Unspoken Chapter 8: The Paws & Turtle Double Broom, a harry potter fanfic

Unspoken
by Teddylonglong

Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.

"Artemis, do you remember what you promised Harry and me to do after we've taken our OWL?" Connie grinned in apparent eagerness.

Artemis groaned in obvious annoyance. "Yes dear, I promised that we'd engage in experimental potions. We will do some research, however, please note two points. One is that you must still study for your Potions NEWT, and the second is that you shouldn't get your hopes up. Many potions masters throughout the centuries have tried to find a cure for lycanthropy without success, and neither of us is a potions master, at least not yet. I really should work on the mastery some time," he added as an afterthought. He remained pensive for a moment, only to state, "Your mother was a potions mistress, Harry. Did you know that?"

Harry smiled at what he thought of one of his uncles and mentors feeling extremely happy at the mentioning of his birth mother. "That's cool."

"She was brilliant. Yes. With her help, we might even succeed, but as far as I know, there isn't even a portrait of your parents." Artemis sighed. "Anyway, the only advantage I can imagine we have above all the other potions masters is that the two of you have been studying with several teachers other than humans for more than four years by now and might have slightly different approaches to the topic."

"Too bad that the primary school will begin again soon." Harry let out a deep sigh. Noticing the look of obvious concern he received from Connie, he smiled. "Don't worry, Connie. I will still attend school together with you."

With a flick of Artemis' hand, two parchments appeared in front of the Unspeakable, who handed one to Connie and one to Harry. "I believe that your lesson with Nicholas is going to begin soon, and I need to return to Hogwarts. This is the recipe of the so-called Wolfsbane potion, which allows the werewolf to keep his mind, while he is in his werewolf form. I suggest that we use this recipe as the basis for our research. Please study the recipe and think about any possible changes that you can imagine to possibly make this potion a cure."

"All right sir," Harry replied, noticing that Connie was already engrossed in her reading of the ingredients, apparently deep in thoughts. 'If anyone can find a cure, it'll be her,' he thought with a combination of amazement and amusement. 'I so wished she could attend Hogwarts together with her. It'll be absolutely boring without her.'

A few minutes later, Archie strode into the team room, shrugged off his Unspeakable robes and them as friendly as always. He exchanged a few words with Whisker, who was already preparing to pop away, before he turned to Connie and Harry.

"Have you studied the drawings of the broomsticks I gave you and decided on a model?"

Harry let out a deep sigh. "Yes sir. Would it perhaps be possible to make a different broom?"

Nicholas cast him a questioning look.

When Harry hoped that Connie was going to explain as usual, she remained quiet for once. "I want to make a broom for two people to sit next to each other, so that Connie could sit next to me. Of course, I fly the whole broom using my magic."

Nicholas nodded in apparent understanding. "A unique idea, but I believe that we should be able to make it work."

Connie hesitantly pulled a parchment out of her robe pocket. "I don't know if this will work in hindsight of stability and whatever, but I've tried to draw such a kind of broom."

Nicholas held out his hand, smiling. "Please show me." He studied the drawing for a moment, before he began to explain, which parts they would have to change and why. "May I modify your drawing?"

Connie nodded, eagerly. "Yes please."

Together, they observed with interest how Nicholas magically changed several parts of the drawing, carefully explaining the reason for each alteration. After at least two hours of working on the drawing, he nodded, seemingly contented. "Now, it's already too late for today, and I suggest that you return home. Tomorrow, we shall discuss what kind of wood would be appropriate for this specific broom and head into the forest to look for it."

Harry and Connie nodded eagerly. They just loved these trips into the forest, which was nothing more than a large room within the Unspeakables' office. It had been charmed as a forest with all possible kinds of trees, herbs and even bushes with berries. Artemis had taken them to find potions ingredients multiple times, and usually, going into the forest involved small breaks in front of one of the bushes. Any potions ingredients as well as the fruits were charmed to always be ripe, and Harry and Connie just loved to pick some berries as they walked through the forest. Sometimes, they were even allowed to take some home for their families, considering that they would re-grow overnight.

It took them several months to build the broom to completion. Whenever they believed their masterpiece to be finished, Nicholas tried it out only to demand more changes.

