Author's Note:

I do not own Harry Potter or any of the Persona Series. But everything else in this fic belongs to the imagination of Alkgious2. So any comments and flames should be directed to that imagination. And most unfortunately that imagination has a tendency to flicker in and out. Still reviews are always much appreciated, but that doesn't matter as much as enjoying the story. So do read and enjoy!

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Chapter One

Harry was two weeks into his summer vacation and there was still nothing to show for it but the semi completion of the list of endless chores the Dursley's gave him before leaving on their family trip. He ended up being left behind in an empty house when Miss Figg was unable to take him in due to some questionable business she had in another town and his relatives didn't want to waste the money for a plane ticket for him. So instead of being dragged along for the trip here he was with a 10 page long list of chores and an earful of threats on what would happen if anything occurred to the Dursley's quaint house.

So back to what this is about; like he said he hadn't done anything "summer worthy" as Ron would state. But then he should care less about what his friend Ron would say, seeing how he all but ditched me without giving me a single word much less a letter to where he is. So here he was wasting his vacation away scrubbing the floors the fifth time this week just like Aunt Petunia wanted. The average teen would be spending the day at the arcade or at the mall with their friends. Yet here for one Harry Potter it was spent stuck indoors with nothing more than Mr. Rag and Ms. Bucket for company due to the threat of a beating if he stepped one foot outside while the rest of his dear relatives weren't present to supervise his "heinous" acts. And though he thought of chancing a minute outside beyond aunt Petunia's flower garden he didn't due to the usual reasons. Most of the reasons which are getting his presence reported by the neighbors. Harry couldn't step one foot outside the neighborhood streets without someone looking as if he steal something. Once again this was all thanks to the Dursley's latest rumor on Harry having a godfather who's in jail for the most despicable crime.

But that didn't depress Harry much. Because one good thing about being alone in the house was the fact that he could safely sneak out some food seeing how there was no one looking. Of course Vernon did try to lock the fridge up before leaving, unfortunately none of the locks could be found the day before he left. It left Harry feeling a little smug every time he would open that fridge. But no matter how much food he ate it still hadn't alleviated the utter boredom of being stuck in the house.

At first he risked watching the telly, but years without it made Harry feel unaccustomed to using it. Instead all the free time was spent listing down any red colored item he could find in the house, and there were more items than he thought. The list ranged from the broken red crayons that Dudley hadn't used since fourth grade to Aunt Petunia's red heels. Yep something was definitely wrong with his vacation seeing how boring it is. Well it didn't really matter seeing how the red list occupied most of his time today. He wrote down five red tomatoes and a bottle of ketchup which was found in the fridge, and was contemplating if he should include the semi browning raw beef in the list or not when he heard someone knocking on the door. Thinking it was just another door to door salesman Harry ignored the steady knocks. Though once the shouting began he found out it wasn't.

"Harry! Open the door!" was yelled. Harry continued contemplating the beef deciding. It wouldn't hurt to let Ron feel the same irritation he felt after being ignored ever since school ended. Unfortunately it did not last that long. Because a few seconds later the bastard was knocking on his door while creating a hell of a racket.

"Harry! Come on, open, open, open!" yelled the voice. That aggravating voice pretty much killed any desire to open the door but then again when Ron decided on something he was pretty stubborn over it. It seemed that he couldn't forever ignore him.

Couple of more knocks followed by Ron's shouting, and here he was pretty much walking as slowly as possible to reach the door just to spite Ron. However he must have felt the distain since Ron started a larger racket.

"Harry, I know you're there open the door already!" hollered Ron.

In the end, Harry managed to open the door without losing his eardrums, but Ron all but pushed himself in and started running towards the stairs. Not even a greeting was exchanged which served to cause a greater fume. Ah…. he also just slammed open some door. If Ron had just stopped there he might have forgiven him after all, maybe Ron had something really important to do. Yet Ron didn't stop there, instead Harry found his tech hazard of a mate tampering with Dudley's brand new computer (as in removing parts he's sure are supposed to stay INSIDE the computer)… so yeah it's only understandable that the level of annoyance Harry felt went up.

"Good afternoon Ron, Could I ask if you know that you're steadily digging my grave?" Harry asked while holding what was left of his nerves. "If Dudley finds his computer has been touched and even more dismantled it wouldn't end with just a black eye."

Though whatever Harry said must have gotten past his friend's ears with the amount of concentration Ron was putting in doing, whatever he was doing.

