Medi-Spray and Vacuum Tubes:
"Alright Hermione, let us see what you have been up to. Take it away, oh wait… Grandpa? Wakey Shakey?" Harry tapped the portrait and Invictus yawned and slowly roused himself.
"Ah. Grandchildren, Hello. Mr Lupin a warm welcome to you also. Welcome to the Madhouse. Please observe my glorious apprentices, Aventine Artificer Hadrian Peverell and our newly named Rune-Priestess Hermione Granger concoct things that most of the Wizarding world cannot understand. Tell us what you found granddaughter."
"Well, I reworked the Runes to include the grounding circuit. I can make them with a PCB mill now!"
Harry nodded as he examined the rune pattern that was handed to him. Hermione had used some combination of photo editing and other tools to produce a complex array of runes.
"I gradually reduced the size. I haven't built anything yet because I don't have a problem to solve. I was testing the ability to fabricate the runes reliably. With the little mill, I could easily make ten little boards at a time. All the patterns work the same way. I discovered that the transistor symbol does work, but only for low power. High power flow through the rune makes everything go up in smoke. Still, we can use it for logic operations."
Harry examined some of the other boards and looked at the crater marks. Hermione continued to explain the improvements to the runes:
"So, we have low power transistors capable of switching and running signals, but actual high-power magical switching? No idea about that. I tried to even make up a Rune for it. Harry, you might have to come up with something."
"I have an unusual idea. But tell me the other things you've been working on." Harry replied.
"I am lost over here, care to slow down?" Remus remarked.
Harry had already explained yesterday how he could store spells in a 'wand emitter' and he could recreate the effect from pumping magic via a power cell. That revelation alone had turned Remus' world upside down. Remus was quite intelligent and recognised a lot of scenarios where this would be utilised. Hermione suddenly got excited as she began the entire explanation as to how she had created her set of 'Logic Runes'.
Hermione explained that she had created a Rune Schema that utilised the same ideas found in technology. When Remus had asked why this was necessary when they already had technology capable of already triggering magic.
Hermione explained that simplicity guaranteed reliability.
She then demonstrated how direct conditionality was easily possible. The ability to shrink runes and manufacture them on a Muggle machine astounded Remus because he was quite aware that many people often spent hours etching runes. He of course was already familiar with the process, but had never imagined that the technology could be applied in such an unusual manner. Remus concluded that her creativity had made the difference.
Hermione began to explain her Potions experiments.
"Well, I discovered that the heat control in Potioneering is for burning off skins and getting through tough material. I decided I had no time to do that nonsense so I reduced all the ingredients down to a paste separately in batches with a spare blender. Then I used water to soak up the essence of the magical reagents. Now, heat control is not an issue, and I can add contradicting things together. The only thing that was stopping this process in the first place, were all the ingredients and their skins sharing the same vessel.
The next thing I learned was that a cauldron is not necessary for doing potions. I use standard chemistry equipment. The medium-sized power cell and the copper bar I borrowed a while back? I connected it into a standard lab stirrer and I was able to discharge a lot of energy while making my potion. I get far better heat distribution, as cauldrons have a hotspot. FLIR cameras were handy, in figuring this out."
"Nice!" Harry replied.
"Thank You! Anyway now for the big reveal. I took the Wound Cleaning Potion and reworked it with only the main components that I extracted from the reagents. I then tamed the acidity with Sodium Hydroxide. This eliminated the burning sensation and it sped up the brewing time by thirty per cent. I also included some Herbacol 15393/T which is a perfume.
Lorna had acquired some Lauryl dimethyl Amine Oxide for me, because I reasoned that I could increase protein solubility of whatever substances were present in the potion. I also added a Vervain Infusion and combined it with an obscure numbing potion that was no longer in use, because the ingredients were similar enough. After I was done, I had a potion that brews in twenty per cent of the time to the original recipe and smells like Salvon Antiseptic.
The result is this bottle here. The potion can be sprayed on, it smells good, it doesn't sting, it numbs the pain and it heals most small flesh wounds immediately. Yes, I made some small cuts with a scalpel on my arm very carefully. No, I am not suicidal, I needed to test the thing. No scars, nothing. Look." Hermione explained.
Harry examined her hands and Hermione's skin was flawless. Harry decided that in a worst case scenario, he could zap to his mother's house and get fixed up. He quickly cut his hand with a sharp knife and sprayed on some of Hermione's improved wound cleaning potion.
"Harry are you mad? How could you…..I never tested this on anything big are you…" but Harry opened his hand and after he wiped the blood away, his hand was unmarked and perfectly healed in ten seconds.
"Well damn. Portable First Aid. I wonder if it works on burns and infections?" Harry wondered.
"I think I can help with that."
Both children were now staring at Remus.
"Because I am a werewolf my body is strong and it can fight off infections that would kill other people. I don't get sick but I get injured regularly. Werewolves like to frequent the same places and we usually fight over territory. Sometimes I forget about the damage because have a high pain tolerance. I had a rough week before I arrived here. I would be quite willing to try the potion. The potion could not kill me anyway as a werewolf." Lupin commented.
