25 December 1993
Harry had been in a slump since since the destruction of his broom stick. He carried it all the way to Gryffindor tower and cradled it in his lap as he sat with his friends until they were the only ones left. After a long moment of staring at the bundle, he dumped the splinters of his broom into the fire and stalked, holding Hermione's quidditch cape in hand, up to the dormitory without so much as a parting word. The boys were quick to follow, leaving Hermione alone to watch the broom stick slowly burn in the hearth. Something gold caught her eye and she quickly snatched it out of the flames. A large splinter of wood, 2000 embossed in gold with Harry's initials carved into what used to be a broom handle. Hermione easily snuck in to slip it into Harry Potter Saves the Sanguine Princess which sat inconspicuously on Harry's shelf.
Ron once again brought out his broom catalogue collection to tell Harry all about his broom choices. Unfortunately, Harry could not be convinced to empty his trust vault to buy a Firebolt, a grave offense against all quidditch enthusiasts according to Ron. The Nimbus 2002 was to be released just after New Years and Harry resigned himself to order one after the holidays ended, refusing to fly the same broom as Malfoy.
Molly wrote that the children were to stay in the castle because it was safer with Sirius Black on the loose. The Weasley siblings all agreed that it was not safer but more so that Harry would have company for Yule. Percy deduced that Dumbledore didn't want
Harry to leave the castle in fear of Black. Eloise's parents would be visiting Elliot in Canada, so she would be staying as well. Their friends walked Neville and Luna to the carriages, saddened that they couldn't stay as well.
"Thanks, Hermione!" Eloise squealed happily as she ran her fingers over the scarf she just opened. The dark haired girl was surrounded by books, clothes and wrapping paper after tearing through her gifts.
"You're welcome." Hermione grinned and popped a piece of peanut brittle in her mouth. She grinned as she threw all of her rubbish in a bin before heading towards the door. "I'm going to go see my brothers and Harry, wanna come?"
"I'll meet you up there, want to put these away, yeah?" Eloise waved her new books around with a happy, girlish squeal.
"Hurry up, I want to see what Fred and George came up with this year!" Hermione giggled as she rushed down the stairs, tugging her new jumper on.
"Is that-?" Hermione heard Ron's loud exclamation on the stair case leading to the boys dorm. She pushed her way in knowing that they were awake.
"Yeah, it is." Harry said with obvious reverence in his voice. There on his bed was a Firebolt, brand new and shiny in the December sunlight shining through the window.
"Who got you a Firebolt!?" Hermione blurted loudly, making both boys jump. She stared in awe at the broom on his bed.
"I dunno..." Harry frowned as he searched for a note in all the wrappings.
"Someone sent you Firebolt anonymously?" Hermione asked skeptically as she advanced on them, eager to look herself.
"Well, the headmaster sent him the invisibility cloak first year." Ron reasoned as his sister grew frantic.
"There was a note, that's how we knew it was him." Hermione snapped, throwing some of the rubbish over her shoulder.
"I'm sure it's nothing, Hermione. He just doesn't want to have anyone say he has favorites." Harry said assuredly, he looked to Ron for assistance.
"Favorites? I'm his Goddaughter, he got me a broom, called me into his office to give it to me himself! Harry, this isn't right." Hermione shook her head, frowning.
"Maybe it was Lupin. He obviously doesn't spend his wages on decent robes. He was friends with your parents, Harry." Ron said firmly, glaring at his sister. Hermione rolled her eyes at his naivety.
"Ron's right, I'm sure you're worrying for nothing." Harry patted her arm, trying to calm her before reaching for the broom.
"Don't touch it!" Hermione shrieked, pulling his arms away from the most amazing broom invented. Even she was tempted to grab it and fly it out the window but it was too suspicious.
"It's my broom, Hermione!" Harry shouted angrily. He never got expensive presents, it made him feel like he was back at the Dursleys and Dudley was taking his things.
"Harry!" Hermione flinched back from his tone and menacing glare on his face. She looked to her brother to find no help at all as he was glaring just as angrily.
"It's none of your business." Ron snapped.
"Just hear me out! Isn't it just a little suspicious that Harry has a deranged killer after him and he gets the best, most expensive broom on the market anonymously?" Hermione pleaded with the boys.
