Alex wasn't even surprised when he heard Professor Flitwick's offer.
Harry caught a ball and got pulled straight into Gryffindor's Quidditch team by Professor McGonagall.
He caught a person.
And not just anyone — Hermione Granger, mid-fall, in front of half the student body.
If Harry could get a broom for that, Alex thought smugly, I'd better be getting a Firebolt and a statue.
More importantly, this might give him an excuse to spend more time with Cho. With her being a year above, their classes never lined up. But if they were both on the Quidditch team…
He nodded at once.
"Of course, Professor. I'd love to. But is that… allowed? I heard first-years aren't permitted to join."
"Don't worry about that, Mr. Gaunt," Flitwick said with a mischievous twinkle. "Leave those formalities to me."
That was all Alex needed to hear.
The tiny professor hopped off his chair and shuffled over to a locked trunk by the window. With a small flick of his wand, it popped open. He reached in and pulled out a long, carefully wrapped package.
Alex blinked. "Professor, what's this?"
"A Nimbus Two Thousand," Flitwick said with a fond smile. "This year's newest model. One of my former students works at Nimbus — he sent it to me as a gift. I'd originally intended it for Roger Davies, but now… I think it suits you far better."
Alex nearly choked.
McGonagall bought Harry a broom with her own money.
But Flitwick just casually had one lying around from a student who worked as a broom designer?
Typical Ravenclaw. Not many ancient purebloods in the House, but when it came to magical industries and research, Ravenclaws held down the core of the wizarding world. Always behind the scenes. Quiet, but powerful.
No wonder Slytherin and Gryffindor were always at each other's throats. Ravenclaw just flew over the battlefield with a smirk.
Without hesitation, Alex took the Nimbus Two Thousand into his arms, cradling it like it was his own child.
"Thank you, Professor. I'll take good care of it. When should I report in?"
"Next Wednesday. That's when the team's holding tryouts. See Roger Davies — he'll help you find the right position."
Alex nodded, bowed respectfully, and left the office with his brand new broom hugged tight to his chest.
...
The second he stepped back into the common room, it was like déjà vu.
A crowd of little eagles swarmed him again, their curiosity rekindled by the shiny package in his arms.
"Is that what I think it is?"
"Is that a Nimbus Two Thousand?!"
He muttered a few polite answers, dodged more groping hands and awkward praise, and finally escaped into a quiet corner.
Cho approached, her eyes already locked on the wrapped broom.
"What's that?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Nimbus Two Thousand," Alex said casually.
"Professor Flitwick gave it to you?" Her jaw dropped.
"Yep. Said I'm joining the Quidditch team. Though my position hasn't been decided yet."
Cho looked even more surprised now. "I thought first-years weren't allowed to join the team?"
Alex shrugged. "Tell that to Harry. McGonagall just summoned him too. I bet she's doing the same thing over in Gryffindor."
"Oh."
"Tryouts are next Wednesday," he added. "Are you joining too?"
"Of course I am," she said proudly. "My goal this year is to become Ravenclaw's Seeker."
Her eyes lit up with that familiar fiery confidence.
Alex grinned. "Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go test this thing out."
She blinked. "Now?"
"Why not? Classes are over for the day. Let's grab some lunch, then head out to the Black Lake."
He reached for her hand.
She took it without hesitation.
...
After lunch, the two of them walked hand-in-hand to the lake, the breeze tugging at their robes and the sun dancing on the water.
Then began their private training.
Cho took to the Nimbus like a bird finally allowed to stretch its wings. She soared higher and faster than Alex had ever seen her fly. She twisted, spun, looped, and banked effortlessly, laughter echoing behind her in the wind.
Watching her up there, so full of life and freedom, Alex made a quiet decision.
This Christmas, he thought, I'm buying her one of these.
The Nimbus Flitwick had given him was a gift, and it didn't feel right to re-gift it — even to her.
But come winter, he'd save every Galleon he had and buy Cho her own broom.
And not just any broom.
The best.
...
The week passed quickly, and with it came a growing sense of normalcy. First-years settled into the rhythm of Hogwarts. They stopped getting lost as much. They started remembering passwords. And most importantly — homework started piling up.
Alex, of course, was unfazed.
He'd bullshitted his way through term papers in his last life. A little extra parchment? Please. He could do this in his sleep.
In the library one afternoon, he spotted Harry and Ron desperately pleading with Hermione to let them copy her Potions essay.
Snape had assigned a full three feet of parchment — single-spaced — on the uses of Dittany in restorative brews.
Absolutely brutal.
Still, Alex had his own priorities.
He and Cho had already gone to Quidditch tryouts — and both of them made the team.
Cho, as expected, became Ravenclaw's Seeker.
Alex chose to be a Beater.
"Beaters get to protect the Seeker," he'd said smugly. "That means I get to keep you safe up in the sky."
Cho had blushed bright red.
And when he leaned in and whispered, "You just focus on that Snitch, I'll take care of the rest," she gave him a shy, stunned look…
…and then kissed him.
Just a soft, brief kiss.
But enough to make the other team members gag loudly and retreat with exaggerated groans.
"Oi! Take it off the pitch, you two!"
Too late.
Alex was already flying high — and it had nothing to do with the broom under him.
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