"Quiet, please."
Professor McGonagall stood up. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an invisible, undeniable authority.
The noisy chatter in the Great Hall vanished instantly, as if the sound had simply been siphoned out of the room. Over a thousand pairs of eyes zeroed in on Viktor.
"Thank you all for being here—professors and students alike," Viktor said, stepping forward. His voice was warm, carrying effortlessly into every corner of the room. "I'm sure you're all wondering what today's special public lecture is actually about."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the sea of young, eager faces.
"When it comes to the Care of Magical Creatures, passing down knowledge is essential. But true understanding, respect, and care usually stem from hands-on experience and forging a genuine emotional connection."
"However, for obvious safety and logistical reasons, we can't exactly have every single student getting up close and personal with dozens of magical creatures on a whim."
"That's why my assistants and I—" He turned slightly, gesturing to Tom perched on his shoulder, and then down to Fred and George, who were sitting in the front row of the Gryffindor table. The twins were trying their hardest to look nonchalant, though their eyes were practically vibrating with excitement. "—have spent the past few weeks developing a little something."
He held up a red-and-white device for all to see.
"We call it the Pokédex."
---
### Down the Rabbit Hole
Before the crowd could even process the name, Viktor reached down with his free hand and unfastened the latch on his suitcase.
No incantation. No dramatic wand-waving.
The exact second the lid cracked open—VWOOM!
A massive, gentle, yet entirely irresistible vacuum of force erupted from inside the case!
"Whoa—!"
"What's happening?!"
Gasps and shouts echoed across the room. Every single student in the Great Hall—whether they were sitting down or leaping up in shock—felt as though an invisible hand had scooped them up.
In a blur of motion, accompanied by a chorus of screams and breathless laughter, the students were swept off their feet and sucked right into the seemingly tiny opening of the suitcase!
The faculty obviously knew this was coming. Aside from a few surprised blinks, none of them fought the pull.
Dumbledore floated up first, chuckling merrily like he was riding an invisible escalator.
Professor McGonagall's lips were pressed into a thin line; her posture was slightly stiff, but she remained perfectly composed.
Professor Snape's black robes billowed violently. His scowl deepened significantly, but he allowed the magic to drag him in regardless.
In less than twenty seconds, the packed, deafeningly loud Great Hall was completely empty.
Only the roaring fireplaces, the hanging House banners, and the scattered plates on the long tables remained to prove anyone had been there at all. Sunlight continued to stream through the stained glass, illuminating a sudden, profound silence.
---
### The Mobile Sanctuary
Inside the suitcase's expanded dimension, it was a totally different world.
It was a massive, sprawling meadow—a meticulously crafted magical sanctuary that felt like a boundless nature reserve. The soft grass was damp with morning dew. Surrounding them was a dense, simulated magical forest, and in the distance, you could just make out the silhouettes of rolling mountains and drifting clouds.
The air was crisp, heavy with the rich scent of earth and greenery. Above, a soft, milky-white magical canopy acted as the sky, casting bright, even light across the landscape.
Thud!
"Oof!"
"Merlin's beard, where are we..."
The entire Hogwarts faculty and student body, having just been "inhaled," were now scattered across this bizarre meadow. Some were sitting, some standing, and others were stumbling to regain their balance.
The younger students—especially the first and second years who had never seen the inside of the suitcase—were utterly floored. With wide eyes and slack jaws, they stared at the wild, open landscape that looked absolutely nothing like the inside of a stone castle.
"Are we... inside the suitcase? That little box?"
"Look over there! Those are actual mountains! And a forest!"
"This grass is real! So is the dirt!"
"This is mental! Can an Undetectable Extension Charm really do all this?!"
While the kids marveled at Professor Scamander's legendary "mobile space," the professors were conducting their own evaluations.
Professor Sprout crouched down, rubbing a pinch of dirt between her fingers. She sniffed it, a look of professional awe on her face. "A perfect humus ratio. He's even simulated trace secretions from magical plants. What a spectacular ecological build."
Professor Flitwick floated over to a nearby tree, tapping the trunk with his wand and listening to the resonance. "Incredible structural stability, and the magic flows so naturally! This isn't just Transfiguration; it's seamlessly integrated with advanced spatial anchoring and meteorological charms!"
