A/N: Absorbed Cards: Ezio Auditore – Assassin's Creed, Shadow Clone Jutsu – Naruto, Force Push – Star Wars, Zuko (Book 3) – Avatar: TLA, Blink-Dishonored, Spirit Armor-Elder Scrolls, Infinite Vault of Holding, Alucard – Hellsing
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[Smell like Teen Spirit- Nirvana]
I strike the opening riff, a string of raw, distorted power chords that cut through the quiet like a blade through parchment.
Harry jumps in with the drums, the beat sudden and bold. His timing is sharp, eyes narrowed in focus, but there's a grin tugging at his lips like he's having the time of his life. Each strike of the snare drives the rhythm harder.
Tracey follows on bass. Her fingers dance over the strings, not flawless but full of passion. She sways with the beat, biting her lip as she locks in with the groove. The rune-powered instrument glows faintly, reacting to every correct note, guiding her gently without overwhelming her.
"Load up on guns, bring your friends
It's fun to lose and to pretend
She's over-bored and self-assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word"
I let the lyrics fly from my throat, loud and unpolished. My voice tears through the space, echoing off enchanted walls. The runes along my guitar shimmer with each chord, a feedback loop of magic and sound.
"Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello"
A blast of rhythm from Harry's drums causes the visual artshow to trigger. Waves of color burst behind us, illusions twisting to the beat with serpents, fire, stardust, and smoke exploding into form.
"With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido
Yeah"
Susan Bones stands frozen, her mouth slightly open as if she's been hit with a Stunning Charm. The music has taken hold of her, something unfamiliar yet electrifying. Hannah Abbott dances freely beside her, hands in the air, twirling in rhythm, laughing like she's never felt so free in her life.
"Hey
Yay
I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end"
Blaise, who always leans back in the shadows, actually bobs his head with a grin. He taps his heel to the beat, mouthing lyrics without fully committing to the chorus. Beside him, Daphne wears a rare open smile, eyes on the instruments, arms crossed but swaying. Even she cannot pretend to be unimpressed.
"Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello"
Hermione, meanwhile, is transfixed—not on us, but on the glowing instruments. Her quill floats beside her forgotten. She studies every rune, watching how each one lights up with every precise note. Her lips move as she silently analyzes the spellwork behind the performance.
"With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido
Yeah
Hey
Yay"
It has been a week since the second term started, and this is how we've chosen to begin it. A performance. A declaration. Somehow, I convinced Harry and Tracey to form a band with me over winter break, and now, it feels like the most natural thing in the world.
"And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it's hard to find
Ooh well, whatever, nevermind
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello, how low
Hello, hello, hello"
We've grown fast. The instruments teach through their magic, runes lighting up under our fingers with each correct note. Practice has become more than repetition. It's expression. Connection.
I stayed behind during the break. Felix, brilliant fool that he is, managed to get himself injured again, and Mother went to visit him instead. She claimed it was minor. I still sent two letters just to be sure.
"With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido
A denial, a denial
A denial, a denial
A denial, a denial
A denial, a denial
A denial"
The final chord rings out like a spark in the air, and the magic ripples around the room one last time before fading.
The silence that follows is short-lived.
Cheers erupt.
Hermione claps awkwardly at first, then with growing energy. Hannah whoops loudly, and Susan just stares at me like I've rewritten the laws of reality. Daphne nudges Blaise, pretending not to smile wider, while Tracey throws her arms up triumphantly like she just won a Quidditch match.
Harry drops his drumsticks and breathes hard through a grin. "I still can't believe we pulled that off."
I lower the guitar and bow with exaggerated flair.
"Ladies and gentlemen," I say with a grin, strumming the final chord as it echoes through our little hideaway, "that was Smells Like Teen Spirit. And this... is only the beginning."
The room bursts into applause. There's something raw and honest in the way everyone reacts—no forced politeness, no fake excitement. Just genuine enjoyment. It feels good.
We stow away the instruments—each one humming softly as the runes settle—and make our way to the couches. The space dims slightly, warm lights drifting above us like lazy fireflies.
"So this is what you've been working on the last two months?" Daphne says with a raised brow, settling into a velvet chair with practiced grace.
"Yep," I say, still buzzing from the performance. Harry downs a cup of water like he just won a Triwizard event, and Tracey fans herself dramatically like she's about to faint from rockstar exhaustion.
Hermione leans forward, eyes already sparkling. "You're just a first-year," she blurts out, completely ignoring whatever etiquette Daphne was trying to maintain. "I read about runic applications over winter break, but what you did to those instruments is miles beyond anything in the theory books. They teach through use. They correct and amplify input. That's not just music, that's an integrated learning matrix—"
Hannah pounces, literally wrapping her arms around Hermione's back and bouncing slightly. "When's the next show?! That was brilliant! I want more of that magic guitar thing, and Tracey was a beast on the bass—like boom boom BOOM!"
I glance at my bandmates. Harry shrugs with a crooked smile. Tracey, still sprawled across the arm of a couch, shoots me a thumbs-up.
"I've got more songs," I admit shamelessly. "Dozens. Maybe hundreds." None of which technically exist in this world. Small detail.
