HP: Card System

Until the end of the feast, when they returned to the waiting room, Ted had become the center of attention. Everyone's eyes darted toward him, full of curiosity and awe, yet they quickly turned away the moment he looked back. It was the kind of nervous admiration that came with knowing someone was on another level entirely.

One student whispered to another, "I checked his eyes. He's mad! We can't afford to mess with him!"

After dinner, the students of each house followed their prefects back to their dormitories.

Ravenclaw's common room was farther than the others, not located near the main tower courtyard but rather on the opposite side, across the stone bridge that connected to the Astronomy Tower complex.

Whether it was a raven or an eagle, they belonged in high places—but did Ravenclaw's lounge really need to be this high up? Ted felt like he had climbed at least ten floors' worth of stairs, nearly losing his dinner along the way, before finally reaching the iconic bronze eagle door.

Each house had its own unique entrance system. Gryffindor's was guarded by a portrait that required a password. Slytherin's was hidden behind a magical door, also needing a password. Hufflepuff had an arrangement of wooden barrels that had to be tapped in a specific rhythm.

And then there was Ravenclaw.

A massive bronze eagle adorned the door, its claws clutching a large knocker. The only way to enter was to answer its question correctly.

The first-years stood, panting, in front of the worn wooden door. Penelope Clearwater, Ravenclaw's prefect, gestured toward the knocker. "Knock, and the bronze eagle will ask you a question. Answer correctly, and the door will open. Ravenclaw welcomes all guests, as long as they can answer the riddle." Her voice carried a clear note of pride.

The reality, however, was that even Ravenclaws themselves were sometimes stuck outside, as the eagle's questions were constantly updated. Its ever-growing database covered everything from astronomy to riddles to obscure trivia.

Knock, knock.

The bronze eagle turned its head and asked, "Which has a longer lifespan: a ghost or Peeves?"

Penelope responded smoothly, "A ghost. Because Peeves never truly lived."

"That makes sense."

Click. The door swung open, allowing the students to enter.

The Ravenclaw common room was a grand circular chamber, draped in blue and bronze silks. Elegant arched windows lined the walls, offering breathtaking views of the castle grounds. Above, the ceiling curved into a star-studded dome that mirrored the deep blue carpet below.

Bookshelves, tables, and chairs were scattered throughout, and opposite the entrance stood a white marble bust of Rowena Ravenclaw herself. Two staircases branched off on either side, leading to the dormitories.

Ted took a deep breath, taking in the atmosphere. The lounge was a fascinating place, yet it had always lacked standout figures in the original stories.

He recalled something he had once read.

Ravenclaw's motto was originally written as: Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure.

The commonly accepted translation? Extraordinary wisdom is humanity's most valuable asset.

But! There was an interesting twist.

During the era when Shakespearean language was all the rage, the word wit could also refer to a certain part of the male anatomy.

Surprised? Shocked?

Now, if you translated beyond measure as "beyond standard measurement," you could infer a whole new meaning.

And man? It could refer to humanity—or simply, well, men.

Which meant that, when reinterpreted, the phrase could also suggest: A ridiculously long ochinchin is a man's greatest treasure.

'Huh. So there really was a hidden message in there! Very Ravenclaw indeed!'

Ted couldn't hold back a laugh.

"What are you laughing at?" Hermione's voice cut in.

Oh no, he couldn't possibly explain this joke to her!

"I just thought of something funny… Anyway, how much do you know about Ms. Ravenclaw?" Ted deflected masterfully.

Hermione's eyes lit up at the intellectual challenge, and she launched into a detailed discussion about Rowena Ravenclaw's history.

After a long and eventful day, exhaustion set in.

Ted and Hermione exchanged goodnights before heading to their respective dormitories.

At least Ravenclaw's dorms were up in the tower. Slytherins and Hufflepuffs had to live in the basement—like experiencing the full Scottish Highland Underground Survival Challenge firsthand.

This year, there were nine new Ravenclaws, split between the boys' and girls' dormitories.

Ted entered the four-person bedroom, where four-poster beds stood, each with a bronze plaque displaying the owner's name. His luggage had already been placed by his bed. After a quick inspection, he slid it underneath.

Hanging from the bed's curtain rod, Anzu, his raven, was playing with a glass bead Ted had given him.

Crows liked shiny things, after all.

"What are you looking at? Caw!" Anzu suddenly squawked at a boy who had been staring at him.

"Y-You can talk?"

"Can't you? Caw!" Anzu shot back, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Ted, who had taken longer than the others to arrive because of his chat with Hermione, was greeted by his new roommates.

"Oh, hey! I'm Anthony—Anthony Goldstein."

"Michael Corner."

"Terry Boot," said the boy who had been speaking with Anzu earlier.

None of these three had particularly big roles in the original story, but at least they hadn't died. That alone showed that Ravenclaws were smart enough to keep their heads down when needed.

"Ted Epifani," he introduced himself.

"We know, we all know. That school song? Absolute banger!"

Ah, so his earlier performance had made an impression.

