The Granger Twins

Chapter 19

Selena and Harry knew that Hermione had meant well, but that didn't stop them from being angry with her. They had been the owners of the best brooms in the world for a few short hours, and now, because of her interference, they didn't know whether they would ever see them again. The two were positive that there was nothing wrong with the Firebolts now, but what sort of state would they be in once they had been subjected to all sorts of anti-jinx tests?

Ron was furious with Hermione too. As far as he was concerned, the stripping-down of two brand-new Firebolts was nothing less than criminal damage. Hermione, who remained convinced that she had acted for the best, started avoiding the common room and the dormitory. Selena, Harry and Ron supposed she had taken refuge in the library and didn't try to persuade her to come back. They didn't know where she was sleeping, but the boys didn't care. All in all, they were glad when the rest of the school returned shortly after New Year, and Gryffindor Tower became crowded and noisy again. Wood sought Selena and Harry out on the night before term started.

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

Wood broke off, looking awkward.

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

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

"No," said Selena.

"What! You two had better get a move on, you know -- you can't ride those Shooting Stars against Ravenclaw!"

"They got Firebolts for Christmas," said Ron.

"Firebolts? No! Seriously? Two-- two real Firebolts?"

"Don't get excited, Oliver," said Harry gloomily. "We haven't got them anymore. They were confiscated." And he explained all about how the Firebolts were now being checked for jinxes.

"Jinxed? How could they be jinxed?"

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

Waving aside the information that a famous murderer was after his Chaser and Seeker, Wood said, "But Black couldn't have bought 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," said Harry, "but McGonagall still wants to strip them down --"

Wood went pale.

"I'll go and talk to her, Harry, Selena," he promised. "I'll make her see reason...Two Firebolts...two real Firebolts, on our team ...She wants Gryffindor to win as much as we do...I'll make her see sense. Firebolts...."

Classes started again the next day. The last thing anyone felt like doing was spending two hours on the grounds on a raw January morning, but Hagrid had provided a bonfire full of salamanders for their enjoyment, and they spent an unusually good lesson collecting dry wood and leaves to keep the fire blazing while the flame-loving lizards scampered up and down the crumbling, white-hot logs. The first Divination lesson of the new term was much less fun; Professor Trelawney was now teaching them palmistry, and she lost no time in informing Selena and Harry that they had the shortest lifelines she had ever seen.

It was Defense Against the Dark Arts that Selena and Harry were keen to get to; after their conversation with Wood, the duo wanted to get started on their anti-Dementor lessons as soon as possible.