Olivander decided to postpone James's 1st attempt at actual Wandmaking until Monday October 5th, 2020. He used James's last two private lessons with him in September for review of the topics they had covered in their previous lessons. James was totally cool with this as he knew being well versed in all the topics related to Wandlore and Wandmaking before his actual Wandmaking attempt could only be helpful to him.
Meanwhile, on the Quidditch pitch, Devon had been struggling since he had won the Chaser trail over Hugo.
As Wesley had watched over practices, he had observed that Devon's goal shooting had been inconsistent.
Wesley wasn't worried that Devon couldn't put the Quaffle past Samantha. After all, Roxanne had never been able to put a Quaffle past Samantha in practice either and she had scored fourteen goals in actual Quidditch matches the previous season. Samantha was just a dominant Keeper who only Ainsley had ever beaten and even Ainsley could only put the Quaffle past Samantha very occasionally.
But he was concerned when he watched Devon shoot and saw that so many of his shots weren't coming that close to the hoops. But his biggest worry was that while Devon's shooting was inconsistent, his passing had been mostly poor. This was a serious problem because one Chaser with weak passing skills could bring the whole Chaser unit down.
After practice on the night of Thursday October 1st, 2020, Wesley asked Hugo, who had continued (along with James) to come to practices to support the team, and Devon for a word.
"Devon," said Wesley matter of factly, "Look you have not been playing well during practices since you joined the team. You have been inconsistent at best and I'm especially concerned about how poorly you've been passing the Quaffle. My job as Gryffindor Quidditch Captain is to do whatever I can to put Gryffindor in position to give them the best chance to win. As such, Hugo, I am requesting you join team practices as a fourth Chaser starting next Tuesday. If you show me over the next month that you consistently play the Chaser position better than Devon, I will replace Devon with you as the third Chaser in our first match."
"That's completely unfair to Devon," said Hugo firmly, "He beat me fair and square in trails. As such he deserves a shot at playing in a match before you consider a change."
"It's possible that Devon simply had a great day on trails day but isn't really that good of a player," said Wesley clearly, "That is what I fear may have happened."
"That possibility can't be ignored but there's also another possibility," argued Hugo, "Some players aren't good practice players, but they are excellent game players. In winning the trial, Devon performed at his best when it counted most. What if Devon turns out not to practice well but to be an excellent in game player? You have to give him that chance. If Devon plays poorly in the actual match, then we can talk. But he deserves a chance to show if he can perform in a match. Unless you need an extra player due to injury, I won't consider working out for the team as a replacement for Devon until he's had a chance to play in a game. If he plays poorly in the game, then we can talk about a potential change. I WON'T take Devon's place that he earned by beating me fair and square in trails unless he has a chance to actually play in a match first. Besides, with our Keeper and Seeker we'll win any match anyways."
"But my job-" began Wesley.
But Hugo turned his back on Wesley and walked off in a huff.
"Hugo, thanks, I really appreciate you sticking up for me like that," said Devon sincerely.
"Devon, you deserve to be given the opportunity that you earned. If it doesn't work out, we can make adjustments then, but you absolutely deserve to have the chance that you earned." said Hugo fiercely.
Devon smiled at Hugo and Hugo smiled back at him.
James, as well as the rest of team, now came over to where Hugo and Devon were standing.
"Hugo, I'm really proud of what you just did," said Lily admiringly, "It would have been so easy for you jump at the opportunity that Wesley was presenting to you but you did what was right rather than what was easy. Good job, Hugo."
"Hugo has always been an honest and standup guy," said James appreciatively, "I'm not surprised at all."
"You can usually count on Weasleys to be fair minded people," said Fred proudly as Roxanne nodded.
"I have mixed feelings," admitted Ainsley, "On 1 hand, I really respect Hugo's attitude here. On the other hand, doesn't Wesley have a point that it is his job to do what he believes will give Gryffindor the best chance to win the Quidditch Cup?"
"Don't worry about that," said Samantha boastfully, "Gryffindor still has the greatest Keeper to ever play Quidditch in Samantha Saver and Samantha Saver will make sure Gryffindor's opponents score 0 goals again this year just like last year."
"And with Lily on the team Gryffindor has the best Seeker as well," said James matter if factly, "If you have a Seeker you can count on to get the snitch AND combine that with a shutdown Keeper then the Chaser play isn't as critical, "But as a fairness nut, I'm 100% for Devon being given the chance to play in a match since he did win the Chaser trial fair and square."
"Devon absolutely deserves that chance," agreed Stephanie with a smile.
"Devon, you WILL perform exceptionally well in the Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch match and you WILL stay on the team, I know you will," said Lily with conviction.
"Thanks, everyone," said Devon warmly, "Especially Hugo for sticking up for me at his own expense and Lily for her absolute faith in me."
Everyone smiled at Devon.
Meanwhile, with Wesley, James, Hugo, Devon, Fred, Stephanie. Samantha, Ainsley, Roxanne, and Lily all still on the pitch, Professor Longbottom returned and was carrying Lily's ZoomBroom.
