Ch. 10 The Suit

As always, JKR owns all canon. I'm just playing in her sandbox.

It was the suit that caught his eye. Armani robes, bespoke from the fit, in raw black silk. That was the sort of customer that got the owner's personal attention, and Cellini hurried across his showroom. The man was facing away from him as he put on his best smile. The tall, bespectacled man had some papers in his hand, and was examining an illuminated case of tiaras. As he got closer he tried to get a better idea of who the prospective customer was. Long black hair, fastened at the nape of the neck with a gold clip, suggested a traditional Lord. As soon as he was close he asked, "May I help you?" He was met with a bright green gaze. Well, that told him exactly who this was, and that he had been correct to come out himself.

"Do you still do custom orders? My Grandfather's files list your shop as one he dealt with, and I have brought some of the drawings of work you did for him."

Cellini took the sheets in awe. He recognized his own Grandfather's hand in the notes, and quickly identified a few of the sketches as matching framed drawings in his workroom.

"Yes, I do special pieces, and the Potter Prize certainly is one of those! My Grandfather, who did these, would be delighted to be asked to consult as well. Would you care to come to my office and have some tea while we discuss what you have in mind?"

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"Slashkilter, we are going to continue the tradition of the Potter Prize with the Charity Ball Ginny is planning for after the holidays. I have here a list of all the Prizes given out by my Grandfather, and an incomplete list of many given out before his time. I'd like you to put out a 'watch' for any that come up in estate sales, or pawnshops, or even boot sales, and the Potters will redeem any you find available. I'd like to display them at the Ball."

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At the Welcome Feast there had been two announcements of interest to the children. Both were given by Madam Hootch.

"Quidditch tryouts will be held during the third week of classes, one House per evening, after Dinner, and the older students should talk to their Head of House if interested. Even returning players must try out again - no one except the Captain is automatically assured of a position. Each House will also have a Reserve team, or two if there is enough interest, and all teams WILL play Intramurals. Firsties are eligible for the Reserve teams, using school brooms only. You are reminded of the new Rule that you cannot use your own brooms in the official games and practices, but you may ride your own in Intramurals. We will ALSO have a Demonstration Seminar for each position during the evenings of the second week of classes. The schedule for these will be posted in your Common Rooms, and you will sign up for and attend the Seminar for any position you are interested in trying out for, even if you played it last year. You MAY sign up for and attend more than one."

The second announcement got more attention; "The first flying lesson this year will be after lunch on the second Friday of school, and ALL of the First Year will meet at the same time, because I have arranged for some help. Future lessons will be with the individual Houses only." She sat down to a buzz of conversation from the Firsties. This was the largest group in many years, with over 100 of them. Most of their classes would be held with only one House at a time, because the rooms were too small. Hogwarts had hired more teachers in all subjects to handle the extra classes. The elves had been thrilled as they had to open more rooms every year.

"Who is going to be helping her?"

"It is a good idea to get help for the first lessons. Lots of kids have never ridden a broom."

"We had real Quidditch players come to the Home when our older students got new brooms. Maybe some of them are coming?" After some discussion this seemed to be the most likely choice, and many children were excited, wondering if their favorite players would come. They all headed off to their dorms, chattering.

Scene change, same night.

In the second-year Hufflepuff dorm the boys were digging into their trunks for pajamas. "Did you get new things this year? I didn't realize you had grown so much!"

"I got all new things. Look, I even got a Blue!" The other boys stopped digging, and looked at Jamie.

"Really! Your Dad must have worked overtime for all that! I thought he was a janitor?"

"Not anymore!" Jamie was proud of his Dad, "He has a new job with the Dragon Broom company, as a technician in the Developmental Division. I'm not exactly sure what he does, but he isn't a janitor. They've hired several of my other relatives, too."

"We got new brooms, too," offered the Jacobs twins. "Well, they aren't perfectly new, but they are new to us and they've been completely refurbished so they ride like new ones. They even put our names on them! We won't have to use those ratty old school brooms this year."

There were 56 student dorms (7x4x2), and almost all of the second year and up dorms had at least one new broom to discuss, and many had several. Not only were there the orphans with newer brooms, but almost as many other students had new student brooms. Multiple plans were made for races and games, as soon as they could get outside. The Firsties, knowing they would be stuck with using the school brooms, knew they would be dead last to be chosen for the games. They wouldn't even be allowed to ride those until they proved to Madam Hootch that they would be safe.

In fact, the only sad thought about all of these new brooms was that they could not be used in official school games, including the inter-house Quidditch matches. The children knew those had to be played on official school brooms, and everyone knew how awful those were. All four Quidditch Captains, with their returning team mates, were already planning appeals of the new Rule. Letters were winging home, asking for advice.

