Chapter 404 Christmas Invitation
After dinner, Wade said hello to Michael and others, then went to the eighth floor of the castle alone and walked back and forth in the empty corridor.
"I need an alchemy laboratory...I need an alchemy laboratory...I need an alchemy laboratory..."
In the portrait on the wall next to him, Silly Barnabas is still struggling with several trolls. Sometimes he forces the trolls to dance, sometimes he is being beaten, and most of the time he is motionless, and he sees people walking back and forth in the corridor. There was no response.
Wade felt that the image of him suddenly warning him seemed a bit unreal.
The door to the Room of Requirement appeared, and Wade looked back at Silly Barnabas before opening the door and walking in.
This is a very large circular room. The shelves along the wall are filled with various books related to alchemy. Crystal bottles of various sizes contain various alchemical materials. Some are ordinary, while others exude... Strange lights, some jumping around in the bottle.
There was a long list of utensils on the operating table. Green liquid was bubbling in a strange-looking glass container, and several pieces of colorful ore were boiling in the crucible.
Where the fireplace should have been, there were two smelting furnaces. One of the furnaces was burning at the moment, with a trunk-like copper pipe protruding from the top, connected to a circular container on the side.
There were already two people in the room at this time——
Fred and George were lying on the ground, writing and drawing on a huge drawing. Next to them were some things that shouldn't be there, such as woolen hats and old vests.
"What are you doing?"
Wade walked over and sat down, picked up the drawings on the ground and looked at them.
Fred rubbed his nose and grinned, "Hey, look! That's why we're asking for your help."
"Isn't it a nice gadget?" George said happily: "A hat or vest that can protect against evil curses! Although it may not be of much use, it is still quite effective in dealing with some small evil curses!"
"But our ancient magic texts are not very good. Although we have ideas, there are a few things we don't know how to implement..." Fred explained why he needed Vader's help.
"Also, I now think it would be better if it could also resist Muggle weapons!" George said.
"Well... let me take a look first..."
Wade said, carefully trying to figure out the design ideas of the twins on the drawing.
In fact, he had considered something like an anti-curse hat a long time ago. Even if you don't sell it, it's still good to help your friends gain a little more security.
But later Vader gave up this idea, because he found that this kind of thing could only resist some small magic that would not cause much harm in the first place, and had little practical significance.
Moreover, for the anti-curse hat to be effective, its owner needs to provide a little subjective initiative - that is, staring at the face of the person who cast the spell while being struck, so that the curse can bounce back.
This makes its usefulness even more limited.
So in the original work, this thing is just a funny product for the Weasley brothers.
However, most people in the magic world are useless, and only a few people master the Iron Armor Curse. Therefore, during the war, the sales of this product were very good.
The drawing placed in front of Vader at this time was not much different from the anti-curse hat in the original plot in terms of effect. There were some omissions in the magic text design, which Vader quickly corrected.
However, the effect of such anti-curse equipment is somewhat unsatisfactory, and its defense against Muggle guns can only be said to be better than nothing.
Vader originally gave up because of this, but after experiencing what happened on the island, he had new ideas.
"This kind of defense is too ordinary, but maybe we can do something with the materials?" Wade said.
The twins looked at each other and then asked in unison: "How?"
Wade asked: "Have you ever observed a honeycomb?"
"Of course!" George said: "The honeycombs I saw all have the same structure and the same pattern. They are so perfect that it is amazing."
Fred nodded and agreed: "I heard that the honeycombs on the other side of the earth are all the same. It's like they were designed by some god. It's simply unreal."
"Yeah." Wade casually drew a six-sided honeycomb on the paper and said, "The honeycomb structure can make the largest rhombus-shaped container with the least amount of material. It is very strong."
"Furthermore, this mesh structure can disperse and bear external forces from all aspects, and its stability, sound insulation and heat insulation properties are very superior. Because it saves materials, the overall quality is also relatively light."
