The Firebolt was one of the most advanced brooms of its time. It came into the market in 1993 and was created and produced by Randolph Spudmore. Harry Potter was one of its only owners in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was anonymously gifted the Firebolt by his godfather, Sirius Black, a fugitive. At a time when the Nimbus 2000 and the Nimbus 2001 made by the Nimbus Racing Broom Company were dominating the broomstick market, the Firebolt came out of nowhere and created quite a storm.
It could travel at least 150 miles per hour and accelerate from zero to 150 mph within ten seconds. It remained one of the fastest brooms in the market, with very little competition until its successor, the Firebolt Supreme, entered the market around 2014.
Features and Design
The Firebolt was a marvel in design for its time, as no other broomstick came remotely close to it in features and design. This superior design is also probably why it was a costly broom. It had an unbreakable Braking Charm, which prevented the broomstick from having failing brakes, something that was essential for very fast-flying broomsticks. It was lauded for its precise flying and extreme balance, making it a world-class flying broom. When let go by the flyer, it was known to hover at a reasonable mounting height, which implied it was highly synchronized with its rider’s requirements.
The broom’s handle was constructed from polished ebony, although one of the advertisements for the broomstick at Quality Quidditch Supplies claimed that the handle was made of ash. The most likely explanation for this confusion is either that it had a choice of wood option for its handle and was available in both variants or the advertisement needed to be corrected and had made a mistake about the type of wood used for the handle. The Pottermore website claims that the handle of the Firebolt was made of polished ebony and does not mention ash.
The broomstick’s twigs and bristles were made from either hazel or birch based on the customer’s choice. It was said that the Birch twigs gave the rider more “oomph” when they ascended. In retrospect, the hazel was known for providing more precision while turning. Both these features were handy for the flyer and were therefore chosen based on the flyer’s requirements.
Every Firebolt came with an etched registration number made out of gold. This golden registration number made the broomstick look beautiful. All metal parts of the broom were goblin-made ironwork of very high quality. These additions increased the stability and power projected by the broom, especially when it flew in adverse conditions. It was also known to prevent slipping on the footrest.
The production of the Firebolt was the first time that goblin-made iron was used on a broomstick. One of the reasons that this broomstick was made in relatively small quantities is because of this patented ironwork made by goblins. Even the slightest provocation would lead to walkouts among the goblin workers, which made it very difficult to manage production consistently.
Known Users
One of the most popular users of the Firebolt in the Harry Potter series was Harry Potter himself. He received an anonymous present around the Christmas holiday after his Nimbus 2000 broomstick was damaged beyond repair by the Whomping Willow during a Quidditch match against the Hufflepuff team, during which Dementors attacked him. This present was a Firebolt. Harry was ecstatic when he discovered that he had received this broomstick, the fastest broom ever, despite it coming from an unknown source. He had been eyeing the broom for quite a long time, ever since one of the prototypes had appeared in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies.
After that, he used the Firebolt in all of his Quidditch matches and on several other occasions, including the time he had to retrieve a golden egg from the Hungarian Horntail during the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament.
The other known users of the Firebolt include the Bulgarian Quidditch team and the Irish Quidditch Team, both of which made it to the finals of the 1994 Quidditch World Cup. Many other Quidditch teams may have used the Firebolt as it was the fastest and most popular broom.
Appearances in the Harry Potter Series
The Firebolt first appeared in the Harry Potter series when Harry saw a prototype displayed in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies in Diagon Alley during Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry wanted the Firebolt very badly but realized it was costly. Since he already had the Nimbus 2000 gifted to him by Professor McGonagall, he decided not to pursue the Firebolt. However, he would soon get a Firebolt as a gift after his Nimbus 2000 got damaged by the Whomping Willow during the match.
Since it came from an unknown source, Hermione Granger warned Harry about using it. However, Ron Weasley was very excited and wanted Harry to use it. Hermione eventually involved Professor McGonagall, ensuring the broom was thoroughly checked for spells and jinxes that could harm Harry.
After thoroughly inspecting Harry’s Firebolt broomstick, he was given back the same, and he used it several times, mainly during Quidditch matches. In the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry uses it to fly during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. In the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, his Firebolt is confiscated by Dolores Umbridge.
The Firebolt and Muggle Products
The advent of the Firebolt in the market was a lot like that of some anticipated Muggle vehicles, especially motorcycles and cars. When a car or motorcycle is about to go into the market with new and improved specifications, there is a lot of anticipation among customers to determine if the hype is real. Furthermore, many people are excited, just like Harry, when they see the vehicle prototypes that are about to be released on the market soon.
Interestingly, this phenomenon is not restricted to vehicles alone. Many Muggle electronic gadgets, especially smartphones, are known to generate this type of anticipation, too. The same can be said about new series of books, like the Harry Potter books, which caused large queues of people in front of bookstores on arrival.
FAQs
Which is better Nimbus 2000 or Firebolt?
There is very little doubt about which among Harry’s brooms is the better one. The Nimbus 2000 was obviously a very good broom and when Harry received it as a present from Professor McGonagall it was one of the best brooms in the market. However, the Firebolt was a superior broom with a lot of features that the Nimbus 2000 did not have. Furthermore, it remained one of the top quality brooms in the market for way too long and was known to be the fastest broom ever when it released in the market.
How did Harry get a Firebolt?
Harry received a gift from an anonymous source during the Christmas of his third year. This was right after he was attacked by the Dementors during a Quidditch match and his Nimbus 2000 had just been damaged beyond repair by the Whomping Willow. When he opened the wrapper of the gift, he was shocked to find a Firebolt staring back at him. He was ecstatic and his friends too were very excited to see a Firebolt. It was later revealed that Harry was gifted the Firebolt by Sirius Black.
What’s the fastest broom in Harry Potter?
The Firebolt is the fastest broom in the Harry Potter series, after it was released in the market in 1994 and remained so for quite a long time until the Firebolt Supreme, its successor came into the market around 2014. The Nimbus 2000 and the Nimbus 2001 were frontrunners in the broomstick market and were considered two of the fastest brooms available until the Firebolt came to the market in 1994.
