Waking up in a cupboard wasn't high on James's list of afterlife fantasies.
It was cramped. The air was musty. His back ached from sleeping on a mattress that might as well have been a sack of rocks. And above it all, there was the crushing, disorienting weight of two lives tangled in his head.
He wasn't just James anymore.
And he wasn't just Harry Potter either.
He was something in between. Something new.
The system chimed softly in his mind.
[KOTOR Reincarnation Protocol Complete]
Welcome, User: James
Host Body: Harry James Potter
Class: Initiate
XP: 0 / 500
Credits: 0
Force Powers: None Learned
Attributes: Viewable
Starter Gift Pack Available
Would you like to open your Starter Pack?
[Y/N]
James snorted quietly. "Why the hell not? Y."
A soft, digital pulse hummed behind his eyes. A transparent blue interface floated just above his vision.
[Starter Gift Pack Contents]
Basic Jedi Robes (Disguised as plain wizarding robes)
Hidden Training Lightsaber (Blunt; disguised as wand)
Medpac (x3)
Force Sensitivity Module: Passive Level 1
100 Bonus Credits
Passive Perk: "Forceborn" — +1 XP per meaningful action
The items slid silently into his Inventory, another tab now accessible with a mental nudge. No flashy effects. Just quiet, absolute functionality.
He sat up in the darkness of the cupboard and smirked.
[Passive Ability Unlocked: Force Sensitivity (Lv 1)]
You are now aware of ambient emotions, danger, and life signatures in a 2-meter radius.
And just like that, he could feel them.
The dull frustration of Aunt Petunia in the kitchen. The boiling, entitled anger of Dudley somewhere upstairs. The simmering, brutish force of Vernon's footsteps pacing in the living room.
They felt small to him now. Predictable. Weak.
He pulled the disguised training lightsaber from his Inventory. It looked like an ordinary wand—wooden, worn, unassuming. But the weight was wrong. The grip was textured durasteel, wrapped in illusory charm patterns.
He pressed his thumb against a small indentation near the hilt.
Snap-hiss!
A soft blue blade of light hissed to life, faint and harmless—just a training model. Still, the illumination bathed the walls of the cupboard in a cold glow.
James exhaled through his nose and powered it down.
He had control. He had tools. And he had a plan.
"Get up, boy!" Petunia's voice shrieked from above. "Don't make me come down there!"
He moved slowly, deliberately. Opened the door himself before she could bang on it.
She flinched when she saw him standing straight, staring back at her with unreadable eyes.
"You're early," he said flatly.
"What—what did you just say?" she blinked.
"I said you're early. I usually get five more minutes before the screaming starts."
She looked startled. Not angry. Not offended. Startled.
Something in his voice—his posture—made her hesitate.
"Breakfast," she snapped, recovering. "Make sure the eggs aren't burnt or Vernon will—"
He stepped forward.
Petunia backed up a half step before she could stop herself.
James leaned in, his voice quiet. Calm. Cold.
"If Vernon tries to hit me again," he said, "I'll make sure he never lifts that fat arm of his again. Clear?"
She stared at him, pale.
He gave her a small, polite smile.
"Good talk."
[Hidden Objective Complete: "Put the Dursleys in Their Place"]
+50 XP
+10 Credits
Alignment Shift: +1 Dark Side
Perk Unlocked: "Aura of Control" — Slight intimidation boost against weak-willed individuals.
[Daily Mission – Chore Slave]
Complete all tasks. Bonus: Finish under 2 hours.
Reward: +20 XP | +5 Credits
He accepted the quest.
Not because he had to, but because he knew how systems worked. Grind early. Power up fast. Min-max the path.
He did every chore like a machine: scrubbing floors, folding clothes, fixing the leaky garden tap. No emotion. No complaint.
+20 XP
+5 Credits
Forceborn Bonus: +4 XP
That night, a heavy letter dropped through the door slot.
Thick parchment. Emerald ink. Wax seal.
James already knew what it was.
[New Main Quest Unlocked: Hogwarts, Year 1 Begins]
Reward: +200 XP
Bonus: Influence Key Figures
Optional: Conceal Force Powers from Magical Authorities
Side Note: Gringotts Vault Access Pending
He turned the envelope in his hand, smirking.
Let the wizards play their little games.
He had his own rules now.
And this time, Harry Potter was going to win.