(Harry Potter) Lost in a game

§"Talking in Parseltongue"§

§Spells in Parseltongue§

System UI

"Powerful beings talking"

"Normal conversation"

Thinking deeply

"Non-English conversation"

September 21, 1977

POV: Antares Hecate

It's been a week since Regulus and I discovered the Chamber

of Secrets. The two of us have been sneaking down there every day to train,

refining our spells and abilities, and I can actually feel the progress. Well,

"feel" isn't exactly the right word. More like I can see my progress.

+6 skill points

Yes, from training alone, I can earn skill points. That

caught me off guard. I assumed using a skill would just level it up naturally,

like Charms or Defense Against the Dark Arts, but the game works differently.

It awards me points to allocate myself. Meaning I could just use charms when

training but actually get

better at potions instead.

I've been hoarding them, waiting until I had a decent amount

to see just how noticeable the improvements would be. And today? Today's the

day I spend them.

MAIN MENU: SKILLS

AND PERKS

Antares Hecate

95% Wizard / 5%

???

Level 26

SKILLS: (19

unspent points)

Transfiguration:

26

Potions: 31

Defense Against

the Dark Arts: 36

Charms: 23

Herbology: 17

Astronomy: 32

Care of Magical

Creatures: 44

Divination: 0 (requires

perk: Seer)

Arithmancy: 30

Ancient Runes: 24

Dark Arts: 0

Parselmagic: 10

PERKS: (Locked -

unlock at level 50)

Perk – Parseltongue:

Whoever said snakes don't have thoughts was so far off—they can talk! User can

now communicate with any creature that appears snake-like and can command all

snakes, minus their King.

Perk – Friend of

the Queen:

(Parselmagic can

now reach level 200. Every two levels past 100 increase the power of spells by

1% up to 50%.)

I scroll through the list and dump 19 points into Charms,

bringing the stat to 48.

"All my hard work into this one stat," I muttered to myself,

shutting the menu with a satisfied swipe. I swear to God, if this doesn't

make a difference, I'm going to lose it. I nearly got killed for those points.

The common room was loud, as usual, so I decided to head to

class early, eager to test if my investment paid off. As I reached the door,

someone called out my name.

"Hey, Antares, can I talk to you for a bit?"

I turned, surprised at who I saw. Sirius Black. Alone.

Without James Potter. Has the world ended? My shock stayed internal, and I

smirked instead.

"Yes, Black?" I asked, letting my voice carry a slight edge

of amusement.

His eye twitched, but he pressed on. "First, no, the world

isn't ending. James just got caught, so maybe you were right about the whole

pink prank going horribly wrong." He grimaced but quickly shook it off. "But

that's not why I'm here. I overheard a group of seventh years planning to

ambush Lily."

His words caught me off guard, and I raised a brow.

"And you came to me?" I crossed my arms. "Only me? Sirius,

you could've gone to plenty of people. Teachers. Hell, if they wouldn't believe

you because of your reputation, you could've asked—I don't know—LILY'S

FRIENDS?"

He winced slightly, then looked genuinely annoyed as he shot

back, "Okay, I get it! But we don't have time. Follow me."

Without waiting for a reply, Sirius darted toward the exit,

leaving me standing there in silence. It became clear why he asked me: I was

the only one close enough that he knew would help, and he was desperate.

"Bloody Gryffindors How the fuck did I end up here" I

muttered, before jogging after him.

As Sirius and I sprinted down the Hogwarts corridors, I

matched his pace, refusing to lag behind. The castle walls blurred past us, lit

dimly by the enchanted torches that flickered in the midday light filtering

through the windows. The familiar scent of stone and old parchment lingered in

the air, but I barely registered it. My focus was on Sirius, whose urgency was

almost palpable.

We darted past a group of Ravenclaws chatting near a

staircase, their laughter dying as we passed. The halls gradually opened up,

and the distant sound of voices grew louder—angry voices.

The courtyard came into view. It was one of the quieter

corners of Hogwarts, flanked by archways and worn stone benches. Today,

however, it was far from peaceful.

