Harry Potter's Firebolt

Harry Potter's Firebolt
Broomstick information
Producer	Randolph Spudmore
Known materials	Ebony wood with birch or hazel twigs; Ash handle.
Made	Before 25 December 1993
Usage	Quidditch, magical transportation
Special features	Unbreakable Braking Charm Superb balance and precision Hovers at reasonable mounting height when let go Goblin-made ironwork provides power, stability, and a non-slip foot grip
Speed	At least one hundred and fifty miles per hour
Owners	Harry Potter

"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

In 1993, Harry Potter received a Firebolt racing broom as a Christmas present from an anonymous benefactor, following the destruction of his Nimbus 2000 by the Whomping Willow in a Quidditch match against Hufflepuff.

Harry used this broom in every Quidditch match he played in since, and also used it during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. The broom was lost in 1997, during the Battle of the Seven Potters.

History

"And then he heard it, speeding through the air behind him; he turned and saw his Firebolt hurtling towards him around the edge of the woods, soaring into the enclosure, and stopping dead in mid-air beside him, waiting for him to mount."

— The Firebolt, under influence of the Summoning Charm

Minerva McGonagall taking Harry's Firebolt away, so that it could undergo the stripping-down process

Correctly suspecting that Sirius Black sent it (who at the time was believed to want to kill Harry), Hermione Granger reported it to Professor McGonagall. McGonagall then confiscated it for testing, in order to ensure Harry's safety. After being thoroughly tested (which included stripping it down), the broom was given back to Harry since Professor Flitwick and Madam Hooch found no jinxes, hexes or curses on it.

Sirius later admitted to having sent the broom to Harry; he filled out the order form in Harry's name, with instructions to take the gold from his own vault at Gringotts and had Crookshanks take the order to the owl office for him. Sirius called it "thirteen birthdays' worth of presents from your godfather."

Harry Potter using his Firebolt in the first task of the Triwizard Tournament

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

Harry's Firebolt as seen in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

• 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 films, 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.
• In the handheld versions of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, Harry's Firebolt is incorrectly identified as a Nimbus 2000 during his use of it in the First Task.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (Appears in the spell book)