Helena's Nimbus 2000 & Another Day of Chaos
When Keith entered the Great Hall with Rias, Susan, Tonks, and Cedric, something on the Hufflepuff table immediately stole everyone's attention.
A long, elegant broomstick box sat in front of Helena Prince.
She hesitated, then carefully opened the lid.
A collective gasp swept across the Great Hall.
Inside was a brand-new Nimbus 2000.
The golden polish gleamed under the enchanted ceiling, almost glowing.
Helena's eyes widened in pure wonder, and she hugged the broom like it was a priceless treasure.
It was the first time she ever received something this beautiful—something sent with love.
She lifted her head instinctively and looked at the professor's table.
Her eyes found Snape.
For a moment, everything else vanished.
Helena's lips curved into a gentle smile, and with soft eyes she silently mouthed:
"Thank you, Papa."
Snape froze.
Then he immediately turned his head sharply to the side, as if something on the opposite wall suddenly became fascinating.
But anyone watching closely—really closely—could see it:
A faint pink flush on his pale cheeks.
Snape internally scolded himself.
Snape (thought):
It's… been a long time since she called me Papa.
…Ridiculous. I'm a professor. Composure, Severus. Composure.
Yet the faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips betrayed him.
Other Captains React
The other house Quidditch captains—Oliver Wood (Gryffindor), Charles Flint (Slytherin), and Cho's soon-to-be captain predecessor from Ravenclaw—visibly tensed the moment they saw the golden Nimbus lettering.
Oliver Wood:
"…Special training. Again. Immediately."
Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson, who had just entered the Great Hall after freshening up from their earlier talk with Keith, suddenly felt a chill crawl up their backs.
The worst kind of chill.
The Quidditch Captain Deciding Their Fate chill.
They followed the invisible line of dread to Oliver Wood's narrowed eyes aimed directly at Helena's broom.
Katie & Angelina (in perfect sync):
"…No. Not again."
Oliver slammed his fist into his palm.
Oliver:
"Special. Training."
Katie and Angelina slowly turned toward Keith at the Hufflepuff table with the most betrayed expressions imaginable.
Keith, sipping pumpkin juice, raised a hand slightly and gave them a helpless look:
Keith (lip-reading silently):
…Sorry.
They groaned and dropped their heads onto the table.
Breakfast Ends — Time for DADA
After the commotion, the students began moving to their first class.
Hufflepuff and Slytherin headed together to Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Professor Quirrell entered, stuttering and clutching his turban as usual.
He began reading directly from the textbook in a trembling voice.
Five minutes in—
Keith rested his cheek on his hand.
Ten minutes in—
His eyes blinked slowly.
Fifteen minutes—
His head dipped.
Twenty minutes—
Keith: asleep. Again.
Rias sighed. Susan covered her mouth to hide a giggle. Helena shook her head fondly.
Behind them, Daphne and Cassandra stole glances at Keith's sleeping face.
He looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Cassandra whispered:
Cassandra:
"He's… adorable like this."
Daphne:
"…Don't say it out loud."
The class continued, Quirrell's voice more lullaby than lesson, and Keith—Hufflepuff's Sleeping Dragon—remained deep in slumber.