GamerFiction
patreon
Harry Potter: The Mage’s Path Chapter 1
🕑 Added 2022-10-04 03:58:47 +0000 UTCDisclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the intellectual property associated with Harry Potter.
Harry Potter turned the page, absorbed in reading the adventure of a farm boy who gets mixed up in events beyond his small rural village. Magic interested him. It was because he suspected he could perform magic. A strange notion, but he had witnessed enough incidents in the past that he couldn't disprove it with any reasonable logic.
The most extreme example was when Dudley and his gang were chasing him around the school last year. Harry, in his desperation, had teleported onto the school roof, which left him clinging to a chimney to keep himself from falling from a sloping roof.
Harry kept a diary of the various incidents. The usual trigger was when he felt intense emotions, like anger or fear. His magic subconsciously acted out and affected change in the world that should not be possible. So far, he couldn't do magic intentionally, but not for lack of trying.
He sat in his usual chair in the library's back corner. It was a cosy refuge he shared with a few kids like him, hiding from their tormentors.
Dudley and his small gang loved to play the 'Harry Hunting' game, where they chased him and gave him a thrashing. Apparently, it was one of the most popular games around the school. Not for him, though.
Unfortunately, St Grogory's Primary School held several adults on the school board who allowed their kids to get away with almost anything. Harry found it incredulous that the school was still open because of its many issues, but an old-school network of cronyism went a long way.
Harry heard a soft thunk next to him. He looked at the small side table in bewilderment. There was an unusual black book that had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Looking around, he tried to find anyone responsible for placing the book there. But he had not been so distracted that he missed someone sneaking up on him.
He returned to the book, which had a bold script written on the cover, displaying 'The Gamer'. Harry reached out a hand and touched the book and gasped. Additional words were writing themselves beneath the title in the same script.
You have discovered the power known as 'The Gamer'. It is a real-life version of a video game with Attributes, Levels and Skills. Do you wish to obtain this power?
Yes/No
What the hell? Harry looked around wildly, expecting a stampede of doctors running in to cart him off to the mental institution. Looking back at the words written in the book, Harry frowned. Did he cause this book to appear? Was he so desperate to escape from the shitty home conditions that he imagined a scenario like this? What did Belgarath say in the book he was reading? The will and the word? Well, he certainly didn't say any words.
Harry took off his glasses held together with sellotape and cleaned them on his sweater. The writing was still there. Was he supposed to choose an answer? Harry hesitated, but his natural curiosity got the best of him, and he reached out and pressed 'Yes'.
The book disappeared into a mote of light and rushed inside his head. Harry almost screamed like a little girl at the strange phenomenon. Yes, a book had just disappeared into his head.
A blue screen popped up in front of him, floating in mid-air. Harry pressed himself against the back of the chair in fright. Was that a hologram? Not the sort of technology that existed in 1991, outside of a science-fiction novel. Harry looked around to see if anyone else noticed the hologram, but it followed his line of sight. It was like a blemish on the eyeballs that you thought was something else, but when you changed the viewpoint, it did not vanish.
Had he entered an alternate dimension? Harry sat back down and focused on the text. Maybe it would give him a clue.
Disclaimer: The actions of The Gamer System (Gaia) cannot be predicted, as she is a sentient force. It transforms the player and the entire world into a real-life video game. Once the choice is made, it is permanent.
Rules of the Game
1. The player is the only individual who knows of Gaia. He is to tell no one EVER of her existence. The consequences for breaking this rule will be swift and fatal.
2. The player must complete Main Quests within the time limit. There will be harsh penalties applied depending on the degree of the transgression.
3. Gaia does not enjoy timid players who do nothing significant with their ability. It may force the player into situations if it considers the player uninteresting.
4. The player can only choose one of the Paths, which is permanent. The player's Attributes will differ depending on his chosen Path.
*Rules are subject to additions and modifications.
Do You Agree? Y/N
Harry couldn't recall seeing a similar video game, but he got the basic premise. There were some heavy consequences if he accepted, and he didn't know if the tradeoff would be worth the potential benefits. The logical answer would be not to take the offer and continue his ordinary life.
