"Simply put, a user—say, a Hogwarts student—first needs to channel a trace of magic into the device. This initiates a modified, heavily simplified variant of a Druidic Animal Companion Contract."
"This contract forms an indirect, yet highly stable link with the expanded pocket dimension inside my suitcase, and by extension, the magical creatures living there."
The twins were completely enthralled, vaguely sensing the massive implications of what he was saying.
"Once the contract is signed, the student can carry this Pokédex around Hogwarts, or anywhere else they might travel in the future," Viktor continued. He swiped the side of the device, pulling up a simulated map interface dotted with blinking lights.
"The device's built-in detection magic will sense the virtual imprints of the magical creatures corresponding to those in my suitcase, provided they are within a certain radius."
"When a student gets close to one of these imprints, the device 'unlocks' the corresponding creature's data, adding it to the Pokédex. They can then use the device to study the creature's habits, traits, conservation status, and so on."
"From there, they can select one of the creatures to forge a 'Virtual Bond' with."
He tapped the [New Adventure] option. A simple pixel-art avatar appeared on screen, alongside several lively, animated sprites of magical creatures.
Currently, the roster only included a few foundational species like Nifflers, Bowtruckles, and Puffskeins.
"By channeling magic into the device to 'feed' and 'interact' with it, or by completing built-in tasks and knowledge quizzes, the user increases their 'Affinity' with the virtual creature. This, in turn, strengthens their bond with the actual creature it represents."
"This sounds exactly like a video game!" Fred blurted out, his eyes shining.
"Exactly. It has the entertainment value of a game, designed specifically to hook young wizards," Viktor nodded approvingly.
"But the core engine driving it is serious contract magic and education. When the internal monitoring magic determines that the user's Affinity with the virtual creature has reached a specific threshold—and the user has demonstrated a genuine understanding and protective attitude toward the species in reality..."
He paused, his tone turning solemn.
"...The device will unlock a final trial. If they pass, the user can utilize the contract link to attempt a genuine summoning of the actual magical creature from my suitcase that corresponds to their virtual partner."
"Whoa!" Fred and George gasped simultaneously.
Summoning a real magical creature as a partner?
That was a thousand times cooler than their biting quills or water-squirting badges! No, a million times cooler!
"Of course, the summoning comes with strict limitations, magical costs, and requires mutual consent," Viktor added, his expression serious.
"Magical creatures are not toys. The device will strictly monitor the summoner's mental state, magical reserves, and their attitude toward the animal."
"Any inappropriate behavior will result in the contract being temporarily frozen or permanently severed. Furthermore, the creatures in my sanctuary retain the absolute right to refuse the summons."
"This is brilliant, Professor!" Fred exclaimed. "This will let so many more people learn about magical creatures and actually become friends with them!"
"And in a completely safe, controlled way!" George chimed in. He was already visualizing what an incredibly chaotic, entertaining zoo Hogwarts would become if every student had one of these devices.
---
Viktor stared at the glowing Pokédex in his hand. The thoughts running through his mind were far more profound and ambitious than what he had just explained aloud.
Every single design choice, at its core, served one ultimate goal: tethering his suitcase's pocket dimension directly to Hogwarts itself.
And this Pokédex—modeled after the globally dominant video game franchise from his past life—was the cornerstone of that grand strategy.
It was a known fact that the true significance of Hogwarts was never the thousand-year-old stone castle itself.
It was the vibrant, growing, sheltered young lives within its walls.
The Four Founders built it to give young wizards a safe haven to learn, explore magic, and grow until they could stand on their own.
The castle's magic, its will, its very "core" was inextricably bound to the fate of generation after generation of young students.
Therefore, if he wanted his pocket dimension to be acknowledged and accepted by this ancient magical fortress...
The fundamental approach wasn't to forcefully hack its wards or hunt down hidden magical ley lines. Those methods might achieve a temporary "connection," but never true "integration."
The real key lay with the children themselves.
Through this Pokédex, and through meticulously designed contracts, he was weaving countless emotional and magical tethers between the young wizards, his suitcase, and the creatures within it.
Every successful Virtual Bond, every moment of sincere interactive learning, and ultimately, every genuine companion contract forged...
All of it would invisibly but deeply bind his pocket dimension to Hogwarts' most precious core: its students.
This tethering was reciprocal and wholly positive.
The students gained knowledge, entertainment, and potential companions.
The little guys in his sanctuary gained attention, understanding, and friendship from the outside world.
And Viktor? He would harvest a massive, incredibly stable web of vibrant "anchor points."
When enough of these anchor points were established—when The Ark became tightly interwoven with the overarching destiny of Hogwarts through its students—quantity would inevitably trigger a qualitative shift.
