Chapter 11
Firebolt 2
The Saturday before the Gryffindor's first match against Hufflepuff came quickly. Everyone checked over or serviced their broomsticks...with the exception of Hermione, who didn't own one. That provoked a problem for Harry, who promptly went to Professor McGonnagal to brainstorm a solution.
"Yes, Mr. Potter? How may I help you?" McGonnagal asked, looking up as Harry walked into her office.
"Well, Professor...it's like this: everyone on the team has a broom...except Hermione," Harry informed her. "She needs a broom. It's not like she can ride a school broom for our first match!"
"Hmm, I see your problem," McGonnagal said. "Now, what sort of broom do we get for Miss Granger then?" She looked off, obviously thinking furiously.
"Well, it'd be great if she could get a Firebolt 2 or even a Silver Arrow 500," Harry declared. "But any decent broom will do, Professor."
"I have the very thing," McGonnagal declared a moment later. "I shall put in an order for a suitable broomstick at once." She withdrew a fresh page of parchment, picked up her quill and began writing furiously upon it. "Come with me, Mr. Potter. To the Owlery!"
Harry followed her upstairs, curious and somewhat fascinated. Once they made it up to the Owlery, McGonnagal looked about at all the owls assembled there. "Ah, there you are! Apollo! Come here, that's a good fellow," she called. A big Horned Owl took flight, and finally landed upon her shoulder, hooting softly once.
"Here you are," McGonnagal told the owl, tying the rolled parchment to its leg above its huge talons. The owl nodded amicably at the Professor, then flew off with the letter out the nearest window.
"Um, Professor? May I ask...which broom did you order for Hermione?" Harry asked, burning with curiosity.
"Only the best, Potter," McGonnagal answered primly, then smiled. "I can hardly order anything less than a Firebolt 2 for my best student now, can I?" McGonnagal said. Harry gaped at her, and continued to stare as the slight witch made her way out of the Owlery. Harry---once he had collected his wits, of course--- dashed downstairs to the Gryffindor Common room, where he found Ron and Hermione sitting together talking quietly.
"Guess what?" Harry exclaimed, panting from his run down from the Owlery. He flopped down next to them both, grinning madly.
"What's up, Harry?" Ron and Hermione both asked.
"Hermione! I found out that your new broom will arrive before our match on Saturday," Harry managed to get out, still breathing hard.
"Wicked! Oy, Harry! Any idea what sort of broomstick it'll be?" Ron asked, clearly interested.
Harry grinned broader than before. "A Firebolt 2!" Harry told them both.
Hermione looked stunned, her mouth dropping open slightly. "Harry! However could you manage to afford that?" she asked, clearly in awe.
Harry held up his hands. "No! Whoever said I was doing the paying?" Harry asked. "Nope! It was Professor McGonnagal. She said something along the lines of 'only the best for one of my best student'...or something like that."
"Professor McGonnagal's paying?" Hermione parroted, even more shocked than ever.
Harry nodded in the affirmative, which caused Hermione to squeal happily and give Harry a quick hug, followed by her then hugging Ron, as well as giving him a kiss.
"Hermione...stifle! Everyone's staring, girl," Ron whispered in embarrassment.
"Sorry, love," Hermione replied and then took to her heels, running out of the room.
"Now, what's all that about, I wonder?" Harry mused.
"Not a clue, mate," Ron admitted with a shrug and a smile.
Hermione headed straight to Professor McGonnagal's office. Once there, she composed herself, and knocked on her door politely.
"Yes, Ms. Granger? How may I help you?" McGonnagal asked, after taking a sip of simmering tea.
"Harry told me about my broomstick, Professor," Hermione said, "and just how much you've helped me. I just wanted to say 'thank you'. Oh, thank you so very much, Professor!"
McGonnagal smiled at her. "You are most welcome, dear," McGonnagal told her. "I simply cannott wait to see you in action upon it next Saturday, Ms. Granger. Do your House proud, young lady!"
