The entire Wizarding World was like a boiling cauldron, filled with angry roars, curious whispers, and cautious analyses.
But no matter how piercing the opposition was, the proposal parchment bearing Lucius's signature had already been delivered by magical messengers to the fireplaces of every wizarding household, heralding the slow dawn of a brand-new and unknown era.
Ever since the proposal to introduce Muggle World technology had passed, Hogwarts, at the forefront of adopting Muggle Technological Creations, had undergone earth-shaking changes in just two short weeks.
When the first ray of morning sunlight pierced the thin mist over the Forbidden Forest, the spires of Hogwarts Castle gleamed with an unusual luster in the dawn light.
The new day had only just begun. As the sky gradually brightened, a soft click sounded through the corridors of Gryffindor Tower.
Hermione Granger instinctively stopped and watched the silver-gray lamp embedded among the carved stone patterns above her slowly light up.
It was not the flickering warm yellow of candlelight, but a steady, gentle white glow that flowed along the grooves of the stone walls, illuminating the open book in her hands perfectly.
"It lit up again." Ron Weasley's sleepy, muffled voice came from behind her. "What's with this stupid lamp? Last night, when I got up to use the bathroom, it followed me and lit up the whole way, like some ghost I couldn't shake off."
Hermione closed her book, her fingertips lightly brushing the faintly visible runes around the edge of the lamp.
Professor McGonagall had installed those sensor lamps the previous week alongside several Ministry of Magic officials. They were said to be a combination of Muggle technology and magic.
"This lamp can sense the heat of living creatures." She glanced up at it, the corners of her lips lifting slightly