The banquet table was a feast worthy of legends.
Even though Alex had filled up on snacks aboard the train, his appetite came roaring back the moment the aromas hit his nose. He was a growing boy, after all, and Hogwarts' house-elves clearly knew their craft.
The dishes were vibrant and varied — roasted beef, pork chops, lamb ribs, mashed potatoes, crispy fries, hot dogs, Yorkshire puddings, pea shoots, meat gravy, and even a pot of velvety French onion soup. Every plate shimmered with warmth and spice.
Alex wasted no time. He grabbed a juicy steak, ladled out a generous bowl of meat sauce, and dove in like a man starved. Cho, watching him with a soft smile, giggled as he chewed like he'd been cursed with a bottomless stomach. She wasn't all that hungry herself, so instead of eating, she began handing him food — spooning potatoes, slicing meat, offering buns with a delighted expression on her face.
Before long, she discovered the joy of "feeding" someone. And Alex? He was thoroughly enjoying being fed.
But just as he was about to ask for more pudding, he sensed a sharp, sour gaze drilling into him.
He looked up — and spotted a tall Ravenclaw senior sitting a few seats away, watching them with the air of a dying man in a desert watching someone bathe in champagne.
Once their eyes met, the older boy stood and introduced himself.
"Hi there. Roger Davies, fourth year. You're seriously something, mate — just sorted in, and you've already won over the most beautiful girl in Ravenclaw. Care to teach me your ways?"
Cho's face flushed red at the compliment but didn't say anything to deny it. Alex chuckled and replied, half-joking:
"Well, first, be as handsome as me. Then maybe conjure a phoenix. Girls love mythical birds."
That earned him a jab in the ribs from Cho, her fingers digging into his waist with mock irritation. Still, even she couldn't help but smile at the memory.
Roger watched the two of them with a miserable expression. This was not how you taught someone to talk to girls. This was psychological warfare.
...
As the plates slowly emptied and the air filled with soft conversation, the food vanished — cleared away in the blink of an eye.
Dumbledore stood again, twinkling as always.
"Now, before we all head off to bed, let's sing the school song together!"
With a wave of his wand, glowing golden letters shimmered into the air, revealing the lyrics.
He tapped the wand like a conductor's baton. "Ready — sing!"
And chaos ensued.
Each person sang in their own tempo, tune, and tone. Some whispered it like a lullaby, others belted it like they were auditioning for the West End. At the Gryffindor table, the redheaded twins sang the whole thing in a gloomy funeral march that made Alex's eyebrows twitch.
When it finally ended, Dumbledore wiped a theatrical tear from his eye and made a few final announcements. He offered some warm words, dropped a subtle hint at Harry Potter, then dismissed the students to their dorms under the guidance of the prefects.
...
Ravenclaw's male prefect introduced himself as Dietrich Wiggins, a calm and composed sixth-year student. He led the Ravenclaw first-years out of the Great Hall, up the vast marble staircases, taking a shortcut through a quiet hallway. Before long, they arrived at the base of the Ravenclaw Tower.
There, a large eagle-shaped bronze door knocker rested on an arched wooden door.
Dietrich stepped forward and knocked once.
The eagle's eyes flickered. Then it spoke, voice smooth and inquisitive:
"To describe an ugly girl as beautiful — what is the most suitable word?"
Dietrich turned to them and smiled.
"Ravenclaw does things differently. We don't use fixed passwords. If you have wit and wisdom, you may enter. Even our own housemates must solve the riddles. If you fail, you'll have to wait for someone smarter to open the door."
He grinned a bit wider.
"But if one of you can solve this, I'll personally grant you a private dormitory."
That made a few of the first-years stir. Several of them huddled to discuss, but no one dared speak up.
Alex, however, was already moving.
He stepped forward, met the eagle's gaze, and said softly: "A lie."
"Correct."
The door creaked open on its own.
Several students stared in awe. Even Dietrich gave a low whistle.
"Well done," the prefect said. "A private room it is."
He led them inside, then pointed Alex toward a slightly smaller chamber branching off from the others. Alex stepped in, surveyed the space, and nodded in approval.
A double bed sat at the center, with a wide desk on the right and a wardrobe and changing room on the left. Clean, quiet, and most importantly — private.
Following Dietrich's instructions, Alex placed a slip of paper with his name into a slot near the bed. Moments later, with a soft pop, his luggage appeared by the wardrobe.
"House-elves," he murmured, impressed. "Always efficient."
Just as he was about to unpack, a familiar chime rang in his mind.
Ding! Daily Quest system unlocked. Complete daily tasks to earn 100 Gold. No penalty for failure.
Alex froze. Then he immediately summoned the system interface and scanned the new feature.
Daily Quests.
Complete any two of the three listed tasks to receive the full reward.
Today's list:
Use Accio ten times. (0/10)
Read 30 pages of The Standard Book of Spells – Grade 1. (0/30)
Play with Fawry for 10 minutes. (0/10)
Alex chuckled. This was perfect. Nothing too intense. No Voldemort-slaying requirements, thank Merlin.
He raised a finger and snapped.
With a burst of flames, Fawry the phoenix reappeared in the air, wings spread and eyes gleaming. She landed beside him, giving his hand a pointed little peck.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I missed you too. I didn't summon you on the train because I thought I'd have roommates, alright?"
Originally, Alex hadn't intended to bring Fawry out so soon — no need to freak out the other kids with a literal mythical firebird. But now that he had a private room, there was no reason to hide.
He played with Fawry for a while, then practiced Accio ten times successfully. Daily quests complete.
He opened his personal stats panel.
Name: Alex Gunter
Age: 11
Birthday: October 31st
Status: First-Year at Hogwarts
Bloodline: Spiritborn (Awakening — Progression tied to power)
Magical Core: 8.5 (Grows naturally, boosted by ancient lineage)
Magical Items:
Guardian Amulet (Blocks 3 Auror-level attacks, 2 Professor-level, 1 near-legendary. 24hr cooldown)
Felix Felicis ×1
Inspiration Potion ×3
Instant Mana Recovery Potion ×3
Spell Aptitude:
Charms: 5 (Outstanding)
Defense Against the Dark Arts: 5 (Outstanding)
Known Spells:
Accio
Protego
Sectumsempra
… (more)
Dark Magic: 9 (Demon King's Legacy)
Gold: 1300
Looking over the panel, Alex grinned.
His raw magic was already higher than most adult wizards. He knew powerful spells, had a pocket full of rare potions, and now had daily income from the system.
The future looked brighter than ever.
Yawning, he cleaned up, slid under the covers, and shut his eyes.
Tomorrow, the true Hogwarts experience would begin.
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