Ron and the Dress Robes from Hell

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 45019

Calypso wrote:
> 
> Hum. . . I had always assumed that things witches and wizards 
bought in the  wizarding world couldn't be altered. Wouldn't be 
very economic for retailers  to sell stuff that customers can just 
change to their liking all the time-- 
> they wouldn't make any money that way! I think that things like 
robes probably have some type of magic woven in them to keep 
people from transfiguring them or trying to alter them too much 
like Ron tried with  cursing off the lace and ending up with 
uneven sleeves<<

Wow! Calypso, I think you've really got something there. That 
also explains Lupin's shabby robes and battered briefcase, and 
why Madame Malkin uses pins when she's fitting Harry's first set 
of robes instead of shortening them by magic. 

I wonder if Molly, knowing that the dress robes would only be 
needed if the Tri-Wizard Tournament came off, and knowing all 
the problems the Ministry was having in getting it arranged, didn't 
want to spend the money for dress robes until she was sure 
they'd be needed. Since every single Hogwarts student in fourth 
year and above was required to have them,  the selection was 
probably pretty picked-over by the time Molly went looking for  
used robes. But what did Ginny do?

Pippin