HP: Card System

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Ding!

You have listened carefully to Professor Flitwick's explanation and gained a deeper understanding of the Lumos charm.

+25 XP in Lumos+25 XP in the general experience pool

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[Lumos (White)] - Lv1 (38/200)

Ted had already taught himself Lumos before classes even started, practicing with his wand from day one. Now, with the extra 25 XP from Professor Flitwick's lecture and another 13 XP from his personal practice, his progress was coming along nicely.

Magic wasn't just about saying the right words—it had levels, skill growth, and mastery. Some wizards became particularly skilled in certain spells, pushing them beyond their basic forms to incredible levels of power.

When it was time for students to practice, Ted had no trouble casting the spell. He flicked his wand confidently, and a bright, steady glow illuminated from the tip.

Professor Flitwick clapped his hands together. "Excellent, Mr. Epifani! What a beautifully stable light. Five points to Ravenclaw!"

Ted grinned. Now that's a generous Head of House!

A moment later, Hermione followed suit. Her wand tip glowed, though her light flickered slightly before stabilizing. Still, it was a successful cast.

"Well done, Miss Granger! Two points to Ravenclaw!"

Hermione pursed her lips. 'Only two?'

Ted caught her expression and smirked. 'Sorry, Hermione. Next year, next year is all yours.'

Meanwhile, the Slytherin students were less than pleased, quietly grumbling about Flitwick favoring his own House.

The second class of the afternoon was Herbology, held in the greenhouses on the southeastern side of the castle. Ravenclaw was paired with Hufflepuff this time.

The moment they stepped inside, they were greeted by rows of potted magical plants, from simple herbs to bizarre, twitching specimens. Some rustled as they walked past, as if aware of their presence.

Professor Sprout, the head of Hufflepuff, stood at the front, her robes covered in soil stains. Her hat was slightly askew, and her hands were smudged with dirt—clear evidence of someone who spent more time in the dirt than worrying about appearances.

Despite her rugged look, she was warm and welcoming. Her passion for Herbology was obvious as she enthusiastically explained different magical plants, their uses, and their dangers.

Ted answered one of her questions correctly—something not mentioned in the textbook—and earned Ravenclaw another five points.

Bonus XP and extra House points? This task is looking promising!

After classes ended, the students went straight to dinner, and then many first-years headed for the library.

It was only the first day, but homework was already piling up—three classes in, and they had to write an entire foot-long essay.

For most students, this meant spending hours flipping through books and struggling to find enough content to fill the parchment. But for Ted?

Piece of cake.

He barely needed to check the reference materials. His mind was already filled with everything he needed, so he simply wrote his assignment, making sure to hit the required word count.

Hydrology major—maximum efficiency!

But honestly, the real treasure at Hogwarts wasn't just the spells or the classes—it was the library itself.

A third of Hogwarts' true value lay within these walls, the largest and most comprehensive collection of magical texts in Great Britain. The library held knowledge from centuries of magical study, contributions from legendary wizards, and even rare books that no family or organization could match in their private collections.

While his classmates were still struggling through their essays, Ted finished his in just ten minutes.

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Ding!

You have diligently completed the professor's assignment and gained valuable knowledge. +15 XP.

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Adding it all up, including class participation and spell practice, Ted had racked up a total of 75 XP for the day. A solid first-day haul!

With his homework done, he wandered over to a shelf and grabbed a book on Transfiguration theory. The moment he cracked it open—

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Ding!

New Quest Triggered: [Wizard's Ladder of Progress (Blue)]In the greatest library in Great Britain, you are like a mouse in a rice bin. What are you waiting for? Read!

Goal: Read 100 books from the Hogwarts library.Reward: 400 XP, [Skill Enhancement Manual (Blue)].

Knowledge is power—but a wizard needs both a sharp mind and a strong body to truly excel!

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...

Ted held "A Detailed Explanation of the Basic Principles of Gamp's Transformation" in his hands, unable to suppress the satisfied grin spreading across his face.

If someone else attempted this task, it might take them two or three years to complete. But for him? Effortless.

He could finish a book in mere minutes.

