and saw Ron, Hermione, and Amelia lookin, at him so anxiously that he quickly cast around for something matter-of-fact to say. 

"Did someone get my Nimbus?" 

Ron and Hermione looked quickly at each other.  Amelia sighed.

"Er --" 

"What?" said Harry, looking from one to the other.

"Well... when you fell off, it got blown away," said Hermione hesitantly. 

"And?" 

"And it hit -- it hit -- oh, Harry -- it hit the Whomping Willow." 

Harry's insides lurched. The Whomping Willow was a very violent tree that stood alone in the middle of the grounds. 

"And?" he said, dreading the answer. 

"Well, you know the Whomping Willow," said Ron. "It -- it doesn't like being hit." 

"Professor Flitwick brought it back just before you came around," said Hermione in a very small voice. 

"We're so sorry Harry." sighed Amelia.

Slowly, she reached down for a bag at her feet, turned it upside down, and tipped a dozen bits of splintered wood and twig onto the bed, the only remains of Harry's faithful, finally beaten broomstick.