But what kind of life did he have? The Dursleys treated him like an unwanted family member and indentured servant. There was no happiness in living with his relatives. So why was he hesitating? It's not like he had anything to lose. He may end up disappointed, but he was well used to the feeling.
Harry pressed 'Yes', and another screen appeared. It presented him with several options to choose from, but he had only eyes for one Path since he had been obsessed with the idea from an early age.
You have chosen the Mage's Path.
The Mage's Path is to wield True Magic and not the inferior magic that the wizards possess. You begin your journey as an Apprentice Mage. The Path is long and arduous, but the journey and the destination will reward you beyond your wildest dreams.
We have downloaded the information on Gaia into your brain to facilitate your understanding. You will recall the pertinent information if you think of an applicable subject or need.
Enjoy the Game.
This was awesome. Harry never thought he would get such power in his wildest dreams. He was nobody special. At least, that is what he was led to believe. Maybe his fortunes were changing for the better.
Harry looked at the time on the wall and noticed he had half an hour left for lunch. Still plenty of time. The entire thing was so overwhelming that he wondered where he should start. Suddenly, it was as if he recalled a memory, and information flooded his brain. He now knew what to do next.
"Status"
Harry Potter Age: 10
Title: Apprentice Mage
Level: 1 [0%] AP: 0
Resources
Energy: 100 | 100 Regen: 5 per hour
Mana: 140 | 140 Regen: 10 per hour
Attributes
DEX:10 | VIT:5 | MAG:7 | INT:10 | WIL:10 | PER:7 | CHA: 8 |
Resistances
Physical Defence: 5 | Magical Defence: 0 |
Status Effects: (Physical) 2.5% | Status Effects: (Mind) 5% |
Perks
Apprentice Mage: + 1 to Magic, Willpower per level
???????: ???????
Detriments
Malnourished: (removable)
Harry Potter is below his height and weight for his age because of poor nutrition. Increase food consumption by threefold for three months to remove this detriment. Long-term consequences may ensue if not corrected. Training Vitality is less effective. {-5 to Vitality}.
Impaired Vision: (partially corrected)
Harry Potter cannot see what's beneath his nose without wearing spectacles. His current pair is not a prescription and doesn't give him a perfect vision. Obtain a prescribed pair of spectacles to fix his eyesight before it becomes permanent {-30% to Perception}.
Shabby Dresser: (removable)
The way someone dresses affects their mood and how people perceive them. Find some better fitting clothes to remove this detriment {-2 to Charisma}.
???????: (removable) - 25% to Magic.
How was he supposed to understand this stuff? Fortunately, as he read through it, new information was revealing itself, and he started to get a handle on how it worked. He took a notebook from his bag and started noting the details.
Titles were a mark of distinction that offered benefits to the player. Most titles had to be equipped to be active, but some, like his Apprentice Mage title, gave him the advantage without needing to be equipped. Titles are earned by accomplishing incredible feats. It also may be something he gained automatically through events outside of his control.
Levelling was a simple concept. Earn experience to level up and earn five Attribute Points (AP) to spend on your Attributes. The higher the level, the more experience is needed.
Resources were his most important element because they related directly to his survivability. They were in constant flux, depending on the actions he took.
In simplistic terms, Energy was like a cloak of invincibility that protected his body from damage. When Energy fell to zero, his body became vulnerable to injury and death. Energy could also be a resource for physical skills such as body enhancements. It would be a constant juggling act between preserving his Energy and using physical skills to make the fight easier.
Mana was his resource for using all other skills not covered by Energy, such as spells. It was his primary source of doing magic and dealing damage, so it was important to have as much Mana as possible.
Attributes represented his overall power and affected everything. Ten was the average for a person his age. He took a particular interest because he could train his Attributes early on before they reached a threshold. It would be better to hold off spending AP until that point.
Dexterity (DEX) = Dexterity determined his expertise with his hands. It affected all crafting jobs and his skill with small weapons like daggers. Furthermore, it increased his aptitude with all dextrous activities, like playing musical instruments.
Vitality (VIT) = Vitality was his life force. It determined the amount of Energy available and his Energy Regeneration. Another benefit was that it increased his Energy's resistance to physically debilitating status effects.
