章 275: 0274 The Firebolt
Not long after, The office door was knocked loudly, startling Bryan from his work. He got up from his desk and opened the door, only to see Hagrid squeezing in through the narrow gap. The half-giant was wearing his shabby mole-skin coat and carrying a small red umbrella that looked like a toy in his huge hand.
"Oh, Professor, are you really not considering getting a bigger door?" Hagrid grumbled, ducking his head to avoid hitting the ceiling.
"Nobody else has a problem with my door frame except for you, Hagrid," Bryan replied with a helpless smile.
Hagrid chuckled heartily, his bushy beard shaking. He handed over a piece of parchment with crooked handwriting, that looked more obscure than the ancient runes on Slytherin's locket and Ravenclaw's diadem. Bryan squinted his eyes to read the words.
"I need to purchase some medicine to ward off the Flesh-Eating Slugs, Professor. These nasty guys have been wreaking havoc in the vegetable patch all winter," Hagrid explained, his brown eyes shining with concern. "They've eaten half of my pumpkins and cabbages, and they're not even picky about the rotten ones."
"It's rare to find magical creatures that annoy you, Hagrid," Bryan joked. Then, after struggling to decipher the parchment for a while, he signed his name on the requisition form without hesitation.
"Thank you, Professor," Hagrid nodded gratefully. "I need to hurry to Professor McGonagall's office to collect the money. Hopefully, I can catch the 9 o'clock train and make it to tonight's dinner!"
As Hagrid turned to leave, he muttered under his breath, "Why don't wizards build a bigger fireplace?" He hated traveling by Floo powder, as he often got stuck in the chimneys or ended up in the wrong places.
Amused by his complaint, Bryan smiled and prepared to continue his work. He had a pile of tedious files to go through, mostly related to the school budget and the Ministry regulations. But before Hagrid left, he remembered something, "Wait, Hagrid."
"Is there something you need me to do for you?" Hagrid asked, turning around with a hopeful expression.
"Not really," Bryan shook his head. "Actually, I wanted to ask about Buckbeak. Do you have any leads now?"
To be honest, Hagrid was surprised by this question. It was the first time Director Watson had inquired about Buckbeak since the incident. He had expected him to be too busy or too indifferent to care. But when it came to the matter, Hagrid's furry face immediately turned gloomy. He sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging.
"The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures has scheduled Buckbeak's hearing for mid-March. I'm preparing the materials, but to be honest, I'm not very good at this. Luckily, Hermione helped me write some things during the holidays," Hagrid said, his voice tinged with sadness.
Bryan nodded slightly, lowering his head to ponder for a moment before speaking, "But I'm sure you're well aware, Hagrid, that this is not a matter of right or wrong. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures is unlikely to strictly follow the rules. Lucius Malfoy is just taking his anger out on you."
"I understand, Professor, but I…" Hagrid's eyes moistened, his voice filled with a heavy nasal tone. "I can't give up on that child. It's because of me. I thought he could be friends with the little ones, that's why I convinced him to participate in my class."
Hagrid was very fond of Buckbeak, the proud and majestic hippogriff that he had raised from an egg.
"Hagrid, is still the same," After Hagrid left, Sirius, who had been holding back, didn't miss the opportunity to express his opinion.
"Crookshanks told me about that Hippogriff. Why can't he secretly set Buckbeak free? As long as there's no evidence, with Dumbledore here, the Ministry can't do anything to him!"
"I understand your point, Sirius, but Hagrid is probably afraid of breaking the law because of his past expulsion," Bryan said as he stood up. He was ready to temporarily set aside the pile of tedious files and enjoy a delicious breakfast in the Great Hall.
"But if you want to resolve this matter, it's actually not difficult, is it?" Sirius revealed his intentions. He had a cunning and mischievous smile on his face, reminiscent of his younger days as a prankster. "Malfoy, that bastard, is asking you for a favor. Maybe if you give him a message, he'll immediately withdraw the complaint."
"I don't deny that," Bryan nodded. He knew that Malfoy was afraid of him, "But I don't want to help Hagrid solve the problem in that way. It wouldn't be of any help."
