For the next week it seemed that while the worst of the girls anger was naturally abating, they were also serious about ending their friendships with the boys.

Ainsley, Stephanie. Samantha, and Roxanne continued to choose seats as far away from James, Hugo, Devon, and Fred as possible at all mealtimes and the girls wouldn't talk to the boys during Quidditch practice either.

Lily was heartbroken by the rift between her boys and her girls and she desperately wished she could heal it. However, she knew that putting herself in the middle of it would not do any good. All she could really do was hope that Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie, and Roxanne would come around in time or that the inspection of the ZoomBroom would be finished soon.

If the ZoomBroom was not cursed, then surely the girls would realize that the boys hadn't done any damage by going to Professor Longbottom. If the ZoomBroom was cursed, the girls would realize that the boys had done the right thing in going to Professor Longbottom.

Fortunately, the inspection of the ZoomBroom was finished on Friday evening. Professor Longbottom sent owls to James, Fred, Hugo, Devon, Roxanne, Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie and Lily to meet him on the Quidditch pitch on Saturday, September 26th, 2020 at 6 a.m. Hogwarts time.

When James, Fred, Hugo, Devon, Roxanne, Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie, and Lily arrived on the Quidditch Pitch the next morning, Professor Longbottom was holding Lily's ZoomBroom and had a very serious expression on his face.

"James, Fred, Hugo, Devon, Roxanne, Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie, and Lily" said Professor Longbottom clearly, "it is time for me to inform you all of the results of the inspection of Lily's ZoomBroom,"

There was a minute of tense silence and Professor Longbottom said slowly, "Miss Potter, I have bad news and good news. The bad news is that a Hurling Hex has been discovered on your ZoomBroom. The good news is that Professor Flitwick will be able to remove the Hurling Hex and after he does so you will be allowed to keep the ZoomBroom. An Investigation is also being opened as to who sent you a jinxed ZoomBroom and why. Before Professor Flitwick removes the Hurling Hex, I want to demonstrate its effects."

Everyone felt a nasty sense of foreboding. Professor Longbottom was the only person present who knew what a Hurling Hex looked like. Even people who grew up in Wizarding households were mostly ignorant about the ways brooms could be tampered with. Only those witches and wizards who went on to play Professional Quidditch and people in certain positions of authority ever learned about this.

Having no idea what to expect but knowing it would be terrible was casting a grave feeling amongst the octet of students present.

Professor Longbottom pulled his wand out of his right hand pocket and cried "Accio dummy!"

A dummy came zooming into Professor Longbottom's hand and he explained, "I'm going to use this dummy to demonstrate what would have happened if Miss Potter would have ridden this broom without us inspecting it."

Professor Longbottom attached the dummy he had summoned to the ZoomBroom and used a Levitation Charm to start the ZoomBroom airborne. When the ZoomBroom had achieved a height of fifty feet, it suddenly gave a very violent shake of its own accord and ruthlessly tossed the dummy off. The dummy hit the ground hard and broke into many pieces.

"Yikes!" said Lily in a bone chilling voice as she shook like a leaf, "So if I would have ridden the ZoomBroom in its current state, it would have bucked me off and I would have died?"

"It is highly unlikely that even a witch's or wizard's magic could save his or her life from a fall of that height and suddenness, even with a soft landing surface," answered Professor Longbottom uneasily, "There is a 99% chance you would have died had you flown this broom without us inspecting it."

"Wow," said Lily shakily, "I came very close to flying that broom without it being checked out. Lucky is a severe understatement to describe how fortunate I am to have escaped my own carelessness."

Lily took a minute and a nanosecond to compose herself. When she had gotten over her chills, Lily was overcome with a new emotion and she burst into heavy and constant tears. Upon the formation of these tears, she went up and hugged James, Hugo, and Devon in turn.

"J-James H-Hugo D-D-Devon," said Lily as she was overcome with emotion, "T-thank you. I am forever indebted to all three of you. You l-literally s-saved m-me from myself by g-going to Professor Longbottom and n-not letting me d-do anything r-rash or s-stupid."

"That's what having a good support system is all about," said Fred as he gave James a proud nod and smile, "Sometimes being a loyal and loving family member and/or friend means having to look after people when they don't realize they have to look after themselves. That's why Lily is so lucky to have people like James, Hugo, and Devon in her life."

Lily nodded.

"Well said, Fred," agreed Lily in a very heartfelt voice, "It's chilling to know how close I came to doing something retarded. But it's also a special feeling to know that people like James, Hugo, and Devon care so much about me that they are constantly looking after me."

