Chapter Text
Life in the dream castle indeed...
The day was flawless. Not a cloud in sight. A perfect, warm, and sunny day.
Hermione was standing in front of the mirror, having just finished her hundredth stroke of her hair. But she wasn’t done, of course needing something to keep the hair in place.
Magic particle spray!
She sighed. “Now to rock me some magic.” Taking a hold of the container of magic particles from the bathroom tabletop, Hermione closed her eyes and sprayed.
Nothing.
“Wha-” Hermione opened her eyes, confused. She could only stare.
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Harry was humming, turning in circles, and staring at himself in the mirror.
His robes of choice for the day were perfect! Well, almost perfect. It was missing something...
Ahh, he knew the obvious choice. “A dash of magic, and I’m ready for the day!”
...
Nothing.
Harry’s gaze zeroed in on the bottle.
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Walking out of the doors of Hogwarts to the courtyard was Ginny. A broom tucked under her arm, and a bottle of magic spray in the other.
She was very excited, finally having the time to spare for some broom decorating.
“My broom’s going to look sick!” Ginny said as she started to spray.
Nothing.
It didn’t work... It didn’t work!
Her tone of voice was desperate, trying to shake the bottle into working again. “No. No!”
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Sometime later...
Hermione, Harry and Ginny gathered. Standing inside the castle’s room allocated for magic particle drums.
It had to be checked. Just had to!
Ginny went to turn the spigot, the other two right behind her. Everyone's gaze was hopeful.
Gurgle.
Gurgle.
Gurgle.
All to be heard were despaired gasps.
A moment of silence.
“NO MAGIC!”
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Stepping into the Great Hall, Harry’s voice echoed in the almost full room. “There must be some mistake, we can’t be out of magic.”
“Oh, it’s no mistake. Hogwarts is out of magic.” Dumbledore's reassuring voice sounded in the hall full of concerned students. “To the statement given by our... prominent Magirati association.”
Nobody said a word. Dumbledore coughed. “By me, I mean. I urge all my devoted followers to remain calm during this crisis.”
“Huh...” Ginny and Hermione shared a look together.
For in front of Dumbledore were representatives of the Daily Prophet. Taking the man's statement on the very serious situation. Even the flash of a camera could be heard.
Dumbledore’s continued. “I’m sure we’ll all be magically sparkling again soon. Classes will be dismissed until this catastrophe has been solved.”
Hermione stared at the headmaster, mumbling. “Wow, even a magic shortage doesn’t rattle him.”
Harry sighed. “Well, it’s best to be optimi-” He was lying to himself. He burst into tears. “Oh, who am I kidding. I’m a total wreck, I need magic!”
“I came as soon as I heard!” Tom said comfortingly as he came to stand beside Harry. “And I brough the Harry bummed out kit. Tissues, consolation treacle tarts and a manly shoulder to cry on.”
All to be heard in the hall were cries. All to seen were heavy tears. And all to be eaten were comfort desserts.
And as Harry leaned on Tom’s shoulder, what came to Tom’s mind was the mandrake root shortage a few years ago.
...It was tragic.
It was decided. Tom would find an answer. “Not to worry. I’m on it!”
To the potions lab he goes!
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A few hours later...
Harry, Ginny and Hermione were still sitting in the Great Hall, when Tom came back, running with an elegant and enthusiastic air.
“I did it!” Tom said to them, holding in his safety gloved hands a glass tube full of something rainbowy. “I created artificial magic particles in the potions lab.”
“Oh, Tom. Our worries are over.” Harry smiled while sharing relieved, enthusiastic looks with Ginny and Hermione.
“I call it, fake-magic.” Tom responded while presenting the tube with an attitude that made it sure how proud the wizard was of his achievement.
In a flash, Ginny took the glass tube from Tom. “Ooh, let me try it!”
She poured the shiny mixture into her hands and sprinkled it over her head, while playfully striking a pose. “Am I sparkly or what?”
It seemed perfect... until she couldn’t move her arms.
Right...
“My hands are stuck.” Ginny announced to the people following this ongoing farce, while huffing and struggling to make them move again.
“Hmm, I might have added too much slug slime. Extra sticky.” Tom responded while looking a bit sheepish.
Ginny tripped. A thud followed.
“Your fake-magic is a flop.” Hermione plainly stated. Her whole being exuding how unimpressed she was.
Tom had not lost motivation yet. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you guys some magic particles.” Setting his hands on his hips, he continued. “When I’m on the case, I get it done right.”
Only to belatedly remember, the extra sticky residual rainbow magic particles still on his protective glows.
Now stuck to his body
By Merlin’s saggy underwear!
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“Right, this is it Fluffy.” Tom showed the three headed Cerberus. “The last precious bit of real magic particles.”
“Now sniff out some more.” He waved his hand at the grassy, hilly grounds of Hogwarts.
Fluffy barked.
And swallowed the pile of glowing magic.
“FLUFFY!” Tom shouted in desperation.
If only Tom could understand dog-talk, he would know that Fluffy was being a food critic of the highest degree.
The barks continued, uncaring of Tom’s panic.
“It had some nice fruity notes with a hint of beef and a full sparkly finish.”
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Meanwhile at the Great Hall...
Ginny had returned from unsticking her hands from her body, a new pouch in her hands.
“Who needs magic particles when you’ve got rhinestones!” She said excitedly while throwing a handful of them in the air.
It felt as if hope had returned. That is, until the three of them realized how sharp the edges were.
“Ugrh. Its no use. There’s no substitute for magic particles.” Harry said, feeling defeated.
“Would this flower crown look pretty with magic particles?” Came a sweet, airy sounding voice from behind them. “Or should I transfigure on some stars?”
They turned around. Harry’s, Hermione’s and Ginny’s gazes immediately zeroed in on a canister.
A MAGIC PARTICLE CANNISTER.
“Luna, you have magic particles?” Harry asked, feeling incredulous.
At the same time, at the back of the Great Hall, headmaster Dumbledore received an urgent message by owl. Dreadful news.
He announced to the hall, that was still full of students. “The magic particle crisis has reached epic proportions. With magic riots breaking out all over the British magical sectors.”
Screams.
All to be heard were screams and cries of panic.
NO MAGIC PARTICLES! NONE!
Harry’s gaze fell back to Luna. “So... Where'd you get the magic particles Luna?”
Their eager, slightly manic gazes felt like burns on Luna’s skin. After some hesitation, she spoke. “You guys look weird. Are you okay?”
They crowded in on Luna, while Ginny in her manic sounding, whisper of a voice demanded. “Luna. Give us the precious.”
A beat of silence.
Luna grimaced. Starting to slowly back off till she ran out of the Great Hall.
Full speed.
Leaving behind the echo of shoes hitting the stone floors.
Harry, Hermione and Ginny gasped in surprised excitement. Shouting for the whole hall to hear.
“MAGIC!"