Penwick

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For most of wizarding history, Muggle technology and magic did not mix. Magical atmospheres disrupted electrical currents, causing even the simplest devices to fail, or in extreme cases, combust entirely. For centuries, this was considered an immutable law of magic.

That changed in the year 2020, with the invention of the "Battery Charm". Developed by Alessandra Vitelli, an experimental charms researcher of the Collegium Arcanum, a renowned research fellowship in Florence founded in the 17th century, the spell was the first practical breakthrough in marrying muggle devices with magical energy. Vitelli's theory was deceptively simple: instead of trying to protect muggle batteries from interference, why not remove them entirely and replace the power source with channelled magic?

The spell, incantation "Voltaro", is cast within the space where a device's battery sits. The charm binds a portion of magical energy into the device, allowing it to function as if powered by electricity. When performed correctly, the magic fuels circuits in a stable way, mimicking the steady current of a muggle battery.

There are, however, limitations:

• The charm only works on devices that are purely battery-powered, and the muggle battery must be physically removed before casting, meaning devices like smartphones are significantly harder to power in this way as a result of their batteries being difficult to remove.
• The spell has no effect on wired electronics.
• A phone or tablet successfully charmed in this way will take photos, play music, or store notes, but it cannot connect to Wi-Fi or mobile towers, as the magical interference is still too great for the muggle technology to overcome.
• The charm is not everlasting, needing to be re-cast after a month or so.
• The spell makes the device no longer compatible with muggle batteries, leaving many who live or work in the muggle world to consider the use of this spell more heavily.

With these limitations, it is clear that more research is needed to create a stronger, more effective version of this spell. Some countries have entered a sort of arms race to find the breakthrough first, while others have begun passing legislation banning such research within their borders.

The creation of the Battery Charm has been hailed as a breakthrough, but also hotly debated. Traditionalists worry about creeping Muggle influence in wizarding spaces, while others celebrate it as a new age of collaboration. Still, the impact of the spell is undeniable. For the first time, young witches and wizards can sketch essays on glowing tablets, photograph their potion mishaps, or play Muggle games deep inside ancient castles.