"I need to adjust this to make the digital specs work properly … and then connect the…" he muttered before I decided to interrupt him.

"Let me clear this up, why the hell do you need to mess with the computer again!?" the black haired teen's shout seemed to have gotten him pass whatever haze Ron was stuck in.

"It's for Witch Craft: Chamber of Secrets Online(CSO) of course." Ron excitedly stated. He waved his arms exaggeratedly as he explained "After days of tinkering I've finally reached the day that I would be able to reach the digital reality of one of Chudley Cannon Inc's masterpieces!"

Distracted by thoughts on how to fix the computer or at least hide the damage Harry didn't hear beyond the tinkering and Chudley part. Though he managed a half-ass opinion on the matter, "So… it's for just another one of those game things huh."

"Juuu just a game!" Ron spitted. "CSO isn't just a game it's LIFE! Not only may it be the first online game to reach the VR market it's also been made by the most popular gaming industry CHUDLEY CANNON on which has been ranked 1 in game programming for years. Don't you dare call it just a game, you you NOOB!" he rambled on getting redder with every sentence.

What followed afterwards was lost to Harry's ears as Harry decided it would be best to ignore his rambling friend when he got in one of those moods. When you got Ron started on one of his Chudley Cannon episodes he just doesn't stop. Though it's unusual he's talking about the gaming side of it. Besides Harry decided he had more important matters to ponder on such as if whatever item Ron was waving came from the very computer that would most likely kill them both.

Harry reasoned out it would be best to stop Ron's tantrums worried that chip looking thing would break in the tight grip he held it in.

"Alright if this game is so important to you, why are you here? Shouldn't you be playing it somewhere, perhaps at your own home?" He asked half hoping Ron would take the bait and leave. Because despite how happy he was to see his friend again he didn't think the same could be said when the Dursleys get here later tonight.

"Well I did start to set up the program at home, but seeing how you're my best friend it's only natural, for me to want to share the joys of the virtual reality version of CSO with you. It isn't everyday that you get a chance to be one of the first to experience one of these masterpieces through a VR mode." Ron finished with a wide smile.

All Harry could do was sigh at his friend's antics as he thought, " I shouldn't be so surprised with the fact, after all spending half my life friends with him. However the way he was avoiding my questions and trying to sweeten me up is…" With those thoughts Harry was reminded to the fact that a sweet Ron was a somewhat dangerous Ron. Especially if it had anything related to technology. With Ron's poor understanding of technology and his own habit of firing electronics that got too close to he expected Ron to stay clear from any form of overly advanced electronics. This was very suspicious. And the paranoia only grew because last time Harry checked Ron's fanboying of the Chudley Cannon's only extended to its sporting goods and not its techy side.

"Ron?" Harry merely rolled his eyes and continued with his reply. "If you wanted to share the news with me you've just did. You can go home now."

"What! Wait! Just let me borrow the computer for a little more." Ron all but yelled out.

Harry decided to ignore whatever Ron said afterwards and decided to just implement his plan of pushing Ron out of the room before whatever shit Ron brought decided to hit the fan.

"You can leave now you've informed me of this Dungeon whatever thing, so go on back to your own house and do enjoy it on your own computer." But the moment he tried prying Ron's hands off the computer the youngest male Weasley held a death grip on the overly large desk. Yep there was definitely something fishy here.

So it resulted to spending the time Harry was supposed to use to scrub the kitchen down on interrogating his red headed friend. And though he did ask, all Harry got was Ron avoiding Harry's stare and another connecter inserted on the black box Ron brought. This was getting even more suspicious so just when Ron was about to insert some kind of disk Harry stopped him. Thank god for fast reflexes he definitely didn't need the computer getting worse.

"Ron." Harry gripped Ron's arm tighter.

"What the hell happened to your computer?"

"Haha, what do you mean? Nothing's wrong with my computer. You shouldn't go around distrusting your best bud. I promise you the program as safe as any company made one." Blurted Ron.

Harry was digesting over what Ron had just said while looking for any signs of problems. Of course it took just that one distracted moment to find the disk inserted in the damn computer. And even if Harry had managed to remove the disk he didn't think could do anything about it. Because by then it was too late, the program was already running.

