The Gamer: Multiverse Travel

Tuesday, 23 December 1991

Daniel woke up early, as usual, but for once, he didn't rush through his morning routine. There was no need, there were no lessons today. Instead, the Hogwarts Express would take them home for the holidays.

As he dressed, he glanced at his school trunk, already packed and ready to go. 'I guess I won't be able to read about magic for a while', he thought with a sigh. He briefly considered sneaking a few books into his inventory but decided against it. Knowing Hogwarts, there were probably all sorts of hidden wards, and he didn't want to mess with them yet.

After a moment of hesitation, he made his way down to the common room. The fire was crackling in the fireplace, filling the space with a warm glow. It was quiet, with most students still sleeping in the dormitories and only a few awake.

As he stood there, lost in thought, the familiar sound of footsteps echoed from the dormitory stairs.

"Morning," Michael greeted, stretching as he came down.

"Morning," Daniel replied.

Terry yawned as he joined them. "So, last breakfast of the year at Hogwarts. Let's make it count."

They headed down to the Great Hall, which felt emptier than usual. The enchanted ceiling was a dull gray, matching the cold winter sky outside.

Once they had finished eating, Michael turned to them. "So, are you excited for Christmas?"

"Yeah," Terry said through a mouthful of toast.

Michael smirked. "What do you want for presents?"

Terry swallowed and shrugged. "Something cool, I guess."

Daniel chuckled. "That's specific."

They continued chatting until breakfast ended. Around the time their first lesson would normally start, they grabbed their trunks, bundled up in their cloaks, and made their way out of the castle.

The Hogwarts Express stood waiting, steam billowing into the cold air. They boarded, found an empty compartment, and settled in for the long ride.

The journey passed quickly, filled with snacks, card games, and random conversations. When they were nearly in London, the conductor's voice rang through the train.

"We'll be arriving at King's Cross in five minutes."

They gathered their things as the train pulled into the station.

"See you guys later," Daniel said as they stepped onto the platform.

"Bye, Daniel," Michael replied, already scanning the crowd. His face lit up when he spotted his parents. One by one, the others reunited with their families, leaving Daniel standing alone for a brief moment.

He shrugged and stepped off the platform, heading toward the station's exit. Near the exit, he looked around and spotted Miss Jones, waiting patiently, dressed in a warm coat and scarf. She smiled when she saw him.

Daniel smiled back and walked over. "Hello, Miss Jones."

"Welcome home, Daniel," she said warmly. "You've grown quite a bit."

Daniel smirked. "Must be all the studying."

She chuckled. "I imagine so. How was school?"

"I'll tell you everything when we get back," he said, noticing her shiver slightly. "It's freezing out here."

She nodded. "Come on then."

Together, they left the station and headed toward the orphanage.

The moment Daniel stepped inside, a wave of excited voices greeted him.

"Daniel's back!"

"Hey, it's been ages!"

"Did you bring anything cool?"

Daniel smiled as he greeted the younger kids. Some faces were new, others were familiar but had grown in the months he'd been away.

He barely had time to respond before he noticed someone missing.

"Where's Victor?" he asked, glancing around.

Miss Jones' smile softened. "Oh, Victor got adopted not long after you left for boarding school." Her voice held a mix of sadness and warmth.

Daniel blinked, then let out a small, relieved breath. "Good for him." He meant it, Victor had always talked to him about wanting a family. It was strange knowing he wouldn't see him anymore, but it was a good kind of strange.

Miss Jones studied his face. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Daniel said honestly. "It's just… unexpected?"

She nodded in understanding. "Come on, you must be tired. Go settle in."

Daniel headed to his room, relieved to find it still unoccupied. Dropping his trunk near his bed, he sat at his desk and stared at the ceiling.

'I came back for Christmas because I promised Victor. But now that he's been adopted… what do I do?'

He glanced at the door, remembering the younger kids who had welcomed him so excitedly.

His thoughts drifted to his inventory.

[£5,588]

A small smirk tugged at his lips. 'I guess I can spend some money on presents.'

Activating Empty ID, he slipped out of the orphanage and wandered through London, hopping between shops. He bought sweets, toys, and small gifts, careful not to buy too much from the same store. After all, a 12-year-old spending hundreds of pounds in one place would definitely raise eyebrows.

By the time he was done, his inventory was full of goodies.

Then another thought hit him. 'What about my Hogwarts friends?'

'I don't know their addresses…'

He frowned. 'Guess I'll just give them something on the train back.'

Satisfied, he stepped into an empty alley, activated Empty ID, and returned to the orphanage unnoticed.

Back in his room, Daniel leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.

'How do I give the kids their presents without them knowing it's me?'

He tapped his fingers on the desk. 'Maybe I could just leave them at the door with a note about an anonymous donation?'

It wasn't the most creative plan, but it should work.

Slipping into Empty ID again, he carefully positioned himself outside the orphanage. Once he was sure no one was around, he activated Sneak, approached the front door, and pulled everything out of his inventory. He placed the gifts neatly on the doorstep, along with a simple note.

Taking a deep breath, he rang the bell, then slipped back into Empty ID before anyone could see him.

Back in his room, he flopped onto his bed, grinning to himself.

'I guess I'll find out in the morning if my plan worked.'

With that thought, he drifted off to sleep.