A group of seventh-year Slytherins loomed over Lily Evans,

their voices cutting through the still air.

"You're a waste of magic, Evans," one sneered, his

words sharp and venomous. "A filthy Mudblood like you shouldn't even be here.

Why don't you just do us all a favor and off yourself?"

The words made my blood run cold. Lily stood her ground, her

wand gripped tightly in her hand. Beside her was Severus Snape, his expression

caught somewhere between anger and discomfort as he feebly tried to interject.

"Leave her alone," he muttered, his voice lacking the force

to be taken seriously.

One of the Slytherins, a tall boy with a cruel grin, turned

to him. "Why do you even bother with this Mudblood, Snape?"

Snape stiffened. His lips parted as though to say something,

but his hesitation betrayed him. "Because this Mud…" His voice faltered, his

dark eyes flicking toward Lily. "…is a good friend of mine."

I saw the way Lily flinched at the hesitation, the

almost-spoken slur hanging in the air like a curse.

That was enough for me.

With a swift motion, I raised my wand and sent a stunning

spell hurtling toward the tall Slytherin. He didn't even see it coming. The

spell struck him square in the chest, and he crumpled to the ground,

unconscious.

The rest of the Slytherins turned, their wands snapping up

to face me.

"Petrificus Totalus!" I shouted, aiming at the nearest one.

He froze mid-motion, his limbs snapping to his sides as he toppled over like a

felled tree.

Sirius joined in with a gleeful roar. "Expelliarmus!" The

spell hit another Slytherin, sending their wand spiraling through the air.

The fight quickly turned chaotic. Spells of every color

illuminated the courtyard, reflecting off the damp stone walls. One of the

Slytherins managed to fire a Blasting Curse at me, the force sending me

stumbling back into a bench. My shoulder screamed in protest, but I pushed

through the pain, hurling a Disarming Charm in retaliation.

More Gryffindors poured into the courtyard, drawn by the

commotion. One of the older students tackled a Slytherin to the ground, their

wands clattering away. Sirius was dueling two opponents at once, his wild grin

never faltering as he cast Shield Charms and hexes with practiced ease.

Eventually, the remaining Slytherins realized they were

outnumbered. The fight ended as abruptly as it had begun, with them dragging

their unconscious friends away while muttering curses under their breath.

In the aftermath, Lily's emerald eyes burned with fury as

she turned to Snape, her voice trembling with restrained anger.

"You almost said it, didn't you?" she demanded, her words as

sharp as a knife.

Snape's face paled, his dark eyes darting between Lily and

the ground. "I—I didn't! I caught myself!"

Lily's hands clenched at her sides, her wand still gripped

tightly. "Oh, so you caught yourself this time?" she snapped. "Because that's

so much better, isn't it? It just proves how easily it slips out when you're

with your Slytherin friends, doesn't it? Behind my back, right?"

"No! I would never—" Snape's voice cracked, but Lily wasn't

having it.

"You say it behind my back, and now you think catching

yourself in front of me makes it okay?" Her voice rose, drawing murmurs from

the Gryffindors who had stayed to watch. "You know what, Severus? You haven't

been a good friend lately. Not for a long time. And maybe it's time to end

this. So you don't have to feel guilty about calling me a Mudblood anymore."

Snape flinched as though she'd slapped him. His mouth opened

and closed, but no words came out. For a moment, he looked utterly lost, but

Lily had already turned away from him.

Her anger softened as her gaze landed on me, and she stepped

closer. "Thank you, Antares," she said quietly, her voice carrying a weight of

genuine gratitude.

Name:

Lily Evans

Level:

18

Race:

Muggleborn Witch

Age:

16

Reputation:

35 [A blooming friendship] - Have I ever spoken to him?

Blooming friendship? Don't I get a choice in

most of these matters? Though I shouldn't complain, a new friend is always a

good thing.

After reading the Game quickly I shrugged awkwardly,

shifting under the intensity of her gaze. "It's what anyone would do."

