The Arrival of the Broomstick

About a week later, when the owls flocked into the Great Hall as usual, everyone's attention was drawn to the slender package carried by six horned owls.

Harry, like everyone else, was eager to know what was inside the package. Unexpectedly, several owls swooped down and landed right in front of him, knocking his bacon to the floor.

He was extremely surprised.

They had just flapped their wings and flown away when another owl brought a letter and tossed it onto the package.

Harry first tore open the letter, and inside it read:

The new Flying Broomstick Nimbus 2000 that you asked me to buy for you has arrived. Although almost all the students know about it, I don't recommend that you open it directly, lest they all want to ask me to buy it for them.

Roger Davies will be waiting for you at Quidditch Pitch tonight at 7 p. m. to give you your first training session.

Professor Flitwick

To be honest, Harry had almost forgotten that since going to Atlantis a week ago, he had hardly left the house except for classes. He had been studying the magical knowledge he had learned there, trying to understand this semester's courses from a more advanced perspective. Not to brag, but Harry had tried and successfully mastered all the spells he was supposed to learn this semester.

This also has an advantage: because Harry has been staying home, there are very few people talking about Rita Skeeter anymore, and everything has returned to normal.

He casually handed the broom to Ron was standing to the side in astonishment.

"By the way, Ryan, what about the trauma caused by controlling two bodies for so long?" Harry suddenly remembered this question he had wanted to ask before because of the arrival of the broom.

"Oh, insomnia," Ryan said, but then added, as if it didn't seem too serious, "Long-term insomnia."

"That's it?" Harry was speechless, looking like a slumped fish who had lost his sleep. If he had asked back then, would he have been able to stay in Atlantis a little longer?

To be honest, even the arrival of a broom can't make him happy now.

Ron, however, was drawn to the broom. He pulled Harry along, wanting to find a secluded spot before the first class to unpack the package, retrieve the flying broom, and return later to lead the other Ravenclaw students to class, avoiding any potential encounters with Peeves.

However, as they passed through the Entrance Hall, they found that Crabbe and Goyle were blocking their way upstairs.

Malfoy took the package from Harry's hands quite naturally and touched it.

"It's a flying broom, no problem," he said, tossing the package back to Harry with a slightly worried look on his face. Ron turned his head away, secretly making a face as if he was about to S.P.E.W..

"Potter, I just noticed you looked like you were about to cry after you got the broom. What's wrong? Did those guys on the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team bully you?"

"Is it that Chaser Henry?!" Malfoy's pale cheeks flushed slightly, and anger blazed in his eyes.

Harry was just about to ask Malfoy how he knew Henry and that he looked down on younger students when...

Ron couldn't hold back any longer. "What nonsense are you talking about? That Henry is also a Harry fan. I think you're just trying to strike up a conversation because Harry hasn't been out lately." He said, "Harry is my friend, how could I not notice?" Ron grinned at Malfoy. "If you understood the impact of Rita Skeeter's report, you wouldn't be so confused as to why Harry is distancing himself from you."

"What do you know? Weasley, you penniless wretch who can't even afford half a broom handle, I bet your stupid brain is all focused on Nimbus 2000!" Malfoy retorted fiercely. "If we're talking about the Rita Skeeter story, shouldn't it be you who should be leaving Harry's side? Ron Weasley, all talk and no action!"

Before Ron could answer, Professor Flitwick appeared beside Malfoy's elbow.

Harry secretly rejoiced, realizing that he was wrong no matter which side he took in this conflict. He had even thought that it would be better if Malfoy were a girl, so thoughtful—no! He must be crazy (Ryan, who was hiding in the corner trying to influence Harry, shook his head regretfully).

"I hope this isn't an argument, kids?" he asked in a shrill voice, glancing at the broom. "You all know about Harry's special case." Professor Flitwick said, flashing a smile at Harry. "Harry, what model?"

"Nimbus 2000, sir. It has nothing to do with brooms, it's just friends playing around," Harry said.

Malfoy, standing nearby, secretly made a face at Ron while silently mouthing the words "friend."

Ron's ears turned red, then his face became almost as red as his hair, but he struggled to control himself. "Professor Flitwick, we're leaving now. We need to put the brooms back in the common room," Harry added.

Harry pulled Ron upstairs, while Malfoy's footsteps behind them were noticeably lighter.

"It seems that the brat Draco Malfoy is really worried about being alienated by Harry Potter," Kate suddenly said from behind Ryan.

"Yes, the concern is real, but that's just an excuse to test Harry. Ron's feelings for Harry are real, but he's too careless," Ryan replied, not at all surprised by Kate's sudden appearance.

"Oh dear! What's wrong? I haven't been able to scare you lately." Kate turned her face away in frustration, squatted down on the ground, and said she wouldn't get up unless she was coaxed.

Kate also has the natural ability to minimize her presence, but for Ryan now, that's a piece of cake.

He skillfully coaxed Kate to spare a moment to go to class, while he and Kate went to play with Penelope.

In class today, Harry listened to the lesson as usual, but Ron seemed to have ADHD and had difficulty concentrating.

Ron seemed to be the true owner of the flying broomstick, his thoughts drifting back to the dormitory, to Harry's bed—where Harry's new flying broomstick lay.

After a day of classes, Ron would occasionally ask to go to the Quidditch Pitch together that night to see what it was like. His newest friend, Anthony, chimed in, nodding in agreement and expressing concern that Harry might be ostracized by the other players.

So Harry, Ron, Anthony, and his two underlings Michael and Terry decided to go with Harry. Even Ryan, who was just watching from the sidelines, was dragged up by Harry in retaliation and made to go along.

Everyone in the dorm was getting ready to go, and Neville naturally couldn't be absent. Even Hermione, who had no interest in Quidditch, decided to join the group because of Ryan.

Time quickly came to dinner. Harry behaved normally, but Ron was completely different from usual. He swallowed his food in a few bites, not paying any attention to what he was eating.

Then the group, along with Harry who still wanted to eat something, quickly rushed up the stairs. Ron even had a flash of inspiration and was the first to answer the riddle about the eagle ring at the door.

After returning to their dorm room, everyone except Harry, Ryan, Hermione focused their attention on the Nimbus 2000 was about to be opened and placed on Harry's bed.

Harry looked helplessly at his toes, hoping that time would pass quickly.