At the beginning of December, when Harry finally held the final version in his hands, grinning happily, an idea crossed Connie's mind. "Nicholas, could we perhaps make such a broom for Rebecca and Artemis for Christmas? Would we manage on time?"

"Oh, that's great." Harry immediately agreed.

Nicholas nodded. "You can do that. Now, that we have this prototype, you only have to build it the same way. However, instead of giving it to them for Christmas, I'd wait and make it their wedding present if I was you."

"Are they going to marry?" Connie's expression was one of pure delight.

"On February 14 next year."

Harry and Connie immediately agreed with Nicholas' suggestion.

"Then we'll have some more time, too." Connie nodded contentedly.

"Nicholas, will you help us though?" Harry cast the old wizard a concerned look.

"I will help you if you need my assistance. Otherwise, I'll simply watch."

Neither Harry nor Connie noticed the mischievous grin that was playing on Nicholas' lips.

During the next few weeks, they spent much time working on the double broom for their teammates, and indeed managed to finish it by Christmas. Not wanting their teammates to know about the matter, they decided to hide it in Connie's room at her parents' home until the wedding.

In the morning of Christmas Eve, Regina intended to take Harry and Connie into muggle London to view some of the Christmas decorations in the town, before the extended family was going to come over. The children were quite excited, as Minerva and Rebecca had promised to show them how to decorate the Christmas tree in the living room using magic.

However, when they were still having breakfast together, a Patronus in the form of a chameleon arrived.

"That's from Nicholas," Harry said in surprise, recognising the chameleon, right before they could hear their old colleague's voice.

"Harry and Connie, please come to the team room for a few minutes. I need to show you something. I promise that I won't keep you long."

"Ah, sorry, Mum, may we go quickly? We'll be back shortly. We can still go to see the Christmas decorations afterwards, can't we?"

Regina smiled. "Of course, son. We'll simply go afterwards. Leave Lucy here today."

Harry nodded. Not even bothering to pull over their Unspeakable robes, Harry and Connie used Harry's Portkey to travel to their team room, where Nicholas was waiting for them.

"Thank you for coming so quickly," he said, and Harry noticed that he seemed uncharacteristically excited. "I have taken the liberty to show your prototype of the double broom to an old friend. In fact, he is the owner of the broom company Nimbus. I don't know if you've heard of it."

"Yes, we have." Connie's voice was laced with excitement. "Harry, isn't the broom Sirius gave you from Nimbus?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, it is."

Nicholas nodded. "Very well. Anyway, the Nimbus company have made a contract with me on your behalf. Mind you, they do not know your real names. I made the contract with them using your Unspeakable identities. As you might or might not know, usually, their brooms are called Nimbus followed by a number."

Harry and Connie nodded. They knew that from the broom Harry owned.

"Anyway, they will produce the double broom under the name Paws & Turtle Double broom, and for each broom they sell, you'll each get ten percent of the sale proceeds. You also hold the patent for the broom." He handed them two officially looking parchments. "How's that?"

"Totally amazing." As usual, Connie beat Harry to a response.

"Thank you very much, sir."

Nicholas smirked. "You're welcome, dears. Oh, Connie, this is yours by the way." He handed her a small key. "I have asked Buckbean to make a vault for you, so that you'll be able to receive your share from Nimbus. Rebecca as your magical guardian has given her signature on your behalf."

"Thank you so very much, sir." Connie eyed the key from all angles in apparent amazement.

"It was my pleasure. Now, I need to return home, before my wife, Perenelle, will verbally kill me for spending Christmas Eve in the office. I wish you a Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you, too, Nicholas."

"Merry Christmas, sir."

'Harry, Regina is up.'

Harry lazily stretched beside Lucy's warm belly. "Thanks, Lucy. Let's go."

Grabbing his double broom, which he had secretly brought home a few days before Christmas but had not shown his mother yet, he headed out into the living room.

"Good morning, Mum, and happy Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Harry and Lucy," Regina replied, before her eyes widened in surprise, as she stared at the broom in Harry's hand with interest. "Oh, is that the Paws & Turtle Double broom you told us about yesterday?"

Harry nodded, grinning. "I thought you might like to go for a ride, before everyone will come over."

