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The nano machine's internal alarm drew Darius out of sleep at exactly 12:27 a.m. For a long moment, he stayed still, listening to the slow, steady rhythm of his roommates' breathing. The subtle pattern told him what he needed to know—each of them was deep in REM sleep, far beyond waking.
[Environmental analysis: All dormitory occupants in REM sleep. Common room vacant based on ambient noise patterns. Castle patrol schedules indicate Filch currently on the third floor. Mrs. Norris last observed near dungeons. Window of opportunity: Optimal.]
Moving with the careful precision of long practice, Darius slipped out of bed. He was already dressed in the same dark clothes he'd worn to sleep—simple, quiet, unremarkable. From his wardrobe, he drew a small canvas bag, whispered "Reducio," and watched it shrink neatly enough to slip into his pocket.
The common room below was exactly as expected: silent, lit only by the faint orange glow of the dying fireplace. The bronze eagle knocker beside the exit regarded him with a patient gleam, but offered no challenge. The riddles were only for those who wished to enter.
The castle at night felt like an entirely different being. Its breath came through whispering drafts, its bones groaned with ancient weight, and its portraits muttered in half-conscious dreams. Darius moved through that living stillness like a ghost. His wandless notice-me-not spell shrouded him in muted presence, and every step he took was measured to avoid the old wood's betrayal.
[Navigation assistance: Optimal route to seventh floor requires ascending main staircase, then eastern corridor. Filch current position: Third floor, western wing. Projected intercept probability: 4%.]
The main staircase cooperated tonight—no shifting, no playful tricks. Darius ascended quickly, his eyes sharp in the dim moonlight pouring through narrow windows. He was three steps from the seventh floor landing when he froze.
A sound pierced the silence—a short, questioning meow.
[Alert: Feline lifeform detected. Distance: 23 meters. Identification: Mrs. Norris with 94% probability. Immediate evasion recommended.]
He didn't move. Ahead, barely visible, the faint silhouette of a cat lingered in the darkness. Two yellow eyes glowed like twin lanterns, fixed directly on him.
Mrs. Norris.
Even through the concealment field, she sensed him. Darius cursed inwardly. Magical animals were too perceptive for subtle misdirection—they could feel the wrongness in air displacement and aura.
The cat took a step forward, tail raised, movements deliberate.
[Threat assessment: Feline subject approaching. Filch alert within 60 seconds if investigation continues. Recommended actions: Enhanced concealment (high energy cost), auditory diversion (moderate risk), or direct evasion (requires high precision).]
He calculated his options. The Room of Requirement was ahead, just beyond the tapestry, but the cat blocked the way. If she kept advancing, he'd be cornered.
Mrs. Norris meowed again—louder this time. A clear call for her master.
Diversion, then.
Darius focused his will on a point thirty meters away, down the perpendicular corridor. The image of a sound formed in his mind—not a conjured noise, but the kinetic act of one. He released the built-up force, sending it slamming into a nearby suit of armor.
The metallic clang rang out through the hall.
Mrs. Norris's head whipped instantly toward the sound, ears twitching. From below came the familiar rasp of Filch's voice: "Mrs. Norris? What've you got there, my sweet?"
The cat yowled once and darted toward the noise.
[Energy expenditure: 2%. Magical reserves at 98%. Diversion successful. Estimated window before detection: 90 seconds.]
No hesitation now. Darius bolted silently down the corridor, his heart hammering but his mind steady. He reached the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy attempting to teach trolls ballet and turned sharply in front of it.
I need a workshop where no one can find me, he thought, pacing once. A place to build in peace, to merge magic and machinery without prying eyes.
He paced a second time. The air shimmered faintly.
Where my work can't be interrupted. Where every tool I need will be ready.
A third pace. The wall rippled.
A door appeared—plain, wooden, waiting.
He grasped the handle and slipped inside just as Filch's lamplight reached the far end of the hall. The door sealed silently behind him.
"Could've sworn I heard something up here…" Filch muttered beyond the wall, voice muffled by heavy wood. "Students sneaking around again—reckon I'll find you one day…"
The light passed by, leaving the corridor silent once more.
[Concealment successful. Room of Requirement provides full security. Filch unable to detect entrance. Magical signature leakage: Zero. Assessment: Safe to proceed.]
Darius leaned against the door, drawing a deep breath as the tension bled from his shoulders.
Then he turned—and froze.
The room was magnificent.
The Room of Requirement had shaped itself into a hybrid laboratory, part magical workshop, part Muggle engineering bay. One wall gleamed with rows of spell tools—finely carved wands for resonance testing, precise rune stencils, bottles of powdered minerals and rare oils. Across from them stretched a perfect contrast: clean metal benches, magnification lenses, calibrated instruments, and Muggle power tools that had no right to exist within these stone walls.
At the center stood a massive adjustable table surrounded by floating lamps, each one responding to his proximity with subtle shifts in brightness. The chair beside it reshaped itself as he sat, molding perfectly to his back.
The air was filtered and cool, untouched by the dust and humidity of the castle. Energy signatures were strong but stable—enough to sustain enchantments without interference.
[Report: Current objective remains surveillance device fabrication. Recommend prioritizing immediate operational goals before pursuing secondary advancements.]
"You're right," Darius murmured.
He reached into his pocket and released the Reducio charm. The canvas bag expanded to full size as he laid it on the table, opening it to reveal the night's collection—tiny Muggle components gleaming under the work lights: CCD sensors, microcircuit boards, battery cells, LED arrays, and wireless transmitters. Ordinary parts for ordinary devices—yet together, they could become something extraordinary.
He arranged them methodically, aligning each piece with the precision of habit. His mind hummed with calculation, spellwork forming alongside circuitry diagrams.
"Let's build something impossible," he said quietly.
[Protocol initiated: Hybrid surveillance device fabrication. Estimated time to prototype completion—72 hours. Beginning with component miniaturization and magical enhancement. Partner, are you prepared?]
Darius felt the exhaustion of the day dissolve, replaced by a steady, thrilling focus. This was what he had worked toward all year—the unification of two worlds that had never touched, two sciences that refused to coexist.
Magic gave him freedom. Technology gave him precision. Together, they could make him untouchable.
He adjusted his tools, hands steady, eyes bright beneath the glow of suspended light.
"Let's begin."