Ian's face turned green.
"It hasn't stopped."
"Yes, I can see that. It's still breathing."
George pulled out the second wire.
"Now we should strangle it."
"You have such a nasty way with words."
The second snap sounded even sharper.
The dial jolted violently.
The ticking stopped.
The Jinx trigger nails around them went dark one after another.
The last wisp of green flame trembled in the air.
Then went out.
All four exhaled at once.
Ian hurriedly pressed the insulating adhesive into place.
"Is that enough?"
Fred wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
"Enough."
"Now it's just an ordinary piece of junk machinery."
The gray anti-magic field began to rise.
A faint light glowed at the tip of the wand again.
Melissa looked at the wand in her palm.
Her gaze still lingered on the machine from moments before.
"We really didn't use magic?"
"What bastard thought of using Muggle electricity to trigger Jinxes? What ordinary wizard would think of that? They'd only use magic to fight magic."
George and Fred exchanged a glance, feeling that today wasn't a good time to show off.
"The use of magic is built on individual understanding. Remember that."
George lowered his head to tidy the toolkit.
Fred looked into the distance and emphasized it.
"It'll come in handy after the exam, too."
An alchemical dummy stumbled out in the distance.
It wore Muggle work clothes.
A frightened expression was painted on its face.
A sign reading "Witness" hung on its chest.
The dummy shouted as it shook.
"An explosion!"
"Is anyone there?"
"Someone help me!"
Ian instinctively raised his wand.
Fred had already turned toward the wall.
An ordinary telephone sat there.
He picked up the receiver.
"Connect me to the emergency channel."
"This is simulated