"Well, Miss Potter," said Professor Longbottom in a serious voice, "Our investigation is complete, and the Hurling Hex has been removed. As it so happens, the results of our investigation have revealed that you are being sent a cursed ZoomBroom had nothing to do with the Potters political enemies or enemies of the dark from the war. Instead, the sender's motivation had to do with the Quidditch house rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin and his personal dislike of you. Mr. Potter had suspected this as a possibility."
"Who was the sender?" asked Lily urgently.
"Phillip Edgecombe," answered Professor Longbottom.
"THAT ASSHOLE!" shouted James furiously, "THAT SAME ASSHOLE THAT TRIED TO HURT LILY DURING THE GRYFFINDOR-SLYTHERIN MATCH LAST YEAR!"
"How do you figure out that Edgecombe sent it?" asked Lily.
"Professor McGonagall has been in contact with people at Quality Quidditch Supplies," explained Professor Longbottom, "She inquired into who had purchased ZoomBrooms be it in store or by order form. Well, it turned out that Phillip Edgecombe, knowing how scarce ZoomBrooms are, had ordered and reserved a ZoomBroom. Well, we all remember what Mr. Edgecombe tried to do to you last year, Miss Potter. Professor McGonagall used Veritasiurium on Phillip Edgecombe and he confessed the truth under its effects. He used an order form to order the ZoomBroom but gave no indication of it being a gift. The ZoomBroom was sent to Mr. Edgecombe at Hogwarts per his order form's request. He then placed a Hurling Hex on it and used school owls to send it to you. He knew that his sinister intent would be suspected if he put his name on a gift to you. So, he sent it to you anonymously with the expectation that you would be taken in by it and therefore not think about it being sent anonymously. What he hadn't counted on was the intervention of Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Dursley. Mr. Edgecombe takes the Gryffindor-Slytherin rivalry very seriously. He had hoped to improve Slytherin's chances against Gryffindor by taking you out of action. Furthermore, he had been very bitter when he had heard how well you had flown in your first flying lessons and that you had been made a Seeker for Gryffindor. Apparently, Mr. Edgecombe had performed extraordinary well in the Slytherin Seeker trial last year and had been sure that he would always be the best Seeker at Hogwarts while he was here. He felt that position threatened by you and hated you because of it. But the general Gryffindor-Slytherin rivalry and how seriously Mr. Edgecombe takes it was his biggest motivation. He wanted to you out of action to improve Slytherin's chances of beating Gryffindor."
"I I can't believe that someone would want to hurt another person over a game," said Devon in a shocked voice.
"I've heard of people taking house rivalry too far before," said Hugo, "But I'm a bit stunned by this."
"If there's one person at Hogwarts I could plausibly believe would do such a thing, it's Edgecombe," admitted Lily.
"How will that asshole Edgecombe be punished? "asked James in a steely voice.
"He has been expelled from Hogwarts. He also faces up to fifty years in Azkaban for attempted murder of a minor, " answered Professor Longbottom.
"So, we shouldn't have to worry about him again?" asked Fred.
"No, you should not," answered Professor Longbottom.
"Professor Longbottom?" said Lily clearly, "I don't want to use the ZoomBroom. Even if I can now use it safely, it would be really eerie and uneasy for me to use a broom that I know was meant to harm me. Furthermore, I do NOT want to use a broom that my enemy sent me. On top of that, the emotional pull of my Firebolt having been a Christmas present from James the year before I started Hogwarts is hard to give up. If the ZoomBroom can be used safely, I vote for donating to an underprivileged witch or wizard."
"You're the only one who has the right to decide, Miss Potter, " said Professor Longbottom calmly.
"Donate it, I don't want it," said Lily decisively, "I'm sticking with my Firebolt. Even independently of my queasiness about using a broom that I know was meant to hurt me or worse, well, I'll use my favorite brother's gift over a gift from an enemy any day of the week."
"Very well, Miss Potter, I will see to it that the ZoomBroom is donated to an underprivileged witch or wizard who has no knowledge of its history," promised Professor Longbottom and Professor Longbottom left.
"James, Hugo, Devon," said Lily sincerely, "I'm alive and well today because you three loved me and cared enough about me to look after me. I would like to sing you three a song to express what your love and support means to me. James, Hugo, Devon, I dedicate this song to you!"
And Lily sang:
"It must have been cold there in my shadow,
To never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.
So, I was the one with all the glory,
While you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
And everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
For you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
But I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I can fly higher than an eagle,
For you are the wind beneath my wings.
Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I can fly higher than an eagle,
For you are the wind beneath my wings,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, the wind beneath my wings.
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings."
Fly. Fly so high against the sky.
So high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for you, the wind beneath my wings.
By the end of Lily's song, James, Hugo, and Devon were all in tears. Lily's song had felt almost angelic. It felt as though they could feel her appreciation for their love inside of themselves.
Lily had had a tug of emotion and needed to release it and singing a song for James, Hugo, and Devon was the best way to do that.
Lily picked up her Firebolt and soared into the sky.
After gaining some height, Lily waved down at all the others.
They all smiled, glad the issue of the ZoomBroom was behind them, gratified by Lily's expression of emotion, and feeling good about the future.
Lily was soaring but she knew her future was only possible because of James, Hugo, and Devon. Their love and support had saved her.
