#93

Seeing that she had everyone's attention, McGonagall allowed the suspense to hang in the air for a moment before finally relenting, "But... this time, I suppose I'll let it slide."

A collective sigh of relief swept through the hall so powerfully that it practically stirred a breeze. 

Some students even slumped against each other as if narrowly escaping a Dementor's Kiss.

As Dumbledore gestured towards the massive hourglasses by the entrance, the enchanted sand inside began shifting.

Ravenclaw, now standing at an impressive 586 points, officially claimed the House Cup!

With a flick of his wand, blue banners unfurled across the Great Hall, Ravenclaw's eagle crest gleaming in the torchlight. 

The students erupted in cheers, their victory well-earned and well-celebrated.

At that moment, a familiar chime echoed in Ted's mind:

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Ding! Task Completed: [We Are the Champions (Red)]

Reward: 1,300 experience, +1 Intelligence, Random Card

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Ted grinned to himself. "Old Dumbledore, I take it back. I misjudged you! You're actually being fair this time!"

He had fully expected some blatant favoritism, with Gryffindor sweeping in at the last second like in the original timeline. 

But this? This was genuinely well-balanced. Everyone who contributed was recognized.

Dumbledore: I only uphold three things at Hogwarts—fairness, fairness, and Merlin's beard, even more fairness!

Overcome with excitement, Ted couldn't hold back any longer. He grabbed his enchanted guitar and strummed the opening chords of a song. 

The hall quieted for a split second before erupting into wild cheers as Ted launched into a lively tune:

"'Cause I'm beginnin' to feel like a Rap God, Rap God (voiced by Anzu)

All my people from the front to the back nod, back nod~

Now, who thinks their arms are long enough to slap box, slap box?~

Let me show you maintainin' this sh- ain't that hard, that hard~

Everybody want the key and the secret to rap immortality like Ι have got~..."

The energy in the Great Hall skyrocketed. Students banged on tables, clapped their hands, and even some of the professors found themselves swaying to the rhythm.

Even Professor McGonagall, who usually maintained an air of composed dignity, was seen tapping her fingers against her goblet, a rare smile tugging at her lips.

The farewell feast had transformed into an all-out party. 

One after another, students jumped up to showcase their talents—some sang, others performed magic tricks, and a few brave souls even attempted interpretive dance. 

The celebration stretched late into the evening, the echoes of laughter and music lingering long after the festivities had ended.

Mission [We Are the Champions (Red)] offered a choice of three rewards. Ted selected a powerful one:

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[Promotion (Red)]

Spell Card

Temporarily boosts one of your summoned units.

Lasts 10 minutes, cooldown: 24 hours.

Note: Sometimes an upgrade isn't always a good thing...

____________________

...

The June sun rose early, casting a warm glow through the dormitory windows. Ted had been immersed in a book, but the growing chatter outside his door made him sigh and shut it.

There was no point in trying to read now.

Even though he woke up at his usual time, the other students had broken their routines.

Today was no ordinary morning—it was the start of the summer holiday!

His dormmates were already up and bustling around. Michael stood before the mirror, meticulously combing his hair, trying to achieve the perfect style.

They hadn't seen their families since the end of the Christmas break, and now, the anticipation of returning home filled the air.

"Ted, aren't you going to pack anything?" Michael asked, glancing at him.

Before Ted could answer, Terry cut in with a smirk. "Ted packed last night. Unlike you, he's not running around like a headless chicken."

Terry had spoken quickly, almost as if worried that Michael's question would bring up Ted's orphan status and make him uncomfortable.

But there was no need—Ted wasn't that fragile. Still, he appreciated the sentiment.

Ted shrugged. "I don't have much to pack. A suitcase and a backpack—both ready to go."

Though he hadn't formed particularly deep bonds with his three roommates, he had observed them enough to know they were good people.

Terry Boot, in particular, stood out.

Unlike most Ravenclaws, he had a kindness that wasn't just intellectual curiosity or polite indifference.

Ted recalled that, in the original timeline,

Terry had been an active member of the resistance against Voldemort—something rare for their house, where most preferred to play things safe.

Breakfast was absolute chaos.

With Dumbledore and the other professors absent, and the excitement of the upcoming holiday, discipline had completely unraveled.

The Great Hall buzzed with energy, and food disappeared at an alarming rate.

Ron Weasley, clearly having abandoned his previous vow to be humble, was enthusiastically retelling the story of his latest heroic deed—one hand holding a chicken leg, the other waving dramatically as he reenacted the moment.

The Weasley twins, ever the opportunists, were using the commotion to peddle their homemade magical toys.

Their sales pitch? "These are the very items that were used in the battle against the Dark Lord in the Forbidden Forest! Even Ted himself gives them a glowing review!"

