Harry Potter's Firebolt

"Malfoy! Wait till he sees you on this! He'll be sick as a pig! This is an international standard broom, this is!"

— Ron Weasley seeing Harry's Firebolt broomstick for the first time^[src]

In 1993, Harry Potter received a Firebolt racing broom as a Christmas present from an anonymous benefactor following the destruction of his Nimbus 2000. Correctly suspecting that Sirius Black sent it, Hermione Granger reported it to Professor McGonagall, who confiscated it for testing. After being thoroughly tested, the broom was given back to Harry since they found no jinxes on it. Sirius later admitted to having sent the broom to Harry, calling it "thirteen birthdays' worth of presents from your godfather."

Harry made good use of the broom throughout the rest of his time at Hogwarts, riding it during every Quidditch match he played. He also used the broom to get past a Hungarian Horntail during the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament in 1994. Though the Firebolt was confiscated for several months during the 1995–1996 school year by Dolores Umbridge after she gave Harry a lifetime ban from Quidditch, he regained it after she left the school.

The broom was lost on 27 July, 1997, during the Battle of the Seven Potters when Sirius Black's motorbike, which Harry and Rubeus Hagrid were flying in, flipped upside-down to avoid the pursuing Death Eaters. Harry was able to hold onto his rucksack and Hedwig's cage, but the broom plummeted to the earth. It is unknown if Harry ever went to recover the Firebolt, or even if it survived the fall.

Behind the scenes

According to the books, Harry's Firebolt is described to have a 'perfectly smooth, streamlined birch twigs that made up the tail'. However, in the movies, it is more ragged and looks a bit more aged. Additionally, in the film the broomstick does not arrive until very near the story's end after Black's escape, whereas in the books it was a Christmas present.

Harry Potter's Firebolt

Behind the scenes

Appearances

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