Chapter 38: Chapter 19
Sunday morning dawned clear and crisp. The sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled light across the grounds of Hogwarts. Harry, feeling a surge of anticipation, prepared for the day's special meeting. He had informed all members of the Order of the Stars to gather at Hagrid's hut rather than their usual meeting place. This would be their first meeting outside the familiar confines of their regular clubhouse, and Harry wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page.
By mid-morning, the members began to assemble at Hagrid's cabin. The towering hut was surrounded by the lush greenery of the Forbidden Forest, and the air was filled with the earthy scent of damp leaves and fresh grass. Harry watched as his friends and fellow club members made their way up the path. They were greeted by the sight of Hagrid's warm, inviting home, with smoke curling from the chimney and the promise of tea and cakes wafting through the air.
Harry stood outside the hut, waiting for everyone to arrive. As each member came into view, he greeted them warmly. Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger, Parvati Patil, Padma Patil, Terry Boot, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Daphne Greengrass, and Tracy Davis all gathered around, their faces filled with curiosity and eagerness.
"Good morning, everyone!" Harry called out as they approached. "Thank you all for coming. We've got a lot to discuss today, so let's head inside."
Hagrid, who had been preparing for their arrival, greeted them with his usual enthusiastic hospitality. "Morning, Harry! Morning, all of you! I've got some tea and cakes ready for you. Come on in and make yourselves comfortable."
The group filed into the cozy interior of Hagrid's hut. The large fireplace crackled cheerfully, and the tables were laden with an assortment of treats. As they settled in, Harry took a moment to appreciate the warm, homely atmosphere that Hagrid had created.
"Alright, everyone," Harry began as he stood at the head of the long wooden table, "let's get started. As you know, today's meeting is a bit different. We're here to discuss some important things that concern both our club and Hogwarts."
Hermione raised her hand, her curiosity evident. "What's the special occasion? Why did you want us to meet here at Hagrid's hut?"
Harry smiled, recognizing Hermione's inquisitive nature. "There are a few reasons. First, I wanted to introduce you all to Hagrid, who has kindly agreed to help us with an important project. As some of you may know, I'm working on replacing the old broomsticks at Hogwarts with new ones.
Neville Longbottom suddenly recalled an important detail. "Oh, I almost forgot," he said, turning to Harry. "Did you end up contacting your godfather about replacing the old broomsticks with new ones?"
Harry nodded. "Yes, I did. Sirius got back to me and suggested that I should build the new broomsticks myself."
Blaise Zabini looked puzzled. "What do you mean you should build them? Do you even know how to build a broomstick?"
Harry grinned confidently. "Yes, I know how to build broomsticks. I've been working on it for quite some time. In fact, I've already completed three different types of broomsticks, and I'm continuously improving my skills. Creating a learning broomstick is well within my abilities."
A wave of disbelief swept over the group. "Are you serious right now?" Terry Boot asked incredulously. "You know how difficult it is to build a broomstick?"
Harry's smile widened. "I know it's a challenging task, which is why I called this meeting. Hagrid has agreed to help us with the proper woods and materials for broomstick making. What I need from you all is help with building twenty broomsticks for Hogwarts. This way, future first-years will have decent equipment to learn flying."
The room fell silent as the members absorbed Harry's proposal. The idea of building broomsticks themselves was a daunting one, but Harry's confidence and experience were persuasive.
After a few moments, Neville spoke up. "I'm in. If Harry's confident he can do it, then I believe we can make this happen."
Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "It sounds like a great project. It's a significant contribution to Hogwarts, and it aligns well with our club's goals."
The excitement in the room grew as Harry's proposal began to take shape. Parvati Patil voiced what many were feeling. "This is going to be our first major accomplishment as a club. We should definitely register the club with Hogwarts to ensure we get the credit for this donation."
Padma Patil agreed. "Yes, and it will help establish our club's presence and credibility within the school."
The discussion continued, with everyone brainstorming ways to manage the project and ensure its success. Hagrid, who had been listening quietly, offered his support. "If you need any assistance with the materials or if there's anything else I can do, just let me know. I'm here to help."
Harry thanked Hagrid warmly. "I really appreciate that, Hagrid. With your help and the dedication of this club, I'm confident we can make this a reality."
As the meeting drew to a close, the members of the Order of the Stars expressed their enthusiasm for the project. They were eager to contribute to something meaningful and to make a positive impact on Hogwarts.
"I'll draft up a plan and send it out to everyone," Harry said, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Let's make this our best project yet."
As the members of the Order of the Stars exited Hagrid's hut, they found themselves face-to-face with Harry, who had emerged first, proudly holding three broomsticks. Each broomstick had its own distinctive appearance: a standard model with straight wood and a balanced tail, a slightly curved and stylish design, and a third that was a true work of art. This final broomstick, with its perfect bend and striking design, stood out as the most impressive of the three.
Harry held up the broomsticks and began, "I know many of you may have doubts about my ability to create broomsticks, but these three are the result of my efforts. If any of you want to try them out, now's your chance."
