When Professor Flitwick extended the invitation, Alvin wasn’t surprised.
Harry Potter had caught a Remembrall and ended up on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team.
Alvin had caught an entire person.
Objectively speaking, that seemed like the more impressive accomplishment.
More importantly, there was Cho.
If everything went according to plan, she would likely join the Ravenclaw team this year as well.
They weren’t in the same year, and their schedules rarely lined up.
Quidditch would give them an excuse to spend time together without having to hunt each other down between classes.
With that in mind, Alvin nodded.
“Of course, Professor.
I’d be delighted.” Then he paused.
“But is that really allowed?” “I thought first-years weren’t permitted to join Quidditch teams.” “Don’t worry about that, Mr.
Gaunt.” Flitwick’s smile widened immediately.
“I’ll handle the paperwork.” The twinkle in his eyes suggested he had already planned several steps ahead.
“Leave the rest to me.” With that, the tiny professor hopped down from his chair and waddled toward a large chest near the window.
After unlocking it, he bent over and rummaged through its contents.
A moment later, he emerged carrying a long package.
“Here.” He placed it on the desk.
Alvin looked at it curiously.
“Professor?” “A Nimbus 2000.” Flitwick’s voice carried a note of pride.
“The newest racing broom on the market.” “One of my former students works for Nimbus Racing Brooms as a designer.
He sent it to me some time ago.” The professor smiled.
“I originally intended to give it to Roger Davies.” “But after today’s performance, I believe you’ll make even better use of it.” Alvin’s eyes widened.
A Nimbus 2000.
The very broom Harry would soon become famous for flying.
McGonagall had personally purchased Harry’s broom.
Flitwick, meanwhile, casually produced one from storage.
Typical Ravenclaw.
The house might not have as many influential pure-blood families as Slytherin, but Ravenclaw graduates seemed to appear everywhere.
Researchers.
Inventors.
Curse-breakers.
Healers.
Magical engineers.
Every field was filled with former Ravenclaws.
Once those connections came together, their influence was enormous.
No wonder most people preferred arguing with Gryffindors.
Picking a fight with Ravenclaw sounded exhausting.
Without hesitation, Alvin accepted the gift.
The polished handle gleamed in the sunlight.
Even sitting still, the broom looked fast.
“Thank you, Professor.” His smile was genuine.
“I’ll take good care of it.” Flitwick looked pleased.
“I know you will.” Alvin glanced down at the broom.
“When should I report for training?” “Next Wednesday.” Flitwick nodded.
“That’s when we’re holding team tryouts.” “Find Roger Davies.
He’ll evaluate your flying and decide which position suits you best.” After a few final instructions, the meeting came to an end.
Alvin left the office carrying his new broom.
The moment he stepped back into the Ravenclaw common room, he regretted it.
Immediately.
Students spotted him.
Then they spotted the package.
Then they connected the dots.
A fresh wave of curious Ravenclaws descended upon him.
“What did Professor Flitwick want?” “Is that a Nimbus 2000?” “Did he really recruit you?” “Can I hold it?” “No.” Alvin answered that last question far more quickly than the others.
After several exhausting minutes, he finally managed to escape.
Only then did Cho approach.
Her eyes immediately landed on the broom.
“What’s that?” “A Nimbus 2000.” Cho blinked.
Then blinked again.
“Professor Flitwick gave you a Nimbus 2000?” “Apparently.” Alvin shrugged.
“He also invited me to join the Quidditch team.” “Though I still have to pass the tryouts.” Cho looked genuinely stunned.
“But first-years aren’t allowed on House teams.” Alvin smirked.
“So I’ve heard.” Then he lowered his voice.
“McGonagall called Harry away earlier.” Cho paused.
A moment later, realization dawned.
“Oh.” “Exactly.” Harry’s aerial chase after Malfoy had hardly gone unnoticed.
If Alvin could guess what was happening, so could everyone else.
Then he changed the subject.
“Tryouts are next Wednesday.” “Are you going too?” The effect was immediate.
Cho’s eyes lit up.
“Of course!” The hesitation vanished instantly.
“My goal this year is to become Ravenclaw’s Seeker.” The confidence in her voice made Alvin smile.
“Then we’ll probably be teammates.” Cho’s smile grew even wider.
“Maybe.” “Classes are finished for the morning.” Alvin lifted the broom.
“Want to take the Nimbus for a test flight?” Cho stared at him.
“You’d let me use it?” “Why wouldn’t I?” He laughed.
“It’s a broom, not a sacred artifact.” Before she could protest, he grabbed her hand.
“Come on.” “Lunch first.” “Then we’ll head to the Black Lake.” The afternoon turned out to be one of the most enjoyable they’d had since arriving at Hogwarts.
The Black Lake sparkled beneath the autumn sunlight.
Cho spent nearly the entire afternoon in the air.
The Nimbus responded beautifully.
She dove toward the water.
Shot upward again.
Executed tight turns and sweeping loops.
Every maneuver looked effortless.
Every pass through the sky left her grinning.
Watching her laugh as she flew, Alvin found himself smiling as well.
At some point, a thought quietly took root.
This Christmas…
He would buy Cho her own Nimbus 2000.
The broom Flitwick had given him was different.
That had been a gift from his professor.
Passing it along would feel wrong.
But buying one himself?
That was another matter entirely.
The decision was made.
The following week passed peacefully.
Students settled into the rhythm of Hogwarts life.
And with that came a universal realization.
Homework was evil.
Homework was endless.
And Hogwarts professors seemed determined to weaponize it.
One afternoon in the library, Alvin looked up from his notes just in time to witness Harry and Ron desperately attempting to negotiate with Hermione.
“Just let us copy a little.” “Not even half.” “Maybe one paragraph.” Hermione looked horrified.
“Absolutely not.” The assignment in question was Snape’s latest masterpiece.
Three feet of parchment.
Single-spaced.
Even Alvin had to admire the man’s commitment to suffering.
Fortunately, he wasn’t particularly troubled by it.
After surviving university papers, business reports, and investment proposals in his previous life, Hogwarts essays felt almost relaxing.
Almost.
More importantly, Wednesday arrived.
And with it came Quidditch tryouts.
Both Alvin and Cho attended.
Both succeeded.
Cho earned the position she had wanted from the very beginning.
Seeker.
The role suited her perfectly.
Fast.
Focused.
Fearless.
As for Alvin, Roger Davies had initially expected him to try out as a Chaser or perhaps even a Seeker.
Instead, Alvin chose a different position.
Beater.
The decision surprised everyone.
“Why Beater?” Roger asked.
Alvin’s answer was immediate.
“A Beater protects the Seeker.” The captain blinked.
Alvin glanced toward Cho.
“She only needs to focus on finding the Golden Snitch.” “I’ll handle everything else.” “I’ll keep her safe.” For a moment, silence fell over the pitch.
Then every member of the team slowly turned toward Cho.
The young witch’s face turned bright red.
“Alvin!” She sounded somewhere between embarrassed and delighted.
Unfortunately for her, Alvin was entirely shameless.
A short while later, he managed to steal another kiss.
The Ravenclaw Quidditch Team watched the entire thing unfold.
In silence.
An entire team of athletes.
Forced to endure yet another display of romance.
No one had asked for this.
Yet somehow they kept becoming unwilling spectators.
Once again, they found themselves fed an unreasonable amount of dog food.