Lily tilted her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at the

corners of her lips. She turned her attention to the crowd that had gathered

during the commotion. Standing at the back, looking utterly confused, was James

Potter, his wild hair even messier than usual. His wand was drawn, but it was

clear he had arrived too late to be of any use.

"Not just anyone," Lily said, her voice firm as she looked

back at me.

Before I could react, she grabbed my hand, her grip firm but

warm, and began pulling me away from the scene. I caught a glimpse of James

staring after us, his mouth slightly open in disbelief, before Lily dragged me

out of the courtyard and into the castle.

Optional Quest

Completed

 Solidarity

-         

Help out your housemate in an unfair duel.

Optional Objective

Completed: Beat the most opponents.

Rewards:

 Increase your reputation with Lily Evans.

20 Galleons

Level Up 27 (+2

skill points)

As we walked through the dimly lit halls of the castle, the

air around us was heavy with unspoken words. Lily's hand was still gripping

mine, though her focus seemed far away. I glanced at her, the tension in her

expression making me uneasy.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly, breaking the silence.

"I'm fine," she replied quickly, but her voice lacked

conviction. She didn't elaborate, and the silence stretched on, her hand still

firmly holding mine.

After a few minutes of awkward quiet, I cleared my throat.

"So… what's eating at your mind?"

She stopped walking for a moment, her grip tightening

slightly. Then, with a sharp edge to her voice, she replied, "You."

I blinked, completely caught off guard. "I'm sorry?"

"Eww, not that" she said, wrinkling her nose in mock

disgust. "It is about you."

A groan escaped me, and I rubbed my temples dramatically.

"Fucking hell."

Lily giggled at my exaggerated reaction, the sound

lightening the tension just a little. She let out a deep breath, her amusement

fading into a more serious tone. "I don't like his friends."

I didn't need to ask who she was talking about. "Snape?"

She gave a small nod. "I should be happy for him, shouldn't

I? He's finally branching out, making friends… I mean, I was probably his only

one for years." Her voice cracked slightly, and she paused before continuing.

"But he's making the wrong sort of friends."

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "Don't you think

you were a bit harsh, though, Evans?"

Her gaze snapped to mine, and for the first time in the

conversation, she looked directly at me. Her green eyes were filled with a mix

of sadness and frustration. "Call me Lily, not Evans."

I nodded, correcting myself quickly. "Okay, Ev—Lily."

She sighed, the weight of the conversation pressing down on

her shoulders. "Honestly… I think I was too light on him. I've spent so long

making excuses for him, defending him, but it's eating at my mind. I can't do

it anymore."

I stopped walking and turned to face her fully. "I don't

know how close you were with him, but from what I saw today… you did the right

thing."

The moment the words left my mouth, her eyes welled up with

tears. Before I could even process what was happening, Lily broke down, her

shoulders shaking as she tried to hold back sobs.

Not knowing what else to do, I stepped closer and pulled her

into a hug. Her arms slipped around me as she buried her face into my shoulder,

her tears soaking into my robes. I didn't say anything, just held her as she

let it all out, stroking her hair gently in an attempt to comfort her.

For a few minutes, we stayed like that, the world around us

fading into the background. It was just me and Lily, her heartbreak visible,

and all I could do was be there for her.

Lily eventually pulled away, wiping her eyes with the sleeve

of her robe. She looked up at me, her emerald green eyes still glistening with

unshed tears. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude. A

small, watery smile broke through her emotional haze, and it was enough to stir

something warm in my chest.

I gave her a reassuring nod. "Anytime."

She took a deep breath, collecting herself, and then asked,

"So… what class do you have now?" Her tone was a bit awkward, and her body

language hinted at someone trying to shift the mood.

I decided to play along. "I've got Charms," I said simply.

Her face brightened immediately. "I do too! Let's walk

together." She said trying to move on from the awkward moment.

There wasn't any reason to refuse, so I agreed, and we fell

into step beside each other. The tension from earlier seemed to lift as we

talked about classes and lighter topics. She told me about some of her favorite

spells she'd been practicing, and I shared a funny story about a miscast charm

in Potions last week.

