so damn curious?" Lily groaned.

"Sorry mum, but we get even worse." Harry shrugs.

Avery looks at him like he grew three heads, "We?! You are the trouble magnet, we just help you stay alive."

"The nerve of you to say 'We'." Ariel muttered.

Harry: Listen, last night, I'm guessing Snape let the troll in as a diversion so he could try and get past that 3 headed dog. But, he got himself bitten, that's why he's limping.

Hermione: But why would anyone go near that dog?

Harry: The day I was at Gringotts, Hagrid took something out of one of the vaults. He said it was Hogwarts' business, very secret.

"Yet, here you are." Monty complained.

Hermione: So you're saying...

Harry: That's what the dog's guarding. That's what Snape wants.

[Hedwig screeches as she enters the Great Hall. She is carrying a very large, long parcel. She drops it off at the table.]

Hermione: Bit early for mail, isn't it?

Harry: But I-I never get mail.

Ron: Let's open it.

"It's obvious what it is." Destiny muttered.

Jasper: Even though it's so obvious what it is.

[They open it to reveal a broomstick.]

"That's the broom from Diagon Alley!" A random student yelled, others marveled at the broom.

Harry: It's a broomstick!

Ron: Thats not just any broomstick, Harry. [recognizing the model] It's a Nimbus 2000!

Harry: But who...?

[He notices Professor McGonagall up at the head table, stroking Hedwig. She smiles and Harry nods. Then the three Ravenclaw girls sit down at their table.]

"Thank you, professor." James smiled, the woman waved him off smiling back.

Ariel: Holy Merlin's left balls! Is that a Nimbus 2000?! [Harry nods.]