Stepping out of the silent, potent space of Ollivanders and back onto the bustling cobbled street felt jarring. The golden light of the wand in Harry's hand (now discreetly tucked into his robe pocket per Mistress Vance's gesture) faded externally, but within him, the sense of powerful resonance, the sudden amplification of his [Unclassified Magical Energy], lingered. The System logs confirmed the success: [Item: Magical Implement - Wand (Holly/Phoenix Feather Dual Core)] Acquired. Compatibility: Perfect. Connection to User: Critical.
Mistress Vance gave him another kind smile. "Quite an experience, wasn't it? Mr. Ollivander is one of a kind. And holly and phoenix feather... yes, remarkable indeed." She made no other comment about the implied history, perhaps assuming Mr. Ollivander handled those delicate matters in his own way, or perhaps simply sticking to her designated role as logistical guide.
They proceeded down the street, ticking off the rest of the supply list. A quick stop at the Apothecary, a place smelling strongly of strange herbs and potions. Acquiring the various roots, powders, and shiny vials was a straightforward transaction, processed via [Observe Lv. 6] to identify items, and silent mental transfer from his Gringotts pouch ([Inventory] Update: Potions Supplies Acquired. Cost Logged. Weight: Nullified). Next, a stop for standard issue cauldrons (pewter, size 2, check), brass scales, and a telescope (Item Acquisitions complete, logged to PQ Step 2). The whole process, divorced from physical queues and manual cash exchange due to his unique Gringotts setup and enchanted pouch, felt incredibly efficient – almost too simple, removing the standard interactions but emphasizing his quiet System capability.
Only one core standard supply item remained: an animal. The list allowed for an owl, a cat, or a toad. He thought of Hedwig, but that memory was fuzzy, tied to a life he didn't truly recall. Dudley had a toad he ignored. He'd only ever seen owls in pictures. As they passed Eeylops Owl Emporium, seeing the rows of owls, silent and wise, a strange pull drew his eye to one particular snowy owl, white as paper. Her bright amber eyes seemed to lock onto his. His [Situational Awareness Lv. 7] flared not with warning, but... presence. An Entity is making direct Non-Threat interaction request. [Observe Lv. 6] refined the data: [ENTITY: Snowy Owl (Species: Avian - Magical Variant). Role: Potential Familiar. Intent: Appraisal/Connection? Energy Signature: Pure - Type: Owl Variant (Potential Carrier/Helper)]. A pure energy signature. A helper. It felt right.
He looked at Mistress Vance. "Can I... get an owl?"
She followed his gaze to the shop. "Ah, yes, a familiar. Wise choice for letters. Of course, Harry. Hogwarts will assist with correspondence over the summer, but a good owl is invaluable later on."
Stepping into the Owl Emporium felt like entering a quiet, feathery world. He went straight to the snowy owl that had captured his attention. Her amber eyes were still on him. He extended a finger towards the cage. She hooted softly and nudged his finger gently. It felt... accepting.
"She chose you, did she?" The shopkeeper, a man lost amongst the cages, noted kindly.
Harry confirmed it. This was another unique acquisition. The System logged it: [ITEM: Snowy Owl (Familiar - Potential Companion Entity)] Acquired. Cost: 14 Galleons. Connection to User: Initial Affinity Confirmed. Adding Entity Profile: [Familiar: Hedwig (User Named)]
Mistress Vance didn't question his naming the owl "Hedwig"; it felt right, a whisper from the edges of his true history. Having Hedwig perched quietly on his shoulder as they finished up added a silent, non-judgemental presence that soothed the underlying hum of the magical world's whispers about "The Boy Who Lived."
With the supply list complete, they returned towards the Leaky Cauldron's rear entrance. Mistress Vance paused in the small brick courtyard. "That completes the standard arrangements, Harry. Your name is on the list. All registered. Professor McGonagall usually handles final placements and scheduling nearer to September. You'll receive official confirmation. The train leaves from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, King's Cross Station, on September first. Full details will follow." She hesitated. "The path back... to your relatives..." she didn't phrase it as home, "is just through here," she gestured to the plain brick wall she had tapped. "Just tap the correct sequence on the wall; you saw me do it. If you have any difficulty at all, Harry, anything at all, Mr. Ollivander usually takes an early tea here around three – or speak to Tom, or send a message via your owl to the school. We'll ensure you're safely back for September first." She gave him another gentle, searching look. "The world you belong to awaits. September will be here sooner than you think."
Her task was complete. Her role as guide was over. Harry understood. He thanked her formally ([CHA 20] managing the unexpected transition back to isolation), then watched as she nodded, turned, and re-entered the pub, her presence logged as [ENTITY: Mistress Elara Vance - Task Completion Confirmed - Entity Leaving User Proximity].
