HP and Godric's Vault - Chapter - 50 (Patreon)

The club members could hardly contain their excitement as they gathered in the Great Hall, eagerly awaiting the recognition that would finally showcase all the hard work they had poured into the Order of the Stars. For most of Hogwarts, their club was a small, relatively unnoticed group, composed almost entirely of first-years with little to no reputation or status among the older students. But today, that would change. Today, they would prove that their club was more than just a curiosity—it was a group with skill, dedication, and creativity.

Harry, unable to sit still, had asked Percy Weasley to handle his camera and take pictures of the event. The pictures would be important, not just as memories but as proof of what they'd achieved. As they sat down to breakfast, exchanging eager glances, the headmaster rose from his seat at the head table. The hall fell silent, every eye turning to Dumbledore, whose eyes twinkled with a mixture of pride and curiosity.

Clearing his throat, Dumbledore smiled warmly at the students. "Today, I am delighted to recognize a unique accomplishment," he began, his voice carrying through the hall. "Our Order of the Stars club, made up almost entirely of first-year students, has undertaken a remarkable project that exemplifies the spirit of Hogwarts itself—creativity, skill, and a willingness to try what others might believe impossible."

He gestured for the club members to stand, and the Great Hall erupted in applause. With slightly flushed cheeks, the club members rose, grinning and nudging one another as they soaked in the attention and admiration.

Dumbledore continued, "These talented students saw a need here at Hogwarts and set about crafting a solution. Under their dedication and teamwork, they have successfully built new broomsticks—yes, you heard correctly, broomsticks of their own making! And today, they are donating these fine broomsticks to our school, for the benefit of future students learning the art of flight."

The applause grew louder, and students from every house leaned in with newfound respect and curiosity. The Weasley twins gave a particularly loud cheer, and Percy dutifully snapped photos, catching the proud expressions on each club member's face.

After the applause died down, Professor Flitwick stood up, barely able to contain his own excitement. "As Head of Ravenclaw House, I must say I am exceptionally proud of your intellectual and magical achievement. Broomstick crafting is no easy feat, even for seasoned wizards, and you have accomplished it with ingenuity and teamwork."

With beaming smiles, the Order of the Stars members, led confidently by Neville Longbottom, entered the Great Hall. Each held a broomstick proudly in hand, ready for their moment of recognition. As they approached the head table, the Heads of Houses and Headmaster Dumbledore himself rose to meet them. Neville stepped forward, taking a deep breath as he presented a broomstick to each professor, his hands steady with pride.

In the midst of it all, Harry saw Percy Weasley was busy capturing each moment with the camera, clicking one picture after another, immortalizing the culmination of their hard work. Neville, taking his role as Secretary seriously, decided to give a short speech, his voice filled with sincerity and a touch of nervous excitement.

"Hello friends, We started this project because I had a bit of a mishap," Neville began with a sheepish grin, glancing over at Professor McGonagall, who gave him a faint smile of encouragement. "On one of the school brooms, I nearly fell off. The broomsticks we first-years have for learning to fly… well, they’re in need of a bit of help." A few students chuckled in sympathy, and Neville pressed on. "It was actually Harry's idea to try and make new ones—broomsticks that could be safer and easier to learn on."

Neville paused, glancing at Harry, who looked down modestly. "Harry put in so much work," Neville continued, "but he didn’t want any recognition for it. This project, though, it was all of us working together. And we're really proud to share these new brooms with Hogwarts."

The hall filled with applause, from the first-years who looked on with admiration to the older students who, despite their initial doubts about the club, now cheered for their achievement. Even the Weasley twins were impressed, whistling and clapping the loudest in approval.

Then, just as the applause began to die down, Neville signaled for his fellow club members, Susan, Hannah, Padma, and Terry. They came forward carrying something far larger and heavier than the other broomsticks. The Great Hall quieted in awe as they brought forward a broomstick unlike any other—massive, built from a sturdy trunk-like wood with an enormous tail of thick, wild branches. It was a special gift, crafted especially for Hagrid.

Hagrid’s eyes filled with tears as he saw the enormous broomstick, his heart swelling with pride and gratitude. Taking a deep breath, he wiped at his eyes and addressed the hall. "Thank you, truly, for this wonderful gift. It means more to me than words can say, to see yeh all workin' together like this. Hogwarts… well, it's like family. An’ this club, Order of the Stars… it’s somethin’ special, it is."

The Great Hall burst into applause once more, and the professors nodded approvingly, clearly touched by the moment. After breakfast, Headmaster Dumbledore announced that all students could head outside to test out the new brooms if they wished. With eager excitement, the students poured out onto the grounds, eager to see the Order of the Stars’ handiwork in action.

The excitement on the Hogwarts grounds was electric. Students from every house eagerly lined up to try the new custom-made brooms, laughing and cheering as they took turns flying around. The brooms, crafted by the Order of the Stars club members, performed beautifully, with smooth handling and impressive control, making each flight feel like a thrilling adventure. The club members were showered with congratulations, their peers and even older students recognizing their remarkable achievement.

Many students, impressed by the club's work, asked if they could join, curious about future projects. But Neville, smiling proudly, informed them that membership wouldn’t open again until next year. The exclusivity only seemed to add to the allure of the Order of the Stars, making it one of the most talked-about clubs at Hogwarts.

