Nimbus 2000

Tierra keenly caught the scent of skipping class in that remark.

Just as Tierra was about to say something, owls flew in alongside a large number of packages.

Tierra received a cardboard box containing the potion ingredients he had written to Slughorn and Jiggis Pharmacy to purchase that week. Thanks to Harry's investment and the Galleons he had exchanged for pounds at Gringotts, Tierra still had ample funds. Most of the contents were magical materials taken from fantastic beasts, and this time Tierra had also specifically bought some herb seeds from the pharmacy.

After all, he had an entire planet's worth of land. It would be a shame not to grow something on it.

Although Tierra's Graduate Student major in his previous life had been molecular crop breeding, and he had mainly worked in the laboratory, the village where their experimental fields were located had suffered such a severe loss of young people that the youngest temporary worker his research group could hire was seventy-two...

So most of the field planting had to be done by him and his Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, sleeves rolled up as they worked together...

As a result, Tierra had a decent grasp of some basic agricultural planting techniques.

In fact, even before receiving his Hogwarts letter, Tierra had wanted to plant something in the few acres of medicinal gardens enclosed by Merlin.

But first, he had no way of obtaining herb seeds at the time, and second, he was alone and lacked manpower.

That was why Tierra had been so eager to learn Transfiguration.

Not only to make Magical Items, but also to create an automatic sowing device.

This time, the Weasley Twins did not receive any mail. Apparently, they had spent nearly all their pocket money and had no choice but to economize.

But the most eye-catching delivery among all the owl post was a long, narrow package carried jointly by six long-eared owls.

Tierra understood what it was at a glance.

The Nimbus 2000 Professor McGonagall had bought for Harry!

After the six owls flew above Harry, they released their claws at the same time.

The heavy package slammed down onto the dining table in front of Harry, making a tremendous noise that drew everyone's attention in the Great Hall.

The six owls had barely flapped away when snowy white Hedwig flew into Harry's arms with a letter in her beak.

Harry tore open the letter first. It read: "Do not open the package on the table. It contains your new Flying Broomstick, a Nimbus 2000. I do not want everyone to know you have a new broom, or they will all want one.

Oliver Wood will be waiting for you at the Quidditch pitch at seven tonight to give you your first training lesson.

Professor M. McGonagall"

Harry handed the short note to Ron, unable to hide his joy.

"Nimbus 2000!" Ron exclaimed enviously. "I've never even touched one."

Harry pulled Tierra and Ron along as they hurried out of the hall, hoping to find somewhere deserted to open the package and take out the Flying Broomstick before first class.

But enemies were bound to cross paths. As the three of them passed through the Entrance Hall, they ran into Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were coming inside.

"Look at that! Someone's giving poor Potter another gift!" Malfoy shouted, trying to snatch the package from Harry's hands.

But then Malfoy got a fright when he saw Tierra standing behind Harry, staring at him darkly.

His outstretched hand paused as well.

Tierra quickly shoved Harry and Ron past Malfoy.

"That has to be a Flying Broomstick." Malfoy could tell from the shape of the package after only one look, and he shouted excitedly, "Just wait until you're punished, Potter! First-years aren't allowed to bring brooms to school! I'm telling Professor McGonagall! Potter, you're breaking school rules!"

Hearing Malfoy shouting behind them, Tierra, Harry, and Ron looked at one another. Each of the three young wizards saw the others struggling not to laugh.

"This isn't some old-model Flying Broomstick," Ron was the first to lose patience and said, "It's... mmph..."

Tierra was apparently quick enough to cover Ron's mouth before he could finish. Then, with one arm around Ron and the other grabbing Harry, he hurried up the stairs.

"Honestly, I really ought to thank Malfoy." Once they reached the top of the marble staircase and Malfoy and his two little lackeys were no longer in sight, Harry said with a smile, "If he hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall, I wouldn't have ridden a broom to retrieve it. If I hadn't ridden a broom to retrieve it, Professor McGonagall wouldn't have seen me. If Professor McGonagall hadn't seen me, I wouldn't have made the team..."

"So you think this is a reward for breaking school rules?" A somewhat angry voice came from behind the three of them.

Hermione stomped up the stairs, glaring disapprovingly at the package in Harry's hands.

"I thought you weren't talking to us," Harry said.

"Yeah, and don't start now," Ron said. "It makes us feel much better."

"Hmph~" Hermione gave the three of them a cold look, especially shooting Tierra a vicious glare, then strode away with her nose held high.

"Seriously, mate." Ron nudged Tierra with his elbow. "If you say Hermione isn't interested in you, I won't believe it."

Harry beside them pricked up his ears as well.

"My heart belongs only to studying," Tierra said, rolling his eyes at the same time. Go ahead and tease her all you want now. Once you two are married, you'll be the one suffering.

Although Snape had separated him and Harry in Potions, they still habitually sat together in their other classes.

Tierra noticed that Harry found it difficult to settle down and listen properly in class. One moment he would look at the clock on the classroom wall, the next he would wiggle in his seat to adjust his posture.

Harry's thoughts had surely flown back to the dormitory long ago, where his new Flying Broomstick lay beneath his bed.

At last, it was seven o'clock...

Or rather, six forty. Harry had only taken two bites of food before immediately leaving the castle and heading to the Quidditch pitch.

Tierra came too.

After all, Harry was his little patron. This was a perfect chance to raise his favorability.

And Tierra also wanted to test the effects of the Calming Draught during a Quidditch match.

According to George and Fred, although such potions were prohibited during Quidditch matches, the intensity of the sport meant that if a wizard drank only a small amount, the potion would be used up quickly inside their body.

Even an inspection spell would not detect it afterward.

Therefore, drinking small amounts of potions that increased concentration was an unspoken rule on the Quidditch field.

Not to mention professional Quidditch teams—even the Quidditch teams of Hogwarts's four houses had a so-called "medical assistant."

In other words, a potioneer dedicated to brewing potions.

Gryffindor's potioneer had originally been a seventh-year Senior Brother named Bobbi Bones, a short wizard with fluffy hair.

But since he had now graduated and was working as an intern at Slughorn and Jiggis Pharmacy, the role was temporarily being filled by Captain Wood.

After learning from the Weasley Twins that among this year's first-years there was not only a genius Seeker, Harry Potter, but also a genius young potioneer—Tierra Wu—who had managed to brew a Calming Draught in his first year with only one failure, Oliver Wood recruited Tierra into Gryffindor's Quidditch team as well.

"We'll definitely win the House Cup this year." Oliver Wood, a tall, thin boy with soft light-brown hair, said as he patted Tierra on the shoulder.