Despite the madness, breakfast somehow came to an end. Students gathered in small groups, drifting towards the castle gates.

Unlike their arrival, which had been via the Black Lake, their departure took them through Hogwarts' actual front gates, which opened to the northwest.

As during the Christmas holiday, carriages were waiting to transport them to Hogsmeade Station. The vehicles appeared horseless—but Ted knew better.

Before climbing in, he reached out, brushing his fingers against the invisible creature before him.

The Thestral flinched slightly but didn't pull away.

Its skeletal frame, leathery wings, and sharp fangs made it look terrifying, but it was a gentle creature at heart.

Of course, Ted's knack for bonding with magical creatures helped.

He had always been good with animals, but his knowledge had expanded significantly under Professor Quirrell's lessons.

Say what you will about the man, but he was an exceptional magizoologist—one who had spent the past two decades studying creatures from all over the world.

The sheer number of magical species he had researched and even experimented on was staggering.

Ted smirked to himself. 'Honestly, Quirrell, you could've had a brilliant career studying magical creatures. So why the hell did you decide to team up with Voldemort?'

"What are you doing?" Hermione's voice pulled him from his thoughts as she and Harley climbed into the carriage with him.

"Touching the Thestrals," Ted answered casually.

"Thestrals?" Harley frowned. "You mean those creatures Luna was talking about? The ones that pull the carriages?"

Ted nodded. "Yeah. They're real. You just can't see them—only people who have witnessed death and truly understood it can."

Hermione looked at him curiously, her expression shifting slightly. 

She didn't ask why Ted could see them, but he could practically hear the gears turning in her head, crafting some tragic backstory for him.

'Great. Now she's picturing me in some Dickensian orphanage, surviving off stale bread and sorrow.'

The carriages set off, rolling smoothly down the path. Along the way, they passed a small village—a familiar sight but one that still carried a certain charm.

Hogsmeade.

The only entirely wizarding village in Britain, and the busiest magical hub outside of Diagon Alley.

Harley gazed out at the oddly shaped houses of Hogsmeade, her eyes shining with excitement. "I heard that starting in third year, we'll be allowed to visit Hogsmeade on weekends! I haven't been there yet!"

She turned to Hermione, peppering her with questions about the village. Hermione, ever the walking encyclopedia, eagerly explained the history of the shops, some of which had been around for centuries.

As the carriage rolled past the village, the group traveled a long way, tracing a path around the Black Lake. Eventually, the railway tracks came into view, and before long, they arrived at the train station.

The Hogwarts Express, gleaming in red and black, stood waiting for them on the platform.

Just as they had on the way to Hogwarts, the six friends crammed into a single compartment.

Ron patted his chest proudly, where his report card was tucked away. "I have to convince my mum to get me a new broom! I want to join the Quidditch team and lead Gryffindor to crush Slytherin!"

His grades weren't perfect, but they were good enough—good enough to be his bargaining chip.

Neville chuckled, his own grades exceeding his expectations. He was happy, but he had no grand plans for the break. He turned to Ted. "Ted, what are you doing for the holidays?"

Ted rubbed his chin. "No big plans. I'll probably go back to the orphanage for a bit. The rest of the time, I'll be in Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron. I'm planning to keep working there."

Jerry hesitated before speaking in a low voice. "Ted… do you think I could work with you in Diagon Alley?"

His family wasn't much better off than Ted's. Even though being a wizard had given him opportunities his Muggle family had never dreamed of, it didn't change their financial struggles. If he could earn a little money, it would help.

Ted smiled. "Of course. Diagon Alley always needs extra hands during the holidays."

Hermione glanced at Ted but didn't say anything. She had been considering inviting him to her house, but now she wasn't sure if he would accept.

The train sped south, and soon, noon arrived. They unwrapped their packed lunches, chatting between bites. One by one, the students started dozing off, lulled by the rhythmic clatter of the train.

Ted leaned back, closing his eyes—not to sleep, but to meditate. It was the perfect time to take stock of his progress over the past year.

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Character Status:

Ted Epifani

Level: Wizard 4 / Psion 2

Experience Pool: 7,254

Attributes:

Strength: 5 (+1 Wristband) = 6

Constitution: 5 (+2 False Philosopher's Stone) = 7

Agility: 4

Intelligence: 8

Perception: 7 (+1 Wand) = 8

Spirit: 12 (+2 Philosopher's Stone) = 14

Charm: 7

Luck: ??

Talents:

[Knowledge of Other Worlds (Gold)]

[God of Learning (Purple)]

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Except for agility, which was still limited by his smaller frame, Ted had surpassed an average adult in most areas.

With equipment bonuses, his Strength was now at 6, and Constitution at 7—far beyond a normal person.