Sirius was about to say something else, but before the words could leave his mouth, he found himself transformed into a cat again, and the office door coincidentally made a sound.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron barged into the office, but they were not alone. The entire Gryffindor Quidditch team, as well as the residents of Harry's dormitory, crowded the corridor, but none of them followed them into the office.
"I heard you were looking for me everywhere," Bryan said with a smile as he looked at the three young wizards who were visibly pleased to see him. He noticed the sleek and shiny broomstick that Harry was holding in his hand. "I hope it's because you missed me and not because of the Firebolt in your hands."
Harry scratched his head and sheepishly smiled. He felt a bit guilty for bothering Bryan with such a trivial matter, "Oh, you already heard about it?"
After greeting Bryan, Hermione couldn't wait to share her thoughts. "Besides you, who would give Harry a top-quality Flying broomstick for no reason? I mean, this is not an ordinary broomstick. Its value is higher than all the broomsticks owned by the entire Gryffindor team combined."
"That's not necessarily true, Hermione!" Ron immediately objected. "Harry is famous, and he has more fans than Lockhart!"
At the Mention of that charlatan Gilderoy Lockhart, Hermione's face turned red. Her admiration for him was one of the few "stains" she couldn't remove from her otherwise impeccable record.
Harry was used to Hermione and Ron's daily quarrels. He had seen them argue and bicker countless times, over everything from homework to house-elves. Seeing that Bryan had already expressed his intention, he handed over the Firebolt directly. Looking at Bryan, who was stroking the Firebolt's glossy white ash handle, his eyes were full of expectation.
The Firebolt was indeed an excellent flying broom. Not to mention its exquisite materials, just its ingenious magic loop design inside made Bryan feel a bit of admiration. He had seen many broomsticks in his life, but none of them could compare to the Firebolt. It was a masterpiece of craftsmanship and enchantment, a perfect combination of beauty and functionality. He examined it carefully, looking for any signs of tampering or damage.
"I don't see any problem with this broomstick, Harry. Personally, I believe it is safe," Bryan said, after finishing his inspection. He handed back the Firebolt to Harry, with a reassuring smile.
Not only in the office but also in the corridor, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted after Bryan spoke. The Gryffindors who had been waiting outside the door, holding their breaths, were ecstatic to hear that Harry could keep his Firebolt. They knew that it would give them a huge advantage in the upcoming Quidditch matches, and they were confident that they would win the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup this year.
"I knew it would be like this!" Oliver Wood exclaimed excitedly, waving his fist in the air. "I want to see who will stop us from winning the championship this year!"
"Show us what you've got on the pitch, Harry!" Alicia Spinnet shouted from outside the office.
"I'm not questioning your skills, Professor," Hermione said, scrutinizing Bryan with furrowed brows. She seemed dissatisfied with his conclusion. "But this is indeed a suspicious matter, isn't it? Who would spend a year's salary to buy such a broomstick for Harry?"
"Oh, come on!" Ron retorted, trying to strike back at Hermione. "You just have to prove that your opinion is never wrong, don't you?"
After the three of them left the office, still arguing, Sirius immediately asked in an eager tone, "Can I go watch Harry train? Being stuck in your office all the time feels like being in Azkaban!"
"Of course, no problem," Bryan replied with a smile that carried a mysterious meaning. "I don't intend to keep you confined in the office all the time. If you find it too boring here, you can wander around the Forbidden Forest for a few days. Hmm, I don't need to help you with your disguise. Your Animagus form is already perfect. Of course, a dog that size would attract attention on campus. It would be even better if you could control your size."
"Deal!" Sirius said happily. "Size is not a problem. I can handle it myself."
Sirius transformed into his large black dog form and then, with a grating sound of bone joints, turned into a small puppy about the size of a stool. He wagged his tail at Bryan, and then leaped out of the automatically opened door, full of joy.
As Bryan gazed at Sirius's disappearing figure, perched on the edge of the desk, he suddenly hooked his fingers in a thoughtful manner. In the void, there was a sudden sound of a broken chain.
*Scenebreak*
The weather in January was still dominated by cold and dampness, but the young wizards rushing to the Quidditch pitch didn't care about the howling wind that whipped their faces and cloaks. They gathered in a circle, with Harry eagerly at the center, clutching his new broom.
