In May, students seemed to emerge from hibernation. Exams were approaching, so everyone rushed to prepare.
On the first Sunday of the month, Richard was approached at breakfast by a Ravenclaw prefect.
"Uhm..." she began hesitantly. "Mr. Rich, we have important business for you."
"Miss Clearwater, you look wonderful," Richard said, giving the girl a dazzling smile. "I'd be happy to spend some time with you."
- In that case, could you please come to our faculty lounge?
- Of course, Miss Clearwater.
Richard headed towards Ravenclaw Tower in the company of the Head Raven.
"You, miss, mentioned that you were having some difficulties," Richard continued the conversation on the way to the dormitory.
"Hmm," Penelope Clearwater drawled. "You see, we... well, the students in our department were divided. We split into groups, each working on a way to create graphene. And some worked on ways to use this substance. In the end, three groups of students developed different ways to produce graphene, and two more groups developed ways to use it. Now the students are worried that many of them won't get the prize."
"Miss Clearwater, tell the students in your department that they shouldn't worry. It's all quite simple-I'll split the grant among several groups, and if I'm pleased with their results, I won't leave the students who developed graphene applications without a reward either."
Penelope was delighted.
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Rich," she said with genuine gratitude. "We were beginning to think we'd have to split the reward ourselves and everyone would end up fighting. I think your proposal is a good way out of this situation."
Soon, Richard and Penelope found themselves in the Ravenclaw common room. Almost all the Ravenclaw students were eagerly awaiting them. Five groups of one to five people stood out, mostly older students. The rest of the students-the younger ones-acted as spectators.
Dozens of eyes turned to Richard with anticipation, excitement and curiosity.
"Friends," Penelope Clearwater said immediately, her tone cheerful, "Mr. Rich said he will divide the reward fairly among all research teams. Therefore, I urge you to refrain from self-harm. Now you will demonstrate your achievements one by one, and Mr. Rich will evaluate them fairly and impartially."
"Thank you, Miss Clearwater," Richard said. "If you wouldn't mind, could you please compile a list of all the developers, broken down into research groups?"
- Fine.
Penelope first summoned an empty chair and placed it in front of her guest. Richard settled comfortably into the chair, and the students formed a semicircle around him, creating an open space in the center.
Clearwater armed herself with parchment, quill, and ink, sat down at a far table, and began to make a list.
A tall, thin, dark-haired young man with enthusiastic blue eyes stepped forward. His class monitor badge made it clear who this fifth-year student was.
"I'm first," he said, casting a cold glance at the disgruntled students in the four groups. No one objected. "Robert Hilliard," he introduced himself. "So, I'll begin..."
Robert was very nervous, which caused him to take long pauses.
"Um... So," he continued, "our group has developed a method for producing graphene in stages. First, we create multiple sheets of graphene using duct tape and pencil lead. Then, we enlarge them using a spell, and then we collect the graphene flakes and glue them together with a permanent adhesion spell. This process is repeated until we have a large enough sheet. This material shrinks, and eventually we're left with a small scrap of graphene film. Then, we replicate this film using a duplication spell and glue it together again. And so on until we have a large sheet of graphene. Once we've created a huge roll of graphene film, all that's left is to replicate it."
Robert picked up a prepared roll of film, which resembled plastic wrap. Between the thin layers of graphene film was a thin yellowish paper. The roll was about two meters wide and quite thick. The Ravenclaw prefect then used a Duplication Charm to duplicate the roll.
"That's all I have," he said.
"Excellent," Richard said. "I look forward to your full and detailed report and instructions on the graphene creation process. You've certainly earned your reward. Next, please."
Next to step into the center of the room was a charming blonde seventh-year student. She adjusted her short, boyish haircut (I think it's called a "garcon"), fixed her piercing brown eyes on Richard, and, slightly nervous, began in a charming, melodic voice:
"Good afternoon, Lord. My name is Eliza Brooks. I'm graduating from Hogwarts this year and would like to work in your workshop."
"That can be considered, Miss Brooks," Richard replied patronizingly. "Go on."
"Uh... Thank you," Eliza's lips curled up involuntarily. "Our team was developing an alternative method for creating graphene. Allow me to present you with the documents."
Richard nodded approvingly in response. Immediately, a short, fair-haired sixth-year boy jumped up and handed Rich a folder of papers. Robert Hilliard looked on with annoyance. The next group of speakers began to bustle about, two of them leaping up and pushing through the crowd toward the boys' dormitories.
Richie opened the folder and looked at the presentably arranged graphs, then focused his attention on Eliza.
"As I said earlier," Ms. Brooks continued melodically, "our team decided to take a different approach. We thought, 'What is graphene?' The answer was obvious-it's a substance made of carbon. So we thought, 'Why not use a ritual that would transform carbon rich objects into graphene film?'"
Richard was clearly enjoying the moment. Even the first graphene production option was perfectly acceptable, and now there was a second. He considered this a truly fortunate day.
Meanwhile, Eliza's assistants asked the students to stand aside and began preparing some kind of ritual. They drew a circle with chalk, inscribed a five-pointed star within it, and soon transformed it into a pentacle. Then they began inscribing runes into the cells that formed within the pentacle.
Richard noticed a new face behind the students-Professor Flitwick, who was watching the proceedings with curiosity. Due to his small stature and the students' fascination with the proceedings within the impromptu circle, no one paid him any attention.
Brooks began to comment on the actions of the assistants: