Oliver didn't sleep for long.
The hum of the crystal sphere filled the lab like a lullaby, steady and low, a sound that resonated not in the air but in his bones. When he finally stirred, it was with the dazed awareness that something fundamental had shifted. His eyes fluttered open, the sapphire glow still blazing across the walls, the etched runes gleaming faintly where he'd burned them into the surface.
For a moment he simply sat there, half-slumped against the warm stone floor, his head tilted against the smooth side of the crystal. It was warm, alive almost, as though it was breathing alongside him.
Nyx was curled in chick-form atop his chest, her feathers glittering faintly, her body rising and falling in rhythm with his. She stirred when he did, chirping softly as if reminding him that she, too, had poured herself into this creation.
Oliver inhaled sharply. His eyes opened fully, and he remembered the threads.
He sat up too quickly, making the room spin, but he forced himself upright and switched on his magical eyes.
The world flared.
The crystal's interior was a galaxy of light, swirling like slow-moving constellations. From it extended hundreds of faint threads—some no thicker than spider silk, others pulsing brighter. They stretched out across the room, curling through shelves, snaking toward the crude devices he had scattered on a table.
The phones.
Oliver's throat tightened. He stumbled toward them, grabbing two with shaking hands, fumbling as though he'd never seen them before. The threads glowed brighter as he touched them, a subtle hum sparking in his fingers.
"They're connected…" His voice cracked with awe. "You're… you're the hub."
The thought rooted deep. The crystal wasn't just a lump of condensed magic—it was a beacon. A nexus. A tower in its own right, binding together every shard of Nyx's essence.
Oliver felt the excitement bubbling up again, fierce enough to burn away exhaustion. He began testing, dialing one device with another, running his voice through the crystal's resonance. Each test was stronger, clearer, more stable. The runes he'd carved the night before had already begun amplifying the effect, turning something accidental into something controlled.
But it wasn't enough. He needed proof that the range wasn't limited to the confines of the suitcase.
Oliver chewed his lip, pacing. His clones had given him the idea of synchronization, of stretching himself thin across several magical channels. But now? Now he needed distance.
"Hagrid," he whispered suddenly. His head snapped up.
Yes. He could trust Hagrid to watch the crystal, to keep it safe, and—more importantly—to test the phone from far away.
The decision was made. He bundled one of the prototype phones into a leather pouch, pocketed another, and strapped his wand to his side. Nyx fluttered to his shoulder, her down glowing faintly as if she knew what was coming.
They left the suitcase with a single thought, Oliver striding quickly through the empty classroom where his suitcase had been stationed, then down the corridor toward the grounds. By the time he pushed through the front doors of Hogwarts and crossed the dewy grass toward Hagrid's hut, his heart was pounding with both nerves and anticipation.
Hagrid answered at once, opening the door wide with a steaming mug in hand. "Oliver! Didn't expect yeh this early." His brow furrowed when he caught sight of Oliver's flushed, excited face. "What's wrong? Yeh look like yeh've seen a ghost."
"Not a ghost," Oliver panted. "A… a miracle."
He barged inside, tugging the pouch free and setting the prototype down on Hagrid's cluttered table. Fang whined in curiosity, his jowls brushing the device before Hagrid pushed him gently aside.
"What's this, then?" Hagrid asked, peering.
"An experiment," Oliver said quickly. "Something I need you to help me test. It's… it's like a… a talking stone, except not just a stone. It's a phone. I'll explain later, I promise, but right now—I need you to hold onto this."
He pressed the phone into Hagrid's broad hand, closing the half-giant's fingers over it.
Hagrid looked skeptical. "Feels like any old rock t'me."
"It isn't. If it rings—if it makes a noise—I need you to press this rune, here, and then talk into it." Oliver pointed with trembling fingers. "Just say something—anything. I'll hear you. And I'll answer."
Hagrid blinked at him, clearly baffled, but nodded slowly. "A'right. I'll play along. Not sure what yer up to, but I trust yeh."
Oliver grinned despite his racing heart. "Thank you."
Nyx fluttered her wings, chirping. Oliver stroked her head once before turning toward the door. "Stay here with it," he said over his shoulder. "Don't leave it. Please."
"I won't," Hagrid promised. "Though I dunno what's got yeh so worked up."
Oliver didn't answer. He sprinted from the hut, his heart hammering so loud he thought the whole castle could hear.
Outside, he summoned Nyx's fire with a whispered word. The chick shivered once, then burst into pale flame, wrapping Oliver in a cocoon of starlight. The world yanked away in a rush of pressure and light—
—and the next instant, he staggered onto polished stone floors inside the Flamels' French residence.
The air smelled faintly of lavender and parchment, the scent of ink and old books. Oliver blinked as his vision adjusted, realizing he'd appeared just inside the study.
Nick and Penny were seated at a grand oak desk, letters and scrolls scattered before them. Both looked up in alarm at his sudden arrival.