Magic (MAG) = Magic was key for his Path. It determined the amount of Mana at his disposal and the potency of his spells. It also affected his general aptitude for magic and allowed him to learn some powerful abilities.
Intelligence (INT) = Intelligence represented his knowledge and memory. The higher it was, the more effective he was in storing, retrieving and memorising information. It also determined the number of skills he could learn.
Willpower (WILL) = Willpower was his mental fortitude and perseverance. It determined his ability to resist pain and increased his Energy's resistance to mind-debilitating status effects. Also, it determined his Mana Regeneration.
Perception (PER) = The Perception Attribute was his ability to perceive the world around him. It affected his accuracy, critical hit chances and ability to dodge attacks. Also, it helped him notice hidden details and sense living beings in the general vicinity.
Charisma (CHA) = Charisma was a combination of his appearance, voice and presence. The higher it is, the more charismatic and refined he would become and the more nuanced he became in noticing people's ideals and motives.
The biggest problem with the Mage's Path was that it didn't have any physical Attributes that could reduce damage in a fight or make him faster. If his Energy fell to zero, he was a glass canon. He could still make his body more robust, but that existed outside Gaia and was restricted to real-world physics. His Defence was determined by the equipment he wore, and it would add a resistance modifier to his Energy, so it was important.
Perks were self-explanatory; they were like bonuses he received like the titles, except he could have as many as he wanted. Detriments were the negative aspect, but they were removable. The detriment that had question marks beside it was a considerable liability. He hoped he found the information to fix it as soon as possible.
New Main Quest!
Discover the System
Description: Harry Potter has inherited Gaia and needs to learn how it operates. Obtain a comprehensive amount of basic information to set you up for success in the future.
Objective: Obtain information on Gaia.
Time Limit: One week.
Rewards: 50 £, Spectacles, Grimoire
This quest is mandatory.
Harry's eyes widened at the rewards. A Grimoire was a spell book. Was he going to learn some cool spells? He could feel his anticipation rising, and he tried to reign in his impatience.
The money was also significant, and he had never possessed such a large amount of money before. If he kept it from his relatives, he could get some proper meals. They didn't like to waste money on him. Hence he was below his average height and weight. His unmistakable poor orphan vibes should have clued the school to some issues at home. Harry had learned, however, that adults were stupid.
The bell rang, and Harry groaned in disappointment. He put the book back on the shelf and headed back to class.
{0(((..)))0}
Harry stood with the rest of the class in physical education. Their teacher was putting them through some sprinting relays. He warmed up by doing some stretches while waiting for his turn.
He noticed his Heads Up Display (HUD) was in effect, and he had two bars on the left side of his vision, red and blue. They represented his Energy and Mana, respectively. However, he reminded himself to check out the settings later to see if he could adjust for a better configuration.
Watching Dudley try to run was always fun. The way his fat wobbled was almost hypnotising, and a few kids dared to giggle as Dudley collapsed halfway down the track.
Mr Mason blew the whistle. "Alright, Dudley, get off the track. The next group of kids take your positions."
Harry stood in line with a few others and waited for the whistle. He was the quickest in the class, so he didn't foresee losing. It was a quick sprint of two hundred metres.
The whistle blew, and Harry sprinted ahead. He held his head high and kept his back straight as his feet pounded into the ground. Running was freedom; it was the one time he didn't hunch his shoulders and avoid drawing attention to himself.
Harry crossed the line a metre ahead of the nearest opponent and stopped with hands on his knees. His stamina was horrible.
A soft chime sounded. Harry hid his surprise from the others and tried to act nonchalant.
"Alright, great work, guys," Mr Mason called. "Take five."
Everyone sprawled on the grass, and Harry sat behind everyone so he could continue exploring the 'System.' A new notification had appeared, and Harry skimmed through the message.
By repeating a specific action, you have learned a new skill!
Running | Passive | Level:7 | Next:78/100% | Cost: 1 E/s |
Description: The act of running is an art form. You have learned how to use your body to your best advantage through repeated practice. Keep your back straight and your head high; lift your knees and lengthen your stride, and you will come out ahead of the pack.
- +14% running speed.
- +14% to Perception when running.
It was a handy skill to have in a pinch. It meant Harry could escape a dangerous situation as long as he had Energy to spare.
