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*****
"You two are absolute geniuses!"
While Harry was deep in thought, the nervous twins didn't just stand around waiting. They knew well enough that words alone wouldn't convince Harry. He was incredibly busy, and even if the twins weren't in Hufflepuff, they would've known about Harry's terrifying schedule. He was squeezing every last drop of his time as the N.E.W.T. exams approached, far more than any other student. And the twins needed quite a bit of help from Harry.
So, the twins decided to showcase their recent research from the past few months.
Despite only having the feathers of a Snidget as experimental material, they made surprising breakthroughs.
The Snidget feather's most significant use is as the main material for emergency escape devices. These tools, capable of unconditional teleportation when activated, are highly sought after on the black market. Unlike Apparition, these emergency devices can bypass anti-Apparition spells and safely transport a person dozens or even hundreds of meters away.
As creatures born with teleportation abilities, Snidgets possess a natural gift for spatial movement that leaves wizards far behind—by several leagues at least. Even house-elves can't ignore spatial constraints like Snidgets do, and items made from their feathers inherit some of these remarkable properties.
However, creating such an emergency escape device isn't as simple as plucking a few feathers. Only a select few alchemists have mastered the craft. Even if someone had the design, they'd still need exceptional skill to execute it. Alchemy, an elective starting in third year, rivals the complexity of the most difficult transfiguration spells. It requires intelligence, dexterity, and endless hours of practice. The entry barrier is absurdly high.
Naturally, as mere third-years, the twins couldn't possibly master alchemy in just a few months. Although they'd only grasped the basics, they had a solid foundation. Coupled with their boundless imagination and impressive handiwork, they developed a rather clumsy method of teleportation.
In the wizarding world, spatial movement—whether by Portkey or Apparition—is a fascinating phenomenon. Wizards don't need complex coordinate calculations or lengthy preparations. All they have to do is "imagine" where they want to go, and with a slight twist of their body, they vanish and reappear at their destination.
For most wizards, the destination should ideally be a place they've visited before, as it helps them mentally picture the landing spot. But for some skilled wizards, they don't need to have been there or even seen the place. With nothing but a name, they can transport themselves to the target location. Some wizards don't even need that—they can move based on vague conditions that match their destination.
During Apparition, wizards can visualize the image of their destination mid-transport, and they even "see" other locations along the way. If the target spot isn't right, they can change their course mid-travel.
This magical form of spatial movement is extremely abstract, defying scientific explanation. Even wizards can't fully explain how it works—it's as if magic does the thinking for them (as described in The Deathly Hallows, when the trio Apparates to Grimmauld Place, and during their sixth-year Apparition lessons).
The twins' crude device, of course, couldn't compare to such mystical teleportation. The gadget they developed could only lock onto a visible spot and transport an object precisely to that location.
The device, about the size of a baseball, was a rough prototype. During a demonstration, Fred stood in one corner of the room. After pressing a button on the small ball, he gently tossed it into the air. Before gravity could take hold, the ball vanished in the blink of an eye. Moments later, it reappeared in the opposite corner.
"This is our prototype, and it took every bit of our savings to create. Thankfully, this test went smoothly. If it hadn't, we wouldn't have been able to make another one," Fred said, carefully placing the ball on the table.
"Due to the limitations of the material and our lack of experience, we can't make it transport objects yet. But we've taken the first step. We went from nothing to something. With more resources and time, we're confident we can improve it," he added.
"We can't instantly teach people who've forgotten how to fight the spells they need to defend themselves. But at the very least, we can give them a way to run far, far away," George chimed in, sharing the same proud smile as Fred.
"This isn't everything, though," George continued. "Fred and I have designed a wizard's danger-prevention suit that includes a hex-repelling hat and an iron-clad robe. The inspiration for these came from Professor Grindelwald's lectures. The alchemical device he mentioned, with its mechanized trigger, gave us the idea."
"We begged Professor Grindelwald to lend us that device for study. Although we couldn't replicate it exactly, we've understood the core concept. With a bit more time, Fred and I should be able to crack this."
"Alchemy is a fascinating subject. By combining different magical symbols, we can create almost anything we want."
"We think we have a natural talent for this. Even though the professor only taught us the basics, we've already managed to arrange the symbols and produce the effects we wanted."
"Indeed, it takes talent," Harry said, staring at the small ball on the table.
"However, I suggest you keep this teleportation device separate from your danger-prevention suit. The hex-repelling hat and iron-clad robe are fine, but I don't recommend putting this device on the market anytime soon."
The Weasley twins, having lived their whole lives in the magical world, didn't realize just how dangerous their invention could be.
"Why do you say that, Captain?"
Fred asked curiously, "Isn't this just for emergency use by wizards who are nearly Squibs?"
"If you intend to transport people with this device, I imagine it will be quite challenging. You'll need to ensure its stability and safety, which will require extensive testing—possibly years' worth. Though I don't fully understand the principles of spatial teleportation, I'm guessing that using alchemical devices to transport objects becomes increasingly difficult as their size increases, and that would make it more expensive."
"That's correct."
The twins scratched their heads awkwardly. Based on their estimates, if they wanted to transport a wizard, using their current design would make the device far from portable. One of the inherent limitations of alchemical items is that alchemical arrays can't be 'compressed.' If they used magic to shrink it, the runes engraved inside would be affected, possibly rendering the whole thing useless.
"But what if we only needed to transport small objects?"
Harry picked up the ball from the table. "We don't need to overburden it. We could add a delayed fuse and pack in two ounces of high-energy explosive potion."
"Spells have a trajectory, and they don't travel that fast. A well-trained person can dodge after a spell is cast."
"But don't forget—this is Hogwarts, a castle that forbids Apparition."
Harry shook his head slightly. "If you succeed in making this device teleport instantly to any visible spot, congratulations—you'll have just become the most notorious arms dealers in the world."
"Azkaban will be waiting for you," Harry added, gripping the twins' arms firmly.
The twins, realizing the gravity of their invention, paled. If this thing ever hit the market, it wouldn't take long for some clever person to think of this exploit. After all, if it can teleport a person, why not transport a payload?
"Should we…?"
Fred swallowed hard.
"Should probably forget we ever invented it," George muttered, looking dejected. Though they hated to abandon it, they couldn't release something that could cause such catastrophe.
"Is it complicated to build?"
Harry bounced the small ball in his hand.
"Not really," Fred replied, shaking his head. "After all, we've only just started learning alchemy. We accidentally discovered a new rune combination that allows us to locate and channel magic."
It was precisely because of its simplicity that they realized this technique must never get out.
"The Snidget's feather has unique spatial properties. Or rather, its constant teleporting over time has made its feathers more attuned to space. The lingering magic in the feather acts like a key, one that unlocks spatial distances."
"Our rune combination simply channels that magic. Honestly, we don't fully understand spatial teleportation. The only reason we could make this is because we used specially treated Snidget feathers."
"All the power comes from them. If it weren't for that, there's no way we, who haven't even learned Apparition yet, could have made such a tool."
With a bitter smile, the twins took the ball from Harry's hand and smashed it on the ground without hesitation.
"This is one profit we won't chase."
"Let's pretend this never happened, Harry. We trust you won't tell anyone about this."
(End of Chapter)