Beta: None
Original Release Date: 3/30/16
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the canon Harry Potter universe or any other universe.
Chapter Forty Five – Brooding to Product Design
Making their way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Harry asks, "What do you think he'll have us do?"
"No idea. But here's your Invisibility Cloak" answers George handing Harry the folded cloak.
"Thanks" says Harry stuffing the cloak into an enlarged pocket of his robes.
Entering the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, the three Gryffindor students casually take seats at the front of the classroom.
"So tell me, what were you trying to accomplish by attempting to bypass the security?" inquiries Remus entering the classroom and shutting the door behind him.
Clearing his throat, George answers, "To improve security by possibly finding a vulnerability and exploiting it."
"And you did this despite my warning not to?" states Remus narrowing his eyes.
"And we'd do it again" challenges Fred standing up from his desk.
Holding Fred's stare for multiple long moments, Remus laughs before stating, "Wonderful! I love that attitude to not let anything or anyone get in their way of pushing boundaries. Anyways back to your detention. If you hadn't noticed that overall network usage has been pushing up steadily, and with our future plans for usage, we need a new network plan, in addition to new servers."
"So…what is our detention?" inquiries Harry confused.
"I would like you three to come up with a plan each regarding how we can improve the network for MASSIVE amounts of video streaming, social 'networking', gaming, and other potential growth categories. Whether it takes you five minutes, an entire hour, or even longer is up to you. Considering that one day you three will be running the business, I thought you all would like to have some feedback in how things are structured" answers Remus.
"Then I want to pitch an idea. A device that picks up sound and transmits it over either the Marauding Network to a specified receiver or creates a unique transmitter/receiver pairing" states Fred with a smile.
"A way that only sound transmitted is only heard by a single receiver?" asks Remus curiously.
"Exactly! It would be perfect for eavesdropping!" exclaims George catching on to Fred's idea.
"Add some camouflage and call it the 'Eavesdropper'?" suggests Harry.
Smiling at the enthusasim of the three, Remus grabs a nearby wooden crate and begins to assemble the enclosed boards into rectangular structures sitting roughly two feet tall and a foot wide. An hour and a half later Remus stands up and states, "You all are free to go whenever you would like."
"Maybe later" comes Fred's voice absentmindedly as he, George, and Harry talk in low voices, huddled over a scroll of parchment.
Multiple hours later, well after the time for the midday meal to be served, Remus looks up from the ever growing pile of servers and inquires, "Did you all ever eat?"
Standing up and stretching George answers, "Is it time to eat yet?"
Checking his watch, Remus jumps to his feet, "We've missed the midday meal! If you three will follow me, we shall enjoy a private lunch" before striding out of the classroom, locking it after Harry, George, and Fred exit.
Leading the trio through multiple hallways finally arriving at a large painting of a bowl of fruit, Remus tickles the pear and moments later it becomes a doorknob. Entering the vast kitchen, the quartet are quickly surrounded by scores of house elves.
"Hows can we help you?" squeaks a male house elf taking a step forward.
"We missed lunch and would like to see if there is anything we can get to help tide us over until dinner" requests Remus politely.
"This ways sirs" squeaks the house elf leading the way to a wall with a small table and chairs far away from the four large and clearly house tables.
"This is amazing" remarks Harry looking around in amazement.
"Quite, but the feeling wears off after your first few trips" comments George before taking a swig of Pumpkin Juice from a goblet from a house elf.
"I was wondering how you'd get in here, since the kitchen shows up on the map" states Harry before thanking a house elf for his goblet of Pumpkin Juice.
"Just because something is on the map doesn't mean the details on how to get in are added. There are reasons why areas are off limits to students" answers Remus giving a sly wink.
"Such as where Fluffy was my first year" adds Harry somewhat confidently.
"Yes and no. Fluffy, the three headed dog, shouldn't have been here in the first place. I'm referring to areas such as the kitchens, the secret passages in and out of the castle, and the likes" answers Remus.
"I assume the Chamber of Secrets now as well?" inquiries Harry curiously.
"Correct. Despite it being a girl's bathroom, it has been since closed and locked to prevent anyone from accessing it and possibly accessing the Chamber of Secrets. That was Dumbledore's order, to prevent anyone from getting hurt or doing something that they shouldn't be" answers Remus.
