28th June – Afternoon
Carter Residence
After leaving the Headmaster's Office, Ben made his way to a quiet, shadowed alcove near the Charms Corridor. He lifted his hand, focused on home, and the fabric of space responded to his will. A golden-edged portal unfurled before him, shimmering with soft ripples of magic.
On the other side lay the familiar backyard of the Carter residence in Richmond—lush, green, and soaked in warm afternoon sunlight.
Ben stepped through. The portal sealed shut behind him with a whisper.
He paused, taking in the sight.
The hedge had grown a little taller.
The flowers were in full bloom.
The air smelled of cut grass and summer.
He inhaled deeply, letting the comforting scents wash over him, before beginning his walk towards the backdoor.
He made it barely halfway when excited barking erupted—followed by the sound of a doggy door flapping violently.
"Teddy!"
The golden retriever shot across the lawn like a missile fired from a particularly affectionate cannon. Ben barely had time to plant his feet before Teddy launched himself at him, tail wagging with enough enthusiasm to generate its own weather pattern.
"Hey, buddy!" Ben laughed, dropping to one knee as Teddy attacked his face with ecstatic dog kisses. "Miss me? I missed you too. I know it's only been a week, but boy does it feel so much longer! Come here!"
He rubbed Teddy behind the ears, smiling as the dog melted into a blissful puddle right against him.
"Ben?"
Ben looked up.
His mother, Miranda Carter, stood frozen in the doorway. For a heartbeat she looked as though she'd stumbled into an alternate universe where someone had replaced her fourteen-year-old son with a fully grown, ridiculously handsome, ridiculously muscular young man.
Rachel stepped out behind her, took one look at him—and shrieked:
"Dear Paracelsus! Ben?! What happened to you?! Why do you look like a young Superman?!"
Miranda stepped out, eyes wide with a mixture of shock, concern, and maternal suspicion honed by years of raising magically chaotic children.
"Benjamin Carter," she said slowly, "what… did you do?"
Ben glanced down at himself and grimaced inwardly.
Right.
The new height.
The broad shoulders.
The sculpted muscle.
The general vibe of "I bench press trolls for fun."
Rachel circled him like a shark that had smelled mystery instead of blood.
"Did you get bitten by something? Did you drink some weird potion? Did you fall into a vat of magical steroids? Can you do that to me too?!"
"Rachel—!" Miranda snapped.
"What? Look at him! I want a superhero glow-up!"
Ben raised both hands.
"Look, I swear I will explain everything. Just… later, okay? Can we get inside first? Please?"
Still stunned, Miranda nodded and ushered them in.
The living room felt comfortingly familiar—warm sunlight over family photos, the faint smell of lavender, the soft hum of household wards. Teddy glued himself to Ben's side as though afraid Ben might vanish again.
Ben looked around.
"Where's Dad?"
Miranda brushed a bit of stray hair behind her ear. "At the Ministry. He called a few minutes ago. Said there was some sort of emergency in the office and he'd be late."
Ben's brain supplied the obvious answer.
Ah. That emergency.
Miranda crossed her arms. "I was just about to call you, actually."
"Why?" Ben asked.
She and Rachel exchanged a baffled look.
"What is going on with Dobby?" Miranda asked.
Ben blinked.
"What do you mean? What happened to Dobby?"
"You don't know?" Rachel asked, incredulous.
"Know what?" Ben said, concern creeping in. He raised his voice. "Dobby!"
A soft pop echoed through the room—
And Dobby appeared.
Ben froze.
Because standing in the middle of the living room was very clearly Dobby…
But absolutely not the Dobby he had seen last month.
Gone was the small, skinny house-elf with batlike ears and bug eyes.
In his place stood a barefoot, bright-eyed boy—perhaps nine or ten—lean and soft-featured, still unmistakably elfish but now with smoother skin, more balanced proportions, and a thick mop of unruly brown hair. His ears were still large, his nose still elflike—but the overall effect was less "house-elf" and more "enchanted elfling from a children's tale."
