[ Location: King's Cross Station, London ][ Date: September 1st, 1991 ]
The world stopped spinning. The colors solidified.
I blinked. I was standing on a busy train platform. Steam engines hissed. People rushed by in old-fashioned suits.
Next to me stood Shikamaru Nara. He was wearing muggle clothes—a slightly oversized grey shirt and trousers—that looked like they came from a donation bin. His spiky pineapple hair was defying gravity as usual. He looked around, yawned, and scratched his head.
"This place is loud," Shikamaru muttered. "And the air smells like burning rock. Troublesome."
"It's coal," I said, checking my own outfit. Similar drab clothes. "And welcome to London, 1991."
[ SYSTEM ANALYSIS: WORLD OVERVIEW ][ Downloading World Data... ]
World Name: Earth-991 (Magical Britain) Power System: Magic (Mana manipulation via Focus Tools/Wands). Power Levels:
Rank F (Muggle): Non-magical humans. Zero threat.
Rank E (Student): Basic magical capabilities. Low threat.
Rank D (Senior Student): Advance magical capabilities. Low-Medium threat.
Rank C (Adult Wizard): Competent in daily spells. Medium threat.
Rank B (Auror/Death Eater): Combat specialized. High lethal potential.
Rank A (Grand Sorcerer): Dumbledore/Voldemort. City-block destruction capability. Reality manipulation. Avoid Combat.
Society & Locations:
Statute of Secrecy: Magic is hidden from the mundane world. Breaking this rule results in memory wiping or imprisonment.
Key Cities: London (Diagon Alley), Hogsmeade (All-Wizard Village).
Governance: The Ministry of Magic (Bureaucratic, Corrupt, Inefficient).
Major Dangers:
Dark Arts: Spells designed to kill/torture (Unforgivable Curses).
Magical Beasts: Dragons, Basilisks, Dementors (Soul-eating entities).
Political Instability: A Dark Lord is currently in a "spirit" state, seeking resurrection.
Ding!
[ System Quest Start: Harry Potter (Year 1) ][ Identity Generated: Orphans from St. Jude's Home for Boys, London. ][ Key Items Added to Inventory: ]
Hogwarts Acceptance Letter x2 (Registered in Ministry/School Logs).
Standard Hogwarts Trunk x2 (Contains Robes, Books, Cauldron).
Wand x2 (System Generated, Perfectly Matched).
Magic Core: Imra-infused Magical Circuits added to body.
I felt a rush of heat in my chest. It wasn't the battery-like feeling of Psionics. It was warmer, wilder. Mana.
'I'm a wizard. A real wizard.'
"Magic," Shikamaru murmured, touching his chest. "It feels like Chakra, but... chaotic. Harder to control."
"We need to check the Shop," I said urgently. "Before we meet anyone."
"Why?"
"Because they are wizards, they can read minds," I whispered. "If they see our memories, we're dissecting frogs in a jar."
I opened the [ Dimensional Shop: Harry Potter World ].
Parseltongue: 50 Points. (Speak to snakes. Open secret chambers. Scare your friends.)
Metamorphmagus: 150 Points. (Change your appearance at will. Hair, nose, gender. No potions required.)
Seers: 500 Points. (See the future. Usually grim. Headaches included.)
Animagi: 250 Points. (Transform into an animal. Registration optional, but recommended by the Ministry.)
Magical Resistance [Lvl 1]: 100 Points. (Shrug off minor hexes and jinxes. Like a magical flak jacket. As level increases so did the resistance.)
Apparition: 200 Points. (Teleportation. Warning: Splinching may occur if focus wavers. Req: Strong Physique.)
Legilimency [Lvl 1]: 100 Points. (Read minds. Detect lies. Invade privacy.)
Occlumency [Lvl 1]: 100 Points. (Shield your mind. Lie perfectly. Keep your secrets safe.)
Levitation [Lvl 1]: 100 Points. (Make things or yourself fly without a wand. Wingardium not required.)
Wandless Magic [Lvl 1]: 100 Points. (Cast spells without a stick. Hand motions only. High mana cost.)
Unforgivable Curses:
Killing Curse: 200 Points. (Instant death. Unblockable. One-way ticket to Azkaban.)
Cruciatus Curse: 200 Points. (Infinite pain. Torture method preferred by dark lords.)
Imperius Curse: 200 Points. (Total mind control. Make them do whatever you want.)
And Many more.....
"Shikamaru, how many points do you have?"
"160," Shikamaru yawned. "I sold a few explosive tags to Lloyd before we left."
"Buy Occlumency," I ordered. "It shields your mind. It's 100 points. Do it now."
"There goes my retirement fund," Shikamaru grumbled, but he bought it.
I bought it too.
[ Points Deducted: 100. Remaining Balance: 533. ]
Instantly, my mind felt... fortified. Like I had built a brick wall around my thoughts.