Pausing as a horde of smiling house elves place several plates of food are placed upon the table with four empty plates to eat off of placed in front of every one. After a few minutes of eating Remus asks, "What have you three designed so far?"
"A way to communicate with a particular person far away as an earpiece. Transmitting audio to and from both users" states Fred.
"A device to be placed somewhere discreetly and able to pick up sound and transmit it back to someone. However, it will be unable to receive audio and the likes. We've nicknamed it 'Eavesdropper'. It works without Marauder Network access, so you must be fairly close by to listen to it. Using some form of cloaking device or spell will greatly aid in the use of the device" adds George with a grin.
"Let me say this, if you get caught using any devices for cheating on exams, I WILL urge the Headmaster to expel you" warns Remus giving the three a stare.
"We…were thinking more of a potential law enforcement use. Such as for Aurors to use to communicate with each other out in the field" supplies Harry.
"We were thinking of a ministry only selection of gear. Seeing as the French Ministry of Magic has partnered with us for a public access channel, why not offer them access to our selection of gear as well?" suggests Fred.
"Interesting. Competition creates innovation, but by the looks of it, we'd be better off looking to what muggles are doing and seeing if we can replicate some of their advancements. With that in mind we might be somewhat ahead of the curve. Which reminds me, we still need to name the device that represents what muggles call a 'telly'" replies Remus.
"We don't have a definite naming system, correct?" inquiries Harry.
"Correct" answers Remus.
"Why not give a description of what it is, how it works, etc, on the Maraudering Network and let users and potential buyers give ideas for what they'd like to hear it called" proposes Harry.
Pausing and thinking about it, Remus answers, "That is a great idea, Harry. I'll work on getting that implemented."
Minutes later the quartet politely thank the house elves for their hospitality, and exit the kitchen and make their way back to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"Before you all leave, I'd like to see the proposed network change to handle the new traffic" states Remus before sitting down at his desk.
Handing Remus a scroll, Harry exits the room with Fred and George in front. "Do you think that Remus's concerns regarding network usage are well founded?" asks Fred curiously.
"It's possible. But we can check overall network usage for the past month and see" answers Harry as the trio makes their way up a staircase.
/*Friday a little more than a week from Christmas*/
"Potter!" comes a voice from behind.
Turning around, Harry asks, "Wood, what is it?"
Smiling, Oliver answers, "We're still in the running for the Quidditch House Cup. We just need to win by one hundred seventy five points next match. One last practice tomorrow morning at nine", before walking away.
"Sure" answers Harry before staring off into the common room fireplace shutting out the world.
/*the following Monday*/
"Your respective Head of House will be coming around in the next day to ask if you are staying for the winter break" announces Professor McGonagall as the bell rings ending the class.
Sitting down at the Gryffindor table, Harry quietly eats, detached from the babbling of general conversation. "Harry, is there something wrong?" inquiries Neville giving Harry's left shoulder a quick shake.
"Nothing is wrong. I just need to sort through things a bit" answers Harry unusually quiet.
Later that evening in the common room, Harry pays rapt attention to the book he is reading. "POTTER!" comes a loud and decidedly female voice from in front of him. Looking up, Harry asks quizzically, "Yes professor?"
"I asked you if you are staying or leaving for the winter break" states Professor McGonagall with irritability laced through her tone.
"I'll be staying professor" answers Harry quietly not breaking eye contact with Professor McGonagall.
"Thank you" states Professor McGonagall writing on her notepad before moving on.
"Did I hear correctly, you're STAYING for the break?" inquiries Hermione sitting in a nearby chair.
Nodding his head, Harry answers, "Yes. With the library being much larger than last year, there is a lot of reading I'd like to do over the break. So I'll be spending time here to do some reading before the new term."
"Sounds good. I hope you find whatever you're looking for" adds Neville sitting in another nearby chair.
"Thanks. I hope I find what I'm looking for too" answers Harry before continuing to read.
Days later as the last of the students leaving on the Hogwarts Express, Harry peruses the library with its small section of books written by muggles. Selecting one and sitting down at a nearby table, Harry begins to take notes. A few hours later a voice comes from a shelf of books, "Doing a spot of homework this early into the winter break?"
