The battle was over. At least for now.
Chris sat near the remains of the Great Hall, now barely a hall at all. Smoke hung in the air. Rubble surrounded him. He stared down at his hands — no burns, no cuts. Just the faint shimmer of a magic he didn't fully understand.
Behind his eyes, the System interface flickered, hovering just at the edge of vision.
🌀 "Timeline Event: Battle of Hogwarts — Closed."🎯 "+1 Destiny Point acquired."💠 "New Bond Opportunity detected: Hermione Jean Granger."
Chris looked up.
There she was.
Hermione Granger.
Dirt on her cheek, scratches on her arms, blood on her robes — and still she carried herself like a commander. Her eyes scanned everything, sharp as ever, as if her brain hadn't stopped calculating since the final spell flew.
She was talking to Ron, but when she turned and saw Chris — sitting alone, breathing hard, holding his wand like a beginner — she paused.
Walked over.
— "You're not from here," she said bluntly.
Chris blinked. Not 'who are you?' Not 'are you hurt?' Just… straight to it.
He scrambled for a response.
— "I, uh… transferred. Kind of a late arrival."
She narrowed her eyes. "There are no transfers during war."
The System flickered again.
Editar🎴 Bond Opportunity: Hermione Granger Type: Intellectual / Trust Path Response Options: A) Tell the Truth (Risky) B) Deflect (Safe) C) Use "Reader's Knowledge" - Hint: 'Book she loved most…'
Chris hesitated. Then thought fast. He chose C — triggering the skill.
A whisper filled his mind: "Hogwarts: A History"
He smiled faintly.
— "I read Hogwarts: A History. Twice."
Hermione's eyes widened. Just a little.
— "You… did?"
— "Front to back. Including the footnotes about the architectural enchantments on the moving staircases. Honestly, I think the book left out half the important stuff."
Her lips parted. Her expression softened. Just a bit.
— "No one reads the footnotes…"
Another chime sounded:
💬 Bond Level 1: Hermione Granger – "Intrigued"
She sat down beside him, keeping her wand loosely in hand.
— "You don't sound American."
— "I'm from… somewhere in between," he said carefully. "Honestly, I don't think even the Sorting Hat would know what to do with me."
She chuckled, tired but genuine.
— "That makes two of us."
📜 New System Notification
mathematica
Copiar
Editar🧠 Character Bond: Hermione Granger Level: 1 – Intrigued Trait Gained: Double Study — Learn spells 10% faster when studying near Hermione. Potential Routes: 💛 Intellectual Partnership ❤️ Romantic Path (Requires Emotional Bonding) ⚔️ Rival Path (Trigger: Mistrust or Ideological Conflict) System Suggestion: Spend Destiny Point to unlock Dual Study Session (Rare Spell Unlock)
Chris looked at her — truly looked — and realized this girl wasn't just "the smart one" from the books. She was tired, broken, strong, and still going. Real.
Maybe more real than anything he'd ever known.
And for the first time, he understood:He wasn't just in a story anymore.He was inside a life. One that could be changed.
He turned to her.
— "When things calm down… would you mind showing me around the library? I've always wanted to see how it feels… for real."
Hermione paused.
Then smiled.
— "If you don't get us kicked out, maybe."