"Time to get to work," he said, a newfound confidence coursing through him.
He wasn't going to waste this opportunity.
The early morning light filtered through the small gaps around the cupboard door, casting thin beams onto the dusty floor. Harry sat cross-legged on his makeshift bed, the translucent blue screens hovering silently before him. The house was still; Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia wouldn't be awake for another hour, and Dudley's snores echoed faintly from the second floor.
"First things first," Harry thought. He focused on the flashing icon labeled [Tutorial Quest: Learn the Basics] and opened it.
Tutorial Quest: Learn the Basics
Objective: Familiarize yourself with the Gamer interface and complete basic tasks.
Tasks:
Access your Inventory.
View your Skill Tree.
Allocate Stat Points (when available).
Reward: 100 XP, Beginner's Guidebook, 1 to all Stats.
Do you accept?
[Yes][No]
He selected [Yes], and the quest tracker appeared in the corner of his vision. "Alright, let's see what this Inventory is all about," he mused. With a thought, he focused on the word Inventory, and a grid-like screen popped up, displaying several empty slots and a few occupied ones.
In the first slot was an item labeled Worn Clothes. In the second, a small, dog-eared book titled "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" caught his eye. "I don't remember having this," he thought, selecting the book. A description appeared.
"The Tales of Beedle the Bard"
A collection of wizarding fairy tales. Reading this may increase your Intelligence and unlock hidden quests.
"Interesting," Harry murmured. He made a mental note to read it later.
Next, he accessed the Skill Tree. A complex web of skills and abilities unfolded before him, each connected by glowing lines. The primary categories included Magic, Physical, Stealth, Social, and Miscellaneous. Many of the skills were grayed out, locked until prerequisites were met.
Under Magic, he saw familiar skills like Wandless Magic, Spellcasting, and Potion Brewing. In the Physical category, skills like Endurance Training and Martial Arts were available. Stealth included Lockpicking and Silent Movement. The possibilities were vast.
"I can build myself up from the ground," he realized, excitement building.
A notification blinked in the corner of his vision.
Task Completed: Access your Inventory
"One down, two to go," he thought.
Returning to the Skill Tree, he explored the available options. He decided to invest time in Meditation under the Magic category, recalling how crucial Occlumency had been in protecting his mind. Selecting Meditation, he read the description.
Skill Unlocked: Meditation (Level 1)
Enhances mental clarity and control over magical energies. Increases MP regeneration and aids in developing other mental skills.
Another notification appeared.
Task Completed: View your Skill Tree
"Great. Now, about those Stat Points," he considered. Opening his Status Screen, he reviewed his current stats.
Status Screen
Name: Harry James Potter
Age: 3 years
Race: Human (Wizard)
Level: 1
Experience: 0/100
HP: 50/50
MP: 30/30
Strength: 2
Agility: 2
Vitality: 3
Intelligence: 6
Wisdom: 6
Luck: 10
Perception: 2
Stat Points Available: 0
"Looks like I don't have any Stat Points yet," he noted. "I'll have to earn some experience first."
Just then, the final task marked itself as complete.
Task Completed: Allocate Stat Points (Not Applicable at this time)
He chuckled softly. "Well, that was easy."
Quest Completed: Learn the Basics
Rewards:
100 XP
Beginner's Guidebook added to Inventory
A pleasant chime sounded, and he felt a subtle surge of energy as his stats increased.
Level Up!
Level 1 - Level 2
Stat Points Gained: 5
"Perfect," he thought. "Now I can allocate those points."
He contemplated how best to distribute them. Given his young age and physical limitations, he decided to focus on Intelligence and Wisdom to maximize his learning potential. He allocated 2 points to Intelligence, 2 points to Wisdom, and 1 point to Vitality to improve his health.
Updated Stats:
Strength: 2
Agility: 2
Vitality: 3 - 4
Intelligence: 6 - 8
Wisdom: 6 - 8
Luck: 10
Perception: 1
Stat Points Available: 0
Feeling more alert, Harry decided to test his new Meditation skill. Sitting comfortably, he closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. Inhale... exhale... He visualized a calm sea, each breath a gentle wave lapping at the shore.
