Chapter Three:
The Dreamstorm
The visit had not gone anywhere remotely as badly as Harry had expected. The Dursleys treated the Grangers very differently than they had treated the Weasleys. In fact one might go as far to say that the Dursleys would have new friends.
What really made it go so smoothly was the fact that Mr. Granger ordered drills for his Dentistry from Grunnings, a company that Uncle Vernon worked for. Aunt Petunia and Mrs. Granger traded recipes for sponge cake. The only person that the Dursleys shunned was Hermione but she didn't mind this for she other things on her mind.
Dudley, though having the knowledge that Hermione was a witch, persisted in following her wherever Harry took her. He had trudged along behind him, his mouth hanging open.
When the visit was over Hermione had helped Harry load his trunk and cage into the trunk of her car. Now he was sitting in the back seat talking avidly with Hermione about what they were going to do over the summer.
"Well, Viktor is planning on visiting sometime next week," stated Hermione quite haughtily, "He says he's got a surprise for me! An early birthday present!"
This disrupted Harry's train of though for a moment for the sight of Hermione squealing with anticipation and delight was very odd indeed.
"Oh, yeah, that is good news," replied Harry pulling himself together.
"When's Ron coming?" asked Harry attempting to change the subject.
"Not for a day or two," answered Hermione waving her hand back as though she were waving away the question.
The rest the drive was very uneventful. They drove an area Harry had never seen before though it was very pretty. The neighborhood was filled with lush greenery and sparkling streams. The street was quite appropriately named Bliss Place.
They drove up to number ten and pulled the driveway.
"Welcome, to Number Ten Bliss Place!" exclaimed Mr. Granger with much unneeded enthusiasm.
"It's wonderful," said Harry truthfully.
The house was bluish-white with a white door, white pillars on the front porch, and white window panes. All the white on the blue made the house look like a large blue cake with white icing. Flowers of myriad assortments could be found in a beautiful garden in the front.
"Here, Harry let me get your trunk," offered Hermione.
Once Hermione had gotten Harry's belongings out of the trunk he took them went up the walk. Mr. Granger opened the door and Harry stepped inside.
The inside echoed the outside's beauty. All the walls had dark blue wallpaper except for the kitchen which was painted white. There was a large fireplace on the far side of the sitting room.
The only thing abnormal about the house was a large perch for Gawaine, who slept soundly on it. Harry opened Hedwig's cage and she soared out and perched herself comfortably next to Gawaine.
"It's lovely, Hermione," stated Harry for it truly was the most beautiful home he had ever been in.
"Thank you," replied Hermione sincerely.
The next couple of days were some of the best Harry had ever lived. The food was wonderful, both the Grangers were exceptional chefs, and good for you too, for they were also both dentists.
It was lunch and Harry was having his second helping of sugar-free peach cobbler when a delivery owl swept into the kitchen. It dropped two letters one next to Hermione's plate and one next to Harry's. Harry recognized them instantaneously as their Hogwarts letters, though Harry's seemed to be somewhat thicker than Hermione's.
Harry opened his letter and looked at his supplies list:
Sixth Years Require:
Course Books:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade Six)
By Miranda Goshawk
An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration
By Emeric Switch
The Forgotten Arts: Ancient Self-Protection
Author Unknown
Most Potent Potions (Revised Edition)
By Phyllida Spore
Monsters' Care for Maniacs
By Almos Bitten
An Introduction to Legilimency
By Ima Seer
Other Equipment:
Notekeeper (1)- with Outernet capability
Harry looked up from his list and saw Hermione staring at it.
"Most Potent Potions? Did you pass Potions! Don't you have to have an O?" exclaimed Hermione clearly exasperated that she was not the only Gryffydor to make it into N.E.W.T. Potions.
"I forgot to tell you that I got an O in my Potion's O.W.L.," answered Harry answering all of Hermione's questions at once.
"Wow, Harry! Not that your bad but I thought you'd get an E! Good job!" said Hermione with a sincere smile on her face.
"Thanks but what's bothering me is I got a P in Divination and I have a Divination book on my list," stated Harry.
"Didn't you know? Trelawney doesn't take anyone out of her class because there would be too few who passed it," replied Hermione knowledgably returning to her peach cobbler.
Harry looked at the rest of his list and saw that Lupin had already given him a Notekeeper though he would have to buy a new one because Harry was sure Lupin's couldn't use the Outernet.
"Ohh… look at our Defense Against the Dark Arts book. I've seen it before it's huge!" exclaimed Hermione and then choking slightly she sputtered, "Harry there's more to your letter!"
Harry looked at his letter and found why it had been so thick. There was a second sheet of paper and a small badge fell out. Harry looked at the badge closely and saw a lion and the words "Quidditch Captain" in minuscule writing emblazoned on it.
"I'm Quidditch Captain!" exclaimed Harry the first real surge of happiness soaring through him.
"Really? That's great Harry! I knew you would be this year because you're the player that's been on the team the longest now. You're going to have to replace a lot of players," stated Hermione.
