The bar was warm and cozy.
Hermione's worry did nothing to dampen Harry's excitement.
"I know, Hermione. So where are we going next?"
Harry gazed longingly out the window.
"Zonko's Joke Shop is just up ahead—"
Justin said, carrying over two mugs of butterbeer.
"We could go to the Shrieking Shack—"
Ron suggested nervously.
Listening to their discussion, Sean curled deeper into the soft chair.
Now that he had warmed up a little, it was about time for him to leave. The Hog's Head, where he needed to go, was open today; and back at Fairy Tale Workshop, Professor Quirrell was waiting for him.
"Hah…"
It was still a little cold by the window. The breath Sean let out had turned to frost.
"My dearest student…"
A cool voice with a teasing edge cut across Sean's thoughts.
In the magic mirror, a familiar face was smiling at him.
"Professor."
A trace of curiosity entered Sean's calm tone.
"I came to see you about that theory you mentioned last time…"
Professor Terra was clearly sitting in her office, and now and then there came a faint mechanical clicking sound from somewhere nearby.
"A local magic network?"
Sean paused slightly, then immediately understood.
"Hogsmeade's response was quite good, wasn't it?"
Professor Terra's silver-white hair stirred faintly, and there was unmistakable satisfaction on her face.
"By the way, all of Uagadou has now been equipped with it. Just as those gossipy reporters have been saying: the magic network will bring about the fiercest revolution of this century, and any wizard who fails to keep up with the times is doomed to be left behind."
When Professor Terra said this, her eyes shone like stars.
Looking at the mirror, Sean went a little blank.
The local magic network was one of Sean's small improvements.
The message that had appeared on every magic hand mirror in Hogsmeade just now was the result of that modification.
Its basic principle was to temporarily link together the magic hand mirrors in a given area, allowing them all to receive the same message.
Come to think of it, the communication principle behind the magic hand mirrors themselves was built on only a few simple spells.
The Linking Charm, the Projection Charm, and the Activation Charm.
What Sean had done was simply weaken the projection function, allowing far more mirrors to be linked at once.
In plain terms, an individual magic-network mirror supported video calls; a local-network mirror only supported text, and only one-way text from the network's center.
At first, Sean had designed the function for one simple reason: grinding proficiency faster.
The magic hand mirrors didn't increase proficiency very quickly, so Sean had reformed them and added new functions, and the proficiency gain had sped up dramatically.
Just like the interior space of the Wizard's Book— the more Sean expanded it, the faster the proficiency rose.
In the foreseeable future, and not a very distant one, he would be able to house even more magical creatures inside it.
"Hogsmeade's wizarding population has activated the local magic network at a rate of two hundred and twenty percent, far beyond our expectations."
Professor Terra went on, the corners of her eyes lifting.
"Two hundred… and twenty percent?"
Sean thought he must have misheard.
"Oh, many wizards are willing to come to Hogsmeade just to try the local network, even if it's only to hear today's weather."
Professor Terra curled her lips slightly, looking half amused.
"The British Ministry of Magic, MACUSA, the German Ministry of Magic, the Norwegian Ministry of Magic, the Burkina Faso Ministry of Magic… twelve magical governments in total have expressed interest in purchasing it from Emerald Workshop. Thirty thousand Galleons… per year."
That genuinely surprised Sean a little.
"Professor, I'll leave the decision to you."
he replied.
"You are the only wizard in the entire magical world capable of creating a local magic network, so I'm afraid that…"
Professor Terra's tone turned subtle, threaded with amusement.
"I'm only your student, Professor."
Sean said.
"Oh?"
The smile in Professor Terra's eyes deepened.
"Then let them wait a while. That price still falls far short of the true value of the technology. The function of the magic network can never be replaced by those chaotic paper airplanes or those owl messengers flinging droppings everywhere.
And in certain emergencies, the speed and secrecy of magic-network communication would be enough to change an entire Ministry of Magic—especially during arrest operations."
It was easy to imagine: once a local magic network was in place, the Ministry would no longer need those maddening paper airplanes or owls.
Beyond that, any urgent order could be relayed to every wizard almost instantly.
