It wasn't about how many brooms Richard owned, thought Arcturus. It was about being respectful of borrowed property, and a new broom of this calibre was incredibly valuable to him. Still, the young wizard wasn't about to argue. Far better that Richard find accidents and breakages interesting than get cross with him about them. He'd be careful, as promised, but nothing was ever guaranteed. Briefly, he wondered why in Merlin's name the Ministry employed broom inspectors. Perhaps Richard supplied broomsticks to the Minister himself, and other senior officials, and these inspectors had the job of ensuring that they weren't cursed or substandard? Arcturus rather liked that idea.
Still deep in thought, he turned his broomstick about, and headed back towards the workshop, which was now some distance away. Nearing the ground, he dismounted neatly, landing on his feet and reaching out to take the broom in his hand. When Richard joined him, he was ready with questions to spring on him.
'I think it's a clever idea to have the lights built into the broom enchantment, but it's a terrible hazard to fly without any lighting at all at night, even if you're over London itself. The lamps down in the streets aren't enough to see by – and if you're flying over a little village instead, you wouldn't see a thing! Back home we're supposed to layer on concealment charms, so that we can see the muggles but they cannot see us. Do you ever do that, when you're flying? And is that lifetime warranty quite a genuine offer, so that if a boy my age bought a broom, your company would repair it for him if he broke it as an old man?'
Arcturus smiled at the thought of this last idea, and after giving his broom a quick check for flight damage – there was none, of course, but it was an automatic habit – he set it down temporarily in a nearby rack. 'And sir, what did you mean about the house sending out refreshments? Do you have any elves here, or other domestic staff?' It was a lot of questions. But Arcturus was naturally curious about these things, and he wasn't often around adults who not only listened to his queries, but invited them.