Harry Potter : Reincarnated as The Greatest Wizard

Chapter 79 - Monocle

Filled with pride, Alex nodded, "Thank you for everything, Professor Bones. I couldn't have come this far without your guidance."

"Ha! Don't be modest," the professor chuckled. "Without your brilliant idea, we'd have never uncovered such a unique rune."

Alex took a thoughtful pause before proposing, "My vision is to create a pair of glasses using polished crystal lenses with Ur Bronze as the frames. What do you think?"

"Excellent choice," Professor Bones agreed. "Circular lenses would allow the runes to form a ring around the frame, emphasizing the crystalline effect."

"Let's make a monocle, then," Alex suggested, "with one lens for echo imaging and the other for normal sight."

"Clever idea," the professor said with a smile. "The materials aren't difficult to find. I'll gather them, and you can practice engraving the runes in the meantime. I'll call for you when everything is ready."

Touched by the professor's support, Alex expressed his gratitude. "Thank you so much, Professor. I can't begin to explain how much your help means to me."

The professor waved it off with a smile. "No need to thank me. We accomplished this together, and I value that immensely. I'll prepare two sets of materials so you can make one for me, as well."

In the following days, Alex spent every free moment practicing rune work. The echolocation charm was fairly simple, using two sets of runes, but combining them correctly took a lot of focus. At first, he found it difficult, but with steady practice, he started to get the hang of it. His hands grew more skilled at engraving, and as his muscles remembered the movements, he could guide the magic more accurately. This helped him make faster progress, and his success rate kept improving.

At Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Professor Bones approached Alex after class, saying, "The materials are ready. We can start tonight."

Holding back his excitement, Alex went straight to his hut to practice one last time, determined to be as ready as possible. Even Charles, who had come to train with him, was kindly asked to leave so Alex could focus fully. That evening, Alex arrived at Professor Bones' office. "Let's get started," he said with a confident smile.

The professor revealed the prepared materials: two elegant monocle frames made of dark copper, each holding a polished, flat crystal lens. Thin copper chains were attached to the frames, giving them a simple but elegant look. "Recently, I've been practicing drawing a very small rune to prepare for this. I hope it goes well," Alex said with a grin.

Professor Bones chuckled, "Don't overthink it. Remember, we're wizards! The materials can adapt to us, not the other way around."

With a flick of his wand, Professor Bones cast a magnification spell on one of the lenses, expanding it to the size of a small disk. Alex, having overlooked this option, laughed, realizing his mistake.

"This spell will last over half an hour," Professor Bones instructed. "You'll practice on a wooden disk of the same size first, then we'll magnify the lens again for your final inscription."

Following the professor's advice, Alex began practicing on a wooden piece, though his first attempt failed due to the difficulty of maintaining spacing on the curved surface. But on his second try, he succeeded within half an hour, his fingers remembering the rune pattern from countless repetitions.

"Very good, then let's officially begin," Professor Bones said with a pleased smile.

Alex nodded, adjusting his grip on the dark-handled engraving knife as Professor Bones cast a magnifying charm on his monocle. The spectacle frame Alex was working on expanded in size before his eyes, revealing every tiny detail. He took a deep breath, clearing his mind and sharpening his focus, keeping his hand steady as he started carving. Professor Bones stood nearby, quietly watching.

For Alex, the half-hour of careful engraving was both exhausting and exhilarating. Tons of practice and steadying his emotions meant he rarely felt rattled, but under the time pressure, the question, 'Will there be enough time?' flickered through his thoughts now and then. Even with these lingering concerns, he kept his hands steady, not allowing his focus to falter.

Finally, with a sigh of relief, Alex set down the spectacle frame and the knife, wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead. "Phew, it's done!" he said, feeling a rush of satisfaction. Though it was his first time working on a real alchemical item, he hadn't made a single mistake.

"Well done! Go on, try it out yourself!" Professor Bones encouraged, visibly pleased.

Alex nodded and carefully placed the monocle over his right eye, adjusting it until it fit comfortably. Then, lifting his wand, he whispered the Echo Charm. Instantly, a faint ripple spread from his eye, outlining every object in the room with soft, glowing edges.

He closed his left eye, and the view at the monocle became even sharper. His vision shifted into a world of dark blue and gray, where everything was made up of gentle lines and shifting waves. "How is it?" Professor Bones asked.

"It's incredible," Alex replied, smiling as he removed the monocle and handed it over to Professor Bones. "You've got to try it yourself."

Professor Bones eagerly tried it on, his expression changed to one of awe as he experienced the unique perspective for himself. "It's fascinating," he murmured. "These ripples flowing along the walls and objects—are these the sound waves you mentioned?"

Alex nodded, suppressing a grin. "Yes, even I didn't expect it to work this well!"

Professor Bones chuckled. "Well done, Alex! But we still have one more to engrave. Take a break, have some water, and let's continue."

Alex nodded, taking a few moments to regain his energy before starting on the second monocle. The engraving went smoother this time, with his earlier success easing any worries he'd had. Soon, he finished the second piece without a hitch.

With both monocles now complete, Alex and Professor Bones couldn't resist testing them together. Like two kids with a new toy, they excitedly dashed out of the office to try the enchanted glasses in different areas of Hogwarts.

As Alex cast the Echo Charm repeatedly, the two explored every nook and cranny within their monocles' reach. They marveled at the details that unfolded: from the crevices in the corridor stones to the distant flicker of a hidden owl in the rafters. They even spotted a couple secretly cuddling in a quiet corner and glimpsed Filch patrolling two floors away, entirely unaware of their observation.

The Echo Charm's range was vast, allowing them to see through sound waves up to 100 meters away. Professor Bones laughed, clearly enchanted by the experience. "The more I see, the more amazing this becomes. Alex, thank you for this—this is such a delightful surprise at my age."

Alex grinned. "Thank you, Professor. Without your guidance, I'd never succeed."