Wood looked at Harry's broom with fanatical admiration in his eyes, and then said impatiently, "Get a feel for it, Harry! This is the best broom in the world!"
Despite the lingering shadow of Sirius Black's presence, despite having to clean half the castle's bathrooms during the Christmas holidays due to Malfoy's betrayal, despite the mystery surrounding the broom's origin, Harry's mood was still incredibly joyful. Nothing could disturb him.
He was finally going to ride this Firebolt into the sky!
Since receiving the broom, Harry had fantasized about this moment every night. And now, his dream was finally coming true. He didn't want to wait another second. As soon as Wood gave the command, Harry kicked off and soared into the air like a ghost.
The feeling was even more wonderful than he had imagined. With a gentle touch, the Firebolt responded. It seemed to obey his thoughts, not just his control.
Harry rode the firebolt across the pitch at an incredible speed, turning the stands into a blur of green and gray. Even with his dynamic vision, in the full throttle of the Firebolt, he could barely distinguish the faces of the people on the ground. He felt the wind rushing past his ears, the adrenaline pumping through his veins, and the exhilaration filling his heart.
Suddenly, a group of people rose from the ground. It was the Gryffindor team members, ascending into the air one by one under Wood's command. They wore red and gold robes, and carried their own brooms, which looked dull and ordinary compared to Harry's Firebolt.
Quidditch was not a game that could be won by one person alone. The entire Gryffindor team had to adapt to Harry's increased strength due to the Firebolt. They had to learn how to coordinate with him, how to support him, how to follow his lead.
But compared to Harry's speed, everyone else seemed slow as a snail.
Harry flew like a meteor falling from the sky, inserting himself into the Gryffindor team's practice formation. He "fell" from the front of Alicia Spinnet, who was playing as a Chaser, causing her to scream. Then, Harry began to control his speed and angle. He showed off his agility and precision, making sharp turns, loops, and dives. Finally, when he was five feet from the ground, the broom and the ground were parallel. He skimmed the grass, leaving a trail of dust behind him. Then, he swiftly ascended again, reaching thirty feet, forty feet, fifty feet–
"This move is not something an ordinary player can do!"
Ron was excited beyond words. He looked at the figure in the air with envy, imagining himself flying so gracefully one day.
"He should be more careful!"
Hermione's expression was less pleasant. She covered her wind-blown hair and frowned, saying disapprovingly, "Harry is getting a bit too excited, isn't he? As for this broom, in my opinion, Professor Watson should come and keep an eye on him. If, and I say IF, his judgment is wrong, at least there would be a chance to remedy it!"
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章 276: 0275 Performance
No one paid attention to Hermione's complaint. They were all immersed in Harry's magnificent flying skills. They cheered, clapped, and whistled, as Harry performed one amazing stunt after another.
"Harry, I released the Snitch!"
When the time was right, Wood shouted into the sky.
Upon hearing the call, Harry dived down again. This time, he passed through the middle of Fred and George who were flying side by side, playing as Beaters. The golden Snitch that was fluttering like a shadow didn't have time to speed up, and was firmly caught by Harry.
The Quidditch pitch erupted in a frenzy of cheers. Fred and George clapped their hands and shouted, "Do it again, Harry!"
Harry complied. He let the Golden Snitch slip from his fingertips and let it circle around the Quidditch pitch. Then, he quickly caught up to it, using an S-shaped maneuver to pass several teammates in front of him. Finally, he sharply raised the broom, and in a jumping arc, he whizzed past Katie Bell's head. She was another Chaser, and she gasped as Harry flew by. In the end, he caught the Golden Snitch behind the goalpost, where Angelina Johnson, the third Chaser, and Oliver Wood, the Keeper, were waiting for him.
Under the dark sky, with distant white snow-capped mountains and towering goal hoops as his backdrop, Harry turned on his Firebolt, raised his right hand holding the Golden Snitch, and looked down at the pitch like a Quidditch King.
At this moment, apart from the cheers, there was no other discordant sound on the field. The wind had died down, and the sun had peeked out from behind the clouds, casting a warm light on the Quidditch pitch.
"He flies really well. At least, Malfoy can't compare to Harry."
Hermione clapped her hands and said calmly. She had been worried about Harry's safety, but seeing him fly so skillfully and confidently, she couldn't help but feel proud of him.
