Let the Games Begin: A Harry Potter Fanfiction
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its associated characters: all rights belong to JK Rowling. I do not own any crossover references used throughout the story: all rights belong to their original creators. I do own any OC spells explained at the end of a chapter.
Plot: 'Welcome, Harry James Potter! You are about to enter a world where nothing is what it seems! Where friends and foes await you at every turn! And where you have it within you to grow into a truly great hero, or a terrible evil! Welcome, Harry Potter, to the world of a GAMER!'
Author's Note: So, I admit it: this story is a jolt of inspiration and a bit of a challenge for myself: having recently discovered Gamer-Fiction, I found my mind begging and pleading with me to try it out for myself, so…here is me, trying it out. Admittedly, I'm working off of some inspirations and thoughts that might seem crazy and crack-like, but, from what I've seen, isn't that the same of most Gamer-Fics?
Anyway, I hope people can enjoy the story and encourage, if not support my hopes and dreams to keep this going to the last level.
Recommended Reads: Mystique Soldier by Robs511, The Overpowered Gamer by PercyPendragon3, Trickshot, Hydrus Black and Silver King by JustBored21, Harry Potter and the Power of the Gamer by Legend of the Kyuubi, Harry Potter the Mutant Obscurus Gamer by GnomeBob, Gamer Potter: A Fighting Chance by fred2008, Harry Potter: The Mage's Path by GamerFiction, Gamer Neighbour by Hawk, The Rise of the Last Potter by HPfanfictioner66, The Unknown Power by La Monserga, Harry Potter and the Hermetic Arts, Harry Potter and the Physical Adept and Harry Potter and the Runecraft of the Norns by HaikenEdge and The Illusive Mage by The Dark Wolf Shiro
Key Pairing: Eventual Harry/TBD
Other Pairings: To be determined
Normal Speech
'Thoughts'
'Mental Speech'
/Parseltongue/
{Gamer HUD}
Prologue: New Game
Leave a little boy, wrapped in nothing, but a baby blanket, out in the cold, on a doorstep, on a frosty November morning like he's nothing more than an unwanted parcel…and what do you think happens?
Duh!
He's going to wind up getting sick, especially with so much Dark Magic leaving a tainted trace upon his mind, body and spirit.
And what follows getting sick, especially for a vulnerable infant?
What else?
Death!
Let-The-Games-Begin
Not that Albus Dumbledore knew that, mind you.
And, even if he did, he didn't seem all that bothered about it, not when he was already making plans to use Harry James Potter for his own goals.
Or, as he'd put it…For the Greater Good!
And so, by the time Dumbledore realised his plans were already screwed, it would be way too late.
Because, by then, a new game would begin…
Literally!
Let-The-Games-Begin
Where was he?
He didn't know.
Where were his parents?
He didn't know that either.
Why did he feel so cold?
Wow, he was three-for-three here, wasn't he?
As he tried to rack his brains, a jolt of surprise suddenly crossed him when he felt a stirring warmth brushing against him, making him jump with a start as he tried and failed to locate the source of the warmth.
'!?'
As he tried to figure out what was going on, his eyes widened when, all of a sudden, ghostly words seemed to form in the air in front of him.
{Welcome, Harry James Potter…}
'Harry…James…Potter?' he asked, a small part of him wondering why he couldn't move his mouth, but, just like when he'd started, he seemed to be able to communicate using some other means; in this case, it was his mind.
As he congratulated himself on this revelation, and silently wondered where he was and what was going on here, he, Harry James Potter, saw more words forming in the unknown space in front of his eyes.
{You are about to enter a world where nothing is what it seems! Where friends and foes await you at every turn! And where you have it within you to grow into a truly great hero, or a terrible evil!}
'Evil?' wondered Harry, a part of him alarmed, if not horrified, by the prospect of being any sort of Evil, let alone one that might be the cause of such fear and terror by so many.
No, he wasn't Evil…was he?
'Ahh!'
He was so confused.
And the strange words that kept forming in front of his eyes didn't seem to offer too many consolations, other than another sentence.
{Welcome, Harry Potter, to the world of a GAMER!}
'Gamer?'
As Harry wondered about the meaning behind those words, he saw more appear below.
{Are you ready to play the Game?}
'I…'
Two more words appeared in front of him.
{Yes/No?}
What?
Was he supposed to decide just like that?
He didn't even understand what was happening here; for instance, what was a Gamer?
How was he able to be one of them?
What did it mean?
What would he be able to do?
Why did this thing think he was going to be Evil?
And why couldn't he speak, at least with a mouth?
As he tried and failed to find any sort of answers to those questions, Harry felt his eyes widen again when more words appeared in front of him.
{WARNING: Failure to decide will result in an immediate GAME OVER!}
Fear flooded Harry's heart.