"Aww, how thoughtful of you, Harry. Yes, I'd love to go for a ride. Shall we take Dolly with us? Perhaps, she'd love a ride as well. I could take turns with her and Lucy."

A few minutes later, they were dressed in warm winter clothes and headed out into the garden, where Lucy immediately began to jump around through the fairly deep snow in apparent joy.

"Lulu, stay with Dolly. I'll give you a ride later on," Harry instructed the canine, before he gave his mother a sharp look. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, let's go, but don't go too fast," Regina replied in apparent excitement.

During the following hour, Regina, Dolly and Lucy took turns riding the broom together with Harry, before Dolly informed everyone that it was time for breakfast.

Only then did Harry realise the spectators standing in front of the garden door. The whole extended family was watching in apparent amazement.

"My turn is next," Connie announced, grinning in obvious anticipation.

"Sure," Harry promised, resolving to not inform the others that Connie had already absolved at least fifty flying hours on that very broom.

"To make the waiting list shorter, I could offer to take my charming goddaughter on a flight." Sirius grinned, broadly. "Harry, you haven't met Meli's niece Susan yet, have you?"

Harry shook his head and eyed the girl with interest. She seemed to be about the same age as Connie and him. "Hi Susan."

"Hello Harry. I've heard a lot about you from Sirius and my aunt."

"Hopefully only good things. Otherwise, I'll need to have a word with them," Connie quipped, causing everyone to laugh, before they were ushered into the house for Christmas breakfast.

'Susan seems nice,' Connie thought to him during breakfast.

'I think so, too,' Harry replied, smiling. 'Perhaps, we could meet with her from time to time, although we don't really have much time besides school and studies with the Unspeakables.'

'True, but I love everything we do.'

Harry full-heartedly agreed. 'Me too. Thanks for doing everything with me.'

'Thanks for allowing me to do so.'

"Harry and Connie, are you doing it again?" They were brought back to reality, when Sirius addressed them. "They communicate by telepathy all the time grinning without any understandable context."

"Sorry, Godfather, but we had some Unspeakable secrets to discuss, which we can't openly discuss in your presence. Connie, should we really allow him to ride our broom?"

"It's all right. Just let me use your broom," Remus quipped, glancing at Sirius. "Regina, would you do me the honour of accompanying me on a flight?"

"Thank you, Remus. I'd love to."

"Remus, will you take me, too, please?" Susan asked in apparent eagerness, causing the Marauder to agree immediately.

Everyone laughed at Sirius' for once dumb expression, when he looked from one to the other in apparent disbelief.

It was a few days later, when Regina enjoyed a quiet breakfast, after Harry had left for the Unspeakables' office at an ungodly time again, that her eyes fell on a headline in the Daily Prophet.

'Paws & Turtle Double – an amazing new broom for couples'

'Nimbus company has released a new broom, Paws & Turtle Double, which two people can ride together. When the Daily Prophet enquired about the name, which seems out of turn for Nimbus, it was explained that Nimbus are not the inventors of the broom but are merely producing and selling it. The inventor's patent belongs to two Unspeakables who go by the names of Paws and Turtle. Can we expect to more exciting brooms of this calibre by Paws and Turtle? We are surely looking forward to it.'

'Harry and Connie are simply amazing,' Regina thought, when a sudden idea crossed her mind. Grabbing the newspaper, she informed Dolly that she would be back in a few minutes, before she hurried over to the Coxs to show Giselle and John the article. 'They'll be as proud as I am,' she thought, feeling very happy.

Inspired by the article in the Daily Prophet, Harry, Connie and Nicholas pondered their options. It was after one of the Quidditch matches, to which Rebecca and Artemis still took Regina, Harry and Connie, that an idea crossed his mind.

"Perhaps, we could make brooms for each of the positions," he said, pensively. "A broom for a Seeker must be very streamlined, fast and flexible in its movement. Chasers, Beaters and Keepers have other requirements for their brooms."

"A good idea." Nicholas smiled in apparent appreciation. "I also wish to teach you to make the Philosopher's stone during the next months."

Harry remained pensive for a moment. "Nicholas, there is something I really wish to do. Perhaps, you'll be able to help with it." 'Connie, do you think I can tell him about my classes with Nix?'

Connie nodded. 'I think so. What you want to do will help all the Unspeakables if you succeed.'

