Knights of Magic and Shadow

The platform was in chaos.

Steam hissed from the scarlet engine. Owls hooted. Cats weaved between trunks. Children darted everywhere in black robes too big for their bodies. And above it all, parents barked orders like generals shipping their soldiers off to war.

James stood apart, dressed in plain gray, hood up over his unruly black hair, green eyes scanning everything.

He wasn't nervous.

He was calculating.

His training over the last week had left him more than prepared. He knew how to disarm. How to strike. How to push without touching. How to kill if he had to.

He didn't care about magic. Not in the way these people did.

To them, it was culture. Heritage. Identity.

To him? Just another tool.

Like the Force. Like the System.

[Force Passive: Environmental Awareness – Active]Detecting heightened emotions nearby:

Fear (Child, female, to your left)

Curiosity (Teen male, 10 o'clock)

Obsession (Target: Ron Weasley)

James turned slowly, his gaze falling on a red-haired boy glancing at him every three seconds from a bench near the train.

Ron Weasley.

The moment their eyes met, Ron perked up and quickly stood.

"Hey—uh, hi! You're Harry Potter, right?"

James tilted his head slightly.

"Who wants to know?"

Ron froze for a second, clearly not expecting anything but gratitude. "I—well, I'm Ron. Ron Weasley. I—er—my mum told me all about you. You're famous, mate."

There it was.

The f-word.

Fame.

He felt it in Ron's voice — that edge of hunger, of desperation for proximity to greatness.

James's lips curled into a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"I bet she did."

Ron blinked. "So—er—mind if I sit with you on the train? Might be easier than trying to find a compartment…"

James stared at him flatly, letting the silence stretch. Then:

"I do mind."

Ron's face fell. "What?"

James leaned forward just a little, his voice low but firm. "You want to be friends because of my name, not my character. I'm not here to be anyone's free ticket to relevance. Go find someone who needs a sidekick."

Ron stepped back like he'd been slapped. "Bloody hell, what's your problem?"

"No problem," James said, already turning toward the train. "Just not interested in groupies."

He found an empty one near the back, as planned.

The Force helped him feel the rhythm of people, let him predict who'd stop and who wouldn't. The compartment stayed his.

He didn't sit long before the door slid open.

A pale, sharp-featured boy entered, flanked by two bulky shadows. Platinum hair. Cold eyes. Robes pressed to perfection.

Draco Malfoy.

Malfoy's gaze lingered on James's forehead.

"Harry Potter," he said simply. "You don't look like much."

James smiled faintly. "Neither do you. But looks like."

Draco blinked, then smirked.

"Fair enough. Mind if I sit?"

"Go ahead," James said. "Just don't waste my time."

Malfoy's smirk widened.

Crabbe and Goyle shifted, confused.

[Social Interaction – Draco Malfoy: Relationship Modifier +10]

Not friendly, but respectful

Perceives you as capable and strategic

Unlocked Trait: "Mutual Respect – Ambition Recognizes Ambition"**

They didn't talk much, but that was fine. James preferred silence with those who knew when to shut up.

Later, a brown-haired girl burst into the compartment, clearly mid-rant.

"…honestly, no one even read Hogwarts: A History. Oh! Sorry—didn't know this one was occupied."

James glanced up, instantly reading her.

Ego mixed with insecurity. Deeply needs to prove herself. Dangerously sharp mind.

"Hermione Granger," he said.

She blinked. "That's… right. How did you know?"

"Lucky guess," he lied smoothly. 

She squinted at him. "You're Harry Potter."

"So I'm told."

"You don't act like you expected attention," she said bluntly.

"I don't crave it," he replied. "Attention is a weapon. And I don't hand out weapons to strangers."

That caught her off guard. She left a minute later, mumbling something about revisiting later. He didn't stop her.

[Hermione Granger: Relationship Modifier Neutral]You intrigue her. She senses depth, but suspects ulterior motives.

Hours passed. Students grew restless. The train hummed along the countryside.

James waited until the hallway was clear, then locked the compartment door, closed the blinds, and stood.

He centered himself.

Force Choke.

He raised his hand, and the air grew heavy.

He focused on the empty seat across from him.

[Force Choke – Lv 1 Activated]

The seat creaked. A faint pressure warped the cushion inward.

He felt it, even without a throat to grip.

The invisible power answered him.

He cut the Force off instantly.

+10 XPForce Mastery Progress: Choke – 12%

More importantly: no magical alarms. No jinxed wards. No system spikes.

Nothing.

He was invisible.