He could learn skills by performing an action repeatedly. If you had previous experience, then it would adjust the level to compensate. Harry could not learn every skill this way, as there was no reasonable equivalent action to practise. Still, he could get other skills by reading skill books or getting them as rewards.
Harry found it interesting how experience worked regarding skills. The amount of experience needed to level was based on several factors. For example, {Sprint} was slow to level because his body wasn't in optimal condition. Since he was a Mage, he also didn't get any bonus levelling for physical skills.
"Alright, guys and girls, back to your feet," Mr Mason called.
{0(((..)))0}
History class was a drag. The teacher was droning on about the Second World War. Usually, Harry would be very interested in the subject, as he liked the subject and he was one of the best students of his year. It just gave the Dursleys another reason to hate him. He was more intelligent than their son.
However, today was different, and he just wanted to be finished with school. He was lucky that this was the last week before the summer holidays, so he would have plenty of time to explore his power.
"Alright, one last question before we finish for the day. Who was Prime Minister for the UK for most of the Second World War?"
Harry shot his hand up enthusiastically, but the teacher merely smiled and pointed at him.
"Winston Churchill," Harry answered.
You have reached a new threshold.
+ 1 Intelligence
New information flooded his brain, and he now understood the mechanics of training Attributes. There was a hidden experience bar attached to all the Attributes that increased every time he did a related activity. For example, Intelligence increases by answering questions in class, doing well on a test, or learning general knowledge. It accumulates until it reaches the threshold, increasing the Attribute by one.
"Correct," the teacher said, looking at her watch. "Okay, the bell should go soon. Free time until it does."
When the teacher turned her back, Dudley kicked him in the leg from behind.
Harry Potter has taken 2 damage.
Energy: [98 | 100]
Harry winced, but he didn't move, and Dudley growled in frustration when he didn't get a reaction. Although he was invulnerable to damage, he could still feel pain. Hopefully, that would disappear when he increased his Willpower.
Dudley was about to kick him again when the bell rang, and Harry shot out of his chair. Harry entered the small alcove and grabbed his tattered backpack. He left quickly and dodged the thickening crowd of students pouring out of the classrooms.
Outside, he jumped down the steps and landed cat-like before continuing to the gate.
"Wait up, freak!" Dudley called from behind him. Harry looked back and saw Dudley and the gang chasing him. Dudley was trying to chase him; he was doing a slow jog and falling even further behind.
Harry flipped him the bird. He was feeling extra daring today.
Turning left outside the gate, he ran down the street. Harry decided to test the skill out and used {Running}. He immediately noticed a difference in speed, and the gang behind them fell further behind before giving up the chase. Harry watched his Energy bar closely, and when it hit fifty per cent, he cancelled the skill and slowed down. It was best to keep his Energy in reserve in unexpected situations.
Suddenly, a combination of hunger and overheating made him dizzy, and he staggered to the bench. Harry waited a few moments for the dizziness to pass before taking a breath and opening his eyes. He yelled in fright when a guy stood before him, peeing at him closely.
The man raised his hands in apology. "Sorry to frighten you, kid. I saw you sitting down and thought I should ensure you were okay."
"It's fine," Harry stuttered. The man's physical presence intimidated him.
The man was only about 5'10 but was packing some serious muscles. He was dressed casually in shorts and a blue muscle shirt that showed the size of his chest and arms emphatically. He looked friendly enough with an amiable smile, pale blue eyes, and short dark hair.
"Was it the heat?" He asked, eyeing Harry's oversized clothes with an expression of distaste.
Harry stiffened, well used to people's disdain for his clothes and stood up abruptly. "Nothing serious. Just needed a break."
The man must have realised how he must look because his expression cleared. "Forgive my manners. My name is Ben Miller."
"Harry Potter," he said politely.
Ben took out a card and handed it to him. Harry looked at it; it was an address for a gym a few miles from his house.
"You're certainly fast enough for your age, but you need more stamina. Come check out my gym if you're interested." Ben gave him a wave and left, jogging around the corner.
Harry pushed his glasses up and eyed the card. Shrugging, he pocketed the card and continued heading towards Privet Drive. The offer was attractive, and he needed to increase his physical capabilities. Maybe he could do more quests to earn money for the membership.