"A Knut for your thoughts?"

"Sorry, Nicholas. I was just wondering if I was allowed to tell you about my studies with Nix. If we could get your help, perhaps, I might be able to succeed. I know that I'm not allowed to tell things, but Connie said if I succeed, it'll help all the Unspeakables."

Nicholas let out a deep sigh, before he nodded in apparent understanding.

"Harry, first of all, I am willing to help with whatever you are trying to research. However, you need to ask Nix if he's willing to work together with Archie, and if he agrees, you'll have to ask Croaker for permission."

"Thanks, Nicholas. I'll speak with Nix, when I'll have my class with him tomorrow."

To Harry's relief, Nix and Croaker both agreed, when Harry asked for permission and explained what his goal was.

"I agree that Archie would be a valuable ally, and I will assist as well," Croaker promised, causing Harry to smile, happily. "Just note that it might take you years, before you'll achieve what you're planning."

"Croaker, I disagree." Nix sounded proud. "Paws has already managed time sliding."

Harry chuckled. "Yes, after I happened to do it with accidental magic, it wasn't so difficult anymore. It's just the combination of this and the other methods."

"Good luck then. I'll appreciate the result."

By the time the school year ended shortly after Connie's and before Harry's tenth birthday, they had managed to produce a special Seeker's broom. As before, Nicholas made a contract with Nimbus under the same conditions as with the Paws & Turtle Double, claiming the patent on the broom for Unspeakables Paws and Turtle. On July 1, 1990, the broom was officially released, and Nimbus promoted it under the name "Paws & Turtle Seeker".

Harry and Connie were still practising to produce the Philosopher's stone, and Harry, Nix and Nicholas were still inefficiently working on their other project.

Harry's, Connie's and Artemis' attempt to develop a cure for lycanthropy remained equally inefficient.

"Connie?"

"What's wrong?"

"Sorry," Harry apologized, knowing that she could feel the sudden change in his mood. "We're not getting anywhere with our research concerning the time travel, and I'm getting frustrated. I only have a year, before I'll have to go to Hogwarts. Perhaps, I should forego the last year of the primary school and concentrate on the research. What do you think?"

Connie thoughtfully ran a hand through her long hair. "First of all, we need to practise some more for the Potions NEWT if we really want to take it at the end of the holidays."

Harry nodded. "Yes, we need to do that in any case."

"After that, I think it would make sense for you to concentrate on the research. I'll join you after school then. Of course, I'll miss you, but we can always think to each other."

Harry nodded, feeling extremely relieved at her kind words.

"Lucy will appreciate some more time to play with Marlin, too." Connie grinned, as she gently played with the canine's ears.

Harry shook his head. "She'll sleep through the morning anyway. All right, I'll tell Mum then. I hope she and your parents won't be upset."

Connie smiled. "They won't, even if they can't know the exact reason. They'll still understand."

"Thanks, Connie. You're the best."

"I know." Connie chuckled.

"Minerva, Albus, have you seen that? Nimbus has brought out a Seeker's broom. That sounds absolutely amazing. Do you think we could buy two for the school?" Rolanda's voice was laced with excitement.

Minerva inwardly grinned, knowing that her grandchildren were the inventors. "I have some connections, and I can try to get them for a reduced price," she offered. "I can't promise anything though."

"Thanks, Minerva. Please do so. I'd appreciate if someone could gift them to the school, as we don't have the means to buy such high-level brooms as school brooms."

After dinner the same day, she went to Regina's house to see her surrogate grandchildren, who immediately promised to have their colleague Archie talk to Nimbus about gifting two Paws & Turtle Seeker brooms to Hogwarts.

"If they don't agree, I shall gift them." Harry smiled.

"Ah, thank you, Harry, but I can't accept that," Minerva politely refused, unwilling to have a nine-year-old pay for brooms for Hogwarts, for which the headmaster was not willing to spend money.

"You can. We get ten percent each of every broom they sell, and they've already sold hundreds of the Paws & Turtle Double." Harry's voice was firm and convincing.

"Harry, let's just do that. If you gift one and I the other, we don't even have to bother Archie and Nimbus." Connie grinned. "Rebecca, can you please help us to buy two brooms and have them sent to Hogwarts?"