"Ron's right, it's probably just a gift from Remus. He saved up, wants to get me a really nice Yule gift." Harry hissed at the petite girl, losing his patience.
"So, Remus didn't get you another gift?" Hermione squeaked, feeling like she may have over reacted.
"No, he didn't. See it's from Remus." Harry said coldly as he reached for the broom and picked it up. Hermione's shoulders slumped as nothing happened. Ron turned to her with a vicious smile in victory.
"I...I just didn't want you to get hurt. I don't see how Professor Lupin could have a afforded one, he should be saving in case it gets out he's..." Hermione trailed off weakly, looking to the ground.
"He's what?" Harry snapped.
"Nothing...sorry. I just...could you get it looked at, please?" Hermione dared look up at their angry faces. Her brown eyes shimmering in tears.
"Do what then? Have them strip a Firebolt?! You're mad, you are!" Ron shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at his sister. "C'mon Harry! I want to see what that broom can do!"
"Yeah." Harry sniffed and pushed past Hermione. Hermione waited a moment to follow them down to the common room, the boys were stopped by Professor McGonagall, Eloise standing guiltily behind her.
"Is this the broom?" Their head of house asked sternly.
"It was a gift." Harry ground out angrily, wishing everyone would stop questioning his gifts.
"There was no note or anything to indicate who it was from?" Professor McGonagall asked stiffly.
"No, but we think it was from a professor like my first broom. They just didn't want to be called in for favoritism." Harry glared at his head of house.
"I gave that broom to the Gryffindor team, Mr. Potter. To your position in particular, if you read the note I attached you would know that." Professor McGonagall snapped, not liking the attitude one of her favorite lions was giving her,
"You did? There was a note?" Harry asked weakly.
"Yes, there was. I watched you and Mr. Weasley rush from the hall after receiving it and never received any thanks so I assumed the note fell out as well." Professor McGonagall said angrily.
"I'm sorry professor, I had no idea. Thank you, I loved that broom...even if it wasn't mine." Harry shrugged uncomfortably.
"It was yours in every way that mattered, Mr. Potter. I only worded the note in such a way that my reputation would not be held in question. Now, I'll be taking that broom now." The professor reached forward and calmly took the broom from the flabbergasted 3rd year.
"What!? Why?" Harry cried, Ron stood beside him gaping.
"Professor Flitwick will assist me in making sure the broom is safe for you, Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall nodded before turning on her heel, leaving the Gryffindor tower with Harry's Firebolt.
"You went to McGonagall?" Ron shouted, the first to regain his senses.
"I heard you arguing with Hermione. You weren't listening so I had to get help." Eloise crossed her arms defensively over her chest.
"How is it your business?" Harry snapped, both boys advancing on the girl.
"Hermione obviously thought the broom was cursed and our head of house agrees!" Eloise's snapped, her face turning red.
"It's my broom!" Harry yelled.
"She's going to strip a Firebolt!" Ron cried out as if this was a sin against humanity.
"Stop!" Hermione yelled, slipping between the angry boys and her friend.
"Oh, you were in on it too, yeah? Of course you were!" Ron growled as he poked his sister angrily.
"No, but I would have told a teacher. I was planning on distracting you by making you see Professor Lupin before you flew it. If he didn't give it to you, I would have run straight to Professor McGonagall." Hermione said stiffly, flinching away from her brothers finger.
"Why is it your bloody business?" Harry yelled.
"I just didn't want you to get hurt!" Hermione glared right back at Harry.
"If you haven't noticed, I don't need you! I don't need or want you nosing in on my business!" Harry ground out, glaring down at the defiant girl.
"It wasn't Hermione's fault!" Eloise shouted. "You're just too pigheaded to see what's right in bloody front of you!"
"Why are you even here? Why are you even sneaking up to the boys dormitory?" Ron growled at the taller girl. "We didn't invite you."
"I told Hermione I would meet her there. She wanted to..." Eloise faltered under the boys stare.
"Just leave us alone! Barmy bints!" Ron snarled before grabbing Harry and roughly pushing past them.
"Well,that didn't go well." Hermione whispered miserably as she watched the portrait hole close.