Erwin soon reached a sturdy holly tree. The Bowtruckle hopped off his shoulder and scampered up the trunk in a blur of spindly limbs. It let out a pair of soft, chirping whimpers toward him.
Erwin chuckled. "So, you little guardian, this is your holly tree, eh?"
Holly was arguably the most famous wand wood in the wizarding world—Harry Potter's wand featured a phoenix feather core set in holly, while Voldemort's was yew. No denying its legendary status.
"Fetch me a branch," Erwin said. "Not too many; I can't use them all."
The Bowtruckle nodded eagerly. Its vine-like arm extended, flicking gently beside a slender branch. With a snap, the wood tumbled down at Erwin's feet.
He clicked his tongue in admiration. In the magical world, cuteness often masked formidable power. Bowtruckles were a prime example, right up there with unicorns. Don't let Voldemort's unicorn kill in the stories fool you—that didn't prove weakness. Quite the opposite. The Dark Lord had to possess Quirrell's body to manage it himself, suggesting even Quirrell couldn't take one down alone.
Of course, that was just Erwin's theory. He figured it held water, but without testing it, who knew? Unicorns weren't fond of wizards, especially males, though his talent for Magical Creature Affinity might sway things. Truth be told, Erwin itched to try petting one someday—they seemed so docile up close.
But that could wait. Right now, priorities: craft a magical communicator.
He pulled a sharp knife from his enchanted ring and settled cross-legged on the forest floor. The Bowtruckle watched with wide, curious eyes. After a moment, bored, it twisted its twiggy body and sidled closer, curling up in Erwin's lap with a contented snore.
Erwin smiled but kept at it. Hours ticked by under his focused labor. He carved precise wooden components from the holly branch, then fished out a screwdriver from his ring. No questions asked—purely for the build. His enchanted pouch was a lifesaver for such odds and ends.
The sky dimmed as dusk fell. The Bowtruckle stirred awake and obligingly lit its tiny wand-tip like a flashlight, illuminating Erwin's work.
He patted its head in thanks. The creature squinted in delight, basking in the affection.
Another hour dragged on. Finally, Erwin leaned back, stretching his aching spine. In his hand gleamed a rudimentary phone, carved and assembled. A grin spread across his face.
It was done.
He etched a Communication Rune onto it, then layered in the Whispering Charm. Heart pounding, he pressed the activation rune.
Success hinged on this.
The device hummed to life.
Erwin nearly leaped to his feet. It worked! Actually worked!
Magic as a power source? He'd just reinvented the wheel—or rather, the wand—for modern wizardry.
Exhilaration surged through him. A true invention. Groundbreaking, even. The Order of Merlin, First Class, suddenly felt within reach. Dumbledore had earned his for the twelve uses of dragon's blood. Erwin could rattle off a dozen for wizards without breaking a sweat.
Genius. Pure genius.
The Bowtruckle tilted its head, scratching at a stray leaf in confusion. It clambered up Erwin's arm and prodded the device curiously.
"Interested, are you?" Erwin laughed. "Watch this."
He tapped the Bowtruckle lightly with his wand, drawing a faint thread of its magic. The creature stayed calm, trusting him implicitly, its eyes fixed in fascination.
Erwin channeled the magic into the phone's core—a makeshift battery he'd prepared earlier with Transfiguration. The final rune of the Whispering Charm sealed, linking the Communication Rune on the battery. It bloomed open, shimmering with ethereal purple light.
"Lucky you," Erwin said. "Your essence just became the first entry in Cavendish Communications. We'll mass-produce soon enough."
He hit a rune sequence: three quick taps.
"Press these, and you can reach me."
The Bowtruckle obliged. Instantly, the rune on Erwin's arm glowed. He touched it.
"Little friend!"
His voice echoed from both his lips and the phone.
The Bowtruckle startled, nearly fumbling the device. Erwin steadied it with a chuckle. "Easy! This is my latest project. Once perfected, you'll get your own. For now, it's just a prototype. The Transfiguration battery only holds a few hours before reverting—poof, dead. But give me time; I'll hook you up. Trouble? Call me."
He popped out the battery for inspection. The Bowtruckle pondered, then whimpered softly twice.
"Don't fret," Erwin assured it. "I'll Apparate over the second you need me. But it's getting late—I should head back."
Panic flickered in the Bowtruckle's eyes. It clutched his sleeve desperately.
"Alright, alright," Erwin relented. "I'll stick around till dinner. Deal?"
It nodded vigorously. Erwin ruffled its leafy head, a warm fondness swelling in his chest. These magical creatures outshone humans in kindness, easing his guarded nature. Spending time with them was pure relaxation—no games, just honest companionship.
As the forest shadows lengthened, Erwin pocketed the phone, already plotting refinements. The wizarding world wouldn't know what hit it.
...
With that said, guys—today's 15 chapters have been published! I'm holding up my end of the bargain because you guys are amazing.
If you love these mass releases, make sure to SMASH THAT POWERSTONE!
We conquered #100, but we aren't done yet. Let's show them the power of this community.
NEXT TARGET: RANK #10!
— MrGrim