After confirming that using magic here would absolutely not be detected by the Ministry of Magic, the very first thing Avada did was spend two nights using his mental power to grind away the Trace embedded within his wand.
After all, he wasn't going to participate in the Triwizard Tournament, and no one would be inspecting his wand anytime soon, so there wouldn't be any problems with doing so.
Over the next few days, as Avada grew more comfortable living with the Shafiq family, he also gained a preliminary understanding of them—and they were completely different from the stereotypical Slytherin pure-blood aristocrats depicted in the original books. They weren't arrogant with their noses perpetually in the air like the Malfoys, nor were they deranged like the Lestranges, and they certainly didn't sneer at bloodlines the way Sirius Black, that peculiar anomaly among pure-bloods, did. Instead, they took deep pride in their surname and bloodline, while remaining keenly aware of where that honor truly came from.
Moreover, the Shafiq family wasn't just a pure-blood noble house—they were also one of the most prominent entrepreneurial families in the British wizarding world. Many companies under their ownership or investment specialized in the production and refinement of alchemical products. Among them were shares in the famed broomstick manufacturers Nimbus Racing Broom Company and Comet Trading Company. There were even rumors circulating that the mysterious factory behind Floo Powder—"FlooNet"—had Shafiq backing.
However, Mr. Shafiq had explicitly stated that this was nothing but hearsay.
One of the benefits of holding stakes in these alchemical companies was early access to products that had just completed development and hadn't yet gone on sale.
Like right now—
"Kids, take a look! A sample Nimbus just arrived—Nimbus Racing Broom Company's latest research achievement: the Nimbus 2000!"
Mr. Shafiq was holding up an exquisitely crafted broomstick, waving it excitedly in front of Avada, Baron, and Mrs. Shafiq.
"Two thousand?!"
Mrs. Shafiq clearly knew some insider details beforehand and remained calm, but Baron's eyes went wide. "Wasn't the previous model the Nimbus 1705? They jumped straight to 2000? Did they make a technological breakthrough?"
"That's right!"
Mr. Shafiq gripped the broom handle tightly, looking as though he wanted nothing more than to mount it and take off immediately. "A brand-new power valve system. It can effortlessly coordinate six hundred power bristles, allowing them to operate in perfect harmony without interference. Top speed reaches an unprecedented one hundred and fifty miles per hour, and it takes only ten seconds to accelerate from a standstill to maximum velocity!"
"Merlin!"
Avada and Baron exclaimed in unison.
Six hundred power bristles—what kind of concept was that?
As early as first-year History of Magic, students were taught about the invention and evolution of broomsticks, so Avada had a general understanding of their basic structure: the control shaft, balance spine, stabilizers, power valve, and the cluster of power bristles.
The control shaft allowed the rider to steer the broom; the balance spine ensured overall stability and sustained levitation; the stabilizers provided comfort and safety (the Cushioning Charm was part of this system); the power valve regulated output; and the power bristle cluster… was the bundle of broom-like strands at the tail end.
According to historical records, the inventor of the flying broom sought to maximize speed by precisely applying the Repulsion Charm to individual wooden rods, binding them together, and using a specially designed core—the power valve—to regulate output and eliminate interference. The result was a powerful propulsion system that concentrated a massive number of Repulsion Charms into a small area, becoming a truly revolutionary invention for its time.
Unfortunately, once the device was fully assembled, everyone's first reaction was, "Isn't this just a broom?"
Thus, over the long march of history, the term "flying broom" gradually replaced its original name—Cluster-Powered Flight Staff—and became the officially recognized name known to all.
Before the release of the Nimbus 2000, the fastest broom in existence—the Nimbus 1705—carried only four hundred and twenty power bristles!
"It'll dominate every Quidditch pitch in the world!" Baron praised excitedly.
"Ah—no, it may only dominate professional Quidditch…" Mr. Shafiq shook his head with a smile. "The new power valve is extremely expensive to produce, and we haven't found a way to mass-produce it yet. Output will be limited, which means the price will be absurdly high. Only professional teams will likely be able to afford it."
"But that has its upsides. This broom's performance can only truly be unleashed by professional players anyway. For amateurs, it would be hard to control and a complete waste of potential. They'd be better off sticking with a Comet or a Cleansweep… Enough talking—let's try it out!"
Before he even finished speaking, Mr. Shafiq had already mounted the broom, and with a sharp whoosh, vanished into the horizon. Fortunately, Shafiq Manor was vast, with a wide, uninhabited stretch of open grassland beyond it—plenty of room to fly freely without risking a violation of the Statute of Secrecy.
After Mr. Shafiq had his fill, Baron and Mrs. Shafiq each took turns flying a few laps. Finally, even Avada—who wasn't particularly interested in Quidditch—was persuaded to give it a try.
The handling was superb. But when he pushed close to top speed, he panicked and didn't dare go any faster.
That was one hundred and fifty miles per hour—nearly as fast as a high-speed train!
"Whew—Nimbus Racing Broom Company says this broom will make its official debut and open for preorders in about two days," Mr. Shafiq said after indulging himself with yet another lap, wiping sweat from his brow as they walked back together. "Perfect timing—we'll be going to Diagon Alley then to buy school supplies for the new term. We can swing by their booth while we're there…"
Mid-sentence, he suddenly turned his head toward the horizon, curiosity flashing in his eyes.
"Whoo!"
A moment later, an owl came gliding swiftly in that direction. As it passed overhead, it released a letter, which drifted neatly into Mr. Shafiq's hand.
"Is that a Malfoy owl?" Mrs. Shafiq asked uncertainly. "Why would they be writing to us now?"
"Let me see…"
Mr. Shafiq opened the envelope and skimmed the letter, his expression turning rather peculiar. "They wish to visit us in two days and invite us to go shopping in Diagon Alley together."
"Hm? Why?" Mrs. Shafiq and Baron both looked puzzled.
Looking down at the letter, Mr. Shafiq explained, "They say that the Malfoy heir, Draco Malfoy, will also be attending Hogwarts this year. They want to pay a visit in advance—apparently to get to know Baron, last year's top student, make friends, exchange experiences, and so on…"
"And they also mention that Malfoy Manor has cultivated a new type of magical wood—a variant of mahogany—which might significantly reduce the load on the Nimbus 2000's power valve and allow mass production sooner… They're remarkably well-informed."
"If that's true, it would indeed be a good thing," Mrs. Shafiq nodded lightly, then frowned with some concern. "But aren't they—"
"It shouldn't be a problem," Mr. Shafiq interrupted, shaking his head. "Voldemort has been gone for over a decade now, and Lucius not only avoided punishment but even became a Hogwarts governor. Whatever happened in the past, what matters is whether they can contribute value to society now."
"Besides—"
He let out a faintly mocking chuckle. "That Harry Potter who defeated his master as a newborn is enrolling in the same year as his son. Lucius is probably panicking right now, which is why he's trying to draw us in."
"But in that case, what about Ken?" Baron asked. "The Malfoys are fanatic pure-blood supremacists. If they find out Ken is Muggle-born—"
"Then when I introduce Ken, I'll tell them this," Mr. Shafiq replied calmly. "That his name is one even Dumbledore treats with caution."
(End of Chapter)