His Perception was at 8, putting him in the realm of expert scouts and duelists.

His Spirit at 14 was stronger than most adult wizards.

Only battle-hardened veterans and those with extreme willpower reached similar levels.

For reference, Professor Quirrell, at his peak, had only reached a Spirit stat of 9—reduced further to 6 when possessed.

Professors Flitwick and McGonagall were likely around 14 or 15.

And Snape? If Ted had to guess—at least 18.

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Skills:

Magic Power: Lv5 (+1 Wand, +2 Philosopher's Stone) = 8

Magic Resistance: Lv1

Spellcasting: Lv3 (+1 Wand) = 4

Psionic Power: Lv3

Mental Resistance: Lv3

Prophecy: Lv1

Transfiguration: Lv2

Potions: Lv2 (+1 Apothecary Gloves) = 3

Herbology: Lv1

Ancient Runes: Lv1

Dark Magic: Lv5

Magical Biology: Lv4

Bloodline Transformation: Lv2

Alchemy: Lv1 (+1 Philosopher's Stone) = 2

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His magic power was, without a doubt, his strongest suit.

It wasn't bragging to say that most wizards—students and even adults—couldn't match him.

He had observed dozens of students from different years and backgrounds, and he knew where he stood. His raw magical energy alone put him ahead of the curve.

Among the current students, Ted had observed the tallest one—a sixth-year Slytherin, said to be the most outstanding member of the pure-blood Shafiq family in the past fifty years. Surprisingly, his magical power was on par with Ted's at level 5.

Besides him, there were quite a few students with a magic power level of 4, including a familiar face—Ron's sister, Peggy Weasley.

As a descendant of both the Weasley and Prewett families, Peggy was a prefect at Hogwarts. 

Despite the Weasley family's reputation for financial struggles, their true situation was more complex. 

Their large family and the fact that only Mr. Weasley had an income made them seem poorer than they actually were. 

In reality, both the Weasley and Prewett families were quite wealthy, but due to past elopements, they had cut financial ties with their lineage.

However, when it came to talent and potential, the Weasleys outshone many.

Bill, the eldest, was a spellbreaker at Gringotts in Egypt—a prestigious job requiring exceptional spellcasting skills. 

Charlie, the second eldest, worked with dragons in Romania and had even taken in Hagrid's Norbert. 

Peggy herself was incredibly talented, topping the academic charts at Hogwarts. 

In the original timeline, both Bill and Percy had earned twelve O.W.L.s in their fifth year—something that typically required a Time-Turner due to the intense workload. 

Even Hermione hadn't managed it.

The twins, Fred and George, were prodigies in their own right, becoming successful entrepreneurs after graduation.

 As for Ron and Ginny, in the original story, Ron was the best friend of the Boy Who Lived, while Ginny eventually became his wife.

A bright future was practically guaranteed for the Weasleys!

Now, compare that to the Malfoys. With Lucius and Draco both tied to the Death Eaters, they would have to pay a steep price to clear their names. 

And with only one heir in the family, there was a real chance their bloodline could end altogether.

No competition there.

Repeat after me: Messing with Voldemort is a death sentence!

Returning to Ted's progress this year, his skill gains spoke volumes.

His high magic power and intelligence made spell-learning a breeze. However, his psychic abilities had seen little advancement—not for lack of potential, but simply because he hadn't had time to study them properly. 

His experience points were ready, though, and his most notable improvements were in Dark Arts and Magizoology.

Thanks to Voldemort's unintentional generosity, 

Ted's Dark Arts proficiency had skyrocketed from level 2 to level 5. 

He barely dared to recall some of the dark knowledge he had acquired—it was something to be approached with caution and deep respect.

Alchemy was another surprise. He hadn't actively studied alchemy yet, yet he already possessed a considerable amount of theoretical knowledge.

As for magic in general? Ted had learned nearly twenty standard spells over the year and had even developed over a dozen unique spells based on knowledge from other worlds.

And that was just scratching the surface.

He still had an entire backlog of magical knowledge to study. 

Magic from Azeroth and the Dungeons & Dragons world alone provided endless possibilities. 

His research list included alchemy potions, mind-stealing techniques, puppetry, spiritual ashes, and magical recipes.

Time was simply never enough!

Then there was Hogwarts' standard curriculum. Transfiguration? A must-learn. Potions? Absolutely necessary.

This year, Snape had covered five key formulas: Scabies Potion, Stasis-Removing Ointment, Burn Ointment, Essence of Dittany, and Forgetfulness Potion.

Ted had even gone the extra mile, successfully brewing additional potions: Basic Healing Potion, Lesser Mana Potion, and Fire Protection Potion.

Honestly, the further he progressed, the more exhausting it all became!

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Word count: 2496

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