CHAPTER 13
Definitive Proof
Harry changed out of his uniform silently, thinking about his trusty Firebolt, which was laying in ruins next to him. He sighed and left the locker room, where, as always, Ron and Hermione were waiting.
"I'm sorry about your Firebolt, mate," said Ron. "The staff went berserk when they saw what happened. They're still trying to find whoever did it."
Harry was perplexed. "What do you mean? Malfoy did it! I thought everyone saw that. He kicked my broom so hard that it split in two. That's all!"
"No it's not," said Hermione. "Malfoy didn't do it. Though I wish he did; he could be expelled easily, now."
"What are you talking about? I saw him!"
"No, Harry, you saw him kick your broom; that's it. Do you honestly think a Firebolt would break that easily? No, there was a spell that came your way. You probably didn't see it because you were too busy worrying about Malfoy. THAT'S what broke your broom. It's odd, though. . .how could no one have seen who did it?"
Softly, comprehension dawning, Ron came up with a possibility. "Maybe whoever it was was invisible!"
"Come off it, Ron," responded Hermione. "How many people in this school can become invisible?"
"We already know there's one, now, don't we?" Ron commented darkly. "You did say that you didn't see who. . .who. . .well, you know! I think someone's trying to get you to stop your search for the culprit, Harry."
Harry, trying to take all of this in, said, "But then why would they just attack me, and not you, Ron?"
"I think. . .I think someone did, mate! Yeah, a spell came by me after your Firebolt fell. It hit Seamus. He's in the hospital wing as we speak. Maybe it was intended for me. . .but I moved in the nick of time, I guess."
Hermione was fearful. "Harry. . .Ron. . .I don't want you to get hurt over me. Take those warnings and accept them; stop this search. Please."
Neither Harry nor Ron responded. Hermione's head fell at this lack of approval and the trio walked back to the castle. Harry noticed a single tear fall to the ground.
Harry and Ron now grew suspicious of everyone except each other, Hermione, and Seamus. If they were going to get down to the bottom of this, they couldn't let anyone slide. Soon they were finding clues that weren't even clues at all ("This bit of wood looks like ash, Harry! Maybe it's from your Firebolt! He must be nearby!"). They were about to give up when real evidence came from an unexpected place.
Dennis Creevey ran up to them with a scared look on his face. "Harry! Harry!"
Harry didn't want to talk to a Creevey at this moment, but after noticing the look of panic, he tried to be polite. "What is it, Dennis?"
"Harry! I was developing some of the pictures that Colin and I took at your match and I have one of when your Firebolt broke!"
This was the last thing Harry wanted to hear. Who in their right minds would want to watch themselves flinging about in the air? Ron, however, looked hopeful. "Harry," he began, "maybe we can see who did it!" Dennis nodded fiercely and shoved the picture into Harry's hand.
He looked down at the picture. Sure enough, a jet of light broke Harry's Firebolt. He traced the spell with his eyes and saw the wand from which it came. With that wand came a hand, with that hand came robes, and with those robes came a face.
And it certainly wasn't invisible.