"Yes, like that." Sisse nodded, swishing her wand and trying the nonverbal spell again. It was good practice, she figured, using nonverbal magic before her NEWT exams in a few weeks. This time the flowers stayed in place, floating above Alvin's head in a merry garland of flora. "There that should do it." She pocketed her wand eyes still on her handiwork.

"They're beautiful aren't they?" She found herself saying, and then as if the words just didn't know how to stop she added, "I'd love to sketch them into a gown." She could so easily see how the petals would flare into the skirt, how silk might capture the softness of the flower, how a small shimmer charm might catch the light in the soft shade that the natural flower did.