→ 30 REVIEWS= 3 BONUS CHAPTER's
→ 200 POWER STONES= 1 BONUS CHAPTER
→ 400 POWER STONES= 2nd BONUS CHAPTER
CURRENT PROGRESS:↓
– FIRST OBJECTIVE- 22/30 RE.
– SECOND OBJECTIVE:- 71 /200 P.S
– THIRD OBJECTIVE- 71 /400 P.S
---
Late at night, Nova sat in his room, staring at the dim glow of his system screen. The night had been long—after handling everything, the group had finally parted ways once they sent Spider-Man back. It had been a lot to process, but Nova's mind was still racing.
After thinking it over, he decided to give Spider-Man a System Mobile—a limited version of the one Potter had. Peter could use it like a normal phone, contact Nova when needed, and maybe get a few minor perks, but that was it. Unlike Potter's, it wouldn't have access to advanced functions. Nova wasn't about to hand Peter the keys to something he barely understood himself. The guy was smart, and Nova wasn't taking any chances.
Then there was the other issue—his sudden muscle gains. He'd noticed the way the others kept sneaking glances at him, clearly wondering how the hell he'd bulked up so much in such a short time. They weren't exactly subtle about it either. The questions had come one after another, but Nova had deflected them with a well-placed half-truth—he'd absorbed Morlun's life force, and that had changed him. Technically true, but not the full story. No one needed to know everything
Last but not least, the thing that shocked Nova a little. After almost everybody left, Gwen, MJ and Felicia came near him and Gwen dropped the bomb on him, that she isn't going to his girlfriend or anything and MJ and Felicia informed him that, despite fooling around with them, they weren't expecting anything serious from him either.
Nova blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He had been prepared for some teasing or maybe even a bit of playful flirting, but this? This was unexpected. Gwen, standing with her arms crossed, looked at him with a firm but amused expression, as if she had already anticipated his reaction. MJ had a smirk tugging at her lips, while Felicia's gaze held that usual mischievous glint, but there was something else—something almost challenging.
Gwen was the first to speak again. "Look, Nova, you're fun. We had a good time, but don't get any ideas. I'm not looking to be your girlfriend or anything like that."
MJ leaned in slightly, tossing her red hair over her shoulder. "Same here. We're not about to start fighting over you like some bad romance drama."
Felicia chuckled, stepping closer, her voice silky smooth. "And let's be honest, lover boy—you're way too interesting to tie down just yet."
Nova processed their words, a slow smirk forming on his lips. "Huh. And here I thought I'd have to give some long speech about not wanting to settle down."
Gwen rolled her eyes. "Please. We already figured that out."
MJ nudged him playfully. "So, don't go overthinking things, alright? Just enjoy the ride."
Felicia traced a finger along his chest before turning away. "We'll see you around, Nova."
And with that, the three of them walked off with extra away in her hips, leaving Nova standing there, still slightly surprised and struggling to decide which ass shall he perv on?.
He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. Well, that's a first but good for him. Cause he can chase skirts around without any problem.
Nova came out of his thoughts as his mobile vibrated, indicating a notification. He smiled as it's message from magically dumb prodgy.
Potter:- Hey Nova! I already told Hermione about out trade and all. She first thought I was pulling her leg, but she got wide eyed when she saw the system mobile, give it a name, which was working fine in a magical house. Then she almost ran to Dumbledore thinking I made a deal with devil or something. Somehow I stopped and now she's waiting to the devil. From what I can say, she really believe in it but is little suspicious.
Nova:- Take a breath Potter, so then when to start the trade session no 2?
Potter:- You can start now, as Hermione is standing besides me and intently watching me type...
Nova:- 👍 Wait for a second.
----
Nova quickly went for little clean and came back in his room. Nova's fingers moved swiftly as he navigated the system interface, activating the trade function. Almost immediately, a notification popped up.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Trade Session #2 Initiated
Trader: Nova Ashbourne
Recipients: Harry Potter & Hermione Granger
Establishing Secure Connection…
System Mobile Hologram Function Activated…
---
A faint hum filled the air as the system mobile in Harry's hands glowed, releasing a soft blue light. A moment later, a holographic interface flickered to life, hovering in front of him and Hermione. The Black Ancestral House's dimly lit study, filled with towering bookshelves and dark oak furniture, was briefly illuminated by the projection. Shadows danced across the stone walls, giving the room an almost eerie atmosphere.