Professor Snape remained expressionless, but his dark, hawk-like eyes were scanning the perimeter, clearly assessing the area's magical defense protocols and potential security risks.
As for Dumbledore, he simply stood there smiling. He looked like an old man enjoying a lovely countryside vacation, but his deep blue eyes were taking in every minute detail. He could sense how the magic here was perfectly aligned with Viktor's core, yet faintly resonating with something outside—a subtle, growing connection.
---
### The Presentation
Viktor and Tom were the last to arrive. Moving with the easy grace of the domain's masters, they stepped onto a slight grassy rise overlooking the crowd.
Waiting until the students had shaken off their shock and turned their attention back to him, Viktor pressed his wand to his throat.
"Sonorus."
"Welcome to my world," his amplified voice echoed smoothly across the open space. "My mobile laboratory, and a sanctuary for a few of my magical friends. It's a bit more spacious than the Great Hall, and much better suited for today's lesson."
He held up the red-and-white Pokédex once more. With a flick of his wand, he cast a projection charm, creating a massive, glowing hologram of the device's screen in the air for everyone to see.
"Like I mentioned earlier, this is the Pokédex. And its functions go far beyond simply being an electronic encyclopedia for magical creatures."
Viktor dove into the mechanics. He explained everything: from injecting magic and a drop of blood to initiate the contract, to the gamified learning system of virtual exploration, data collection, and affinity building. Finally, he touched on the ultimate goal: the potential to forge a real-world partnership with a living magical creature.
His explanation was crystal clear. By pairing the complex magical theory with the fun, intuitive interface on the screen, he made the whole concept wildly engaging.
The students were hooked. When he mentioned the possibility of actually summoning a magical companion, thousands of eyes lit up with raw, unfiltered desire.
"Of course, bringing this vision to life wouldn't have been possible without the grueling work of my brilliant assistants," Viktor said, shifting the spotlight. He smiled down at the twins. "George Weasley, Fred Weasley, and my longtime partner, Tom. Over the past two weeks, they have poured an incredible amount of effort into refining this project and building the first batch of devices. Let's give them a hand."
Thunderous applause erupted, especially from the Gryffindor section. Cheers and whistles pierced the air.
Percy Weasley practically leaped to his feet, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Those are my brothers! Brilliant job, George! Fred!" He looked like he might burst with pride.
---
### The Live Demo
Basking in the spotlight, the twins stood up. They tried their hardest to look cool, but their massive grins and red ears gave them away immediately. They walked up the hill to join Viktor, their images now projected on the massive hologram above.
"Now, George and Fred are going to show you exactly what it looks like to interact with your magical partners," Viktor announced.
Taking their cue, the twins pulled out their own Pokédexes and tapped the screens. On George's screen, the pixelated Niffler popped up. On Fred's, the pixelated Caipora—a fluffy, misty little ghost—spun around mischievously.
In perfect unison, the boys called out: "Come on out, partner!"
A flash of light pulsed.
On George's shoulder, the plump, real-world Niffler materialized, nuzzling him affectionately. It peered down at the massive crowd, holding up a silver Sickle in its tiny paws like a hard-won trophy.
On Fred's shoulder, the Caipora formed out of thin air like gathering smoke. Its fluffy, silver-grey body drifted weightlessly. Its glowing dot-eyes and crescent-moon mouth shifted into a wicked, playful grin. Chiming like a set of wind chimes, the spirit zipped in a fast circle around Fred's head. It shot out a tendril of mist, playfully flicking Fred's red bangs. Fred burst out laughing, and the spirit let out a rapid, chiming sound that sounded exactly like a snicker.
"WHOA—!!!"
Seeing the real creatures materialize was a thousand times more effective than any lecture. The crowd lost its mind. Gasps, cheers, and screams of pure envy echoed across the meadow. Kids were jumping up and down, craning their necks for a better look.
Even the professors were smiling and clapping.
Looking at the two wildly different creatures that perfectly matched the twins' chaotic energy, Professor McGonagall's strict lips curled into a genuine, deeply satisfied smile.
Professor Snape raised an eyebrow. He looked like he had mixed feelings about a gold-obsessed rodent and an aggressively prank-happy ghost, but he kept his critiques to himself.