"I guess they have my broom waiting there for me and everything, because you know I didn't get it back," said Harry eating his cobbler with gusto.
After finishing his cobbler Harry bent forward to read the letter:
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been appointed Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. Your Head of House will give you the key to the Captain's Office when you arrive at school and will speak to you before the Start of Term Banquet to discuss Team Try-outs. We are not so pleased to inform you that you were banned from Quidditch and Professor Albus Dumbledore lifted the ban but not soon enough. Your broom was confiscated and destroyed. Since you are the Quidditch Captain you must find a replacement broom before term starts.
Happy Holidays,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
"They destroyed my Firebolt!" exclaimed Harry.
"What?" asked Hermione and then she seized the letter and began to read it.
"Oh, I'm really sorry Harry, we can go get it in Diagon Alley tomorrow," said Hermione after finishing the letter.
"I don't want another one! That was my first present from Sirius!" roared Harry, "I'm sorry, I know, I'll just get another one."
Hermione eye's popped at Harry's sudden change in temper but she nodded and reminded him, "Ron's coming today."
Two hours later the Grangers and the Dursleys assembled themselves around the fireplace awaiting the arrival of Ron. Harry was still thinking about his Firebolt but his thoughts were disrupted by four loud cracks. Mr., Mrs., Fred and George Weasley all appeared beside the fireplace. Mr. Weasley was carrying a trunk similar to Harry's and the twins were holding a long thin parcel.
Fred walked over to Harry and whispered,
"Don't open it here…"
"… and don't let Mum see it!" added George urgently.
Then the twins Disapparated. Harry quickly hid the parcel behind his back wondering what the twins had done now and he turned around just in time to see the fireplace ignite with tall, emerald-green flames. All of the sudden Ron burst out clutching a trunk and Pigwideon's cage, which burst open. Pigwideon flew over to the perch to join Gawaine and Hedwig.
"Almost, took the grate!" exclaimed Ron brushing soot off his even taller body. Then pointing his wand at his skin he said, "Scourgify!"
Pink soap bubbles then cleansed Ron of the soot. Mr. Weasley was looking around the room laughing to himself with unsuppressed glee.
"Look Molly! They have Compatir!" exclaimed Mr. Weasley pointing his finger at a computer.
"Fascinating… Now you behave yourself!" drawled Mrs. Weasley and before Harry knew whether or not this command was directed at Ron or Mr. Weasley she had Disapparated.
Once Mrs. Weasley had gone Mr. Weasley ran over to the Grangers, who had just looked at each other quickly as though bracing themselves, and shouted,
"Hello! I know you weren't expecting me but I couldn't resist!"
Harry helped Ron with his trunk and pulled it into the room with the computer. Harry then told Ron and Hermione about the parcel Fred and George had given him.
"I know about that. You'll love it Harry. Dad has a friend in Test Grade announcing and it's a gift from us. I can't believe you passed Potions!" explained Ron.
Hermione gave Ron a reproachful look as though she didn't quite buy his story but Harry couldn't resist any longer. Harry opened the parcel eagerly and let out a huge gasp.
Right in front of him was the most beautiful broomstick Harry had ever seen. It had a blue crystal handle with what looked like real silver twigs at the end of it. There was a piece of parchment wrapped around the handle and Harry unfurled it:
The Dreamstorm
Unarguably the fastest broom ever created. It even outstrips the Firebolt by a considerable amount. With it's moonstone handle a pure-silver twigging the Dreamstorm is also the most beautiful broom ever crafted. It's guarded the most powerful of Anti-Jinx and Anti-Theft Charms available. It was recently named the Official Quidditch Broom of Choice.
"Thank you so much! But how could you ever afford this?" asked Harry barely managing to get the words out of his eagerness to fly it.
"Between Dad and Percy this was jump change. Anyway Percy wanted to apologize to you and he heard about your broom so…" explained Ron.
"Get your Cleansweep! There's got to be a place we can ride it!" said Harry now picking up the Dreamstorm as though it were made of glass, which Harry reminded himself it almost was.
Once Hermione had asked permission to go out they set for a small forest and before they entered the forest she muttered,
"Obsido Bardus!"
"What was that?" asked Ron curiously.
"Muggle-Repelling Charm. What else?" explained Hermione clearly amazed Ron didn't recognize the spell.
"Oh, right. How silly of me," replied Ron suppressing a snort and once Hermione had turned around Harry gave Ron a grin.
They finally reached a small clearing where Harry and Ron mounted their brooms. Hermione sat down under a tree and watched them. When Harry kicked off he almost hit a tree out of inexperience with the Dreamstorm's speed capabilities. Once Harry had mastered them he shot off to catch up with Ron and even with a ten minute head-start Harry caught up with him almost instantly.
"Looking good, mate!" cheered Ron.
Harry shot around clearing testing the Dreamstorm's incredible reflexes. When he stopped he shouted back to Ron,
"That Snitch doesn't stand a chance!"