Mrs. Weasley's cooking skills were beyond reproach. With the help of some practical household magic, she quickly prepared lunch for eight.
As for dinner, in addition to the large birthday cake she had made for Harry, Mrs. Weasley cooked seven or eight dishes, filling the entire table. The group gathered on the spacious third-floor balcony, dining under the soft glow of the moon as they celebrated Harry's birthday.
After dinner, everyone played wizard's chess in the living room while the dishes washed themselves in the kitchen. During the game, Ron noticed the peculiar-looking necklace around Harry's neck. Harry simply replied that it was a keepsake from an elder in his family.
Around seven o'clock, the sound of flapping wings came from outside the window. Harry opened it, and seven owls swooped in.
Among them, the snowy white one was Hedwig, who had spent the past few days with Hermione. She dropped a beautifully wrapped pen onto the table—Hermione's birthday gift to Harry. The little owl puffed out its chest proudly, blinking its large eyes as if waiting for praise.
The other six, judging by their appearance, were likely school owls. Each one dropped a letter at the feet of George, Fred, Percy, Ron, Ginny, and Harry (Ginny's envelope was particularly thick) before perching nearby, hooting softly.
Curious, the five boys opened their envelopes, revealing a piece of parchment titled "Notice on the Establishment of the Academy of Muggle Sciences" along with an attached form. (Ginny had already begun reading her Hogwarts acceptance letter.)
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Dear Mr. XXXXX,
We are pleased to inform you that, starting this academic year, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will establish a specialized research institute dedicated to Muggle sciences—the Academy of Muggle Sciences (abbreviated as AMS). The purpose of this innovative academy is to enhance our understanding of Muggle scientific principles and technological advancements while exploring the potential coexistence of magic and Muggle science.
Below is an outline of the courses offered and their respective instructors:
Physics:
Classical Mechanics: Understanding the laws of motion. Professor Alexander.
Thermodynamics: Principles related to rocket engines. Professor Ivan.
Electromagnetism: Applications in spacecraft communication, navigation, and power transmission. Professor Alexei.
Astronomy: Study of cosmic structures, celestial motion, and spacecraft trajectory design. Professor Mikhail.
Aerospace Engineering:
Flight Mechanics: Principles of flight. Professor Yevgeny.
Propulsion Systems: Power sources for rockets and spacecraft. Professor Sergei.
Spacecraft Design: Including structure, thermal control, and life support systems. Professor Vladimir.
Materials Science: Research on materials for extreme space environments, such as heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and high-strength materials. Professor Peter.
Chemistry:
Rocket Propellants: Study of combustion properties of various chemical substances. Professor Nikolai.
Spacecraft Materials: Chemical stability and durability of materials. Professor Dmitry.
Computer Science:
Programming: Software for spacecraft flight and ground control. Professor Pavel.
Data Analysis: Handling and analyzing large volumes of data from space missions. Professor Konstantin.
Electronic Engineering: Design and development of spacecraft electronic systems, including communication, navigation, and control systems. Professor Stanislav.
Control Engineering: Study of spacecraft attitude and orbit control. Professor Oleg.
Mechanical Engineering: Design of spacecraft mechanical systems, such as power transmission and thermal management. Professor Ruslan.
Thermodynamics & Fluid Mechanics: Study of rocket engine operation and spacecraft thermal control. Professor Grigory.
Life Sciences:
Biology: Effects of long-term space travel on the human body. Professor Boris.
Medicine: Health monitoring and medical support for astronauts. Professor Viktor.
Meteorology: Understanding Earth's atmospheric patterns, crucial for launch and landing. Professor Yuri.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Tracking spacecraft locations and analyzing Earth's surface data. Professor Anatoly.
Mathematics:
Elementary Mathematics: Professor Valery.
Advanced Mathematics: Professor Roman.
Calculus: Professor Semyon.
Linear Algebra: Professor Maxim.
Probability & Statistics: Professor Igor.
Course Schedule: Classes will be held on weekends. A detailed schedule will be announced after the semester begins.
Course Content: This program will cover the fundamental theories of Muggle sciences, including physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Additionally, we will explore how Muggle scientific principles can be applied in magical practices and examine the interaction between magic and Muggle science.
Practical Component: Students will have hands-on opportunities to work with Muggle technology and conduct supervised experiments to deepen their understanding of how Muggle science functions.
Enrollment Requirements:
Open to Hogwarts students with a keen interest in Muggle science.
No prior background in Muggle science required, but students must have an open mindset regarding the interaction between the magical and non-magical worlds.
Students must adhere to Hogwarts' school rules and relevant safety guidelines.
Application Process: Students interested in enrolling in this course must return the completed form via owl post by August 10th.
We look forward to your enthusiastic participation. Through this program, students will not only broaden their knowledge but also foster a deeper appreciation and respect for the Muggle world.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
---
Seeing the entire row of course names, the expressions on Fred and the others' faces froze. Even Percy, who had always been an outstanding student, didn't look too pleased.
The only one who had somewhat anticipated this was Harry. However, even he hadn't expected Dumbledore to be this ruthless—cramming what ordinary people would take fifteen or sixteen years to learn into just seven. (And that's assuming students even got a full seven years, given that everyone except the first-years had already lost time.)
Sure, young wizards could enhance their learning efficiency by popping potions or casting buffs on themselves, but wasn't this a bit too much? Unless… the headmaster, after gaining a true understanding of the non-magical world, had been so shocked by Muggle development speeds that he panicked?
