Broomstick Servicing Kit

The Broomstick Servicing Kit was an ideal maintenance system for most broomsticks as it consisted of a handy broomstick polish, a tail-twig clipping tool that helped its owner keep the broom’s tail in good condition, a compass that could help resolve any flying issues the broom faced and a handbook to help maintain the broom and use magic when needed to ensure its top condition. A Broomstick Servicing Kit was given as a gift to Harry Potter by Hermione Granger for his thirteenth birthday when he had his Nimbus 2000 broomstick. 

Contents Of The Broomstick Servicing Kit

The Broomstick Servicing Kit was kept in a sleek black leather case and had silver words for all its labels. It consisted of Fleetwood’s High-Finish Handle Polish, which came in a huge jar, a copy of the Handbook of Do It Yourself Broomcare, a clip-on compass made of brass, and a pair of tail-twig clippers made specially from silver. 

The High-Finish Handle Polish by Fleetwood was one of the best handle polishes available for broomsticks in the market. It is believed that it was highly effective in keeping the broomstick in a very shiny condition resembling a newly bought broomstick. The brass clip-on compass was used to calibrate the flying patterns and commands that wizards or witches would give to the broomstick. It could also be used to navigate a flying journey to different places. The tail-twig clippers were an essential tool to clip off unwanted split-ended twigs at the tail of the broomstick. These stray twigs could have been a result of a wide variety of factors, including air resistance, wear and tear from flying in different directions for long periods, high wind speeds, abrasions from landing abruptly or touching the ground, and infestations like mold or fungi. Finally, the Handbook of Do It Yourself Broomcare was one of the best available books on broomstick maintenance, with extensive tips and tricks that could help broomstick riders and owners alike find fail-safe ways to prevent any problems with their broomsticks.

Appearance in the Harry Potter Universe

The Broomstick Servicing Kit appeared in the Harry Potter universe when Hermione gave it as a gift to Harry for his thirteenth birthday at the end of his second year as Harry was the seeker of the Gryffindor Quidditch team and the proud owner of a Nimbus 2000 broomstick which was gifted to him by Professor McGonagall in his first year. Although there were better broomsticks in the market, like the Nimbus 2001 which Lucius Malfoy, the father of Draco Malfoy, bought one each for the members of the Slytherin team, Harry’s skills still helped him win most matches. Even the Weasley twins, Fred Weasley and George Weasley did a great job as beaters, even though they both owned a Comet broomstick. 

Since Hermione was touring France with her family when she bought the Broomstick Servicing Kit for Harry, she was worried about finding a hassle-free way to transport the kit as, if she tried sending it the Muggle way, there was a chance of it being detained at customs. However, Hedwig showed up eventually, which made it very easy for Hermione to send it to Harry. Before his third year at Hogwarts started, he was already using it to keep his Nimbus 2000 broomstick in a good condition. He also tried focusing on the Handbook of Do It Yourself Broomcare, which specifically had the charm to cure reluctant reversers when the Dursleys were being visited by Aunt Marge. However, bad luck befell him when a group of Dementors tried to attack him amidst a Quidditch match, and he plummeted down to the ground, only to be saved by Albus Dumbledore. In this process, his Nimbus 2000 broomstick flew into the Whomping Willow, which reduced it to shreds. 

Within the span of a few days, Harry received a Firebolt as a gift for Christmas from an unknown source. Although Hermione warned Harry from using it as it was delivered under suspicious circumstances, both Harry and his friend Ron Weasley were overjoyed. It is later revealed that the broomstick was sent to Harry by his godfather, Sirius Black who was a very close friend of James Potter. However, at that time, Hermione’s warning made sense as Sirius was a hunted fugitive from Azkaban prison. Interestingly, Sirius had previously gifted Harry a toy broomstick on his first birthday, back when James and Lily Potter were alive. The Firebolt would eventually be seized and subjected to a multitude of tests before being returned to Harry. Harry used the Broomstick Servicing Kit to keep his Firebolt in top shape as well. The Fleetwood High-Finish Handle Polish and the tail-twig clipping tool were especially helpful in maintaining the Firebolt, as Harry would use it several times during the Triwizard Tournament in his fourth year and the Quidditch matches that followed till the end of his sixth year.

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