After Harry had managed to wheedle out the current condition of Weasley family's computer he was furious. His anger resulted in a shouting match, where both boys were screaming about the unidentified and possibly exploding data disk that Ron inserted in a brand new computer. And Ron's actions infuriated Harry further when the only reply he got back on his careless friend's action was that the risk was worth it. It made him want to rip Ron a new one, but he pulled every little piece of restraint and managed to stop himself from dirtying the room. He did just clean it.

Of course Harry couldn't just let him go so he gave Ron a good whack to the head and demanded to have the computer returned to normal.

Though Ron retaliated. He had once again turned his desperation in the direction of one irate Potter and started whining "But Harry!" which Harry turned away from. Though Harry should have stopped there, because the moment he cursed out loud "I should have kicked him out of my house the instant he opened his mouth." It pushed Ron to snatch up one of Dudley's laptop and using it as a hostage just to make sure Harry didn't make use of that threat. The very second he grabbed the laptop off of the bed Harry realized Ron would wreck that too. So he all but rushed at him in a desperate means to save it.

But the rescue plans failed when Harry ended up being tripped by Ron. And Ron sitting on him as an extra precaution. There Ron decided to go on and on about the game while he was getting closer to the condition of being squashed to death. Ron may not be as fat as Dudley but it looked like Ron's height more or less took care of that. His day with Ron didn't end with just losing a little of his pride, but it had to bring about another one of Ron's Chudley Cannon drabbles only this time it included the idea of forcing me to join the so called masterpiece of a game.

So here Harry was spending the next minutes of his wonderful vacation simultaneously trying to tune out Ron's begging, and fighting off the constant urge to just knock Ron out so he could drag Ron off him.

The last thought Harry had before he was forced to agree to his friend's whining was "Man why the hell am I friends with him again?"

-20 minutes later-

Harry felt that he had to question Ron on their agreement one more time just to make sure Ron got it. Better to check if he was completely understood before he get stuck in the game using something he's not supposed to touch. Especially seven hours before he's wonderful relatives came home.

"Remember Ron four hours." Harry stated but it seemed Ron didn't hear what he said since Ron carried on trying to place the VR helmet on top of his head. Harry tried again.

When it looked like his friend Ron mysteriously became deaf in a span of two minutes or he was just plain ignoring me. Harry decided that the matter had to be discussed so he stopped Ron by grabbing onto the collar of Ron's t-shirt and glared at him, daring Ron to make the same mistake before slowly saying, "Just humor me and fucking repeat after me."

"After four hours we'll log off." When Ron still didn't say anything Harry tried another glare.

"Say it."

Ron sighed but at least this time he repeated the words with a glum expression, "After four hours we'll log off."

"After fours we'll do what Ron?" Harry patiently asked again.

"We'll stop playing the game.'" Ron dully repeated.

"Did you make sure that the VRM helmet is timed at 4:25?"

Instead of agreeing to what I said Ron started on another argument, "It's not like it takes 3 hours to put everything back, come on Harry extend the time a little more."

"Ron! Four…Twenty…Five." Harry stated refusing a single leeway.

Ron stared at the shorter boy before giving a glum answer, "Yes, I made sure to time it to log us off by then."

"And after that?" he asked waiting for Ron to continue repeating the rest of their agreement.

When Ron didn't answer fast enough Harry decided to do so for him, "After four hours you'll return the computer back to its' original condition before you desecrated it. No matter what it takes."

After Harry stated he wanted the computer back to the way it was before Ron's protests came back to life. Ron began spouting arguments, "But that's not going to happen because after you try it out Harry you'll understand the greatness of the game, you'll have to let me smuggle the computer…"

With the Ron's latest argument Harry could only think, "And there Ron goes again." Once Ron's babble ended he reminded the blabbing boy that the four hours included the time spent wasting on rambling. Which got Ron moving to connect the laptop to the black box thing and ready a second VR headgear(provided by Dudley) all in record time. Feeling a little cruel, Harry decided to make Ron wait for the laptop to finish installing while he went ahead first using the computer.

As expected the second Harry picked up the helmet he found Ron's burning gaze. And that gaze grew even more intense with every inch that the helmet got closer to Harry's head.

Harry smirked bringing his current thoughts, "Served the bastard right; if I'm going to be forced into anything I'll do it on my own terms. If he was so jealous of me trying the game out before him he shouldn't have forced me into trying it in the first place. Its' times like these that make me seriously question my own sanity seeing how I'm friends with the guy."