He still wore one of the tiny butler suits Ben had gifted him so long ago, and it looked absurdly adorable on his new form.
Ben's voice cracked.
"Dobby…?"
The elfling's face lit up.
"Master Ben!" he chirped, bounding forward. "Dobby is so happy to see you again, sir! Dobby has been waiting for master's return!"
Ben stared, heart pounding.
"Dobby," he said carefully, "what… happened to you?"
Dobby shuffled, looking embarrassed. "Dobby does not know, sir."
Then he brightened. "Dobby was folding laundry, humming to himself, when suddenly Dobby felt very tingly all over—like drinking six cups of cocoa at once!"
Rachel whispered, "That's… terrifying."
Dobby continued happily, "Then Dobby glowed! Very bright! Dobby's hands glowed! And Dobby's legs glowed! Dobby has never glowed before!"
Ben rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"When did this happen?"
Dobby thought hard. "About an hour ago, Master Ben."
Ben felt his stomach drop straight into his shoes.
About an hour ago.
Exactly when his ritual finished.
The bond between a house-elf and their master ran deep—rooted in ancient magic that even he didn't understand fully.
He had just rewritten his own physical as well as magical structure at a fundamental level. And it seems Dobby… had been pulled along for the ride.
"Dobby… I'm so sorry," Ben murmured, kneeling to meet his eyes. "I think this—this whole transformation—happened because of something I did. My magic changed. And I think some of it spilled over through our bond. I didn't mean for it to affect you."
Rachel whispered, "Dear Merlin. You accidentally evolved Dobby."
Ben winced. "It was foolish of me not to think of this."
He leaned closer, voice softening.
"Dobby, does anything hurt? Are you in any discomfort? Dizzy? Anything?"
Dobby shook his head vigorously.
"No, Master Ben! Dobby feels wonderful! Better than Dobby has ever felt before!"
He twirled once.
"Dobby feels strong! Fast! And very, very happy!"
Ben exhaled, relief washing through him.
Dobby was okay. More than okay.
Still, he made a mental note:
Next time he performed universe-rewriting rituals, he needed to account for all magical variables.
As he looked at the delighted elfling—no longer just a house-elf anymore—Ben felt reality shift a little.
Whatever he had become…
Whatever the ritual had turned him into…
He was no longer the sole anomaly in the room.
"Well," Ben muttered, "this is going to be… interesting."
Teddy barked in agreement.
---
28th June - Evening
Carter Residence
A loud crack echoed across the backyard, scattering a cluster of night-bugs and startling Teddy into a brief bark of territorial outrage—before the dog recognised the familiar silhouette and launched himself forward, tail wagging like a weapon.
Andrew Carter stepped away from the Apparition point with the slow, heavy gait of a man who had battled bureaucracy, magical anomalies, and the emotional stability of Dawlish all in one day. His shoulders sagged beneath his Auror cloak, and exhaustion clung to him like dust.
The moment he saw his family through the backdoor glass—Miranda, Rachel, and Ben—his expression softened. Some of the weight slipped from his posture.
Rachel opened the door and leaned out. "Dad! Finally! Why are you so late?"
Andrew stepped inside, scrubbing a hand over his tired face. "There was an incident, sweetheart. Something about a wild dragon."
His eyes flicked sideways for a moment—towards Ben—then jerked away almost immediately.
Rachel perked up instantly. "A dragon?! What happened?"
Andrew removed his cloak and hung it over a chair. "Thankfully, not much. The Ministry picked up a massive magical surge over the Scottish Highlands. We mobilised quickly, but by the time we got there… whatever caused the surge was long gone."
Ben tried to look innocent. The effort was admirable. The success was debatable.
Andrew continued, "Investigation suggests it was a wild dragon. Appeared out of nowhere and vanished just as quickly."
Miranda's eyes widened. "Oh Merlin. Was anyone hurt?"
