10 The Broom

For the next few days, Arth didn't speak to Ron and Harry. He would use the secret passageways to avoid meeting Harry and Ron when he had to go to class and try his best to stay hidden from them when at the dining hall.

However, after a week had passed, Arth started to feel a bit suspicious. He saw that Harry and Ron were actively searching for him to apologize yet they could never seem to find him.

Even when he once walked pass them in the corridor, for some reason, he hadn't been seen.

In fact, it was only durning Professor Bin's class where Arth finally received a letter written by Harry which only simply read.

I'm sorry.

Arth sighed before writing down 'shut up' in small and neat handwriting before throwing it back towards Harry.

The letter came back to Arth almost immediately.

I am really sorry, it was our mistake for not listening to you.

I'm sorry too- Ron.

Arth scribbled downanother sentence before passing it back once more.

Don't want to hear it.

Arth heard the furious scribble of pen before the paper was once more returned to Arth.

We have something very important to say, can you please meet us after class ends?

Arth sighed before turning around to glare at Ron and Harry.

When their eyes met, Ron put on an awkward smile and was waving cautiously while Harry put on a pleading face.

Arth could only sigh before turning around to listen to Professor Bin.

When the bell rang, Arth packed up his bag slowly, waiting for the duo to appear. Sure enough, they did.

"You guys better have a good reason why you're making me stay and wait for you guys."

"It is, I swear," said Harry. "But before that, I just want to say that we're really sorry."

"Yeah. Very sorry, we've been repenting."

"Don't want to hear it, so what is it that you want to tell me?" Said Arth with a stoic face.

"Did you see what the dog was sitting on?" Asked Harry while getting a gradually more exited.

Arth raised his eyebrows.

"Are you talking about the trapdoor? Is this about what the dog is guarding?"

"...wow, geniuses sure do think alike." Sighed Ron in amazement. "To think it took us that long to realize it too..."

"Well," said Harry, "a thing Hagrid told me came to mind when I realized that the dog was guarding something. Hagrid said that Gringotts was the safest place in the world for something you wanted to hide - except perhaps Hogwarts."

Arth narrowed his eyes.

"Are you saying what I think your saying?"

"Yes, what if it was vault seven hundred and thirteen was the one that got broken into and the package that Hagrid took out of vault seven hundred and thirteen is now in the trapdoor under the dog?"

Arth stared at Harry in amazement.

"I'm going to take back all the thoughts of me thinking that you were an idiot, you are a genius Harry."

"What about me? I helped a bit."

"Shut it Ron, you are still not in the clear."

Arth sighed.

"It's amazing and all, but honestly, I don't see a point in finding out. The headmaster probably knows what he is doing."

Ron was flabbergasted.

"Don't you want to find out what is in there?"

Arth had finally finished packing up his stuff.

"Well I presume that if there is a giant three headed dog standing guard, it's not meant forchildren like us to put our head into, you know? I almost lost my head last time I did."

Ron went silent.

"However, I won't stop you guys, in fact. I'll even help you guys. As long as you don't do anything stupid like going back into that room."

"Why are you going to help us?"

"Because, I'm curious to what it is."

Harry let our a hesitant grin.

"Does this mean we're in the clear now?"

Arth blankly glanced at the somewhat pitiful faces of Harry and Ron.

"Fine," Arth sighed. "Your crimes are forgiven."

The three boys walked to their next class with linked arms and, to Arth's annoyance, a tad bit tardy.

The next morning, the owls flooded into the Great Hall as usual, everyone's attention

was caught at once by a long, thin package carried by six large screech owls. The owls soared down and dropped it right in front of Harry, knocking his plate to the floor.

They had hardly fluttered out of the way when another owl dropped a letter on top of the parcel.

Harry ripped open the letter first, then handed the note to Ron to read in glee.

A moment later it was passed to Arth.

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

"Wow," Arth said with an eyebrow raised. "Isn't that a hundred galleons? Isn't that very generous of her?"

"She must really want to win the cup this year," exclaimed Ron.

They left the hall quickly, wanting to unwrap the broomstick in private before their first class, but halfway across the entrance hall they found the way upstairs barred by Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy attempted to seize the package from Harry but stopped when Arth whipped out his wand with an annoyed look.

"That's a broomstick," he said to Harry with a mixture of jealousy and spite on his face.

"You'll be in for it this time, Potter, first years aren't allowed them."

Ron couldn't resist it.

"It's not any old broomstick," he said, "it's a Nimbus Two Thousand. What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty?" Ron grinned at Harry. "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."

"It also seems that your father isn't as great as you said, seeing that you don't have a broom to flaunt. Or maybe it isn't that you don't have a broom? Maybe it's just because your ashamed to compare your broom, afraid to lose out on the so called insignificant Harry Potter," said Arth cooly.

Everyone froze. Ron was staring at Arth as if he was a golden Nimbus.

Malfoy narrowed his eyes in absolute fury as he drew his wand, his hand trembling. A bright red flush crept up Malfoy's face causing him to look a bit silly.

Luckily, Professor Flitwick appeared at Malfoy's elbow, before any pain could be delivered.

"Not arguing, I hope, boys?" he squeaked.

"Potter's been sent a broomstick, Professor," said Malfoy quickly.

"Yes, yes, that's right," said Professor Flitwick, beaming at Harry. "Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances, Potter. And what model is it?"

"A Nimbus Two Thousand, sit," said Harry, 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 it," he added.

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

"Well done Harry, it was way better than my comeback," laughed Arth.

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

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

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

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

Hermione marched away with her nose in the air.

Arth sighed.

"Why are you guys so hard on her? It's not like she's hating on you or anything."

"She's a busybody that can't leave us alone. And her stuck up attitude that makes her look like a know it all," spat Ron.

"Really? I find that part about her quiet charming."

Seeing that Ron and Harry had put on gagging faces, Arth frowned.

"What?"

The sound of a book falling down resounded as a familiar girl with bushy brown hair hurriedly ran past them with flushed cheeks.

Seeing this sight, Ron let out a face filled with horror.

"You reckon she heard us? Please don't start making out with her, I don't think I could stand it."Said Ron, which earned him a slight smack on the back of the head.

"Don't be an idiot Ron, I said charming, not love. I won't date until I'm fifteen, my mom would kill me otherwise."

They finally arrived at their dormitories and unwrapped the broom.

"Wow."

"...Absolutely stunning."

Sleek and shiny, with a mahogany handle, it had a long tail of neat, straight twigs and Nimbus Two Thousand written in gold near the top. It was a fantastic broom.

As seven o'clock drew nearer, Harry left the castle and set off in the dusk toward the Quidditch field. Ron played wizard chess with Thomas, and Arth... read a book.