Firebolt 2
The Saturday before the Gryffindor's first match against Hufflepuff came quickly. Everyone checked over or serviced their broomsticks...with the exception of Hermione, who didn't own one. That provoked a problem for Harry, who promptly went to Professor McGonnagal to brainstorm a solution.
"Yes, Mr. Potter? How may I help you?" McGonnagal asked, looking up as Harry walked into her office.
"Well, Professor...it's like this: everyone on the team has a broom...except Hermione," Harry informed her. "She needs a broom. It's not like she can ride a school broom for our first match!"
"Hmm, I see your problem," McGonnagal said. "Now, what sort of broom do we get for Miss Granger then?" She looked off, obviously thinking furiously.
"Well, it'd be great if she could get a Firebolt 2 or even a Silver Arrow 500," Harry declared. "But any decent broom will do, Professor."
"I have the very thing," McGonnagal declared a moment later. "I shall put in an order for a suitable broomstick at once." She withdrew a fresh page of parchment, picked up her quill and began writing furiously upon it. "Come with me, Mr. Potter. To the Owlery!"
Harry followed her upstairs, curious and somewhat fascinated. Once they made it up to the Owlery, McGonnagal looked about at all the owls assembled there. "Ah, there you are! Apollo! Come here, that's a good fellow," she called. A big Horned Owl took flight, and finally landed upon her shoulder, hooting softly once.
"Here you are," McGonnagal told the owl, tying the rolled parchment to its leg above its huge talons. The owl nodded amicably at the Professor, then flew off with the letter out the nearest window.
"Um, Professor? May I ask...which broom did you order for Hermione?" Harry asked, burning with curiosity.
"Only the best, Potter," McGonnagal answered primly, then smiled. "I can hardly order anything less than a Firebolt 2 for my best student now, can I?" McGonnagal said. Harry gaped at her, and continued to stare as the slight witch made her way out of the Owlery. Harry---once he had collected his wits, of course--- dashed downstairs to the Gryffindor Common room, where he found Ron and Hermione sitting together talking quietly.
"Guess what?" Harry exclaimed, panting from his run down from the Owlery. He flopped down next to them both, grinning madly.
"What's up, Harry?" Ron and Hermione both asked.
"Hermione! I found out that your new broom will arrive before our match on Saturday," Harry managed to get out, still breathing hard.
"Wicked! Oy, Harry! Any idea what sort of broomstick it'll be?" Ron asked, clearly interested.
Harry grinned broader than before. "A Firebolt 2!" Harry told them both.
Hermione looked stunned, her mouth dropping open slightly. "Harry! However could you manage to afford that?" she asked, clearly in awe.
Harry held up his hands. "No! Whoever said I was doing the paying?" Harry asked. "Nope! It was Professor McGonnagal. She said something along the lines of 'only the best for one of my best student'...or something like that."
"Professor McGonnagal's paying?" Hermione parroted, even more shocked than ever.
Harry nodded in the affirmative, which caused Hermione to squeal happily and give Harry a quick hug, followed by her then hugging Ron, as well as giving him a kiss.
"Hermione...stifle! Everyone's staring, girl," Ron whispered in embarrassment.
"Sorry, love," Hermione replied and then took to her heels, running out of the room.
"Now, what's all that about, I wonder?" Harry mused.
"Not a clue, mate," Ron admitted with a shrug and a smile.
Hermione headed straight to Professor McGonnagal's office. Once there, she composed herself, and knocked on her door politely.
"Yes, Ms. Granger? How may I help you?" McGonnagal asked, after taking a sip of simmering tea.
"Harry told me about my broomstick, Professor," Hermione said, "and just how much you've helped me. I just wanted to say 'thank you'. Oh, thank you so very much, Professor!"
McGonnagal smiled at her. "You are most welcome, dear," McGonnagal told her. "I simply cannott wait to see you in action upon it next Saturday, Ms. Granger. Do your House proud, young lady!"