September 2
[Player's Current Faction: Slytherin House]
[Grants 5 Affection to all other Slytherins, -10 Affection to Hufflepuffs, -15 Affection to Ravenclaws, -30 Affection to Gryffindors]
[Can be overcome through personal effort from Player]
[Boosts effectiveness of spells by 10% when fighting alongside other Slytherins]
[Increases potency of Dark spells]
In all honesty, just being in Slytherin is gonna make this a difficult thing to overcome. Probably shoulda thought that through a bit more before deciding it but oh well. Part of being a Gamer is facing adversity and breaking through with raw stats and skills.
"You ready Rin?" Asks Daphne from near the entrance of our dorm room, Tracey already having gone down to scope things out.
"Yeah. Anything you think I should be aware of before we face the music?" I ask in return as we begin descending the small bit of stairs, our footsteps muffled by the dampness of the stone steps beneath our feet.
Daphne looks contemplative for a moment before answering. "Be careful of what you say and to who, many of the purebloods have very influential parents who won't care about putting down a muggleborn. Also try to stay close to me or Tracey as much as possible. Tracey may be a halfbloodbut she still comes from a Noble House and they'll be wary of taking overt action against her."
I nod along as finally get to the Slytherin Common where everyone else is there, the prefects standing up at the front along with a sour oily man that is obviously Snape. His posture and face completely unreadable as he gazes over each and every one of us before stopping on me briefly, seeming to contemplate what to do before moving on and speaking to us.
"So... these are out new students." He says in a surprisingly smooth voice for his appearance. "I'll say this once and I expect you all to listen without argument. My name is Severus Snape and I am your Head of House and your Potions Professor. I demand perfection in your classes and if there are issues the you will bring it to me or your prefects so it can be rectified." He billows his cloak as he turns away and waves his wand, causing a stack of papers to begin flying around and plant themselves into the students hands.
"That is each of yours schedules for the year. Be sure to memorize it and do not cause issues outside of this Common Room. Now that is all, begone with you all." He says briskly as he leaves the Common Room. The rest of us kinda looking at each other before everyone begins trickling out to head to class or breakfast in the Great Hall.
"Daphne, Tracey, what do your schedules look like?" I ask as we place them next to each other and compare them.
Sunday: Free Day
Monday: Charms class from noon to 5pm
Tuesday: Potions class from 7am to noon, Herbology class 3pm to 8pm
Wednesday: Astronomy class from midnight to 5am
Thursday: Transfiguration class from 8am to 1pm, History of Magic class from 4pm to 9pm
Friday: Defense Against the Dark Arts class from 1pm to 6pm
Saturday: Free Day
This is quite odd. From what I remember from the books the classes are supposed to be more like normal schools with each class being everyday. Not each one working on different days at 5 hour blocks. God... History of Magic is gonna be torture if its the same teacher from before.
"Hmm looks like you twos got the same schedules Daphne, Rin." Tracey comments and as I look over them as well I see thats its true. Suspiciously I wonder if it was deliberately done by Snape or another Professor with me being muggleborn. Could make sense to put me with a pureblood heir thats already shown to be on good terms with me.
"So it seems. Guess you'll have to put up with me all day eh Daphne~?" I say teasingly at her making her deadpan back at me before she surprisingly raises her hand to my face and flicks my nose, causing me to yelp slightly. The sound drawing attention to us as the pompous asshole makes his first real introduction to us.
"So this is who made that disgusting noise," so says the blonde asshole as he tries, and fails, to swagger his way through the Common Room, his two goons Crabbe and Goyle flanking him on both sides.
"I expected better of you Daphne," he continues, droning on and on. "You shouldn't be wasting your time on those of such lower standing then yourself, especially those like her." He says pointing towards me, his hand hanging in front of my face.
I smack his hand away at such blatant antagonism, though I shouldn't be surprised, infuriating Malfoy just as I grab ahold of Daphne and Tracey's arms and pull them out of the Common Room.
"Come on you two, lets go find the library and scope out where our classrooms are so we don't get lost." I tell them as I let go of their arms and begin walking in a direction. Not noticing as both Daphne and Tracey give each other an amused look before joining me and we begin making our way around the school. Finding a couple of the classrooms including the Charms one a little before class starts which we go ahead and me and Daphne go inside with Tracey heading off to hers.
As we do so I notice that Hermione and a few other random students are already there, though we're the first Slytherins to arrive. We take our seats off to the side and wait for everyone else to arrive, going over what we think we'll be learning.
