Work Text:
The creation of the wizard world's first magically-made television was a major deal. A team of muggleborns had gotten together, eager to bring technology and magic together. It was coming up on the turn of the century, and it was a really ambitious project. Once they had gotten the financial support from investors, built a studio to film wizard-specific television programming, it was all anyone could talk about. While some of the older wizards were hesitant to embrace such a change, the younger generation was ecstatic.
December of 1999 was the first rollout of WizTV releases. They would be dropping, in limited quantities, the week before Christmas on Diagon Alley. Everyone wanted one so desparately, so they'd had to come up with a system.
Harry and his friends were no exception to the craze. Being raised by a muggleborn mother, Harry had always had a telly in the house. This one, though, would be so unique to wizard culture. He wanted to be apart of that moment in history.
Hermione's favorite part about the release was that, along with the WizTVs, they were releasing antenna attachments for muggle televisions to be able to connect to the WizTV programs. She didn't see the need to get a whole new telly.
The gang—Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dean, Seamus, and Neville— brought chairs to sit in line for the WizTV, only to see that the line extended all the way from one end of Diagon Alley to the other. Fortunately for them they got a spot pretty close to the shop. They cringed, however, at the idea of being in the crowded Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes once it opened.
Fred and George were beyond thrilled. Being the only shop on Diagon Alley to sell the WizTV had put them on the map in a major way, and they knew it would cause people to look at their own projects a little closer as well. The exclusive deal with WizTV was only for a year, but they were confident they could make that year count.
“I wish it wasn't so windy,” Dean said as they waited. They each had a jar of fire in their laps to keep them warm, but that didn't save them from the crisp and dry winter air.
“It's all gonna be worth it, though,” Seamus said.
“It'll be nice to be able to watch replays of my games,” Harry said. “It'll help my playing a great deal.”
“As if you need it,” Neville joked.
“I think WizTV will be really beneficial when it comes to news distribution,” Hermione pointed out. “Maybe now there will be more of an incentive to enforce ethics in journalism.”
“Yeah, Rita Skeeter's probably boycotting the release as we speak,” Ron said, causing the group to laugh.
When it was getting close to opening, everyone shoved their chairs into their bags that Hermione had taught them how to expand. The energy in the line was starting to buzz. No one could wait to get their WizTV.
“I think that it'll make me really popular with the parents if I got one for them for Christmas,” Ron said as the line started to move. “Merlin knows they'll never get one for themselves.”
“Your father is probably trying to create his own attachment for the tiny muggle telly he has in the garage,” Harry said.
“All the more reason for me to buy him the real thing!” Ron replied.
They were finally at the doors. It seemed that Fred and George were letting people in using a staggered pattern so that there wasn't a rush, which the others really appreciated. When it was their turn to enter the shop, Harry looked around the WizTV display in awe.
Having one foot in muggle culture and the other in wizard culture his whole life seemed to have led to this moment. To him, it was like a miracle that he was able to witness them come together like this. He picked out a telly and looked around the place some more, but he was too excited to think. All he wanted to do was go home and turn on the release day programming.