"No," Andrew assured her. "No casualties. But it did scare the crap out of the local wildlife. I've never seen a herd of deer run that fast."
Rachel frowned. "So nothing happened?"
Andrew gave a humourless laugh. "I wouldn't say nothing. The stupid dragon managed to get itself seen by a plane full of muggles."
His eyes flicked to Ben again.
Ben's brain supplied: I am an idiot.
Rachel's jaw dropped. "Wait—what?"
Andrew collapsed into the nearest chair. "A large passenger plane. London to Reykjavik. Full of tourists and business travellers. They all got a front row seat to an oversized flying lizard doing acrobatics through the clouds."
Rachel slapped her forehead. "Oh my God."
Andrew sighed deeply. "The entire DMLE is working overtime to track down every passenger, every crew member, every muggle who heard the pilot speak on the radio… to obliviate the lot of them."
Ben internally wrote a heartfelt apology letter to every Auror on duty tonight.
After the summary of chaos, Andrew headed upstairs to freshen up. The house settled into a warm, familiar rhythm. The scent of dinner filled the space, Dobby—now elfling-shaped—fluttered about with cheerful enthusiasm, and Miranda set the table while Rachel chattered about the Quidditch World Cup matches.
When Andrew returned, showered and in clean clothes, he nearly dropped his fork upon seeing Dobby.
The elfling bowed politely. "Good evening, Master Carter!"
Andrew's eyebrows twitched toward his hairline.
"Evening, Dobby. You've… grown," he managed.
Dobby beamed, not remotely aware of how alarming he looked for a supposed house-elf.
Ben gave his father a helpless shrug.
Dinner unfolded lively and warm. Teddy lay by Ben's feet, Dobby proudly served dishes as though he'd just discovered joy as a profession, and Miranda pretended not to stare at Ben's new physique every two minutes.
But eventually the day caught up with all of them. One by one, they drifted toward their bedrooms.
Ben was just about ready to tuck in for the night when—
Knock knock.
He opened the door.
Andrew stood there, arms crossed, expression gentler than earlier.
"Hey, Ben," he said. "I know you must be tired and all, but… can I talk to you for a few minutes?"
Ben smiled softly. "Of course, Dad."
They padded downstairs quietly, mindful of the sleeping house. In the kitchen, Andrew opened the fridge, grabbed two cold bottles of Butterbeer, and nodded toward the back door.
Outside, the summer night embraced them—warm, moonlit, peaceful. The garden patio held the faint scent of jasmine and fireflies glowed like tiny lanterns.
They sat together.
Andrew handed one bottle over. "Here."
Ben accepted it gratefully.
They clinked the bottles once and took a sip.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Andrew asked, "How was school? I know you didn't spend much time there this year, but still."
"It was good," Ben said, leaning back. "Scored top marks in my year again—not really a surprise. But… it was good to be with my friends."
"That's good," Andrew nodded. He hesitated, then added with a teasing smile, "And… have you made any special lady friends? You know, when I was your age, I had a huge crush on your mum."
Ben laughed quietly. "Actually, there has been positive development on that front."
Andrew turned toward him. "Really?"
Ben nodded. "Hermione and I are a couple now."
Andrew chuckled, clapping him lightly on the back. "Is that right? Good for you, son. I'm glad you didn't end up being friendzoned by your first crush. That pain can be worse than a Crucio."
Ben raised his Butterbeer. "I will drink to that."
They both took a sip.
Silence drifted in again—comfortable, reflective.
Then Andrew spoke. "How was your trip to that world you went to? We never got around to talking about it when you dropped by home before going back to school."
Ben paused, eyes softening. "It was good. It was great, actually. Made some new friends. Travelled across wonderful places. Had a few memorable adventures."
Andrew smiled. "What kind of adventures?"
Ben hesitated only a moment.
Then he said quietly, "I fought in the defence of my friend's home against armies of orcs. I helped end the tyranny of an evil dragon that would make the biggest dragon in our world look like a newborn baby. I aided in ending an era of darkness and ushering in a new age for that world. Those kind of adventures."