"I don't know if I should, maybe we…" Hermione responded as Lupin had taken off his robe and shirt.
Lupin was covered in bandages. Harry put on some gloves and began to unwrap the hastily done bandages. What Harry saw flabbergasted him.
Some of the bandages had fresh blood on them. Some of the wounds had partially clotted. His back and shoulder had a horrendous burn patch where there was fluid under the skin. Many deeper gashes seemed to have yellow pus.
"Why didn't you do to Saint Mungo's? Are you telling me you normally heal from this? How long would this usually take? Why didn't you say anything?" Hermione asked, as she slipped on some gloves and handed Harry a full face shield.
"About three weeks. Sometimes I heal just in time to transform and run into trouble again. I am hoping with wolfsbane and the containment we have at Peverell Manor, I am hoping for no more fights with other werewolves. I forgot to say something because it has been like this for such a long while, and I became accustomed to the pain." replied Lupin.
Hermione attached her face shield.
"Well, here goes." Hermione began to spray the bottle generously on the burnt area. After a couple of sprays, the skin was completely patched up. She used the entire bottle on that spot and the small area of skin was perfect, and there were no scars.
Harry examined the results and commented "Well Hermione, if there is a way in which potions are tested, you have to send this one. We will set up a production line to mass manufacture it. This alone is an entirely new game changer. Congratulations!"
"Whootsy, I need you urgently. Carry me to my house." Hermione yelled. A quiet pop occurred and then Hermione disappeared. She then reappeared 40 seconds later with an entire box of the potions, that had been pre-packaged all in convenient spray bottles.
"Harry, help me get to work. Spray until the skin looks good. If nothing looks like it is happening, keep at it. The potion and the magic that is stored in the liquid is consumed as it does the work."
Harry and Hermione went to town spraying Remus with the improved potion. During the entire affair, Lupin only felt a cold numbness as all his wounds suddenly stitched together. As his wounds regenerated, the scabs and the puss slowly dripped down and Harry used a intent modified Evanesco to keep the area free of smells and any biological contaminants. A half-hour later, Remus Lupin was ravenously hungry but pretty much a new man. Not a single bruise, cut or burn mark was left on him. Even some of the smaller scars from previous engagements had been removed. Harry and Hermione had thoroughly santised the null-box just to be sure that nothing suspicious had contaminated the environment.
Invictus who was looking on smiled:
"My dear Mione, well done. So proud of you! The French I believe have a potions guild. They were the experts in my day. I am not sure if the tradition continues. How convenient that we are going to France in December. We will ask Lady Delacour for help with this matter. Sometimes accidents do work out even if you are not sure of the finer details. I think the world is better off with your accident. How much complexity was used in the preparation?" Invictus asked.
"Originally fifteen steps of which eight are eliminated if you have the potion ingredients extracted via water. Harry could easily build something to just feed the reagents from tanks for mass production." Hermione answered.
"Uncle Moony how are you feeling, anything odd?" Harry asked.
"I haven't felt this good in a long time. All the pains and the mild fevers are gone for now. I still feel a bit numb, but it is wearing off. I do feel extra hungry, the healing took a lot out of me." replied Lupin.
"Well as you can I see I always buy extra. Grab whatever you want from the bag and eat. Coca Cola is over there. Hermione, while we were spraying him, I was thinking about your problem and my eye caught something. I have an unusual idea. "
"Which is?"
"I am thinking possibly a vacuum tube might work? I have some extras from upgrading Grandpa's very vintage tube amplified record player." Harry answered.
"Run me through how it works, I would like to know?" questioned Hermione.
"Well, we have a triode here and…."
Harry spent the next hour taking Hermione through vintage Power Electronics. The question was if magic would behave the same as electricity inside a vacuum.
POP.
"Master Harry sirs, Hitchy here. Amazon delivery!" The elf informed Harry.
"Oh will you look at that! Thanks Hitchy! How is the shielded tablet going? Are the elves using it?" Harry asked.
"Yes Master Harry. We likes Amazon. We saws nice things for the manor. We will ask Mistress Lorna to help us purchase them. We want to make curtains!" Hitchy replied excitedly.
"Excellent, thank you for bringing this. Whatever it needed for the manor, let Lorna purchase from the 'petty cash' account. Your salary is for personal items of your own. Have a fun evening Hitchy. Off you go, deary." Harry replied in the gentlest tone of voice. The elf then popped away.
"Well, Hermione we have my hybrid scope. Reflex sight and switchable 4x rifle scope. Picatinny Rails. I have a clip-on plastic rail being printed for the wooden rifle. Think we can modify it and take it for a test drive? "
"Sure. We should be able to make some modifications.
Oh, by the way, I was wondering if we should hire an artist. Somebody from the magical world who understands magical art. I think that when it comes to embellishments, we need to outdo the old-fashioned twats. We can provide the person with pictures of ideas we like and ask for a magical facelift. We might even get ideas too for our hardware. As long as we don't have to compromise function?" Hermione suggested.
