Sitting outside Hagrid's hut, Felix held a pocket watch in his palm. Instead of telling time, a blue diamond seemed to glow as moments later, a screen appeared to float above it. There a boy with freckles and brown hair appeared.
"Here's Johnny!"
Studying the image for a moment, Felix saw a couple curious students behind John. However, he also noted that the display was pretty stable and clear. The magic didn't waver or distort even when John spoke. For he assumed the sound transmitted accurately. Mabe a little too accurately as he could hear various sounds of John.
"John, give me a moment to jot down a note about filtering background noise." Felix said as he wrote on a piece of parchment.
"Make a note about calling too. It took a couple tries due to the various noises around." John said. "Maybe you should take some ideas from the muggle house phone with numbers."
"Noted." Felix also wrote John's idea.
The current situation is trying out the communication watches and looking for ways to improve them. After finishing up four communication watches a few days after preparing the phoenix eggs and placing them in the fire. He managed to finish up the four of them and is currently testing them with John and Angel. The last watch being will be given to Dumbledore who agreed to help test distance in the coming week.
"Alright, now let's see if we can add Angel in." Felix said as he tapped his watch.
In a shaky visual display, John's image began to shrink as it seemingly split. A few moments later, Angel appeared on the screen. Her mouth began to move, while her voice seemed almost perfectly transmitted. Both John and Felix's attention were pulled behind her where they saw various girl undergarments toss around.
"Where are you, Angel?" Felix asked.
"Huh? Oh, I am in Lily's dorm room. I was captured by her to answer a question about my lame brother." Angel replied.
As if to confirm her words, an older girl with fiery red hair and green eyes appeared briefly. Then under the eyes of the two boy's she began to wave her wand. The clothes that laid messily all over began to move outside the screen.
"Including improving upon multi call function, an option of no video should be implemented." Felix noted it down.
It is not that this thought hasn't crossed his mind, but he didn't expect to end up seeing various girls' underwear while testing. While he was fine as it was just underwear in his eyes, it wasn't for John. His face began to heat up as a tint of red appeared on his face.
--
After testing out the communication watches, Felix went to work improving upon them. This was mainly a test of his practical skill, then theory for he has the answers before him. So over the next few weeks between homework and class, he was tinkering with his watches.
Finally, he managed to create a watch that functions very much like a smartphone. It was just to his disappointment that it couldn't play games or handy apps like a calendar. It wasn't from a lack of trying, but his practical skill wasn't quite there yet. A dozen burnt out diamonds told him so.
So, now he just held a basic watch that can use multi-call, video or no video, that can filter background noise and has a number pad. It is quite a fancy trinket truth be told, but it also fits in the palm neatly.
"What would be a good price to sell these at?" Felix rubbed his chin as he looked at the watch before him.
Unlike the glasses he couldn't divide it into levels easily, but selling these things too cheaply won't work either. The thought of charging monthly has crossed his mind, but he could only cross it out on his plans. It wasn't easy to monitor such a thing nor does he have a business for it.
After a while of tapping his finger, he decided to go with fifteen galleons for the base price. It wasn't a lot nor was it a little. He also slapped his forehead like an idiot from overthinking a few minutes ago. He could actually split this thing into various levels, depending on the various functions that are included.
"I feel like an idiot." Felix muttered to himself.
"Felix, did you hear the latest gossip?" Angel asked as she rushed in.
"I am preparing magical weapons to take over the world in this classroom?" Felix asked.
"No." Angel shook her head.
"Plotting to overthrow the current Dark Lord and take his place?"
"No," Angel shook her head again. "Are there even such rumors?"
"My idiot roommates are trying to make it one." Felix replied.
Much to his sadness, he is still roommates with Lenny Goldhold and his gang of friends. They are still attempting to make him drop out, but due to putting up various magic to protect him. They weren't having as much luck as last year in various tricks.
"It seems that Gilderoy Lockhart is causing trouble again. He says he will challenge you to a duel."
Felix only had questions above his head at this news. Why did he suddenly get challenged to a duel? The only time he sees Lockhart is in class where they don't even interact. Now why did he suddenly get challenged to a duel.
"I don't remember interacting with him. Did he say why?" Felix gave up burning his brain and just asked.
"Something about taking his research on Gubraithian Fire. He says you took his hard research on making it easier to cast the magic." Angel gave a strange look.
Felix became even more confused. It wasn't a secret that he could make it since Hagrid loved the gift immensely and wasn't shy about telling. So while a few found it amazing, most didn't really care that much about this matter.
"If I recall, Lockhart tends to hover around the middle of the class. Not outstanding nor an underachiever." Felix said. "So, when is this duel supposed to take place?"
"After dinner. Professor Flitwick has agreed to be the referee for you two once I told him of this matter." Angel replied. "Otherwise, Lockhart said to challenge you in the trophy room at midnight."
"Then, I better prepare quickly. There is only a short while before dinner." Felix said quickly.
Angel blinked thinking he was overreacting a bit, but didn't say anything. Who knew if Lockhart had some actual talent in dueling. It was a bit hard to believe in such things, but one never knew. This was the magic world and strange talents are able to pop up from time to time.
"I will help you." Angel smiled.
"Thank you."
--
While Felix with the help of Angel began to cram in some short notice training for the upcoming duel. John had begun to watch over Lockhart who upon learning began to boast even more. He began to claim that he shall defeat Felix Grindelwald for various reasons.
Each time Lockhart retold and boasted to everyone he met, the reason for the duel seems to change. From stealing his heirloom Life Cup to his magic research on speed glasses and color dial. Anything that Felix has done, even training to take on Death Eaters, Lockhart seemed to boast saying he was the brain behind it.
John was ready to roll up his sleeves and punch him but help back. After Felix was done with him, John would just challenge him right afterwards. Since Lockhart wanted to be the center of attention, then he shall be.
"I doubt beating him shall fix his attitude, but it sure will feel good." John muttered to himself.
Under Lockhart boasting and Professor Flitwick putting up a notice, the duel was known to all.