"Big sis," said James in a sincere voice, "I love you with all my heart and as I said before, I couldn't have lived with myself if I hadn't gone to Professor Longbottom with my suspicions and something had happened to you."

James and Lily exchanged a very genuine hug that went on for several minutes and then Hugo spoke up.

"To my closest cousin and BFF," said Hugo meaningfully, "We've been best buddies since we were babies. I can't imagine my world without you. I think I also speak for James and Devon when I say that when we went to Professor Longbottom, we were only doing what any truly loving and caring person would have done."

James and Devon both nodded.

"Absolutely," agreed Devon, "I know how devastated I would have been if we wouldn't have gone to Professor Longbottom and something terrible would have cost Lily her life or gotten her seriously hurt. This devastation would have also been magnified by the guilt I would have felt as I shared James's and Hugo's suspicious feelings from the beginning."

"By the way," said Lily matter of factly, "Let's not worry about the investigation right now because it does us no good to speculate. Let the adults do their jobs and when they have more information for us, we'll confront it then. For now, the important thing is that, thanks to James, Hugo, and Devon, I'm alive, safe, and healthy."

"Hey, Lily," said Roxanne sadly, "When Fred and I returned and we learned what had happened I was unhappy with the boys for what I saw as interference and sticking their noses where they didn't belong whereas Fred insisted that the boys had acted for the best. As a Gryffindor Chaser I was ticked that the boys interference was going to cost the Gryffindor Quidditch team a ZoomBroom. I was being really selfish in caring more about the team for my own selfish reasons than about the well-being of my own cousin. Lily, I know we aren't very close. As you know, I'm mostly a loner expect for being somewhat close with my brother, Fred. But, close or not, I should have been more concerned about the well-being of my own cousin. Lily, I apologize for my attitude and misplaced priorities. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

"Hey, Roxanne, I accept your apology. I assure you there are no hard feelings on my side." said Lily politely.

"You weren't nearly as bad the rest of we girls," said Ainsley honestly, "When Professor Longbottom came and took the ZoomBroom and told us that James, Hugo, and Devon had informed him that Lily had been sent a ZoomBroom, Stephanie, Samantha, and myself treated James, Hugo, and Devon as horribly as any people could treat any other people. That night we put the Cruiatus Curse on James, Hugo, and Devon, yelled at them, threw dictionaries at their backs, and even spat in their faces. Next morning, we sent them Howlers and undiluted bubtubber pus. And that's not even the worst of it."

"What is the worst of it?" asked Roxanne.

Ainsley had a very heartbroken look come across her face and she began to cry.

"Stephanie, Samantha, and I ended our friendships with James, Hugo, and Devon. Only because they were looking out for the person they love most. And they turned out to be right. Obviously, I feel terrible about how we girls treated the boys after seeing what their action of informing Professor Longbottom of Lily receiving the ZoomBroom anonymously prevented. James, Hugo, and Devon are heroes. I also have a huge feeling of regret. Regardless of the fact that James, Hugo, and Devon did the absolute right thing regardless of the results of the tests, it's really sad that Stephanie, Samantha, and myself threw away our friendships with James, Hugo, and Devon over a broomstick, even one as good as a ZoomBroom."

"Ainsley," said Lily proddingingly, "You are acting as if the rift between the boys and the girls has to be permanent. It doesn't. There's no reason that Stephanie, Samantha, and yourself can't regain the friendships of James, Hugo, and Devon. If you want to make up with them, I see no reason why you can't"

"Do you really think James, Hugo, and Devon will ever forgive Stephanie, Samantha, and myself after-, " began Ainsley in an uncertain voice.

"I know they will," said Lily confidently.

As if on cue, James, Hugo, and Devon all walked to Ainsley and took turns hugging her.

"Ainsley, you're one of the warmest, funnest, and funniest people I have ever met." said Hugo warmly, "I've missed you. Of course, I want to be your friend again. Forgive and move on."

"Well said, Hugo," concurred Devon, "I mean your pranks are anywhere from fun to hysterical, you have a joyous personality that is infectious, and you are the best Transfiguration student in our year by a landslide. I welcome the return of your friendship. People say and do things in the heat of the moment they wish they could take back later. But true friendship doesn't mean that you never wrong friends. It means being able and willing to forgive your friends when they've wronged you. We love you and we are more than happy to welcome you back into our circle."

"Hugo and Devon are spot on here," added James, "Ainsley, you're a lot a bigger and better person than just one week. This won't define you the best thing you can do now is to forgive yourself. Carrying guilt is far worse than carrying grudges."

