"Come in students! You may not think portrait painting and magical art is for you-"


"But it isn't paintings that you'll find within! Come see, that's right!"


"Look, I swear I'm going to come into your frame and do your canvas an injury if you don't pack it in…!"



Outside of a raggedy looking red and white striped tent, two oil painted portraits were set either side of the entrance on easels. One was of a witch with braids and feathers in her dark hair and a welcoming American accent, which Salem students would recognise to far greater an accuracy than the others.

The other held the canvas of a sour looking wizard with white hair, a moustache that curled up to his ears and a tiny hat who was entertaining himself with droll comments about the state of the students. He'd been just as complimentary about being made to sit for the painting, purchased by his long suffering wife.

Both paintings had received enough attention and conversation by their subjects to give them enough intelligence and sentience to hold basic conversation, but their task for the day was to encourage visitors into the shabby tent. It was all happening with various degrees of success, though word of mouth was beginning to take hold by lunchtime…

"Go and have a look if you think I'm lying - he's got a flying car in there!" Students had exclaimed to each other with all the subtle hush that the Hogwarts grapevine could ever manage. It was highly effective in ensuring the news was round them all by the time plates were empty.

Through the tatty canvas doorway between the two portraits, a flock of students were now assembled in the enlarged space within. Although there were artworks on more easels around the room, the main spectacle was the car puttering with its engine, bobbing between three and six feet in the air. The paintwork gleamed in the light of lamps on poles in the space, and the chrome of the pipework purred and fizzled with the heat.

"Your discretion as always, students, your elders do not live the dream as we do," Monty Pepper ushered the crowd of gaping faces from the top of a ladder to the driver's door.

"Two at a time, up the ladder, take a seat, feel the comfort and admire the mechanisms, then out the other door. Don't forget - take a copy of the Daily Prophet with you - all signed copies. They'll be worth plenty when you're older, careering the countryside in your very own machine, and using your charms NEWT to fine tune the spark plugs." The wizard, hair wild like he'd been through a hedge backwards ushered out the two students who were sat in the seats, and beckoned two more up the ladder on the driver's side to sit inside.

"There now! Mind your step..."

---

OOC: Flying cars aren't legal in the UK, but they are in the US. Monty Pepper is the father of Zeta Pepper, a 4th Year Hufflepuff, Theta Pepper^§ who graduated from Ravenclaw last year and Eta Pepper, Hufflepuff 2nd year. He's also uncle to Ambrose Pepper a 4th year Gryffindor and Tim Pepper Ravenclaw 2nd year.

He made the newspaper because he took the car that belongs to the Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes for a fly in February, and there have been other incidents like one on April 1st which have seen him mentioned in the Daily Prophet - copies of which he's signed.

Be great to have a few students come and gawp and ask questions, but I'm totally up for the Hogwarts staff, or even some MLE to come visiting and shut him down!

"Out of the way, Sellaphix."

The Herbology teacher just had to see what had the students so excited and looking so damn guilty.  Surely, it must be something truly amazing that they'd show such enthusiasm for learning and careers.  But the look on their faces had more resemblance to having witnessed one student hexing another to amusing but perhaps cruel results.  Or perhaps some thrilling contraband. 

An obnoxious sixth year who Branwen didn't have in class was blocking the entrance to a tent.  He jumped out of the way as commanded and Branwen had to duck to enter.  Her eyes went wide.

"Pepper!"

Oh, Branwen knew all about this old blaggard Octavius Pepper! And just what was he doing here.  "A flying car! My you're the bold one aren't you!"

Students scuttered back a little farther, entertained by their professor having a shout at another adult, their flamboyant host.

From the top of the ladder, Pepper gave a start at the Professor's exclamation. He was fully expecting one of them to appear and throw him out, and for a split second he thought it was that moment.

"… you're the bold one aren't you!"

A bright smile burst across Monty's face, it sounded like she might be in support - but he had to tread carefully.

"Madam!" He greeted, shooing out the two students in the seats and sliding down the ladder on the other side to greet her.

"Marvellous, isn't it? Come, come up and sit in it, I'll give you the grand tour."

He ushered her towards the ladder politely with the slightest of bows.

The boisterous, shameless wizard came down to meet her and Branwen greeted him with a smile of a cat to a mouse!