By the time we reached the Charms classroom, I was feeling

more at ease, but as soon as we walked through the door, I could feel the

atmosphere shift.

James Potter was already seated, and the moment he saw us

enter together, his gaze fixed on me like a hawk. His brown eyes narrowed, the

jealousy practically radiating off him in waves. It was obvious he didn't like

seeing Lily with someone else, let alone someone she seemed genuinely happy

talking to.

Sirius Black, seated beside James, noticed his friend's

reaction and glanced between the two of us. His expression was more

complicated—a mix of pride and worry. He gave me a subtle nod, almost as if to

say, Nice going, but his gaze flickered back to James with a hint of concern.

Lily, oblivious to the tension, smiled brightly at me.

"Thanks for walking with me, Antares," she said as she made her way to her

usual seat.

I nodded in acknowledgment, taking my own seat a few rows

back. The moment I sat down, I could feel James' glare boring into the back of

my head. Sirius leaned over and said something to him, likely trying to diffuse

the situation, but I didn't stick around to find out.

For now, I'd focus on Charms and not the drama simmering

behind me. After all, it wasn't my fault I'd just earned a spot in Lily Evans'

good graces—or that it seemed to bother James Potter a whole lot more than it

should.

Professor

Flitwick, the diminutive but sharp-witted Charms professor with two years of

experience under his belt, called out to me as I packed up my things.

"May I have

a word, Mr. Hecate?"

I glanced

over at Lily, who had paused midway through packing her bag. "Go ahead, Lily.

I'll catch up to you later."

She

hesitated for a moment but then nodded, offering a small smile before leaving

with her bag slung over her shoulder.

I made my

way to Flitwick, bowing my head slightly in respect. "Yes, Professor?"

"Relax, my

boy. You're not in trouble." He waved me toward the chair next to his desk with

a warm smile. "Have a seat."

I did as he

asked, curious about what this was all about.

"I just

wanted to commend you," he began, his tone friendly but thoughtful. "I've

noticed an improvement in your control over charms lately. Not just control,

actually—the power behind your spells has grown significantly."

I blinked,

taken aback. "Thank you, sir." Then, after a beat of confusion, I added, "Wait…

you can sense something like that?"

Flitwick

chuckled softly, his high-pitched laugh carrying a note of amusement. "Oh, my

dear boy, I would think you'd know that goblins have an innate ability to sense

magic. Surely you've studied magical creatures?"

I winced,

scratching the back of my neck. "Sorry, Professor. My family… they weren't too

keen on me interacting with goblins, so I never learned much about them beyond

the basics."

His

cheerful demeanor dimmed slightly, a shadow of melancholy crossing his face.

"Ah, yes. A long history of mistrust and misunderstanding between goblins and

wizards. It is a fault shared on both sides, I'm afraid. But,"—he waved the

thought away with a tiny hand—"I'm no History of Magic professor. Let's get

back to the matter at hand."

I smirked.

"I'm sure you'd be better than Binns, sir."

"Professor

Binns, young man," he corrected with mock sternness, though the corners of his

mouth twitched upward.

"Sorry,

sir," I said with a grin, trying not to laugh.

He returned

to the topic, his tone turning more academic. "As I was saying, goblins can

sense the magical potential of individuals—how much energy they put into their

spells and their affinity for certain types of magic. It's a rare skill among

wizards, but goblins possess it naturally."

"Wait," I

interrupted, "so this 'potential' you're sensing—what exactly does that mean?"

"Ah, an

excellent question!" He stroked his short, well-groomed beard, his eyes

twinkling. "It relates to why magic is divided into different

disciplines—charms, transfiguration, potions, and so on. Each witch or wizard

has natural strengths and weaknesses in these fields."

I frowned,

trying to piece it together. "So… people are born with fixed strengths in

magic?"

"To an

extent," he said, tilting his hand in a so-so motion. "For example, I've been

told you excel in combat spells, but your charms work has—well, let's say it's

left room for improvement."

