Chapter 7 – Boarding Sequence: The Hogwarts Express
"Games start on loading screens. Not after."
August 31st – 10:43 PM
Harry sat cross-legged in the cupboard, back pressed against a stack of transfigured book-crates, wand resting across his knees. The System clock ticked in the corner of his vision.
[Main Quest Ready: Board the Hogwarts Express]
Time Remaining: 8 hours, 17 minutes
Optional Bonus: Stealth Entry – Reward Upgrade if Undetected
Requirement: Stealth Lv. 3 (Currently Lv. 2 - Progress: 86%)
The cupboard no longer felt like a prison. It was command central now—part training chamber, part tactical hub. Every spare inch of space held something: spell scrolls pinned beside drying socks, magical theory books stacked beside a stash of XP notes. One of Dudley's old notebooks had been converted into a training log. Harry had mapped out progress charts, grind routes, and efficiency goals.
He was one level away from unlocking the stealth route. One level away from boarding the train without help, without noise, without being seen. His first real entrance into the wizarding world—and he wanted it on *his* terms.
He lit his wand.
"Lumos."
A modest glow spilled over the page.
[+2 XP – Spellcasting Success]
[Spellcasting Lv. 2 – Progress: 47%]
Still not enough.
He opened his System's Perk suggestion tab.
- Streetwise (Locked)
- Early Riser (Irrelevant)
- Light Step (Stealth +5%)
Tempting, but useless without that last chunk of XP.
His thoughts raced. He couldn't afford to burn scrolls or spend hours rereading theory. He needed real experience—right now.
His eyes flicked toward the vent shaft.
Time for a field test.
—
11:09 PM – Privet Drive, Rear Garden
Harry crept along the Dursleys' side yard. He'd oiled the hinges earlier and padded the step with dishcloth scraps. A cat darted across the lawn. He froze.
[Stealth Check – Success]
+5 XP
[Stealth Lv. 2 – Progress: 91%]
So close.
He climbed the garden fence. Rusted nails scraped his coat. He eased over into the neighbor's lot and crouched low behind a hedge.
There was a broken panel in the back alley wall. A shortcut. He slipped through it, avoiding the loose gravel path that always crunched at night. He'd learned that the hard way two weeks ago.
He approached the alley behind the Tesco Express. It was dimly lit, one flickering bulb overhead, and always silent after ten.
Harry ducked into the rear service entry.
[Observe Activated]
Target: Security Panel – Wiring: Exposed, Alarms: Disabled
Condition: Poor, Outdated
+2 XP – Urban Navigation
+1 XP – Intelligence
[Level Up Achieved: Harry Potter – Level 3]
Stat Points Gained: +3
Perk Slot Available
He grinned.
[Distribute Stat Points? Y/N]
Y.
He dropped one point each into:
- Agility: 4
- Intelligence: 6
- Willpower: 7
[Stat Confirmed]
Next came the Perk choice:
1. Light Step (+10% Stealth Movement)
2. Safe Hands (+10% Pickpocketing)
3. Fast Recovery (-10% Fatigue Drain)
He chose Light Step.
[Perk Acquired: Light Step]
You now move more quietly and avoid common adult detection ranges.
He slipped back through the alley, past the garden, and returned to the cupboard undetected.
Perfect.
—
September 1st – 10:17 AM
The Dursleys hadn't even offered a goodbye. Vernon had tossed his trunk into the curb and muttered, "Off with you, then." The car peeled away before Harry could turn around.
He stood between Platforms 9 and 10, wand hidden in his inner pocket, trunk dragging behind him on a squeaky wheel. He looked like any other stray kid—overdressed for September, underfed for his age.
He walked toward the barrier.
[Quest Updated: Platform Entry – Optional Stealth Entry Available]
Bonus Reward: +1 Sneak Skill if Undetected
Harry walked casually, like he knew what he was doing. His pace was even. His shoulders relaxed.
[Observe]
Barrier Type: Magical Phase Gate
Condition: Stable
Trigger Rating: Low (No alarm if pace is steady)
He passed through like fog.
[Zone Entered: Platform 9¾]
Map Fragment Acquired: Hogwarts Express Departure Zone
+12 XP – Discovery
New Skill Unlocked: Sneak (Lv. 1)
Scarlet steam engine. Rolling clouds of smoke. Owls hooting from stacked cages.
Students. Dozens of them. Some already in robes, others trailing behind distracted parents. A few stood out—laughing loudly, dueling with wands, calling each other by name.
Harry ignored them all.
[Main Quest Updated: Hogwarts Year 1 – Train Boarded]
Objective: Reach Hogwarts
Bonus XP for Optional Objectives: Stealth Entry – Success
He climbed aboard the train, choosing a rear cabin—the kind usually ignored unless everything else was full.
The door slid closed behind him.
—
He took a deep breath and opened his inventory.
Gear Check:
- Wand: Equipped
- Robes: Basic Student (No Buffs)
- Items: Quills, scrolls, "Charms I", "Hogwarts: A History"
- Snacks: 1 Chocolate Frog (Consumable – Sugar Boost)
[Travel Buff Active: On Route to Hogwarts]
XP Gained +10%
Time Remaining: 3 hours, 14 minutes
He pulled out "Charms I" and opened to Chapter Two: Basic Light Control. Already familiar, but rereading unlocked adaptive XP bonuses.
[INT XP Gained: +3]
[Spellcasting Theory XP Gained: +5]
[Lumos Proficiency: 12% → 17%]
The hum of the train was hypnotic. His world was numbers and logic.
Then the door slid open.
A tall boy with dark skin, sharp eyes, and tailored robes stepped inside. He looked at Harry, then at the rest of the empty cabin.
"Mind if I sit?"
[Target Identified: Blaise Zabini]
House: Unknown
Stats: INT 4 / CHA 6 / LUCK ???
Disposition: Neutral
Trait: Observes Before Speaking
Harry nodded. "Go ahead."
Blaise sat down, pulling out a narrow black-bound book and flipping it open with precision.
"You're Harry Potter."
"Am I?"
Blaise smiled. "That's what people are whispering."
Harry returned to his reading.
Minutes passed. They sat in silence.
Finally, Blaise said, "You're different than I expected."
Harry looked up. "People usually expect less."
Blaise hummed in amusement. "They usually get it."
Harry smirked slightly. "Not this time."
—
The train rattled onward. Fields blurred past.
Students laughed outside the compartment. Someone tried to levitate a chocolate frog two cabins down. It exploded on the window.
Blaise looked up from his book. "This school's going to be loud."
Harry didn't look up. "So is a battlefield."
There was silence for a while.
Then Blaise nodded slowly. "I think I'll like watching you, Potter."
Harry finally glanced at him. "Likewise."
[Social Update: Blaise Zabini – First Impression Logged]
Reputation: Neutral Curious → Reserved Respect
—
End of Chapter 7