Chapter 29: Magical Devices
"Leaving suddenly before the meeting…"
Borgin watched the figure disappear and muttered under his breath, "Why do I get the feeling those were Aurors gathering intelligence? What if several Auror squads storm the place and surround us during the meeting?"
According to the current Statute of Secrecy, the misuse of Muggle artifacts was a serious crime. If the law were strictly enforced, every wizard attending today's gathering would be sent straight to Azkaban.
"Don't overthink it," said Melvin. "If they really were Aurors investigating this meeting, they would have already infiltrated, identified the organizer, arrested them, interrogated the guest list, and then picked off the attendees one by one."
"…You're right."
Borgin nodded in agreement then froze.
He looked at the Hogwarts professor beside him, opened his mouth as if to say something, then hesitated.
Something felt off.
"Come on, let's go in."
"…"
Borgin forced a smile and nodded stiffly.
He had every reason to believe that the reputation of Borgin and Burke's, built over decades, was about to collapse completely.
The workshop they entered was peculiar elegantly decorated yet lavish, with the classic aesthetic that perfectly matched the taste of pure-blood wizards.
The solid wood furniture was polished in a deep, rich hue, and the staircase railings were carved with strange, unrecognizable magical creatures. The fireplace wasn't merely decorative; the marble exterior was slightly darkened with soot.
From the outside, nothing seemed unusual. But once inside, Melvin immediately noticed that the interior was much larger than expected.
The corners and ceiling bore traces of spatial manipulation spells done not crudely, but with seamless harmony, showing the craftsman's remarkable magical skill.
This workshop wasn't just a front. It genuinely repaired Muggle appliances and also bought and sold used electronic devices.
Shelves and glass cases displayed all kinds of second-hand appliances, while cardboard boxes, foam padding, spare parts, and batteries were stacked neatly beneath the stairs.
The "meeting" turned out to be nothing like what Melvin had imagined.
Instead of a circle of shady wizards whispering around a round table, it looked more like a Muggle trade seminar.
A salesman stood in front of a display case, explaining various Muggle electronic devices in a way wizards could understand.
The atmosphere was surprisingly orderly.
No one checked his identity; Melvin simply followed Borgin inside and quietly took a seat near the back.
The attendees were courteous, stepping aside to give them space.
The shop clerk a rather shy, middle-aged wizard glanced at them briefly before continuing his presentation.
"Today, we're showcasing three Muggle devices, all customized to meet your specific magical needs. Let's begin with the first: a professional recording system.
"This is a Swiss-made 48-track reel-to-reel recorder that uses one-inch tape. Its frequency range can fully capture even the voice of a Howling Banshee. Without her magic, the sound won't be dangerous just a bit harsh.
"It includes a mixer, an effects pedal, and condenser microphones for a more natural vocal quality and reduced electrical noise…"
Melvin was stunned.
It was incredibly sophisticated.
Was this really what wizards were buying these days?
He lowered his voice. "Who ordered that?"
"The witch in the front row wearing the black robes," Borgin whispered. "That's the singer Celestina Warbeck."
Melvin turned his gaze toward the front row.
A short, plump, dark-skinned witch sat near the display, her face hidden behind a half-mask of Voldemort. Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she stared intently at the microphone.
It was said that Celestina Warbeck, the world-famous magical singer, had possessed a talent for music even greater than her talent for magic.
Originally, the Warbecks had planned to send their daughter to a Muggle theater or music academy but the wizarding world had no such schools. Deeply disappointed, Mrs. Warbeck had no choice but to enroll her daughter at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry instead.
Under her influence, the Drama Club and Choir were founded at Hogwarts.
The choir still exists today as the Frog Choir, now directed by Professor Flitwick and occasionally performing at major events.
The Drama Club, however, was disbanded after Professor Kettleburn insisted on using ash snake eggs as props during a performance of The Fountain of Fair Fortune, nearly burning down the Great Hall.
After graduation, Celestina quickly rose to fame, becoming the leading voice of the Wizarding Wireless Network. Her songs echoed through magical households every evening.
That lasted until Dolores Umbridge became head of the Office for the Prevention of Improper Use of Magic. She pushed harsh new bans under the Statute of Secrecy, claiming to "protect witches and preschoolers from Muggle ideology."
Her proposal? Abolish the Wizarding Wireless altogether.
Cornelius Fudge agreed.
The very next day, the Ministry was flooded with letters from furious witches many of them enchanted to howl in outrage.
The Wizengamot was forced to amend the law, allowing the Wireless to continue but under strict regulation. Radios now had to be modified by Ministry technicians to block Muggle channels, allowing only magical frequencies.
"She's working on a new album," Borgin murmured. "She wants to capture the high-pitched wails of Banshees in the main track. But her old recorder couldn't handle it the speakers literally exploded. So, she's here for an upgrade."
"A pioneer of the arts…" Melvin said, impressed.
Next came the second device.
"As for the high-speed rotary offset printing press," the salesman continued, "we've replaced all parts that can safely be enchanted mainly the automatic paper splicer and the hot-air drying unit.
"The remaining shaftless drive system and ink distribution modules can also be replaced, but doing so requires an exceptional degree of magical precision. Very few wizards in the world can perform such delicate work."
Before Melvin could ask further, Borgin leaned closer and whispered, "They're from the newspaper company. They came to order a color printer. The idea came after their editor saw full-color Muggle books at Flourish and Blotts."
"Oh?"
"Apparently, he was so inspired he decided to introduce color printing to The Daily Prophet."
Melvin chuckled. "No wonder it's the best-selling paper in the wizarding world."
He glanced toward the group from the Prophet but felt a twinge of disappointment Rita Skeeter, the notorious editor, wasn't among them.
The third device was unexpected: a portable radio with replaceable batteries, ordered by Borgin himself.
"Idle witches at home need it," Borgin said earnestly. "They have to listen to Celestina's singing while cooking."
"I remember that back when the Ministry proposed banning magical radios, it was those same witches who flooded the Wizengamot with letters," Melvin recalled. "Their protests forced the Ministry to legalize radios again though under supervision."
Borgin nodded proudly. "Exactly! Now, every officially sold magical radio is Ministry-approved and modified…"
Melvin frowned slightly. "Then why come here and buy illegal ones?"
"Because Celestina only sings at night," Borgin whispered. "And during the day, they want something… different fresh, interesting…"
He paused, then added, "These ones can also tune into Muggle radio stations."
Melvin raised a brow. "I thought pure-bloods like you were supposed to despise that sort of thing?"
Borgin grinned. "I am pure-blood. But I'm also a businessman. And business is business."
(End of Chapter)