Adam sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the faint shimmer of light that danced on his palms. The feeling of magic inside him—alive, pulsing, and real—was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. It was warm, electrifying, and undeniable, as though his entire being had awakened to something it had always been missing.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation. The soft hum in his chest grew stronger, almost as if it were responding to his thoughts. For the first time, he didn't need to convince himself that someday he'd be able to do magic. He could feel it now, in every fiber of his being. *This… this is it. Magic. Real magic.* The sheer wonder of it was overwhelming.
Adam smiled, thinking, *Not even Harry, Ron, or Hermione described feeling this alive when they discovered magic.* He felt a rush of excitement at the thought of meeting Hermione someday—her sharp wit and curiosity were legendary. The idea of standing in the same world as her filled him with anticipation.
Opening his eyes, Adam let out a slow, steady breath and leaned back against the headboard. The day had been a whirlwind: the letter, convincing his parents, and sending the reply. Now, the weight of anticipation hung heavily on his chest, leaving him restless and brimming with excitement.
He whispered into the silence, "Status window."
The familiar translucent screen shimmered into view, its faint glow casting a soft light in the dim room. Adam's eyes scanned the display with growing curiosity.
Name: Adam
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Age: 11
Magic Status: Active (basic)
Level: 3
Special Points: 3700
Gold: 0
Shop: Gold ● Special Points [Custom]
Item Box: Unlocked
He read through the lines carefully, taking his time to confirm each detail. "Name: Adam," he murmured. "Still me. Gender: Male… no surprises there. Race: Human… as expected. Age: 11. Everything checks out so far."
His gaze lingered on the next line: *Magic Status: Active (basic).* A soft grin spread across his face. "Finally," he whispered, a mix of pride and disbelief in his voice. "It's real. My magic is active. Basic probably means it's just starting out—either my ability or understanding of magic. But it doesn't matter. I can finally use magic."
Moving on, he stopped at *Level: 3.* His brows furrowed slightly. "Still level three?" he muttered, tilting his head. "So I've been growing without realizing it? Or is leveling up different in this world? I feel stronger, but… I guess I'll figure it out."
His focus shifted to *Special Points: 3700.* "I don't even know if that's a lot," he admitted, scratching his head. "But I'll find out eventually."
Finally, his eyes rested on *Gold: 0.* He chuckled lightly. "Not a surprise. I've never managed to earn any gold since I used up the starting amount. Special Points seem easier to get, but gold… maybe it's harder to come by."
Thinking of how he had initially leveled up, his thoughts drifted to the secret spaces he'd explored. Goblins. Low-level mobs, old and crippled, barely able to move. He had managed to defeat them using rusty swords he'd purchased with his initial gold, thanks to his map highlighting safe, green-colored spaces. Goblins, the ones he had seen, were only level one—mostly very old ones that couldn't move properly or were missing limbs.
He shuddered slightly, recalling his first encounter. "If I wasn't different from an average eleven-year-old boy, I'd have frozen on the spot," he admitted to himself. Thankfully, the map feature not only showed nearby secret spaces but also labeled their difficulty levels. The green ones were deemed safe enough for him to handle, and those low-risk spaces allowed him to survive, grow stronger, and reach level three.
Now, his eyes lit up as he noticed something new: *Item Box: Unlocked.* His breath caught for a moment. "An item box?" He leaned forward, excitement bubbling over. "Every proper reincarnator has an item box! It's like a rule or something! How could my story be complete without one?"
Without hesitation, Adam opened the Item Box tab. A glowing, empty grid appeared before him, waiting to be filled. "Let's test this," he said, grabbing his notebook—the one he'd been using as a diary for years. He placed it carefully into the glowing grid. The notebook vanished, leaving an empty spot on his desk.
"It works!" he exclaimed, grinning ear to ear. He immediately opened the grid again and retrieved the notebook. It reappeared on the desk as though it had never left. The functionality thrilled him. "This is going to be so useful. I can store anything I need without carrying it around."
For the next few hours, Adam couldn't contain his excitement. He opened his notebook, now officially his diary, and began jotting down every observation and thought about the day's events. The awakening of his magic, the status window, the Item Box—everything felt monumental. He described the humming sensation in his chest, the possibilities of the Item Box, and his theories about leveling up and gold acquisition. By the time his mother called him for lunch, the notebook was filled with fresh pages of excitement and wonder.
The sound of Olivia's voice broke his focus.
"Adam, come down for lunch!"
Adam glanced at the status window one last time and gave a small nod. *This is just the beginning. With magic, tasks, and an item box, I'm finally stepping into the world I dreamed of.*
He tucked his notebook back into the Item Box, smiling at how simple and convenient it was. With one last look at the screen, Adam closed the window and made his way downstairs, his excitement bubbling as he joined his parents for lunch.