The ancient will of Hogwarts Castle wouldn't resist him. Instead, it would naturally incline toward accepting this "foreign space" that had already become a positive, integral part of its students' growth.
When that day came, "tethering" his suitcase wouldn't be a brutal technical hurdle to overcome. It would be a seamless, natural "invitation to symbiosis."
His pocket dimension would be firmly anchored to the Hogwarts magical network. It might even gain a degree of active, autonomous maintenance from the castle itself.
At that point, a near-infinite supply of ambient magic, an indestructible spatial structure, and the establishment of permanent, physical entryways within the castle...
All of it would become possible.
And this was only the beginning.
A mobile magical dimension that truly coexisted with Hogwarts, possessing a bedrock foundation and limitless potential—the things he could achieve with it were endless.
---
Viktor's heart swelled with anticipation, though his face maintained a calm, infectious smile.
Looking at the two pairs of eyes practically burning with curiosity and eagerness, he knew it was time to issue the formal invitation.
"So, Misters Weasley," he said, gently placing the Pokédex back onto its stand. His gaze swept over Fred and George.
"This Pokédex is currently just a first-generation prototype."
"It needs a heavily optimized user interface, a vastly expanded creature database, rigorous stress-testing of the contract magic, and a flawless safety monitoring protocol. We also need to design more interactive modules that are both fun and educational."
"We even have to start considering future mass production, distribution methods, and troubleshooting unimaginable user-error scenarios."
His tone shifted, becoming formal and heavy with expectation.
"This is a massive, incredibly complex, long-term project. And I am in need of reliable, creative assistants who possess a genuine passion for both alchemy and magical creatures."
"I officially invite you, Fred Weasley and George Weasley, to join the research, development, and refinement initiative for the Pokédex. You will not simply be my apprentices; you will be core R&D members of this project."
The twins' eyes somehow managed to go even wider. They stopped breathing entirely for a second.
Core R&D members!
Getting to work on a project that sounded this unbelievably cool, with such massive implications!
This was lightyears beyond their expectations of "running errands" or "learning a few alchemical tricks." This was pure glory!
Without a single second of hesitation, skipping their usual telepathic eye contact entirely, they shouted in unison, their voices trembling with pure hype: "We're in, Professor!"
"Absolutely in! A million times yes!" Fred added, his fists clenched tight.
George nodded so hard his head was a blur. The flush of excitement on his face almost matched his hair.
"We'll give it everything we've got, Professor! Whatever you need us to do, we'll do it! Studying, experimenting, testing—you name it!"
Watching their burning enthusiasm, Viktor smiled in deep satisfaction.
He gestured to the surrounding laboratory.
"Excellent. Then, as official project members, your first task is to familiarize yourselves with the basic layout, safety protocols, and standard toolkits of The Ark."
"Tonight, we start with the absolute basics."
He walked over to a rack of storage shelves lined with meticulously organized crystal beakers, cauldrons, measuring tools, and mortars.
"Identifying and processing alchemical materials is the bedrock of everything we do here. Even the simplest purification, grinding, or magical-frequency pre-treatment directly dictates the quality of the final product and the stability of its magical circuits."
He picked up a small jar containing a shimmering silver powder, then pointed to a highly complex magical scale nearby.
"Take this Moonstone powder, for example. It's heavily used to stabilize spatial runic arrays. However, it requires an extremely specific grind size and absolute magical purity. Over-grind it, and you destroy its internal crystalline structure. Leave trace magical residue on it, and you compromise its conductivity with the connecting runes..."
Viktor began his lecture, breaking down complex concepts into digestible pieces, his voice steady and clear.
Over on his cushion, Tom had somehow manifested his little decorative clipboard again. Gripping a quill in his paw, he nodded his furry head solemnly, looking for all the world like he was taking meticulous notes.
The twins immediately dialed back their hyperactive excitement. Forcing themselves to focus, they absorbed every word Viktor taught them like sponges.
They knew this was an unprecedented opportunity—a golden ticket to channel their boundless creativity and knack for mischief into something truly monumental.
And the world behind that metal door was vastly wider, and far more captivating, than they had ever dared to imagine.
The steady, brilliant lights of the lab cast their focused silhouettes across the polished floor.
Outside the window, the night deepened over Hogwarts, the ancient castle sleeping peacefully beneath the stars.
But deep inside the castle, within a folded pocket of space, an initiative that fused ancient magical wisdom, visionary educational concepts, and a breathtakingly ambitious spatial design had officially launched.
The screen of the red-and-white Pokédex pulsed softly. The pixelated Niffler sat quietly on the menu screen, as if waiting for the very first young wizard to sign a contract and embark upon a brand-new magical journey filled with surprises and unbreakable bonds.
And for the craftsmen forging that journey...
Their work had only just begun.
The night was long, and the drive to create was endless.