Harry stood in the center, dressed in a loose-fitting shirt and pajama bottoms, his black hair as messy as ever. His green eyes reflected the system's glow, filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. He held the mobile firmly, resisting the urge to poke at the floating interface. Despite it being his second time, this floating screen still surprises him.
Beside him, Hermione stood with her arms crossed, her posture tense. Her brown eyes were locked onto the hologram, sharp with curiosity and deep suspicion. Dressed in a simple jumper and jeans, she looked every bit like someone who had been up late obsessing over new information. The way she occasionally glanced at Harry told Nova she had probably bombarded him with questions before this.
Hermione, her eyes filled with curiosity and suspicion, hesitantly reached out, her fingers passing through the floating projection. "This… this isn't normal magic," she muttered, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Harry smirked, barely holding back a laugh. "Careful, Hermione. If you poke it too much, the devil might come out and demand your soul."
Hermione shot him a glare so sharp it could have cut through solid stone. "Very funny, Potter," she huffed, crossing her arms. "But in case you haven't noticed, this goes way beyond anything we've ever seen. A mobile device that functions perfectly in a magically warded house? A holographic interface? You do realize how insane this is, right?"
Harry grinned. "Oh, absolutely. I mean, that's why I made a deal with the devil, remember? Sold my soul for unlimited texts, holograms and online games." He wiggled his fingers dramatically, enjoying the way Hermione's nostrils flared in exasperation.
Nova smirked as he watched through his system interface. This was more entertaining than he expected. With a quick tap, he finalized the trade setup.
Leaning back in his chair, he cracked his knuckles and grinned. "Alright, Miss Granger—let's start the quiz."
Harry blinked in confusion for a moment before something seemed to click in his head. He tilted his head slightly, then dramatically widened his eyes as if an invisible lightbulb had just flicked on above him. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he turned to Hermione.
"Ah, yes, the quiz," he said, barely holding back his laughter. "Where the devil finally gets to grill Hogwarts' resident bookwor—Uff!" His sentence was cut off with a pained grunt as Hermione promptly elbowed him in the ribs, her glare promising dire consequences.
"Calm down, woman! We were just teasing—no need to get violent!" Harry groaned, rubbing his side.
Hermione huffed, crossing her arms. "If you two are quite done, I'd actually like to learn something instead of dealing with your nonsense."
Nova chuckled, thoroughly enjoying the back-and-forth. "Alright, alright, I'll be serious. For now."
Hermione barely waited for the hologram to stabilize before launching into full interrogation mode. Her brown eyes gleamed with intellectual hunger as she leaned in, scrutinizing the floating interface as if she could decipher its secrets by sheer force of will.
"How does this even work?" she demanded, her words rapid-fire. "This isn't magic, at least not any known branch of it. There are no visible runes, no discernible energy fluctuations, and yet it operates seamlessly within a heavily warded space. What powers it? What's its core structure? Is it similar to arithmancy-based enchantments, or is this something entirely different?"
Nova smirked, amused but not surprised. Classic Granger. He barely had a second to respond before she barreled on.
"And this interface—it's interactive, but without the use of a wand. How is it receiving commands? Does it respond to intent, or is there a specific mechanism behind it? And what about the trade function? What exactly is being exchanged here? Is it purely material, or does it extend to knowledge, energy, or even—"
"Oh, for Merlin's sake, Hermione, breathe," Harry groaned, rubbing his temple. "You're going to break Nova before he even starts explaining."
Hermione shot him a look that could have petrified a basilisk. "I'm asking relevant questions, Potter."
Harry snorted. "Yeah, sure, but at this rate, you'll solve the mystery yourself before Nova even gets a word in." He turned to the screen with a smirk. "Go on, Nova. Let's see if you can survive the Granger Inquisition."
