AN: Sorry for the wait, and for the short chapter.

I will try and do better next time :)

19/02/2022

In the common room, Harry and Ron were sitting in front of the fire, the new Firebolt Broomstick in before them, simply admiring it, as a Broomstick Servicing Kit sat open next to Harry, but looking untouched.

"You know boys, if you take a picture it will last longer," Jack said, smirking a little, as the other two jumped.

"We are taken pictures Jack," Harry said speaking up first, not taking his eyes off the broomstick "With our minds... We're capturing the long smooth streamlined-made-of-ash handle, the silver foot rests, all the individual birch twigs that take up the tail, and making sure we remember the number on the handlebar – like you said – even though we've already written it down." he finished holding up the slip of parchment with the numbers on it.

Jack rolled his eyes, and Ron looked confused, how can you take a picture with your mind.

He was about to ask, when the portrait hole opened, and in can Hermione, and a not too happy looking Professor McGonagall, some of her usually neatly bunned up hair falling out.

Quickly Hermione went over to the squishy arm chairs and picked up a book, opening it and pretended to read it – not noticing it was upside down.

Harry and Ron looked at her, then each other with questioning looks.

Jack got in front of the broomstick and being the 'gentleman' he was welcomed their Head of House.

"Why Professor McGonagall, how nice to see you up here on such a wonderful day like today," he began bowing a little "May I say Professor you are looking wonderful yourself, is that a new hat?"

"I am not in the mood for your games Mr Frost," Professor McGonagall said a mix of calm and annoyance in her voice. "Miss Granger has informed me that Mr Potter has received a broomstick which came with no note or message to say who it was from. Is that true Potter?" she asked Harry over Jack's shoulder.

"Yes but..." Harry said hugging his new broomstick tightly.

"But it did come with a note, Professor," Jack said telling Baby Tooth to go and get the wrapping and waving at the boys to keep quiet, not saying anything until the little fairy was back.

"See?" he asked the teacher showing her the muddy canine paw-print on the wrapping paper.

"That is not good enough to say who it was from Frost." Professor McGonagall said firmly trying to step around him.

"Yes it it," Jack said then paused and thought about it "Well it is if you know who would do it, and have enough money to buy a broomstick like this. But anyway, as I kept saying to my fellow dorm-mates this morning I believe it was from his dog-father."

Instead of calming the teacher down, as the sentence was meant to do, a slight panic over came McGonagall's face and she pulled out her wand and aimed it at the broom in Harry's hand giving a silent command to make it fly to her.

"If that's the case then Frost, I will be taking this as it will need to be checked over for jinxes," she said twirling the broomstick in her hands a little her eyes going up and down it "And you, Mr Frost, will –"

"There's nothing wrong with it!" Harry called out and came to try and take his broom back, but McGonagall stopped him,

"You don't know that, Potter, not until you have flown it, at any rate, and I'm afraid that's out of the question until we're absolutely sure it hasn't been tampered with." Professor McGonagall says holding tightly onto the piece of wood in her hands. "Of course I'm no expert, but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down – "

"Strip it down?!" Ron cried out as if she had gone mad.

"It shouldn't take more than a few weeks," said Professor McGonagall "You will have it back, Potter, when we are sure it is jinx free. I will keep you informed."

With that Professor McGonagall turned on her heel, forgetting about Jack, and carried the broomstick out of the portrait hole which closed behind her.

Harry stood there, staring after her, a tin of High-Finish Broomstick Polish in his hands.

Jack sighed and just crossed his arms and looked at Hermione, a disappointed look on his face.

And Ron rounded on her, face looking just as red as his hair.

"What did you have to go running to McGonagall for?"

Hermione got up, threw the book to one side and said:

"Because I think – and Professor McGonagall agrees with me – that that boom was sent to Harry by Sirius Black!"

"And what if it was?" Jack said to her before Ron could get more red in the face. "That gave you no right to go running to the teachers and blabbing about it, especially when the broomstick wasn't even yours in the first place."

As Hermione tried to think of an reply Harry looked down at the paper with the numbers written on it and realized...

"This is why you said I should write the authenticity number isn't it?" he asked looking up to Jack "You knew this was going to happen. You knew Hermione would blab. You knew it would be taken away."

"Yes I did," Jack said turning to Harry a small sad look on his face.

"So why take the numbers?" Ron asked turning to Jack now.

"To see if the teachers here keep their word or if they're using up the school fund to get new toys for their students to help them win an empty cup by the end of the year."