Hogwarts 1991

Chapter 311 Nimbus 3000S Model
“Clean up!”

"Quick drying!"

Mr. Weasley cleaned up with his wand first, and dried several people's clothes.

Percy explained to McGuffin, "This kind of elf is very difficult to see in the wizarding world...Only large-scale potion planting companies and forest magic secrets have this kind of elf community... 200 years ago, dark wizards and pure-blood families killed elves, which has greatly reduced the number of this group...It was not until this century that the Ministry of Magic announced that the flying powder and invisibility powder made of elf wings were controlled as illegal military items. This trend was stopped, but it is rare to see so many in the wizarding world. A gathering of elves."

"So many magic fountains require careful maintenance, that's why we can see so many elves... Everyone in the world knows that elves are the best helpers for maintaining magic tools and important herbs..."

"Okay, kids..."

Mr. Weasley clapped his palms, interrupting Percy's explanation, diverting McGuffin and Ron's attention from the elf.

He pulled the luggage, and Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley took McGuffin from the beach to a fireplace on the left.

The wizards who came out of the magic fountain lined up here, carrying their luggage and preparing to leave.

Next to the fireplace there is a goblin peddler.

In addition to a small bag, a small bag of road powder, most of the stalls here are magic newspapers.

There are "Daily Prophet", "Witches Weekly", "American Wizards Weekly", "Atlantic Monthly", "Voice of Wizards" and other newspapers from various countries, and there are even uncommon unpopular newspapers, such as "Gringotts Economics", which is a financial professional publication that is not common in the magic world.

Mr. Weasley frowned, staring at a large-page report in the Daily Prophet.

Looking a little nervous.

It was a black and white roaring prison photo.

It seems that Sirius Black is still the headlines in the British wizarding world.

The wizard next to him was arguing there. (The Ministry of Magic is such a piece of crap... I mean, no kid can go out alone until he's back in Azkaban)
Percy also leaned forward to listen to all this, with a dead face and serious expression, as if he had become the Minister of Magic.

"Okay, come here quickly, we're going back!" Mrs. Weasley called several people repeatedly.

With great difficulty the MacGuffin took his eyes from one stall.

There, a female elf waved a wand, causing an automatic shoe-cleaning flywheel fluff machine to spin and fly. (makes a rattling sound)
In the end it was Mrs. Weasley who gathered everyone in front of the fireplace again.

She took out a small cloth bag from her pocket, which contained Floo powder.

Each person was allocated a little more than a fingernail.

Then wait until the wizard in the Scottish highland dance skirt in front steps into the flames and disappears.

Mr. Weasley turned his head and said to McGuffin, "McGuffin, you should stay at our house for one night. Tomorrow, I will ask my colleagues from the Ministry of Magic to open a temporary Floo powder channel... so that you can be sent back."

McGuffin nodded and agreed.

"The Burrow!" said the McGuffin, throwing a handful of Floo powder on the fireplace and stepping into it.

With the green flame mat instantly engulfed his body.

……

——It’s getting better and better.

Harry thought.

He never thought that his birthday this year would be spent in such a wonderful situation.

Now he could sleep as long as he wanted, he could buy himself a big magic cake for his birthday, and he could wander Diagon Alley all day without hearing Vernon Dursley's insane rants.

The only pity is that compared to the previous two years (the first year was when Hagrid celebrated his happy birthday, and the second year was when Albert’s family celebrated for him), now it’s just his birthday, and his friends are all traveling in foreign countries.

However, this is enough.

In Harry's opinion, [The Leaky Cauldron] and [Diagon Alley] are the best and most charming birthday presents right now.

As night fell these days, before going to bed, he could get in touch with and observe those weird wizards in [The Leaky Cauldron Bar].

The bold wild wizards, noisy gnomes and goblins, interesting little witches, and wizards dressed in strange Muggle looks (at first glance, they are preparing to go to the Muggle world for the first time, and Harry will kindly give some pointers at this time), or listening to some old wizards arguing about Transfiguration and potions, he even saw a black-eyed man with fangs like Tom asking for a pack of gelatinous blood, eating it with relish, very suspicious.Harry was almost sure it was a vampire (but old Tom never gave Harry a definitive answer).

