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Chapter 81 -  Chapter 81: Letters and Repercussions

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Over the next few days, the daily routine at Hogwarts was completely painted in "Pokédex colors."

Everywhere you looked in the corridors, young wizards and witches were wandering around with their eyes glued to their little red-and-white screens.

They would randomly stop, aggressively tapping their devices while pointing them at ancient tapestries, a specific old tree out the window, or even suits of armor, desperately hoping to trigger an "encounter" or discover a new magical creature projection.

"I heard grass-type creatures spawn way more often near the greenhouses!" a Hufflepuff whispered conspiratorially to his friend.

"If you go to the Astronomy Tower at night, you might find moon-related ones!" a Ravenclaw deduced, true to their House's analytical nature.

"What if there are prankster sprites hanging around Peeves' favorite ambush spots?" a Gryffindor theorized.

The ancient castle had effectively been transformed into a massive, augmented-reality theme park.

At first, Peeves the Poltergeist was both baffled and thrilled by the sudden influx of students pointing little glowing boxes at him. He even cranked up his prank frequency to show off. But he nearly blew a gasket when he realized several upper-years were just using their Pokédexes to casually record his chaotic antics as "ecological behavior data."

However, the magnetic pull of this new technology inevitably came with some side effects.

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### Classroom Chaos

It didn't take long for the professors to notice something was off.

Down in the dungeons during Potions, a fourth-year Gryffindor was staring intently at his lap, giggling like an idiot as he watched his virtual Knarl roll around in some pixelated grass. He was completely oblivious to the fact that the potion bubbling in his cauldron had turned a highly volatile shade of dark purple.

Like an oversized bat, Professor Snape glided silently up behind him, his black robes billowing. When he spoke, his voice was as cold as a striking viper.

"It seems Mr. Potter's housemate believes playing with a virtual hedgehog is of greater importance than the delicate transmutation of the Draught of Living Death?"

"P-Professor—"

"Ten points from Gryffindor. The device is confiscated. And you will serve a week's detention gutting horned toads."

Snape snatched the red-and-white console away with a swift, merciless swipe, his face an emotionless mask.

Up in Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall's hawk-like gaze zeroed in on a Ravenclaw girl who was stealthily using the Pokédex's instant messaging feature to chat with a friend across the room under her desk.

"Miss Creevey, the classroom is a place for learning Transfiguration, not hosting a tea party. Five points from Ravenclaw. I will be holding onto that device for the time being. See me after class."

Even in Defense Against the Dark Arts, students were slacking off.

Gilderoy Lockhart was entirely oblivious—too busy practicing his award-winning smile in a pocket mirror to notice—but Argus Filch, prowling the corridors, managed to catch a few stragglers outside.

The most ironic part, however, was that Viktor even caught a few students trying to pull a fast one in his own Care of Magical Creatures class.

They likely figured it was the safest place to use the devices, given he invented them. They were wrong.

Tom the cat nimbly bounded over a desk, slammed his fluffy paw flat against a student's screen, and let out a sharp "Meow" at Viktor. His emerald eyes practically screamed, Look at these little brats.

Viktor sighed and walked over. "It seems my classroom isn't immune to the craze either. Three points from Hufflepuff. The Pokédex is confiscated, and you'll be helping Hagrid scrub Flobberworm mucus after class."

Similar scenes played out across the castle. Professor Flitwick's Charms class, Professor Sprout's Herbology greenhouses, Professor Sinistra's Astronomy tower... no subject was spared.

The faculty's response was remarkably unified: dock points, confiscate the device, and assign manual labor for detention.

After dozens of Pokédexes were seized—and following a severely stern announcement from Professor McGonagall in the Great Hall that "classroom discipline is sacred, and the use of the Pokédex during lessons is strictly prohibited"—the epidemic of digital slacking was finally crushed.

As much as the students loved their new gadgets, the risk of losing house points and having their exploration privileges revoked just wasn't worth it.

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### The Headline

Outside the castle walls, news out of Hogwarts never stayed secret for long.

The Daily Prophet caught wind of the craze almost immediately. A few days later, the front page featured a massive, magical photograph taken by Colin Creevey during the public lecture: Viktor smiling warmly in the foreground, flanked by George with a Niffler on his shoulder and Fred with a Caipora floating beside him.

The headline blared:

POKÉMON REVOLUTION HITS HOGWARTS! YOUNG SCAMANDER INVENTS DISRUPTIVE MAGICAL LEARNING DEVICE!

The article detailed the Pokédex's functions with a touch of journalistic exaggeration, heavily praising the massive success of blending educational value with pure entertainment.

It included quotes from hyped-up students, Professor McGonagall's official endorsement calling it a "highly constructive teaching aid," and Dumbledore's gentle statement that he was "happy to see such an endeavor brimming with potential."

Naturally, it also mentioned the minor classroom disruptions and the school's swift disciplinary response.

The publication sent shockwaves through wizarding society.

Wizards crowded around shop windows in Diagon Alley to read the paper, and the Hogwarts Owlery was suddenly swamped with inquiries.

But the person most affected by the news was Gilderoy Lockhart.

Sitting in his DADA office, Lockhart stared down at the massive photo of Viktor and the twins. Reading phrases like genius invention and another grand contribution from the Scamander family made his face go pale with sheer, unfiltered jealousy. Even his meticulously styled curls seemed to droop.

"Sensationalist garbage," he hissed through gritted teeth, glancing up at the wall covered in his own smiling portraits. "Educational value? It's nothing but a distraction! What Hogwarts needs is solid, practical defense training—like the heroics detailed in my books! Not... not electronic pets!"

