Who Sent the Firebolt? The Dragon Claw in the Crystal Ball

Christmas.

Aaron woke early to find a pile of gift boxes stacked at the foot of his bed.

He rummaged through them and found Jeans’s gift: a crystal-clear Crystal Ball.

"I knew it." Aaron carefully placed the Crystal Ball on the table and focused his attention, beginning a divination as Professor Trelawney had taught him.

However, after more than ten minutes, he saw only a few blurred fragments within the Crystal Ball.

A goblet, filled with flickering blue-white flames, and besides that, a white claw.

Aaron suddenly shook his head and took a while to recover his senses.

He had been studying Divination for less than half a year and could barely be considered an apprentice diviner. Using a Crystal Ball to divine the future was still quite draining for him.

"That claw looked like…"

Deep in thought, Aaron turned to look at Abei, who was rolling around on a bed made of cotton candy, and felt his teeth ache.

It should be fine, right? His dragon was a little mischievous, but it would not cause any trouble.

Aaron reassured himself uncertainly, then opened the gift sent by his parents.

Just as he thought it was some kind of postcard, a familiar document envelope appeared before his eyes, with several messages written on it:

Guaranteed to be far more detailed than the last one.

We hope you choose carefully. Don’t keep us waiting too long.

Gulp!

Aaron could not help swallowing and instinctively took several steps back.

On Christmas of all days, they had sent him a dossier on potential blind dates. Were they deliberately trying to make his life difficult? This was worse than a postcard!

Creak!

A floorboard in the corner opened, and the Thoughtform stepped out.

"Merry Christmas."

"Don’t mock me. This is the worst Christmas I’ve ever had." Aaron wordlessly stuffed the document envelope back into the gift box, intending to let it gather dust in the Chamber of Secrets.

"How are the renovations downstairs going?"

"You know Transfiguration isn’t omnipotent." The Thoughtform sighed meaningfully. "We’re not Salazar Slytherin. The resources we can mobilize are quite limited."

"Change what you can!

"But at the very least, separate the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, training room, and potion room."

"I understand. After all… I’m the one living down there."

Aaron smiled awkwardly. "I’m going to eat first. Make your own arrangements, and don’t forget to practice the Magic Array."

Thoughtform: …

When he arrived at the Great Hall, a large dining table had been set up in the center.

Since many students had gone home for Christmas, only a dozen or so people were eating there: Headmaster Dumbledore, the heads of the four Houses, Filch the caretaker, Harry, Ron, Hermione, two first-year students, and one fifth-year student.

"Gaius, sit down!" Dumbledore said with a smile.

Aaron naturally took a seat at the table. Abei was given a seat as well and began enjoying the lavish breakfast.

"Did you send Harry a Christmas present?" Ron asked curiously.

"A broom model! I told you before."

"Really?" Ron looked doubtful. "Harry did receive a Magic Broom this morning, but besides the Nimbus 2000 specimen, there was also a world-class Firebolt.

"We ruled out everyone we could, and now you’re the only one left with the means to do it."

"If it really was you, just admit it openly. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about," Hermione said with a smile.

"But it really wasn’t me." Aaron shook his head. "I regret losing that Nimbus 2000, but that doesn’t mean I would give him the best Flying Broomstick. Having money doesn’t mean you spend it like that."

"If it wasn’t you, then who was it?" Harry frowned slightly. There was no signature on the broom, and he did not know any wealthy person willing to spend that much money on him.

"How should I know? Maybe it was Hagrid."

"Impossible. It absolutely couldn’t have been him," Ron said with certainty. "Hagrid couldn’t possibly afford a Firebolt."

"Heh." Aaron could not help scoffing. "How ignorant. Hagrid might look a little scruffy, but he is definitely one of the few rich men at Hogwarts.

"Don’t forget, he has the Forbidden Forest at his disposal. Unicorn hair, Acromantula Venom, Hippogriffs, and so on, along with all kinds of precious herbs in the Forbidden Forest.

"If he wanted to, he could casually sell a few things in Diagon Alley and earn more than a professor’s salary."

The three looked at each other. They had never imagined Hagrid was so wealthy. He usually did not even own a decent set of clothes, and his home was… beyond description.

Yet he was actually a hidden tycoon right beside them. The revelation practically blinded them.

"But even so, it wouldn’t be Hagrid." After thinking for a moment, Hermione said, "He’s been worrying about how to deal with the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures these past few days. He simply hasn’t had the time."

"Buckbeak?" Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Hasn’t this been dragging on a little too long?"

"He has to prepare a sufficient and compelling defense. If he loses the case, Buckbeak will probably…"

"I understand." Aaron nodded. "So you’ve been running back and forth to the library these past few days to help him find useful precedents."

"That’s right, but the results haven’t been very good." Harry said regretfully, "There are almost no successful cases of defending magical creatures."

"I’d advise you not to waste your effort either. Many people saw Draco get injured. In the face of evidence as solid as that, any defense will be weak and powerless."

"But Malfoy provoked him first," Harry said indignantly.

"I don’t deny that.

"But it doesn’t matter. Malfoy’s safety is far more important than an unruly magical creature."

"I don’t think so," Ron said unhappily.

