The Hogwarts Express pulled away from the station.
Students waved.
Parents cried.
Someone dropped a frog.
First year was officially over.
I leaned back in my seat, staring out the window, letting the rhythmic clatter of the train settle into something almost peaceful.
"…Huh," I muttered. "I survived without rewriting reality."
That was when the system chose violence.
System Notification (a.k.a. The Calm Before the Power Trip)
[First Year Completed.]
I blinked.
"…Oh no."
Whenever the system congratulated me, something always followed.
Sure enough—
[Partial Authority Unlocked: Shadow Monarch.]
[Status: Limited Usage Enabled.]
The air around me shifted.
Not violently.
Not explosively.
Just—heavier.
Like the world had acknowledged me again.
I felt it in my bones.
In my shadow.
In the space behind my eyes.
"…Partial," I murmured. "I'll take it."
[Shadow Realm Unlocked.]
I stopped breathing for half a second.
"…You what."
The shadows beneath my feet rippled.
Depth appeared where there hadn't been any before.
A vast, silent space pressed against my awareness—cold, endless, obedient.
[Shadow Soldiers: Accessible.]
[Command Authority: Restricted but Functional.]
I slowly smiled.
"Oh," I whispered. "We're back."
Not fully.
But enough.
Enough to matter.
First Year Completion Rewards (Because the System Loves Lists)
The system wasn't done.
Of course it wasn't.
[First Year Completion Reward Granted.]
I braced myself.
[Harry Potter World: Permanently Registered in Multiversal Travel Function.]
"…Good," I said. "I was going to be offended otherwise."
This meant no more tickets.
No more limited access.
This world was now mine to return to.
Canon or not.
Then—
[Daily Spin Bonus: Summon Ticket Acquired.]
I frowned.
"…Summon?"
That was new.
[Warning: Summon Results Are Permanent.]
I frowned harder.
That was concerning.
The Spin (I Regret Everything)
I waited.
I should not have waited.
I should have thrown the ticket into the sun.
Instead, like the fool I am—
"spin," I said.
The system whirred.
Reality shimmered.
Then—
[Summon Complete.]
Two silhouettes appeared in front of me.
Female.
Familiar.
Red hair.
Brown hair.
I froze.
"…No."
The figures solidified.
And there they were.
Lily Evans.
Petunia Evans.
Except—
Not this world's Lily and Petunia.
This Lily had sharp confidence in her posture, eyes bright and unbroken.
She looked like Scarlett Johansson had decided to cosplay as a witch and then committed.
Petunia stood beside her, shorter, composed, radiating controlled power.
Elizabeth Olsen energy.
Witch.
Actual witch.
I stared.
They stared back.
Silence.
Then Lily tilted her head.
"…This isn't my world."
"No," I agreed weakly. "It's not."
Petunia's eyes narrowed.
"…And you're not Voldemort."
"Thank every god," I said instantly.
System, Explain Yourself
I didn't look away from them.
"System," I said calmly, "why are there two Evans sisters in front of me."
[Summon Result: Evans Sisters.]
[Origin: Alternate Harry Potter World.]
[Status: Voldemort Victory Timeline.]
Lily's expression hardened.
Petunia's jaw tightened.
"…That tracks," Lily muttered.
[Additional Notes:]
Lily Evans: Never fell in love with James Potter
Petunia Evans: Magical (Witch)
Both: Displaced prior to world collapse
I exhaled slowly.
"…You saved them."
[Correct.]
That was—
Unexpectedly decent.
Then the system continued.
[Harem Expansion: Enabled.]
I snapped.
"NO."
[Author Override Detected.]
"…I WILL FIGHT GOD."
The system, traitorous machine that it was, added one final line:
[Note: Bastard Author Says 'Deal With It.']
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"I hate you," I told the system.
[Acknowledged.]
Introductions (Awkward, Very Awkward)
Lily crossed her arms.
"…Care to explain who you are?"
"Adam," I said. "Adam Universe."
Petunia raised an eyebrow. "Of course you are."
"I didn't pick it," I replied defensively. "Cosmic nonsense."
They exchanged a look.
Then Lily sighed.
"…Alright. New universe. No Dark Lord breathing down our necks. I'll take it."
Petunia studied me carefully.
"You're young," she said. "But you don't feel young."
"Trauma," I replied. "And nerfs."
That earned a snort from Lily.
Shadow Realm Test Run (Because Timing Is Optional)
I opened my shadow realm.
Just a crack.
Darkness folded outward.
Silent.
Endless.
Obedient.
Lily stiffened instantly.
"That's not normal magic," she said.
"No," I agreed. "That's why it works."
Within the darkness—
Figures moved.
Shadows rose.
Knights.
Soldiers.
Silent, kneeling.
Waiting.
Petunia's eyes widened.
"…You command death."
"Shadows," I corrected. "Death adjacent."
The soldiers bowed.
My authority—partial, restricted—still absolute within its scope.
"…Good," I murmured.
First year.
Eleven years old.
And I had my army back.
Part of it, at least.
Aftermath (And the Author's Crimes)
Alice and Rosalie appeared in my personal dimension shortly after.
Alice blinked.
Then smiled.
"…Oh."
Rosalie stared at Lily and Petunia.
Then at me.
Then back at them.
"…You're joking."
"I wish," I said.
The system chimed one last time.
[Status Update:]
Shadow Monarch: Partially Active
Shadow Realm: Accessible
Harry Potter World: Permanent
Harem Expansion: Forced
I looked directly at you.
"…This," I said flatly, "is why I stick to canon."
Because the moment I get comfortable—
The universe hands me two Evans sisters and says 'good luck.'
First year was over.
The real game?
Had just begun.
[Chapter Twenty Complete.]