"Hermione?" asked Harry, "Will you please follow me up to my dorm room?"

Hermione looked immensely relived and said, "Yes, Harry, I will listen to whatever it is you have to say."

"YOU'RE STILL GOING TO TALK TO HER AFTER SHE GOT THE FIREBOLT TAKEN AWAY!" roared Ron, "SHE CANNOT BE OUR FRIEND ANYMORE AFTER THE CRIMINAL DAMAGE OF GETTING A FIREBOLT CONFISCATED!"

Harry and Hermione both ignored Ron and walked in a leisurely but not lethargic pace up to Harry's dorm room.

Harry sat down on his own bed while Hermione sat down on Ron's bed.

"Hermione, " said Harry sincerely, looking her straight in the eyes, "Thank you. Thank you for caring enough about me to take your concerns to Professor McGonagall."

"Brooms can be tested for curses and jinxes in ways that do not do damage to the brooms themselves. If the Firebolt DOES prove to curse free and jinx free, you will get it back in the exact condition it is right now, " explained Hermione, "All Professional Quidditch players are required by wizarding law to have their game brooms inspected for curses and jinxes before the start of each season, owing to concerns about rivalries being taken too far."

"So, Flitwick is doing the actual inspection?" remembered Harry.

"Yes, " conformed Hermione, "Flitwick is very knowledge about curses and jinxes so he's a perfect candidate to perform this task."

"Ron is being an asshole, " said Harry bluntly, "But, Hermione, you did the absolute right thing in making sure the Firebolt will be tested for curses and jinxes before I ride it."

"I couldn't have lived with myself if I hadn't taken this action, knowing my suspicions, and something would have happened to you, " said Hermione seriously.

"You may have saved me from myself by seeing to it that the Firebolt will be thoroughly inspected for any sabotage. I was too rash and too excited about receiving the best broom in the world to think about something that should have been obvious: always been suspicious of anonymous gifts, especially if they are expensive. It may be fine, and it may not be, but getting it checked out is the only prudent thing to do, " said Harry gratefully.

"Exactly, " said Hermione firmly, "Better safe than sorry."

"Ron's following his increasing propensity for being a jerk and a prat, " said Harry matter of factly, "It isn't even his broom!"

"I know, right?" said Hermione in an exasperated voice.

"Hermione, " said Harry genuinely "You have proven here that you and not Ron are my true BFF. You did what needed to be done to make sure I was safe, and you proved through your actions that you are looking after me and that you genuinely care about me. There's a difference between a buddy and a friend and you have proven here that you are truly a friend."

Hermione actually felt a few tears slide down her cheeks at that.

"Oh, Harry, thank you for the acknowledgement. Knowing that you appreciate my friendship means everything to me, " said Hermione emotionally.

"You've proven you actually care about me as a person and not just as a hangout buddy, " Harry told Hermione clearly, "Ron's showing his true colors by being mad at you for doing the absolute right thing."

"Even if YOU would've been angry with me, it STILL would have been the right thing to do, " said Hermione fiercely, "I was fulfilling my duty as your BFF in making sure you didn't potentially put yourself in harm's way by riding that Firebolt without getting it checked out first. Now, if it does prove to be curse free and jinx fee and you get it back, you'll be able to ride it KNOWING that it's safe and that there's nothing wrong with it."

"Exactly, Hermione, " said Harry warmly. "And thanks again for truly caring about me."

And with that, Harry and Hermione exchanged a bone crushing hug.

A/N: In cannon I was always disappointed in Harry for being angry with Hermione over the Firebolt. Basically, Harry fell out with Hermione because she knew of a potential danger and looked after him to keep him safe. Being cautious with any anonymous gifts should always be the rule. While the Firebolt proved to be jinx/curse free, remember when the anonymous plant that proved to be Devil's Snare killed Bode in OotP? Always exercise caution with anonymous gifts. This one shot is how I think Harry should have reacted to the Firebolt situation.