Taking the Ravenclaw! blue towel she used for the handle, Elise set it on the floor next to her bucket before hoisting the broom out of the water. Taking a second towel, Elise held the broom further down towards the end and started patting the tail twigs. The water immediately started soaking the towel and when the towel couldn't hold any more water, Elise wrung it into the bucket.

Continuing to pat, she worked until the tail twigs were completely dry. Good. Now that that was over, she set the broom onto the table and pulled out her wand. Mopping up the excess liquid on the floor with the towels, Elise squeezed them dry into the bucket.

Picking up her wand, she swept it over the bucket and willed the water to go away. "Scourgify," she whispered, before pocketing her wand. Job completed. Taking the towels and placing them over her right shoulder, she put the sponge into the bucket.

Depositing the towels in the towel basket, she turned to the left of the fireplace and dropped the sponge in. Now, what?