Andrew stared at him for a long while.
"I see."
He took another sip of Butterbeer.
"And is that where you learned how to turn yourself into a dragon?"
Ben's eyes widened.
Andrew nodded. "Oh, yes. Those muggles on the plane were not the only ones who saw you today." His voice softened. "Three Unspeakables went with us to investigate the anomaly. They had a time-turner."
Ben's stomach dipped. "Did they see my face?"
Andrew shook his head. "Don't worry. For some reason, they weren't able to get a clear look at your face through the Spy-glass. And your increased height made them think you were a man in your twenties, not a schoolboy."
Ben let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd held. "That's… good."
"Did you see everything?" he asked.
"Yes," Andrew said quietly.
"…Everyone else saw it too?"
"Pretty much."
Ben stared into the distance. "Huh. I guess we know what the Prophet's front page is going to say tomorrow."
Andrew snorted. "The Daily Prophet doesn't know what happened out there today. Nor anyone else in the Ministry."
Ben blinked. "What?"
"You can thank Croaker for that," Andrew said. "Head Unspeakable. He put a gag order on the entire incident. Didn't want the public panicking any more than they already do."
Ben sighed in relief. "Well… thank Merlin for small mercies."
They drank in silence a moment longer.
Then Andrew asked, "Is it some sort of curse? Your dragon transformation?"
Ben shook his head. "It was a ritual. I did it deliberately."
Andrew looked at him, contemplative. "Any harmful side effects?"
"None so far," Ben answered. "I'm stronger, faster, and my magic is vastly more powerful than before. Oh, and I can turn into a dragon anytime I want. Like an Animagus."
Andrew studied him for a long time.
Then softly asked, "Why, Ben? Any ritual that could transform you to such a degree must've been incredibly dangerous. You have your whole life ahead of you, son. Why take such risks?"
Ben looked at his father quietly.
Then he smiled—gentle and wistful.
"I have a dream, Dad."
Andrew listened, still and intent.
"I dream of a world where wizards and muggles live together in harmony. Where wizards act like how muggles portray us in fairy tales—wise men guiding the heroes of the world. I dream of a world where basic necessities—food, clothing, shelter, education, healthcare—are free for all. A world where people work not because they have to, but because they want to. Because it's their passion."
Ben's voice grew quieter.
"I dream of a world that's better. Brighter. Where today is full of meaning and tomorrow is full of hope."
He looked at Andrew.
And the smile faded.
"But… I know that dream of mine won't be fulfilled in this world. No government—magical or muggle—would ever allow it. Because if people had everything they needed, the ones in power would have nothing left to control them with."
Andrew's eyes softened with deep, familiar pain.
Ben continued, "And while I could remove these impediments by force… I'd be labeled a Dark Lord. Probably the worst one in history. And no one would ever look at me the same way again."
He shrugged lightly.
"So I made my choice. I'll fulfill my dream—just not in this world. I'll take a wasteland and turn it into a paradise. A place where people live in peace and plenty. A shining example to every world of what good people can build when they have the power and the mind to do it."
He leaned back slightly.
"But to create something like that… I need power. Power that I'd normally only gain with time, perhaps in another ten years."
He shook his head.
"And I can't wait that long, Dad. I don't want to."
Silence settled—deep, thoughtful.
After a long while, Andrew asked quietly, "I see. And what happens to us when you're off building your world? What about your family? Your friends? Will we be seeing you again?"
Ben smiled softly—warm and steady.
"Of course, Dad. I'd never abandon my family for my dreams. But… when the time comes, you'll have a choice to make as well."
Andrew held his gaze for a long, long moment.
Then nodded slowly.
"I understand."
Father and son sat together under the moonlit sky, their bottles clinking softly as the summer night wrapped around them—warm, quiet, and full of the unspoken bond between them.
