Chapter 250: Preparing to Head Back to Hogwarts
In the Beauxbatons dormitory temporarily assigned to the exchange tournament competitors, Leonardo sat hunched over his desk, quill scratching steadily across parchment.
At the top of the page, in a slightly embellished enlarged heading:
"What are your hopes for Valentine's Day at Hogwarts?"
Beneath it, several questions are still being drafted:
What overall atmosphere would you most prefer for Valentine's Day at Hogwarts? (Multiple choice)
[ A ] Romantic and warm — magical decorations and soft lighting throughout
[ B ] Lively and fun — group games or activities everyone can take part in
[ C ] Free and private — more magical spaces suited to spending time alone together
[ D ] Other (please describe briefly): _______
If small-scale activities were held, which type would interest you most? (Multiple choice)
[ A ] Magically assisted "anonymous blessings" — your feelings reach the recipient, but your identity stays hidden
[ B ] A "keepsake photo corner" assisted by magical creatures or alchemical constructs
[ C ] A hands-on station for making simple magical sweets
[ D ] Other: _______
What specific "magical atmosphere" effects would you like to see in the castle? (For example: floating candles that transform into heart shapes, mist that shifts colour with the mood of those passing through, a choir of small faeries singing love poems, and so on.)
Your suggestions: _______
…
Leonardo set down his quill and reviewed what he had written.
It felt oddly familiar — like being back in university in his previous life, designing questionnaires for holiday social surveys.
When the exchange tournament ended, and he returned to Hogwarts, Valentine's Day would not be far off. To repay the fire element loan and play Cupid for the occasion, he needed to get a clear picture of what the students actually wanted first.
As for the system's requirement — "use magical means to enrich the festive atmosphere" — that was, relatively speaking, the simpler part. The technical side he could always have ready before the day itself.
He revised the wording on two of the questions, which felt slightly better.
Once the questionnaire was in good shape, he would ask Harry and the others to help distribute it around Hogwarts.
This term, with the basilisk and the diary no longer a threat, Hogwarts really should be living up to its reputation as the safest place in the wizarding world.
At that thought, Leonardo set down his quill and rubbed his temple.
Speaking of which — Reiman had been in a fluster earlier about being short on materials, waiting for owls to make the round trip home. That would take days.
He had been planning to use Aurelius's Phantom Shift to pop back to Hogwarts briefly anyway, so he might as well collect whatever Reiman needed while he was at it.
Aurelius had grown considerably over the past two years, and his long-distance Phantom Shift had improved in a particularly obvious way. The journey from Beauxbatons to Hogwarts would probably require only one or two brief stopovers at this point — no worse than a Portkey in efficiency, and without the nauseating spinning sensation.
Reiman's joke also came to mind again. He had offered to share his dating experience — perhaps it was worth designing a separate questionnaire aimed at students who actually had some. Though come to think of it, traditional owl post was a real limitation for anything time-sensitive.
If the magical mobile phone ever became widespread, this sort of thing could be sorted with a quick message.
And if physical objects could somehow be transported instantaneously as well — a wizarding delivery service of some kind —
Leonardo shook his head and reined the thought in.
One step at a time. Get the remote-communication device finished and out into the world first. The grander schemes for improving wizarding life could come later.