The morning mail delivery was usually a chaotic affair in the Great Hall. Owls swooped down in a flurry of feathers, dropping letters and packages as students reached up eagerly to catch their deliveries. But today, something unusual happened.
A particularly large barn owl glided down gracefully, landing right in front of Rose. In its talons was a long, slender package wrapped in deep crimson cloth, tied with a silver ribbon.
Rose blinked in surprise. "What's this?"
Hermione, who had been flipping through a thick textbook, looked up curiously. "A package? From who?"
As if to answer, a small note fluttered down, landing next to Rose's goblet. She picked it up and read aloud:
"A well-earned gift for Gryffindor's newest Seeker. Make good use of it. – Professor McGonagall."
Ron practically choked on his toast. "No way."
I already had a guess at what it was.
Rose carefully unwrapped the package, her hands shaking slightly with excitement. As the cloth fell away, a sleek, polished broomstick was revealed—the very latest model, the Nimbus 2000.
The Great Hall seemed to pause for a moment. Then—
"Whoa!" Dean Thomas whistled from down the table. "That's amazing!"
"Blimey, that's top of the line," Seamus added. "Fastest broom there is!"
Rose ran her fingers over the smooth wood, a slow grin spreading across her face. "I can't believe it…"
Ron looked positively envious. "First-year and already gets the best broom in the school. Some people have all the luck."
Of course, not everyone was happy about it.
Draco Malfoy had been watching the entire scene from the Slytherin table, his expression twisting with barely concealed jealousy. He stood up and stalked over, his face full of disbelief.
"You're on the team?" he blurted. "How? First-years never make the team!"
Rose smirked, tilting her head. "Oh, I have you to thank for that, actually."
Draco blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"You remember when you bullied Neville in flying class?" Rose asked innocently. "If you hadn't, I wouldn't have had the chance to prove myself in front of McGonagall." She twirled a lock of hair between her fingers. "So, really, this is your doing."
Draco turned red. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he sneered. "Tch. Doesn't matter. My father could buy me a dozen Nimbus 2000s if I wanted one. But unlike some people, I don't need gifts to prove my worth."
Ron, ever ready to argue, leaned forward. "If you're so good, Malfoy, why aren't you on the Slytherin team?"
Malfoy's sneer faltered for half a second before he recovered. "You'll see soon enough, Weasley. Slytherin doesn't need luck—we have skill."
He turned on his heel and stalked back to his table, Crabbe and Goyle lumbering after him.
Rose rolled her eyes. "He's so predictable."
"Forget about him," I said. "We should test that out." I nodded at the broom.
A slow grin spread across her face. "Now that's an idea."
That afternoon, after classes, we sneaked out to the Quidditch pitch. The moment Rose kicked off the ground, I knew this broom was different.
She wasn't just flying—she was soaring.
The Nimbus responded to her slightest movement, cutting through the air with breathtaking speed and precision. She dove, twisted, and looped through the sky, laughter spilling from her lips.
"Alright, now that's impressive," Ron admitted, shading his eyes as he watched her.
Even Hermione, who normally didn't care much for Quidditch, looked a little awed.
After a few laps, Rose landed smoothly, her eyes sparkling. "That. Was. Amazing."
Ron nudged me. "Go on, Ethan, give it a try."
I hesitated. "I'm not exactly a Quidditch player."
"But you can fly," Rose said. "Go on."
I sighed, but she tossed me the broom before I could argue. The moment I kicked off the ground, I understood why she was so excited.
It was like cutting through the wind itself. The broom moved like an extension of my body, responding to the slightest shift in my balance. I wasn't just riding it—I was one with it.
I tried a few turns, testing its maneuverability, before coming in for a smooth landing. "Alright," I admitted. "That's definitely the best broom I've ever flown."
Ron sighed dramatically. "Wish I had one."
Rose laughed. "Maybe when you make the team."
"Oi!"
By the time we made it back to Gryffindor Tower, the common room was buzzing with excitement over Rose's new broom. But we had other plans.
Fred and George, always up for a bit of rule-breaking, had agreed to smuggle in a few treats from Hogsmeade. Rose, Ron, and I gathered around as George produced a small enchanted bag and dumped its contents onto the table.
Fizzing Whizzbees, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Pumpkin Pasties, and most importantly—Chocolate Frogs.
Ron grinned. "You two are legends."
Fred smirked. "We know."
As I unwrapped a Chocolate Frog, I glanced at the collectible card inside. A familiar face stared back at me.
Nicholas Flamel.
My breath hitched.
Rose peered over my shoulder. "Who's that?"
Hermione suddenly gasped. "Wait—Flamel?" She snatched the card and read the description aloud:
"Nicholas Flamel – The only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone, an alchemical substance that grants immortality and can turn any metal into pure gold."
Everything clicked into place.
Hermione's eyes widened. "That's it! That's why the name sounded familiar! He's in my book!"
She dug into her bag, yanking out a thick tome and flipping through the pages frantically. "Here! 'The Philosopher's Stone is a legendary alchemical object said to grant eternal life…'"
Ron frowned. "So… that's what's hidden at Hogwarts?"
Hermione nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "It has to be."
Rose looked stunned. "No wonder someone's trying to steal it."
I remained silent, my mind working through the implications.
I had known about Flamel from the beginning. But now, they knew too.
Things were about to escalate.
And I needed to be ready.
Just as the weight of this discovery settled over us, Ron suddenly perked up. "Wait—tomorrow's the match!"
Rose stiffened. "Oh. Right."
Hermione frowned. "What match?"
"Gryffindor versus Slytherin," Ron said. "First Quidditch match of the season. And it's Rose's first game as Seeker."
Rose forced a grin, but I could tell it was a little strained. "Yeah… should be fun."
Ron snorted. "You look like you'd rather face You-Know-Who."
"I'm not scared," Rose said quickly. "Just… nervous. What if I mess up? What if I fall? What if I—"
"You won't," I said firmly.
She glanced at me, and I met her gaze. "You're good, Rose. Really good. You proved that today."
Ron nodded. "And you've got the best broom out there. Just catch the Snitch before Malfoy's lot does, and we win."
Fred, who had wandered over, clapped Rose on the back. "Relax, Potter. We always smash Slytherin. Tomorrow will be no different."
Rose exhaled, still looking uncertain. But then, she straightened her shoulders. "Right. I just need to focus."
As we headed off to bed, I saw Rose fidgeting with her Quidditch robes, lost in thought.
Tomorrow was going to be a big day.
For all of us.
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PS. I edited the part that he lived in USA > now they lived in England, but his parents were American. in chapter 6.
Please let me know about the length of chapter - do you like short ones or long ones (6-7 chapters ahead are short like this one).
Please comment.
Bonus chapter from last week's 10 stones.
For every 10 power stones, 1 bonus chapter will be available.