Overcome with emotion, Ainsley dropped to the grass and sobbed for a few minutes and a few nanoseconds. When she pulled herself up, she went and hugged James, Hugo, and Devon.

"James, Hugo, Devon," said Ainsley weakly, "Thank you. It means more than I can say that you not only have forgiven me for the horrible way I treated you but that you whole heartedly want to be my friend again. I -I. Well, thanks."

"Welcome back Ainsley," said Hugo happily, patting her on the back.

"Our lives are far better with you in them," Devon told Ainsley as he messed up her hair.

"We are now wholer again that you are our friend again," James told Ainsley as he chest bumped her.

Ainsley smiled. She was glad the rift was behind them and the boys were her friends again.

"James, Hugo, Devon," said Stephanie in a repentant kind of voice, "Look I'm really sorry about my role in the rift between the boys and the girls and my role in our in our inexcusable actions against you. I too wish to regain your friendship. I am going to put out my right hand. Please shake my right hand if you have both forgiven me and wish to have me back as a friend."

Stephanie stuck out her right and James, Hugo, and Devon all took turns giving it a hearty shake.

"Stephanie, we accept your apology and we're more than ready to be your friends again," said Devon in welcoming voice.

"What's done is done," Hugo told Stephanie clearly, "True friendships have to survive the test of rifts from time to time,"

""Stephanie," said James, "Let it go. It's in the past. one bad week doesn't erase a whole good year and I know there are many more good years to come."

"James, Hugo, Devon, you three are class acts and people of character and your willingness to forgive we girls for how we treated you in the aftermath of our visit with Professor Longbottom is proof of that," said Stephanie meaningfully, "You boys should be very proud of the kinds of people you are."

"Now our group is back together again, and things will go back to the way they were," said Samantha matter of factly. Samantha clearly expected to be forgiven without having to apologize for or acknowledge her role in the girls treatment of the boys and their rift. Samantha was completely immune from feeling guilt, so she didn't feel the way Ainsley and Stephanie did. She just expected things to go back to normal just like that now that the issue was resolved.

"Professor Longbottom?" asked Lily, "Did you say that the Hurling Hex could be removed?"

"Absolutely, Miss Potter," beamed Professor Longbottom.

"I'm not so sure I want to use the ZoomBroom even after the Hurling Hex is removed," said Lily uneasily, "I don't know that I want to use a broom that I know was meant to harm me. Plus, I'm not sure that I want to use a broom that was given to me by an enemy, whatever type and magnitude of enemy they might be. My Firebolt two thousand is still a great racing broom and as it was a Christmas present from James the year before I started Hogwarts, it has emotional significance to me as well. "

"Miss Potter," said Professor Longbottom firmly, "I will have Professor Flitwick remove the Hurling Hex and you can make a final choice at that time whether you wish to use the ZoomBroom."

"Please do use the ZoomBroom once the Hurling Hex is removed," said Samantha pleadingly, "If we have our Seeker using a ZoomBroom, there's no way we don't win the Quidditch Cup. That's far more important than sentimental values."

Lily sighed.

"I will consider it," said Lily in a non-committal voice.

They all spent the rest of the day together just enjoying each other's company. They spent the rest of the morning through lunch chatting and catching up. Then after lunch they all took off their clothes and swan naked together in the Black Lake. To Ainsley's delight. they all decided to go into the Great Hall for dinner naked as well.

For Lily, the predominant feeling was one of relief. She was relieved to know the results of the tests on her ZoomBroom had in fact found a Hurling Hex and she was relieved to know that the girls and the boys were friends again. She would worry about the other things down the road. For now, she was just so glad that all her friends were friends again.

A/N: This and the previous chapter were inspired by two events from the books: Harry receiving the Firebolt anonymously in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Bode being murdered via an anonymous plant in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I always thought Hermione was right to be suspicious of the Firebolt in POA under the premise that any anonymous gift should be viewed suspiciously (The murder of Bode via an anonymous gift in OOTP is proof of that.) I was also disappointed in POA that Harry was angry with Hermione over the Firebolt. Considering everyone's belief at that time that a mass murderer was after Harry, it made sense that the suspicions of a smart and logical person like Hermione would be roused by an anonymous gift to Harry, especially a highly desirable and expensive one. Hermione did the right thing by going to McGonagall and making sure Harry didn't fly the Firebolt without it being checked out first. The fact that the Firebolt proved to have nothing wrong with doesn't change the fact that Hermione did the right thing insisting on caution with an anonymous gift, especially a really expensive one. I was always disappointed in Harry's character in that instance for being angry with Hermione for caring about him and trying to help him.