Finally everyone arrives and Professor Flitwick takes to his podium at the front of the class, the short Professor taking a moment to look us over before introducing himself. "Hello everyone~ I am Professor Flitwick and I am your Charms Professor for the next few years. I'm sure you all have some idea of what this class will be like, whether from a family member, or an older student who doesn't enjoy it much, 'Charms is a soft form of spell', 'Charms are the least necessary spellwork in everyday life', or even 'Why would I use Charms when I could Transfigure something or brew a Potion?'. Well I'm here to show each and every one of you just what Charms can do."
He quickly brandishes his wand and in a show of both silent casting and high level charm work, a large slivery-white raccoon burst forth and begins wandering around the classroom over our desks. Quite obviously a Patronus Charm to someone with my knowledge but certainly a welcome surprise to see as the other students ooo and awe at the spell.
"That is the Patronus Charm and it is an incredibly high level spell that you all won't begin to learn until your fifth year. I show you this today to inspire and invigorate each of you to do your best when in my class, and if you ever need assistance then please let me know and we can work on things." He dispels the Patronus and begins to instruct us on where to turn to in our books and to be prepared to take notes on everything we'll be learning throughout the year.
As we're writing down what he's telling us I hear a distinct ding once again. Looking up I'm pleasantly shocked at what I see.
[Skill Acquired]
[Beginner Charms Mastery: Rank Troll(T): Passive skill: Grants 5 Int & 5 Wisand 10% effectiveness to all Charms]
[Skill Unlocked]
[Mana Sensing: Rank (MAX): Passive Skill: Allows for sensing of all Mana in the surrounding space. Range increases by Int/2]
Immediately I feel my stats taking effect alongside the [Mana Sensing], the sensation of suddenly feeling all of the magical energy flowing through the air is almost suffocating and I begin to breathe more and more heavily, catching Daphnes attention as she gently touches my arm, "Rin? Is everything ok?" She asks concerned.
I begin forcibly taking slower, deeper breathes to calm myself. The feeling of Mana around me not as suffocating at this point, was really just the suddenness that took me off guard.
"Ya, sorry about that. I think I'll need to talk to Professor Flitwick after class though. I'll tell you afterwards ok?" I say quietly noticing her concerned face, making sure to put on a smile to calm her down, though I deliberately ignore my own excitement at finally having gotten some skills, is gonna be fun to begin grinding them up as soon as possible.
"Ok... I'll hold you to that." She promises and goes back to taking notes, keeping a close eye on me out of the corner of her eye.
Finally the class ends and as everyone files out me and Daphne as well as Hermione for some reason stay behind.
"Well what can I do for you girls?" Professor Flitwick asks as we approach.
"Uh she can go first Professor." I say letting Hermione go first, wouldn't want her to find out about my abilities and hound me all year about it.
"Thank you." She thanks us briefly. "Professor I was wondering if you could tell me more about what it means for people to say Charms is 'soft'."
I begin tuning her put and poking through my [Skills] tab and realize upon clicking the [Skills] tab itself.
[Skills]
[Skills can only be acquired through skill books or by instruction from another individual. Can not create Skills through repeated action]
[Skills are improved marginally through constant practice and substantially through better understanding of the Skill]
Crap. So that explains how I haven't gotten an Observe skill yet, and that means I can't just spam a skill in an empty room until its maxed and will actually need to study whatever skills and spells I learn to improve them. This system just gets weirder and weirder.
I'm suddenly pulled from my musings as Daphne motions for me to talk to Professor Flitwick. "Oh, hello Professor. Sorry about zoning out like that."
"No worries Miss Fraener, Miss Greengrass was just telling me that something happened during the class to cause you to begin excessively breathing heavily and looking like you were going to faint. Is everything alright dear?" He asks in a concerned voice as I decide how to tell him about my Skill.
"Well Professor... as you were explaining how Charms work I could suddenly feel," I stop to make it look like I'm trying to describe it. "Well, I guess it'd just be the magical energy in the air. It hit all of a sudden and since I didn't expect it it kinda overwhelmed me." After explaining what happened Professor Flitwick is looking back at me with wide eyes and a smile while Daphne just looks confused.
[10 Affection with Professor Flitwick]
"Well I certainly wasn't expecting that Miss Fraener~. To think you'd be able to feel the magical energy in the air itself and at such a young age as well." He begins stroking his chin as he continues on. "Most witches and wizards never learn how to do that and you were able to do so just by being taught about Charms. Simply remarkable." He goes back to his desk and rummages through the drawers briefly before coming back with a small book which he holds out for me.
"Read this in your free time to learn how to mitigate that overwhelming feeling better and if anything else comes up tell me or one of the other Professors immediately ok?" He asks/demands of me to which I agree. "Of course Professor. I'd rather not end up being permanently injured from practicing something I shouldn't."
Professor Flitwick smiles and waves us off towards the door. "Good good, now be on your way children, and be sure to pay attention to all of your other classes."
