"Alright, then let's officially begin," Professor Bones said with a relieved smile, watching Alan's steady hand.
"Mhm," Alan nodded.
Professor Bones cast an Enlargement Charm on the second monocle, and Alan carefully raised the carving knife to begin working on the expanded frame. His focus allowed him to clear his mind, concentrating entirely on the fine lines of the runes. Beside him, Professor Bones remained perfectly still, ensuring he didn't disturb the delicate process.
In Alan's perception, the half-hour felt like an eternity. After so many practice runs, his emotions no longer wavered. The nagging thought of the time limit occasionally flickered in the back of his mind—*will there be enough time?*—but his hands never lost their steadiness.
"Whew, it's done!" Alan finally put down the carving knife and the frame, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead. Although it was his first time operating on a functional alchemical tool, he had executed the sequence flawlessly.
"Good! Try it yourself!" Professor Bones was just as excited, urging Alan to test the device immediately.
"Mhm!" Alan cast a Finite Incantatem, returning the monocle to its original size. He gently picked it up, held it to his right eye, and clipped the lens into place. Then, he raised his wand and cast the Echo Spell.
In an instant, Alan's right eye perceived a ripple spreading outward, presenting a sharp outline of every object in the office. When he closed his left eye, the vision became even clearer; the world before him was transformed into a landscape of dark blue and gray-white lines.
"How is it?" Professor Bones asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
"It's amazing. You really should try it yourself," Alan said, removing the monocle and handing it to the Professor.
Bones took his turn, and a look of pure fascination crossed his face. "What a unique perspective! Are these constantly flowing ripples on the walls the sound waves you described?"
"That's right. Even I didn't expect the finished product to be this effective," Alan said, suppressing his own joy.
"Haha, don't get lazy now—there's still one more to carve. Take a short break, have some water, and we'll continue," Professor Bones laughed.
After a brief rest, Alan found his rhythm again. The second carving was much easier than the first; with a success already under his belt, his anxiety had vanished. He completed the operation smoothly.
Once both monocles were finished, neither could resist playing with them. They weren't satisfied with staying in the office and soon hurried into the corridor to test the range, looking very much like two children with new toys. Alan's wand continuously pulsed the Echo Charm as they observed their surroundings: the floors, the walls, and deep into the distance.
They spotted two students hiding in a dark corner for a clandestine meeting, a stray owl flying through the rafters, and Filch patrolling two floors away. The Echo Charm was powerful; with the two of them as the epicenter, they could "see" into any corner within a hundred-meter radius where sound could travel.
"The more I use it, the more remarkable it becomes. This is truly captivating, Alan. Thank you for letting me experience something so novel," Professor Bones said.
"You're too kind, Professor. If it weren't for your guidance, I wouldn't have been able to bridge the gap between the spell and the object," Alan replied.
"Don't be too modest. This achievement alone is enough to make a name for yourself in academic circles. Write a paper on it quickly; I'll help you submit it to the various journals," Bones reminded him.
"I will, but please allow me to include your name as a co-developer. We researched this together, after all," Alan said with a smile.
"Alright, but I can only be listed as the second author. You are the architect of this research," Bones insisted, not refusing the gesture but maintaining the proper credit.
As they celebrated the birth of the new charm, Professor Bones shared more about the global state of alchemy. He explained that the International Alchemy Research Center was headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, and that the British magical world currently held little influence in the field. The only prominent British scholar was Dumbledore, who had once won a gold award for groundbreaking contributions in Cairo, though the Headmaster had never dedicated himself fully to the craft.
Bones clearly thought highly of Alan, believing he had the potential to become a master. He encouraged him to delve deeper, suggesting that Alan might one day shine on the international stage. Hearing this, Alan felt a growing yearning to see the wizarding world beyond Britain's borders.
In the days following that night, Hogwarts residents noticed a new sight: both Professor Bones and Alan were wearing monocles. It left many students and faculty wondering if this was a bizarre new fashion trend.
"Let me see it, Alan! Is this some new trend?" Vivian asked, having quickly bounced back from her Quidditch disappointment. Seeing both a student and a professor wearing matching eyewear had piqued her curiosity.
"It's nothing, just a gift I made for Professor Bones. Maybe I'll make you something for Christmas too," Alan said. Vivian's constant pestering was becoming a bit much; he had to take the monocle off during some classes just to avoid being stared at.
"I don't want one for myself; I just want to try yours," she said. She tried to imagine herself wearing one every day and decided against it.
Reluctantly, Alan handed it over. Without the Echo Charm active, it was just a piece of plain, non-prescription glass.
"What is this? It's just normal glass," Vivian said, striking a pose in a nearby mirror. Realizing there was nothing visually special about it, her interest evaporated instantly. "Do you wear this just to look cool?"