"Oliver?" Penny exclaimed, half-rising. "You nearly gave me a heart attack, popping in like that!"
"Grandson," Nick said, more measured but equally surprised. "Is something wrong?"
Oliver shook his head rapidly, clutching the prototype phone against his chest. "No—no, it's not wrong, it's—it's incredible. I need your help. Please."
The Flamels exchanged a look, then Penny gestured him closer. "Sit down before you collapse, Oliver. Tell us what's going on."
Oliver dropped into the chair opposite them, laying the phone carefully on the desk as though it were a priceless artifact. His hands trembled with excitement.
"I think… I think I've done it," he said breathlessly. "I think I've made it work."
Nick's brows furrowed. "Made what work?"
"The phones," Oliver said. He pushed the device forward. "They connect. Through the crystal I made—the big one. It's acting like… like a tower. A hub. It links them all together. But I need to prove it works at distance. Real distance."
Penny leaned forward, curiosity sparking in her sharp eyes. "And how far are you thinking?"
Oliver swallowed, excitement buzzing in his veins. "About two thousand kilometers."
For the first time in decades, Nicholas Flamel's composure cracked. His eyes widened, his lips parting in shock. "Two… thousand?"
Oliver nodded fiercely. "Hogwarts to here."
Penny blinked. Then she laughed once, incredulous, shaking her head. "Oliver, do you realize what you're saying? That kind of range is—"
"Impossible," Nick finished, his voice reverent.
Oliver smiled, wide and unguarded. "Not anymore."
He pulled his wand free, pressing the activation rune on the phone. The little device hummed, glowing faintly as the connection sought its pair. Oliver's breath caught as the line pulsed—once, twice—
Then a faint ring echoed from within the device.
Nick and Penny leaned forward, their hands flat on the desk, their eyes fixed on the phone as if it might sprout wings.
A moment later, a familiar voice boomed through, slightly muffled but unmistakable.
"Hallo? Oliver? Can yeh hear me?"
Oliver's grin nearly split his face. He grabbed the phone, pressing it to his ear. "Hagrid! Yes, I can hear you! Perfectly! Can you hear me?"
There was a pause, then Hagrid's astonished laugh. "Clear as a bell! Merlin's beard, Oliver, what've yeh built?"
Oliver threw back his head and laughed, the sound bubbling out of him like he was a child again. He looked at Nick and Penny, his eyes shining, and repeated, "It works."
The Flamels stared at him, stunned into silence, until Penny finally reached across the desk and squeezed his hand.
"My brilliant boy," she whispered. "You've just changed everything."
The air in France was cool and smelled faintly of lavender and woodsmoke as Oliver stumbled into the Flamels' parlor, still a little winded from the magical strain of his crystallization experiment. Nyx, perched lightly on his shoulder in her half-mature chick form, gave a single sharp chirp that echoed through the old stone house, startling Penny, who was bent over a stack of parchment. Nick looked up from his own quill scratching with brows raised, his eyes already narrowing in curiosity.
"Oliver," Penny gasped, tucking away the letter she had been drafting. "You nearly gave me a heart attack. What are you doing barging in like this?"
Oliver's grin stretched wide across his face, boyish and unrestrained. He half-stumbled toward them, fumbling a phone prototype from his robes as if he couldn't get the words out fast enough. "It worked. I did it—no, better than I ever imagined. I just called Hagrid from here."
Nick slowly set his quill down. "From here?" he asked carefully. "You mean… you connected to Hogwarts?"
"Nearly two thousand kilometers," Oliver said, breathless with excitement. "Clear voice, barely any static. Like he was sitting in the next room."
Penny's eyes widened, and then, as the truth settled, her hand shot to her mouth. "Sweet Merlin…" she whispered.
Nick stood, his age-stiff joints creaking, though his mind was suddenly sharp with alarm and awe. "Oliver, calm yourself. Start from the beginning. Show us."
Oliver thrust the small, rough-edged device into Nick's hands, then grabbed its pair and dialed Hagrid's number with trembling fingers. The phone trilled twice, and then the gruff but warm voice of the half-giant rumbled through the crystal speaker.
"Oliver? That you? I can hear ye plain as day."
Oliver let out an involuntary cheer, punching the air. "Yes! Yes, it's working perfectly!"
Nick and Penny leaned close, both exchanging a look over the device. It wasn't just a boy's toy anymore—it was proof of something greater.
"Thank you, Hagrid," Oliver said breathlessly into the receiver. "I'll explain everything later. For now, just… thank you." He ended the call with a decisive snap and turned to his grandparents, his chest heaving.
Penny looked at him with stunned pride. "You… you've done something no wizard or witch has managed in a thousand years of magical invention."
Nick's eyes glimmered. "He's just rewritten the rules of communication."