"Okay," I exhaled. "Now we're safe. Grab your letter."
We pulled the parchment envelopes from our pockets. Green ink.
Mr. V. FrostwellThe Cupboard Under the Stairs (Just kidding, Room 4)St. Jude's Home for Boys
"We're official," I grinned. "Now, Platform 9 3/4."
We ran at the barrier. It felt natural. Like walking through a waterfall.
[ Location: Hogwarts Express - Compartment C ][ Time: 11:30 AM ]
We found an empty compartment. Shikamaru immediately sprawled out on one bench, using his trunk as a pillow.
"Wake me up when we get there," he mumbled. "Or if the train explodes."
I sat opposite him, pulling out my new wand. Ebony, Dragon Heartstring, 11 inches. It felt warm.
The door slid open.
A girl with bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth stood there. She was already wearing her school robes.
"Has anyone seen a toad?" she asked in a bossy voice. "A boy named Neville's lost one."
Hermione Granger.
"No toad here," I said, smiling. "Just a sleeping ninja."
She looked at Shikamaru. "A ninja? Is that a wizarding term?"
"Just this guy's nickname," I lied smoothly. "I'm Vivan. That log over there is Shikamaru."
She stepped inside. "I'm Hermione Granger. Are you first years too?"
"We kept to ourselves," I said. "Did a lot of reading. Trying to catch up."
Her eyes lit up. "Oh! Me too! I've memorized all our set books, of course. I just hope it will be enough. I tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family has magic at all..."
She was rambling. It was endearing.
"You'll do fine," I interrupted gently. "You seem prepared."
"I hope so," she fretted. "Do you know any spells? I bet you haven't tried any yet."
'Challenge accepted.'
"I've been practicing a bit," I said. "Wandless theory."
"Wandless?" Hermione looked skeptical. "But that's N.E.W.T. level magic! You can't possibly—"
"Watch."
I looked at the chocolate frog wrapper on the seat next to her.
I could use my new Magic Core and buy the Wandless skill, but I was a master of Telekinesis. Why waste mana when I had psionics?
'Telekinesis.'
I stared at the wrapper.
It crumpled into a ball. Then, it floated up. It danced around Hermione's head, spinning like a tiny planet.
Hermione's mouth fell open. "But... you didn't say the incantation! And you didn't use your wand!"
"Intent," I winked. "Magic is about intent, Hermione. The words just help you focus."
The wrapper floated down and landed gently in her palm.
She looked at the wrapper, then at me. Her cheeks turned a slight shade of pink.
"That was... amazing," she breathed.
"I can help you with the practical stuff," I offered. "If you help me with History of Magic. I have a feeling I'm going to fall asleep in that class."
"Deal," she beamed. "I'm great at History."
She turned to leave, looking back once. "Nice to meet you, Vivan."
"You too."
[ Location: The Great Hall ][ Time: 7:00 PM ]
The Great Hall was impressive. We stood in line with the first years. Harry Potter was there, looking small. Ron Weasley had dirt on his nose.
"Nara, Shikamaru!" Professor McGonagall called from the scroll.
'She knows his name. The System really did register us.'
Shikamaru sighed, trudged up, and sat on the stool.
The Hat dropped over his eyes.
"Hmm," a voice echoed in Shikamaru's head. "A mind protected by Occlumency. Occlumency at eleven? Impressive."
"Can I go to the house with the least amount of homework?" Shikamaru muttered.
"Hufflepuff is hardworking. Ravenclaw is studious. Gryffindor is reckless. Slytherin is ambitious. You... you are none of these. You just want peace. But you are brave. Better be..."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Shikamaru shrugged and walked to the red table.
"Frostwell, Vivan!"
I walked up. I caught Hermione's eye at the Gryffindor table; she crossed her fingers for me.
I sat down. The Hat slid over my eyes.
"Another shielded mind," the Hat whispered in my ear. "What are you two hiding? No matter. I can see your surface thoughts. You seek... strength. You seek to protect. But you have a cunning side."
'Not Slytherin,' I projected. 'I need to be where the action is.'
"Gryffindor, eh? You want to be a hero? Or do you just want the glory?"
'I want to survive. And maybe look cool doing it.'
"Honest. Reckless. Bravery isn't the absence of fear, it's acting in spite of it. And you... you have plenty of fear, but you move anyway."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The table on the far left cheered. I took off the hat and walked over, sliding into the empty seat next to Hermione.
"Yes!" she whispered, clapping. "We're housemates!"
"Lucky you," I grinned. "Now, where's the food? I could eat a hippogriff."
Dumbledore stood up. "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
Food appeared.
Across the hall, Shikamaru was already asleep face-first in a plate of mashed potatoes.
'Year One,' I thought, grabbing a chicken leg. 'Let's see if I can derail the plot before Halloween.'
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