I couldn't

help but grimace at his gentle phrasing. "So… are you saying that no matter how

much I practice, I'll never be great at charms?"

"Not

quite!" he said quickly, raising a hand. "One can always improve with

dedication and hard work. But magic is like music. Some people may learn to

play an instrument competently, but few will reach the level of a virtuoso.

However—" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "—something seems to have

changed in your case."

My throat

tightened. "Changed how?"

"I've been

teaching you for two years, and until recently, your charms work has been,

shall we say, average. But now, your potential in charms has become… quite

remarkable." He leaned back, his eyes studying me with quiet intensity.

I didn't

know how to respond to that. "Sir…"

"It's not

just charms, Mr. Hecate." His expression shifted slightly, his usual cheer

tempered by something more serious. "I suspect you possess similar potential in

other fields—transfiguration perhaps, or even dueling."

"Is that a…

bad thing?" I asked hesitantly.

"Not

inherently," he said, folding his hands. "But I must caution you. Magic and

power can be intoxicating. Many wizards, even the most brilliant, have lost

themselves in the pursuit of strength. Be mindful of the path you walk, young

man. You're talented, yes—but never let that talent consume you."

His words

settled heavily in the air, and for a moment, I wasn't sure how to reply.

Flitwick

gave me a small, reassuring smile, his tone lightening. "Don't look so worried.

I'm merely offering some advice. You're young, Mr. Hecate, with a bright future

ahead of you. Just promise me you'll remember these words."

I nodded, hopefully

he only thinks I did some kind of Ritual and not a deal with a devil. Wait if Gods are real

doesn't that mean demons are real as well. swallowing the lump in my throat I

replied.

"I will,

sir."

"Good lad."

He clapped his hands, signaling the conversation was over. "Now, run along.

You've spent enough time with an old professor. Don't keep your friends

waiting."

As I left

his desk, my mind buzzed with his words. There was something almost cryptic

about the way he'd spoken, but I didn't have time to dwell on it. Not yet,

anyway. For now, I'd focus on making it through the rest of the day.

As I walked

through the corridors, my mind raced with the implications of what I had just

learned. The Game's system—the numbers representing my potential and learning

speed—made more sense now. The gap between "average" and

"remarkable" was only 19 points, and yet the increase in my magical

aptitude was staggering. What would it mean if my potential reached 100? My

palms grew clammy at the thought. If this is the kind of power the Game offers,

what kind of challenges will it throw my way to balance it?

I pushed

the thoughts aside, deciding to seek out Lily. She had a calming presence, and

after Flitwick's cryptic warnings, I needed that feeling. On my way to the

Gryffindor common room, I spotted Regulus Black lingering near a window in one

of the quieter hallways.

Name:

Regulus Black

Level:

17

Age: 14

Reputation:

45 [a new friend]

I

approached him casually, leaning against the wall. "Hey, Regulus. So, when do

you think would be a good time to explore deeper into the Chamber? We've only

been using that main room so far."

Regulus

turned to me with a thoughtful look. "This weekend would be best. We'll have

all day to search and explore without interruptions."

I nodded in

agreement. "Sounds like a plan." Just as I was about to leave, a familiar voice

cut through the quiet.

"Oi, Reg!

Why are you messing with Antares?" Sirius Black strode toward us, his tone

defensive, his eyes flicking between me and his younger brother. "Didn't you

hear what he did to those upper years?"

I raised an

eyebrow at his accusatory tone. "Sirius, calm down. Regulus and I are friends."

Sirius

looked at me like I'd just told him I'd befriended a Blast-Ended Skrewt. His

eyes shifted to Regulus, who gave a small nod of confirmation. Betrayal

flickered across Sirius's face as he turned back to me. "he's a Black, Antares.

They're evil!"

I sighed

and gave him a pointed look. "Regulus isn't. And frankly, you're not giving him

the credit he deserves. I don't know about your cousins, but your brother takes

after you more than you realize. He's more… light gray than you think."