"That is a great idea. Anyway, I am done with hooking up everything. Help me get a BMP on the cathode-plate circuit and let me get my Mage vision on so I can see what is going on." Suddenly a heavy thud was heard followed by a full set of skittering sounds. A set of small objects could be heard skipping on the floor.
"Oh, sorry about your gems, sometimes I am clumsy. Can you find them?" Hermione mentioned in a slightly panicked voice.
"Relax Mione, remember I can see them with my Mage sight. Seems only two of them are out of the case not to worry and…..what is this?" Harry asked.
"What is what?" Hermione asked.
"Just hold this book here and create a shadow"
Harry placed the emerald in the light and noticed that it seemed to magically glow when held in Harry's fingers.
"Well shit Hermione – It seems that the emerald is a magical photodiode. Hand me the others let me try." Harry asked.
"Topaz no, Ruby no. Ruby seems to store energy. Sapphire yes, Garnet yes, Amethyst yes….wait let me put the whole case of them under a strong Lumos…."
Harry observed as he applied light to all of them and observed the magic
"Well Hermione, I think you for your clumsiness. Some of these generate light when provided magic and others generate magic when provided with light. King Ragnok did store my memories in a gem, that is something we need to investigate. We can look at integrating this another day. Time to test the power flow on the vacuum tube." replied Harry.
As soon as he touched the wire with his finger, the passive magic in his finger lit up the high powered Lumos emitter like it was a Christmas tree. Harry then tried his best to vary the power by just a trickle. The Vacuum tube began to conduct the magic in the same manner. The minuscule amount of energy Harry was manipulating was too little to even start a Lumos spell.
"Well crap. Now my runes can trigger powerful things. So control systems check. Power control, check?" asked Hermione.
"Pretty much. I wonder if…" Harry asked.
Harry had wondered if she could fuse some of the shielded electronics with the new magical control systems. For most muggleborns, electric power was routinely controlled by dimmers and other things that were common in the Muggle world. Nobody rarely wondered about the mechanics of a volume button or the brightness switch on a lamp. And yet for the magicals, this had never been a field that had been explored too deeply. Could magical power be controlled in such a manner? And if it could be controlled, how did the time taken to raise and lower the magic power play into how magic manifested?
The idea was simple – Harry had already figured out that vacuum tubes could control the flow of large amounts of magical energy. The emerald gem seemed to act like a magical dimmer, as the magic it conducted was dependent on the intensity of light. Harry, with the next version of his experiment, connected a microcontroller that could vary a light source into the existing emerald, that was attached to his magical experiment.
Now he could control his charcoal thruster accurately by making it merely whisper air or act as an industrial fan on demand. Harry then tried a stupefy emitter and realised exactly how the pulse shotgun had come about.
"Did you guys see that! An abrupt swell in magical energy causes the spell to behave like a blast. A gradual increase in energy sort of tightens the focus of the spell. It becomes thinner. Uncle Moony do you know what this means?"
Remus took out his wand and began to apply the same energy flow to the stupefy spell. He initially had problems but after twenty minutes of playing around with his magic delivery, he was able to produce somewhat satisfactory results. His stupefy spell was now a long-range beam.
"Good grief Harry and Hermione, do you realise that this technique alone could change ranged magical combat? I would have never thought about that. And if I understand correctly, your Muggle circuits might be able to reproduce all these effects reliability?" Remus questioned.
"Quite so Uncle. This is what a successful evening looks like for us. I was hoping we could tinker with the gun this evening but I am too tired. Mione let's eat something and call it a night. From tomorrow morning Moony, be ready to head out for exercise around the block. Track clothes. Then the usual timetable for activities as we discussed. Tuition after breakfast. We will get you up to speed about going to France in December."
Harry and Hermione then began to eat the extra food that had been sitting on the table. Harry explained the phrase, he had left with Madam Malkin.
"Mione, time for your robes and mask. Remus can carry you tomorrow. The phrase is I am the troublemaker's friend. You can introduce yourself as Lady Von Neumann perhaps? What do you think?"
"I think I like that plan, Harry. I will bring some of the Le Fay jewellery sometime. I understand that they can protect against all types of Legilimency. We need our people wearing those immediately."
"Alright, I think I am going to relax. Tomorrow we have some small errands to run with Lorna, Uncle Moony. It will be good for you to meet our snake. Yes, we have a very reliable Slytherin in our corner. Our political genius. Go home and enjoy the shower. Take whatever you want from here." Harry replied.
"Come both of you, hug me before I go. Thanks for helping with my injuries. I feel all new, watered and fed and mentally stimulated. See you tomorrow, both of you. Snaggletooth, home please."
Remus found himself crying tears of joy. He finally had an opportunity to see Harry and Hermione in action. They were quite a pair and the magical research that they were doing? They already had achievements that could rival many Order of Merlin academics in the Wizarding community. Harry and Hermione could easily get into many Guilds if they wished with their current discoveries. What would they become in a couple of years?
He hoped that they would be exactly the people that were needed to make the right kind of changes.