HARRY POTTER :A New Player

Here's Chapter 1 of Harry Potter and the Game, titled "Press Start", expanding on the prologue and setting the stage for Harry's journey into the world of the Game.

Harry woke up to the sound of a loud ping resonating in his ears. Groggily rubbing his eyes, he squinted at the glowing blue box hovering inches away from his nose. The text inside was sharp and clear despite his usual blurry morning vision.

[Quest Completed: Restful Sleep]

You have slept in your own bed. HP and MP restored 100%.

All ailments and negative status effects removed.

Harry blinked. Once. Twice. He reached out cautiously, and his fingers passed right through the translucent screen, causing faint ripples to spread across it like water. It was real, or at least it felt real enough that sleep-deprived logic wasn't helping him dismiss it as a hallucination.

"Status," he muttered hesitantly, trying to remember how video games worked. To his astonishment, another screen popped up.

[Status Window]

Name: Harry Potter

Title: None

Level: 2 (EXP 30/400)

Race: ???

HP: 100/100

MP: 50/50

STR: 2

VIT: 3

DEX: 4

INT: 1

WIS: 1

LUC: 3

POINTS AVAILABLE: 0

Galleons: 0G 0S 0K

Harry stared, his mind whirling. Strength, Vitality, Dexterity—these were stats. His life was turning into a game. Had he finally lost his mind? Maybe it was Aunt Petunia's cleaning chemicals messing with his brain.

"Okay, stay calm, Potter," he muttered, taking a deep breath. "Let's figure this out."

Looking closer at the interface, he noticed a small blinking (?) next to his Race status. Curious, he tapped it, and another screen appeared.

[Unknown Race Detected]

Your magical heritage is currently unknown. Further development required to unlock full racial benefits.

Magical heritage? Harry frowned. He didn't know much about his parents except that they had died in a car crash—or at least, that's what the Dursleys had always told him. If magic was involved… maybe there was more to the story?

His stomach growled, interrupting his thoughts. He swiped a hand through the air, and the screen vanished with another soft ping. This was insane, but ignoring his hunger wasn't an option. He could figure out the crazy floating screens later.

After a quick breakfast (a meager slice of toast stolen while Aunt Petunia wasn't looking), Harry escaped outside before he could be saddled with another endless list of chores. The fresh morning air was a relief compared to the stifling atmosphere inside Number 4, Privet Drive.

He wandered into the park, lost in thought. If this whole "game" thing was real, then maybe he could make it work to his advantage. It wasn't like his life could get any worse, right?

New Quest Alert!

Survive the Dursley Household

• Complete daily chores (0/5)

• Avoid Dudley's wrath (0/1)

• Find a place to safely read your book (0/1)

Reward: +5 Exp, ???

Harry groaned. Even in a game, his life insisted on being miserable.

Later that afternoon, after an exhausting session of yard work under Aunt Petunia's critical gaze, Harry was rewarded with a new notification.

Skill Created!

Skill: Endurance (Lv.1)

Your body has adapted to prolonged periods of exertion and mistreatment.

Effect: Slightly increased stamina and resistance to physical damage.

"Well, that's something, at least," Harry muttered under his breath. If dealing with the Dursleys could make him stronger, then maybe he could use this system to get ahead. He quickly opened his Skills menu.

[Skills]

• Endurance (Lv. 1): Passively increases physical resilience.

• Sarcasm (Lv. 5): Your sharp wit cuts deeper than expected.

Passive Bonus: 10% chance to annoy enemies into losing focus.

• Cooking (Lv. 2): At least the kitchen hasn't burned down… yet.

Harry blinked at the last skill, frowning. "Sarcasm is a skill? And I have it at level five?"

Thinking about it, it wasn't too surprising. Years of dealing with Dudley's antics had given him plenty of practice. The passive bonus made him smirk—at least his sharp tongue might come in handy someday.

Deciding to experiment, he focused and whispered, "Inventory."

A small transparent box appeared in front of him, listing items. To his surprise, a "Phoenix Feather Pendant" was already inside.

Curious, he tapped it, and another window popped up.

[Phoenix Feather Pendant]

An ancient magical artifact said to contain the essence of rebirth.

Effect: Increases regeneration speed by 5% and provides warmth to the wearer.

Special: Unsealed only when the true power is recognized.

Harry's heart pounded. Where had this come from? He didn't own anything magical, yet here it was in his inventory, waiting. Something inside him stirred, a whisper of something greater—something waiting to be unlocked.

A notification flashed.

[New Quest Unlocked: The Phoenix Reborn]

• Discover the true nature of the pendant.

• Seek guidance from the right source.

• Unlock the first seal.

Rewards: Unknown

Harry swallowed, his excitement warring with skepticism. A magical pendant, an unknown heritage, and a mysterious game-like system guiding him. This was either the best thing that had ever happened to him… or the beginning of something truly terrifying.

But for the first time in his life, Harry felt a glimmer of hope. If life was a game, maybe—just maybe—he could win.

And with that thought, he whispered the words that would change his life forever.

"Press Start."

End of Chapter 1