My partner at Hogwarts is Tom

Chapter 72 Laboratory

The door frame is etched with intricate protective runes and spatial stabilization arrays.

At the center of the door is a complex emblem that appears to be composed of gears and starlight; this is the logo that Victor designed for his "mobile laboratory".

The metal door slid open silently to both sides, revealing the scene behind it.

It is no longer a stairway to simulated natural scenery.

Instead, it is a spacious, bright, extremely clean, and fully equipped alchemy laboratory.

The ground was a smooth, dark stone slab marked with magic pathways.

The surrounding walls are fitted with built-in storage shelves and workbenches.

Various sizes of crucibles, crystal flasks, precision balances, grinding tools, tweezers, and carving knives are neatly arranged on top.

And countless labeled bottles and jars containing powders, liquids, minerals, plant extracts, and ingredients from magical animals.

In the center of the room was a huge experimental platform made of some kind of high-temperature resistant and magic-resistant alloy, which was already pre-set with several multi-functional fixing clamps, magic output interfaces and waste disposal grooves.

The ceiling is inlaid with magical crystal chandeliers that provide stable and bright light, as well as a highly efficient air circulation and filtration system.

In the corner, there was even a small "high-risk experimental area" separated by reinforced glass, where some instruments and materials that looked very unstable were placed.

The entire laboratory was spotless and well-organized, exuding a rigorous and efficient scientific research atmosphere.

It is completely different from the ancient stone walls of Hogwarts Castle outside.

It's more like Victor compressed the core laboratory of a top-tier magic research institute into this suitcase space.

"Alright," Victor said with satisfaction, looking at his "home field." He twirled his wand nimbly between his fingers and cast a powerful cleansing spell on himself, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

He stepped through the metal door that led to infinite possibilities.

The soft, steady light from the laboratory elongated his tall figure, casting it onto the smooth floor.

The door behind him slowly closed, separating the inside from the outside.

The afternoon sun in the castle was still warm, and the occasional laughter of students could be heard from the corridors.

The laboratory lights were soft and constant, and there were no windows, making one completely lose the sense of the passage of time.

Viktor was immersed in that microcosm, composed of intricate runes, flowing magic, and constant trial and error.

All he could see were the complex magic circle gradually taking shape in his hands, the depth of the runes engraved, and the resonant frequency of the magic circuits.

In the center of the experimental table, the red and white metal box was beginning to take shape.

The outer shell is forged from a lightweight yet sturdy magic alloy, with a finely polished surface that feels warm to the touch.

The front features a slightly square screen area, which is currently completely black.

There are a few simple buttons around it, and a few hidden interfaces and a small groove on the side.

Those are reserved "certification points" for injecting magic and dripping blood to activate the contract.

The internal structure is much more complex.

The multi-layered gold-plated circuit board is woven from threads made of unicorn tail hair and spider silk from an eight-eyed giant spider.

It houses the core contract magic circle, spatial positioning module, magic power conversion and storage unit, and the simplified thought reading and feedback rune D.

And that core of "virtual interaction and growth simulation" that Victor meticulously designed, drawing on the principles of memory magic and the Pensieve.

Time flies when you're focused.

Viktor completely forgot about dinner until his stomach began to protest slightly. Then he took out a homemade nutrient potion from a temperature-controlled box in the corner of the materials shelf and drank it down in one gulp.

The potion, with its blend of mint and citrus flavors, quickly dispelled the hunger and provided a refreshing boost to the constantly depleted mental energy.

Around 7:30 pm.

Viktor is using a specially made magic engraving knife to carve the last few micro-runes for "affinity feedback" and "summoning channel stability" onto the edge of the core magic circle with near-microscopic precision.

His movements were steady and precise, each strike accompanied by an extremely faint ripple of magical energy, ensuring that the runes were perfectly integrated with the entire system.

Just as the last rune connects to the main loop.

The warning magic he had set up outside his office door emitted a faint signal, gently triggered by magic of a specific frequency.

It wasn't an invasion, but rather a tentative exploration tinged with curiosity and caution.

Viktor brought the carving knife to a steady stop, the blade just millimeters away from the alloy plate.

A knowing glint flashed in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"It seems our 'assistants' are already impatient."

He said softly, placing the carving knife on the specially made stand.

Viktor removed the protective robe he wore during the experiment, which was equipped with temperature-regulating, stain-resistant, and basic protective charms, revealing a more casual dark-colored outfit.

He picked up the finished red and white box on the table; it felt slightly heavy and had a premium feel.

The screen remained black, but one could vaguely sense the orderly flow of magic within, which was in a dormant state. The Famicom, which was already more than half-finished, was put down again.

He walked out of the core experimental area, through the outer area where various semi-finished products and material preparation tables were placed, and came to the heavy metal door.

The door slid open silently.

The warm light filtering into the office contrasted with the cool white light in the laboratory.

Victor stepped out, and the metal door closed silently behind him, sealing the door perfectly.

He walked to the office door, but instead of opening it directly, he gently knocked on a protrusion on the door.

The scene outside the door then appeared before Viktor.

Sure enough, two identical red heads, filled with excitement and curiosity, were pressed tightly together, trying to peek through the crack in the door.

Tom stood gracefully at their feet, the tip of his tail swaying gently.

Viktor smiled and reached out to open the door.

"Good evening, gentlemen of the Weasleys. It seems you have a rather proactive approach to time management." His tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

"Good evening, Professor!" George and Fred immediately stood up straight, speaking in unison, their smiles so bright they could almost light up the corridor.

"We're just—well, here to get familiar with the surroundings beforehand!" George said quickly.

"Yes, to familiarize ourselves with the environment! And while we're at it, see if there's anything we can help prepare in advance!"

Fred made a seamless transition, but his eyes couldn't help but drift behind Victor, toward the massive metal door that seemed out of place in the office.

Tom meowed, leaped lightly, and landed precisely on Victor's shoulder, nuzzling his cheek before looking down at the twins as if declaring his status as "best assistant."