Greyshirt

THE DAILY PROPHET

ISSUE 42255, Monday January 16, 2003

Interview by Colin Creevey

Ever wonder why Aurors in the Ministry of Magic are making good progress in capturing a lot of dark wizards than ever? Well, the secret's out. In this special article, famed Auror Hermione Granger shares with us the real secret behind the incredible success that the Aurors had for the last three years! It's not a spell and it's not a potion. Read it to find it out!

Before I graduated from the Auror training program, the number of dark wizards caught by Aurors from the Magical Law Enforcement Division was quite mediocre. The average number of dark wizards caught every month was just about five persons. This badly affected the morale of other Aurors there including our friend Kingsley. They were desperate to find a solution to increase the number of captures.

But that was a few years ago. This is now.

Over the past three years, word buzzed around of why Hermione Granger managed to capture more dark wizards than anyone else, even her boyfriend and colleague Harry Potter. There was no solution in terms of spell development. There was no discovery of new potions that improves the statistic. Everyone back in the Auror Headquarters was scratching their heads in puzzlement.

But I knew the answer before anyone else.

When I first went to Madam Malkin's wardrobe shop alone back in 1999 to do some Christmas shopping, she was developing a prototype costume that she simply called "The Greyshirt". Coincidentally, I was the only customer in the shop alone. As I was trying out the new clothes to be purchased, she actually approached me and asked me to try out the new design that she invented. According to her, the new design was her idea, with help from a transfiguration scientist by the name of Tom Warditch. Warditch had perfected the experiment of bonding silver with a normal raw material, such as wood, and intended to perfect the attempt in another medium. Thus, she explained that it was his idea to experiment with her clothing during his visit to the shop.

What seemed to be a Christmas wizard robe turned out to be a lightweight, form-enhancing garment that protect someone's greatest assets while flattering a figure like Harry to its fullest fantasy potential. Well, what I am talking about is an authentic body-chain uniform suit that fits snugly and secretly under any formal wear. Malkin did mention that it's possible to stop a metal slug or a bullet by wearing it underneath while remaining suave and debonair. And so, at the end of the day, I was given a grey corset with Kevlar inserts in it for free, a complimentary gesture. All that she said was to wear it at all times. This was true one morning when a thief tried to snatch a handbag from me. I gave chase and then suddenly he tried to fire his pistol at me, point-blank range.

TING!

I thought I was going to be killed on the spot, but the 'Greyshirt' stopped the bullet from total penetration and I managed to subdue the thief chasing me. Madam Malkin's reckoning was right. This new clothing gave me an invisible edge already. Since then, I always faced the most fearsome attackers knowing that I would repel any assault with trendy ironclad intimates that fit like a second skin! That amazed my colleagues, even Harry, and it frustrated most dark wizards. Word has hit the street that no villain scum could stop Hermione Granger, even at confrontation in point-blank range. Within months after I stopped by at Madam Malkin's shop, the number of arrests made by the Aurors doubled to at least 10 people per month and the numbers kept increasing gradually.

I never let slip about that secret to Harry, especially when he was assigned alongside me on certain assignments, or even to anyone else. After a while, I got familiar wearing that 'Greyshirt' corset thing. I had to admit that it gave me a lot of lacing to keep myself competitive. Harry was awed with me and asked me out for dinner one night.

Later in the New Year, Madam Malkin introduced two new models: a bra and stockings. That was a supplement and a free gift following the news that I captured more criminals than anyone else. Sometimes, wearing the 'Greyshirt' corset can be very itchy and the bra actually provided an alternative wear. Thus, whenever I had a dinner outside with Harry, I felt protected. Whenever I wear this, I would know that I would be making a perp walk, just like the earlier ones. Just as the previous ones, this bra was made of special Kevlar that provides unparalleled external protection outside while it remained soft in the inside. Underwire frame for pointed, in-their face comfort of chrome.

While going out with Harry when off duty, Harry can never see the invisible chrome stockings that I wore with my feet. The core material for the special stockings was gauge-spun steel and it's soft in the inside. From lavish scalloped lace garter top to steel-tipped toe, it pampers while telling to the community that I'm every inch a crime fighter!

However, the secret was let loose sooner than I thought. One night, as I changed my clothes into the sleeping ones, Harry accidentally saw my garment and gasped in surprise. He was surprised to discover that the garments were the reason why criminals couldn't stop me. And so, the rest was history. A few days later, news of the discovery of my secret was shared as fast as a wildfire across the entire department. Then in one afternoon, the entire group of Aurors, including Harry, went out of the Ministry and crowded Madam Malkin's shop in Diagon Alley. I was the only one left in the office.

The next night before sleep, Harry tried out the new rippling six-pack insert. Despite having a not so muscular body like body-builders do, Harry managed to impress me with his tryout. He admitted that it was far better, especially when moving in combat. Most of his friends in the department had painful ruptures within the body, but the issue can be forgotten because the 'Greyshirt' truss had a quality foundation undergarment that eliminates the debilitating hernia pain. Sometimes, Ron could be fooled by his appearance when Harry visited him.

As of now, Madam Malkin made a vast fortune, which was shared with her collaborator, Warditch. There were plans of future expansion to wizard cities like Salem or Dublin and countries like France and Bulgaria. I had to admit that it was my choice to try out the new outfit that makes this popular. Intrigued by the design, Mr. Weasley, the Minister, and Madam Malkin signed an agreement of having her shop being the only supplier of protective wardrobe for the Auror Division. Kingsley loved it so much that he boasted himself every day by wearing the protective gear.

The invention's success prompted me to invent something that was easy to complement the incredible protection outfit designed by Madam Malkin. In this case, I've chosen a high-heel shoe that I wear whenever I'm out of the house. A six-inch spike was bonded with the tip end of the shoe I wore to work. It can be pushed in and out whenever I want while the hidden toe-activated blades can surprise a masher. With that, I could bump and grind my way to improving my capture count.

Do you know what I called my shoe as? Simple; it's Femme Fatale!

As to sum things out, I'd be pointing out the range of protective wear that we Aurors wear to work:

These protective wear can stop a Stun Spell, Unforgivable Curses, even the Avada Kedavra curse (Yes! Kingsley did try that out during the group tryout on that day) and even bullets fired from a normal gun. Even the Reductor curse could only slow down a person a little. Nonetheless, that does not prevent Aurors from keeping up the pace.

Criminals, be warned, you can't outrun or beat us anymore! We're coming after you...

FIN