Meanwhile, Harry had been busy sending off photos of their project to The Quibbler, edited by Xenophilius Lovegood, who was a close friend of Harry’s. He documented everything, from the very first sketches of the brooms to the final test flights. The next issue of The Quibbler proudly featured an article detailing the club’s incredible journey, complete with Harry’s photos showing their progress from start to finish.

The article caused a stir beyond Hogwarts as well, as proud parents across the wizarding world read about their children’s ingenuity. Theo’s mother and uncle were particularly delighted, praising him for contributing to such an ambitious project. Neville’s grandmother, always strict yet supportive, was incredibly proud to see her grandson’s photo in both The Quibbler and The Daily Prophet, which had picked up the story for its “Hogwarts Young Innovators” column. She wrote Neville a letter, telling him how pleased she was to see him taking the lead and making a name for himself.

Even amid the buzz surrounding their new broomsticks, the Order of the Stars members never forgot about Norbert, Hagrid's secret dragon. The young dragon was still safely hidden in the cave that Harry had cleverly enchanted to shield Norbert from unwanted attention. Each club member took turns visiting the cave, making sure Norbert was well-fed and cared for. The dragon, now familiar with the Order members, seemed to enjoy their company, eagerly awaiting their arrival with slabs of meat they brought as treats.

Susan Bones, who had a particular fascination with magical creatures, had even befriended a couple of centaurs in the forest. She was captivated by their wisdom and sense of mystery, and they, in turn, respected her earnestness and curiosity. Susan often returned from her visits to the forest with tales of her encounters, enthralling the rest of the club with stories about the centaurs' insights and their predictions about the stars.

Meanwhile, Hagrid was overjoyed with his new broomstick, custom-made by the club just for him. Built to handle his large frame, the broom allowed him to fly swiftly over the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid took great pride in patrolling the forest, using his broom to keep an eye on the magical creatures in his care. The broom also allowed him to reach Norbert’s cave quickly, and he often visited the little dragon, bringing treats or simply spending time with him.

The Order members found joy and satisfaction in their responsibilities, bonding over the secret they shared. Norbert, their little dragon friend, had become a part of their adventures, a testament to their loyalty to one another and their love for magical creatures.

Things took a frightening turn when Padma got bitten by Norbert. She had reached for a small trinket—a shiny button enchanted with a mild glow—that Norbert had been playing with, but the dragon was more possessive than expected. With a quick snap of his jaws, he bit Padma’s hand. Though it was a small bite, it immediately started swelling, as dragon bites, even from a young dragon, carried potent magical effects.

Realizing they needed medical attention, the Order members quickly led Padma to Madam Pomfrey. On the way, they whispered about what they’d say, knowing they couldn’t reveal Norbert’s existence without putting both him and Hagrid in danger.

When they reached the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey inspected the nasty bite, raising an eyebrow as she examined the inflamed skin. “What exactly bit you?” she asked, her gaze sharp as she looked between Padma and the other nervous club members.

Padma, glancing at her friends, quickly replied, “It was... one of the magical creatures Hagrid breeds. It grabbed onto me a little too enthusiastically.” The healer’s eyes narrowed, clearly suspicious, but she didn't press further.

“Well, magical creature or not, I’d say it looks suspiciously like one,” Madam Pomfrey muttered under her breath. She applied a thick paste of a healing salve and muttered some incantations to reduce the swelling. “You lot need to be more careful around magical creatures,” she warned sternly. “They’re not all as friendly as they look.”

The club members exchanged guilty looks, relieved she hadn’t dug deeper but worried about how close they’d come to exposing Norbert. They resolved to be far more careful with their interactions with the young dragon, understanding the risks involved in keeping such a powerful creature as their secret companion.

Hermione, ever the diligent researcher, made an unexpected discovery while poring over her latest dragon texts. She’d been determined to learn everything she could about dragons to help the club take better care of Norbert. But while reading about dragon anatomy and behavior, she stumbled upon something surprising: Norbert was, in fact, female.

Excited and a little flustered, Hermione brought the news to the other club members, who listened in stunned silence as she explained how she’d figured it out. “According to everything I read,” she said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm, “Norbert—well, Norberta—has characteristics that are distinctive to female Norwegian Ridgebacks.”

At first, everyone struggled with the idea of changing Norbert’s name. They’d all gotten so used to the rough-sounding, dragon-worthy name that it felt strange to think of her as anything else. After some debate and a lot of laughs, they decided on “Norberta,” a name that sounded both familiar and fitting for their fierce friend.

From then on, Norberta adjusted surprisingly well to her new name—and to her newfound freedom. Now that she was growing bigger and stronger, she took to flying out of the cave for short stretches, always returning without drawing attention to herself. Her flights became a sort of routine, adding to her exercise and keeping her curious mind occupied, much to the club's relief.

For the Order members, the transition to calling her Norberta was a bit of a challenge, but it quickly became natural. They couldn’t help but feel that their bond with her had deepened, knowing they’d truly gotten to know their dragon companion—even her hidden traits. Norberta, for her part, seemed content, her loyalty to the club unwavering, and her daily flights becoming a symbol of her growing strength and spirit.