Harry Potter and the HQL - Chapter - 23

It had been far too long since Harry last visited Norberta and Sapphira.

Between the chaos at Hogwarts, the rise of the Hogwarts Quidditch League, and Bellatrix Lestrange's growing threat, Harry had scarcely found a moment to himself. But now, with a rare free day and a hint of crisp autumn wind in the air, he made his decision.

“They’ve moved deeper into the forest,” Hagrid had warned him days ago over pumpkin juice. “Too deep for me to follow these days, Harry. Even Fang gets jumpy near their new cave.”

Harry relayed this to the Star Club members who once helped raise and relocate the creatures. Most of them looked horrified at the idea of entering the Forbidden Forest again — especially so deep.

But not Fred and George.

“You’re saying we get to visit a full-grown dragon and a basilisk in one trip?” George grinned.

“And get some brilliant pictures while we’re at it?” Fred added. “Count us in.”

The sun was still climbing the sky when the three of them slipped past Hagrid’s hut and made their way beneath the gnarled shadows of the Forbidden Forest. The canopy thickened quickly, casting the forest in a perpetual twilight. Moss clung to every surface, and the ground squelched underfoot.

Since the Acromantula colony had been magically relocated, new life had begun to return to the forest — magical creatures that once avoided it out of fear of the spiders now roamed more freely.

Fred and George had cameras enchanted to capture stills with a single tap.

“What was that?” Fred whispered, snapping a picture of a strange, fur-covered creature with glowing red eyes as it leapt from a branch and vanished.

“Definitely not in the Fantastic Beasts textbook,” George muttered.

They wandered deeper until the air grew colder, the trees twisted into denser formations, and the path ahead was almost completely hidden. That was when a figure stepped into their path — tall, regal, and unmistakably a centaur.

Harry immediately halted.

The centaur's coat was black as coal, and his upper torso bore markings of old silver paint around his shoulders. A quiver of arrows rested at his back, though he held no weapon now.

“You are Harry Potter,” the centaur said, his voice low and melodic. “And you seek the dragon and the serpent.”

Harry nodded cautiously.

“We do. We’ve visited them before. We just want to see how they’re doing.”

The centaur nodded in understanding.

“I am Maelon. I will show you the way.”

They walked in silence through trees older than the castle itself, until Maelon spoke again.

“A woman walks this forest. Her soul is chaos. Her mind... fractured. She tried to cross the forest’s center to reach your castle.”

Harry’s heart clenched.

“Bellatrix Lestrange?” he asked.

Maelon looked at him with solemn eyes.

“That is the name she screamed at the night. She carried fire with her. Pain. But we drove her back. Yet now she is gone. We have not seen her in many days.”

Fred and George exchanged grim looks. Harry pressed his lips into a thin line.

“Thank you for protecting the school,” he said.

Maelon stopped abruptly and pointed toward a clearing ahead.

“There. The cave of fire and stone. I will go no further.”

“Why not?” asked Fred.

“It is not for centaur-kind to walk where dragons and serpents nest. Go in peace, wizard.”

With that, Maelon disappeared into the woods.

The mouth of the cave ahead yawned like a sleeping giant — massive, lined with jagged rock, and veiled in mist. Heat pulsed faintly from within. As they approached, Harry whispered in Parseltongue:

“Sapphira... It’s me. It’s Harry.”

There was a long silence. Then — a soft hiss behind them.

Fred and George jumped and spun around, cameras raised like shields.

“BLOODY—!” Fred yelped.

“MERLIN’S TOENAILS!” George shouted.

Behind them stood a creature that could have emerged from a nightmare — long and glistening emerald scales, eyes bright with intelligence, and fangs like daggers. But the basilisk made no move to strike. Instead, she lowered her massive head and nuzzled Harry’s shoulder.

Harry grinned.

“Still the queen of pranks, I see.”

Sapphira hissed affectionately and let out a low, rumbling purr.

“She likes you?” George whispered.

“She raised her head behind us like she was about to swallow us whole!” Fred added.

Harry chuckled and stroked Sapphira’s scaled head.

“She’s just being playful.”

From the mouth of the cave, Norberta emerged — bigger, bolder, and more majestic than ever. Her wings stretched wide, casting a shadow over the trees. Her orange eyes blinked as she sniffed the air and let out a thunderous, but pleased, growl.

“Good to see you too,” Harry said warmly.

The twins were already snapping photos.

