Chapter 91
: A New Year and New Inventions
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Daily Prophet Article
“Thunderbolt Broom Series Unveiled: The Fastest Yet in Magical Aviation”
The wizarding world is abuzz with excitement as Marauders Inc. announces the launch of its highly anticipated Thunderbolt Mark I. Marketed as the fastest broom yet, it’s designed for top-speed performance and agility, rumored to even reach near-atmosphere levels. This new broom, boasting unparalleled stability, has become an instant status symbol among Quidditch players and enthusiasts.
But the Thunderbolt is more than just a marvel of speed. Designed by young prodigy Alex Black and his close-knit team, including enchanter hopeful Oliver Turner, it represents the new era of innovation within Marauders Inc. With sleek lines and powerful charms, it’s already earning rave reviews as an icon of both form and function.
Not content with one groundbreaking launch, Marauders Inc. also unveiled a compact music player charmed to play music tracks using magic, making it the wizarding world’s first portable music device. This “MelodyCharm” has already captured the attention of young witches and wizards eager to carry their favorite tunes with them. These latest inventions highlight the potential of a new generation of magical creators, led by none other than Alex Black.
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Daily Bugle Article
“Alex Black and the Young Geniuses of Marauders Inc. – Shaking Up the Wizarding World”
It’s official: the youth-led Marauders Inc. is changing everything we thought we knew about magical products. With Alex Black at the helm, this ambitious team has redefined magical transport with their launch of the Thunderbolt Mark I broom—a broomstick so fast, it borders on impossible. Early testers have reported soaring speeds, pinpoint control, and unparalleled performance, making the Thunderbolt not only a Quidditch player’s dream but also a revolutionary feat of magic and engineering.
And while the broomsticks are awe-inspiring enough, the innovation doesn’t end there. Enter the MelodyCharm—a small, crystal-clear music player enchanted to play soundtracks using magical spells. These tiny devices are already being spotted everywhere, from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade, allowing wizards and witches to take their music with them wherever they go.
Alex Black and his friends, including enchanting specialist Oliver Turner, are proving that the future of magical invention lies in the hands of the next generation. One thing is certain: Marauders Inc. is just getting started.
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Back to Hogwarts
Alex’s POV
The summer had passed by faster than I’d thought possible. Between the launch of the Thunderbolt and the MelodyCharm, we barely had time to catch our breath at Marauders Inc. But what had stayed with me the most was something far less tangible—the strange warning Harry had mentioned from Dobby.
Flashback
Harry had called Sirius on the enchanted mirror phone we’d all been using over the summer, his face looking somewhere between worried and confused. He told Sirius and me about Dobby, the peculiar house-elf, who had warned him not to return to Hogwarts. The way Harry described it, Dobby had sounded genuinely scared, though why he would be, I wasn’t sure.
On the day of Lockhart’s book signing, I’d headed to Diagon Alley to look for any sign of trouble. But the Malfoys were nowhere near Ginny, and there was no hint of anything suspicious around her. Maybe Lucius Malfoy had found another way to go about his schemes—or he was planning something entirely different. But for now, it was a mystery, one that we’d have to stay alert about.
End Flashback
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On the Hogwarts Express – Harry’s POV
Boarding the train was a comfort in itself—seeing the familiar corridors, finding our usual compartment, and settling in. With Ron, Hermione, Daphne, and Neville there, it felt like old times, but with a strange new energy in the air.
Ron, munching on a Chocolate Frog, looked at me and grinned. “So, mate, how’s the new broom? Still keeping up with Alex’s?”
“Barely,” I admitted, laughing. “Thunderbolt Mark I is insane! You wouldn’t believe the speeds it can reach.”
Daphne rolled her eyes. “Boys and their brooms. You know there’s more to Hogwarts than just Quidditch, right?”
“Oh, you’re just jealous you can’t fly like a Quidditch star,” Ron teased.
Hermione snorted, but her expression softened. “Honestly, though, it’s amazing what Alex and his team have done. I mean, they’re actually inventing things. Real, working inventions that nobody’s thought of before.”
“Just wait until you see the MelodyCharm,” I added, pulling out the tiny music player from my pocket. “Alex lent me one over the summer—it plays music through magical vibrations. It’s brilliant.”
Daphne leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. “And that wasn’t the only thing Alex mentioned, right? He said something about a warning from Dobby?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “He showed up over the summer, warning me about some kind of danger at Hogwarts. Told me not to come back.”
The group went silent for a moment, each of us contemplating what it could mean.
Neville spoke up. “But… if there was real danger, wouldn’t Dumbledore know about it?”
“Maybe he does, and maybe he doesn’t,” I said, feeling a bit of that unease return. “Either way, we’ll have to be careful this year.”
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The Sorting Ceremony – Alex’s POV
The Great Hall was alive with its usual magic, the floating candles casting a warm glow as the new first-years were led in by Professor McGonagall. The Sorting Hat was placed on the stool, and one by one, the new students were sorted into their houses. I leaned back, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity as the last few names were called out.
Then came a name that made me smile. “Luna Lovegood.”
She walked up, her silvery-blonde hair bouncing slightly as she moved. When the Sorting Hat called “Ravenclaw,” she looked directly at me and smiled. I made space beside me as she took a seat.
“Hello, Alex,” she said with a smile, her eyes dancing with that odd, dreamlike look she always seemed to have. “You know, you don’t have nearly as many wrackspurts around you as most people.”
I chuckled. “Good to know. You’ll have to tell me more about those someday.”
Luna gave me a serene nod, as if I’d just accepted a deep responsibility.
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Later, On the Train – Harry’s POV
The rest of the journey passed with laughter and shared plans for the new term. We all felt a sense of something big on the horizon, even if none of us could place exactly what it was.