Me and Daphne leave the classroom and she exclaims excitedly, "Rin that is just amazing! I mean, at first I was really worried since you looked to be in pain but Professor Flitwick says that you're ok and capable of feeling the magic around us. Thats just so cool and amazing." Daphne's smile making me smile as well.
"Yes yes Daph~ I'm amazing aren't I?" I hold my head high and smirk at her in response, before she suddenly hugs me.
"Uh Daph?" I question as I certainly didn't expect this from someone like her and the sudden closeness feels very awkward to my new body, before she steps back away with an embarrassed blush on her face.
"Oh umm, sorry. Its just that, my mom used to call me her little Daph." She begins explaining before a sad look appears on her face. "Back when she was still around..."
My eyes widen in shock and I quickly try to console her. "Oh I'm so so sorry Daphne. I really really didn't mean to say it like that. If you don't want me to call you Daph then I won't." I word vomit out to her as I try to fix that mistake.
"No no! I mean, you can call me that Rin. I don't mind at all if you do." Daphne says her blushing embarrassed face becoming infectious as I feel my own redden as well, before grabbing ahold of her hand and pulling her alongside me to go find Tracey and head to the Library so we can study.
[20 Affection with Daphne Greengrass]
Goddamn this stupid body and stupid system. Making me feel things so much weirder.
After finding Tracey we finally wander the halls until we find the Library and we search through the place until we find a secluded corner to begin studying our notes and Charms book. Hermione surprisingly looks over at us from her table further away and seems upset over something but whatever.
As we study our Charms notes I keep a close eye on my new [Bginner Charms Mastery] skill and see that its very slowly gaining experience as I learn more about Charms in general. I can't wait to see what happens when it inevitably levels up to whatever the next rank is. Though going by the fact its called Troll(T) I'm going to assume its going by the Harry Potter way of grading things, so Troll(T) up to Outstanding(O).
[1 Wisdom gained]
Eventually we finish up and begin making our way back to the Slytherin Common Room, discussing what our other subjects will be like, Tracey mentioning how her Defense Against the Dark Arts class went with Professor Quirrell. Huh, apparently his stutter really is as bad as the books said it was with how much Traceys complaining about it, great...
Approaching the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room I say the password, "Pureblood", my voice ringing out as the wall opens and we climb in.
"I see you couldn't get rid of the wasted space Daphne," the annoying voice rings out once again causing me to groan in exasperation.
"Draco," Daphne says with a bored expression on her face. "Call my friends wasted space again and I'll be sure to inform your mother that you would like House Malfoy to enter a feud with House Greengrass." She tilts her head slightly to the side as she asks in a condescending tone. "Is that something you'd like me to do Draco?"
Malfoy sputters for a moment as his face goes red in embarrassment and anger before stomping his way off with Crabbe and Goyle hot on his heels.
The three of us having a quick laugh at his expense before making our way back to our dorm room to begin getting ready and heading to sleep.
September 3
The next day comes and we begin heading off to our next class, Potions, after eating our fill at breakfast, while Tracey wanders off to her History of Magic class.
We get to the class with plenty of time to spare and take a seat directly behind Harry and Ron, much to their displeasure of course. To which I can only smirk briefly at them as Daphne looks at me quizzically.
Professor Snape then suddenly bursts into the room, "There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion making. However, for those select few..." He pauses briefly to look around the room towards both Daphne and Malfoy. "Who possess the predisposition, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death."
He then notices Harry taking notes at his desk and immediately frowns, barking at Harry suddenly. "Potter! Our...new...celebrity. Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
At this Harry only looks confused but Hermione at another desk has her hand raised high alongside myself, catching Snape's eye briefly before focusing on Harry again.
"You don't know? Well, let's try again. Where, Mr. Potter, would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?" Snape continues with his questions making Harry only seem more and more confused and distressed when I speak up.
"You would find it in the stomach of a goat sir, and it can save you from most poisons." I recite from my memory of Harry's sixth year, hoping that this will put me in Snapes good graces. Though I'll definitely need to see if theres a way to curb his antagonizing of the other students. Would be a great way to raise Affection for everyone if I can get Snape off their backs.
[Quest Alert]
[Quest: Improve Snape's opinion of other Houses as well as improve other Houses opinions of Snape and Slytherins.]
[Quest Reward: 10,000 EXP, Increased Affection gains with all students and faculty, 1 Gacha coin]
[Time Limit: 4 years]
[Accept/Decline]
I slam my thoughts down on the Accept button as quickly as possible. The rewards for such a quest are way to good to pass up and I've got 4 years to get it completed. Going off the 4 year time limit I assume that means by the end of the Triwizard Cup when Voldemort is reborn. Won't be easy but if I buckle down and focus on it I should be able to do it.
