𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹, draco malfoy

˗ˋ 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
✧
-: third year :-

── IN WHICH THINGS BEGIN AGAIN

. . .

Both twins knew that what Hermione was done was probably right, but it didn't stopped them from being annoyed and angry at the girl. Marlie was probably worse than Harry, she was stubborn, opinonated and rather loud about what she was thinking.

Her short temper and stubborness were her two biggest flaws. And whilst Hermione had done the right thing, Marlie hadn't spent hours admiring the Firebolt in the Quality Quidditch Supplies shop in Diagon Alley to finally recieve it and have it ripped out of her grasp within a few short hours.

Ron was just as angry; the stripping-down of a brand new Firebolt was nothing less than criminal damage. Hermione, who remained convinced that she had acted for the best, started avoiding the common room. Marlie, Harry and Ron supposed she had taken refuge in the library and didn't try to persuade her to come back. 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 the twins 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, Marlie, Harry. After last match, you know. If the Dementors come to the next one... I mean... we can't afford you both to - well -"

"We're working on it, Oliver." Marlie began, after Oliver had broken off, looking rather awkward. "Professor Lupin has agreed to train us to ward off theDementors. We should be starting this week. He said he'd have time after Christmas."

"Ah, that's good." Oliver didn't look as tense anymore. "Well, in that case - I really didn't want to lose you as a chaser, Marlie and you as a seeker, Harry. And have either of you ordered a new broom yet?"

"No." Marlie said shortly, feeling bitter as she remembered her Firebolt.

"What! You'd better get a move on, you know - neither of you can ride that Shooting Star against Ravenclaw!"

"They got Firebolts for Christmas." Ron revealed, having joined the twins mid way through the conversation, and chiming in.

Oliver's jaw dropped. "Firebolts? No! Seriously? 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 it be jinxed?" Oliver looked shocked.

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

Waving aside the information that a infamous murderer was after his seeker and best chaser, 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 it down —"

Wood went pale. "I'll go and talk to her, you two," he promised. "I'll make her see reason.. Firebolts...two real Firebolts, on our team... She wants Gryffindor to win as much as we do... I'll make her see sense. Firebolts... Merlin's beard, Firebolts.."