Vader is very familiar with the honeycomb structure, because the reason why his wardrobe space can steadily expand is because he uses this structure to draw magic patterns.
At this time, he applied the same idea to the anti-curse equipment, and there was almost no pause in his thinking. While talking, lines of magic words and pictures were also dropped on the paper.
"So you see, if we make an anti-curse cap or anti-curse vest - preferably a vest, the defensive performance will be better - use titanium-copper alloy inside, make it into a honeycomb structure, and then apply the iron armor curse, we can... "
"Wait a minute!" Fred raised his palms and asked, "What is titanium-copper alloy?"
Vader paused for a moment, then said: "It is an alloy based on copper with a small amount of titanium added. It has high strength, high elasticity, and good elongation. It is widely used in Muggle society."
George looked at his brother: "I haven't heard of it at all...what about you?"
Fred shook his head: "Neither do I."
Wade carefully recalled several magazines he had read at home before, and then said:
"This alloy seems to have been invented decades ago and has applications in the field of aerospace... Probably no wizard has used it in alchemy yet."
"Aerospace?" Fred whistled excitedly: "Cool! New material! We'll use this!"
Wade: "..."
For him, something that has been commercially used for decades cannot be called a "new material" at all, but considering the closed nature of the wizarding world, this is completely understandable.
Fortunately, the Weasley twins are not the kind of wizards who cling to the old and will not oppose the use of Muggle things.
George was a little worried: "Will the new material be expensive?"
The hats and vests that Mrs. Weasley had knitted for them before were originally intended to be used for experiments. They were worn to the point where they could not be repaired, and even Ron was unwilling to pick them up and continue to wear them.
Wade was speechless: "...You have a lot of income now, but you are still reluctant to buy materials? And how much lining can be used for clothes? One piece of alloy can make many anti-curse vests."
George suddenly realized: "That's right! And the rarer the material, the more expensive it can be sold at!"
He raised his hand and clapped his hands with Fred, looking very excited.
Wade shook his head secretly and continued to figure out the design of the anti-curse vest.
In fact, the dividends given to the twins by Aslan Magic Workshop are not small, but perhaps because of their tight living conditions since childhood, the twins still maintain the habit of saving as much as possible.
Speaking of which, the older sons of the Weasley family, except Percy, are all making money. Bill and Charlie have decent jobs and good salaries; Fred and George have even more income.
But their family's living conditions have not improved because of this. At least Ron still wears old robes and uses old wands.
Wade didn't understand this family economic relationship, but he didn't intend to interrupt. They soon got into a heated discussion.
...
On Monday, Wade did not see Dumbledore at school, but Harry moved to his side during breakfast.
"Wade, have you signed the detention list?" Harry asked while cutting steak.
"No, I will definitely go home during the holidays." Wade looked at Harry's expression and asked, "Are you going to stay?"
"Well, I think so." Harry poked the steak with a fork in annoyance and said, "Remus and Sirius seem to be busy, you know, for the island... They may not be free during the holidays, so they suggested that I stay in school."
If it were the first grade, Harry would definitely happily sign the detention list. He would rather stay alone in Hogwarts than go back to Privet Road's Dursleys.
But now, his home is so close, but he can't go back, which is frustrating.
"What's the matter?" Michael next to him said, "If you want to stay in school during the holidays, you can stay in school. If you don't want to stay, can't you go back at any time?"
He blinked, suggesting that Harry could go back at any time through the disappearing cabinet.
Last year, they often sneaked into Hogsmeade to play through the Vanishing Cabinet. But this semester, the schoolwork suddenly increased, and the Lupin family was often empty, so they rarely used the Vanishing Cabinet.
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Harry sighed: "How can this be the same?"
Michael wondered: "Don't you want to go out and play?"
Harry shook his head silently.
Hogsmeade, a mysterious and interesting place for him at first, where Harry could visit eight times a day when he lived there, had long lost its mysterious veil.
