The System's prompt regarding Perk Point allocation hung in Harry's awareness, a quiet invitation to sculpt his own development. Eleven points. A significant reserve. He lay in his four-poster bed, the Gryffindor common room long since fallen silent, Hedwig a soft, breathing lump in her cage. This wasn't just about making numbers bigger; it was about strategic enhancement, choosing the attributes that would best serve his immediate and long-term objectives.
His current primary challenges revolved around understanding and mastering the nuances of his [Unclassified Magical Energy]. The [Magical Energy Modulation Matrix] hinted at a deeper connection between his stats and his magical output. The [Enchanted Chalkboard] required precise energy infusion. Spellcasting itself, while he was rapidly mastering the basics, felt like it had layers of control he hadn't yet accessed.
He brought up the [PERK POINT ALLOCATION INTERFACE].
⚙️ [PERK POINT ALLOCATION INTERFACE - STATUS: ACTIVE]
[Available Perk Points: 11]
[Allocation Options:]
Option 1: Allocate to Primary Stats. (Cost: 1 Perk Point per +1 Stat point allocation. User selects specific Stat).
Option 2: Allocate to Active Skill Level. (Cost: [Calculation Required based on Skill & Current Level]. User selects Skill: [Subtle Item Manipulation Lv. 3], [Intent Focus Lv. 2]).
Option 3: Unlock Special Perks/Abilities. (Cost: [Varies, Higher]. Requires Specific Triggers/Conditions Met. Available Options: [NONE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE]).
Option 3 was still a tantalizing unknown. Option 2, boosting his existing active skills, was tempting. [Subtle Item Manipulation] was invaluable, and [Intent Focus] was crucial for all directed magical efforts. But the System's analysis had specifically linked Primary Stats (INT, WIS, DEX) to the modulation of his magical energy. Investing there seemed foundational, potentially creating a cascade effect that would benefit all magical endeavors, including his active skills and future spellcasting.
He considered his current stats: INT 23, WIS 22, DEX 23. Already high. But the System suggested further boosts would accelerate understanding.
Intelligence (INT): Governed his ability to learn, analyze, process complex magical theory, and comprehend System mechanics. Crucial for dissecting spell structures and the Modulation Matrix.
Wisdom (WIS): Influenced perception, intuition, judgment, and the ability to apply knowledge practically. Essential for understanding the feel of magic, making good decisions under pressure, and interpreting subtle System cues.
Dexterity (DEX): Directly impacted wand control, precision in spell movements, and the finesse needed for tasks like the chalkboard infusion.
He decided on a balanced approach, leaning heavily into the mental attributes that seemed most directly tied to the System's recent discoveries about energy modulation.
[PERK POINT ALLOCATION: User confirms Allocation Option 1. Target: Intelligence. Amount: +3.] (Cost: 3 Perk Points. Available: 8)
A familiar surge, a subtle sharpening of his mental acuity, as his INT climbed to 26.
[PERK POINT ALLOCATION: User confirms Allocation Option 1. Target: Wisdom. Amount: +3.] (Cost: 3 Perk Points. Available: 5)
Another internal shift, his perceptions feeling even more layered, his ability to connect disparate pieces of information subtly enhanced. WIS now 25.
That left 5 Perk Points. Should he bolster DEX for the chalkboard? Or invest in his active skills? [Subtle Item Manipulation] was practical, but mastering spellcasting felt more fundamental to his identity as a wizard. The System had indicated that Primary Stats underpinned magic modulation. Perhaps boosting a physical stat tied to casting was the next logical step.
[PERK POINT ALLOCATION: User confirms Allocation Option 1. Target: Dexterity. Amount: +2.] (Cost: 2 Perk Points. Available: 3)
DEX rose to 25. His already preternatural coordination felt even more integrated, his control over fine motor movements, like those needed for precise wand work, minutely yet perceptibly refined.
He now had 3 Perk Points remaining. He decided to hold these in reserve, a strategic buffer for unforeseen needs or for when Option 3 (Special Perks) might finally become available.
His updated core casting-related stats were now: INT 26, WIS 25, DEX 25. The world didn't look different, but his capacity to process and interact with it, especially its magical aspects, felt significantly upgraded.
📊 [STATS Update (Partial - Post-Perk Allocation)]
INT: 23 --> 26
WIS: 22 --> 25
DEX: 23 --> 25
(Other stats unchanged, HP/MP unchanged from Lvl 13 figures)
Perk Points Remaining: 3.
