A Hogwarts Legend: Changing Paths [3]

Chapter Eighteen

Unedited

Chapter Eighteen - "CAUSE I'M A SMARTYPANTS."

I know that Hermione meant well, but that doesn't stop me being angry with her. Harry's angry at her as well, but both of us still talk to her.

Ron, on the other hand, is furious. As far as he's concerned, the stripping-down of two brand-new Firebolt's is nothing less than criminal damage. Hermione, who remains convinced that she's acted for the best, starts avoiding the common room, against all my protests. Harry and Ron don't try and persuade her to come back. All in all, I'm glad when the rest of the school returns shortly after New Year, and Gryffindor Tower becomes crowded and noisy again. I'm also glad that Hermione has someone to talk to again; Maya and Elinor. I've been given the duty of making sure the boys don't get into trouble.

Yes, apparently now I'm the responsible one.

Don't ask me, I don't get that logic either.

Wood finds Harry and I the night before term starts.

"Had a good Christmas?" he says, and then, without waiting for an answer, he sits down, lowers his voice and says, "I've been doing some thinking over Christmas. After the last match, you know. If the Dementors come to the next one ... I mean ... we can't afford you to - well -"

Wood brakes off, looking awkward.

"We're working on it," I say quickly. "Professor Lupin said he'd train us to ward the Dementors off. We should be starting this week; he said he'd have time after Christmas."

"Ah," says Wood, his expression clearing. "Well, in that case - I really didn't want to lose you both. And have you ordered new brooms yet?"

"No," says Harry.

"What! You'd better get a move in, you know - you can't ride those old school brooms against Ravenclaw!"

"They both got Firebolt's for Christmas," says Ron.

"A Firebolt! No! Seriously? A - a real Firebolt?"

"Don't get excited, Oliver," says Harry gloomily. "We haven't got them any more. They were confiscated." And he explains all about how the Firebolt is now being checked for jinxes.

"Jinxed? How could they be jinxed?"

"Sirius Black," I say wearily. "He's supposed to be after us. So McGonagall reckons he might have sent them.

Waving aside the information that famous murderer is after his Seeker and Chaser, Wood says, "But Black couldn't have brought a Firebolt! He's on the run! The whole country's on the lookout for him! How could he just walk into Quality Quidditch Supplies and buy two broomsticks?"

"I know," says Harry, "but McGonagall still wants to strip it down -"

Wood goes pale.

"I'll go and talk to her," he promises. "I'll make her see reason ... a Firebolt ... a real Firebolt, on our team ... she wants Gryffindor to win as much as we do ... I'll make her see sense ... a Firebolt ..."

And Wood storms off, and I wave Fred and George over.

"I need to talk to the four of you," I say and the twins sit down next to Ron and Harry