"This… it looks like a broomstick," Ron said, poking at the long, wrapped package.
"It doesn't just look like one—it is," Harry replied flatly, waving his wand. A detection spell swept across the package from end to end. No malicious feedback surfaced, so he deemed it safe and picked it up, leaning it against the table.
"But who would send you a broomstick?" Ron asked, his confusion deepening.
Harry's face remained expressionless. "Who else could it be?"
"He really has some nerve," Hermione said, her own face as unreadable as a mask.
Ron furrowed his brows, thinking for a moment. "It's him, isn't it?"
Harry nodded.
"But you already have a broomstick…" Ron's gaze lingered on the package, still baffled.
Finishing his cream soup, Harry conjured a napkin with a wave of his wand and wiped his mouth. "Thirteen years of failing his duties as a godfather—leaving his godson to live a lonely, miserable life—especially when this particular godfather has absolutely no sense of logic. He's capable of doing anything."
Once Ron finished eating, they carried the package back to the dormitory.
Seamus and Dean were outside having a snowball fight, while Neville was serving detention with Professor Sprout—who, in her boundless energy, seemed to have filled her schedule with keeping several "star students" busy.
Ron rubbed his hands together, eager to open the package.
"A new broomstick! It's gotta be better than your current one."
But there weren't many brooms better than a Nimbus 2001 available in the market…
Harry grabbed Ron by the shoulder, pulling him back. "Don't be in such a rush—it might be cursed."
Ron froze.
"I agree," Hermione said. "Even if Sirius Black is the most likely sender, it's not impossible that someone else with a grudge against Harry sent it instead."
Ron took two cautious steps back.
Harry cast a protective charm over them, layering it with the Quen Sign, before setting the package on the floor. He marked the ground with an Aard Sign, keeping the broom at the center of its effects.
They retreated to the doorway as Harry transfigured a chair into a human-like shape and sent it to carefully unwrap the package.
Nothing suspicious happened. Inside was just a broomstick and a card.
"It's a Firebolt!" Ron exclaimed in excitement, instantly recognizing the broom and staring at it with envy.
With another flick of Harry's wand, the card flew into his hand. Written on it in a hurried scrawl was a short message: "Your flying skills deserve a better broomstick."
The handwriting was messy and rushed, with faint traces of owl droppings, stale sausage grease, and a few obvious smudges of alcohol.
Harry's nose tingled, an ache stirring in his chest.
"So, it really is from Sirius?" Hermione asked cautiously.
Harry nodded. "It's him."
After a pause, he added, "No wonder we couldn't find him before. He must've gone back to the Black family home during this time."
"Sirius—your godfather—sure doesn't hold back," Ron said as he tiptoed closer to the broom, his eyes filled with longing.
Harry waved him off. "Go ahead; it's safe."
Ron dashed forward, cradling the Firebolt and setting it on his bed with reverence. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he summoned a towel with his wand and carefully wiped away any dust from the broom.
"This is the best broomstick there is!" Ron's voice was filled with awe. "It's used in professional leagues, and at Hogwarts, it's practically unbeatable."
"With this, even Malfoy could become the best Seeker here—"
Ron continued to gush about the Firebolt, oblivious to the fact that Harry and Hermione had already moved to Harry's bed and unrolled the Marauder's Map.
At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, three figures caught their attention: Sirius Black, Crookshanks, and Hedwig. Nearby, Ron's new owl, Pigwidgeon, was flying urgently toward the tower.
The snow was heavy that day.
Sirius, now in his human form, crouched beneath a tree, speaking earnestly to Crookshanks. "Hey, I know you—you're that clever cat belonging to Harry's little… girlfriend, right?"
Crookshanks let out a sharp meow.
Sirius leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Don't get mad—I mean no harm. You're a smart cat. You saw right away that I'm not just any dog—"
He paused suddenly, realizing how strange this sounded.
Crookshanks meowed again, this time in irritation.
Sirius hurriedly backtracked. "Sorry, I misunderstood. Let's just move on—can you do me a favor?"
Crookshanks sat down gracefully, curling his tail around his paws.
"Great!" Sirius breathed a sigh of relief, lying on his stomach in the snow. "You've seen that red-haired Weasley kid's pet, right? That filthy, sneaky little rat?"