Harry had never seen so many different wizards and wizards.

All this now satisfies him immensely.

He was looking forward to having a happy birthday here.

……

On the morning of July 7.

Harry struggled to get up from the bed early.

It's not easy.

Because these days, in [The Leaky Cauldron], Harry can sleep as long as he wants, except for the occasional awakening of Harry when the cleaning witch from [The Leaky Cauldron] comes to clean, there is no other disturbance.

He usually doesn't go to have breakfast in [the lobby on the first floor of the bar] until a little after nine o'clock.

However, today was very different. Even though Harry couldn't sleep last night, he got up early.

And not just because it was Harry's birthday.

Also because he needs to buy all the textbooks for the new semester today.

One night a few days ago, Harry received a letter from [Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry].

Letters are thicker than ever.

It says:

Dear Mr Potter,
Please note that the new term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will begin on August [-]rd.The Hogwarts Express thunder train will leave at eleven o'clock from King's Cross station nine and three quarters.

On certain weekends, third year students are allowed to visit Hogsmeade.Please give the enclosed consent form to your parent or guardian to sign.

(...)
Harry glanced briefly.

The above informed all the little wizards that the school would start almost a month earlier, and it was scheduled for August 8rd.

And the tickets for the [Hogwarts Express] were also mailed over.

There are also some new books for the Year [-] curriculum.

[Divination], [Fantastic Beasts], [Muggle Studies], [Number Divination]... There are many courses that they need to choose.

From now on, Harry had to understand and choose these courses purposefully, to accumulate credits, so that he could smoothly advance to the next grade.

According to Hermione's letter telling him that in the third grade, if the credits or the scores of the main courses are not enough, it is very likely that he will be repeated.

Unlike in the first and second grades, even the two idiots Gore and Crabbe could easily pass the level, and when they reached the third grade, the difficulty of the course would suddenly increase. It can be said that they have entered a real magic course.

They need to start working hard for the [Wizard Level Certificate].

And this year, the time left for little wizards is extremely tight, and there is not much time for them to choose courses.

Harry had only just made up his mind about his course yesterday (under the guidance of Tom and Florin, the owner of the ice cream shop, Florin himself), and this morning he was starting to buy the required course books.

Still, Harry was disappointed that he couldn't make it to Hogsmeade.

He'd heard Percy and the twins and the other seniors mention it.

It's the closest magic village to Hogwarts Castle, and there are many magic shops... Hogwarts students get most of their magic gadgets and candies from there.

Especially the butter beer there, described by the twins as a unique drink in the world.

But now... It was impossible for Harry to get Vernon and Petunia's signature.

Harry smiled wryly, but gave up the idea anyway.

So these few nights, Harry has rarely suffered from insomnia.

Today, at breakfast, a strange owl landed in front of Harry with a huge package.

He recognized Hagrid's handwriting in the jagged handwriting on the vellum at a glance.

A birthday card was taped to the vellum.

Harry picked it up and looked at it.

Dear Harry:
Life is good!

I heard you escaped from the Dursleys' house, damned Vernon Dursley, it seems that I didn't teach Dudley enough last time, next time I'm going to turn him into a pig's head.

Not much to say, this thing will be useful to you after school starts, (Hogwarts Castle has now been renovated), wait for an interview in two days.

Celebration

Everything goes well
Hagrid
……

Harry looked at the brown paper, which seemed to be alive and quivering slightly.

—Hagrid's gift?

Always felt a little dangerous.

After hesitating for a moment, Harry still tore off the outer layer of paper and saw a green leather thing, but he hadn't had time to see what it was.

The thing screamed, tore the remaining wrapping paper to shreds, and ran across the long table at the Leaky Cauldron, bouncing around.

After knocking off the dentures of an old wizard, biting off the leather shoes of N wizards, and chasing the passing little witch for half a bar, Harry couldn't help but fly over and pin him down.