Two weeks later.

The guesses had been correct. Professional Quidditch players had shown up at the four Seminars and demonstrated the best ways to play each position, including novice mistakes to avoid. Now it was Friday afternoon, the second Friday, and the First Year students hurrying out to the Pitch were so excited they could barely eat lunch. There were dozens of uniformed players out in the grass, laying out brooms in long rows. Many of the older students were also coming out for a quick look before going to their classes.

What none of the children had expected were the brooms. The adults had managed to keep them locked up, and this was the first sight any of the children had of the NEW brooms, shiny brooms, twigs smooth and unworn shafts without splinters. There were a dozen brands mixed at random, laying on the grass in rows. There were Norwegian Blues, and Nimbus Flames glowing in the sunlight. There were also Silver Arrows, Golden Apples, and Copper Maples, alongside Comet Trails and Meteors of several favorite varieties: Pleiades, Perseids, Neriads, the Taurid Fireball, the Orionid, Leonid, Geminids, Lyrids and more. Kept separate, up by Madam Hootch, were a small number of Ash Leaves, held ready to supply students who were particularly nervous. The Leaf was a less acrobatic broom, but flew in a steady manner that was reassuring to nervous beginners.

"Hurry now, line up but don't touch them yet. Now choose a broom. It doesn't matter which, unless you have epilepsy or trouble with heights. Those students I want on Blues.

First we need to do some simple stretching exercises. You have been sitting in classrooms all day and your muscles are tighter than you think. Watch the closest player as we run a drill. I expect everyone to do a complete set of stretches every time you are to get on a broom - and that includes the Quidditch players! Pay attention, because you will do a second set, including a cool-down walk, every time we finish!" She started some music and soon everyone was at least moving, trying out the stretches.

"Now, line up next to a broom and raise your right hand - or left if you are a leftie. Look at your broom and say 'UP'. The broom knows which direction is up, and will return to this position."

As the students mounted and began their first official flight in small groups guided by the Players, they discovered a feature many had forgotten, or never known. Each broom trickled sparks, stars, glitter, or faint colored smoke. The girls were quick to spot those with pink glitter trails! The Pitch was soon decorated from one end to the other, high and low, as braver riders moved higher and faster. Even though the sparks died in a few seconds, there were so many brooms in the air that there seemed to be a magical fog. The Teacher and the Players had to constantly work to keep the children's minds on the simple drills.

Ginny, in Harpy uniform, was helping a particularly timid mundane-born Hufflepuff, and had claimed one of the Ash Leaves for her. She led the child around the edge of the Pitch, never more than waist-high. A small spray of green glitter followed them around. Another rider passed above them, trailing tiny red Maple leaves across Ginny's green jersey. Little Susie laughed as they vanished, and asked "Where did all the decorations come from?"

"All brooms can do this with the right Charms, but the spells wear out quickly if the broom is not properly maintained. They are illusions, meant to amuse, but they don't really DO anything. This is a good example of wizards just showing off. One useful illusion is that all toddler brooms appear to muggles to be a toy the muggles call a tricycle, or a wagon. Can you think of another useful illusion you've seen recently?"

Susie's face was a study. She was a mundane-born, and had only been aware of real magic for a few months. Suddenly a smile lit her eyes and she exclaimed, "The wall at King's Cross!"

At this point a Nimbus Flame, with flames haloing the rider's hands, sped past above them; followed by a Norwegian Blue spouting blue flames from a transparent dragon's head.

"Adult brooms can look like actual dragons, or anything else, but it's still an illusion. Oh, and it is always a Rule that the illusions be turned off in competitions. You can imagine it would be distracting in a Quidditch Match! Madam Hootch will be turning them off for classes, but if you check one out for playtime you can ask her to turn it on."

Susie asked Ginny, "What does your broom do?" Ginny was riding a shiny black broom trimmed in gold, but nothing seemed different.

Ginny took her down to the grass, and said, "Stand back, and remember this IS just an illusion. It takes up a bit of space, though." A moment later she was sitting between the wings of a black dragon, one that raised its head and tail in the air above her. Susie, and other nearby students, 'ooohed.'

Far above them there was a sudden shriek. Looking up, a child was twisted sideways, thrashing on his broom. Ginny didn't hesitate. Her dragon wings made a great flap, and she launched straight up! Madam Hootch and many of the players were also in motion, mostly trying to get under the child before he fell. Some were clearing the other students from the space below, and someone sent for Poppy. Ginny was first, and fastest. As she rose, she cancelled her illusion, and managed to catch the thrashing child's arm. Madam Hootch caught the other arm, and between them they guided the boy down to the ground. He was unconscious, but still jerking, as they released him. Poppy rolled him onto his side on the grass, tut-tutting. She held a small red vial to his inner arm and spelled a potion into him. Still out cold, he visibly relaxed and the twitching subsided.