Harry was heading for a grove of trees at the back of Privet Drive. There was a well-hidden clearing where he usually went when he wanted to get away from his relatives.
Harry stepped into the grove of aspen trees. The tall trees were undoubtedly distinctive: pale white bark, black scars scoring the trunks, and a high canopy of branches with green leaves. They stood amongst a bed of overgrown foliage, and only a tiny narrow path could be seen if you squinted long enough.
He made his way quickly, having long memorised the route. Above him, a chorus of bird calls echoed through the woods. Soon he turned from the path and moved further towards the middle, where a small clearing was located. It was dominated by an enormous boulder, which made for a convenient backrest.
Sitting down, Harry took off his sweater and sighed in relief as he felt a cool breeze on his skin. Placing the bag on the ground, Harry walked over to a fallen tree and reached inside the hollow space. He grabbed the plastic bag and pulled out a box of muesli bars and a water bottle. This was his stash that he stole from the Dursley's pantry. The two male Dursleys consumed so much food that they never noticed when some went missing.
Harry sat back down and satisfied his hunger. He wanted to continue where he had left off, finishing the quest and receiving the rewards. There were a couple of hours before he had to be home. Thankfully, today was takeout night, and he didn't have to cook dinner. Even if he showed up late, they wouldn't care. It wasn't like he got a share.
Harry decided to open the menu and see all the options he had.
[Status]
[Skills]
[Quests]
[Inventory]
[Map]
[Settings]
Harry had already done a basic overview of the first two options, so he did the next option.
Quests were a task he had to complete to receive rewards or affect something in the world around him. They came in various types, such as Main Quests, Side Quests and Daily Tasks. There were more kinds to be discovered, but he didn't have to worry about that for now.
If you failed the Main Quest, you had to complete a Punishment Quest, which was more challenging and dangerous. To add insult to injury, it didn't offer rewards. The System spawned Main Quests related to him, but it generated the other types because of several factors. Such as location, time, and fulfilling specific prerequisites.
Harry continued to the next topic.
'{Inventory}'
A grid appeared with thirty empty squares. Above the grid were extra tabs labelled currency and equipment. The way it worked was to push the item against the screen, and it would fill one square. Identical items could be stacked. To retrieve the item, press the square, and the item will appear in his hands. He better not let anyone else see him using his inventory.
Harry grinned when new information revealed itself. He changed to the Equipment Tab and saw another grid, but with an extra feature. There was a silhouette of a body with several empty slots surrounding it to denote items you could instantly equip by placing an article. He picked up his sweater and put it in the torso slot. The sweater appeared on him, but there was a tremendous difference. It had shrunken down and resized to fit his frame.
Harry took the rest of his clothes off and repeated the process. Now he wore a complete set of clothes that fit him perfectly. So this what he felt like to feel normal? Had he ever worn clothes that fit properly?
Congratulations!
The Detriment: Shabby Dresser has been removed
Charisma Restored
What would the Dursleys think when he returned with clothes that actually fit? Harry wasn't sure he cared.
The inventory's last but most significant feature was that it preserved items forever. So Harry could place any food there, and it would stay fresh. It was huge because it meant that as long as he could get money from quests, he could buy food, hide it in his inventory, and never go hungry again.
Harry focused on the following topic.
'{Map}'
A large map appeared in front of him. It was currently zoomed into his location in the woods, where a gold marker was set, representing him. With a thought, he zoomed out. Now he could see the entirety of Little Whinging. It gave a stark view of the design of the streets and how the houses were interchangeable. It was both efficient and creepy at the same time.
Harry could see where he had previously explored was revealed as the Map was clear, unlike the rest of the Map, which remained concealed. The rest was obscured by darkness. Zooming out further, he could see he had explored most of the town. He even discovered the gym, though he doesn't remember ever walking down that street.
With a thought, he placed a blue marker on the gym so he would find it easier later. He was about to close the Map when he noticed something strange. The entire Whinging area had a barely discernible golden border, with faint golden lines leading back to his house.
Harry frowned. What was that? He zoomed in on his 4 Privet Drive and searched the area until he found something in the backyard. It was a significant concentration of the same golden colour mixed with red.
