101: Muggle Gadgets

There were radios, televisions, and even a computer.

This last item especially surprised everyone.

Besides Hermione, who had seen and understood it, even Harry was seeing one for the first time.

After all, it was only 1991, and home computers had only started to become common in the early 1980s.

Most families hadn't even seen these things, let alone owned them.

"What are these?"

Ronald and Neville stared curiously at the items Ivan had taken out, having no clue what these two boxes were meant to do.

It wasn't surprising—after all, even Mr. Weasley had struggled with a simple rubber duck....

"Computer and television," Hermione replied, but her answer didn't bring any more understanding to their faces.

"Ivan, isn't this a bit too complicated?"

Hermione, familiar with the complexity of electronic devices, couldn't imagine how anyone in the wizarding world would grasp circuit diagrams, chips, or programming.

"Pfft~ Don't worry, I'm not asking anyone to build computers or televisions."

Ivan explained his plan: "I mean, we need to understand the functions of these Muggle inventions, then create magical equivalents that can serve similar purposes."

"Magic is a power of intent—it's not about replicating their methods but achieving the same results with our own."

"Without electricity or signals, can't we still watch TV?"

With that, Ivan waved his wand over the unplugged television.

The next moment, a burst of static filled the screen before two presenters appeared, reporting the latest British news.

"Merlin's beard!"

Harry and Hermione felt their entire worldview shaken.

They immediately moved forward, ignoring Ronald and Neville's bewilderment, inspecting the TV from every angle, trying to understand how it was possible.

No signal, no power—yet the news channel appeared on the screen.

Most astonishing of all was that Hogwarts' magic usually interfered with electronic devices.

Even something as simple as a digital watch wouldn't function properly on school grounds.

But now, Ivan had shattered that "common knowledge."

"This is magic," Ivan explained, "and it's also the power of willing something into reality."

He demonstrated the true essence of magic—not bound by principles or science.

As long as you believe it works, then it does.

There was no need for modifications or understanding internal mechanisms.

Ivan's approach was simple: "I don't need you to understand how it works; I need to know it will work."

Magic in the Harry Potter wizarding world could be summed up in a single phrase: the power of thought.

"Ivan!"

Ronald and Penelope spoke at the same time, and Neville also looked like he wanted to say something, but they beat him to it.

"Alright, go ahead," Ivan prompted.

"This...doesn't this violate the laws of the Ministry of Magic?" Ronald asked with a slight tremor in his voice.

His father was the head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, so he knew quite well that what Ivan did with the TV was technically illegal.

"Yes, it's illegal," Ivan replied without hesitation, understanding Ronald's concern.

In the Ministry of Magic's view, Muggle items weren't meant to blend into the wizarding world.

"Muggles have invented all kinds of transportation, yet wizards are still using flying brooms and enchanted carpets," Ivan continued. "If it were up to me, I'd charm a Muggle car to make it fly."

Ivan's words made Ronald's eyes widen slightly.

Gulp!

He wondered if Ivan might know more than he was letting on.

That mysterious first-year prophet of Hogwarts.

The older students may not have heard, but in Gryffindor, among Ronald, Harry, and other students in their year, Ivan's reputation for knowing things no one else did was well-known.

Everyone said Ivan had insight into everything.

"My dad has a flying magic car," Ronald admitted, lowering his head, feeling a bit ashamed.

He had just pointed out that Ivan was breaking the law, yet his own father knowingly did the same thing, which seemed even worse.

"In my opinion, prohibiting the use of Muggle items is one of the most unreasonable rules," Ivan said calmly.

He didn't understand how wizards could possibly "abuse" Muggle items when they barely needed them. Wizards who acquired Muggle items would, like Mr. Weasley, usually enchant them, adding magical elements to make them more useful.

In Ivan's eyes, the real beneficiaries of this law were the traditional manufacturers and investors in the wizarding world. Fresh innovations from the Muggle world could potentially disrupt the local magical market.

Think about it—with a flying car, even if it couldn't replace the flying broom, it might at least give the magic carpet some competition, right?

"Yeah," Ronald nodded. "My father and our family actually like Muggle stuff."

"But if we do all this, won't the Ministry of Magic notice?" he asked, clearly concerned.

"Good question," Ivan replied, moving a little closer to Ronald.

He wanted to test out just how far Ronald's loyalty to old wizarding traditions and the Ministry's rules really went.

Neville, on the other hand, was too reserved and likely wouldn't be suitable for this kind of questioning.

"So~ we just need to be more discreet~" Ivan explained, telling everyone that their transformations and research would remain within their group and wouldn't be shared publicly.

That way, as long as they weren't discovered by the Ministry of Magic, they wouldn't technically be breaking any laws, right?

"…"

"Or are you scared?"

"What?!"

It was a simple challenge, but exactly the kind of provocation a group of young wizards couldn't resist.

"I'm not afraid!" Ronald, brimming with bravado, replied, "My father is the head of the Office for the Prohibition of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts. He won't catch us."

Mr. Weasley was known as a compassionate wizard. Even if he somehow discovered that Ivan and the others were experimenting with Muggle items, he'd likely turn a blind eye—especially with Harry and his own son involved.

Besides, Mr. Weasley was more intrigued by Muggle inventions than dedicated to enforcing the Ministry's rules.

Supporting creative young minds like Ivan and Hermione would be a priority for him over any Ministry regulations.

"Excellent!" Ivan praised, applauding their spirit. "I'll handle the modifications. Your job is to help me test the performance of these items so I can find any flaws and improve them."

Modifying Muggle objects required powerful magic, and the more complex the object, the higher the magical skill needed from the wizard.

Of the group present, only Penelope could manage basic modifications to some simple Muggle items besides Ivan.

Transforming Muggle objects wasn't a serious crime.

At least, the young wizards found it easy enough to accept.

Young people are naturally rebellious, often enjoying things a bit out of the ordinary. The law might forbid it, but that only made them more eager to try!

They wouldn't dare commit serious crimes, but studying and modifying small objects in secret? What was there to fear?

"Next, let's begin today's spell training."

"Ronald wants to learn dueling techniques, so he can stay with us. If he doesn't want to, he can head back early."

"Dueling?! Y-Yeah!!"

Ronald was instantly alert at the mention of dueling.

Seeing his enthusiasm, Ivan had Harry tutor Ronald in the basics while he spoke to Penelope and Hermione about the upcoming Christmas holiday.

"Will you be going home for Christmas?"

Ivan replied, "Hermione and I will be leaving school."

"Me too."

Christmas is the most important holiday for both the people from the wizarding world and the muggle world.

Hogwarts would have a two-week holiday break, and Ivan planned to use this time to address the setup of their base in the Muggle world.

"Is there anything I can help with?" Penelope asked.

"I've been waiting for you to ask," Ivan said with a slight smile. "It's a rare chance. Want to get a feel for the role of a secretary?"

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