And if the local magic network ever became portable, the usefulness it could bring to Auror operations would be almost limitless.
It would mean the complete elimination of information gaps.
How could magical governments not be excited by that?
"As you decide."
Sean nodded.
At times, Terra thought Hogwarts was truly a wonderful place. How had she arrived so late?
"Can the coverage of the network be expanded even further?"
Professor Terra felt inwardly delighted, though on the surface she remained as composed as ever.
And for any normal wizard, asking them to improve something already so rare would be little better than fantasy.
But this was her only student. She had never yet found the edge of his abilities.
This was the student she had waited seventy years for.
"There's still plenty of room for optimization…"
Sean answered.
He seemed to be looking at the mirror, but in truth his gaze had dropped to the panel.
[Wizard Sean, Alchemy Talent: Gold]
[Advanced · Magic Hand Mirror: Expert (8900/9000)]
[Advanced · Wizard's Book: Expert (8500/9000)]
[Advanced · Fairy Tale Biscuit: Master (1700/?) (collapsed)]
[Advance: Three types of Master-level advanced alchemical creations can unlock a Master-tier title in the field of Alchemy (1/3)]
He had only managed practice at the Master standard for the magic hand mirror; above that still lay Legend. And its proficiency itself had not yet entered Master.
If it did reach Master—or if his overall alchemical level reached Master—then his upper limit should rise sharply once again.
In the mirror,
Terra remained silent for a long moment, staring unblinkingly at her student.
The irritation she felt toward that ceremony surged back to its peak.
Covertly, she sent a message on another magic mirror:
[My dear Minerva, about that matter… you know… such a grown child… of course he is extraordinarily gifted, but still… I'll be frank, Minerva, he needs a godmother, and no one is more suitable than I am…]
"I hope you enjoy yourself, my… student."
Professor Terra lingered slightly on the word student.
"One last thing. A few newspapers have attempted to acquire the Workshop. I paid them a visit myself. They're willing to offer a bit of equity, so long as they can print some stories… When you get back to the castle, you can choose a few of them in my office, my student."
"I understand, Professor."
Sean had expected as much.
After all, the appearance of the phone—or the internet—had been a devastating blow to paper media in the Muggle world.
It could be said that once all magic hand mirrors were linked into a single network, newspapers would exist in name only.
Who would want to buy a newspaper that took days to arrive, when they could simply read the hand mirror directly?
Just before the mirror went dark, Sean caught a glimpse of part of Professor Terra's summary sheet:
[Daily Prophet: 40% of its existing equity in exchange for 5% of Emerald Workshop equity]
"?"
It seemed he had misunderstood one point in what Professor Terra had said.
Just then, a cold gust swept Sean's hair into disarray.
It also made the students, who had been talking animatedly, all turn their heads.
The door to the Three Broomsticks had opened. Looking over the rim of his mug, Sean saw Neville choke on his drink.
In his line of sight, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick swept into the pub in a swirl of snow and wind. Behind them came Hagrid, deep in friendly conversation with a stout man.
The man wore a dark yellow-green bowler hat and a pinstriped cloak—Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic.
In an instant, all the young wizards went silent.
Butterbeer was dribbling from the corner of Harry's mouth as he clutched his empty mug. Justin froze, glancing around for an escape route…
The professors and the Minister walked to the bar, stopped, then turned and headed toward the table right beside them.
Hogwarts didn't forbid young wizards from drinking, exactly, but it still wasn't great to be caught by professors.
So Sean took out his wand and tapped the tabletop lightly.
All six young wizards, along with their mugs and butterbeer, vanished from sight.
[You practiced the Disillusionment Charm once at Master standard. Proficiency +300]
"Disillusionment Charm?"
Hermione leaned closer to Sean and whispered.
Sean nodded, then paused. He'd forgotten they were invisible.
"Yes,"
he added.
The young wizards all cast grateful looks in Sean's direction—even though all they could really see was air.
Then they held their breath and watched as the teachers and the Minister sat down at the next table over, muttering and sighing.
A moment later, Madam Rosmerta arrived carrying a tray.