“We need one with all of us,” Fred said, handing his camera to a hovering picture orb.

The three boys stood between the massive basilisk and the towering dragon, grinning like lunatics.

Click.

“Future grandchildren, eat your heart out,” George muttered, gazing at the photo as it hovered into his hand.

They spent another hour talking to Sapphira — with Harry translating — and tossing meat for Norberta to pounce on.

Eventually, the sun began to dip, and the shadows thickened.

“We should head back,” Harry said.

“Agreed,” Fred replied, slipping the camera into his pack. “But this? Best field trip ever.”

“A dragon and a basilisk,” George said, shaking his head. “And they both like us. Who else can say that?”

With fond farewells and one last gentle nudge from Sapphira, the trio made their way out of the deep forest, leaving behind their secret, magical family — until next time.


The crisp wind of December swept across the Hogwarts grounds, stirring the last of the golden leaves as they fluttered from bare trees. Inside the castle, excitement buzzed through the halls. The long-anticipated project was finally complete. Harry Potter had done it—he had finished the Starlord broomstick, his most ambitious creation to date.

The news spread faster than a wildfire. Students from all houses gathered on the school lawn, their breaths forming puffs of mist in the cold air as they waited to catch a glimpse of the broom that had been whispered about for months. With Christmas break just around the corner, there couldn’t have been a better time for the grand reveal.

Neville Longbottom and the Weasley twins, Fred and George, were the first to take it for a spin. Laughter and cheers echoed as the three soared across the grounds. Fred looped over the Quidditch pitch, shouting, “I’ve never flown smoother! This thing corners like a dream!”

George zoomed past, grinning. “The Firebolt may be fast, but the Starlord’s got grace.”

Even Neville, not always the most confident flier, beamed with joy as he glided effortlessly over the field. “It’s lighter than I thought. And the balance—perfect!”

The broomstick was indeed something to behold. Sleek in design with gleaming black wood and silver inlays shaped like constellations, the Starlord looked as impressive as it flew. Unlike the Firebolt, which boasted raw speed, the Starlord was designed for finesse—better handling, smoother turns, and exceptional stability.

Harry stood at the edge of the field, arms folded, watching with quiet satisfaction. This wasn’t just a broomstick. It was the culmination of years of study, months of fine-tuning, and countless sleepless nights hunched over schematics and enchantments. It was also a gift—ten of them, in fact. Because Harry had announced earlier that year: the winning team of the Hogwarts Quidditch League would receive ten brand-new Starlord broomsticks.

The promise had set Hogwarts ablaze with competitive energy. And now, as the students saw the broom in flight, their excitement turned into fierce determination. Everyone wanted a Starlord.

The first official match of the league was only a week away. Cedric Diggory’s team, the Leviathans, was scheduled to face off against Angelina Johnson’s team, the Phoenixes. Both teams had been training hard, but with the prize now hovering right above their heads—swift and elegant—it was clear that the stakes had never been higher.

Harry turned to Hermione, who stood beside him with a clipboard filled with team schedules and league plans. “We did it,” he said softly.

Hermione smiled. “You did it, Harry. This—” she gestured to the soaring figures in the sky, “—this is going to change Hogwarts Quidditch forever.”

Harry nodded. “Let’s hope it’s just the beginning.”

The Starlord cut through the air above them, leaving behind a trail of awe in its wake.


Harry had finally sent all his broomstick design formulas to the factory in Hogsmeade where the Starlord broom would be mass-produced. The launch had been announced for the Christmas break, and the production line was eagerly preparing for the rush. Remus Lupin, now overseeing the Star Broom Workshop in Hogsmeade, was practically glowing with pride when he received the finalized prototype. He took it out for a test flight across the snowy fields just beyond the village, and his thrilled laughter echoed across the valley.

The workers at the broom factory were equally ecstatic. The moment Harry’s design and enchantment blueprints arrived, word spread like wildfire. This wasn’t just any broomstick—it was the Starlord, created by none other than Harry Potter himself. Even before the broom was officially launched, the factory had been swamped with letters and owls carrying inquiries, pre-orders, and messages of interest from across the wizarding world. Harry's celebrity status only increased the buzz, and it was no secret that the price tag on the broom would be high. But everyone agreed: the Starlord was a top-tier performance broom, worthy of its cost.