"That slimy git can't fly as fast as Hedwig!"
Ron, whose palms were red from clapping, cheered and squeezed through the Gryffindor players who were landing one by one, ready to ask Harry if he would let him try the Firebolt later.
"From what I see, nothing can stop us from winning!"
Wood said firmly, his tone even more resolute than when he was outside Professor Watson's office. He had been the captain of the Gryffindor team for six years, and he had never seen such a perfect performance. He was sure that this year, they would finally win the Quidditch Cup.
"I bet, Harry," Fred patted Harry's shoulder appreciatively and said, "Even the Dementors can't catch up to you."
This was the best training session ever. The appearance of the Firebolt greatly inspired the team members, and even Wood, for the first time, didn't find any faults with them. He praised them for their teamwork, their accuracy, and their speed.
"Can I try the Firebolt too, Harry?"
Harry's roommate, Seamus, asked eagerly, as he walked over to Harry, who was still holding his broom.
Quidditch, as the most popular sport in the wizarding world, was not an empty claim. It's just that Harry's exceptional talent made his peers pale in comparison. But in fact, most of his classmates had secretly practiced Quidditch, hoping to join the team someday, or at least to have some fun.
"Hey, mate!"
Ron glared at Seamus discontentedly, as he reached Harry's side.
"Harry and I already agreed. You have to line up behind me."
"No one is allowed to touch this broom until the game between us and Ravenclaw is over!"
Wood's voice was stern as he prohibited their request. He had overheard their conversation, and he was not amused. He walked over to Harry, and took the Firebolt from his hands.
Wood was desperate for the Quidditch Cup. He couldn't allow any unexpected incidents to jeopardize Gryffindor's biggest chance of winning. Even if the Firebolt wasn't his, even if the request came from Harry's roommate, he couldn't be swayed. He had to protect the broom, and Harry, from any harm.
Faced with Wood's prohibition, Harry could only innocently shrug at Ron and Seamus, who were disappointed. He understood Wood's concern, and he didn't mind giving up his broom for a while. He knew that Wood would return it to him before the match, and he trusted him to take good care of it.
To witness the Firebolt's brilliance, the Gryffindor wizards hadn't even had breakfast. They had skipped the most important meal of the day, and they were starving. After Wood announced the end of the training, they walked back to the castle in groups of three or two, chatting and laughing. After comforting Ron for a few moments, Harry also prepared to go to the Great Hall to find something to eat and fill his stomach. But as the excitement of his dream coming true faded, he suddenly felt something strange, as if someone was watching him.
Following the direction of the strange feeling, Harry turned his head and immediately showed a surprised expression. He stopped in his tracks, and looked at the bottom step of the stands, where two figures were sitting.
"What's wrong?"
Hermione, who had always been skeptical of the Firebolt, immediately noticed Harry's unease. She followed Harry's gaze and raised her delicate eyebrows when she saw the two figures on the bottom step of the stands.
It was Crookshanks, squatting on the stands and looking in their direction. And, it wasn't alone. There was a dog about the same size as Crookshanks squatting next to it.
"Crookshanks, did you sneak away from Hagrid's place again?"
Realizing what was happening, Hermione happily ran over.
Ron was the last to notice the two small animals by the pitch. When he saw Crookshanks, his face darkened. He reluctantly walked over behind Harry, muttering, "Last time it was that cat named Tom, and now I don't know where it found this dog. This beast is quite good at finding friends for itself. Why can't it give Scabbers a chance to live?"
Harry and Ron approached the bottom of the stands, where Hermione was already holding Crookshanks in her arms, affectionately stroking its furry head. Crookshanks purred loudly, and rubbed his face against Hermione's cheek. He seemed to be very happy to see her.
Ron watched all of this with cold eyes. As for Harry, his attention wasn't on Hermione and her cat. Instead, he was staring at the small black dog crouching on the steps.
'It's really strange.' Harry thought to himself. 'Why does this dog look familiar? And the way It looked at him… hmm, pleased?'
"Oh, Crookshanks!" Hermione rubbed the ginger cat's head, looking a bit guilty but still smiling. "How have you been at Hagrid's, Crookshanks?"
