Harry Potter: A New Player.

Harry glanced around the common room, making sure no one was eavesdropping before turning to Hermione and Ron. The glow of the fireplace flickered against their faces as Hermione unfolded a carefully drawn map of the Hogwarts library.

"Alright," she whispered, "the restricted section is here." She pointed to a darkened part of the parchment. "Madam Pince patrols this area around 8 PM and again at 10 PM. If we're quiet, we should have about an hour in between."

Ron groaned. "This is mad. If we get caught, Filch'll have our heads."

Harry smirked. "We won't get caught. We have a plan." He opened his Quest Log, double-checking their objectives.

[Quest: The Forbidden Section Heist]

• Gain access to the restricted section (0/1)

• Find useful information about the Founders (0/1)

Reward: +75 EXP, New Skill Unlock

"Alright," Harry said. "We wait for everyone to be asleep, then we make our move."

Ron sighed. "This is a bad idea."

Hermione shot him a look. "Then why are you still here?"

Ron huffed. "Because I'm an idiot, obviously."

Harry chuckled, feeling a familiar thrill. He glanced at the clock—only two hours until lights out.

The Sneak In

The castle was eerily silent at night. The moonlight filtered through the grand windows, casting long shadows across the corridors as Harry, Ron, and Hermione crept toward the library under the cover of Harry's invisibility cloak.

"Keep quiet," Hermione whispered.

[Skill Activated: Stealth Lv. 3]

Your footsteps are muffled, and your presence is harder to detect.

+10% chance to avoid detection.

The trio carefully stepped inside the library, weaving between the towering bookshelves. The restricted section loomed ahead, its gate secured with a heavy lock.

Hermione took out her wand. "Alohomora," she whispered.

[Skill Unlocked: Basic Charms (Lv.1)]

You can now cast simple unlocking and utility spells.

+5% success rate for unlocking spells.

The lock clicked open, and Hermione grinned in triumph. "Let's go."

Inside, the restricted section smelled of dust and old parchment. Books with titles like Dark Curses Through the Ages and The Secrets of Blood Magic lined the shelves, each exuding an aura of forbidden knowledge.

Harry activated his Observation Skill, scanning the room for anything related to the Founders.

[Observation Activated]

• Book Detected: "The Founders' Hidden Trials"

• Warning: Presence of dark enchantments nearby.

"Here," Harry whispered, pointing to a thick, leather-bound book with a crest of the four Hogwarts houses embossed on the cover. Hermione carefully pulled it from the shelf, blowing off a layer of dust.

She flipped it open, her eyes widening. "Listen to this," she whispered. "'The Founders, foreseeing the need to test those who would one day wield their power, created trials hidden deep within the castle walls.'"

Ron gulped. "That sounds… ominous."

[Quest Updated: The Forbidden Section Heist]

• Gain access to the restricted section ✔

• Find useful information about the Founders ✔

Reward Claimed: +75 EXP, New Skill Unlock

Harry's interface flashed.

[Skill Unlocked: Investigation Lv.1]

You can analyze magical texts and artifacts with greater clarity.

+5% success chance for discovering hidden properties.

"This book could tell us where the next relic is," Hermione whispered excitedly.

Before they could read more, a sudden noise echoed through the corridor.

"Who's there?" Madam Pince's sharp voice cut through the silence.

Harry grabbed the book, shoved it into his bag, and motioned for them to run.

[Quest Added: Escape the Library!]

• Avoid detection by Madam Pince (0/1)

• Return to the Gryffindor common room safely (0/1)

Reward: +50 EXP, No Detention

The trio bolted toward the door, slipping behind bookshelves as the stern librarian's footsteps grew louder.

"Over here," Harry hissed, ducking behind a large bookshelf.

Madam Pince's shadow passed dangerously close, but the invisibility cloak held. After a tense moment, she turned away.

"All clear," Hermione whispered, and they sprinted silently back to Gryffindor Tower.

Secrets of the Founders

Back in the common room, Harry tossed the book onto the table, and Hermione eagerly flipped to a relevant section.

"'To uncover the secrets of Rowena Ravenclaw, one must seek the riddle hidden within the Hall of Learning,'" she read aloud.

Ron groaned. "That sounds like the library again."

Harry smirked. "At least it's not the dungeons… yet."

[New Quest: Ravenclaw's Riddle]

• Locate the Hall of Learning (0/1)

• Solve Rowena's riddle (0/1)

Reward: +150 EXP, Ravenclaw's Insight Skill

"I say we check it out tomorrow," Harry suggested. "For now, we need sleep."

Hermione reluctantly closed the book, and they all headed up to their dormitories. As Harry lay in bed, he couldn't help but feel excited about what lay ahead.

The game was getting deeper, and he was ready to play.