The air in the Gryffindor common room was filled with the warm, dry scent of parchment, old books, and burning wood. The fire in the hearth leapt tirelessly, casting flickering shadows across every young, curious face.
Tonight, this space was no longer just a post-class retreat. It was charged with an invisible, expectant energy.
The first prototype demonstration of the Hogwarts Magical Maker Workshop was about to begin, informally, in this warm crimson glow.
Alan Scott, the center of all this excitement, calmly laid out a dozen or so fully-debugged glowing cubes on the carpet. They looked simple, almost mundane , like a pile of forgotten, unpolished magical stones. Beside them lay several cards covered in unfamiliar runes.
"Everyone, look!"
Lee Jordan volunteered, stepping up onto the stone platform in front of the hearth. He spread his arms, speaking with the excitement and fervor of a Quidditch final commentator, addressing the growing crowd around him.
"Next!"
His voice echoed beneath the arched ceiling.
"This is the moment to witness a miracle!"
"Behold the revolutionary, programmable magical toy, invented by our brilliant Alan Scott , the Light and Shadow Matrix!"
All eyes immediately focused on the display. Curiosity, scrutiny, anticipation , a mix of emotions rippled through the crowd.
Under their gaze, Alan remained calm. His movements were precise and steady, like performing a delicate potion. He reached out, and the dozen simple cubes lifted lightly into the air, forming a floating matrix.
Then, he picked up the first command card.
Etched onto it in ancient runes was a single word:
"Activate."
Alan whispered it softly.
Buzz.
A faint resonance sounded.
In that instant, all the cubes lit up with a soft, moonlit white glow. They hovered silently, illuminating the shadows that the fireplace's light could not reach. Each onlooker saw a miniature sea of light reflected in their eyes.
A low murmur of awe spread through the crowd.
And this was just the beginning.
Alan picked up the second command card.
This card bore no words, only a simple line drawing of a robed figure.
The moment it was raised, the glowing cubes above responded immediately.
Light and shadow began their dance.
Some cubes dimmed, sinking into darkness, while others remained bright. The bright and dark cubes reorganized with astonishing precision, forming , in midair, with pure pixel-like fidelity , the figure on the card.
A robed figure with greasy, iconic long hair: Professor Snape in simplified pixel form!
"Wow!"
A ripple of awe burst from the crowd.
Everyone recognized the distinctive silhouette , the figure that made them tremble in Potions class. Seeing their head of house this way was at once novel and slightly taboo.
But it wasn't over.
A subtle smile crossed Alan's face. He picked up the third, and most crucial, command card.
On it was a single word:
"Walk."
The miracle truly began.
In midair, the pixelated Snape suddenly moved.
The cubes forming his "legs" lit and dimmed rhythmically. The alternating flashes created an undeniable visual illusion.
The pixel figure was walking in midair , taking long, purposeful strides, as if about to storm into the dungeons for potion-making the next second , and yet, it stayed perfectly in place, stepping tirelessly, resolutely, again and again.
The entire Gryffindor common room sank into a heavy, almost suffocating silence.
Everyone's eyes widened, mouths slightly open, their brains momentarily unable to process the absurdity and hilarity of what they were witnessing.
"Pffft, "
Somewhere, someone couldn't hold it in and let out a strangled, snorting laugh.
That single sound acted like a fuse, igniting a powder keg instantly.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
"Pffhahaha, ha ha ha ha ha!"
After that brief pause, the common room erupted into uncontrollable, earth-shaking laughter.
The laughter was so intense, it seemed as if it could shake the very towers of Gryffindor.
Ron Weasley laughed the hardest, clutching his stomach, his body convulsing so violently that he tumbled off the soft sofa and onto the carpet, rolling helplessly as his laughter echoed through the room.
This novel, infinitely creative toy had, at that moment, completely unleashed its charm.
It was more than a toy.
It was a form of expression, a tool for creation, and even carried a hint of playful irreverence toward the professors , a student's mischief built right into it.
Its layered appeal immediately captured the hearts of every student present.
"Alan!"
A voice cut through the ocean of laughter.
Angelina Johnson, captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, was the first to rush forward. Her face flushed with excitement, her eyes shining brighter than ever before.
"This is so cool! Really, so cool!"
She spoke rapidly, practically stumbling over her words.
"Could you, like, design some special modules for us so it can form tactical formations for Quidditch?"
Her teammates, Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet, quickly squeezed in beside her, faces equally excited and expectant, nodding vigorously in agreement with their captain.
This successful demonstration was like a meteor crashing into a still lake, sending concentric ripples of excitement radiating outward , first through Gryffindor, then across the entire student body of Hogwarts.
The Light and Shadow Matrix, still not officially on the market, had already, that night, claimed its spot as the "Most Popular Magical Toy of the Year."
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