Sirius

scoffed, crossing his arms defensively, but I wasn't finished. "Look, I'll give

you Bellatrix. She's a piece of work. But even that has an explanation—she's

being forced to marry that slob, Lestrange. If you're so worried about her, why

don't you do something about it? You're the heir to the House of Black, right?

Tell your father to call off the engagement. He'll listen to you."

Sirius

blinked, caught off guard by my suggestion. "And what? Ask Bellatrix what she

actually wants?"

"Exactly.

Worst-case scenario, I'm wrong, and she says she wants to stay. Nothing

changes. But if I'm right, you might actually help her out of a bad situation."

What none

of us realized was that Bellatrix herself was listening from the shadows of a

nearby alcove. Her expression was unreadable as she processed what I'd said.

Half of her wanted to scoff—Antares clearly didn't understand her being dark.

But the other half… the other half felt a flicker of hope. He was right about

one thing: she didn't want to marry Rodolphus Lestrange. She loathed the man.

And as much as she clung to her reputation as the perfect Black daughter, a

part of her wanted Sirius to do exactly what Antares suggested.

Still, she

shook her head, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. He's crazy if he thinks

I'm not dark. Her mind drifted to a memory of her practicing the Killing

Curse on a spider, the rush of power it brought her. She had no illusions about

what she was—but the thought of escaping Rodolphus was tempting.

Back in the

hallway, Sirius was still staring at me, his expression a mix of skepticism and

reluctant consideration. Regulus, meanwhile, remained silent, his usual calm

demeanor masking whatever he was thinking.

I shrugged.

"Just think about it, Sirius. You might surprise yourself."

With that,

I gave Regulus a small wave and headed toward the common room, leaving the

Black brothers to their thoughts. The tension between them was so noticeable

that a blind man could see.

When I

entered the room, James Potter's gaze was locked onto me, his expression tense

and unreadable. I sighed, knowing this confrontation was inevitable. Without

saying a word, I pointed toward the male dormitory where our shared room was

located. James gave me a curt nod and stood up. Sirius, who had been sitting

with James and Peter Pettigrew, rose as well, his eyes flicking between us as

if trying to decide whether to intervene. James must have said something to

him—maybe told him to stay out of it—because Sirius eventually sat back down,

though his conflicted expression remained.

Once inside

the dormitory, James wasted no time. The door barely closed before he started

ranting, his frustration boiling over. "What the hell are you doing with Lily,

Antares? You know I like her!"

I crossed

my arms, waiting for him to finish before responding calmly. "For one, Potter,

I'm not with Lily. At most, she thinks of me as a friend. And second, even if I

was with her, it has nothing to do with you."

His face

twisted in anger, his voice rising. "You knew I like her! But you still went

for her! How could you? I thought you were a friend!"

That

actually caught me off guard. I didn't think James considered me a close

friend, but his words gave me pause. Still, I wasn't about to back down.

"James, listen to me. I'm not with her, alright? But even if I was, that

wouldn't mean I betrayed you."

He shook

his head, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "You would if she asked,

wouldn't you?"

I let out a

humorless laugh. "Yeah, no shit. She's smart, nice, and, yeah, hot. I'd be a fool

not to. But guess what? I'd also date a lot of our classmates if they asked.

Lily isn't the only girl in the world, James."

That seemed

to momentarily deflate his anger, though he still looked skeptical. Before he

could argue, I continued. "Look, I'm going to give you some advice. You might

not like it, but you need to hear it. I don't know if it's too late for you to

change, but Lily doesn't like how you bully people. Don't even try to deny it.

She sees it, and it disgusts her. And on top of that, you were bullying her

best friend."

James

flinched at that, but I pressed on. "Sure, Snape isn't her best friend anymore,

but she still cares about him. If you want even the slightest chance with her,

you need to tone down the pranks and grow up."

His eyes

widened in genuine surprise, and for a moment, he looked unsure. "Why… why are

you telling me this?" he asked, his voice quieter now.