There was nothing else he could do.

The wizards in front of him seemed to be watching the fun, and they didn't help. Even though they were bitten on their toes, they didn't get angry, but laughed.

It wasn't until Harry suppressed the thing that he saw it was a book.

After struggling to fit his dentures, the old wizard next to him answered Harry's doubts: ""The Monster Book of Monsters", I thought no one would use this kind of book. Which genius... chose such a textbook for this year's Hogwarts Protection of Fantastic Beasts course?"

"Boy, you can rub the back of a book to calm it down!"

Harry carefully avoided the protruding teeth and the tongue covered with words many times in "The Monster Book of Monsters". Listening to the old wizard's words, Harry stroked his back, and the book began to calm down.

Before Old Tom came over, Harry fled back to his room, took this 'monster book' and tied it tightly with a hemp rope, and forced it into the bottom of the suitcase in a frantic struggle.

The unexpected surprise wasn't the only one.

When he came to Diagon Alley to buy books.

In the Quidditch boutique store, he saw new brooms other than the Firebolt in the window.

It's that weird 'rocket flying' broom invented by the MacGuffin.

It's a far cry from the smooth, linear, surprisingly beautiful traditional broomsticks of the Firebolt that came out two weeks ago.

The (rocket) magic broom that has been optimized by [Global Light Wheel Company], although it still maintains the general shape of the broom, even a layman should be able to understand that it is completely different inside.

But there is a different kind of coolness.

From Harry's point of view, this thing looked like one of those futuristic flying machines from Muggle sci-fi movies.

Unlike the Firebolt's ash handle, this broom handle was slightly flattened, square, and the edges were sanded into a smooth arc.Constructed entirely of brass metal, engraved with shimmering runes that swirl endlessly.

The tail is composed of five silver-colored pipes, as if two rows of organs (three plus two) are closely connected together.

It was glowing with faint blue flames, floating automatically in the window of the Quidditch boutique. (Completely different from Firebolts placed on plinths).

There are many young wizards crowded there...even the store is directly crowded with many adult wizards to observe. (The store owner's expression is very impatient)
It seems that this new type of broom caused a bigger disturbance than Harry had imagined.

The crowd gathered and discussed.

Some people think that this kind of 'broom' doesn't deserve to be placed here at all. It's not a magical flying broom, but the [Global Light Wheel] company pressured the store owner to put it together with the Firebolt.

"It's nothing compared to the Firebolt... The British Ministry of Magic is going to be a joke in Quidditch history!"

"Hey, look what you said, it's already a laughing stock."

"No, I don't admit it's a broomstick...it's a disgrace. Our Hornets Quidditch Fans' Association firmly opposes it being on the stage of a Quidditch match! Ludo Bagman is destroying British Quidditch..."

Most of the discourse is not in favor of the MacGuffin's 'gizmo'.

Hearing this, Harry couldn't help but sweat for him.

However, there are also those who are optimistic about this.

"I think this thing has two tricks, and the Ministry of Magic is prepared!"

"They're trying to take advantage of the other Quidditch teams' unpreparedness to launch a sneak attack..."

"Quidditch? It's all about speed... Since this broom roughly functions like a normal broom, it's fine.—Isn't it just about speed? That's not shabby!"

A wizard asked while the shopkeeper was driving those fanatical Quidditch fans who were bored out of the shop.

—Does he know what kind of broom the British Quidditch team will be ordering next year?

"Is it the Firebolt, or this..."

"The Nimbus 3000S model!"

The store owner said with a gloomy face, he drove away the wizards around the door for a distance, then waved his wand, and hung a giant poster under his shoulder on the door of the store.

——It's an advertisement for the broom produced by [Universal Light Wheel Company].

That broom was actually driven to draw streaks of silver light in mid-air in the wind, rain and snow.

At the bottom of the poster it says that the average acceleration (minimum) that this broom can achieve is over 200 miles per hour.

This has aroused more heated discussions among people.

(End of this chapter)