There was a moment of silence as the club members took in the sight of the broomsticks. Then, one by one, they mounted the brooms and took to the air around Hagrid's hut. The broomsticks handled beautifully, and the thunderclap arrow—Harry's most advanced creation—quickly became the favorite. Its speed and smooth handling impressed everyone, and the striking design drew admiration.
Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott were particularly taken with the thunderclap arrow. "If you had more of these, I'd definitely buy one," Blaise said, his enthusiasm evident. Theodore nodded in agreement, his eyes wide with amazement.
Harry smiled at their reaction. "I'm glad you like it. Right now, I'm focused on making improvements, so I don't have more to sell."
With that, Harry called out to Kreacher, the house-elf of Sirius Black, who had appeared with a pop. Kreacher was known for his reluctance to obey orders from Sirius, but he had taken a liking to Harry due to the respect Harry showed him. Harry handed over one of the broomsticks to Kreacher. "Could you please take this to my room? I'll be working on it later."
Kreacher accepted the broomstick with a nod and vanished with a pop, carrying out his task.
Susan Bones watched the exchange with curiosity. "Do you have a house-elf now?"
Neville looked at Harry with a hint of confusion. "Wait, you mean Kreacher, Sirius's house-elf? Is he working for you now?"
Harry nodded. "Yes, Kreacher is Sirius's house-elf, but he's taken a liking to me. He's been very helpful."
The group chatted animatedly as they made way back towards Hogwarts. Their spirits were high, buoyed by the excitement of trying out the new broomsticks and the satisfaction of contributing to something significant. Harry felt a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie as he walked alongside his friends, eager to see the impact of their efforts.
Susan Bones and Neville Longbottom approached Professor Minerva McGonagall's office in the afternoon, determined to make their new club official. After a brief wait, they were invited in.
McGonagall, with her usual air of authority, greeted them. "Good morning, Miss Bones, Mr. Longbottom. What brings you here today?"
Susan took the lead. "Professor McGonagall, we're here to officially register our student club, the Order of the Stars. We've already started working on various projects and activities, and we'd like to make it official."
McGonagall raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "The Order of the Stars? What is the purpose of this club?"
Neville replied, "It's a club focused on collaborative projects and activities, including enchanting and other magical and non-magical interests. We aim to contribute positively to Hogwarts and create a space for students from all houses to work together."
McGonagall's expression softened. "I'm impressed by your initiative and the inclusion of students from all houses. Do you have a location in mind for your meetings?"
Susan nodded. "Yes, Professor. We've chosen an abandoned room on the fourth floor. It's a good location for our purposes."
McGonagall reviewed her notes and then nodded. "The fourth floor room will be suitable. I'll ensure it's officially recognized for your use. Just remember to maintain the room and ensure it's safe and appropriate for your activities."
Neville added, "We'll use the room for both our meetings and for storing materials and equipment."
McGonagall smiled. "Very well. I'll get the necessary paperwork processed. Make sure you adhere to school rules and maintain good conduct. I expect great things from your club."
With their registration underway, Susan and Neville thanked Professor McGonagall and left her office, feeling a sense of accomplishment. They proceeded to the fourth floor to prepare their new clubhouse.
The room was dusty but spacious, with ample potential for their needs. After some cleaning and organizing, it would serve as a practical base for their club activities.
As they worked on setting up the room, Neville and Susan were excited about the future. Their club was officially recognized, and they were well on their way to making a positive impact at Hogwarts.
With the approval of Professor McGonagall, Susan Bones and Neville Longbottom led the club members to their newly designated clubhouse on the fourth floor. Harry had suggested this location for its proximity to their secret base behind the Dancing Trolls portrait. By having their official clubhouse close to their hidden base, they could easily manage both spaces: using the official clubhouse for meetings and daily activities, while keeping valuable equipment and sensitive items in the secret room.
Upon arriving at the fourth floor, the group found the abandoned room in a state of neglect. Dust covered the furniture, and cobwebs hung in the corners. However, the space was ample and held promise for their needs.
"Let's get to work," Harry said, rallying the members. "We'll clean this place up and make it presentable. We can set up the regular equipment and use the hidden room for anything that needs to stay secure."
With their wands at the ready, the club members began cleaning. Susan and Neville used their wands to cast cleaning spells, while others dusted off surfaces and moved old furniture out of the way. Hermione Granger took charge of organizing the space, making sure everything was neatly arranged.
As they worked, Harry explained the plan. "We'll use this room as our official clubhouse, where we can hold meetings and store non-sensitive materials. The hidden room will be our secure base for valuable and private equipment. This way, we keep everything organized and safe."
The group nodded in agreement, appreciating the practicality of Harry's approach. They quickly transformed the room into a functional and welcoming space, setting up tables and chairs, and adding some basic supplies.
Once the room was clean, they set up a decoy in the clubhouse—some basic equipment and supplies to make the space look used and active. Meanwhile, they made a plan to visit their hidden base later to store more valuable items and keep their secret safe.
As the day came to a close, the new clubhouse was ready. The club members felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing that they now had both a public and private space to manage their activities. With everything set up, they left the room, excited for the future projects and meetings that awaited them.
As they walked away, Harry glanced back at the newly cleaned clubhouse. It was a symbol of their hard work and the beginning of many successful endeavors for the Order of the Stars.