"Alright, Clare," Dan said, "Just point your wand at this bit here, and make as though to cast a spell but without actually casting any specific spell."
"Umm.. Okay."
It turned out to be not quite as simple as that and it took her a good two hours before she finally managed it, but when she did, the aluminium sphere lifted up from the tile and hovered, unmoving, about three inches off the ground.
Dan and Emma whopped and clapped.
Clare let out a long shaky breath. "Very cool," she conceded.
Dan grinned. "Isn't it? I'm pretty sure no one in the wizarding world could replicate that little feat the way we just did it. They either use alchemy to mould metal, which requires inhuman levels of occlumency to get perfect visualisation, or else they work metal by charms, which has its own built in limitations. We're pushing the edge here. Disillusionment's next."
"Disillusionment?"
"Imperfect invisibility."
Clare's eyes opened wide. "Now that would be amazing."
A week went by and Clare was starting to get into the routine of school life again, although she was still waiting for the moment it all came crashing down. She never seemed to see Slytherin these days and the looks the headmistress and the teachers at the Shoe gave her weren't exactly flattering.
Each day she came home and either got to work on homework, practised spells in the secret room, or helped Dan and Emma with some needed magic. Today, however, she came home to find a bright eyed Emma handing her a parchment.
Dear Mysterious Inventor Friends,
Tally ho! Allow us to introduce ourselves. We are the secret tinkerers of the wizarding world. We are they who hide around the corner, ready to pounce with fun and chaos. We are the people who happily take what the more wasteful carelessly leave behind them. We are the Hogwarts Buccaneers. And we have recently been enabled by our 'mutual patron' who suggested that we get into contact with you.
We've attached a few drawings of some of our more outlandish ideas with some of the more tricky sticking points. Any thoughts? Ideas? Howling criticisms? (No howlers, please).
Either way, it seemed like a good idea to open a discussion.
Signing out!
- The Hogwarts Buccaneers Clare looked up at Emma who was looking at her eagerly. "So, what's the problem?" "Well, we're going to owl them back, obviously, but we need a name."
Clare eyed Emma with half lidded eyes. "A name."
"Yes! They have the 'The Hogwarts Buccaneers' — we need an equally cool name. You're part of the team, so we're asking you." She looked to Dan who stood nearby, smiling fondly at his wife.
"Any ideas?" he asked.
Clare shrugged. "I don't know — Outcasts? Persona non gratus? Two muggles and a whore?"
Emma frowned. "Clare…" she said, softly.
Clare relented, feeling slightly ashamed. "Okay, okay, maybe that wasn't called for. but you must admit we aren't exactly welcome in this world. Remember what that snooty ministry rep asked? 'How are you settling into life on the edge of the Wizarding World?'"
Emma continued to frown — then her frown morphed slowly into a wide grin. "That's perfect."
Dear Hogwarts Buccaneers,
Sounds good!
You might like to take a look at 'Journey of an Alchemist', chapter six — the author mentions a partial solution to the problem you're having with deconstructing the omniocular, although it is an imperfect solution. If intellectual property spells were that easy to circumvent… well… no more need be said.
Also, your extendable ears idea has promise, although the range will be limited, even if you can make the runes that small (We do have a way to make that possible, although it's currently a guarded process. We'd be happy to do part labour, though.) Welcome to our mutual patron's little club!
Yours,
- The Edge Settlers
Autumn slid into winter and soon enough Christmas holidays came. After hearing what had happened to Clare's muggle family and friends, Rebecca had invited her over for Christmas, but, obviously, she couldn't just casually leave her prison like that.
Dan and Emma had left earlier that afternoon to pick up their daughter from the train station. They should be back soon.
Clare sat alone on the living room sofa, reading through the standard book of spells, grade two, and wishing they were going faster in class. The door rattled, clicked, and opened to the sound of several voices laughing and talking.
A small figure with wavy-brow-hair appeared in the doorway.
"Clare," came Dan's voice from the hallway. He stepped through.
The wavy-brown-haired figure studied her.
"This is our daughter, Hermione. Hermione, this is Clare, she'll be living with us until further notice."
"Hello," Clare said.
"Hello," Hermione replied, sitting down opposite her. She lowered her head. "Thank you for keeping my parents safe for the past few months." Dan left the room.
Clare smiled. "That's quite alright. I do my best."
Hermione beamed. "Naturally. Our would not have chosen you otherwise."
lord
Whoa. Pretentious, much? Clare wetted her lips. "I'm not sure if he's 'my' lord. He just owns my debt."
Hermione tilted her head. "Really? But you are in almost the same situation as me. A muggleborn witch in the wizarding world. True, you are of age, but you're still a second class citizen. Even more so, considering…" She indicated her collar.
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