He snatched up a quill, intending to write a scathing rebuttal to the Prophet. But he hesitated, ultimately tossing the quill aside. He didn't actually understand the magical theory behind the Pokédex, and he was terrified of exposing his own ignorance if he tried to critique it.

The feeling of having the spotlight stolen from him—with absolutely no way to steal it back—twisted his handsome face into an ugly scowl.

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### The Mail

Meanwhile, back in his office, Viktor was dealing with a blizzard of mail.

Owls were practically queuing up on his windowsill. The vast majority of the letters were from wizarding merchants, investors, and a few ancient alchemy and artifact-crafting families.

The phrasing varied, but the core message was identical: they wanted a piece of the Pokédex.

They were asking about commercialization, seeking partnerships, distribution rights, investment opportunities, or straight-up offering to buy the patent.

"Dear Mr. Scamander, Perfect Potions is deeply interested in your invention and is prepared to offer highly lucrative terms for exclusive manufacturing rights..."

"Professor Scamander, we at Zonko's Joke Shop believe your Pokédex aligns perfectly with our brand! Could we discuss a co-branded, custom release?"

"Viktor, it's your uncle's old friend, Barton. Interested in bringing this little gadget to the American market? We can easily work out a profit split..."

Viktor carefully sorted the letters into categories, but he was in no rush to reply.

He knew perfectly well that a revolutionary product like this required immense caution. Rushing into a partnership purely for profit could sabotage the device's long-term potential and completely derail his original, educational goals.

He needed time to gauge the wizarding world's reaction. He needed time to refine the hardware, software, and maintenance infrastructure for any future commercial release.

But most importantly, he needed the project to plant deep, unshakeable roots within Hogwarts first.

Commercialization was inevitable, but when the time came, he would only partner with people who shared his vision, possessed long-term foresight, and fundamentally respected the core mechanics of his design.

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### Family Ties

Amidst the mountain of corporate inquiries, two letters from his family brought a genuine sense of warmth.

The first was a "Friend Message" sent directly to his Pokédex from his grandmother, Porpentina Scamander.

She sent a photo of herself posing with her partner—a sleek, elegant pixel-art Wampus Cat with piercing eyes. Accompanying the photo was a voice note, her tone brimming with amusement:

"Viktor, darling, this thing is an absolute riot! My 'Sentinel' actually helped me chase off several virtual gnomes that were trying to eat the projections of my herbs in the garden! Your grandfather, the old fossil, is still insisting on using owls to write to you!"

"By the way, he bonded with a Mooncalf. He spends half the day smiling like a fool at that screen, watching it dance under the virtual moonlight. It's utterly ridiculous, and we couldn't be prouder of you, my dear."

The second was a long, traditional parchment letter from his grandfather, Newt Scamander, delivered by owl.

The handwriting was a little shaky with age, but incredibly neat, reflecting the deliberate care of the writer.

"My dearest grandson, Viktor,

I have received the 'Pokédex' you sent via owl. Please forgive an old man who is too accustomed to ink and parchment for his delayed response. I must say, it is a brilliant invention, overflowing with kindness and foresight.

It bridges distances and breathes life into knowledge. More importantly, it builds a beautiful, safe bridge between young minds and magical lives.

I tried the 'Virtual Exploration' feature. Wandering through that wondrous world connected to your suitcase... it felt as though I was back in my youth, traveling the globe. But this time, there were no misunderstandings and no danger—only pure curiosity and the joy of encountering a new friend.

My partner—well, Tina has likely already told you—is a Mooncalf. It is quiet and gentle, and it reminds me of many peaceful nights from long ago. It is a very special feeling.

You have masterfully woven together contract magic, spatial expansion, educational philosophy, and a touch of the joy found in games. This is not merely an achievement in alchemy or artifact crafting; it is a monumental leap forward for the protection of magical creatures. Teaching the next generation to respect and understand them through joy is infinitely more effective than the dry lectures and exhibits of our past.

The students of Hogwarts are incredibly lucky. The support of Dumbledore and Minerva is crucial here. Regarding your long-term goal of 'spatial anchoring'—it is a bold, highly challenging concept. But if you succeed, it will be a tremendous blessing for both Hogwarts and your sanctuary. Proceed with the utmost caution, one step at a time.

Your grandmother and I are doing well. Do not worry about us. We are immeasurably proud of you.

With love,

Grandfather Newt Scamander."

His family's validation washed over him like a warm current, instantly chasing away the exhaustion brought on by the sudden media storm.

Carefully folding his grandfather's letter, Viktor tucked it away and looked out the window.

Down in the Hogwarts courtyards, he could still see small clusters of students holding their Pokédexes up to the light, spending their free time exploring. The ancient, weathered stones of the castle contrasted beautifully with the modern, tech-inspired red-and-white devices, creating a bizarre but perfect harmony.

The bickering, the showing off, the teamwork, the exploration, the minor rule-breaking, and the detentions—all of it was part of this vibrant new tapestry being woven across the school.

He knew this was only the beginning.

The ripples caused by the Pokédex would continue to spread. The media scrutiny would grow, and the internal adjustments at the school would take time.

But as he watched those young faces light up with the thrill of discovery, felt the comforting weight of Tom pressing against his shoulder, and sensed the ever-growing, tangible resonance between his magic and the ancient network of Hogwarts... Viktor felt nothing but absolute certainty.

The seed had broken through the soil. The bridge was taking hold.

The ancient and the modern, the castle and the wild, the wizards and the magical creatures—a thousand unforeseen stories were destined to take root and flourish on this magic-soaked ground.

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