"Oh you'd like that, wouldn't you," she quipped.  "Look at you, flouting the rules.  You're so keen on yourself..."

She was actually kind of amazing this infamous wizard had dared what he was daring.  She knew that no harm could come of it, the car safely tucked in here.  But how in Merlin's beard had he gotten in here?  And who in the world let him in?

"I can't imagine you were invited, Pepper.  Not with this monstronsity in tow."

She wasn't actually asking him any questions because she presumed he'd have no trouble finding reasons to talk.  She did wonder how long it would be until the Aurors down the row heard talk of a flying car in the hall.  If only to witness that, she wanted to stick around and bother the 'artist'.

"… Look at you, flouting the rules. You're so keen on yourself… I can't imagine you were invited, Pepper. Not with this monstrosity in tow."

"But Madam, there's no rule against levitation charms on metalwork, is there?" He asked her with mocked innocence.

"I've come here to promote the wonders of magical art," he gestured to the extremes of the tent where there were some other portraits. "I was invited to come for that, ever since the battle where I worked tirelessly with fellow artists to repair the portraits." He was, admittedly, rather proud of helping to put Hogwarts back together in his own way.

"But this is altogether a different art, and madam, the future. Won't you come up and see?" He asked again, gesturing once more to the ladder, not discouraged by her approach.

"Ha!"  Branwen crowed with laughter at his carefully planned loophole.  Levitation, indeed!  Pepper and his flying car had been all over the Prophet. Perhaps he wasn't silly enough to bring the actual enchanted junker into Hogwarts, but no doubt the Aurors nearby would be so finicky about specifics.

But Pepper was harmless.  And his talent as a painter was unmistakable.   He was getting at something all together different with this talk of the future adjacent a flying car.  She crossed her arms and settled herself firmly into her shoes.

"I think not.  Feet rooted terra firma, thank you very much.  But yes, sir, you tell me.  Tell us all about the future, won't you, and the intersection of oils and oil changes?" 

She was smiling and the students who'd stayed nearby seemed rapt with what was going to go down between the adults.

A flying car. An aerial chase. A purple chin beard, for Merlin’s sake. At this point, the painting was a perk.

Feeling that frisson of excitement she’d felt ever since stepping foot into the hall swell, Gracie had strolled leisurely but purposefully down the aisle, surveying the booths with wide, curious eyes—popping her head in for a peek every once in a while, just long enough to meet any greetings with a smile but not long enough for anything more. They were all rather interesting in their own way, but—she already had plans. Initially there had been one, to go with Raine and visit Alex at her mentor’s booth (-the only reason why, the Slytherin had brassily declared, that the Ravenclaw got to skip out), but the redhead had been nowhere to be seen. Gracie had been forced to look for the booth by herself.

But it wasn’t all bad. Even with someone as patient as Raine– and being someone as carefree as herself –Gracie couldn’t help but think, too, that exploring alone lacked that certain tension, the pressure that came with traveling with others. It was nothing she couldn’t handle, of course, but it was... nice. It was nice, too.

And, anyway—even now, months later, the painting was still a new thing. She wasn’t as self-conscious as before anymore, about the small but significant detail that she’d thrown herself into it after her breakup with Huck (she came to classes covered in paint now, for crying out loud), but when it came to personal stuff... It was still too personal to share, that art had stopped being a thing he did and had become something more. Hell, just the thought of explaining as much made her insides knot with something uncomfortably similar to embarrassment.

Standing outside the tent as the Herbology professor’s laughter filtered through, Gracie shook her head, forcing all angst-y things to go away; she’d tarried long enough. Greeting the portraits with a closelipped but crinkle-eyed smile, the Slytherin girl stepped into the tent... and stared.

There was the car, hovering a bobbing six feet in the air, gleaming and positively– “Outrageous,” she breathed, eyeing the thing reverently. She was more of a bike girl herself, but—that was some serious flash.

She caught herself then, and flashed Branwen a sheepish smile. “Hey, professor.”

The brashly spoken professor declined the offer to see the future, which was a shame, he would have enjoyed winning her over - taking her for a spin would have definitely changed her mind - not that he could do that in a tent.

"Tell us all about the future, won't you, and the intersection of oils and oil changes?"

As she spoke, a slip of a girl appeared beside her, rapt at the car, eyes alight.

"Hey, professor."

