★ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ★

Broomsticks

Malfoy couldn't believe his eyes when he saw that Harry, Alex and Ron were still at Hogwarts the next day, looking tired, especially Alex, but perfectly cheerful. Indeed, by the next morning Harry and Ron thought that meeting the three-headed dog had been an excellent adventure, and Alex was quite keen to have another one. In the meantime, Harry filled Ron and her in about the package that seemed to have been moved from Gringotts to Hogwarts, and they spent a lot of time wondering what could possibly need such heavy protection. Neither Neville nor Hermione showed the slightest interest in what lay underneath the dog and the trapdoor. All Neville cared about was never going near the dog again.

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

"Or both," chimed Alex sitting down beside Ron, across Harry. The loss of sleep was finally getting to her, The dark circles under her eyes becoming more evident.

"Bloody hell Alex you look like the dead" Joked Ron at her pale face

"Gee thanks" she says slumping on her arm with her hand on her cheek and elbow on the table.

"Are you feeling ok?" asked a worried Harry. When she didn't answer, Ron shaked her. Alex hand slipped from under the cheek and head fell on the table with a loud thump.

Her eyes flew open "That's the 5th time this morning and lessons haven't even started yet!" She say banging her head on the table. A hand slipped under her head just as she was going to bang it again. Alex looked up to see Harry arm stretched over the table. She groaned and sat up straight. "I just haven't been sleeping too well, Time zones. What are we going to do about Blondie?" she said, eager to change the topic.

All they really wanted now was a way of getting back at Malfoy, and to their great delight, just such a thing arrived in the mail about a week later.As the owls flooded into the Great Hall as usual, everyone's attention was caught at once by two long, thin package carried by twelve large screech owls. Alex was just as interested as everyone else to see what was in this large parcel, and was amazed when the owls soared down and dropped it right in front of her, knocking his bacon to the floor. They had hardly fluttered out of the way when the other 6 owls dropped the other identical package in front of Harry with a note.

Alex snatch the letter from Harry's package and ripped it open, which was lucky, because it said: 

DO NOT OPEN THE PARCEL AT THE TABLE.It contains your new Nimbus Two Thousands, but I don't want everybody knowing you've got a broomstick or they'll all want one. Oliver Wood will meet you tonight on the Quidditch field at seven o'clock for your first training session. 

~Professor McGonagall 

Alex had an excellent poker face as she handed Harry the letter who  had difficulty hiding his glee after he read it and handed the note to Ron to read."A Nimbus Two Thousand!" Ron said enviously. "I've never even touche done!"

They left the hall quickly, wanting to unwrap the broomstick in private before their first class, but halfway across the entrance hall they found the way upstairs barred by Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy seized the package from Harry and felt it.

"That's a broomstick," he said, throwing it back to Harry with a mixture of jealousy and spite on his face.

"yeah no shit Blondie" Alex said. It was pretty obvious because of the shape of the package.

 "You'll be in for it this time,Potter and Faxon, first years aren't allowed them." Malfoy ignored her

Ron couldn't resist it."It's not any old broomstick," he said ignoring the pointed look Alex shot in his direction, "it's a Nimbus Two Thousand.What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty?" Ron grinned at Harry. "Comets look flashy, but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus."

"What would you know about it, Weasley, you couldn't afford half the handle," Malfoy snapped back. "I suppose you and your brothers have to save up twig by twig." 

"At least they aren't cheap like you" Alex stepped forward with a glare

Before Malfoy could answer, Professor Flitwick appeared at Malfoy's elbow."Not arguing, I hope" he squeaked.

"Potter and Faxon have been sent a broomstick, Professor," said Malfoy quickly. 

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

"A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir," said Harry, fighting not to laugh at the look of horror on Malfoy's face. 

"It's really thanks to Malfoy here that we've got it," Alex added. She, Harry and Ron headed upstairs, smothering their laughter at Malfoy's obvious rage and confusion. "Well, it's true," Alex chortled as they reached the top of the marble staircase, "If he hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall we wouldn't be on the team...." 

"So I suppose you think that's a reward for breaking rules?" came an angry voice from just behind them. Hermione was stomping up the stairs,looking disapprovingly at the package in Harry's and Alex's hand. 

"I thought you weren't speaking to us?" said Harry. 

"Yes, don't stop now," said Ron, "it's doing us so much good."Hermione marched away with her nose in the air.