He stood alone in the quiet courtyard. Hedwig on his shoulder, sensing the change in atmosphere, hooted softly. He needed to process everything. He needed to read that book. But first, he needed privacy. And for that, he had to go back. The Leaky Cauldron felt like a gateway, not a destination to stay in just yet. He belonged in this world, but his base of operations, for the final months, remained stubbornly Number Four, Privet Drive.
With practiced moves, using his heightened Awareness to double-check the completely mundane, deserted alley beyond, he located the specific bricks on the wall. Remembered Mistress Vance's sequence (logged and categorized by System: [Protocol: Access Point Egress (Diagon Alley -> Muggle London)]. He tapped them, a perfect copy aided by [DEX 22] and [Subtle Item Manipulation Lv. 3] accuracy.
The bricks rippled. They twisted and fell away, revealing the back of the grimy Leaky Cauldron pub that opened onto the normal, mundane street near Charing Cross Road. No signs of wonder, no bustling witches or wizards. Just Muggle London.
He took a deep breath of the regular air, no trace of magic the System could register beyond his own presence and the pouch/wand/owl. He stepped through the gap. The bricks sealed shut behind him with a final, mundane click. He was back. Alone again. In the quiet reality that knew nothing of magic, Level 12 wizards, Goblin vaults, or boys who lived through curses.
He walked, quickly now, down the familiar street, Hedwig a quiet, unnoticed weight on his shoulder (thanks to [Stealth Lv. 8] minimizing her perceived presence to mundane senses in public), planning. Find a truly safe place now, away from the Dursleys but before their vigilance was expected. A quiet park perhaps? He had the whole afternoon. His Objective List had reprioritized:
[Sub-Objective: Read Acquired Historical Data on User Identity] (Requires privacy and time).
[Task: Experiment with Acquired Implement] (Understand Wand Use - Requires privacy, MP maybe?, safety).
[Task: Process Identity Implications] (Synthesize acquired info with life experience using [Gamer's Mind], [INT], [WIS]).
He found a secluded bench in a forgotten corner of a small local park, away from play areas and dog walkers, blending into the background. He secured his minimal perimeter using [Situational Awareness Lv. 7], scanning for potential threats or observers. Then, with carefully regulated movements, he produced the book from his pouch: [ITEM: Book - The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts].
He opened it. His high [INT 22] and [WIS 21] were fully engaged. This wasn't just reading; this was data acquisition on a target he was. He found the relevant section relatively quickly (System scan/analysis of book contents directing his search), bypassing less relevant histories to focus on the chapters that coincided with his birth year and beyond. And he began to read.
He read about a Dark Lord, You-Know-Who, terrifyingly powerful, gaining followers, spreading fear. He read about magical communities living in terror, fighting back against his rising power. He read about the height of the conflict, the death and destruction. And then, about a night. A village. A house. A date. His parents. Protection. A curse. A scar. And... he lived.
The cold, clinical words of the history text, analyzed by his System, detailed the events that ripped his life apart, made him famous, and shaped the magical world in ways he was only beginning to grasp. G. Vole was thorough, focusing on the broader political and social impact, not sensationalism, lending credibility to the dry System logs correlating this data. The history book filled in the gaps, validating Ollivander's words, confirming the System's hypotheses. He was The Boy Who Lived, survivor of the Killing Curse (now logged by System as [Lethal Magical Spell - Profile Pending]), the source of You-Know-Who's downfall (Event Analysis Pending), orphaned figure of unexpected fame.
He closed the book, the weight of this revealed history settling over his stats and skills. The silence of the park, the sheer Muggle normalcy, felt alien after Diagon Alley. He was back. With a wand that matched his adversary's, a fortune in gold, books full of magic he couldn't yet access with his current skill set beyond [Subtle Item Manipulation], a familiar owl on his shoulder, and a head overflowing with a truth about himself that redefined his entire System-driven existence.
He looked at the scar on his hand (a minor injury mitigated by Pain Resistance decades ago, now a Lv 5 passive). Then the matching one he couldn't see, under his hair. Not just random injuries. Markers of history.
The System offered no immediate next quest pop-up, only the stark confirmation that Step 4 Sub-objective on Historical Data was updated to 'Major Progress'. His future wasn't just navigating a new world; it was navigating a new identity within that world, an identity defined by a history he now, Systematically, was beginning to understand. He had months until September 1st. Months to study. To train. To integrate magic itself into his growing System profile. The quiet grind would resume. But now, it had a name, a history, and a destiny to live up to. He was ready.