Dumbledore was clapping the loudest, even throwing a theatrical wink at the twins.
Soaking in the glory, Fred and George shared a look. In perfect sync, they executed a wildly dramatic, sweeping bow to the crowd below. The sheer theatricality of it earned them a massive roar of laughter and another wave of applause.
---
### The Rollout
"Alright, settle down," Viktor said, waiting for the cheers to die out. "I know you're all eager to get your hands on one. So, without further ado..."
He flicked his wand.
Behind him, several massive crates burst open. Hundreds of pristine, red-and-white Pokédexes shot into the air like a flock of startled birds, their casings gleaming softly. Guided by Viktor's magic, they charted smooth arcs through the air, dropping perfectly into the hands of every single student and professor in the space.
"Every student, and every member of the faculty, is receiving a first-generation Pokédex free of charge," Viktor's voice rang out.
"Please follow the steps I outlined. Inject a trace of your magic to finalize the initial binding contract. This is step one of your journey into the world of magical creatures, and the beginning of your potential bond."
"But remember: once that contract is signed, treat your Pokédex well. And more importantly, treat the 'Pokémon' you encounter inside with absolute respect and care. They are not data points. They are projections of, and bridges to, living, breathing creatures."
"Now... go ahead and power them on!"
The instant he gave the word, hundreds of screens lit up simultaneously across the meadow, casting a soft, milky-white glow. A chorus of cheerful, 8-bit startup jingles filled the air. The pixelated "Pokémon" title screens flashed, silently inviting everyone in.
A second later, a tidal wave of noise washed over the sanctuary.
"Mine's on! Look!"
"Wait, how do I add my magic? Oh, I got it!"
"What does this button do?"
"I opened the encyclopedia! I've got a Bowtruckle! Look at the stats!"
"No way, my Niffler is wagging its tail at me!"
"My Caipora is making faces at me through the screen!"
"I got a Runespoor! Awesome!"
The students dove in completely. The air was thick with shouts of surprise, laughter, heated discussions, and the chaotic symphony of hundreds of electronic sound effects overlapping.
---
### A New Chapter
The faculty was just as engrossed.
Professor Flitwick was actively trying to hold a conversation with the pixelated Puffskein on his screen. Professor Sprout was entirely absorbed in reading the data entries regarding the symbiotic relationships between specific magical plants and creatures.
Even Professor Snape, face still set in a scowl, was rapidly scrolling through his screen, clearly hunting down entries cross-referencing magical creatures and their byproducts for potion brewing.
As for Dumbledore? The Headmaster was grinning from ear to ear. He had immediately linked his device to Fawkes (whom he had presumably bound in advance). A pixelated baby phoenix hopped around his screen, and Dumbledore was happily playing a simple interactive game with it, looking utterly delighted.
Up on the grassy ridge, Tom nodded smugly, his emerald eyes surveying the chaotic, joyful scene below with total satisfaction.
The soft light of the dimension washed over Viktor. He watched the crowd—every single person staring down at the little red-and-white device in their hands, their faces glowing with pure wonder and excitement.
Viktor's gaze drifted past the students, past the boundaries of his suitcase, peering into the unseen depths where his magic was beginning to resonate with the ancient, sprawling network of Hogwarts itself.
The bridge was built. The seeds were planted. The future was quietly taking root right here, buried beneath the noise, the laughter, and the boundless hope of the present.
---
The public lecture was an absolute, unequivocal triumph.
When Viktor finally opened the portal and "sent" the reluctant crowd back to the Great Hall, every student was flushed with excitement. They gripped their Pokédexes like prized treasures, aggressively comparing notes and stats with their friends.
It was a safe bet that for the foreseeable future, "Pokédexes," "Virtual Bonds," and "Partner Summoning" were going to completely dominate the Hogwarts rumor mill. And the name Professor Viktor Scamander—along with the growing legends of the Weasley twins and "Boss" Tom—would be cemented into the minds of every young witch and wizard, carried by those tiny red-and-white devices.
October at Hogwarts had changed completely. A new story, fresh bonds, and infinite possibilities were blooming inside the ancient castle, carried on the crisp autumn winds of the Scottish Highlands.
---