Meow-- Crookshanks purred and licked his paw, then rubbed his furry face against Hermione's hand.
Seeing that Crookshanks showed no sign of blaming her, Hermione felt even more guilty. She took a deep breath, as if gathering her courage, and then turned to look at Ron, who was standing with Harry.
"Ron, I think it's time for Crookshanks to go back to living in the castle. You can't–"
Hermione couldn't finish her sentence because Ron clearly understood what she meant and his face immediately turned sour. He crossed his arms and glared at her.
"What do you two think–"
Harry interrupted, pointing at something behind Hermione. She turned around and saw a slightly uncomfortable little black dog sitting on the steps leading to Hagrid's hut.
"Where did Crookshanks find this puppy?" Harry asked, puzzled.
Because of Crookshanks, the atmosphere between Hermione and Ron became a bit awkward. Neither of them answered Harry's question right away. It wasn't until a while later that Hermione sniffed and suppressed her emotions, saying,
"It's hard to say, Harry. Maybe Hagrid thought Fang was feeling a bit lonely, so he found this dog somewhere."
"Maybe we can go ask Hagrid." Harry suggested, looking around for the half-giant gamekeeper.
Ron and Hermione both looked at Harry, surprised by his reaction. The little black dog crouching on the steps seemed reluctant to go to Hagrid's. It tried to escape, but its agility was clearly not as good as Harry's. Harry was quick and nimble, thanks to his Quidditch skills. He caught the dog as soon as it jumped off the steps and couldn't move.
Harry handed the Firebolt hidden under his armpits to Ron, who took it with awe, held the black dog in his arms, and ran towards Hagrid's hut at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The dog whimpered and struggled, but Harry didn't let go.
Although Ron and Hermione were a bit puzzled, but seeing Harry so decisive they could only follow him.
The closed door of the hut explained everything. Hagrid was not there. Harry looked a bit disappointed, but he still didn't give up and looked around. As a result, he found Fang, Hagrid's boarhound, playing with wild goblins in the grassland to the west of the hut.
"Hey, Fang!" Harry called out loudly, and when Fang heard his voice, he immediately gave up playing with the unlucky goblin and happily ran over, wagging his tail. He licked Harry's face, making him laugh.
"Where's Hagrid?" Harry asked, patting Fang's head. "Is he patrolling in the Forbidden Forest?"
Fang shook his head, his eyes looking towards the direction of the school gate. He barked, as if trying to tell Harry something.
"It seems Hagrid is out–"
Ron and Hermione caught up from behind at this time. They were out of breath, and their faces were red. Seeing this scene, Ron shrugged meaninglessly. He didn't care much about Hagrid or the dog. He was more interested in the Firebolt, which he still held in his hands.
"You seem to care a lot about this dog, Harry?" Hermione asked curiously, looking at the dog in Harry's arms. The dog looked nervous and scared, as if it sensed something was wrong. "Is there something wrong with it?"
"I can't say for sure, Hermione–"
Harry hesitated, not sure how to explain his feelings.
"But I feel like I've seen it somewhere before. Hmm, it gives me a very familiar feeling."
"Maybe it's just your imagination, Harry–"
Ron played with the Firebolt that Harry had thrown to him, his eyes scanning the smooth white waxed handle and the perfectly trimmed branches and casually said,
"Or maybe you saw it in Hogsmeade. You know, the villagers who live there like to keep dogs. They can help with hunting and guard the house–"
"You're right, Ron."
Harry agreed, nodding his head. He pursed his lips and put the frightened little Sirius on the ground. They were now in the Hogwarts campus, and if Harry really found any clues and screamed, Sirius couldn't be sure whether it was Bryan, coming fast or the Dementor, the soul-sucking guard, guarding the school gate. Those terrifying creatures wouldn't listen to his explanation.
"So, what do we do now, Harry? Are you going to leave it here or take it back to the castle?" Hermione asked, looking at the dog with concern.
"Never mind–"
Harry said, shaking his head. He didn't like dogs, and he didn't want to get involved with them. He also didn't want to get detention from Filch, before the first Quidditch match of the school year.
"Let's leave it here then. Hagrid will take good care of it," Hermione said, "It's Crookshanks's playmate."
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