The successful unveiling of the Chimera to their inner circle was a gratifying proof of concept, but Ariana knew that theory, no matter how brilliant, was meaningless without practical application. Before they could even dream of the moon, they had to prove the vessel could survive its own planet.
"We require a test flight," she announced to Hermione and Daphne a week later. "A controlled, sub-orbital trajectory. The objective is to reach the exosphere, maintain a stable position for five minutes, and then return safely. We need to test the propulsion, the integrity of the life support and shielding under near-vacuum conditions, and the functionality of the navigation and communication systems at altitude."
The preparations were meticulous. The test would take place at night, from the center of the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch, a location that was both large, secure, and shielded from Muggle eyes.
Dumbledore granted them full access and authority. Professor Flitwick, now a fervent admirer of their work, helped them calibrate the atmospheric sensors. Professor McGonagall, with a stern but proud expression, assisted in weaving a secondary emergency ward around the pitch itself. Even Snape contributed, providing a highly stable, emergency-grade potion that could instantly reinforce the ship's structural integrity for a few crucial seconds in case of a hull breach.
"The distance is quite a long way, Miss Dumbledore. How are you going to maintain the magic focus? It would drain you." Flitwick asked, worried about the effects of constant magical drain on the girl. Dumbledore and McGonagall looked as well, clearly also worried. Ariana simply smiled and explained once again the magical engine, the conversion of solar and vacuum pressure energy to concentrated magic, via runes. "I am not utilizing my own magic to power the spaceship, instead my magic is merely the steering wheel, navigating the vehicle in the cosmos. This is also backed up with the spaceship connecting to the stellar map, for navigation. In essence, I am simply guiding the self-powered spaceship. My own magic is safe."
The night of the test was clear and starless. A small, select group gathered on the pitch: Hermione and Daphne at a magically created control console; Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape as the primary safety officers; and Sirius, Remus, and Harry as anxious, supportive family.
A large, shimmering magical screen, a massive version of a Two-Way Mirror, had been erected on the pitch. It was linked to a similar, smaller screen inside the Chimera's cockpit, providing a live communication and telemetry feed.
Ariana stood before the sleek, silver vessel. She was dressed not in robes, but in a practical, dark, form-fitting flight suit made of enchanted material, another of her own designs. She held a small, silver bracelet in her hand.
"This is an emergency Portkey," she explained to the anxious group. "It is keyed to this exact spot on the pitch. If there is a catastrophic failure, I will activate it. The ship will be lost, but I will return."
Hermione looked pale with worry. "Are you sure about this, Ari? Maybe we should do more simulations."
"We have simulated all we can," Ariana said, her voice calm and reassuring. "Data can only be acquired through experimentation." She gave her two partners a confident, grateful smile. "Trust our work. Trust our logic."
She turned and walked up the short ramp into the Chimera. The cockpit was a small, clean, white space, dominated by a single, comfortable pilot's chair and the glowing crystal interfaces of the control panels. The smaller mirror screen in front of her flickered to life, showing the concerned faces of her friends and teachers on the ground. The main screen showing the view from top of the spacecraft.
"Internal systems check," she said, her voice clear and calm, broadcast to the pitch. She ran her hands over the glowing panels. "Power core at one hundred percent stable output. Atmospheric generator online and maintaining pressure at one standard atmosphere. Life support nominal. Navigation system locked on to home beacon."
"All systems look green from here, Chimera I," Hermione's voice came back, sounding impressively professional despite her nervousness. "You are cleared for launch."
Ariana strapped herself into the pilot's chair. She took a deep, steadying breath, her hands resting on the two crystal orbs that served as the ship's control system. She focused her will, channeling it through the power core.
"Initiating primary propulsion," she said. "Launch in three… two… one…"
There was no fire, no smoke, no roar of engines. There was only a low, powerful, resonant hum. The ship lifted from the ground, perfectly silent, hovering ten feet above the pitch. A soft, blue-white light emanated from the propulsion runes on its underbelly.
"Ascent beginning," she reported.
She guided the ship upwards, slowly at first, then with increasing speed. On the ground, the others watched, their faces upturned, as the small, silver vessel became a star, climbing higher and higher into the night sky.
Inside the cockpit, Ariana's focus was absolute. She watched her instruments, her mind cross-referencing the ship's performance with her theoretical models. She passed through the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere. The sky outside the main view-screen, which was showing a magically projected image of the exterior, shifted from black to a deep, dark indigo.
"Passing one hundred kilometers," she reported, her voice calm. "Entering the Karman line.
Officially in space."
A cheer went up from the small group on the ground.
"Shield integrity is at one hundred percent," she continued. "Internal pressure stable. Atmospheric generator is compensating perfectly. The passive energy siphoning from solar winds is beginning to register."
She climbed higher, into the exosphere, the final, thin layer before the true void. Below her, the gentle curve of the Earth was now visible, a breathtaking swirl of blue, white, and the glittering lights of Muggle cities. Even her logical, detached mind was struck with a moment of profound, silent awe.
"Maintaining stable orbit at five hundred kilometers," she announced. "Beginning five-minute systems check."
For five minutes, she hung there, a silent, man-made star in the heavens, the first witch to ever truly leave her world behind. The ship performed flawlessly. Every system held. Every calculation had been correct.
"Systems check complete. All functions are nominal," she finally reported. "Preparing for de-orbit and re-entry."
The journey back was just as smooth. She guided the Chimera through the upper atmosphere, the shielding wards glowing a faint cherry red as they deflected the heat of re-entry. She slowed her descent, approaching the castle not as a falling star, but as a gently landing feather.
On the pitch, they watched as the bright star in the sky grew larger, resolving itself back into the familiar, sleek shape of the ship. It descended with an eerie, silent grace, its blue propulsion lights glowing softly, and touched down in the exact center of the pitch with a barely audible sigh.
The ramp lowered. Ariana walked out, pulling off her flight helmet, her face calm and filled with a quiet, triumphant satisfaction.
A joyous, relieved cheer erupted from the small group. Hermione and Daphne ran to her, throwing their arms around her in a fierce, happy hug. Dumbledore's eyes were shining with tears of pride.
Sirius and Remus were whooping like teenagers.
She had done it. They had done it.
"Status report?" Dumbledore asked, his voice full of wonder.
Ariana looked at her friends, then at the magnificent, silent vessel behind her, gleaming in the moonlight.
"Project Chimera is a success," she announced, her voice ringing with the quiet, profound certainty of a new age dawning. "The systems are viable. The theory is proven." She looked up at the starfilled sky, at the pale, distant disc of the moon. "Now, we go for the moon."