When Ron's overzealous staring started to freak Harry out enough he started the game. And the moment his conscious was dragged through the tingling but dizzy sensation of entering the VR world he was reminded of his earlier bad mood. And with this Harry finally tumbled in the virtual world with a poor landing.

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Harry's POV

A bright blue pop up screen greeted me when I managed to concentrate beyond the lightheaded sensation of finding myself standing on some colorless platform. The problem with the VR system was the fact that whenever one enters they always have to go through the initial screening process before being able to move on to better things. This is where you're pretty much a shapeless blob with fingers attached, with only a blue screen trying to fry your eyes. It's like being stuck in the middle of nothing with only a flashing blue screen for company. And did I mention the flashing blue screen is in the most horrifying shade of electric blue. So yeah I had every reason to dislike this experience.

I looked around and seeing how the blue screen kept pushing itself to my face I found out what to do quite fast. And though this was my first time using the VR system, you had to be an idiot not to know what to do. After all there were only two options on the screen, the Exit button and the Connect to Installed File button. I quickly clicked on the "connect to installed file" located on the right of the blue screen desperately hoping that doing so would get my conscious to better grounds. Well at least a virtual version of it. But of course I wasn't left off that easily; another 10 minutes of woozy sensation accompanied me while I was registering for an account for the game.

The screen changed when I finally connected to the game, all I could see at the first few seconds was the Witch Craft: Chamber of Secrets sign but once I got passed that I ended up standing in front of a genderless human figure. The figure or more appropriately dummy seemed to be missing quite a lot of defining features such as the eyes, nose, and etc. Still it looked pretty realistic as far as a person would look like with his/her facial features removed.

After looking at the dummy for awhile more I turned my sight towards the rest of the room. Looking around I found the room to be boringly empty except for the dummy and two strange skinny box like screens. The medium sized white screen remained in my vision no matter where I turned my eyes always keeping at an eye level. And when I Focused on it, it must have been the correct thing to do since it caused it to somehow zoom in closer to the words neatly printed on its surface. I quickly read through the words realizing they were sets of instructions.

I read, "Guide to Character Creation." After pondering this I continued reading the rest of the words printed.

"Each account is given only ONE data slot for their character creation, if you want to create another character you have to delete your old one. During the character creation process the player will enter a room which a displays the player's future avatar will be standing in the middle of. The game allows a wide range of customizations of character features. To access these features the player just needs to state system which will allow the visual interface to be seen. Then touch or directly point close to the customable parts and state the word "change" for visual arrow keys that allow altering features to occur on the chosen body part. Character creation requires the player to set basic appearance for the avatar's age timeline in the game which is 10, 15, and 18. Some features such as eye and hair color and etc may remain locked when customizing the next age range; this is in order to preserve a degree of realism for the game. Once all character customization is done the player may save the avatar and start the game by clicking the START button located in the gray toned screen situated next to the player's avatar."

"Ho… it looks pretty detailed…" I murmured after reading through the instructions. "Guess whoever developed this game actually put quite a bit of time in it."

I walked back towards the dummy or should I know say avatar and clearly pronounced the word, "System" which brought out the visual interface just like the instructions said. And began my customization, but after ten minutes into the character creation system I was already bored with it. Sighing I looked towards the grey colored screen the instruction said to click once done.

And there engraved on the surface was the tempting word START. I thought on the matter of just using an unfinished avatar. It didn't really matter if I finished customizing after all I wasn't planning on using the game more than once. With that decided I moved my finger towards the START button only to have nothing happening.

"Strange." I thought until I saw the small new text written right below the START button. I read, the words "Cannot begin the game till all facial and body features have been customized."

Seeing those words just caused me to rant on about the utter incompetence of the game producer seeing how their forcing people to complete the whole character creation process. My anger only dissipated when my furious gaze wandered to the other button on the gray screen. The RANDOMIZE button. Half curious and the other half irritated I roughly punched the button and found my current avatar features loading. The avatar that loaded was a blue haired extremely tall person.

Realizing the RANDOMIZE button would let me skip the whole bothersome process of clicking each and every customable part, I felt a little calmer. Embarrassed I promised to myself I wouldn't tell anyone about my little anger trip and continued on by pressing the RANDOMIZE button after checking the box "for all the avatar age timelines" that appeared when I hover my finger on the second switch. And decided to merrily proceed with the START button deciding not to wait for my avatar's appearance to fully load.

Of course I didn't know I would regret my current actions in the far future. The decision to not check how my avatar would look like, ended up biting me the ass far too many time.

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