Crookshanks tilted his head, meowing in confusion.
"You haven't?" Sirius froze.
Crookshanks shook his head.
"Then that rotten rat must've sensed something!" Sirius clenched his fists and slammed them into the snow, sending powdery flakes flying everywhere.
Crookshanks growled softly, shaking off the snow that landed on his fur.
"Sorry—thinking about that creature just drives me mad." Sirius gritted his teeth before continuing. "If you haven't seen it, can you do me another favor?"
"Can you sneak out the Gryffindor common room password for me?"
Crookshanks meowed sharply.
"You're refusing?" Sirius asked, uncertain.
Crookshanks shook his head and meowed again.
"So, you agree?" Sirius asked, his face lighting up with hope.
But Crookshanks shook his head once more and meowed twice.
Sirius was baffled. "Not yes, not no—are you playing games with me?"
Crookshanks sighed dramatically, then called out to Hedwig, who swooped down from a branch and dropped a few owl treats at his paws.
Crookshanks gestured at the treats, then at himself.
"Oh, I get it—you want payment?" Sirius asked, realization dawning.
Crookshanks nodded enthusiastically.
"Fine! If you help me with this, I'll cover all your food for life!" Sirius declared without hesitation.
Crookshanks froze, stunned.
A lifetime of food?
For a moment, he considered recalling Pigwidgeon, regretting having sent it to fetch Harry. A lifetime supply of food, and from someone who didn't seem to mean any harm?
Hedwig puffed out her chest, cooing importantly.
Crookshanks cooed back twice, and Hedwig responded with another coo.
Crookshanks quickly changed his mind. Hedwig mentioned that the owl treats made by Harry's aunt were impossible to find anywhere else. Sirius' promises were worthless.
To Crookshanks, Sirius now seemed just as deceitful as the rat he sought to kill.
"Right, and you too," Sirius said, turning to Hedwig. "I'll cover your food too, in exchange for the common room password."
"I won't harm Harry or that red-haired Weasley kid. I just need to deal with that rat."
"Please, trust me."
A new voice interrupted him. "Trust you? Are you so desperate now that you're begging animals to believe in you?"
Sirius froze.
That was… a human voice.
The Invisibility Cloak was swept away, revealing Harry's face. Pigwidgeon perched on Harry's shoulder, chirping triumphantly.
"A… an owl?" Sirius stared at the small bird, realization dawning. It hadn't flown away out of fear but had gone to inform Harry.
But his attention quickly shifted to Harry's face—a face so much like James Potter's.
"James—no, Harry." Sirius' voice wavered with emotion before turning to panic. "How did you find me?"
"I've been looking for you," Harry replied.
"But you couldn't have known I'm an Animagus," Sirius said, stopping mid-sentence. "It was Lupin, wasn't it? Lupin told you?"
Harry nodded. "Yes, Uncle Lupin told me."
Sirius flinched at the word "uncle," his expression pained.
He smiled bitterly and shook his head. "So, you're here to capture me? To avenge your father?"
Harry opened his mouth to respond, but Sirius cut him off, crawling forward desperately.
"I can't face you yet—I still have things I need to do. Please, Harry, believe me. Don't tell Dumbledore about this."
"I swear I won't hurt you."
With that, Sirius transformed back into his dog form and bolted toward the Forbidden Forest.
Harry sighed.
"Godfather, wait!" he called, sprinting after him.
The black dog howled mournfully but didn't stop, racing ahead.
With a wave of his wand, Harry transfigured dead branches into vines, weaving a large net to block Sirius' path.
"Godfather, we need to talk," Harry said firmly.
Sirius returned to his human form but refused to listen, drawing his wand to blast through the net.
"Confringo!" he shouted.
The net shattered with a deafening explosion, and Sirius charged forward.
But Harry was faster. With another spell, he uprooted trees to form barriers, finally ensnaring Sirius in thick vines.
Panting, Sirius was dragged back to Harry.
"Just kill me," Sirius said, closing his eyes in anguish. "Avenge your father."
Harry sighed deeply. "My dear godfather..."
Sirius froze, his eyes snapping open.
"Uncle Lupin said you were stupid, and I agreed," Harry said, his tone tinged with exasperation. "But I didn't realize you'd be this foolish."
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Powerstones?
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