In the wizarding world, there has long been a mysterious legend about a magical creature known as the Ouhuang, whose innate talent is sheer luck, and they are always accompanied by a pet called a seal.
In the myths surrounding them, the feats of these lucky beings range from the small, like instantly drawing a rare SSR card or getting Black Saber on a single pull, to the enormous, like collecting seven magical orbs. Such achievements are beyond the reach of ordinary people. Of course, the "orbs" we're talking about aren't Dragon Balls, but a thing called Dual-Color Balls.
Now, in an orphanage in England, a young wizard who had just spent a fortune on in-game currency hugged a box with trembling anticipation, hoping that the crown would descend upon his head. Today was the day he might summon a legendary artifact!
The chance to obtain a Deathly-level relic, Voldemort's Horcrux, through a "new student set" purchase only happened once, and Allen's package was an exclusive premium deal. Sounds promising, right?
But countless veterans, marked by tears and blood, tried to warn newcomers: this operation does not exist.
Sure enough, as Allen flipped through the books he'd acquired, each page did not scream, "Try again!" Instead, it politely said: Thank you for your purchase.
Yet Allen wasn't fazed. Tom Riddle's diary is nothing but a weakling, he thought. And he had long accepted that a Horcrux wouldn't come into his hands anytime soon. Being unlucky by nature, if he couldn't rely on luck like the Ouhuang, then he would rely on grinding.
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London, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Another school year had begun. Another batch of wide-eyed, clueless children joyfully trudged onto the train, backpacks in tow.
Hogwarts was an exception. This magical school had a unique charm: no student here ever developed a true case of school-loathing. Perhaps it was due to their hunger for friendship, given how limited their social circles were before enrollment.
From Allen's perspective, dozens of first-years were dressed in wildly unconventional outfits, adorned with bizarre accessories, enough to make a "spot the odd one out" game out of a single photograph.
Of course, their attire alone wasn't remarkable; after all, a little flair is nothing new. But almost every other word out of their mouths was about magic. Once magic infiltrates every aspect of your life, avoiding the word is impossible.
Allen could confidently predict that today would be an overtime day for the Ministry's Memory Erasers. There's nothing a forgetfulness charm can't solve; if one isn't enough, cast two.
Passing several obvious wizard groups, Allen and Annie quickly arrived at the station entrance and collided, one after the other, with the invisible wall.
Even with memory charms in play, a crowded platform drew attention. This explained why Allen's group didn't wait for anyone.
On the other side of the platform lay the wizarding world, absolutely free of Muggles, a clear boundary between the magical and non-magical realms. Once inside, Ministry restrictions on magic for young wizards became null and void.
The previously quiet environment suddenly became noisy. First-years and their families were the loudest. Nervous and excited, the children listened to parents' advice about school life, topics repeated many times over the long summer.
Muggle-born children stared longingly out the windows; their parents couldn't enter the platform.
Ignoring the first-years, Allen quickly boarded a large, empty compartment. Aside from reserved compartments, seats were first-come, first-served, so he hoped the kids could find good spots once everything settled.
Since Allen hadn't spent recent funds on the system, his otherwise empty pockets had gained some weight, aside from a stored amount in the system, he had enough on him to occasionally splurge.
Soon, the once-empty table was filled with food he had collected from the dining car, waiting for friends to share.
Allen's roommates soon gathered around, devouring cake while recounting tales from their summer.
As everyone laughed at Marshall's joke, Hermione joined the discussion. Despite her biting remarks, one must admit: in Gryffindor, she had few friends, especially after becoming friends with Harry.
Don't think scheming among girls is just fiction. Look at Luna: she endured countless pranks in her first year. Even Hogwarts witches aren't immune to internal rivalry.
Why didn't Hermione get pranked like Luna?
Simple. Hermione's exceptional grades meant she had some combat power in the wizarding world. Even a few scheming girls had to consider one thing: she is Harry's friend, the girl of the future Savior!
Yes, just like in One Piece, ideals are lofty. Allen still wondered if the Empress was in the end.
Hermione's arrival was warmly welcomed by Allen's roommates. Even though she excelled academically, Hufflepuffs didn't mind. Scores meant nothing, they couldn't be eaten, after all.
As the conversation continued, time flew. The train signaled imminent departure. Four expected companions were still missing.
Strange. Had they gotten into a fight with the Malfoys?
No. The twin brothers were as formidable as their mischievous reputation suggested. They would have already cleared the battlefield. Besides, with prefects around, a full-on brawl wasn't possible.
Finally, two of the four arrived, panting, carrying a large trunk and downing a bottle of pumpkin juice in one gulp.
"By Merlin, we made it, we almost missed our timing!"
Behind them followed a composed Ginny. Without Harry present, she didn't transform into her second persona. That corner seemed indestructible, no matter who wielded reinforced tools, she remained inherently friendly, the ultimate anti-NTR weapon3.
No one else arrived.
As the train departed, Allen finally remembered something, apparently, for some special reason, the other two hadn't made it.
Watching the scenery blur past the window, Allen closed his eyes, silent for a dozen seconds, then popped a handful of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans into his mouth.
All he could do now was this: Harry, have a good trip.
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