The Apprentice Piece
by Jardyn39
Part One of "The Apprentice Piece"
Chapter 3: The Workshop
John insisted that George had to pack up early. Today George had been invited to the graduation party of another apprentice named Helen Smith.
George was especially proud as she had just completed her part-time degree. She was currently working for a large contracting firm and has just been appointed as an assistant site manager. John had quietly told Harry that Helen had been more trouble than any of George's previous trainees, including him, when George had first taken her on.
Before he left, however, George wanted to leave Harry with some instructions.
"Harry, come and look at this. This is a technical drawing of a piece I want you to make this afternoon. I have asked John to take you back to the machine shop so he can show you how to use the equipment. Together you can do some practice pieces but you are to do the final piece completely on your own."
"That looks like an apprentice piece," said John looking at the drawing. Harry looked down at the drawing and was immediately worried. It had very specific dimensions all over it and it had a rather complicated profile.
"That's exactly what it is. You can use off-cuts to practise with but I've put aside some timber that you are to use for the final piece. Unfortunately I don't have that much of it so you'll only have one chance to get it right. It's been in the kiln drying out and it's ready now"
"Harry, promise me you won't let anyone help you with the final piece. You are to be the only one who will touch the timber and no-one else is to even touch it until you have given it at least one coat of the varnish that I've prepared. It's all laid out in the 'shop"
John looked down at Harry and seeing his worried look said, "No problem. We'll have this done in no time."
"Promise me you'll let Harry do the piece on his own. No help for the final piece."
"Yeah, Yeah."
"It's important."
"Why? He's never going to do a proper apprenticeship, is he?"
"Harry may not be a proper apprentice but he deserves a chance."
"He won't be able to use all the equipment. The piece will be wrong …"
"The piece has nothing to do with it. No-one helped you when you did your final pieces did they? Of course not. When you presented them you knew they were the best you could do. They weren't perfect, but they were good and you were proud to have made them. Don't try and tell me you weren't, because you were. I'm asking you not to take that away from Harry."
John nodded.
"Harry, I just want you to take something away with you. I want you to look at the piece knowing that even though it was something new and different you managed to create something on your own. It will be a reminder that whatever you choose to do, trying your best will always produce results."
Harry nodded, although feeling a little apprehensive.
"Wood is a natural material. You never know what you'll find when you work it. Something unexpected is bound to come up. It will go wrong, especially since you haven't used the gear that much. Just do your best and don't be too critical of yourself."
*
John took Harry back to George's machine shop. As they drank tea, John walked him around the workshop explaining the various items of equipment and describing how they worked and what safety equipment was needed.
He selected several off-cut pieces of timber from the store at the back of the workshop and they set to work. John was clearly very skilled in using both machine and hand tools. First off, John made a piece almost entirely on his own, showing Harry how to use the equipment. Then they made a second with John setting up the machines and Harry going most of the working. Finally they made a third piece where Harry did almost all the work under John's constant supervision.
"You learn quickly!" said John, "must be the brilliant teaching, of course," he added with a wink.
Harry smiled as he held the final practise piece. Maybe he could do this after all.
"Okay, I'm going to call George to ask why he's not drunk yet. You go and get the proper wood for the final piece."
Harry went over to the small kiln that John had pointed out. He opened the door. Inside was one straight branch about 18 inches long and about an inch in diameter. Harry reached in and drew it out. He stared at it. It still had bark on part of it. It was nothing like the practise pieces which had all started with wrought timber.
"Harry? There's no answer from George. I'm going over to his place to see he's okay. It's just up the road. Will you be okay on your own for a bit?"
"Sure, okay," said Harry, still looking at the branch in his hands. He sighed and thought back to George's words earlier. He supposed he had better make a start then.
*
About half an hour later Harry had prepared the branch and was just setting up the lathe when he heard a small pop from behind him. He whirled around and was surprised to see Kingsley Shacklebolt standing there looking serious.
"What's happened?" asked Harry.
"Have you finished? We need to get away," he said seriously.
"Er, no. I've just started."
"What are you doing, anyway?" said Shacklebolt and he reached out to pick up the prepared branch.
"NO!" shouted Harry, grabbing the timber away just in time. "I'm sorry, it's just that George, Mr Hellar, made me promise not to let anyone else touch it. I'll put it away if we have to go."
"Sorry, Harry. Dumbledore says you are to finish the piece and then come. Let me check this place is secure and then I'll fill you in. You carry on."
"Er, okay," said Harry, more than a little confused. "Oh by the way, John Read went to check on George, he'll be back soon."
Harry thought he heard, "No he won't," from Shacklebolt as he walked out the door.
*
A few minutes later Shacklebolt returned with two cups of tea. Harry knew he had used magic because the fine china looked out of place in the workshop. Shacklebolt seemed to realise this because he put the cups down on the bench and waved his wand. Two chipped enamel mugs appeared. He handed one to Harry.
"I've sealed the doors and windows. Hellar was attacked in his home tonight. He is fine but he'll have a headache in the morning. We intercepted Read. He'll have his memory modified. We don't know who did it but they used stunning curses. We knew there would be a risk but both Dumbledore and Hellar thought it would be worth it."
"You know George? Is he a wizard?"
"No, Dumbledore knows George. He's a widower now but his wife was a witch. She was very good friends with Arrabella Figg. She's mad at you, by the way."
"Me? Why?"
"She heard you brought a certain young lady back for tea and was offended you didn't bring her round to see her," Shacklebolt was grinning at him.
"She wasn't a certain young lady, she was someone from school. And if I had thought of her it still would have been a difficult to choose the Mad Cat Lady with Hundred Year Old cake over the Dursleys." He paused a moment and pleaded, "Please don't tell her I said that." Shacklebolt laughed and held up his hands.
"So are you going to be long? I've no idea what you're making, by the way."
"Well, it's not going too well so far. That's the drawing I'm working from over there."
"Hmm. Looks like a wand, apart from the shape. I'd help but I've no idea what this stuff does." He indicated the machinery.
"It's okay, I'll manage. It could be a long night though. Are you sure George is going to be alright?"
*
At just after 3 am the piece was finished. After a final check of the finished dimensions against the drawing, Harry wiped the timber free of dust and applied the varnish that George had prepared.
It dried very quickly.
"Do you think I should add another coat? It has dried already," asked Harry.
"Well the drawing says four coats and it is okay to touch or be levitated after the first coat."
"Levitated? Show me," demanded Harry and Shacklebolt handed him the drawing. "It's changed. These instructions weren't here before!"
Shacklebolt levitated the piece and Harry applied three more coats. These took longer to dry than before but eventually Harry held the finished article in his hands.
"Be careful not to perform any magic, Harry," said Shacklebolt as he took the piece. "Mr Ollivander would be proud."
"It doesn't have a core. It can't really be a wand, can it?"
"I don't know but Dumbledore thought it was important."
"Yes, so did George but not for a magical reason. He said it was for pride, it would symbolise an achievement."
"Okay are we done? You won't be coming back and your stuff will have gone from the Dursley's by now."
"But George …"
"Will understand. You can write to him later. Do we have to switch this stuff off?"
"Yes, I'll do that," and Harry went around the workshop turning off the breakers as John had shown him.
"Here, take the drawing. I have a Portkey, Harry. It will operate when you touch it. I'll Apparate."
"Hang on, I'll turn the lights off. Are all the muggle locks in place?"
"No, I used magic."
"Well let's lock up properly and use the Portkey outside."