After a quick wash, Ted made a makeshift nest for Anzu out of an old shirt, closed his bed's curtains, and settled in for the night.

Sure, wizards could use Scourgify to clean themselves up, but getting the spell wrong could lead to accidental baldness—or worse, magical depilation.

Besides, he still preferred washing his face and brushing his teeth the normal way.

Though exhausted, he lay in bed with his eyes wide open.

"Claim the mission reward," he whispered to the system in his mind.

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[Magic World! (Green)] Reward: Choose one of three cards!

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Three cards materialized before Ted, shimmering with arcane energy.

The first card dissolved into a flurry of blue light, displaying the words "+1000 EXP."

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[Experience Card (Blue)]

Type: Experience Card Effect: Grants +1000 experience points. Single-use.

A straightforward way to level up—no fuss, no tricks, just pure progress.

______________________________

The second card bore an intricate image of a glowing brain, pulsating with knowledge. Above it, the words "Spell + LV1" hovered.

______________________________

[Spell Mastery (Blue)]

Type: Spell Card

Effect: Temporarily increases spell level by 1 for ten minutes.

Cooldown: 24 hours.

______________________________

Since Ted's spells were only at level one, this would effectively double his spell proficiency for a short time—a tempting boost.

The third card depicted a raven's claw clutching a radiant crown, inscribed with "+2 Intellect, +1 Spirit."

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[Ravenclaw Wisdom (Blue)]

Type: Spell Card

Effect: Increases Intelligence by 2 and Spirit by 1 for one hour.

Cooldown: 12 hours.

A long-term buff that enhanced intelligence—ideal for learning and strategy. This was the best choice for long-term gains.

______________________________

Alongside this, Ted received additional rewards from his completed missions:

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[Magic World! (Green)] granted 500 experience and +1 LV Magic Power.

______________________________

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[Come on, Show! (Green)] granted 200 experience and another choice of three cards.

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The first card depicted a whispering mouth, forming silent words.

______________________________

[Phantom Sound (Green)]

Type: Psionic Card

Effect: Generates a sound at a nearby location, consuming a small amount of psionic energy.

Cooldown: 5 minutes.

______________________________

The second card displayed a small mechanical doll dressed in an elegant Victorian outfit, its joints marked by intricate gear-like seams.

______________________________

[Magic Automaton: Dancing Marionette (Green)]

Type: Item Card

Effect: Summons a small enchanted marionette that dances for ten minutes.

Cooldown: 3 hours.

Note: Only palm-sized—don't expect a full-scale performance!

______________________________

The third card illustrated a red-and-white flute, emitting musical notes that enchanted those nearby into dance.

______________________________

[Mysterious Dance Flute (Green)]

Type: Item Card

Effect: Playing this flute compels surrounding creatures to dance to its melody.

______________________________

Ted considered his options before settling on the [Mysterious Dance Flute (Green)].

Phantom Sound was useful, but magic could achieve similar results. The marionette was charming, but it might come off as too uncanny. A flute that made people dance at will? Now that was practical.

Ted's current attributes:

______________________________

Ted Epifani

Level: Level 1 Wizard / Level 1 Psion

Experience Pool: 1162 XP

Attributes (Average Muggle adult = 5):

Strength: 3

Constitution: 3

Agility: 4

Intelligence: 6

Perception: 7

Spirit: 9

Charm: 7

Luck: ?? (Fluctuates based on status)

Talents:

[Knowledge of Other Worlds (Gold)]

Skills:

Magic Power LV2

Magic Resistance LV1

Spell LV1

Psychic Power LV1

Mental Resistance LV2

Prophecy LV1

Magic Spells:

Lumos LV1

Scouring Charm LV1

Mending Charm LV1

Water-Conjuring Charm LV1

Packing Charm LV1

Teeth-Enlarging Charm L1

Bubble-Head Charm LV1

Psionic Abilities:

Identification

Memory Palace

Psicrystal (Inactive)

Fast Reading

Empathy

Conceal Thought

Cards Owned:

[Restore Energy (Green)]

[Wild Boar Throwing Cannon (Green)]

[Ravenclaw Wisdom (Blue)]

[Mysterious Dance Flute (Green)]

Active Quests:

[You Can Do It Again and Again—Pet Her! (Green)]

[Explore Hogwarts (Red)]

[The Corridor on the Right Side of the Third Floor… Right? (Green)]

______________________________

With his newfound magic power at Level 2, Ted could feel the energy flowing more vibrantly within him, an untapped reservoir of potential waiting to be unleashed.

With [Restore Energy (Green)] and [Ravenclaw Wisdom (Blue)] in his arsenal, his physical, intellectual, and spiritual prowess were all on the rise. Soon, he would ascend to the pinnacle of academia—outsmarting the competition and laughing all the way to the top!

"Wahahaha~!" Ted cackled, closing his interface with a satisfied smirk before settling into bed.

Rule #1: Never bring stress into the next day. Sleep like a wizard, wake up like a legend. Even St. Mungo's healers would approve!

And with that, he drifted off into a deep, well-earned sleep.

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Word count: 1631

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