"But most people do, and more importantly, Lucius Malfoy, who has power, influence, and money, thinks so. He won’t let Draco be injured for nothing."

At those words, all three of them looked even more dejected.

Unless Lucius Malfoy showed mercy, Hagrid’s defeat was inevitable, and Buckbeak would surely not escape death.

After a brief silence, Hermione turned her gaze toward Aaron. "If Gaius were willing to help, Malfoy would probably change his mind, wouldn’t he?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Harry and Ron looked at him hopefully as well.

"Sorry, but I may have to disappoint you." Aaron spoke bluntly. "I don’t know Buckbeak, so I have no reason to save it.

"Besides, Draco is my friend. What would he think if I saved the Hippogriff that injured him?"

"So there’s no hope, then?" Harry lowered his head in disappointment.

"Not necessarily." Aaron lowered his voice. "Why not just secretly let it go?"

Buckbeak was a Hippogriff, after all. Even if the Ministry of Magic wanted to capture a flying magical creature, it would take a great deal of effort and time.

From what he knew of Fudge, there was an eighty percent chance he would downplay the matter until it disappeared.

"Ah." Hermione slowly shook her head. "The Ministry of Magic would hold Hagrid responsible for poor supervision. Azkaban terrified him badly last year. If he went in again, it would drive him mad."

"Then there’s nothing I can do, unless…"

"Unless what?" Harry asked urgently.

"Unless Buckbeak’s escape has absolutely nothing to do with Hagrid. For example, it could suddenly break free while being escorted, or scratch the executioner and escape during the execution.

"Then it would become the Ministry of Magic’s responsibility. But with your abilities, accomplishing that would be nearly impossible."

Harry and his two companions exchanged looks. Everything was understood without words.

The idea was a little rotten, but it was still far better than sitting helplessly by.

Seeing their expressions, Aaron was instantly speechless.

However, he had no intention of stopping them. When the time came, they would back down in the face of the difficulty.

"Come to think of it, if Hagrid didn’t send the Firebolt, then who did?"

"I might know." Hermione bit her lip and looked at Harry and Ron with a complicated expression. "I think it might have been Sirius Black."

"That’s impossible. Absolutely impossible."

Harry and Ron spoke in unison.

Sirius Black was a wanted criminal. He had no money to buy a Firebolt, much less send one to Harry Potter, his enemy.

"It is possible," Hermione said awkwardly. "He can’t get into Hogwarts, but sending a broom here wouldn’t be difficult. What if he put a Curse on it?

"I suggest letting Professor McGonagall take a look first and inspect it carefully."

"Surely not." Aaron gave an awkward smile. "If Sirius wanted to harm Harry this way, there would be no need to send him a Flying Broomstick. He could just send some snacks laced with poison.

"Besides, this is a Firebolt, the most expensive Flying Broomstick in the world. Spending that much money just to make Harry fall during a Quidditch match—wouldn’t that be absurd?"

"Exactly." Harry deeply agreed. The Firebolt had been in his hands for less than a few hours, and he had not even had time to enjoy it. He was reluctant to hand it over.

Hermione also felt she had been overly worried. She gave an embarrassed smile and began eating breakfast.

Just then, the doors of the Great Hall suddenly opened, and Professor Trelawney walked in. Perhaps to match the festive atmosphere, she was dressed far more brightly than usual.

"Sybill," Dumbledore said with a smile. "What a delightful surprise!"

"I was gazing into my Crystal Ball just now, and fate guided me here. Please forgive my lateness." Professor Trelawney’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke. "Thirteen people?

"My Merlin! When thirteen people dine together, the first to rise will surely be the first to die."

"With you, Professor, there are fourteen," Aaron said helplessly. Trelawney’s Divination ability was beyond reproach, but she was somewhat superstitious.

With a wave of his Wand, Dumbledore conjured a chair beside Aaron. "Please, sit down, Sybill."

Trelawney hesitated for a moment before slowly sitting down.

"Isn’t Professor Lupin here?"

"Professor Lupin is ill. He probably won’t recover until next term," Harry said worriedly. "He looks rather weak."

"It’s nothing serious," Dumbledore reassured him. "Professor Snape will prepare potions for him."

Snape nodded expressionlessly.

"Professor, I have a question about Divination that I’d like to ask you." Aaron hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Go ahead, Mr. Gaius." Trelawney looked especially excited, while the others watched him with interest.

"I used a Crystal Ball for divination today, but the future I saw was a strange goblet filled with blue-white flames."

"The Goblet of Fire?" Dumbledore said in surprise. "You actually saw the Goblet of Fire?"

"What is the Goblet of Fire, sir?" Harry asked curiously.

"A powerful magical artifact." Dumbledore seemed to want to say more, but held back. "I’m sure you’ll learn soon enough."

"Hmm…" Professor Trelawney pondered for a moment. "Did you see only the Goblet of Fire?"

"I also saw a claw." Somewhat embarrassed, Aaron raised Abei’s right paw.

"It?"

Trelawney blinked in confusion, then opened her mouth in disbelief. "I can only say that you have a remarkable pet, Mr. Gaius. Its role is crucial."

Aaron: …

That was it?

Harry and his two companions, along with several professors, nodded instinctively. None of them doubted it in the slightest. Even among dragons, Abei was the most mysterious and unfathomable one.