As Harry maliciously imagined Dumbledore pacing in his office, anxiously tugging at his beard, George, Fred, and Ron finally snapped out of their stunned silence and let out simultaneous wails.
"No—so many classes, and on weekends too—!"
As for the idea of skipping out on the "Muggle Science Research Academy"? Ha! What a joke. Their dad was Arthur Weasley, a man so obsessed with Muggle gadgets that he bent Ministry rules just to indulge his passion. There was no way he'd let his kids miss out on something like this.
Ten minutes later, six owls, each carrying a completed enrollment form, took off from Harry's house, flying in formation toward Hogwarts under the night sky.
--
The next morning, at 5 AM, Harry woke up in Ron's room.
After washing up and changing, he made his way downstairs. He had considered waking Ron as well, but remembering how Ron had declared he was going to savor his last moments of freedom before "hell" arrived, Harry decided against it.
The sky was still dark, a thin mist hovering low over the dewy grass. In the middle of the field stood a crooked, multi-storied house with a red roof and four or five chimneys. A slightly slanted sign out front read: The Burrow.
A large rooster huddled inside the chicken coop with a few hens and their chicks. Upon hearing Harry's movements, the rooster raised its head, gave the human boy a brief glance, then promptly ignored him and returned to its more pressing business—courting its hens.
A few minutes later, Hermione came downstairs in workout clothes. She glanced at Harry, who was already deep into his training, stretched her limbs, and joined in.
And how did Harry and Hermione, who were just at their respective homes yesterday, end up at Ron's place? That was thanks to the impressive social network of the Weasley family. Mr. Weasley had pulled some strings with a friend who managed the Floo Network, getting their fireplaces connected in just one day. Otherwise, the paperwork alone would have taken at least three.
Around 5:30, Mrs. Weasley woke up to the sound of crowing roosters. Her first order of business, as always, was to start breakfast. She waved her wand, sending a line of potatoes rolling toward the peeler. But just as she was about to summon the pan, she heard strange noises coming from outside.
Frowning, she stepped out of the house—only to be met with a shocking sight.
Two figures were locked in combat, sticks clashing in rapid succession. Their movements were fast, their strikes vicious, and every impact sent small clouds of dust flying from the ground. It looked less like practice and more like an attempt to beat each other into the dirt.
"Harry! Hermione! Stop this at once! If there's a problem, talk it out!" Mrs. Weasley cried, rushing forward to separate them.
After some frantic explanations, she realized she had completely misunderstood the situation. Awkwardly coughing twice, she reminded them to be careful during training before muttering to herself and heading back inside to resume breakfast preparations.
--
Happy days always passed quickly.
Especially after Harry inadvertently learned that, in magical households, the Trace on underage wizards was practically nonexistent. Before he knew it, it was already August 27th.
Ever since the Hogwarts book list had arrived last week, Ron's parents had been busier than ever. And today, things were going to be even more hectic. Luckily, the research academy's textbooks were provided by the school; otherwise, if each student had to carry a full set of Lockhart's seven books on top of their regular course materials, plus the additional research texts, Harry could hardly imagine what a disaster that would be.
"Break with a Banshee"—by Gilderoy Lockhart.
"Gadding with Ghouls"—by Gilderoy Lockhart.
"Holidays with Hags"—by Gilderoy Lockhart.
"Travels with Trolls"—by Gilderoy Lockhart.
"Voyages with Vampires"—by Gilderoy Lockhart.
"Wanderings with Werewolves"—by Gilderoy Lockhart.
"Year with the Yeti"—by Gilderoy Lockhart...
Fred read the booklist aloud, scoffing. "I'll bet you anything—Lockhart's making an absolute fortune off this."
"Yeah, his books aren't exactly cheap," George agreed, strolling through Diagon Alley. "I don't even want to think about where Mum and Dad got the money for all our school supplies…"
After withdrawing a sufficient amount of money from Gringotts, the group agreed to meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour. Percy muttered something about needing a new quill, while Fred and George ran off to find their friends. Mrs. Weasley took Ginny to a second-hand robe shop, and Mr. Weasley, positively giddy, led the Grangers off to the Leaky Cauldron.
That left Hermione, Harry, and Ron standing awkwardly in place.
Under the sweltering sun, the trio wandered along the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley. After passing an ice cream parlor, they each found themselves holding a refreshingly cold treat.
When they walked past Quality Quidditch Supplies, Ron stopped dead in his tracks, staring longingly at a full set of Chudley Cannons gear. It wasn't until Harry and Hermione each grabbed one of his arms and physically dragged him away that he finally tore his eyes away from the display.
Twenty minutes later, after much effort, Harry and Ron managed to pry Hermione out of a brand-new bookstore.
As for Percy, who was still inside reading a book titled How Prefects Gain Power with rapt attention? Ron waved dismissively.
"This is nothing," he whispered to Harry and Hermione as they walked away. "Percy's ultimate goal is to become Minister for Magic."
Glancing at his watch, Harry estimated that their meeting time was near and suggested they head to Flourish and Blotts. However, when they arrived, they found the bookstore packed wall to wall with people.
Above the store, an enormous banner stretched across the second-floor balcony:
"GILDEROY LOCKHART SIGNING COPIES OF HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY 'MAGIC ME'! TODAY, 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM!"
Upon learning that Lockhart was inside, Hermione practically lit up.
"We get to meet him in person!" she squealed excitedly.
Squeezing through the crowd, the trio finally managed to gather all the books they needed. With their arms full of at least ten books each, they made their way to the counter to pay.
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