Faux Bravery

Hallowe'en

Sitting in the Great Hall for breakfast, I could see Malfoy's surprise and anger at the fact that Ron, Harry and I were still at Hogwarts. We were tired, yes, but apparently, the boys had come to the conclusion that encountering a murderous three-headed-dog was a good thing. Hermione, Nevile and I didn't care what it was trying to guard. I was just happy to escape the thing alive. "It's either really valuable, or really dangerous." Ron said after harry filled us in. Apparently, Hagrid hat taken something out of Gringotts a couple of days before school started and was transferred to Hogwarts. I taped my spoon onto my bottom lip in concentration.

"Or both." Harry pointed out. Hermione was refusing to speak to us, but I had no qualms not talking to her myself. I, alongside Ron and Harry, was desperately wanting to get back at Malfoy after what he did for us, and the day came almost a week later. The mail came, and one particular package caught everyone's eye. A long, thin one that was carried by six owls. It landed in front of Harry, knocking our food to the floor. They hurried away when another dropped an envelope on top of it. Harry tore open the letter first. He read it and quickly handed it over the table to Ron and I. I scanned the letter and my eyes widened. It was a Nimbus 2000, gifted to him by none other than our Head of House herself.

"A Nimbus Two Thousand." Ron groaned. "I've never even touched one."

"We have some time before our first class if you want to check it out." I suggested. And with that, we raced out of the Great Hall to unwrap the broom. However, halfway across the entrance hall, we were blocked by Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy appeared and snatched the package out of Harry's hand. He eyed it and tossed it back to Harry.

"That's a broomstick." Malfoy said, as if it wasn't obvious. "You'll be in for it this time, Potter, First Years aren't allowed them."

"It's not any old broomstick." Ron snapped, causing me to close my eyes in exasperation. "it's a Nimbus Two Thousand. What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty?" Ron turned to Harry and grinned. "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 the handle." My hair turned dark cady apple red. I want to slap the condescending smirk of this little prat's face. "I supposed your family have to save up, twig by twig." My wand slipped from my robe into my hand. Before I could do anything, Professor Flitwick appeared.

"Not arguing I hope?" He said.

"Potter's been sent a Broomstick, professor!" Malfoy tried to get the boy in trouble pretty quickly, but if Professor McGonagall sent it to him, she would have gotten him permission or something.

"Yes yes, that's right." The short professor beamed at Harry. "Professor McGonagall told me about the special circumstances, Potter. And what model is it?"

"A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir." Harry replied. Malfoy's face fell into one of horror, and I couldn't help my smirk, my hair turning clover in self-satisfaction. "And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that I've got it." We managed to escape after that

"Seriously?" I questioned, my hair back to brown.

"Well, it's true. If he hadn't stolen Nevile's remberal, I wouldn't be on the team..."

"So I supposed you think that's a reward for breaking the rules?" A voice demanded. We turned around and saw Hermione storming up towards us and glaring at the broom.

"I thought you weren't speaking to us."

"Yes, don't stop now." Ron muttered. "It's doing us so much good." I slapped him upside the head for him to be quiet. However, Hermione didn't respond and walked away. We didn't get any time to open the broom that morning. Ron and Harry were almost scarfing down their dinner until I told them to slow down. Once we had eaten, we raced upstairs to unwrap the broom.