Chapter 25: The Value of Assembly

"The transfiguration spell here is a more general one, requiring a firm picture in your head. The less detailed the picture, the less complete the transfiguration. So if I thought simply of making a bear, I might get one with the fabric unchanged. There are lists of spells that can be used to customize the plushie to what you want."

"That's why we have pictures of examples from the catalogs in the center. For people can't visualize as well," Neville added.

Seamus looked doubtful, "Maybe we should add more space, Harry… I can really see some people taking a long time." From the tone of his voice, it was clear Seamus sure he'd be one of the slow ones.

Harry nodded, and concentrated. Soon there were multiple tables with a couple for each station, as well as a lounging/refreshment area in the middle. There were also big signs from the ceiling proclaiming what that station was. "What do you guys think?"

"Looks good," Dean said, Neville and Seamus nodded their agreement.

"So now let's try making some."

Dean and Seamus easily transfigured a couple of the white cloths into basic teddy bears. Harry transfigured a couple Hogwarts scraps into a stuffed snake with a leather-like skin, and a plushie Merlin holding a staff inscribed with his name.

Dean pointed at the doll, "I thought we were doing stuffed animals."

Harry shrugged, "Neville and I have gotten a lot of practice. So I really wanted to do something different, but I am also wondering if it might be harder for older kids to accept a plushie. Do wizarding boys know about dinosaurs?"

Seamus answered, "I think they are more popular with muggles – they don't know dragons are real."

Harry asked, "Do they have dragon safaris?"

Seamus shook his head, "Not that I know of, they are too wild. With a lion, at least you can get high, and in a cage their jaws can't breach. A dragon wouldn't even bloody his jaws if he took a bite out of a jeep."

Dean added, "Ginny told me there is a tourist element to dragon handler training. They take in more recruits than any other field, except the Ministry, but only add a couple a year. They don't take anyone under 18 though, and Charlie heard they might raise it to 21."

Dean pulled out his sketchpad from his back pocket, resized it, and drew a skeleton for a wing. Followed by surface coverings for the top and the bottom of the wings, and the body of the dragon as a whole. "You say the transfiguration breaks down from the strength of the patronus spell, over time, right?"

Harry suddenly realized why Dean had been drawing the skeletons. "So you want to spell the skeleton separately for flying?"

"That would be a great toy. I think one of the ones I got had spells with it for Mum to cast to make it fly, but she only did it a couple times," said Seamus.

Neville had been working on collars, as he had had plenty of practice making plushies while they were trying to figure out how much to charge the crystals with the Patronus. Avoiding using any transfiguration or sticking charms required them to reshape some of the metal into grommets and the like. Luckily home decorative and jewelry information were among the most up to date and thorough collections in the library, despite there not being specific courses for the topics, as it was a tradition for wizards to shape promise rings themselves.

"What spells are you thinking of using?" Neville asked, looking up from his work.

Dean shrugged, "I figured I'd talk to Flitwick. A snitch has wings that fly it, and it has boundaries, so there has to be a way to do it on a smaller scale."

"Well, since McGonagall is out, unless something drastically changes, maybe you could ask him if he'd be willing to be a faculty supervisor for our contest at the same time," Harry said.

Dean looked a bit surprised, "Why me? And why would we need a teacher?"

Harry shrugged, "Well, I don't think McGonagall or Dumbledore are going to be happy with me for a while, and if I ask another Head of House... It might make things worse. Plus, with a teacher watching, we might get more people that, um, follow the rules."

Seamus looked a bit embarrassed, but added, "And if it gets in the Prophet, it would look better for the school."

"I think that matters more on the mood of the writer than anything else," Dean added, "But I'll ask him if he has time to talk at lunch. Just about the flight bit at first."

Soon after, the chime Harry had set to go off at lunch time rang.

"Lunch," said Harry who began packing up some sample bits for Hermione.

Seamus smiled, "Great! I need a change. Coming back this afternoon, right?"

Harry nodded, "I might be a bit though, I need to stop by the hospital wing."

The other guys nodded, and Neville added, "Harry, you probably should take a stroll outside, incase there are any more letters that might be singed."

Harry sighed, "I think I'll take a walk, then eat with Ron and Hermione. Unless you don't want to face McGonagall alone, Neville."

"What? Oh, the test stuff. I don't think they'd bother unless you were there, Harry. They'd probably try to guilt trip you."

Seamus snorted, "They'll bring it to Hermione first. So you better go there."

Harry looked surprised, but nodded. "All the portraits report to Dumbledore, so he'll know I'm headed to the grounds, if he wants to find me."

"That's a bit pervy isn't it?" said Seamus.

Dean shuddered, "I guess we know why broom closets are so popular, despite the smells."

Harry suddenly remembered that Ginny would likely bat-bogey him if she wasn't invited to practice. "Hey, guys, could you see if the fourth years are done with exams yet? Ginny and Luna could give us a girl's perspective if they are."

Neville was the only one that didn't look a bit confused. "Luna went to the Ministry with us," Neville explained. Though the other boys had surely heard through the grapevine, the change of their expressions showed they'd forgotten.

Sorry for the delay. Thanks so much for your reviews and suggestions.