Current EXP: 1950/3200 towards Level 14.
The next day, the effect was noticeable, primarily in Charms and Transfiguration. Professor Flitwick, after Harry performed a Levitation Charm with almost contemptuous ease and perfect control – lifting multiple quills simultaneously and arranging them neatly by color – peered at him over his stack of books.
"Remarkable, Mr. Potter! Truly remarkable precision for a first year! Your innate talent continues to impress."
Harry's System logged: [User Spellcasting Performance ([Wingardium Leviosa - Advanced Application]) - Feedback: Positive (High Academic Validation). Analysis: Increased INT/WIS/DEX contributing to superior spell control, energy efficiency, and multi-tasking capability. [Magical Energy Modulation Matrix] Passive Mapping Progress: +5%.]
The Modulation Matrix was progressing! His stat investment was directly fueling the System's ability to understand and map how his core attributes influenced his magic.
His next attempt at the [Enchanted Chalkboard] during a stolen hour in the disused classroom also showed a subtle shift. He focused his will ([Intent Focus Lv. 2] amplified by INT 26/WIS 25), his [DEX 25] guiding his wand hand, and tried again to infuse a tiny stream of his [Unclassified Magical Energy]. This time, there was a faint, almost imperceptible flicker from the chalkboard's surface, a whisper of ancient magic stirring.
[Action: Attempt Direct Energy Infusion (Chalkboard) - Outcome: MINOR SUCCESS. Effect: Faint energy signature detected within Chalkboard. User control improving. Skill Check: [Magical Energy Channeling - Untrained] EXP Gained. INT/WIS/DEX EXP Gained.]
It wasn't active yet, but it was a response. His finer control, boosted by the Perk Points, was making a difference.
October arrived, bringing with it chillier winds and the ever-present scent of woodsmoke from Hagrid's cabin. Academically, Harry was soaring, though he carefully managed his outward performance to avoid undue attention beyond what his "Boy Who Lived" status already garnered. He mastered new spells, absorbed vast amounts of theory, and continued his quiet mapping of the castle.
His [Situational Awareness Lv. 7], amplified by his now [WIS 25], became almost preternaturally sensitive. He started noticing things others completely missed: the way certain portraits' eyes seemed to follow specific people, the faint drafts that hinted at hidden passages not yet on his System map, the subtle shifts in magical energy around teachers when they were discussing something important or casting minor, unannounced spells.
One afternoon, while heading to the library, his Awareness flagged an unusual concentration of student activity and hushed, excited whispers near the entrance to the third-floor corridor – the one his System had marked as [High Anomaly Area - Restricted Access]. He recalled the initial System flag, his own brief, stealthy investigation where he'd first detected the powerful warding beyond the door. The ambient chatter he filtered now contained key phrases: "...Filch is furious...", "...someone tried to get in...", "...nearly got caught..."
He paused, pretending to adjust his bag, using [Observe Lv. 6] to scan the group of older Gryffindors speaking in low tones.
[Dialogue Snippet Acquired: "...heard it was Fred and George again... said there's a massive three-headed dog in there... guarding something..."]
[Cross-referencing User Exploration Data (Third Floor Ward) + Acquired Dialogue Data -> Entity Confirmation: Fluffy (Cerberus Type - previously unconfirmed but suspected by System based on ambient magical beast signatures). Guarding Objective Verified. Nature of Guarded Item: Unknown - High Value/Danger Presumed.]
So, Fluffy wasn't just a rumor from Malfoy or an accidental discovery. Others knew, or at least suspected. And someone – likely the Weasley twins, given their System profile of [Mischief Makers - High Skill/Low Regard for Rules] – had actually attempted to bypass the initial door. This meant the object Fluffy guarded was significant enough for active student curiosity, despite the restriction. The Philosopher's Stone narrative was beginning to coalesce from multiple data points, not just a single line of discovery.
Halloween was approaching. The castle was being decorated with live bats and enormous pumpkins. There was a buzz of excitement for the feast. But Harry's System, always processing in the background, noted a subtle increase in anxious energy signatures around Professor Quirrell, and a corresponding intensification of Professor Snape's sharp, observational focus whenever Quirrell was near. The players were on the board, and the game, as always, was afoot. Harry felt his newly enhanced intellect and perception ready to analyze whatever came next.