Rebecca nodded, before she sent out two feline Patroni in quick sequence. "Minerva, relax. The kids know what they're talking about. They're already rich at the age of nine and ten," Rebecca reassured her, only to add, "Good for our first-born having wealthy godparents."

"You're expecting?" Minerva only then noticed that Rebecca's figure clearly showed that she was pregnant.

"Yes. The baby is only due in November, so it's still a long time ahead though."

"Congratulations, dear. What about your Arabella Figg persona? Won't the transformation harm the baby?"

Rebecca smirked. "No, as it is not a transformation per se. I wouldn't change into my Animagus form, for example. Taking on Arabella's features won't harm the baby, and my belly is charmed to only allow people to notice my pregnancy whom I've already told about it."

By the time Minerva returned to Hogwarts late that night, she felt as happy as she always did after spending some time with what she thought of her family.

As soon as at breakfast the following morning, two owls made their way to the sole table that remained in the Great Hall during the holidays. Each was carrying a broomstick and let it fall onto the table in front of Rolanda Hooch, causing plates to scatter and tea to spill all over the table.

"Sorry for that," Rolanda uttered, as she took one of the brooms into her hands, wide-eyed, while Poppy reached out for the second.

A small parchment was attached to each of the brooms. "A gift for Hogwarts from Paws, inventor of 'Paws & Turtle broomsticks," Rolanda read aloud, amazement evident in her voice.

"This one is slightly different," Poppy announced. "A gift for Hogwarts from Turtle, co-inventor of 'Paws & Turtle broomsticks. Well done, Minnie, whatever you did."

Rolanda stared at the brooms with a combination of amazement and bewilderment. "Minerva, how in the world did you make that work?"

Minerva smirked. "I believe that in my age, I should be allowed to have one or the other secret."

"Minerva, do you know Paws and Turtle? Weren't that the two Unspeakables who took their Potions OWL a year or two ago?" Albus cast her an enquiring look.

"I think that were the names, but do you remember Tony Haley? He was a Gryffindor many years ago and is working at Nimbus. Where do you think I am getting my own brooms from?"

"Ah, I did not know that. Please relay our thanks to the sponsors."

"Yes, please thank them from me, too," Rolanda quickly agreed.

"I will," Minerva promised, inwardly grinning. 'The more questions Albus asks, the more lies I will need to tell him,' she resolved, still feeling extremely upset at the headmaster for his decisions concerning a young Harry Potter. 'Thank Merlin Rebecca took care of him at that time.'

To her relief, Albus refrained from asking further questions, and Rolanda quickly ushered her and Poppy out onto the grounds to test the new brooms in a series of Seeker scrimmages.

During the remaining weeks of the holidays, Nicholas intensely made them work on the Philosopher's stone. Connie was not able to finish one just by herself, as there were several steps which required magic. However, Nicholas used the stone she was working on to show Harry how to proficiently cast the required spells, and at the end of the holidays, two red stones were sitting on the shelf in Nicholas' Alchemy laboratory at the Unspeakables' office.

"Now, as you are supposed to take your Potions NEWT next week, you're going to concentrate on your Potions studies. After your exam, I shall teach you to brew the Elixir of Life. Only if you're proficient at brewing the elixir, and no, Connie, it doesn't afford magic, we will try to adjust it to our special project."

"Thank you, Nicholas."

"Thank you, Nicholas," Harry echoed.

"I suggest that you leave the stones here for the time being, considering that the lab is charmed to only let the three of us in. I will teach you a series of safety charms, before I'll allow you to take them home."

"Why are they not safe at home?" Connie cast the old wizard a questioning look.

"Because anyone might be able to brew the Elixir of Life using your stone. What if a person such as Voldemort came, stole your stone and became immortal by simply brewing the elixir? We'd be in great trouble."

Connie frowned. "Wouldn't it be possible to cast a charm at the stone to only allow the owner to use it in the elixir?"

Nicholas nodded. "Actually, that is a good idea, and we should discuss the matter with Rebecca. She's good at Charms. Perenelle might be able to help as well."

Harry and Connie smiled. During the almost five years since they had joined the Unspeakables, they had only met Nicholas' wife about five times, but they liked her a lot.