Harry thought he was at a high level and that Ron had only practiced for a few days at most, so he could easily win. But when they actually fought, he realized that Ron's skill level was also quite high.
His initial underestimation of his opponent cost him the initiative. Gryffindor was already surrounded by the Werewolf, and a high-damage combo instantly took away most of Harry's health. Even after creating distance and repeatedly chipping away at his health, Harry was ultimately powerless to turn the tide.
Ron admired the victory sign on the screen, crossed his arms, and couldn't help but smirk. "Did you see my combo, Harry? I'm not the Ron I used to be."
He looked around, hoping that more people would see his triumphant moment, but unfortunately, with so many camera positions on the second floor, no one gathered behind them; instead, a large group of people huddled in a corner.
Harry raised his hands in surrender. "That's impressive. Let's settle this once we get back to Hogwarts."
Hermione wasn't interested in that. "What are they doing over there?"
Harry looked in the direction Hermione was staring and saw a large crowd gathered in the corner, with some people even trying to squeeze in.
As the three most mischievous and curious children at Hogwarts, they exchanged glances, said nothing, and tacitly got up and moved closer.
Wow, arcade machines can be used like this?
"Suddenly, I realize we've only reached less than one percent of the potential of the Magic Mobile Phone."
"That's a really good drawing! Is that Ella and Knarl?"
Harry stood on tiptoe, straining to see into the center of the crowd. Due to the obstructed view, he could only see a beautiful picture on the screen being altered and gradually transformed into something he could never hope to reach.
What is this? Is Director Lorne sketching here?
In Harry's mind, the person who could use the Magic Mobile Phone so skillfully and create such a finished product must be someone from inside the Magic Mobile Phone shop. Even though Director Lorne had never told him where the game's artwork came from, Harry knew it must be a completely new technology.
But when Harry saw the person sitting in front of the arcade machine, he couldn't help but exclaim in shock, " Dean?"
Dean turned around when he heard his name called, saw Harry at the back of the crowd, smiled, waved, and went back to drawing.
Harry was still in shock.
He noticed that Dean was using his own wand to draw on the slate.
Dean didn't even own Magic Mobile Phone before the Christmas holidays, so how come he can now draw so skillfully on the arcade machine after only a week? Did Director Lorne give him some special training?
That doesn't make sense either. Director Lorne has been at Hogwarts the whole time, but Dean is on holiday and has gone home.
In that instant, Harry felt a sudden chill run through him, as if time itself had lost its favor. Had the technology of the Magic Mobile Phone truly progressed from mere play to mere creation in the blink of an eye? And he, despite being treated so kindly by Director Lorne, was he about to be left behind by the times?
Hermione, who wasn't as tall as Harry, asked anxiously, "Is that Dean we know? What's he doing in there? Why are so many people gathered around?"
"He's painting," Harry replied mechanically, still not fully conscious, "With his wand and his Magic Mobile Phone."
Hermione, still puzzled by the first part of the sentence, thought it was perfectly normal for Dean to draw. She often saw Dean drawing Hogwarts scenery in the common room or illustrating textbooks; his drawing skills were among the best in Hogwarts.
It wasn't until the wand and the Magic Mobile Phone appeared that Hermione couldn't help but frown. "Is it some new technology? Has Dean joined Director Lorne's team?"
Harry shook his head. "He used an arcade machine and his own wand. I feel like we've missed something, Hermione."
Ron suddenly spoke up, "Don't you know? It was Dean who drew my portrait. He made a lot of Galleon from it during his vacation, almost enough to buy a Magic Mobile Phone... Do you think Director Lorne might make an exception and recruit him early because of this?"
"After all, he was using creative mode on the Magic Mobile Phone."
Ron's last words jolted Harry awake. Yes, he had always thought that only Director Lorne had the authority to create and modify things on the Magic Mobile Phone. And now, Dean, who usually slept across from him, had quietly learned these skills as well. Although it wasn't game or software development yet, being able to create artwork freely already meant that he had the most basic abilities.
At least on the Magic Mobile Phone, he wasn't just passively receiving information; he started to generate output.
Previously, when Director Lorne publicly updated the game and open-sourced the game's storage and update methods, Harry didn't take it seriously, believing that no one but the creator could understand the profound nature of the Magic Mobile Phone. Little did he expect that only a few months later, people would already be venturing into this area.
Ron, seeing Harry deep in thought, said in a low voice, "A Dean portrait costs a lot. If you want one, you can buy a simplified version."
Harry's lips twitched. " Ron, seeing your dad build an airplane, don't you want to learn how?"
"What are you going to learn? Fly a plane? I already told you it can autopilot."
"..."
"I mean, don't you want to invent something? Dean has mastered skills that none of us possess. Don't you want to create a game on the Magic Mobile Phone?"
Ron's eyes widened. "You mean... Wizard's Chess?"
Harry let out a heavy sigh. He was at a loss for words after hearing Ron's advice. Hermione glanced at him and pointed to the floor beneath her feet. Harry instantly understood what she meant.
basement.
Downstairs, Lorne stood at the front desk, taking the stone tablet from a seventh-grade student—the one from which he had inscribed Magic Power Matrix at school—and examining it carefully.
"The lines are smooth... Pass. You submitted three in total. You can receive a Magic Mobile Phone or cash," Lorne checked a box next to a name on the form. " Ruchel, you received four stone tablets in total, a success rate of 75%."
"I want the Magic Mobile Phone, Master." Ruchel was very excited. He stood there anxiously until he received a brand new Magic Mobile Phone and a card with his name engraved on it from Lorne.
Ruchel held up the card in confusion. "What's this, Director?"
"A card that records your success rate," Lorne looked up, his pen still scribbling. "With this card, you can work at any Magic Mobile Phone shop after graduation. The details are on the card."
While the Engraving Charm wasn't particularly difficult, the Magic Power Matrix was completely new knowledge. So, during this Hogsmeade Week, only Ruchel completed the task. Seeing that there was no one else behind him, he simply stood still and began reading the cards.
"This card is issued to each person and has a unique ID. It is non-transferable... Anyone who obtains this card can work as a copyist at the Magic Mobile Phone Shop, regardless of their background or race... Wait, race? Besides wizards, are there other races that can work here?"
"Something like Werewolf would also work."
Ruchel suddenly became excited. " Werewolf too? Aren't there potential risks involved? They have to take several days off during the full moon, won't that interfere with their work?"
Lorne said doubtfully, "Luchel, you seem to know a lot about werewolves."
"Yes, Director, I have a cousin who was unfortunately bitten by Werewolf a few years ago and has been unemployed ever since," Ruchel said, her voice rising with excitement. "She's always loved Magic Mobile Phone Magic Mobile Phone. I know nothing about them because of her. She said she participated in the first Street Wizard Fighter Competition and even came in second place."
"I don't know if you still remember her, Director, her name is Lucille."