And yet more words appeared, though these ones were familiar to him.
{Are you ready to play the Game? Yes/No?}
As Harry tried to stall for time, his eyes widened again when a single word appeared after that.
{10…}
'Wait, please!'
{9…}
'I…I don't understand!'
{8…}
'Why won't you tell me anything?'
{7…}
'Please! Just a hint, please, just help me understand!'
{6…}
Harry felt his mind and soul jerk in fear, as well as horror, a part of him still wondering why this unseen presence was being so insistent on this.
And yet, all the strangeness did was keep counting down.
{5…}
Game Over, it had said.
Did…did that mean what Harry thought it did?
{4…}
He…he didn't want to die…
Did he?
{3…}
No…he didn't want to die…
{2…}
There was only one thing he could do.
He just prayed he wouldn't regret it somewhere later-on down the line…
{1…}
'YES!'
As his mental voice screamed as loudly as he could manage, Harry saw the worded countdown freeze in mid-air, the number fritzing between one and zero like a video stuck on pause.
For a brief moment, Harry wondered if he'd said it too late.
Seconds later, he got his answer.
{NEW GAME, BEGIN: CHARACTER ID: HARRY JAMES POTTER!}
A non-verbal sigh of relief escaped Harry, before he gasped when he saw more words flitting before him, rising up in the space before him like the opening description in a Star Wars movie.
{NEW INFORMATION AVAILABLE!}
{Additional Perks Granted Due To Gamer-World Recognition!}
{Additional SP Granted Due To Sacrificial Magical Energy Transferred From CHARACTER: Lily Alexandrea Potter nee Evans to CHARACTER Harry James Potter!}
{Additional DMR Rank Granted Due To EXTRA LIFE owed by removal of CURSE: Horcrux belonging to BOSS: Tom Marvolo Riddle (AVATAR NAME: Voldemort!)}
{Additional INT Points Granted Due To CHARACTER AWARENESS RECOGNITION!}
{Additional CHR Points Granted Due To 100% SIR with CHARACTER: Sirius Black!}
{Additional STR Points Granted Due to Character Trait Boost from CHARACTER: James Charles Potter via LEGACY SKILL!}
{PLEASE STANDBY FOR CHARACTER "Harry James Potter" SPAWNING PROCESS!}
White light flooded Harry's eyes.
And, as the words had said, a whole new game began as he felt his mind and spirit becoming one with his body…
Wow, talk about different, am I right?
Well, the Game begins, but what will happen to our protagonist as he goes from lonely orphan to boy-hero or, potentially, great evil?
What will the 'Gamer' give him as he grows into his own?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: A short while later, Harry gets a full 'tutorial' on his strange new life, but will the power of the Gamer be enough?
Please Read and Review
AN: Acronyms
So, to save time in chapter, here's a full guide to acronyms and shortened phrases you'll see appear on the Gamer HUD:
HUD – Heads-Up Display – How the Gamer Power communicates with Harry and others – no, Harry WON'T be the only one
LVL - Character Level/Trait Level - What levels Harry/others/their skills/traits are registered at
CHR – Charisma – How well Harry is able to influence others through communication: more points mean higher chance of successful bartering/persuasive conversations ending in Harry's favour. (Percentage will be shown on HUD)
STR – Strength – How powerful Harry is, both physically – represented by PSTR – and magically – represented by MSTR – while also acting as a basic rank for Harry's overall power force
DEX – Dexterity – How well Harry is able to hit his targets, accomplish successful strikes against foes and cast spells; also influences his reaction time/reflexes/dodging ability
DEF – Defence – how strong Harry is against outside assaults, reducing damage taken against enemies and lessen Critical Damage
INT – Intelligence – affects Harry's ability to learn faster, master spells and tasks easier and slightly enhance attacks; also awarded boosts/percentage boosts in conversations with others
SP – Skill Points – How many points Harry can spend to improve skills, abilities, traits and/or other available options
HP – Health Points – Harry's current health rank
MP – Magic/Mana Points – Harry's current magic rank
IVT – Inventory – Shown when Harry adds objects and essential/junk items to his total holdings
SIR – Spiritual Influence Rank – Shown as a percentage, this will allow Harry to see what sort of connections, influences or positive and negative effects he has on others: higher influences positively mean better/stronger allies; higher influences negatively mean greater risk of enemy damage/threat level
DMR – Dark Magic Resistance – A skill rank that allows Harry to take less damage/handle more damage from Dark Magic/Dark Magical Attacks from his enemies
AN2: Advice
Also, seeing as how I only have limited exposure to Gamer-Fics, I am willing to hear any thoughts, suggestions and advice that might be able to help me keep this going and make it a fun read for all, as well as a fun adventure for me to write.
So, let me hear your thoughts, my friends: trust me, all advice will be taken into consideration.