Chapter 04 – Future Threads
The Burrow was unusually quiet that early July afternoon. Sunlight streamed through the windows, highlighting the dust motes that danced lazily in the air. Ron sat cross-legged on his bed, the system interface floating before him, humming softly. It waited, patient and precise, for his command.
He picked up a tattered magazine, its pages torn, water-stained, edges frayed. The system interface blinked:
[Input: Damaged Vogue Magazine (Muggle magazine)]
Date of production: July 1984
Condition: Heavily degraded, torn pages, water stains.
Status: Accepted
Process Type: Restoration + Knowledge Extraction
Time to change production date: 00:03:42
What do you want the new date of production to be?
Confirm changes: Y/N
Ron typed July 1989 and pressed Y. The magazine shimmered. Pages mended, stains disappeared, colors sharpened. Flipping through it, he compared the fashion to his faint memories from the life he had lived before. Everything aligned perfectly.
"This… this actually works," he muttered under his breath, eyes wide.
Encouraged, he grabbed a tattered issue of Wizard Wear Monthly. The system accepted it immediately, restoring the worn pages and faded ink. But when he opened it, he froze.
Ruffles, overstuffed collars, poofy sleeves, and layers of fabric that would get caught mid-duel stared back at him.
"This is ridiculous!" he muttered, slamming the magazine down. "How do they even fight in this?"
From upstairs came the familiar teasing voices.
"Oi, Ronniekins! You shouting at the furniture again?"
Ron poked his head out. "None of your business. Just… shut it, Fred."
"Fred? I'm George, you daft oaf."
He slammed the door behind him, muttering, "Bloody twins."
Turning back to the system, he picked up a frayed quill.
[Input: Used Quill (Broken)]
Process: Restoration
Time: 00:00:03
Status: Accepted
The quill straightened, the shaft mended, and the nib sharpened to a perfect point. Next, the empty ink bottle.
[Input: Ink Bottle (Empty, Cap Missing)]
Process: Restoration
Time: 00:00:05
Status: Accepted
The glass sealed itself, the ink refilled, the cap clicked into place.
Then the crumpled parchment.
[Input: Parchment (Damaged, Ink Stains, Dust Stains)]
Process: Restoration
Time: 00:00:03
Status: Accepted
Smooth, crisp, ready for writing.
Finally, the Daily Prophet, printed June 11, 1980.
[Input: Daily Prophet (Damaged)]
Date of production: 11th June, 1980
Process: Restoration + Knowledge Extraction
Time: 00:00:49
Status: Accepted
New date of production: 03rd July, 1989
The newspaper gleamed as if freshly printed. Ron skimmed articles about Ministry decrees, Quidditch updates, and magical events. Information is power, he reminded himself, letting the words sink in.
Beneath the bed, he found the wizarding radio, one of his father's early Muggle-inspired creations.
[Input: Wizarding Wireless Radio (Damaged)]
Process: Restoration
Time: 00:01:29
Status: Accepted
The brass polished, knobs straightened, and the mesh repaired. He switched it on. Crackling static gave way to Celestina Warbeck's high-pitched voice singing A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love. Ron winced, grimaced, and leaned back.
"This… this is torture," he muttered. "First fashion, now music. My head might explode."
He stacked his restored magazines: wizarding fashion, Muggle fashion, cookery, herbs. All of them felt outdated, stiff, and lifeless. None suited him.
"But… what if the system can restore future production dates?" he murmured, picking up Wizard Wear Monthly again. He set it to July 1989 and confirmed.
The pages glowed, reformed, mended flawlessly. He opened it… and sighed. Victorian collars and heavy layers. Still. Trapped. No freedom of movement, no style, nothing he could wear comfortably in a duel.
"This is hopeless," he groaned, frustration tightening in his chest. The system had done its job perfectly, but the designs themselves were trapped in old-fashioned thinking.
The interface blinked silently, waiting for his next command. Ron clenched his fists, determination hardening. This is only the beginning. If I can fix this, I can fix anything. First fashion, then music… then the world.