Minutes passed, and he felt a soothing sensation enveloping his mind. Thoughts became clearer, and he sensed a faint humming—the flow of magic within him.
A notification appeared.
Skill Increased: Meditation (Level 1 - Level 2)
"That was quick," he thought, pleased with the progress.
A faint creak echoed from upstairs. Harry's eyes snapped open. "The Dursleys will be up soon," he realized. He quietly stood and prepared to start his day, resolving to make the most of every opportunity to train and grow stronger.
As he exited the cupboard, Aunt Petunia's sharp voice called from the kitchen. "Get in here, boy! Breakfast won't make itself!"
Suppressing a sigh, he headed toward the kitchen. "Maybe I can gain some skills while doing chores," he mused.
While preparing breakfast, he paid close attention to the tasks, treating each one as a chance to improve. Cracking eggs, he focused on precision to avoid any mess. Mixing batter, he considered the ratios and reactions between ingredients.
A soft ping sounded.
New Skill Learned: Cooking (Level 1)
"Every bit counts," he thought with a slight smile.
As the morning progressed, Harry continued to find small ways to practice. While cleaning, he attempted to move objects subtly with Wandless Magic, focusing on lighter items like dust particles and small crumbs.
Skill Unlocked: Wandless Magic (Level 1)
You have begun to access and manipulate magical energies without a wand. Practice will improve control and effectiveness.
By midday, the Dursleys left for an outing, leaving Harry alone in the house. Seizing the opportunity, he retrieved the Beginner's Guidebook from his Inventory.
The book's cover was unmarked, but as he opened it, the pages filled with text.
Beginner's Guidebook
Welcome to the Gamer's journey. This guide will help you understand the basics of your new abilities and offer tips on how to progress effectively.
Chapter 1: Understanding Stats and Skills
Chapter 2: Effective Training Methods
Chapter 3: Quest Management
Chapter 4: Survival Tips
He skimmed through the chapters, absorbing the information quickly, thanks to his enhanced Intelligence and Meditation skills.
From the guide, he learned that skills could be combined to create new abilities and that repeated practice under challenging conditions would yield faster improvements. It also emphasized the importance of balancing physical, mental, and magical training.
Feeling inspired, Harry decided to explore the neighborhood to identify resources and potential training spots. He opened the newly unlocked Map feature.
A detailed layout of Privet Drive and the surrounding area unfolded before him, highlighting points of interest such as the local park, a small library, and an abandoned lot.
"Maybe I can find some useful materials or quiet places to train," he thought.
Before venturing out, he checked for any new quests.
New Quest Available!
Quest: Exploring Little Whinging
Objective: Scout the local area to identify resources and safe training locations.
Tasks:
Visit the local park.
Locate the library.
Investigate the abandoned lot.
Reward: 200 XP, New Skill: Stealth (Level 1), 1 to Perception
Failure: Increased risk of detection by the Dursleys, Potential penalties
Do you accept?
[Yes] [No]
He selected [Yes]. "Better to have a quest guiding me," he reasoned.
Harry donned his oversized jacket and slipped out the front door, ensuring the coast was clear. The midday sun bathed Privet Drive in a warm glow, and most neighbors were indoors or away.
As he walked, he practiced moving silently, stepping lightly to avoid making noise.
New Skill Learned: Stealth (Level 1)
"That was easier than I thought," he mused.
At the park, he observed the layout—playground equipment, large trees, and secluded areas that could serve as training spots. He took note of the times when it was least occupied.
Task Completed: Visit the local park
Next, he headed toward the library. Inside, the air was cool and smelled of old books. He browsed the aisles, selecting volumes on basic subjects—math, science, literature—to build a strong foundational knowledge.
New Skill Learned: Learning (Level 1)
Your capacity to absorb and comprehend new information has increased.
