Hogwarts Open Day
Muggle Studies - Technology
Prompt - Ticket Machine
Word Count - 320
Minerva McGonagall pursed her lips at the cursed muggle contraption that stood boldly in front of her. It seemed to not want to co-operate at all. This is ridiculous, she thought angrily to herself. One flick of her wand would allow her to walk freely through the barriers but her orders forbade her from using magic unless in dire need. She did not at all agree that Muggle transport was safer than magical at this moment as Albus had decreed but it was not for her to argue. All she could do was follow orders, perhaps with some grace.
A cold winter's breeze blew in from the street and she pulled her tartan coat around her tightly while clutching on to the matching carpet bag. It was all she could do not to give the device a swift kick with her foot. Again Minerva tried to figure out how the thing worked, pushing random buttons until it became obsolete. With a sigh she stepped back from the thing, thinking about whether or not to merely use the ticket booth.
"Excuse me," A man's voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned around to find one of the train employees approaching her. "Do you need any help?"
"Yes, thank you." Minerva replied, "That would be extremely helpful."
The young man smiled before stepping forward and showing her which buttons to push for her future knowledge. When he told her the price it took her a moment to remember how to use the muggle money in her purse but she hoped that he had not noticed. He smiled at her again before walking away, a smile which she returned a little late. Grabbing her ticket and bag, Minerva walked to the correct platform and boarded her train. As Minerva sat in her seat it occurred to her that her first muggle transport experience had actually gone rather better than she'd expected. Quite right too.
