Myriad realms store owner of Harry potter

The day after their discussion in the library, Harry and Ron received a notice of detention.

That night, as Ryan and Hermione practiced Transfiguration at their table, Harry and Ron burst into the common room, panting from running. Without even catching their breath, they sat down and hurriedly recounted their experience in the Forbidden Forest.

Sure enough, they had encountered Voldemort drinking unicorn blood. However, since there had been no interference this time, Harry and Ron had met the unicorn slightly earlier than in the original timeline. Though seriously injured, the unicorn had managed to survive and was now recovering in the centaur tribe. In addition to this, the centaurs had delivered an ominous prophecy.

"The centaurs said that Voldemort would return—they saw it in the stars," Harry said excitedly. "At first, I thought Snape was just after the Philosopher's Stone for personal gain, but he's actually planning to give it to Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest to help him regain power!"

"Please, don't say that name," Ron muttered, visibly trembling.

But Harry, undeterred, continued, "Once Voldemort gets the Philosopher's Stone, he'll storm into the castle and kill me! That would fulfill the prophecy completely."

"Harry!" Ryan raised his voice, cutting him off. "As far as I know, prophecies are often vague and open to multiple interpretations. You shouldn't take them so literally. Besides, Dumbledore is in the castle—no one is just going to rush in and kill you. There's less than a week until exams. The best thing you can do is get a good night's sleep and be in top shape for tomorrow. Worrying about it now won't help."

Harry looked momentarily deflated, but he said nothing more. Instead, he followed Ryan upstairs to the dormitory for the night.

Exam Time

Time didn't slow down just because some students were nervous about Voldemort's actions. Soon enough, Ryan's final exams for his first year at Hogwarts began.

Exams are often the most dreaded part of student life, yet they are also unavoidable. This has been true throughout history, even at Hogwarts, the famed school of witchcraft and wizardry.

Fortunately for Ryan, he came from a country known for its rigorous academic testing. Compared to the intense weekly and monthly exams he had faced before the college entrance examination, Hogwarts' first-year review felt almost too easy.

So, as he sat in the exam hall, quill in hand—one with an anti-cheating spell—he felt confident.

Unlike exams in the Muggle world, Hogwarts' assessments also included practical magic tests. Each professor had their own unique requirements.

Professor Flitwick, for instance, had students enter the classroom one by one to perform a levitation spell on a pineapple. Ryan had always wondered how a pineapple could possibly "tap dance," as described in the original story. But after observing his classmates, he realized that as long as the pineapple twisted and bounced in rhythm, it gave the illusion of dancing. This was far simpler than the two-legged pineapple he had once imagined.

Professor McGonagall's exam involved transforming a rat into a snuffbox. The more intricate the design, the higher the marks; if the box retained any rat-like features—such as whiskers—points were deducted. Ryan transfigured his rat into a steampunk-style snuffbox, adorned with interlocking gears and delicate filigree. It was a technique he had mastered after studying the Winter House Industrial Manual. He was pleased to see Professor McGonagall nod approvingly at his work.

In the underground Potions classroom, Ryan methodically brewed a Forgetfulness Potion. Fortunately, Harry managed to attract all of Snape's attention, sparing Ryan from the professor's scrutinizing gaze. Otherwise, even the most well-prepared student might falter under such pressure.

Harry, on the other hand, looked miserable—his nerves were getting the best of him. He seemed to be suffering from the same exam anxiety as Neville. But the rest of the students were handling it well. Thanks to their thorough preparation, both Ron and Hermione walked into their exams with at least some confidence.

The final exam was History of Magic. If they could endure one last hour of answering questions about which eccentric old wizard invented the self-stirring cauldron, they would be free for an entire week—at least until their results were announced. When Professor Binns finally instructed them to put down their quills and roll up their parchment, Ryan couldn't help but cheer along with the rest of the class.

"That was easier than I expected," Hermione said as they stepped into the warm sunlight outside. "I didn't even need to memorize the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or every detail of the Goblin Rebellion."

"I told you during revision," Ryan replied. "Those events involve complex historical and political factors that still impact today's magical society. They wouldn't expect first-year students to analyze something that intricate."

Hermione, as always, began reviewing the exam questions aloud, causing Ryan to sigh. She reminded him of the overachieving students he had encountered in his past life. After several attempts, he finally convinced her to let it go.

Relaxation by the Lake

They made their way down a gentle slope toward the lake. Once they reached the shade of a large tree, they sat down and relaxed. Nearby, the giant squid floated lazily in the warm shallows while the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan poked at its tentacles.

"I've never understood why a squid lives in a freshwater lake," Hermione mused, nudging Ryan.

"Probably because of its magical ancestry—maybe it's part Kraken or something. But honestly, every time I see it, I start craving calamari." Ryan grinned. "A squid that size must be ancient, though. If you wanted to cook it, it would probably only be good for making squid balls."

"Ah, I remember! Your mom made squid balls last time, and they were delicious!" Hermione recalled, smiling. She had tried them at a school event in Ryan's old neighborhood.

Just as Ryan and Hermione's conversation drifted toward food, Harry suddenly groaned.

"My scar hurts again," he said, pressing a hand to his forehead. "It's happened before, but never this often."

"You should see Madam Pomfrey," Hermione suggested at once.

"I'm not sick," Harry insisted. "I think it's a warning—something bad is about to happen."

"But Dumbledore is here, and Hagrid would never betray him. No one can get past Fluffy's guard. You don't need to worry," Ryan reasoned. "Maybe it's just stress from exams."

"Exactly!" Hermione agreed. "I was so anxious last night that I woke up and started rereading my Transfiguration notes—only to realize we'd already taken that test."

Harry didn't respond. He sat there, deep in thought. Then, suddenly, he jumped up.

Ryan and Hermione exchanged worried glances before scrambling to their feet. Without another word, they followed Harry as he sprinted back toward the castle.

FOR MORE CHAPTERS

patreon.com/STEPHENHART427