---
29th June 1994
Across Wizarding Britain
Wizarding families across the United Kingdom nearly spit out their morning tea when they unfolded the Daily Prophet and found the entire front page transformed into a gleaming, animated advertisement for the mysterious new Wiphone.
✨⚡ OFFICIAL WIZARDING WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT ⚡✨
THE WIPHONE IS HERE.
DIAGON ALLEY FLAGSHIP STORE OPENS — JULY 1st
---
📱 Introducing the Wiphone
The first magical smartphone designed specifically for witches and wizards.
Created by prodigy inventor Benjamin Carter, the Wiphone seamlessly blends cutting-edge magic, innovative enchantments, and Sci-fi inspired technology.
Safe. Secure. Spell-enhanced.
And shockingly fun to use.
---
💫 What Can the Wiphone Do?
✨ Instant Spellcasting Interface
Cast simple utility charms (Lumos, Tempus, Note-taking, Translation) with a tap.
✨ Cross-Lingual Translation Matrix
Speak to any wizard from any country—your Wiphone translates automatically.
✨ Enchanted Network
Chat, share photos, send messages, and make crystal-clear calls through a protected magical network.
✨ Anti-Summoning & Anti-Hex Coating
Never lose your Wiphone again. Never have it hexed by your enemies.
✨ Memory-Light Storage
Thousands of photos stored with no strain on your wand or on your mind.
✨ MagiCam™
Capture moments with a clarity that rivals Pensieve memories.
✨ Runic Shielding
Drop-proof. Spill-proof. Bludger-proof. Peeves-proof.*
(*No guarantee against large-scale pranks.)
---
🏬 GRAND OPENING — JULY 1st
DIAGON ALLEY | WIPHONE FLAGSHIP STORE
Located between Flourish & Blotts and Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment
Step into the future.
Experience an open, airy space with enchanted glass staircases, floating displays, and our iconic Glass Cube showcasing the original Wiphone prototype.
Be among the first to experience the magical device everyone will be talking about.
---
🎥 MOVING ADVERTISEMENT IMAGERY
📹 Scene 1 — Hogwarts Castle, Split View
A Hufflepuff stands in the Library, whispering into her Wiphone.
On the other side of the castle, a Gryffindor sits in the Common Room, his device glowing.
Their Wiphone screens project soft, floating images of each other as they speak in real time—laughing, chatting as though sitting side by side.
Above both screens, the caption appears:
"Distance Means Nothing."
📹 Scene 2 — Great Hall, Breakfast Time
Students sit at their house tables.
A Gryffindor opens her bright red Wiphone; the screen glows with soft golden runes.
She snaps a picture of her group of friends.
The image animates instantly—moving, waving, smiling. Her Hufflepuff friend leans in.
Caption floats above them:
"Capture Every Magical Moment."
📹 Scene 3 — Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom
A Slytherin uses her Wiphone's parchment scanner.
The runes ripple as her notes digitize instantly.
Her eyes widen in delight.
Caption:
"Study Smarter. Charm Harder."
📹 Scene 4 — Quidditch Pitch
A Gryffindor chaser zips across the field on her broom.
A friend records with MagiCam™.
The moving image plays back in slow motion, capturing every turn, twist, and dive—crystal clear.
Caption:
"Life Moves Fast. Record It Faster."
📹 Scene 5 — Hogsmeade Weekend
A group of friends stand outside Honeydukes.
They raise their Wiphones and tap screens.
All their devices glow in unison, sharing photos instantly via the enchanted network.
Caption:
"Moments Are Meant to Be Shared."
📹 Final Scene — The Store Exterior
The modern glass façade of the Wiphone Store glows with soft light.
Doors swing open.
A sign unfurls with golden sparks:
OPENING JULY 1st
THE FUTURE OF MAGIC IS CALLING.
Ben Carter steps into frame, holding a sleek Wiphone.
He smiles at the camera.
"Welcome to the next generation of magic."
Fade to black.