"Not the most creative name for a skill," he chuckled softly, "but useful regardless."
Task Completed: Locate the library
Finally, he approached the abandoned lot. Overgrown with weeds and partially fenced off, it was the perfect place to practice magic discreetly.
As he explored, he stumbled upon a small shed filled with discarded items—old tools, scraps of metal, and wooden planks.
"Maybe I can use these for crafting or physical training," he thought.
Task Completed: Investigate the abandoned lot
Quest Completed: Exploring Little Whinging
Rewards:
200 XP
Skill Increased: Stealth (Level 1 - Level 2)
1 to Perception
A new notification appeared.
Level Up!
Level 2 - Level 3
Stat Points Gained: 5
"Another level up," he noted with satisfaction.
He allocated the new stat points, adding 2 to Strength to improve his physical capabilities, 2 to Agility for better movement, and 1 to Perception to enhance his awareness.
Updated Stats:
Strength: 2 - 4
Agility: 2 - 4
Vitality: 4
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 8
Perception: 1 - 2
Luck: 10
Stat Points Available: 0
Feeling a noticeable improvement in his physical abilities, Harry decided to test himself. He practiced basic exercises—running, jumping, and climbing—incorporating stealth movements as he navigated the lot.
As the sun began to set, he knew it was time to return home before the Dursleys noticed his absence.
Back at Privet Drive, he quietly slipped into the house and resumed his chores as if he'd never left.
That night, lying in his cupboard, Harry reflected on the day's progress. In just a short time, he had begun to rebuild himself, laying the foundation for the challenges ahead.
A new quest notification appeared.
Main Quest Updated: Change the Future
Objective: Continue developing your skills and knowledge to prepare for future challenges.
Tasks:
Increase any skill to Level 5.
Build a network of allies or contacts.
Uncover information about the magical world.
Reward: 500 XP, Skill Book: "Intermediate Magic: A Comprehensive Guide", Unlock Reputation system.
Failure: Delayed progress in altering future events.
Harry smiled, determination shining in his eyes. "One step at a time," he said quietly to himself. "I can do this."
As he drifted off to sleep, a sense of purpose filled him. The path ahead was long and fraught with obstacles, but for the first time in a long while, he felt truly hopeful.
A/N: Further exploration of the gamer system, setting up some skill progressions. Hope you guys enjoyed. Next chapter will most likely be out by Tuesday. All reviews are appreciated. Changed rating to T for now, will most likely change it back to M as we get further in.
A/N 2: Experimenting with having a status screen for the end of each chapter write after the author notes. Let me know if this is something I should continue, or if it just clutters the screen.
Status Screen (End of Chapter 2) Name: Harry James Potter Age: 3 years Race: Human (Wizard) Level: 3 Experience: 0/300 HP: 50/50 MP: 30/30 Strength: 2 ➔ 4 (Gained from completing the Physical Exercise task and leveling up) Agility: 2 ➔ 4 (Gained from completing the Stealth Mission task and leveling up) Vitality: 3 ➔ 4 (Gained from leveling up) Intelligence: 6 ➔ 8 (Gained from completing the Reading and Writing tasks and leveling up) Wisdom: 6 ➔ 8 (Gained from completing the Meditation task and leveling up) Luck: 10 (unchanged) Perception: 1 ➔ 2 (Gained from completing the Exploring Little Whinging quest) Stat Points Available: 0 Skill Progression (End of Chapter 2) Gamer's Mind (Passive): Level 1 (unchanged) Gamer's Body (Passive): Level 1 (unchanged) Meditation: Level 1 ➔ 2 (Gained from practicing meditation after leveling up) Cooking: Level 1 (new skill) (Gained while cooking breakfast for the Dursleys) Wandless Magic: Level 1 (new skill) (Gained from practicing magic during chores) Stealth: Level 1 ➔ 2 (Gained from moving silently during Exploring Little Whinging quest) Learning: Level 1 (new skill) (Gained from reading books at the local library)