The return of students to Hogwarts on January 2nd brought a dramatic shift in the castle's atmosphere. The quiet, contemplative mood of the holidays was replaced by the familiar bustle of hundreds of young wizards sharing stories, comparing gifts, and complaining about homework they'd forgotten to complete.
Eliot found the transition jarring. After two weeks of peaceful exploration and focused research, the crowded corridors and noisy common room felt overwhelming.
"Culture shock?" Terry Boot asked, noticing Eliot's expression as they unpacked in their dormitory.
"Something like that," Eliot replied. "It's strange how quickly you get used to the quiet."
"I know what you mean. My house was chaos over the holidays—three younger siblings all talking at once." Terry grinned. "Though I have to admit, I missed the energy here."
Anthony Goldstein and Michael Corner returned with tales of their holiday adventures—Anthony had visited magical sites in Eastern Europe with his family, while Michael had spent time with relatives who worked for the Department of Mysteries.
"What about you?" Michael asked. "How was Christmas at Hogwarts?"
"Educational," Eliot said diplomatically. "Susan and I spent a lot of time in the library."
"Of course you did," Anthony laughed. "Did you at least take a break from your inventions?"
"Some. We explored the castle quite a bit."
"Find anything interesting?"
Eliot thought about the abandoned laboratory, the old observatory, and the Room of Requirement. "More than we expected."
---
Classes resumed on January 3rd with a vengeance. Professor McGonagall immediately assigned a challenging essay on advanced Transfiguration theory. Professor Snape seemed particularly vindictive after the holidays, assigning detentions for the slightest infractions. Even Professor Flitwick, usually cheerful, was focused on preparing students for their end-of-year exams.
"It's like they're trying to make up for lost time," Susan complained as they sat in the library that evening, surrounded by textbooks and parchment.
"Or reminding us that we're still students first," Eliot replied, working on his Potions essay about the properties of moonstone in healing draughts.
"Speaking of which, how are you feeling about tomorrow?"
Tomorrow was January 4th—the day of their Ministry evaluation. Despite all their preparation, Eliot felt a flutter of nerves.
"Ready, I think. You?"
"Terrified and excited in equal measure." Susan looked up from her Transfiguration notes. "What if they don't understand what we're trying to accomplish?"
"Then we explain it better. We've prepared for every question we can think of."
"And if they decide our work is too dangerous?"
"Then we learn from their concerns and improve our safety protocols." Eliot set down his quill. "Susan, we've created functional magical devices as first-year students. Even if the Ministry doesn't approve them for commercial use, that's still an incredible achievement."
"You're right. I just... I want this to work. I want to prove that we can make a difference."
"We already have. Look around—half the students in this library are using our torchlights to study."
---
That evening, Professor Flitwick found them in their workshop, making final adjustments to their demonstration materials.
"How are you feeling about tomorrow?" he asked, examining their latest prototypes.
"Nervous but prepared," Eliot replied.
"Good. Nerves keep you sharp, as long as they don't overwhelm you." Flitwick picked up their shield badge, studying the runic inscriptions. "Remarkable work. You've incorporated principles that most students don't encounter until their N.E.W.T. years."
"We had good teachers," Susan said. "And access to excellent resources."
"You had curiosity and determination. The resources were just tools." Flitwick set down the badge. "Remember tomorrow that you're not just representing yourselves. You're representing a new approach to magical education—one that values innovation and practical application alongside traditional theory."
"No pressure," Eliot said with a weak smile.
"Quite the opposite. The pressure is what makes it worthwhile." Flitwick's eyes twinkled. "Great achievements require great risks."
---
Sleep came fitfully that night. Eliot lay in his bed, listening to the familiar sounds of his dormitory—Terry's soft snoring, the whisper of wind against the windows, the distant hooting of owls. Tomorrow would determine the future of their work, and possibly their futures as magical inventors.
He thought about his previous life, about all the projects that had never seen the light of day, all the innovations that had been buried in corporate bureaucracy. This was his chance to do something that mattered, something that could genuinely improve people's lives.
*Whatever happens tomorrow,* he told himself, *we've already succeeded in ways that matter.*
---
January 4th dawned gray and cold, with a bitter wind that rattled the windows of Ravenclaw Tower. Eliot woke early, his stomach tight with anticipation. The Ministry officials were scheduled to arrive at 10 AM for a full day of evaluation.
Breakfast was a subdued affair. Word of the evaluation had spread through the school, and many students wished them luck as they passed the Ravenclaw table.
"You'll do brilliantly," Cho Chang said, stopping by their table. "Everyone's talking about how impressive your devices are."
"Just remember to breathe," advised Roger Davies. "Ministry officials can be intimidating, but they're just people doing their jobs."
At 9:30, Professor Flitwick escorted them to a conference room that had been specially prepared for the evaluation. The room contained a large table, several chairs, and various magical instruments for testing their devices.
"The officials should arrive shortly," Flitwick said. "Remember—be confident, be honest, and trust in your work."
At exactly 10 AM, three witches and wizards in formal Ministry robes entered the room. The lead official, a stern-looking woman with graying hair, introduced herself as Madam Bones from the Department of Magical Inventions.
"Mr. Clarke, Miss Bones," she said formally. "We're here to evaluate your magical devices and assess their potential for broader application. Shall we begin?"
Eliot and Susan exchanged a glance, took a deep breath, and stepped forward to present their work.
The future of magical innovation was about to be decided.