New Chain Quest!
A Desperate Gamble 01
What Lies Beneath
Description: What is the object buried in the backyard at 4 Privet Drive? How does it correlate to the surrounding Whinging region? Discover the unusual phenomenon affecting the town.
Objective: Search for the object
Time Limit: One Week
This quest is mandatory.
"I wonder what that could be?" Harry muttered. He would find out when he returned to Privet Drive.
Quest Chains were a series of quests that significantly affected his life, for good or worse. It offered substantial rewards for completing the entire Quest Chain, so they were worth the trouble, at least.
Harry turned his attention to the last topic.
Settings offered various gameplay options he could tinker with to adjust his play style. The first option was to turn on the minimap in his HUD. He didn't know why that wasn't a default setting. He also found that he could turn the HUD on and off, which was helpful. Other useful UI options he changed were to make the screen more transparent and the text larger. Harry played with the settings more, but nothing else stood out to him. He closed the screen and waited.
Congratulations!
Main Quest: Discover the System: Complete!
Rewards: 50£, Spectacles, Grimoire
He was in the money. In the Currency Tab was fifty pounds waiting. Harry drooled, imagining the food he could buy with fifty pounds.
Next, he retrieved the spectacles. They looked a lot better than his own. He took his old pair off and put on the new ones. Harry gasped; never had he seen the world in such crystal clarity before; it was like he was seeing an entirely new world. Harry looked at a tree a few metres away, and he could easily see the patterns of the trunk, whereas before, it would be blurry.
Congratulations!
The Detriment: Impaired Vision has been removed.
Perception has been restored.
Note: This is only true when the player is wearing the Spectacles.
Congratulations!
You have discovered a skill attached to the Spectacles.
Skills can sometimes be found on special items when you fulfil specific conditions. In this case, simply putting the spectacles on is the condition.
Observation | Active | Lv:1 | Next:0% | Cost:5 MP |
Description: Knowledge is power. Observe an object or living entity and learn its secrets. The higher the skill level, the more information is revealed.
Divulges information on living things five levels above the player.
Observation Range: 5.35 metres (Modifier: Perception)
Harry's brilliant emerald green eyes gleamed with excitement. Just how good is this skill? He could imagine so many usages for it; he wondered how much information it would reveal. Could he observe someone and know all their dirty little secrets? Okay, that sounded bad.
He turned his attention to the last item. The Grimoire was a thick book dressed in red leather with the illustration of a flame on the front cover.
'{Observation}'
Grimoire of Flames
Owner: Harry Potter
Description: A special Grimoire is given to all aspiring Mages interested in the school of Fire Magic. Grimoires are used as a tool to teach spells in sequential order. The first spell must be mastered sufficiently before the next is revealed.
Spells Unlocked
Basic Fireball
Harry opened the Grimoire quickly and on the first page was an illustration of a person casting a fireball. Below it was a brief description of the spell.
Would you like to learn Basic Fireball?
Yes/No
Harry quickly pressed 'Yes.'
You have learned Basic Fireball.
Basic Fireball | Active | Lv:1 | Next: 0% | Cost:6 MP |
Description: A basic fireball that is thrown. Deals a small amount of fire damage when it hits the target. It has a slight chance of inflicting a burn status. At higher levels, it deals more damage and can fly further.
- Fire Damage: 8-11 [Modification: Magic]
- Burn Status Effect Chance: 1%
- Attack Range: 5 metres
Harry stood up and backed away to gain some distance. He held his right hand up, facing the rock, casting the magic.
'{Fireball}'
A small ball of orange flame manifested in front of his hand, about the size of a tennis ball. Harry gaped in amazement, but it hovered there in mid-air. Remembering that he needed to throw the {Fireball}, he cocked his arm back and aimed for the rock before throwing the ball of fire. It flew straight at the rock, a hard target to miss from only three metres away.
It impacted the rock and exploded in a shower of sparks. The rock remained undamaged, but there was a scorch mark that left a blemish on the rock.
Harry pumped his fist. This was absolutely the best day of his life.
A Dungeon has manifested.
Instant Dungeon: Wandering Aspen Horrors (Levels 1-5)
Defeat the Boss to escape.
Spoke too soon.
