The Gamer: Multiverse Travel

We appeared right outside the orphanage door, the sudden shift of Apparition leaving a brief tingling sensation in the air. Professor Sprout looked at me, her eyes serious but warm. "To get to Hogwarts," she said, "you need to get to Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station in London on September 1st at 11:00 AM. Don't be late, or you won't be able to attend!" Her words hung in the air, full of finality, before she rang the bell.

Within a minute, the door swung open. The caretaker, a kind woman with a gray bun, peered out and her face lit up upon seeing me. "Oh, Daniel, you're back. I'll call Miss Jones," she said, giving me a curious glance at the pile of items I was carrying. She stepped inside, leaving the door open as she went off to find Miss Jones.

I looked at Professor Sprout, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling inside me. "Goodbye, Professor Sprout," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Goodbye, Mr. Wilson," she replied, her smile brief but reassuring, before she Apparated away with a soft pop, leaving me standing in the quiet of the orphanage doorway.

A minute later, Miss Jones appeared in the hallway, her footsteps quick but purposeful. She paused for a moment, her eyes scanning the pile of belongings I'd brought back with me. "Welcome back, Daniel," she said, her voice warm, but her gaze lingered on the large cauldron that seemed oddly out of place among the rest of the items. "Why would you need a cauldron for school?" she asked, her brow furrowing in clear confusion.

She glanced around, noticing that the professor wasn't with me. "And where is Professor Sprout?" she continued, her tone curious but laced with a hint of concern.

I hesitated for a moment, the lie slipping out easily. "I guess for chemistry or something," I said, shrugging casually. "And the professor left after seeing I was safe and inside the orphanage."

I quickly started moving toward my room, eager to get the items out of sight.

"Let me help you," Miss Jones offered with a soft smile, stepping in to assist. Together, we carried everything to the safety of my room, her presence comforting as always.

Once everything was settled, Miss Jones glanced at me, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of her lips. "You're lucky," she said, her tone light but carrying an undercurrent of something else, like she was trying to mask her concern. "You got back just in time for dinner."

Her eyes softened, as if she was silently wondering how this change might affect me. "Come on, let's go eat," she added gently, her voice warm with reassurance.

As we walked through the familiar halls of the orphanage, her voice took on a more serious note. "Are you sure you want to go to this boarding school? You won't see anyone you know for a couple of months."

I met her gaze, a sense of determination settling in my chest. "I'm sure, Miss Jones," I replied, my voice firmer than I felt inside.

Her eyes softened, though I could see a trace of sadness there. "If you want it so much, I can only wish you luck with your grades," she said, her words carrying a mixture of hope and hesitation.

I tried to keep my confidence up, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth. "Don't worry, Miss Jones. I'll bring back trophies for sure," I said, the bravado coming more easily now.

She chuckled softly, ruffling my hair with an affectionate smile. "Alright," she said, her voice light with warmth. "Go eat."

After dinner, I hurried back to my room, my heart racing with excitement. 'It's time to see what my wand can really do.'

I closed the door behind me, took a deep breath, and centered myself. "Observe," the familiar command flickered through my mind, and I focused it on the wand.

[Wand - Grade: Legendary - Able to Evolve]

[Bound to Daniel Wilson.

Made from Yew Wood and Thestral Tail Hair Core, 11 inches in length.

It has a pseudo-ego.

Bonuses:

- Greatly enhances the effects of magic cast, making spells more powerful and precise.

- Improves control over Transfiguration, allowing for greater ease in manipulating forms and shapes.

- Enhances the ability to work with spells that involve communication with the deceased, divination, or invisibility, making it particularly effective for these forms of magic.

- Aids greatly in learning both Light and Dark Magic.]

I stared at the description, my mind reeling. "Wow," I whispered, my eyes widening. 'It only costs 7 Galleons?' I thought, still in disbelief at how affordable it seemed. But then I looked at the rest of the description again. "It's so powerful," I murmured to myself, a mix of excitement and awe flooding through me as I gently held the wand in my hand.

But then my eyes landed on one line I hadn't noticed before: an ego? A flicker of confusion ran through me. "The wand has an ego?" I said quietly, my voice filled with disbelief. 'Was that normal? Did every wand have an ego, or was it just this one?'

I felt a strange prickling sensation in my hand, like the wand was responding. I looked at it, the unease twisting in my stomach. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of you," I said softly, not sure if I was reassuring the wand or myself. But it felt like the wand was listening, like it knew what I was thinking.

I shook off the odd feeling, trying to focus. 'Now, let's test you out,' I thought, opening the window. The night air was crisp, the sky growing darker, but I couldn't wait to see how my new wand would perform. I should have been getting ready for bed, but sleep could wait.

I raised my hand, focusing my magic into it. I cast the magic arrow and watched it shoot into the sky. Then, I shifted my focus to the wand, channeling my magic through it. The arrow shot out again, but this time, it exploded in the night sky, much stronger and more precise than before, at least twice as powerful.

"Wow," I murmured, my breath catching as the surge of power coursed through me. I tested the wand further, but soon a wave of light dizziness hit, leaving me with a strange mix of exhilaration and exhaustion.

Reluctantly, I stopped and looked around the room. 'It's a mess', I thought, the chaotic pile of items in the corner standing in stark contrast to the otherwise empty space. With a resigned sigh, I moved to tidy up, carefully organizing everything.

When I was finished, I noticed it was pitch dark outside. With a quiet sigh, I climbed into bed, my thoughts still racing. 'It's time to resume training tomorrow', I thought, my excitement burning brightly.