I sighed

and leaned against one of the bedposts. "You know, James, the reason I don't

hang out with you outside of the common room is exactly this. The way you act…

I can't stand it. But that doesn't mean I don't want to. I'd like to be closer

friends with you, but until you grow up, I just… can't."

James

stared at me, processing my words. His shoulders slumped slightly, and for the

first time in a long while, I saw a flicker of vulnerability in his expression.

"I didn't realize you felt that way," he admitted quietly.

I shrugged.

"Now you do. What you do with that information is up to you."

The room

fell into an awkward silence, the tension between us thick but no longer

hostile. James seemed to be genuinely considering what I'd said, and I figured

that was the best outcome I could hope for. I turned to leave, pausing at the

door for a moment.

With that,

I left the room, leaving James alone with his thoughts. Whether or not he'd

take my advice, I couldn't say, but at least I'd done my best. Now it's all on

him.

The

Gryffindor common room was alive with chatter and the warmth of a crackling

fire. I was seated comfortably in a chair, idly flipping through a book on

advanced hexes, when I caught sight of Lily approaching. Her auburn hair

shimmered in the firelight as she made her way over, trailed by a small group

of her friends.

She stopped

in front of me, crossing her arms in mock exasperation. "Antares, you're not

just going to sit there all night, are you?"

I closed

the book with a soft thud, glancing up at her with an easy smile. "That

depends. Are you here to rescue me from this thrilling read?"

She rolled

her eyes, but her lips twitched into a small smile. "I thought it was about

time you met some of my friends."

Standing, I

straightened my posture and offered a polite nod to the group behind her. They

were a mix of well-dressed purebloods and a few half-bloods, their expressions

a blend of curiosity and reservation. Falling back on the manners instilled in

me, I greeted them formally but with a casual air.

"A pleasure

to meet you all. Antares Hecate, Heir of the Most Ancient House of Hecate."

The group

exchanged glances, their interest piqued. A tall boy with sandy blonde hair

stepped forward first, extending his hand. "Avery Selwyn," he said with a

polite smile. "I've heard of your family. My father speaks highly of the

Hecates."

Shaking his

hand firmly, I returned the smile. "Selwyn. Your family's reputation precedes

you. My grandfather has always admired your work in magical theory."

The

introductions continued smoothly, each name sparking recognition from the hours

I'd spent studying wizarding lineages. Despite their polished appearances, they

seemed approachable, likely a testament to Lily's influence.

As they

chatted, I let my mind drift for a moment. "The House of Hecate. The oldest

recorded magical family, with confirmed ties to Merlin himself. Our power isn't

just in the Wizengamot, where we hold four votes—one more than even the Ancient

and Most Noble Houses. It's in our legacy, our sacrifices. Wealth spent

fighting Dark Lords and Light Lords alike, never swayed by power or ideology.

But titles and power mean nothing without purpose." That's the truth my grandfather

told me and I still hold on to it.

I was

pulled from my thoughts by Lily nudging me gently. "Antares," she said with a

knowing smirk, "are you going to stand there lost in your thoughts, or are you

actually going to make an effort?"

I chuckled,

rubbing the back of my neck. "Apologies. It's a habit. A pleasure to meet you

all properly," I said again, this time more focused.

Lily's

friends exchanged polite smiles, the tension easing slightly. I glanced across

the room, spotting Sirius lounging in a chair with Peter perched nearby, both

of them in a quiet conversation. Deciding to bridge the gap, I raised my hand

to get their attention.

"Sirius!

Wormtail! Over here!"

Sirius

raised an eyebrow but stood, brushing off his robes with an air of effortless

confidence. Peter hesitated but followed closely behind, clearly unsure of what

was going on.

When they

reached us, I gestured between the two groups. "Lily, these are my friends—Sirius

Black and Peter Pettigrew. Sirius, Peter, meet Lily Evans and her friends."

Sirius gave

a lopsided grin, his gray eyes scanning the group with interest. "Evans," he

said with a slight nod. "Heard a lot about you. Good to finally meet the famous

Lily."