Congratulatory letters poured in. Sirius Black sent his with bold handwriting and a sealed Black family crest, full of pride and excitement. Remus’s note was gentler, with thoughtful praise and a promise to take care of production logistics personally. To Harry’s surprise and delight, Sirius even arrived in person for the first official match of the Hogwarts Quidditch League. The stands were packed with students, house banners fluttering beside newly printed league flags.

The opening match featured the Leviathans, captained by Cedric Diggory, against the Phoenixes, led by Angelina Johnson. The excitement in the air was electric. Despite being the first match of the new inter-house league, it was already evident that the Hogwarts Quidditch League was a roaring success.

What made the match even more special was its inclusivity. Cedric’s team featured two talented first years, both of whom played like seasoned professionals. Angelina’s team included a first-year Slytherin as their Keeper—a rare sight, considering old house rivalries. But that was the beauty of the League. With team rosters requiring at least three different houses, traditional rivalries gave way to camaraderie and sportsmanship.


Harry Potter sat in the commentator’s booth beside Lee Jordan, who had insisted on sharing the moment. All around him, students waved enchanted banners and scarves, many of them handmade for their teams. The uniqueness of the League—where players were drawn from multiple Houses—had created excitement that Hogwarts hadn’t seen in years.

On the field, Angelina Johnson, former Gryffindor Chaser and captain of the Phoenixes, gave a sharp nod to her team. Their Keeper, a small but sharp-eyed Slytherin first year named Myles Travers, stood at the ready. Their Beaters, one from Hufflepuff and one from Ravenclaw, cracked their knuckles in anticipation.

Across the field, Cedric Diggory led the Leviathans, calm and confident. His team featured a wide mix: a Ravenclaw Chaser, a Hufflepuff Beater, and even two ambitious first-years from Gryffindor and Slytherin playing as Chasers. But it was Ginny Weasley, newly signed and fiercely determined, who stood out most—clad in blue and silver robes, her broom hovering just inches off the ground. She was their Seeker.

The whistle blew.

With a blast of enchanted wind, the players shot into the sky. The Quaffle passed hands so quickly that even Lee Jordan struggled to keep up.

"Phoenixes with a strong start—pass from Elira Cho to Marcus Vane—back to Elira—Ooooh, intercepted by Gryffindor first-year Leo Burke on the Leviathans!"

The crowd roared. Cheers rang out for both sides as the game swirled with color and motion. Chasers from all four Houses darted and dove, weaving patterns of red, green, blue, and yellow in the air. It was exactly what Harry had envisioned: House unity through sport.

Down by the goalposts, Myles Travers performed miracles, blocking shot after shot from Leviathans’ relentless offense. But across the field, the Leviathans’ Beaters had begun pressing hard, sending Bludgers straight toward the Phoenixes' Chasers, forcing sloppy passes.

"Thirty to twenty, Leviathans leading!" Harry announced, as Lee threw his hands up beside him. "No sign of the Snitch yet, though the Seekers are scanning hard—Ginny’s circling above the Ravenclaw stand like a hawk."

Minutes ticked by. The Phoenixes leveled the score at forty-forty, with Angelina’s powerful scoring keeping them alive. Still, neither Seeker had spotted the Snitch. The match raged on, tactical and fierce.

Then came a flash of gold.

Ginny dived first, her Starlord broom gleaming under the winter sun. The Phoenixes’ Seeker, a Ravenclaw seventh-year named Darcy, hesitated—but followed in pursuit. Gasps echoed across the stands as the two witches streaked through the field, Bludgers and teammates parting in their wake.

"She’s seen it!" shouted Lee.

Harry leaned forward. Ginny’s posture was perfect—tight, controlled, fearless. The Phoenixes’ Seeker was fast, but Ginny was riding one of the few Starlords in the school.

Ginny’s hand shot out. A moment’s silence. Then—

"SHE’S GOT IT!"

Cheers erupted from every corner of the pitch. Ginny, grinning from ear to ear, raised the fluttering golden Snitch above her head.

"Match over! Final score: Leviathans 115, Phoenixes 40!" Harry’s voice rang out across the field.

The students spilled from the stands, crowding onto the grass to lift players into the air and offer congratulations. Cedric hugged Ginny with pride, and Angelina shook his hand with a grin, already plotting the rematch.

Harry stood and watched, heart swelling. This was exactly what he hoped the League would bring: excitement, camaraderie, and a reminder that Hogwarts was more than the sum of its Houses.

And this was only the beginning.