As for whether he understood everything—well, that was a problem for later. The task never specified he needed to learn it all, just to read it!

His friends, however, weren't as enthusiastic. They eyed him warily, unnerved by the increasingly manic expression on his face.

Ron nudged Jerry with his elbow. "Look—look at Ted!"

Jerry followed Ron's gaze and shuddered. "He's grinning like some kind of mad man."

Neville inhaled sharply, his voice filled with admiration. "No wonder Ted's so good at magic. Just look at how much he loves reading!"

Hermione bit her lip, determination flashing in her eyes. 'I can work harder!'

And then Ted began his "book sweeping"—not reading, but scanning.

His eyes darted back and forth like high-speed scanners, and his hands never stopped flipping pages. It was as if the entire world had ceased to exist around him, leaving only the books and the knowledge within them.

The sheer intensity of his focus was palpable. It was as if his body remained, but his spirit had fully merged with the text.

Even the ever-watchful librarian, Madam Pince, took notice. She frowned as she approached, peering down at Ted's absurd speed. "That's not how you read a book, young man."

Ted blinked, momentarily snapping out of his trance. With a smile, he recited a passage backward—word for word.

Madam Pince's expression flickered with uncertainty before she huffed and walked away, occasionally casting glances at him from her desk.

His friends, meanwhile, were left utterly speechless.

"Did… did he just memorize an entire book in minutes?" Jerry muttered.

"We came to Hogwarts on the same train," Ron groaned, "so why does it feel like he's playing on easy mode while we're stuck on hard?"

Having long since abandoned any hope of keeping up, Ron glanced at Ted's parchment, which was already filled with neat, completed homework. His eyes gleamed.

"Ted, buddy, pal…" Ron crooned, his voice dripping with false sweetness.

Jerry and Halle joined in, their faces brimming with hopeful desperation.

Without looking up, Ted wordlessly slid his homework toward them. "Just take it and let me focus on my quest..."

Satisfied, Ron, Jerry, and Harley eagerly copied the work while Ted continued devouring books. He memorized four or five more before deciding not to push himself too far. Even with his skills, this level of mental strain was exhausting.

I should pace myself. Reading a hundred books in one go isn't practical. A few weeks should be reasonable.

With that thought, Ted stood and wandered deeper into the library, exploring its vast shelves.

The Hogwarts library was massive—spanning multiple floors and covering at least two to three thousand square meters. Towering bookshelves stretched up to the five-meter-high ceiling, with some books only accessible via ladder.

As he wandered, his aimless path eventually led him to a forbidden section, marked by thick black ropes and large warning signs—the Restricted Section.

Immediately, Ted felt the overwhelming magic radiating from within. The sheer power and knowledge sealed behind those ropes made his heart race. This… this is a goldmine!

And then—

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Ding! Task triggered:

[Forbidden Books Are the Essence of Libraries (Red)]

The Hogwarts Restricted Section contains ancient and dangerous magic, including centuries-old spells and powerful forbidden knowledge. You need to see this!

Goal: Read 10 books from the Restricted Section.

Reward: 800 experience, +Lv1 Dark Arts, and a random card.

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Ted's eyes gleamed with excitement. The Restricted Section…

As the saying goes, there's nothing quite like reading forbidden books on a snowy night!

However, he forced himself to calm down. He cast a glance toward Madam Pince, then quickly turned away from the restricted area.

'Not yet. The time isn't right.'

Ted had been thinking about his situation long before he arrived at Hogwarts.

He wasn't the Boy Who Lived. He wasn't some Chosen One. He was just Ted, an average first-year wizard with a strange but useful skill. Unlike Harry Potter, he didn't have plot armor. If he made a mistake, there were no guarantees he'd get a second chance.

His first-year goal was simple: Build a strong foundation. Learn everything the school permitted before diving into riskier ventures.

Wandering around at night? Sneaking into the Forbidden Forest? Breaking into the Restricted Section on day one?

That was how you died.

Sure, novels made it look easy—first-year protagonists always seemed to cause chaos from day one. But this was real. He was in this world now.

And Hogwarts did expel students.

For now, the best thing he could do… was be patient.

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Word count: 1506