While I was sitting in the living room, unwrapping my presents, five notification sounds suddenly rang through my system.
Curious, I opened the system panel and was greeted by five glowing alerts:
[Ding! Congratulations on acquiring: God-level Acting.]
[Ding! Congratulations on acquiring: Sky Dragon's Healing Spell from Fairy Tail.]
[Ding! Congratulations on acquiring: Shield of Seraphim from the Marvel Universe.]
[Ding! Congratulations on acquiring: Lily Potter Template.]
[Ding! Congratulations on acquiring: Memory Library.]
I stared at the screen, stunned. To be honest, I had expected rewards solely from the Harry Potter universe. But this—this was something far beyond my imagination.
[Host, you must understand. These rewards are luxurious because it is your first usage—and due to the immense shock experienced by the five viewers. In future, the shock value will decrease, resulting in more basic rewards.]
That explained it. The greater the impact, the higher the classification of the rewards. Next time, I might get a simple spell instead of such overpowered gifts.
Still dazed, I began reviewing each reward.
God-level Acting: This would allow me to act perfectly like a child of my age. Neither wizard nor muggle would be able to discern whether I was lying or telling the truth.
Sky Dragon's Healing Spell: Overpowered didn't even begin to describe it. It could not only heal injuries but also revive the dead—provided I had enough magical power. I even considered reviving Harry's parents, but after having been dead for eleven years, my current reserves wouldn't be nearly enough to revive them.
Shield of Seraphim: A magical energy shield used by Doctor Strange himself. It could deflect even the unforgivable curses. Incredible.
Lily Potter Template: This would grant me her talents and magical skills. But there was a cautionary note—"Use with care." I chose to ignore it for now.
Memory Library: A brilliant talent that allows me to remember everything I see once. I couldn't wait to test this out—perhaps even outmatch my sister Hermione.
I accepted all rewards, and the last to activate was Lily Potter's Template.
The moment it began merging, pain wracked my entire body. I couldn't even scream. The last sound I heard was a knock on the window—then everything went black.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a white ceiling above me.
Turning my head, I realized I was in my own room, properly tucked into bed.
Before I could move, a familiar system notification chimed in my head. I opened the tab to find a new unread mission:
[Main Mission: The White Emperor and his ministers have arrived at your house. The Supreme Wizard has sensed your sister's talent and wishes to take her as an apprentice. Surprise the Emperor with your abilities.]
[Side Mission: Befriend his Summoned Beast.]
Two missions. Both sounded... well, impossible.
If I were a middle-aged man, impressing someone like the White Emperor would be nearly unthinkable. But at my age, even a simple nature spell might take them by surprise. Heh... this was going to be fun.
I climbed down from bed and decided to summon the Phoenix from my inventory.
The room instantly cooled.
The moment she appeared, I was speechless. Majestic wasn't enough to describe her. She was a creature of winter's dawn, with wings spun from moonlight and feathers shimmering in hues of sapphire, cerulean, and aquamarine. Every flap of her wings released motes of crystalline dust, catching the light like diamond snow. Her eyes glowed with ancient wisdom.
She was beauty incarnate.
I named her Neva.
And I could feel her happiness ripple through our bond.
But before we could share more, the door burst open—and a piercing shriek echoed through the house.
......
Now I was sitting in the living room with Neva standing tall behind me, both of us keeping our heads down in guilt. My mother had stormed in and screamed upon seeing her son wrapped in the wings of a massive, mystical ice bird.
"So how did your brown hair turn bright maroon? And your blue eyes—how did they become crystal green? Why was that creature in your room? And why were you unconscious on the floor?" The barrage of questions hit me like a wave.
I wanted to shout, "It's the system! That defective, ridiculous system!" But saying such a thing would land me a one-way ticket to a psychiatric hospital.
Neva and I exchanged silent glances, both supporting each other in mutual misery.
"Mrs. Granger," a calm, warm voice intervened, "perhaps all this has been a bit overwhelming. And Heath has only just woken up."
I turned toward the voice and saw Professor Dumbledore, flanked by the four Heads of Houses.
So he was the White Emperor. And the Supreme Wizard… most likely Professor McGonagall.
"Is that beard real?" I asked before I could stop myself.
Silence filled the room.
"Sorry, I've just… never seen one so long," I added quickly.
Professor Flitwick burst into laughter. Soon, the rest followed.
........
"So you opened your gift, fell unconscious, and woke up with Neva next to you? And you say you could feel her emotions?" my mother asked again, her tone gentler now.
After another round of chuckles, I answered honestly.
"Mom… I can do a lot of things. But I was scared that if I showed you magic, you'd leave me. So I only practiced when I was alone."
Then I ran to the backyard, picked up a small potted plant, and returned. I touched its bare stem—and within seconds, flowers began blooming across its branches.
Everyone gasped. Even Professor Snape's usually stern eyes softened, reflecting a strange sadness.
I rushed to the kitchen, called Neva, and had her bring me a knife. Before anyone could react, I made a small cut on my finger.
"Heath, no—!" my parents shouted.
But before they could reach me, I healed the wound by simply touching it.
Professor Dumbledore stood up in astonishment. The others followed suit.
"Well," I began, "I thought I was some kind of superhero when I discovered I could do all this. But I never imagined that a world of magic actually existed. Or that there's a school for it."
Two more notification chimes rang quietly in my head. I'd check them later.
Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Heath, children of age eleven are usually invited to Hogwarts when the Book of Acceptance writes their names. It doesn't judge age, only magical potential. This morning, your name appeared—much to our surprise. We feared it was due to a magical accident. But when we arrived and found you unconscious, we explained everything to your family. The Phoenix may have enhanced your magical ability—hence the changes in your hair and eyes. But don't worry. I examined you. You're perfectly fine… just far more powerful than most."
We spoke a while longer. Before leaving, the professors handed letters of admission to both me and Hermione.
Professor McGonagall would escort us to Diagon Alley the next day for school supplies.
As soon as the door shut behind them, I tried to dash off—only to be caught by my mother.
And then came thirty minutes of pure torture.
Cheek-pinching, hair-tying, dressing-up, and an endless barrage of photos. Neva watched from the side, clearly amused by my suffering.
"To be honest," my father said, grinning, "Heath was always cute and handsome. But now? He'll be a heartbreaker at Hogwarts!"
"Watch your mouth," my mom scolded, smacking his arm.
We all laughed.
Later that night, I sat by my window, gazing at the stars. I felt nothing but peace. For the first time in this new life, I felt happy—grateful for my family, my powers, and yes… even for this defective system.
I opened the system panel.
Both missions were marked complete.
And the rewards?