The Easter holidays brought Eliot's first visit to the Ministry of Magic as an official partner rather than a nervous first-year being evaluated. The difference was immediately apparent—instead of being escorted to a conference room, he and Susan were given security badges and taken on a comprehensive tour of the Department of Magical Inventions.
"Welcome to the heart of magical innovation," Madam Bones said as they entered a vast laboratory filled with wizards and witches working on various projects. "This is where we develop and test new magical technologies."
The scale was impressive. Dozens of researchers worked at stations equipped with instruments that made even their new workshop look basic. Magical energy crackled through the air as spells were tested, devices were calibrated, and theories were put into practice.
"What are they working on?" Susan asked, watching a team test what appeared to be a self-stirring cauldron.
"Everything from improved communication devices to advanced protective equipment for Aurors," Mr. Shacklebolt explained. "The Ministry has to stay ahead of both legitimate needs and potential threats."
They were introduced to several senior researchers, each working on projects that could benefit from their expertise. A team developing educational tools was particularly interested in their plant diagnostic device, while another group working on emergency response equipment wanted to discuss their heat controller technology.
"Your approach to magical engineering is quite different from ours," observed Dr. Whitmore, the head of the Educational Technology Division. "You're thinking about user experience in ways we haven't considered."
"We're designing for students," Eliot explained. "They need devices that teach, not just perform tasks."
"Exactly. And that perspective is valuable for all our work, not just educational applications."
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The second day of their visit was spent in the Ministry's testing facilities, where they observed rigorous safety evaluations of magical devices. The procedures were far more comprehensive than anything they had imagined.
"Every device must pass through multiple stages of testing," Ms. Clearwater explained as they watched a team subject a communication mirror to various magical attacks. "Safety, reliability, security, and potential for misuse."
"How long does the process typically take?" Susan asked.
"For a simple device, six months to a year. For complex innovations, it can take several years."
Eliot felt a chill of realization. "How long will our devices take to be approved for general use?"
"That depends on how well they perform in testing. Your educational focus actually works in your favor—devices intended for student use receive priority review."
They spent hours observing different testing procedures, learning about failure modes they had never considered and safety requirements they hadn't known existed. It was sobering to realize how much they still had to learn about professional magical engineering.
"This is overwhelming," Susan admitted as they took a break in the Ministry cafeteria. "We thought we understood the requirements for our devices, but we've barely scratched the surface."
"It's not overwhelming," Eliot replied, though he felt the same way. "It's educational. We're learning what we need to know to do this properly."
"But it's going to take so much longer than we thought."
"Good things usually do."
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The third day brought meetings with potential collaborators from other magical institutions. Representatives from magical schools across Europe had come to discuss educational applications for their devices.
"The plant diagnostic tool could revolutionize Herbology education," said Professor Delacroix from Beauxbatons. "Our students struggle with the same issues you've identified at Hogwarts."
"And the potion brewing controller could help standardize instruction across different schools," added Professor Zimmerman from Durmstrang. "Each institution has developed its own methods, but your device could provide a common foundation."
The discussions were exciting but also daunting. They were talking about implementing their innovations across multiple schools, affecting thousands of students. The responsibility was enormous.
"Are we ready for this level of impact?" Susan asked during a private moment.
"I don't think anyone's ever ready for that level of responsibility," Eliot replied. "But we can grow into it."
"What if we make mistakes? What if our devices don't work as well in other schools?"
"Then we learn from the mistakes and improve the devices. That's how innovation works."
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Their final day at the Ministry was spent in planning sessions, discussing timelines for testing, implementation, and broader distribution of their devices. The scope of the project was expanding beyond anything they had originally envisioned.
"We're looking at a three-year development cycle," Madam Bones explained, showing them a detailed project timeline. "Year one for comprehensive testing and refinement, year two for limited trials in select schools, year three for broader implementation."
"Three years?" Susan said. "We'll be in our fourth year at Hogwarts by then."
"Which is perfect timing," Mr. Shacklebolt said. "You'll have advanced magical education to support your work, and you'll still be students yourselves, maintaining that crucial perspective."
"What about our other projects?" Eliot asked. "We have ideas for devices beyond educational applications."
"Those will have to wait," Madam Bones said firmly. "Focus is essential for success. You can't develop everything at once."
It was a difficult lesson, but an important one. They had to choose their priorities carefully and commit to seeing projects through to completion.
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The train ride back to Hogwarts was quiet, both of them processing everything they had learned during their Ministry visit.
"It's bigger than we thought," Susan said finally.
"Much bigger. But also more structured. We're not just inventing things anymore—we're part of a professional development process."
"Does that bother you?"
Eliot considered the question. "No, I think it's necessary. We were getting ahead of ourselves, trying to do too much too quickly. This forces us to be more methodical."
"And it ensures our work will actually help people instead of just being interesting prototypes."
"Exactly."
As the train pulled into Hogsmeade station, Eliot felt a renewed sense of purpose. The Ministry visit had been overwhelming, but it had also clarified their path forward. They weren't just student inventors anymore—they were junior partners in a professional development process that could genuinely improve magical education.
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Back at Hogwarts, they found their fellow students eager to hear about their Ministry experience. The common room buzzed with questions about what they had seen and learned.
"Was it like the movies?" asked a second-year. "All mysterious and intimidating?"
"More like a very advanced magical laboratory," Susan replied diplomatically.
"Did you meet any famous wizards?" asked another student.
"We met a lot of very smart people doing important work," Eliot said. "But fame isn't really the point."
Later, in the privacy of their workshop, they began planning their next steps based on what they had learned at the Ministry.
"We need to be more systematic about our testing," Susan said, reviewing their notes. "The Ministry's procedures are much more rigorous than ours."
"And we need to think more carefully about user interface design," Eliot added. "It's not enough for our devices to work—they need to be intuitive and safe for students to use."
"Plus we need to document everything much more thoroughly. The Ministry requires detailed records of every design decision and test result."
It was a lot of additional work, but it was also an opportunity to improve their methods and create better devices.
"Are you ready for this?" Susan asked.
"I'm ready to try," Eliot replied. "We've come this far. Let's see how far we can go."
Outside their workshop windows, the castle grounds were alive with spring growth. New beginnings were everywhere, and their work was entering a new phase as well.
The future was challenging but bright with possibility. They were ready to meet whatever came next.