Harry let the warmth of the roaring fire Hagrid conjured wash over him.
His Gamer's Mind noted the powerful magic: Unskilled, but immensely powerful.
When Hagrid launched into the story of his parents and Lord Voldemort, Harry played his part flawlessly.
He widened his eyes at the mention of the name, gasped at the tale of his survival, and feigned complete astonishment at the concept of magic itself.
Internal System Note: Stealth Skill Check successful. Roleplaying Performance: A-Rank.
He watched Hagrid's reactions closely.
The giant was honest, open, and utterly trusting. A powerful, useful contact, but not someone Harry could ever reveal the System to.
His power was his shield, and shields were useless if visible.
"—and yer a wizard, Harry,"
Hagrid finished, beaming with pride.
Harry mustered a look of utter, wide-eyed shock.
"I—I'm what?"
The charade continued perfectly until they were safely across the London Underground and standing before the leaky wall of the pub.
As the bricks shifted to reveal Diagon Alley, Harry's internal status screen exploded with information.
[MAIN STORY QUEST UPDATE: Diagon Alley]
Objective: Acquire all necessary school supplies before boarding the Hogwarts Express.
Sub-Objectives:
* 1/6: Acquire Gold from Gringotts.
* 2/6: Acquire Wand.
* 3/6: Acquire Books and Scales.
* 4/6: Acquire Robes.
* 5/6: Acquire Pet (Optional).
* 6/6: Acquire Cauldron.
Reward: +1 Level, [New Skill: Basic Transfiguration] Scroll.
Failure Condition: None.
As they walked into Gringotts, Harry kept the wonder plastered on his face, but his Gamer's Mind was focused on the goblins.
High INT/DEX. Dangerous, low AGI.
Do not provoke.
When Hagrid handed him the key, Harry felt the weight of the moment.
He was about to receive his first major wealth infusion.
Inside the vault, the sight of the gold piles was overwhelming, but Harry's internal calmness prevailed. He accepted the small bag Hagrid gave him.
[INVENTORY UPDATE]
Galleons: 500 G
The stop at Ollivanders was the most challenging part of maintaining the ignorant façade.
The sheer concentration of latent magic in the shop registered as a constant, low-level MAG check on his status bar.
Mr. Ollivander's piercing gaze felt like a direct scan. Harry stood rigid, projecting emptiness.
"Ah, yes. Harry Potter. I remember every wand I've ever sold."
Harry watched as Ollivander threw wand boxes around.
Harry tried the first two, resulting in minor, controlled bursts of accidental magic—just enough to be believable failures.
Internal Mission: Wand Selection. Objective: Find the most powerful, synergistic item.
Failure Condition: Pick a low-quality wand.
Then came the twin-core wand: holly and phoenix feather.
The moment the wand touched his hand, a blinding wave of warmth surged through him, and his MAG bar instantly spiked.
[ITEM ACQUIRED: Holly and Phoenix Feather Wand]
Quality: Legendary
Effect: +50% casting efficiency for light magic. +30% affinity with Fire and Healing spells. Note: Contains a twin core match.
Harry allowed a look of awe to wash over his face, hiding the genuine thrill of acquiring a Legendary-tier item.
"Curious. Very curious,"
Ollivander murmured.
Harry bought the wand, paid, and quickly tucked it away. Trust nothing, rely only on the System.
'This wand is an incredible tool, but I must learn to use my MAG without it first.'
The rest of the day was a rapid series of purchases. Harry acquired his books, robes (which he noted were surprisingly durable—Tier 1 Protection), and a serviceable brass cauldron.
Hagrid insisted on an owl, leading Harry to acquire Hedwig, who registered as a non-combat companion:
[Companion Acquired: Hedwig]
Type: Snowy Owl
Skill: Loyalty (MAX), Perfect Delivery (LVL 1)
Note: Cannot be sacrificed.
Harry spent a final moment alone in his new room at the Leaky Cauldron that night, consolidating his power.
He spent 10 of his Skill Points to upgrade [Silent Casting] to Level 20 and unlock the basic [Mana Flow] ability, which let him passively regenerate MP faster.
He had everything he needed. He was Level 9, prepared, and no one suspected the immense hidden power he held.
The next morning, Hagrid and Harry made their way to King's Cross. Hagrid pointed him towards the brick column.
"Best of luck to yeh, Harry. Yer off to Hogwarts now!"
As Harry pushed the trolley through the solid brick, stepping onto Platform 9 3/4, a major notification flashed:
[MAIN STORY QUEST COMPLETE: Diagon Alley]
All Sub-Objectives Cleared!
REWARDS GRANTED!
+1 Level! Harry Potter has reached Level 10!
[Skill Scroll: Basic Transfiguration] Acquired.
[Next Quest: Hogwarts Express] Activated!
Harry boarded the magnificent train, a small, quiet figure with an owl, a trunk full of books, and a secret more powerful than any kid his age.
The game had truly begun.