Chapter Six

After our beautiful moment in potions, I avoided Neville's accident so he didn't have to go to the infirmary. The class passed in almost sepulchral silence.

In the end, I was the only one who performed the potion to cure boils perfectly. Snape stared at me as I handed it to him and reluctantly gave me a point. I rejoiced at the look on Malfoy and his minion's faces.

Hermione was red with anger and envy and as she left the classroom she whispered, - "It's not like you're a wizard,"

I looked at her as if she were stupid. - "I thought I was flying corn."

She gritted her teeth hard. - "I did try hard, the point should have been for me" - She retorted.

I smiled at her, - "Well, apparently not enough 'minus one point'" - I emphasized.

After that, I turned and waited for Harry to go to Hagrid's hut. Hagrid lived in a small wooden house on the edge of the forbidden forest. A crossbow and a pair of rubber boots were by the front door.

We knocked on the door and heard Hagrid's voice - "Back Fang."

He let us in, tugging on the collar of an imposing black dog. There was only one room. Hams and pheasants hung from the ceiling, a copper pot boiled on the fire, and in one corner was a huge bed with a patchwork blanket.

- "You're at home" - Said Hagrid, releasing Fang, who lunged at me and began to lick my ears.

Like Hagrid, Fang was much less ferocious than he looked.

- "This is Ron" - Said Harry to Hagrid, who was pouring boiling water into a large kettle and pouring out pieces of cake.

- "Another Weasley, right?" - Said Hagrid, glancing sideways at Ron's freckles. - "I've spent half my life chasing your twin brothers out of the forest."

- "It's my eternal ordeal" - I joked.

Hagrid gave us a cake as hard as concrete, and we pretended to like it out of politeness.

We spent the afternoon talking about everything from his first classes to Hagrid's work. Until Harry saw the newspaper:

The Prophet

Investigations are continuing into the robbery that took place at Gringotts on July 31. It is believed to be due to the work of unknown dark wizards and witches. The goblins at Gringotts insist that nothing was taken. The chamber that was searched had been emptied that same day.

"But we're not going to tell you what was in there, so keep your noses out of it, if you know what's good for you," A Gringotts goblin spoke this afternoon.

- "Hagrid" - Said Harry, - "That robbery at Gringotts happened on my birthday! It could have happened while we were there!"

Hagrid the master of the obvious averted his gaze. To save him the trouble, I distracted Harry by mentioning Quidditch lessons and broomstick models.

Thursday arrived and to Harry's horror, he found out that we were playing Slytherin, so I patted him to comfort him.

Malfoy kept teasing him and saying that he was an expert in flying. In the dining room, Malfoy removed Neville's reminder, and Professor McGonagall's appearance came in handy.

We went outside and I noticed several brooms on the floor.

- "Here Neville" - I held out a protective bracelet, - "It's from the Magic store in Diagon Alley" - He thanked me with his eyes.

'Thanks to you.'

The store had opened and we were packed according to Thomas the manager's letters. I had thought of throwing brooms in my store, as there was varying demand in the market for them and the new Nimbus 2000.

The voice of the teacher, Hooch. Brought me out of my thoughts. - "Well, what are you waiting for" - She bellowed, - "Each one of you next to a broom. Let's go, quickly."

I noticed that my broom was old and some of the straw twigs were sticking out at odd angles.

'How safe'

- "Stretch out your right hand on the broom" - Said Mrs. Hooch, - "And say, 'Up'."

- "UP!" - They all shouted.

Harry's broom and mine immediately jumped into our hands, but we were one of the few who made it.

Hermione Granger's did nothing but roll on the ground and Neville's didn't move at all. Adding to that there was a tremor in Neville's voice that indicated, all too clearly, that he wished to keep his feet on the ground.

Then Mrs. Hooch showed us how to get on the broom, without sliding to the tip, and walked down the line, correcting us on how to hold it.

Harry was overjoyed when the teacher told Malfoy that he had been doing it wrong all those years.

- "Now, when I blow my whistle, give a strong kick" - Said Mrs. Hooch. - "Hold the brooms steady, rise a foot or two, and then gently bend down. Ready... three... two..."

But Neville, nervous and afraid of being grounded, kicked before the whistle blew. Then everything was chaos, his broom went up several meters, the screams of horror were soon heard, and Neville tilted and fell. However, he didn't hit the ground the bracelet turned into a bubble and cushioned his fall. It was an impressive sight to see, but Neville still broke his wrist, as he fell out of the bubble and fell to the ground in fear. Professor Hooch went to the infirmary with poor Neville but not before telling us not to fly or we would be expelled.