Peter

offered a small wave, his smile shy but genuine. "Hi. Nice to meet you."

Lily

glanced at me, her expression unreadable. "You're full of surprises, Antares. I

didn't think you and Sirius were that close of friends."

I smirked.

"Sirius is a bit of a wildcard, but he has his moments."

Sirius

snorted, clapping me on the shoulder. "High praise coming from you, Hecate."

The

interaction stayed brief, with Sirius and Peter offering a few more polite

words before retreating back to their spot. Lily and her friends seemed to

relax more after that, though one of them—a sharp-featured girl named

Cassia—leaned closer to Lily and whispered something in her ear.

Lily shot

her a look but didn't comment. Instead, she turned back to me with a small

smile. "Alright, Antares. You've officially passed the first test."

I raised an

eyebrow. "First test?"

She

chuckled, crossing her arms. "You'll see."

Though her

words were playful, there was a spark of something else. I hoped it wasn't what

I thought it was—James might actually kill me.

Lily Evans

Level 29

Age: 16

Relationship: 60/100 (Cute, handsome, and

nice.)

Oh,

bloody hell. Potter is definitely going to kill me now.

Quest Started: Love at First Sight

Objective: Gain 100 Relationship with Lily

Evans.

Rewards:

2 Levels

Random Perk

Lost Magical Art

Bonus Objective: Friends Forever

Details: Get James Potter and Sirius Black's

relationship up to 75.

Rewards:

James Potter doesn't hate you and understands

why. Reflects on his choices and grows into a better man – will take a Killing

Curse for you.

Sirius Black doesn't have to choose between

being friends with you and Potter and thanks you deeply for that – will listen

to and follow any advice and suggestions you give him.

Perk: Unbreakable Friendships

(When someone considers you a friend, you will

always be their friend, even when you ignore them for long periods of time. If

you ask for a favor, they will do so depending on their Relationship bar.)

Double

bloody hell!

I clenched

my fists, doing my best to keep a neutral expression as Lily continued talking

to her friends. Meanwhile, my thoughts were spinning like a cursed top. Great.

Not only do I now have a potential romantic partner in Lily Evans, my mum would

be so proud. but somehow, at the same time I've also been saddled with the

Herculean task of befriending James Potter and Sirius Black. Damned Tet, of all

things you could throw my way.

Across the

dimensions, in a world far far away, a small child with white hair sneezed.

The self-proclaimed One True God wiped his nose before returning his attention

to the scene before him: two young gaming prodigies locked in a high-stakes

match against a Flügel.

"Haha!

That stupid bird is losing to humans!" Tet exclaimed, grinning as he clutched a bag

of popcorn. "I knew I made the right decision bringing them here. Humans are

always so interesting!"

---

Back in the

Gryffindor common room, Lily glanced at me curiously. "Antares? Are you

alright?"

I blinked,

snapping out of my spiraling thoughts. "Yeah, sorry. Just got lost in my head

for a moment." I managed a smile, though internally, I was still screaming.

"Well,

don't get too lost," she teased. "We've still got Charms homework to suffer

through later."

I chuckled

softly, forcing myself to relax. Right. No pressure at all. Just figure out how

to juggle the girl, her jealous admirer, and his equally stubborn best mate.

Oh, and don't die in the process.

"Yeah,

I'll make sure to bring my best effort," I replied with just enough

sarcasm to make her laugh.  For now, at

least, I could put my impending doom on hold.

Author's

Note

Thank you

so much for reading this chapter! This one was a little different as I wanted

to focus more on some deeper character development and sprinkle in some

world-building to give you a better sense of the dynamics and stakes in the

story. I hope you enjoyed getting to know the relationships and complexities

between the characters as much as I enjoyed writing them!

Your

feedback is incredibly important to me—it helps me grow as a writer and

motivates me to keep improving the story. If you enjoyed the chapter or have

any thoughts, suggestions, or constructive feedback, please consider leaving a

review. Even a simple comment can mean the world!

-Your

God that writes