July 26, 1991
In a luxurious villa overlooking the Thames in Staines, Surrey, Ethan Adrian sat on the edge of his bed, the morning sun streaming in as he stared in surprise at the letter in his hand.
Moments earlier, still groggy from sleep, Ethan had heard a rapid tapping at his second-floor window. Realizing what it might be, he jumped up and opened the window to find an owl fluttering there, a letter clutched in its talons—the very letter he now held.
The envelope was addressed in dark green ink to Mr. Ethan Adrian, with a crimson wax seal on the back, featuring a shield surrounded by a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake, and the letter "H" emblazoned in the center.
The day had finally come!
As a time traveler and now the heir of a wealthy family, Ethan had made plenty of plans for his future—investing in finance, playing the stock market, and enjoying a luxurious lifestyle. But those dreams were short-lived. This world was far from ordinary.
In second grade, he had noticed a boy named Harry Potter in his class—a boy with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. During breaks, a chubby kid named Dudley often followed him around. It was then that Ethan realized exactly what kind of world he had entered: Hermione and His Two Good Friends.
For a few moments, he considered staying away from magic altogether. After all, Muggles and wizards lived in separate societies. He thought he could avoid trouble if he just stayed out of it.
But within a month, Ethan experienced his first magic outburst, proving he had the potential to be a wizard. And with that potential, Hogwarts enrollment was inevitable. Of course, he could have chosen another school, like Ilvermorny, but he figured Hogwarts was the best option—if he could avoid the dangers of the Voldemort era.
With a sigh, Ethan tore open the envelope and pulled out the parchment inside.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Order of Merlin, First Class)
Dear Mr. Adrian,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
As Ethan finished reading, a golden interface appeared before him. Oddly, it didn't obstruct his view of the room, letting him see both his surroundings and this new interface at the same time.
The interface was simple, displaying:
Name: Ethan Adrian
Age: 11
Bloodline: Wizard
Talent: Super Soul (Increases learning efficiency and casting speed)
Enhanced Physique (Improves physical strength and adaptability to magic)
Spells: None
In the lower corner, a red gift box icon sparkled—his "starter gift pack." It might seem basic, but having any advantage was better than none, especially in a world where magical talent could be heavily monopolized. Ethan was now in high spirits.
Looking further at his profile, he saw a trait called Super Soul, likely a result of his time-traveling. This enhanced learning ability was accompanied by Enhanced Physique, which he'd attributed to regular exercise for his planned lifestyle.
When Ethan focused on the red gift box, information flooded his mind:
Starter Gift Pack: Three random max-level spells. May your magical journey be smooth.
Three max-level spells! This gift pack was surprisingly generous. In this world, magic wasn't as straightforward as it seemed. Even basic spells, with enough practice, could have impressive effects. For example, the Lumos spell could work as a flash bomb, while basic hexes could be used in unexpected ways. And advanced spells? They could be life-changing.
As Ethan opened the gift pack, three golden lights shot upward. He was thrilled, a grin spreading across his face. But as the golden light faded, and the new spells appeared on his interface, his smile froze.
Ethan was no longer in his room. Instead, he found himself in a dark, eerie wilderness filled with pale, wailing figures, writhing in agony. Green flashes of light struck them down, their lifeless eyes staring blankly at him.
"Crucio!"
"Avada Kedavra!"
"Imperio!"
The chilling incantations echoed in his mind, leaving him dizzy and breathless. After a few minutes, he managed to sit up, realizing he had absorbed these spells instinctively. He could cast them at will, even without a wand.
On his interface, the spell list now read:
Spells: Killing Curse (Level 10), Cruciatus Curse (Level 10), Imperius Curse (Level 10)
Powerful? Absolutely. These were Voldemort's preferred spells. But Ethan knew he couldn't actually use them—these were Unforgivable Curses. Casting them on someone would mean a life sentence in Azkaban.
Before he could fully process this, new achievement notifications appeared:
[Falling into Darkness]
A self-indulgent soul who strides down the path of a dark wizard.
Goal: Master all Unforgivable Curses (3/3)
Reward: Enhanced dark magic talent
[I Am the Darkness]
Destroying life, playing with souls, becoming darkness itself.
Goal: Master the Unforgivable Curses at max level (3/3)
Reward: Heart of Darkness talent (Enables black magic without emotional interference)
[The Mastermind]
You appear harmless, but you hide the most sinister secrets.
Goal: Keep your Unforgivable Curses hidden (3/3)
Reward: Cast magic without detection, unless witnessed directly
"What are you trying to say?" Ethan muttered, feeling a bit disturbed. Did this mean he wasn't a "good guy" in this world?
Just then, a soft "coo" interrupted his thoughts—the owl was waiting. Ethan realized he still needed to write a reply and prepare a snack for the owl.