"One small glass of gillywater—"
"That's mine,"
Professor McGonagall said.
"Four pints of mead—"
"Thanks, Rosmerta,"
said Hagrid.
"One soda with ice and cherry syrup—"
"Mmm!"
Professor Flitwick smacked his lips.
"And yours, Minister, is the redcurrant rum."
"Thank you, Rosmerta, my dear,"
said Fudge.
"I must say, it's lovely to see you again. Why don't you have one too? Come sit with us…"
"Oh, thank you very much, Minister."
Madam Rosmerta sat down in her glittering high heels.
The professors now blocked Sean's path, so he could only sit there with the others and listen to their conversation.
"So what brings you all out to this neck of the woods, Minister?"
Madam Rosmerta's voice drifted over.
Sean saw Fudge's broad lower body wiggle in his chair, as if checking whether anyone might be listening.
But a Master-level Disillusionment Charm was hard to detect.
Then Fudge lowered his voice and said:
"What else could it be, my dear, but Sirius Black? I suppose you've heard about what happened at the school on Halloween Eve?"
"I've heard a few rumors,"
Rosmerta admitted.
"Was it you who told the whole pub, Hagrid?"
Professor McGonagall asked crossly.
Hagrid tensed up sheepishly.
"You think Black's still around here, Minister?"
Rosmerta asked in a low voice.
"I believe he is."
Fudge answered shortly.
"Do you know the Dementors have searched my pub twice already?"
Rosmerta's tone sharpened a little.
"They've scared half my customers away… It's very bad for business, Minister."
"Rosmerta, my dear, I don't like them either,"
Fudge said awkwardly.
"Necessary precautions… regrettable, yes, but you see… I ran into a few of them myself just now. They're absolutely furious with Dumbledore—he refuses to let them enter the castle grounds."
"And rightly so,"
Professor McGonagall said sharply.
"With those horrible things wandering everywhere, how are we meant to teach?"
"Hear, hear!"
Professor Flitwick piped up from his chair, his feet dangling a full foot above the floor.
"And yet,"
Fudge argued,
"they're here to protect everyone from something far worse… We all know what Black is capable of…"
"You know, I still find it hard to believe,"
Rosmerta said thoughtfully,
"that out of everyone who joined the dark side, Sirius Black was the last person I'd ever have expected. I mean, I remember what he was like when he was at Hogwarts. If someone had told me back then what he'd become, I'd have said they'd had too much mead."
"You don't know the half of it, Rosmerta,"
Fudge said gruffly.
"Very few people know the worst thing he ever did."
"The worst?"
Rosmerta's voice was full of curiosity.
"You mean something worse than murdering all those innocent people?"
"Of course."
Fudge replied.
"I can't believe that. What could be worse than that?"
"You say you remember what he was like at Hogwarts, Rosmerta,"
Professor McGonagall said softly.
"Do you remember who his best friend was?"
"Of course I do,"
Rosmerta said with a light laugh.
"You never saw one without the other, did you? The few times they were in here—oh, they had me in stitches, the pair of them, like a comic act. Sirius Black and James Potter!"
Harry's mug slipped from his hand and hit the floor with a loud clang. Ron kicked him hard.
Professor McGonagall turned toward the sound, looking doubtfully at the first table in front of her.
At that table sat Sean—or rather, the air where Sean sat.
"That's right,"
Professor McGonagall said.
"Black and Potter. They were the leaders of that little gang of theirs. Both of them were brilliant, of course—exceptionally brilliant—but I don't think we ever saw a pair of troublemakers quite like them."
"I dunno,"
Hagrid chuckled.
"Fred and George Weasley might give 'em a run for their money."
"You'd have thought Black and Potter were brothers!"
Professor Flitwick chimed in.
"Absolutely inseparable!"
"Exactly,"
said Fudge.
"Potter trusted Black more than any of his other friends, and that never changed after graduation. Black was best man at James and Lily's wedding. Later they made him Harry's godfather.
Of course, Harry doesn't know any of this. You can imagine what learning it would do to him."
Harry was shaking. Ron and Justin were both trying to hold him down, because otherwise Professor McGonagall was going to notice Sean very quickly.