Arcturus didn't like the idea of muggle lights and muggle cars completely changing the way that the night looked. Richard made it sound rather like Ravenmoore, only worse, and Arcturus already avoided that place unless he had a very good reason not to. It didn't matter, he told himself. He wouldn't have to worry about the state of things a hundred and fifty years from his own time. It was a sobering thought, but encouraging too, in its own way.
He was surprised to learn the value of the C-Class broom. More than his top-of-the-line Celeritas – but then it was rather more advanced. He nodded. 'A good broomstick is well worth the expense,' he agreed. 'Quality is important. My father says that he doesn't believe in indulging us children by giving us too many things, but everything that we do have is the very best available.' He paused, thinking for a moment. 'A broom with space for small children is a fine idea too. It always looks a trifle precarious when you see ladies sitting sideways on brooms with infants on their laps. Of course, families usually fly on carpets back home, there's far more room. I've heard there's trouble with importing those in the future, though.' Something which he doubted Richard would be too unhappy about, since it could only be to the advantage of his company.
At the offer of tea and biscuits, Arcturus smiled. 'Yes, do pour,' he said as he picked up a biscuit from the plate. 'Thank you. These are very good. It surprises me that you're so knowledgeable about domestic magic,' he went on, perhaps a little more unguardedly than he should have. 'Not the structural elements, if that's your business, but the other things. Washing up and so on. At school, only the girls took those classes, and only the girls who knew they'd never own house-elves really paid attention to them. I know a little, because we were forbidden to bring elves or any sort of servants to school with us in case it upset those who couldn't, but spells to make beds and polish boots don't compare to the complicated enchantments you must be using.' Arcturus didn't sound disparaging so much as intrigued. He did think it was a highly unusual skill for a wizard to have, but it was clearly very good that Richard had learnt it, given the use that he'd been able to put it to.
'I did notice the wards, sir,' he said after taking a sip of his tea. 'They're very subtle. At home, it's usual to make them much more conspicuous, so that your home is seen to be protected. Cousin Cassiopeia's wards extend even further that way. The magic isn't overly clunky, she's a skilled witch, but I think she's more concerned about deterring intruders than we were at home, so they seem heavy.' He shrugged. The method hardly mattered, so long as they were functional. Taking another drink from his cup, he started to glance around the workshop again. His gaze fell on an unusual-looking broom, and he almost enquired about it, but thought better of it, and held back.
'You've been very kind to answer all my questions, sir,' he said. 'I don't want to be too much of a bother. Was there anything you wanted to know about my broom, or...about things back home in my time?'