"No, I'm looking for…a few things" answers Harry without looking up, recognizing Remus's voice from anywhere.
"Your friends are worried about you. They mentioned you've been detached from conversations, quickly eating and returning to reading various books. Would you like to talk about anything?" inquiries Remus taking a seat across from Harry.
Wordlessly Harry pushes some the loose sheets of paper across the table to where Remus looks over them. A few minutes later Remus slides a piece of paper back across the table and remarks, "We can work on this project after dinner if you'd like."
Smiling Harry responds, "I'd like to do that. Your office I suppose?"
"We're not working on experimental items in the Gryffindor Common Room despite it being just you, the twins, and Oliver Wood" states Remus with a chuckle.
Packing his papers into his messenger bag and signing the book out he had been reading with Madam Pince, Harry and Remus make their way to the Great Hall to join up with the handful or two of students and the staff. Sitting down at their respective tables, Dumbledore stands and announces, "As there are very few of us, we shall all sit at a single table, staff included", before making his way down to the Hufflepuff table without anyone sitting at it.
Taking the cue, the rest of the staff and students join Dumbledore at the table, not even filling twenty percent of the total table capacity. Serving platters and dishes appear in front of everyone as they begin to pile on the food onto their plates.
"Fred, George, would you two like to join Harry and I after dinner for some product development?" asks Remus quietly.
Exchanging a brief look between themselves, the twins chorus, "Certainly!"
Roughly forty five delicious minutes later the four enter the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, shut the door and lock it. "Tonight we will be working on a design that Harry created. I'll let him describe it to you."
"I want to create a device that allows someone to listen to their music without disturbing others. Something that delivers sound to just the users ears, something like this" states Harry showing a picture of two oval shaped devices over a person's ears with a flexible but still rigid piece connecting the earpieces.
"Curious. But it looks interesting" remarks George murmuring out loud.
"It'll be charmed later, but let's get to the basic design and get a prototype out there" remarks Remus before sitting back to watch the trio begin collaborating on the best looking design and functionality.
A few hours and many vetoed designs later, Remus finishes instructing the trio for the charming of the device to allow the user to hear the sound but to have a privacy charm on the outside to not allow the music or sound exit.
"Now, it's a bit past curfew, so I'll walk you three back to your common room" states Remus unlocking the door and escorting the twins and Harry back to their common room, "and don't go sneaking out" reminds Remus as he drops the three off at the Fat Lady.
Making it back to his office and locking the door, Remus pulls out his Omni Play and starts looking through the multiple name propositions for their television like device. "'The Specto', 'OmniView', 'Mega Video Projector', 'OmniVision'. I think I like Harry's idea to let the public pitch ideas for products. It allows the public to have a deeper emotional connection."
/*elsewhere in the UK*/
"Susan, it's time for bed" Amelia calls out as she rounds the corner from the kitchen to the living room.
"Ok" answers Susan putting the book she was reading down and goes up the stairs to her bedroom.
Turning to her husband, Amelia asks curiously, "Did Harry give a reason why he decided to stay at Hogwarts?"
"Nope, just that he wouldn't be home for Christmas" answers Sirius reading a newspaper.
"I just hope he likes his present" remarks Amelia sitting down with a cup of tea.
"I'm sure he will. It would be nice if he wrote us a letter instead of sending everything through his Omni Play" says Sirius with a hint of frustration in his voice.
"You're one of the ones who developed the device, you have no one to blame but yourself" reminds Amelia kindly.
"Ever right you are" responds Sirius throwing down the Daily Prophet he was reading in disgust.
Author note: Thanks for reading, reviewing, etc! It really brightens my day to see reviews from both guests and registered users. I hope everyone had a happy Easter. And my apologies for this chapter being late, a weekend programming project was offered to me and I accepted (it balanced my budget for the month).
Thanks to Katiek121, Atmiller666, Lonewolf420, and for the name suggestions.
-Guest – You have a point. Many of the UK wizards, or at least ones like Lucius Malfoy, would find Goblins to be beneath them and not allow them to hold property outside of Gringotts. With that in mind when I first began writing, I didn't have an idea of who or what agency might hold the property rights.