"We'll practice when we're free," I say. "No skipping class or falling behind. I like being excellent too much."
Hermione perks up at that. Bless her.
What I don't mention is that I have clones now and a learning speed that would terrify the average professor. Let them think I'm just… naturally gifted. That's fun too.
<><><><><><><>
That night, long after the noise dies down and the last cup of pumpkin juice is drained, I sit in bed behind my drawn curtains. One quick Silencio and it's just me and the soft hum of my interface.
[GP: 62]
I exhale. Training has paid off. My control over the new powers is sharper than ever. With a bit more planning, I could probably take down Quirrell. All I need is a moment when he slips outside the castle to feed.
I tap the panel.
[Spend 30 GP for 10x Pull?]
[Yes.]
The interface pulses softly.
CLANK. CLACK. CLUNK.
Ten capsules roll into the chute. One at a time, I open them.
Duct Tape (Kim Possible Edition) – Reinforced. Multi-use. Honestly? This stuff is better than some healing spells.
Holo-Map Module (Halo) – Projects a 3D map of nearby terrain. Could be useful for tracking the Forbidden Forest.
Potion of Temporary Strength (Witcher) – +25% melee power for one minute. Nasty little ace up the sleeve.
Throwing Cards (Gambit – Weakened) – They hum with unstable magic. I'll need to be careful, but they have flair.
Stealth Field Generator (Damaged – Fallout) – Flickers. Not reliable for long, but maybe just enough to vanish.
Hunter License (Hunter x Hunter) – Access to restricted places and information. Very tempting to test at Gringotts.
Buggy's Chop-Chop Blade Fragment (One Piece) – Not bad. Detachable flying blade. Could work well with shadow play.
Rebooted Scouter (DBZ) – 10-mile range for magical energy levels. This one could come in very handy.
Sticky Bomb (Nightwing) – Small, compact, remote-trigger. Perfect for traps or chaos.
Rasengan (Naruto) – Rare Power Card.
I stop. Stare.
The card glows softly in my hand. Rasengan.
A concentrated sphere of raw power. A spiral of magic and energy. Pure impact.
It's only usable once a day, but that's all I'll ever need. With Alucard's shadow control, Zuko's fire, Ezio's precision… this just rounds out the kit.
I tap the card with my wand.
It absorbs into me with a spark of blue-white light. My palm tingles as the shape of the chakra sphere flickers once in my mind—instinctive, spiraling.
I smile.
There's something satisfying about seeing the inventory grow with purpose. These aren't just toys. They're pieces of the war I plan to win.
And one day soon, I'm going to open the forest.
I'm going to wait for Quirrell.
And when I do?
He'll never see it coming.
I lean back against the pillow, interface still glowing softly before me. My eyes shift to the corner of the screen.
[GP: 32]
I should save the last pull for later, but I have been saving up just for this occasion.
"Let's roll the dice one more time," I whisper.
[Spend 30 GP for 10x Pull?]
[Yes.]
The machine hums again. A low purr of magic and fate.
CLANK.
CLACK.
CLUNK.
Ten more capsules fall into the chute.
I crack the first one open.
Grav Boots (Low Power) – Slight gravity resistance. Allows for mid-air adjustments. Floaty. Not bad for evasion or vertical mobility.
Grappler Glove – Fires a tethered line with moderate range. Nothing fancy, but with my reflexes? It's more than enough.
Light Crystal – Emits a steady glow. Alchemical signature is faint, but I could experiment with rune amplification.
Magic Suppression Collar (Unlocked) – This one gives me pause. Temporarily neutralizes magical or quirk-based powers. Voluntary use. A threat or a gift. Depends who wears it.
Spray-On Armor – Basic but fast. Temporary protection in a pinch. Situational.
Heat-Resistant Cloak (Salamander Scale) – Strong against fire. Between that and Zuko's powers, I might walk through an inferno if I wanted to.
Handheld Matter Scanner – Reads material signatures. Blend of Arcane and Star Trek tech. Might be useful when exploring magical ruins.
Stamina Drink (B-Rank) – My Hero Academia-grade. Restores endurance. One use a day. Useful when I burn through magic or physical energy.
Capture Capsule (Unmarked) – Digimon-style. Not a Pokéball. This one's meant for digital or magical constructs. Could come in handy, though the success rate is chance-based.
Then I open the final one.
It vibrates.
A shimmer of deep blue light flashes.
[Rare Power Card: Spirit Gun – 1 Shot]
The energy pulses along my fingers as I tap the card. A memory I never lived fills my head—Yusuke pointing his finger, all power and confidence, releasing a blast that tears through the air.
I absorb the card.
Magic flares across my palm for a moment, then settles.
I flex my hand. One focused shot per day. Precision. Range. Force.
No theatrics. Just results.
[GP Remaining: 2]
I close the interface with a thought. The glow fades. The silence returns.
These items, these powers, they're preparing me for something bigger. Not just Quirrell. Not just Hogwarts.
My inventory is becoming a vault of advantages.
And with every pull, I get one step closer to rewriting the rules.