The meal passed with cheerful chatter as Adam's parents discussed plans for the afternoon. Maybe they didn't think that Hogwarts was real or maybe thought that it was some scam school, they didn't mention it during the lunch. Knowing little about their thoughts, Adam also complied with their thoughts and didn't say anything about it either, only anticipating the owl.
"Since we're all free today, how about we go see that movie Adam wanted to watch?" George suggested, earning an enthusiastic nod from his son.
"That sounds lovely," Olivia agreed. "And maybe dinner out afterward?"
Adam's excitement grew. It wasn't Diagon Alley, but spending the evening with his parents felt like the perfect way to end the day. After lunch, the three of them left for the movie theater, laughter and conversation filling the air as they made their way through the bustling streets.
The day ended with smiles, full bellies, and a warm sense of togetherness, leaving Adam with an eager heart as he looked forward to the adventures waiting for him tomorrow.
After coming back from the movie, Adam lay down on his bed, his heart still buzzing with excitement from the day's events. He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting to the magic within him. He could feel it, pulsing softly in his chest, but he knew it was unlike the magic other people used in this world—or even the magic wizards at Hogwarts wielded. This was something different, something he had yet to fully understand.
Curiosity tugged at him, and he decided to test it before falling asleep. He focused all his attention on the magic inside, imagining light, fire, water—anything he could think of to create something tangible. But no matter how hard he tried, nothing happened. No sparks, no light, no movement. There was no reaction at all, and a sense of frustration began to build within him.
Adam paused, realizing that something wasn't quite right. It felt as though there was a gap, as if he hadn't yet met the requirements to unlock what was needed to control the magic. Adam felt that he was trying something beyond his current control and capacity. Determined, he tried something smaller. Holding his hands out in front of him, he focused on creating a simple spark. Almost immediately, he felt the magic within him begin to flow, but it was consumed at an alarming rate. His hands felt warm as he concentrated, and for a brief moment, a tiny spark appeared between his palms before it fizzled out.
It wasn't much, just a flicker of light, but Adam couldn't help but smile at the small success. His excitement surged, but exhaustion quickly followed. The magic drained him more than he expected. Before he knew it, his eyelids grew heavy, the fatigue washing over him like a wave. With a contented sigh, he closed his eyes, and the world went dark as he drifted into a peaceful sleep.
In the stillness of the night, a faint noise stirred George from his sleep. His eyelids fluttered open, and for a moment, he lay there, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, groggy and trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. Then, once more, he heard it—soft but unmistakable, the sound of a hoot. An owl.
He glanced over at Olivia, who lay peacefully beside him, completely unaware, her face serene in deep slumber. He decided not to disturb her, but his curiosity was piqued, and the sound seemed to pull him from his drowsiness. Slowly, he sat up and slipped out of bed, his feet brushing the cold floor as he moved toward the window.
Peering out, he saw nothing. The night outside was calm, the stars barely visible through a haze of clouds. Yet, as he turned to pull away, a scratching sound reached his ears—faint but distinct. His curiosity grew, and despite the chill in the air, he quietly padded to the front door of the house.
He hesitated, leaning close to the peephole, his breath misting the lens. Through it, he saw no one. Cautiously, he turned the knob, the door creaking softly as he stepped outside. The cool night air greeted him, and just as he took a breath to step further, he heard a faint sound—a fluttering, like wings in the distance.
George froze. He peeked around through the crack of the door, scanning the yard, but there was no one. The street was empty. No owl in sight. With a resigned sigh, he decided to step back inside and close the door, shaking his head.
Then, just as he was about to turn back, his eyes landed on something small and white on the doorstep. A letter. His heart skipped a beat, and a rush of realization hit him. He recognized the Hogwarts logo. It was unmistakable. This was it—the response Adam had been waiting for.
He bent down to pick up the letter before heading inside, his fingers brushing against the parchment as he held it carefully in his hands. For a moment, George was tempted to open it and read the contents, but he knew better. Adam's reaction to the earlier letter had been too emotional, too important. It was something Adam had clearly been waiting for, and George had no intention of spoiling it.
He sighed and looked back at Olivia, still sleeping soundly. The worries about Adam being scammed crept back into his mind, but he also knew his son was sharp. Even if this turned out to be a scam, Adam would learn from it. He would grow stronger, more cautious in the future.
Reluctantly, George placed the letter in a drawer, his fingers lingering on it for a moment before he closed it shut. As he turned back toward the bed, his thoughts were heavy, but seeing Olivia's peaceful face soothed his mind. He climbed back into bed, pulled the covers up, and gently wrapped his arms around her, letting go of his worries for the moment. The warmth of her embrace helped him drift back to sleep, his mind quiet once again.