Wiphone logo appears.
---
30th June - Late Morning
Diagon Alley
Wiphone Flagship Store (pre-opening)
Ben stood in the center of his new shop, hands on his hips, turning in a slow circle as if admiring a newborn child made entirely of architecture, glass, and poor financial life choices.
The Wiphone Store—his Wiphone Store—was nearly complete.
Diagon Alley had never seen anything like it.
Where most shops were cozy, cluttered, or charmingly crooked, this one stood like a futuristic temple dropped into a medieval market street—with its enormous glass façade reflecting the sky like a portal to another world.
Sunlight poured in through every transparent surface, turning the entire interior into a bright, airy space that practically sparkled with magical cleanliness.
Ben took a step forward, his shoes clicking against the polished stone floor. The floor felt cool underfoot, grounding the entire aesthetic, balancing the lightness of the glass and the warmth of the wood.
The store had an open floor plan with clean lines and minimalist design. Just like an iPhone store—except a magical one.
Central to the room were the iconic wooden tables—broad, rectangular slabs made from sustainably harvested ashwood from the Forbidden Forest's least homicidal corner. The surfaces had been buffed to a soft sheen, perfectly flat, perfectly level, and smelling faintly of warm, living wood.
On them sat the Wiphones.
Not dummies.
Actual, fully functional devices.
Each one sleek.
Each one glowing faintly with soft magical light.
Each one displayed like a treasured artifact under invisible stasis fields that still allowed customers to pick them up.
A whole table of Wiphones in assorted colors gleamed temptingly. Another table showcased Earbuds—a must-have accessory for those who wanted an immersive audio experience.
Behind them, the perimeter display panels lined the walls—tall, elegant, and perfectly symmetrical.
Each panel:
had product information in clean serif fonts
displayed animated photos and diagrams
shimmered with enchanted infographics
adjusted content based on who walked near it
One screen zoomed in on the Wiphone's protective spells.
Another demonstrated instant cross-lingual translation.
Yet another played a looping ad of Lee Jordan saying, "Mate, this thing can survive a Bludger hit!"
Ben smiled proudly.
Near the entrance stood the crown jewel of the entire store:
The Glass Cube.
A three-meter-tall transparent structure, perfectly symmetrical, with flawless corners bound by near-invisible rune joints. It stood like a luminous monolith, absorbing and refracting sunlight into prismatic rays.
Inside the cube sat the original Wiphone prototype—the one Ben had assembled not in Wizarding Britain, but in the spare evening hours spent on Middle-Earth, when he had missed his friends and family the most.
Ben reached out and tapped the glass cube.
It resonated with a faint musical hum.
He wandered through the store, reaching under one of the tables to adjust the height of a stasis field emitter, then flicking his hand to brighten the lighting near the accessory wall—sleek shelves stocked with Wiphone cases in everything from dragonhide to vegan leather.
On the left side of the room, two enchanted trees—living, flourishing things rooted in rune pots—stood as natural sculptures. Their leaves glowed with faint bioluminescent patterns whenever someone walked by, providing soft, dancing light.
Nature and technology blending beautifully.
Ben inhaled deeply.
The store smelled like:
polished wood
new electronics
ambition
It was perfect.
He stepped back, hands in his pockets, admiring the flawless symmetry, the pristine aesthetic, the balance of magic and design.
This wasn't just a store.
It was a statement.
A declaration that the magical world was stepping into a new age—one that didn't rely solely on old traditions, dusty scrolls, and wand-waving rituals. One where wizards and witches could walk into a place that looked like it belonged to the future.
He took one last look around.
Tomorrow, the doors would open.
Customers would flood in. Parents. Young adults. Gossiping witches. Curious wizards. Reporters who'd pretend they absolutely did not bribe someone to get inside early.
And Benjamin Carter's technological revolution would officially begin.
He smiled.
"Welcome to the future," he whispered to no one in particular.
And the store hummed—as though it already agreed.