"Charlie?" A girl who looked exactly like the boy came out of the gathering crowd. "Is he going to be OK? He's got epilepsy, but this is a really bad seizure. I suppose you won't let him fly again?"

Madame Hootch and Poppy put little Charlie on a stretcher. "He'll be fine after some sleep. I have his meds, and some emergency potions, in the Hospital Wing. I think I'll keep him overnight to be sure he didn't sprain something. I will call your parents as soon as I have him settled."

Hootch added calmly, "He'll be able to fly just fine, as long as he stays on a Blue. That safety charm just saved his life."

Hootch turned back to her class; "All right, everything is fine now. Please find your Player and go back to your drills. We still have a few minutes before dinner. If you are comfortable on the broom you started with, swap with someone who has a different one."

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Jonas whistled as he walked through Diagon Alley. He entered the toy store and carefully chose a fist sized glass ball in a swirled design of black and yellow. These balls were popular with children and came in every possible color. Hogwarts combinations were very popular. They were charmed to be almost unbreakable, so would bounce quite high. They also lit up on command, so were popular for night games, night lights, and inserts in comfort toys. Jonas actually needed this one for work, so he got a receipt.

Jonas loved his new job. He had a hard time believing this was really true. He was a Hedge Wizard, the most ordinary Earth Wizard there ever was. His magic was not strong enough for him to be invited to Hogwarts. He had been home schooled, like all his kin and friends. Yet, here he was, working with several of his cousins for the Dragon Broom company!

Today they were going to demonstrate how the family brooms had been made. He still didn't think it was that hard, but his bosses had taken the little broom that started it all apart several times, and couldn't figure out how he did it.

He met his cousins at the elevator. George was carrying a closed bucket. Charlus had a basket of herbs. Entering the lab they were all nervous to see strangers as well as their boss.

"Ah, here we go! Allow me to introduce our new technicians; Jonas, George, and Charlus Jones. They are cousins, not brothers."

Nervously, Jonas and his cousins laid out their supplies on a wooden table. The bucket appeared to hold a coil of vines, covered in water. The herbs were added to the water and stirred deeply.

A tall, green-eyed man with black hair asked, "Could you tell us about each step as you go? We know the spells you are going to apply, and some of them make no sense to us. We'd also like you to include the safety charm our company puts on all children's brooms, to see if it is compatible. Oh, this is my friend Neville, from the Longbottom Greenhouses, with some of his gardeners, so they should understand you even if I don't." He smiled in a friendly way, and sat on a lab stool. Neville sat next to him, and a tall lady with brown hair was on his other side.

George began, "Well, these are fresh-cut grape vines from our garden. We have to trim the vines every year anyhow, so this is the best time to collect them to make what we want, including new brooms. Grape is not the only vine we can use, but this is what is available today. I like to use vines because the life in them is strong."

The lady stirred, but said nothing.

Charlus, stirring in the herbs, took up the explanation, "These herbs are to help preserve that life, infusing the vines to keep them flexible. They are perfectly normal healing herbs; Golden Seal, Athelas, Chamomile, and American Gingsang. I have extra." He laid some fresh herbs on small plates at the side of the table. "I have these in the water before the vines are even cut, so the vines take up the solution immediately, as well as soaking in it. I'm simply adding more flowers for the scent, now."

The three men began unrolling the dripping vines on the table, revealing that the interior of the bucket must be larger than the visible size suggested. There were several dozen vines, each of which was at least 7m long. Since the table wasn't that long, they enlarged it to what was needed. Each vine was lined up and half-a-dozen very similar ones were chosen. The others were returned to the bucket and set aside.

Jonas began to speak as he moved to the center, holding the little ball. "We like to decorate our brooms, so I bought this little toy to use as our center piece. When we finish this broom will be about 1.7m long, a good size for a teenager. We will include an illusion of a bicycle, with the ball appearing as the headlamp and the tail as covered baskets. We consider it amusing that some muggles have used the idea of a flying bicycle in their stories and movies, including the one called 'E.T.'. I've also seen our brooms being used in stunt cycle events, with no one the wiser.

This is the broom I was going to make for my son this year, to replace the little one. He's at Hogwarts, a Hufflepuff second year, and I was able to give him a Blue. We're very proud of him!