"You'll come up and see, won't you dear?" She looked to be just a little older than his second daughter, Zeta. He gestured to the ladder,

"See that you won't convince your Professor to climb up and see too?" He stroked his beard and gave a shrug.

"And no, no oil changes when we have magic - the most everlasting energy the converts the combustion engine to maximum efficiency. One can modify almost any vehicle quite safely, though the most modern of vehicles are not to be encouraged as they make use of Muggle computers, and the charms play havoc." As he explained he gestured left and right along the body of the vehicle.

"Cushioning charms in the event on an accident, levitation charms to lift and complicated combinations of charms to add steering from the wheel. Invisibility too, all controlled from the wheel, no wand waving necessary. Regular servicing every year to keep her in top shape. Paintwork repels dirt, chips and scrapes."

As he spoke, the paintwork and the chrome seemed to gleam ever brighter.

"The Ministry's very own Department of Transport uses a fleet of cars to manipulate Muggle traffic, and a Knight Bus that uses manipulation in space and time to jump from one place to the next in seemingly impossible journey times. Why should it be that you and I cannot take to the skies in our automobiles? Far safer than brooms, take the whole family, and," he tapped the boot, which sprang open to reveal the amount of room, "all the luggage you'll need."

"Miss Slant, don't humor him, would you?"  The Slytherin wasn't one of hers, but they'd met.  She was involved in the dueling club if she remembered correctly.  She had no hope that the young witch wouldn't climb in beside the eccentric Pepper;  all the other students had been eager and there'd been a queue up the ladder when she'd arrived.

Branwen kept a look of tolerance and condescension on her face as Pepper waxed fantastical about the merits of magical auto travel.  She was ashamed to notice that he sounded perfectly reasonable.  Reasonable thought coming from a mouth encircled by whiskers? What a thing to see.  But she kept her look of skepticism intact. 

"I wonder then what's to stop us from planting wheels on the ground and motoring about boot to bonnet with the muggles? Shall we now board aeroplanes as well?  Shall we establish a gate twenty and four fifths?"

A slipperly slope argument was poor form, but part of her wanted to hear more...

"Weeeeell…" Monty began "the Ministry already do motor about with the Muggles, and a number of us who have a foot in the other -" he was thinking of his dear friend Edwin Glass, but unfortunately they weren't too happy with each other since he'd 'fixed' Edwin's car.

"Funny you should say about aeroplanes though, Professor, have you ever been on one of those? They are absolutely magnificent mastery from Muggles, with no apparent magic they launch people, suitcases and a huge metal bird into the sky, navigate across countries above the clouds, and then bring it down without a hitch. Incredible! I took one only a few months ago - if you'll meet me in Hogsmeade for a beer I'll tell you all about it."

He gestured once more to the ladder up to the car floating in the air,
"Go on, there's no harm."

"Oh, I've heard!"  Branwen exclaimed.  She'd heard all about how apparently the muggles used so-called controlled explosions to fire a giant metal tube into the sky.  It seemed impossible.  Not a single safety charm in place!  Although she did hear they served tea aboard...

"And the more I know about it, the less I would dare to try," she said with finality.  "I'll leave you and the Ministry to risk their necks."

But after the exchange about aeroplanes, the gently hovering car was beginning to seem benign.  She pursed her lips and gave him a stern silent glare for a moment.  But then her eyebrows raised, she shrugged her shoulders, and acquiesced!

"Oh, why not.  Pardon us, Slant."

She held up the hem of her robe and slowly took the steps.  The upholstery of the car's seats looked cozy enough, but she was wary of all the levers and knobs.  It was then on the threshold that she happened to glance up at Monty Pepper and seriously began to question her life choices.   She accepted his offered hand of help, braced herself against the open door, and stepped carefully onto the floor of the vehicle.  It gave with a satisfying dip as the levitation charm adjusted to new weight.  It felt like stepping into a rowboat on a very calm lake.

The old witch was soon sitting in the passenger side of a floating car next to the man who'd painted the Minister of Magic in the nude.

"Alright then," she said, looking about her cautiously.

Up she went, and Pepper's smile grew wider and wider. He had a feeling she wouldn't resist for much longer, that curiosity was contagious, and she didn't want to lose face before her students, perhaps.

Climbing into the driver's seat, he revved the engine gently, the exhaust behind them putt-putting out a little smoke into the air and a shimmer over the levitation charm.

