In the Grangers' home, Loren finally met Hermione Jean Granger face to face—and with that, he confirmed the truth of the world.
The system still had pending notifications, but for the moment he didn't check them. Instead, he studied the little girl before him.
She had curly brown hair, warm brown eyes, and her signature buck teeth had not yet appeared—after all, she was still too young to have lost her baby teeth. Yet, even so, her appearance faintly resembled the image Loren remembered from the films of his past life.
Hermione, for her part, studied him as well—the boy who until now had been only a voice on the telephone.
While their parents settled into the living room to chat formally, Hermione took Loren by the hand and pulled him toward her room, eager for their own conversation.
The moment he stepped inside, Loren's eyes darted around curiously. It was a classic little girl's room: decorated with warmth and care, with a neat bookshelf tucked against one wall.
Hermione noticed where he was looking and smiled brightly.
"Loren, do you want to see my books? The ones on the shelf are the ones we already talked about. The box beside it has new ones I haven't read yet."
Her excitement made Loren chuckle. "It looks like you've kept our promise well. You really are my best friend."
At first, Loren had approached Hermione with a clear objective—to confirm this world and plan accordingly. But as their conversations deepened, he discovered her love for reading and her principled personality, both of which aligned well with his own tastes.
Orderly people, he thought, were far easier to get along with than those who thrived in chaos.
In fact, he realized that even if this had not turned out to be the *Harry Potter* world, he would have still chosen to remain friends with Hermione. It was rare to find a companion so bright and so steadfast.
Now, having seen her in person, Loren made a silent vow: Hermione was his friend for life. This wasn't some fleeting attraction—it was loyalty, chosen and certain.
"Yes," Hermione replied cheerfully, "we'll be best friends forever."
The two children spent the rest of the day chatting: about books they'd read, about hopes for the future. Loren, meanwhile, began to think ahead. If he could, he would gently influence Hermione, softening the arrogance and insecurity he remembered from the original story.
"Tsundere is outdated," he thought privately. "Childhood bonds—that's the path to happiness. And I'll shape my own future."
———— Divider ————
After dinner, the Angus family returned to their London home. Joel and Nona were quietly wrapped up in each other, exchanging tender words before their looming separation.
Loren, unimpressed, excused himself with a muttered, "I don't need extra food after supper—especially not dog food." He retreated to his room, where at last he opened the system's notifications.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have discovered the projection of the *Harry Potter* world. Do you accept the world's gift?"
"Yes / No."
Loren didn't hesitate. "Yes."
"Ding! World Gift activated."
"Ding! Detection complete—*Harry Potter* identified as a primary worldline. Host may select one of the following rewards:"
1. **First-Generation Wizard Talent**
You will awaken magical power as a first-generation wizard. Though your magical reserves are far less than those of hereditary wizards, your understanding of magical theory far surpasses them, and your mastery of spells will be unusually keen.
*(PS: Solve your mana shortage, and you'll be a perfect all-rounder.)*
2. **An Artifact of the Founders of Hogwarts (choose one):**
* **Sword of Gryffindor:** Attributes: Anti-magic, Durability, Sharpness. Can absorb magical energy to grow stronger, capable of destroying most magical objects.
*(PS: A true wizard should wield both wand and sword.)*
* **Hufflepuff's Cup:** Grants an endless supply of food and can update recipes on its own.
*(PS: How many cups do you want? One, two, or infinite?)*
* **Slytherin's Locket:** Hides your malice and conceals evil deeds.
*(PS: Congratulations, you now own a house in the Evil Alignment District.)*
* **Ravenclaw's Diadem:** Enhances wisdom, allowing swifter learning of spells.
*(PS: Think of it as an external brain. Your own personal old grandma—possibly an eccentric uncle.)*
3. **One of the Deathly Hallows:**
* **Elder Wand:** A wand of death, unmatched in power, loyal only to strength.
*(PS: Famously fickle. Before wielding it, make sure you're worthy—or it'll betray you.)*
* **Resurrection Stone:** Summons the shades of the dead. They cannot live again and their presence will burden your mind.
*(PS: Less useful for family reunions, more useful for making a virtual wife.)*
* **Invisibility Cloak:** Grants complete invisibility when worn.
*(PS: Ah! The Transparent Fruit—my lifelong dream! Sorry, wrong franchise—Sanji.)*
Loren's face tightened. He asked, "System, are these gifts ranked?"
"Ding! World Gifts depend on the strength of the projection. This reward comes from the *Harry Potter* projection, which includes both the novels and films. Completion is high, therefore rewards are abundant."
"And the basis for these prizes?"
"Ding! Rewards are tied directly to the projection encountered. For example: the First-Generation Wizard Talent is derived from your encounter with Hermione Jean Granger. The Founders' relics and the Hallows are iconic treasures of the world."
"So my available rewards depend on both projections and my own actions?"
"Ding! Correct, Host."
"Then… are these copies or the actual items?"
"Ding! Talents and skills are replicated. Artifacts are the originals, directly relocated into your possession."
That made Loren break into a cold sweat. Thank goodness he'd asked. Bringing an actual Founder's relic or a Deathly Hallow into his tiny five-year-old hands? That would have been suicide.
The choice was obvious.
"System, I choose the First-Generation Wizard Talent."
"Ding! Selection confirmed. Talent installed. Updating system panel."
"System Panel
Name: Loren Angus
Class: None (Eligible for advancement)
Skills: \[abbreviated]
Talents:
1. Strange Knowledge (abbrev.)
2. Chaotic Thinking (abbrev.)
3. Universal Language Mastery (abbrev.)
4. World Feedback (abbrev.)
5. Discipline (abbrev.)
6. **First-Generation Wizard Talent:** You have awakened the primal gift of magic. Though your magical reserves are small, your understanding is flawless. *(PS: As everyone knows, the Harry Potter world has no mana bar—only stamina.)*
System Evaluation: A child with the potential of a true wizard."
Loren noticed a new prompt: **Eligible for Class Change.**
"System, what's this about?"
"Ding! Host now meets prerequisites for new classes. Displaying options:"
1. **Obscurial:** A young wizard suppresses their magic to escape misfortune, birthing a parasitic dark force known as an Obscurus. In times of emotional turmoil, the Obscurus erupts, turning the host into a destructive black shadow. If suppressed too long, it consumes the host entirely.
*(PS: The fast-track career path to becoming a walking nuclear strike.)*
2. **Apprentice Wizard:** A beginner wizard whose magic is unstable. Emotional surges cause "magical outbursts," requiring wands for channeling and guidance. Through study, they learn to control their abilities. Upon graduating from a school of magic, they advance to full Wizard.
*(PS: "Apprentice" is just a label—remember, even the Four Founders once bore it.)*
Loren stared at the two choices, speechless. Once again, an apparent "choice" that was, in reality, no choice at all.
"System, advance me to Apprentice Wizard."
"Ding! Advancement complete. System upgrading…"
"Ding! Panel upgrade in progress…"
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