After the novelty wore off, it was discovered that the shops there had not changed much over the years, so even on weekends in Hogsmeade, everyone just went for a walk and bought some necessities.
In comparison, the school at least had a maze, which was much more interesting.
Harry wanted to go back, not because of that place, but because of the people who were supposed to be there.
But Sirius couldn't spare the time, and every time he sent a message, it was rushed to the end. As for Remus, after he recovered, he often disappeared, and even the messages in the friend book were replied after a long time.
Wade thought for a moment and asked, "Harry, do you want to come to my house during the holidays? My parents will definitely welcome you to visit."
When Ferdinand and Fiona first met Harry, they didn't know his deeds and identity. Later, after learning about various news in the wizarding world, the two were very curious about this "savior star".
Especially Fiona, as a mother, she sympathized with Harry, a child who lost his parents since childhood and had a rough fate.
Harry hesitated for a moment, and before he spoke, he heard Michael protest: "Wade, are you only inviting Harry? Are we still good friends?"
Wade smiled: "Of course, I also want to invite you to my house to play."
"That's a must!" Michael thought for a moment and said, "I invited you to my house a long time ago, and you never came!"
"I couldn't spare the time before... I will definitely do it next time." Wade asked again: "How about it, Harry, do you want to come?"
Harry's slightly tense shoulders also relaxed, and he smiled and said, "Okay!"
-This way Ron and Hermione don't have to stay in school for him.
If Harry had to stay in school, they would choose to stay in school.
Although Ron said he couldn't stand being with Percy and Hermione said she wanted to go to the library to read, Harry knew they were there to keep him company.
But everyone hadn't seen their families for months. Harry could still go back to Hogsmeade to reunite on weekends, but Ron and Hermione didn't have that opportunity.
He didn't want them to miss the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with their families because of him.
"Wade, are there any fun things at your house?" Michael asked curiously, "What do you do during your vacation?"
"Hmm..."
Wade thought about it.
He used to spend most of his vacation time reading books. In the past two years, the Christmas vacation has become more colorful, but basically it has nothing to do with fun.
If you entertain friends, of course you can't do this.
"You can go to the movies, the opera, or go ice skating..."
Wade recalled the activities that Fiona insisted on taking him to: "There are also light shows and Christmas markets, there are many things to play in the winter playground, and there are circus performances in the evening..."
"It sounds good!" Michael said with great yearning.
Although he was of mixed blood, after Michael's mother married his wizard father, the family followed wizard traditions.
They lived on the outskirts of the village and had little contact with nearby villagers, let alone going to big cities to participate in various Muggle celebrations.
Michael's previous impression of Christmas was that it was about giving gifts, turkey dinners, and Christmas trees. He was still happy to receive gifts, but there was nothing special about it.
Harry's eyes also lit up slightly.
To be honest, he had only seen those activities on TV, and he had secretly longed for them for a long time, but he had never had the opportunity to participate.
Several people were talking about their Christmas plans when a large group of owls suddenly flew in from outside the auditorium. The students hurriedly protected the long table, but there were still messy feathers falling on the food.
Students who got up late could only sigh and give up the barbecue and pumpkin juice, and instead take two baked potatoes to eat.
Nowadays, the only things that are still delivered on a large scale by owls are various magazines and the Daily Prophet.
These messengers, who were covered in cold air, threw the rolled-up newspapers in front of the students and flew out again.
"Why can't the time for these owls to deliver letters be changed?"
Michael complained as he unwrapped the newspaper: "I can receive letters when I get up in the morning, or on the way to class, why do I always have to receive letters during dinner..."
His voice stopped abruptly.
Michael carefully looked at the content of the front-page headline, suddenly sneered, and said: "Wade, Harry, look at this."
Wade also received a newspaper, but he didn't have time to open it. He looked sideways and saw that the newspaper was written in large black fonts-
"The Heroic Action of the Ministry of Magic: Rescue Muggle Children from Danger!"