𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 | 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳

5 || The Nimbuses

"Harry, you don't think-" I started at breakfast the next morning. Harry cut me off.

"The package is what the dog's guarding," he said. I was taken aback, but nodded slowly. Malfoy passed by our table, looking surprised that we were still at school.

"It's either really valuable or really dangerous," Ron said through a mouthful of eggs.

"Or both," said Harry.

All we knew was that the package was at least two inches long, but that didn't give us many clues about what it could be. Hermione didn't care, and was also refusing to speak to Harry and Ron, leaving me in kind of an awkward situation.

Everyone's attention was diverted to two long, thin packages carried by twelve screech owls, who landed on the table in front of me and Harry, knocking over a pitcher of pumpkin juice. I ripped open the letter, which said:

DO NOT OPEN PARCEL AT THE TABLE.

It contains your new Nimbus Two Thousand, 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

Harry showed Ron his letter and Ron moaned enviously.

"A Nimbus Two Thousand? I've never even touched one." We left the hall quickly, beaming, but were stopped just outside the hall by Malfoy, 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. "You'll be in for it this time, Potter, first years aren't allowed them."

Ron couldn't resist it.

"It's not any old broomstick," he said, "it's a Nimbus Two Thousand. What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty?" Ron grinned at Harry and I. "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." I almost took a swipe at him, right there, but Professor Flitwick appeared.

"Not arguing, I hope?" he squeaked.

"Potter and Dream have been sent broomsticks, Professor," said Malfoy quickly.

"Yes, yes, that's right," said Professor Flitwick, beaming at the two of us, who smiled back at him. "Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances. What model are they?"

"Nimbus Two Thousand's, sir," I said, fighting not to laugh at the look of horror on Malfoy's face. "And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that we've got them."

We headed upstairs to the common room, trying but failing to hide our laughter at Malfoy's obvious rage and confusion.

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

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

"Yes, don't stop now," said Ron, "it's doing us so much good."

I slapped Ron's arm and he winced and rubbed it.

"It's alright, Hermione, Professor McGonagall sent them," I said, trying to break the tension.

"I don't understand why you hang out with those two," Hermione scoffed, putting her nose in the air and walking away.

"Yeah, we're bad influences," Harry said. I rolled my eyes, stifling a laugh.