Oliver's excitement sobered as he realized the weight of their stares. He sat down quickly, Nyx hopping from his shoulder to his hair, as though grounding him. "That's why I came here right away. I need to figure out what this means. Not just for me—for everyone."
Nick folded his arms, his alchemist's gaze dissecting Oliver like he was one of his experiments. "So tell us, Oliver. What exactly is your vision?"
Oliver swallowed, then smiled faintly. "I don't want this to be something that only the rich can afford. I want a system where everyone can communicate—families, friends, even strangers—because I know what it's like to feel alone. Phones should be… for everyone."
Penny leaned forward, eyes soft. "And yet you were already sketching different tiers, weren't you? I can see it in your face."
Oliver's grin widened a little sheepishly. "Yes. I thought about it, and… the truth is, not everyone will buy the same phone. Some people need the cheapest option. Some will pay more for extra range. And the very wealthy or the government—they'll want the best, even if it costs a fortune."
Nick sat back slowly. "Ah. So you're designing not just a device… but an economy."
Oliver nodded, determination beginning to set in. He picked up a scrap of parchment and began drawing rough shapes of phones with different rune markings. "Here's how I thought of it:
Tier One—the basic phone. Half a galleon, connects to any phone within about five hundred kilometers. Perfect for everyday families, students, emergency calls. It won't touch the Crystal Network—it's meant for local use. Affordable, accessible, no one left out.
Tier Two—better materials, enhanced runes, access to the Crystal Network. That means cross-continental communication. Five galleons upfront, then a small subscription—five knuts a month. Enough that it sustains itself, but cheap enough most families can manage.
Tier Three—crafted with premium materials, runes layered for stability across global networks. Dragon hide, gold inlays, protective enchantments. This will be for government officials, the wealthy, businesses. Fifty galleons each, plus one galleon a month. Those who need constant worldwide communication can afford it, and in paying, they keep the whole network afloat."
Nick raised a brow. "And Tier Four?"
Oliver hesitated, then drew a small ornate shape and tapped it lightly. His smile this time was softer, almost secretive. "Tier Four will be special. Handmade by me, customized. Either free for people I care about… or expensive beyond reason for those who think money can buy everything. But I won't mass-produce them."
Penny leaned back, stunned and moved in equal measure. "You're… creating an entire industry."
Oliver's grin faltered into something more thoughtful. He looked down at his rough sketches and then up again, his eyes bright. "It's more than that. I've been poor my whole life. I know what it's like to have nothing, to feel powerless. If I control this—if I make sure the base model is cheap, if I hold the power to cut off the greedy—I can make sure no one ever feels like I did. And I can protect people. Even if I only sold one phone, the subscription keeps food on the table. Passive income means I'll never be at the mercy of someone else again."
Nick was silent for a long moment, his ancient mind parsing through centuries of trade and invention. Finally, he said quietly, "You realize what you're proposing, Oliver. This isn't just invention. This is monopoly."
Oliver met his eyes with a steadiness that startled even himself. "Good. Then no one else can corrupt it. If I hold the network, I can keep it fair. Governments will line up to work with me because they'll have no choice. And if the rich refuse to pay the subscription?" His grin sharpened just slightly. "Then their phone goes back to Tier One. Let them live like the rest of us."
Penny clapped a hand over her mouth, half in horror, half in pride. "You sly, brilliant boy."
Oliver chuckled weakly, leaning back in his chair. "I don't want to be cruel. But I do want to make sure this doesn't turn into another way the rich get richer and everyone else is left behind."
Nick stroked his beard, his alchemist's mind already racing. "It's ruthless… but balanced. And you're right. With this, governments will bend over backwards to support you. The French ministry, the British, even MACUSA—they'll all fight to be the first in line. You'll be an asset they cannot afford to lose."
Oliver's grin widened, though there was still something boyish and humble in it. "Exactly. For once, I want to be the one holding the cards. Not the ministry, not pureblood families, not even Voldemort. Me."
Nyx chirped approvingly from his head, as though the phoenix herself was endorsing his ambition.
Penny reached over and squeezed Oliver's hand, her eyes glistening. "Promise me one thing, Oliver. Promise me you'll always remember why you started this. Not power, not revenge. But connection."
Oliver's smile softened. "I promise. Phones aren't just machines. They're bridges. And bridges should be for everyone."
The conversation carried on for hours. Oliver sketched and explained, Nick added refinements, Penny fretted about ethics and burst with pride in equal measure. By the time midnight struck, Oliver had collapsed into his chair, parchment scattered around him like fallen leaves.
Nick and Penny exchanged a look over their grandson's bowed head. There was exhaustion written in every line of him, but also pride, determination, and something else—destiny.
"This boy," Penny whispered, her voice hushed as though afraid to break the spell, "he's not just our grandson. He's going to change the world."
Nick nodded solemnly, his gaze lingering on the blueprints glowing faintly under the candlelight. "And heaven help the world if it tries to stop him."