"Well, it's very much like a Muggle car on the road, to steer, we turn the wheel left and right, to accelerate use the pedal, and to brake, the other. The clutch to change gears, accelerating does bring up the altitude when flying, and braking the opposite - oh it's so much easier to demonstrate on a flight, but we're in the great hall, and well, there's not enough space to let her rip."

He chuckled and stroked his beard, pointing out a raft of knobs and levers that controlled the invisibility, stabilised altitude, even a 'cruise' control.

"I tell you what, we'll take her for a spin at the end of the day, round the grounds, with the invisibility on of course!"

Gracie jerked back, startled, before Branwen climbed past, and quickly stepped to the side to give them room. “Oh, sorry.” Maybe she was a little too preoccupied with the car.

Or rather, the small commotion going on outside—which was almost inaudible, given the other booths crowding up the Great Hall with their own bangs and smells, had it not been for the new influx of people streaming past this one and their whispers of “did you see his-” breaking off, incomplete and tantalizing. And if Gracie had a radar for opportunities...

Well, she was a Slytherin.

But she had come here for a reason, and not only for the car, and so she tore herself away and refocused on the present, a grin lighting up her features as she took in the pair. Old people; they were just adorable.

“Does yours have a speed booster, sir?” she chirped, shooting the Herbology professor a cheeky grin. “I heard some can go up to 300 miles per hour.”

Branwen had never been the sort to hold back expressions of emotions and the look on her face showed both Pepper and Miss Slant that the pair of their propositions were horrifying and preposterous!  No sooner had Pepper invited Strangely for an illegal ride than young Gracie Slant had inquired after even further garish danger!

The revving of the engine had made her jump and find something to set both her hands on.

"I'm very near to be doing with this!" she exclaimed, but didn't yet move to exit the vehicle. 

The car hummed beneath her and Branwen began to wonder if there was even a levitation charm at work at all, or if it was something more illicit.

"Miss Slant, it looks like you want a turn.  You're a Slytherin, after all.  Recklessness and rule-flouting? Don't let me get in your way."

Finding nothing quite fruitful at the career fair thus far, Ambrose stopped at two portraits bickering outside a tent. It all looked rather familiar, and curiosity drew him in. His suspicions were correct! His uncle was at the careers fair after all, and oh Merlin, he's brought one of those cars with him that he told them about!

What was… what was his Herbology professor doing sat in the car with his uncle?

"… we'll take her for a spin at the end of the day, round the grounds, with the invisibility on of course!"

"Does your have a speed booster, sir? I heard some can go up to 300 miles per hour." Ambrose glanced sideways at Gracie from Slytherin who had asked. Could a person think fast enough at 300 miles an hour, he wondered.

"Mis Slant, it looks like you want a turn, you're a Slytherin after all. Recklessness and rule-flouting? Don't let me get in your way."

Ambrose glanced about himself, trying not to look up at the car because he feared he'd see the back end of Professor Strangely come out of it at any moment.

As his uncle leapt up out of the driver's seat to usher Slant up to replace the Herbology Professor, he heard his uncle explain,

"Well, not this model my dear, we have the sports versions which do - my cars have won several aerial rallies the other side of the Atlantic - you get some thermals and some hefty cross-breezes over the mountains. Mind your step, here, why don't you sit in the driver's seat - Ambrose! What a surprise, what do you reckon my boy?"

The Gryffindor leapt out of his skin as his uncle exclaimed at him, and felt like all eyes were on him suddenly.

"It's cool," he managed, nervously, and drew closer, glancing between Strangely and then up the ladder at Slant in the car behind the wheel, his uncle perched between the seats, towering above him, "aren't you going to get in trouble though - flying car in Hogwarts? Like, dad's here, and the aurors…?"

"Excuse my nephew," his uncle addressed the room, "he only means it for my best interests - see the newspaper cuttings, yes it was my work that saw the car of the Head of the Department of Magical Accidents fly over Cambridgeshire, I've no fear in letting the world see these cars - they are the future - they are a reality in America, they are best for Britain, even if Britain doesn't want to move on." He pointed a finger at the front of the car "See there, Miss Slant, a bonnet that will crumple if you hit something, you won't fall out of this car if you make a mistake and hit anything, cushioning charms, bubbles on impact, there's no safer way to transport a family in the air. Puts brooms to shame."