It is important to remember the vines are still alive. We have supported them with the herbs. We could graft any of these vines onto a root right now and they would thrive. We are Hedge Wizards - we work with life, with earth and growing things. We don't force magic; we work with what flows naturally. Vines want to climb, to wave with the wind, to move, so it isn't much more to give them flight. They are very strong, yet they don't resist as a tree or a stick does. The life stays in them long after they are cut from the parent. Many other plants, even some trees like the Willow, or the American Cottonwood, Hedge, and tropical Banyan do the same. Cut a piece of wood from the tree, make a basket of the branches if you like. Use that wood for a stake or post, or drop the basket in a river, and a new tree will grow."

Neville and the gardeners were nodding.

George and Charlus sponged a shining solution down the length of each vine. "This is ordinary liquid wax, the same you will use on any broom or wand to protect and clean it. It's not waterproof, but makes it easier to keep the broom clean. We need to move quickly now."

Jonas moved to the table and began an open braid from the center of the vines. He pulled this web to one end of the table, laying the ball neatly in it. His cousins carefully moved down the sides, bringing the loose ends with them so the whole length was doubled. The table obligingly changed in size as they moved. It also turned slightly on its axis.

"We are adjusting to find the flow of the nearest Ley line. We would normally be doing this outside, probably right in our gardens, but inside like this still works. Magic is everywhere."

George began to chant, a clear baritone that sounded like wind instruments. Charlus joined him in a deep bass, the earthy tones in contrast. Jonas joined them with his high tenor, rain and sunlight. As is common in families, their voices naturally harmonized. There was no music, so the chant sounded rather Gregorian.

As they chanted the spells into the vines, their hands moved in rhythm, braiding the soft vines tightly into a cylindrical shaft. Nothing was stripped away. The tendrils and soaked flowers were woven into the braid, filling in the slim gaps where the bark covered strands met, sealed into the wax. Reaching the last meter length, the thinner ends were braided around the shaft, forming a sheath around the thicker, with their ends tucked inside. The half-dozen thicker ends were splayed out from this, flat. The chant stopped. They were done.

The wax coat was clearly drying fast, cloudy in places. They picked up clean towels and rubbed briskly, bringing out a high sheen with the smooth braided pattern. Jonas addressed the ball, saying 'Lumos', and it lit, bright even in the sunlit room.

"There you go. One ready-to ride teen size broom. In case you are wondering, it is still alive, and if it happened to be buried, or broken up in a river, it would likely sprout new vines. A little rain - and children are always getting wet and dirty - is actually good for it, and mud wipes right off. Mundanes will see an ordinary black-and-yellow bicycle, and find it totally forgettable."

Harry, Hermione, and Neville looked at each other at the side of the room, as the others swarmed around the new broom. The older one was laid beside it on the table and spells were already being cast, comparing them. The gardeners were deep into the bucket of vines and examining the remaining herbs. There were clearly enough for several more brooms, and another table was laid out. The Supervisor sent a runner to the toy store to buy a whole box of the balls. This was going to be an interesting afternoon!

"I think we have reached a new era in making brooms. No runes, no arithmancy - I didn't even see any wandwork!" Hermione finally spoke, absently fingering her vine wand.

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Esther and Ginny were having tea in Esther's Solarium. It had been a long day for Ginny, with practice in the morning - including the required two hours of game calculations - and the flying class at Hogwarts after lunch. The tea and warm fruit scones were very welcome!

Esther was planning her next party. It was to be a big party, but not a Ball. The time for those was coming after the Holidays. "I know Harry won't come out on Samhain, but perhaps you could get that brother to bring you? Eric finds him very interesting to talk to, and I have a cousin who has been away on a trip who hasn't met him yet. I'll be sure she comes!"

Ginny held her cup out to be refilled. It was a Patil Blend Tea, very flowery, and hot enough to scald all the way down. She selected a fresh apricot scone, split it, and added Devon cream. "Yes, I'll ask Ron if he might bring me. I'll have to go shopping soon, before all the best robes are snapped up!"

"Speaking of robes, where did you get that delicious blue one you wore last month? I'd love to find something like it. Not exactly, of course, but that is the general idea I have in mind for mine. Do you have a picture I could show?"

"Daisy!" Ginny's little elf popped up next to her, just missing the hand holding her tea. "Bring me the album of pictures from my bedroom shelf, the one titled "Memories." Daisy nodded and popped away, but was back with the album in seconds, a more careful distance away.

Ginny laid the book on the low table, and flipped it open, paging from the back. She quickly found what she was looking for, and turned the book to face Esther.

"That's the one! I love the way you did your hair up, too - and those sandals are darling! Where do I go to find a 'Dior'? I've never heard of that shop, though they clearly have an excellent seamstress!" Ginny pulled out her purse and began the process of tutoring another initiate to the mundane world.

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