A Gift

In the morning you headed down to breakfast in the Great Hall which always did look great. When you got there you could tell Malfoy couldn't believe that he saw Harry and Ron were still at Hogwarts, You don't think he knew that you had gone along as well. Harry and Ron thought that meeting the three-headed dog had been an excellent adventure and you had to agree, Harry filled Ron and you in about the package that seemed to have been moved from Gringotts to Hogwarts, and You spent a lot of time wondering what could possibly need such heavy protection.

"It's either really valuable or really dangerous," said Ron.

"Or both," said Harry.

But as all you knew for sure about the mysterious object was that it was about two inches long, you didn't have much chance of guessing what it was without further clues.

Hermione was now refusing to speak to You, Harry and Ron, Ron saw this as an added bonus. All You, Harry and Ron really wanted now was a way of getting back at Malfoy, and to your great delight, just such a thing arrived in the mail.

As the owls flooded into the Great Hall as usual, everyone's attention was caught at once by a couple of long, thin packages carried by six large screech owls each. You had a idea at what the large parcels were heading for you and Harry, He seemed to be just as interested as everyone else to see what was in this large parcels he obviously didn't have a clue, and he was amazed when the owls soared down and dropped it right in front of him and you. They had hardly fluttered out of the way when another owl dropped a letter on top of Harrys parcel.

Harry ripped open the letter and read it, he handed it to you once he was finished reading it, it said:

DO NOT OPEN THE PARCELS AT THE TABLE.

They contain your new Nimbus Two Thousands, but I don't want everybody knowing you've got your broomsticks or they'll all want broomsticks. Oliver Wood will meet you both tonight on the Quidditch field at seven o'clock for your first training session.

Professor McGonagall

You had difficulty hiding your glee as you handed the note to Ron to read. Now the Nimbus you ordered was going to go to waste.

"A Nimbus Two Thousand!" Ron moaned enviously. "I've never even touched one."

You and Harry left the hall quickly followed by ROn, each wanting to unwrap your broomsticks in private before your first class, but halfway across the entrance hall you found the way upstairs barred by Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy seized Harrys package from his hands and felt it.

"That's a broomstick," he said, throwing it back to Harry with a mixture of jealousy and spite on his face. "You'll be in for it this time, Potter, Gaunt, first years aren't allowed them." the biterness spitting from every word.

Ron couldn't resist butting in. "They're not any old broomsticks," he said, "They're Nimbus Two Thousands. What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty?" Ron grinned at Harry and yourself. "Comets look flashy, but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus."

"What would you know about it, Weasley, you couldn't afford half the handle," Malfoy snapped back. "I suppose you and your brothers have to save up twig by twig."

Before Ron could answer, Professor Flitwick appeared at Malfoy's elbow. "Not arguing, I hope, boys?" he squeaked.

"Potter and Gaunt have been sent broomsticks, Professor," said Malfoy quickly.

"Yes, yes, that's right," said Professor Flitwick, beaming at Harry. "Professor McGonagall told me all about Potter and Gaunts special circumstances. And what are the models?" Directing the question towards You and Harry

"Both Nimbus Two Thousands," said Harry,You were fighting not to laugh at the look of horror on Malfoy's face. "And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that I've got mine," he added.

You Harry and Ron headed upstairs, smothering your laughter at Malfoy's obvious rage and confusion.

"Well, it's true," Harry chortled as you reached the top of the marble staircase, "If he hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall I wouldn't be on the team..."

"So I suppose you think that's a reward for breaking rules?" came an angry voice from just behind you. Hermione was stomping up the stairs, looking disapprovingly at the package in Harry's and your hands.

"I thought you weren't speaking to us?" said Harry.

"Yes, don't stop now," said Ron, "it's doing us so much good."

You just stayed silent and watched as Hermione marched away.