Snape's eyes flick over to me once again and he says, "5 points to Slytherin for coming to class prepared. Clearly fame isn't everything." He says the last part towards Harry before turning away and going to the front of the class.
[1 Luck gained]
"In this class you lot will be learning the finest of arts available in this school, and as I told my Slytherins I tell the rest of you now. I do not expect your best effort in this class, I demand your best effort. If there is an issue you will bring it to me or another student if I am not available who can then bring it to me."
Not quite the introduction I was expecting from Snape of all people but a welcome change from canon that I hope continues.
As Snape begins going over the uses of different potion ingredients as well as the potions themselves and writing them out on his blackboard.
As he does so a familiar ping happens and I check my screen.
[Skill Acquired]
[Beginner Potions Mastery: Rank Troll(T): Passive skill: Grants 5 Dex & 5 Wis and 10% effectiveness to all Potions]
Nice. At this rate my stats will be pretty good just through these passives for class. Actually lets look at my status real quick.
[Rin Fraener the Gamer]
[Gender: Female]
[HP: 1038]
[SP: 544]
[MP: 1524]
[Str: 9]
[End: 10]
[Dex: 12(17)]
[Int: 12(17)]
[Wis: 11(21)]
[Luc: 6]
[Stat Points: 5]
[Perks: 3]
[Flaws: 3]
Hmm so stats gained from passives don't affect my statistics it seems, good to know for the future I suppose.
Eventually the class ends and myself and Daphne head to the Great Hall to get lunch, ignoring Malfoy's attempt at antagonizing us as well as a surprising glare from Ron. Probably just cause we're snakes so we must be bad.
After enjoying the wonderful food we make our way outside to the greenhouses for our Herbology class.
After entering the greenhouse we see a sign telling us to put a coat over our robes to prevent any soil covering us.
After we add the coats to us we take our place alongside the other students around the planters and Professor Sprout begins to explain things to us.
"Hello everyone~! I am Professor Sprout and I will be your Herbology Professor for the foreseeable future. In this class you all will learn how to plant, take care of and harvest the different magical plants and fungi throughout the world. Now, for the first year none of you will be handling the plants yourselves, you will merely observe as I or an advanced student I have assist me handles them. I also expect plenty of notes being taken as the knowledge you learn here will be important in all of your Potions classes as well." She imparts with a serious expression on her face.
As we begin listening to her lecture the same ping from earlier happens again making me look slightly to the side.
[Skill Acquired]
[Beginner Herbology Mastery: Rank Troll(T): Passive skill: Grants 5 Str & 5 Dex and 10% effectiveness to all Herbology plants and fungi]
Good, very good indeed. Stack enough of these passives and I'll be the strongest first year ever.
The class eventually ends uneventfully and we make our way to the Library where we find Tracey already there studying her Charms book.
"Hey Tracey, fancy seeing you here." I comment as me and Daphne take our seats across from her, pulling out our own books to study through as well.
"Hello there Rin, Daphne. The twos of you have fun without little ole me there to brighten things up?" Tracey asks with a smirk plastered all over her face.
"Yes yes Tracey we know you're the brightest sun in the dreary sky," Daphne responds with before I can, my eyebrow quirking up at the weird description used to which Daphne answers. "Its an old joke from when we were younger don't worry."
Our studying going well when another stack of books plops down at the end of the table. Taking a quick glance I see Hermione there beginning to go over her own studying as well all by her lonesome like expected. Ignoring her I begin trying to memorize the different forms of Potions that are described in our books and then.
[1 Int gained]
Nice! Give me more stats Game!
Chuckling to myself I begin gathering my stuff alongside Daphne and Tracey and we make our way to the Great Hall for dinner and then head to our dorm room for bed. Once again keeping my eyes turned away from the both of them to try and not be awkward about seeing them even with this new body.
Ready for another wonderful day of skills and stats ahead of me.
Welcome welcome lovely people~ plenty of stuff happening in this chapter. Acquisition of some skills and a couple stats and affection boosts for our dear Rin to enjoy. Also is now known that they'll not be able to just create skills like most Gamer stories allow. Is always kinda absurd that you could just make new skills whenever just by doing something a lot, also goes hand in hand with maxing out a skill by spamming it over and over with no actual thought put into it. So now Rin will need to actually learn the skills inside and out to make them rank up better, though high level applications of those skills will rank them highly as well. An example would be for Charms, if Rin were to cast a Patronus Charm then the skill would undoubtedly rank up quite a bit due to the difficulty of the spell, same with doing silent casting due to that being very difficult for anyone to do. Though whether Rin will be able to use those high levels we'll have to wait and see. We even got to see the start of a very important quest for Rin to complete. Will Rin manage to accomplish it or fail spectacularly just as its time to win. Oh well.
Enjoy your noodles you angels and demons, Caenis out~