Chapter 7: The Status Window
The morning after the letter's arrival was brisk, golden, and quiet — the kind of calm that promised something significant was just around the bend. Luna awoke not to her usual fluttering dreams but to the lingering hum of the system within her mind.
She sat up in bed, eyes unusually focused. The magical thread around her, almost always dreamy and abstract, now pulsed in harmony with her heartbeat. A soft tone resonated through her consciousness, and then it appeared — clear, structured, and with more detail than ever before.
System Interface Booting...
Status Window: Unlocked
Name: Luna Lovegood
Age: 11 Years, 1 Month
Soul State: Stabilized (75%)
System Sync: 52%
Dream Affinity: Active
Temporal Awareness: Passive
Spatial Sensitivity: Moderate
Magic Core Development: Stage I — Adolescent Bloom
Physique: Healthy, Enhanced by Magic Exposure
Emotional Regulation: Balanced (System-Assisted)
Luna's pale fingers moved unconsciously in the air, mimicking the flick of a quill. She was still in awe that such a thing existed — part of her, yet not. The System was evolving alongside her magic, its tone almost like a caring instructor: patient, cryptic, and always watching.
She glanced toward the window where morning dew still clung to the glass, the world beyond sleepy and unaware. Her fingers brushed the faint shimmer at her wrist — not a bracelet, but the System's interface mark, usually invisible.
"Fifty-two percent synced... does that mean I'm halfway to something?" she murmured.
Affirmative. System Synchronization exceeding 50% unlocks Tier-1 Passive Guidance: Emotional Anchoring, Dream Navigation, Magical Flow Awareness.
The voice in her head was not a sound but a presence — informative and oddly calming. It reassured her when her dreams grew too intense. It nudged her away from mental fatigue and even stilled her trembling during magical bursts.
She stood up slowly, pacing as her thoughts flowed. "So, it's helping me feel more... stable?"
Correct. Synchronization enables suppression of excessive emotional surges and provides clarity.
Her eyes flicked to the enchanted mirror on her dresser. A flash of light rippled over it — not a reflection, but another notification.
New Feature Unlocked: Magical Affinity Detection
Current Affinities:
Dream Magic: 74% Compatibility
Temporal Magic: 41% (Locked)
Spatial Magic: 57% (Developing)
Runic Theory: 62%
Empathic Reading: 38%
Luna blinked slowly. "So much for being a normal witch." Her tone was light, almost joking — but beneath it was a twinge of anxiety.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by the familiar gentle voice of her mother.
"Luna, dear, breakfast is ready."
"Coming, Mum!"
She waved her hand and the interface receded, the glowing data folding inward like moonlight slipping behind clouds. As she walked down the stairs, the quiet awareness of her System lingered.
At the table, her father was already seated with a fresh edition of The Quibbler, buttered scones, and a dreamy smile. Her mother hummed, waving her wand to pour tea. There was no trace of the near-death experience from years ago. Luna had changed something — no, she had saved something. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
"Did you sleep well?" her mother asked, setting a steaming plate before her.
Luna nodded. "I had clarity."
Her mother paused, eyes twinkling. "That's a nice change."
As they ate, her father casually said, "You'll be hearing from Hogwarts soon."
Luna smiled. "I think I already have."
And later that afternoon, when she returned to her room, a flicker of magic coiled near her window. A wax-sealed envelope rested gently on the sill — the final confirmation.
But Luna didn't touch it. Not yet. She stared at it, knowing that the letter wasn't just paper — it was a doorway. And everything before this had only been the quiet before the storm.
System Notification: Milestone Reached — Acceptance Triggered. Prepare for Academic Arc Initiation.
She exhaled deeply.