Nova chuckled, thoroughly entertained. "Alright, alright. First off, take a breath, Granger—I promise I'll explain everything." He flicked his fingers across his system screen, bringing up a new notification.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Knowledge Sync Initiated—Displaying Fundamental System Concepts…
The hologram shifted, displaying a structured interface with various floating diagrams and text, basic knowledge of system function and rules for trade and all. Hermione immediately went silent, her eyes widening as she took in the information. Even Harry leaned in slightly, though his expression was more cautious curiosity than outright fascination.
"Lesson one," Nova announced, smirking. "Try to keep up, Granger. And Potter, try not to zone out."
-----
Nova watched as Hermione's eyes darted across the holographic display, absorbing every bit of information like a sponge. Harry, on the other hand, had an expression that screamed I am trying to care, but my brain is already checking out.
"Alright," Nova began, swiping his fingers across his screen to expand the display. "Let's start simple. The system operates on a different set of principles than magic—at least, the kind you're familiar with. Think of it as a bridge between various forms of energy, allowing for transactions beyond the usual limitations of magical or technological means."
Hermione hummed, her fingers twitching as if she were mentally taking notes. "A bridge? So it converts one form of energy into another? Is it drawing power from an external source, or does it generate its own?"
Nova smirked. "A bit of both. It has its own self-sustaining core, but it can also tap into external energies when necessary—though that depends on the type of trade being conducted. Unlike magic, which relies on natural ley lines or personal reserves, the system functions independently, meaning it works even in places where magic is suppressed or unstable."
Hermione's brows knitted together as she processed the implications, her mind racing. "That shouldn't be possible," she muttered, almost to herself. "Even the most powerful magical artifacts require some form of anchor—whether it's ley lines, a power core, or a linked caster. But you're saying this system operates completely independent of those constraints? Without any discernible limitations?"
Nova's grin widened, sensing the perfect moment to shift the conversation. "Bingo. The system isn't bound by the same rules as magic—or even technology, for that matter. It functions on an entirely different level, allowing for a range of transactions that go beyond just physical items." He swiped his fingers across the hologram, bringing up a new display. "We're talking about trades involving materials, knowledge, abilities… even certain abstract concepts."
Hermione's eyes snapped up, sharp with interest. "Abilities?"
Nova nodded. "Within reason. But there are conditions, limitations, and, most importantly, a price."
Nova nodded. "Within reason, yes. But there are conditions and restrictions." He gestured at the screen, causing a list of trade categories to appear. "Each trade must have equivalent value, meaning you can't just wish for superpowers and expect to get them for free. Everything has a price."
Hermione narrowed her eyes, already piecing things together. "So it follows a structured exchange principle… almost like alchemy's Law of Equivalent Exchange."
Nova gave an approving nod. "Exactly. Though, unlike alchemy, the system doesn't just deal in physical matter—it goes beyond that."
After a while, Hermione nodded. Suddenly with little sly smile," Well Mr. Devil, I believe in you about 60%. As for rest 40% I want to see it for myself, you ability to grant wishes, well how about th le free trial?."
Nova stared at Hermione for a moment before shaking his head with a smirk. "You're really something else, Granger."
Harry snickered, nudging Hermione with his elbow. "I told you she'd try to pull this. The moment I mentioned my about that free wish, her eyes lighted up at that moment."
Hermione shot him a look. "Oh, please. As if you wouldn't have done the same if you were in my position."
Harry opened his mouth to argue, then paused. "…Okay, fair."
Nova leaned back, crossing his arms. "So, let me get this straight. I grant Potter one free wish to prove it's real, and you immediately jump in to capitalize on it?"
Hermione smiled, completely unapologetic. "Of course. It would be foolish not to."
Harry groaned, throwing his hands up. "I swear, if Hermione was in Slytherin, we'd all be doomed."
Nova chuckled, shaking his head. "Fine, fine. You want your wish? I'll grant it—this time—for free." He fixed her with a look. "But don't think this is going to be a habit."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Hermione said smoothly, though the glint in her eyes said otherwise and continued," My wish is to learn a spell with all its theory and experience, the spell should be something out of Hogwarts syllabus."
Nova exhaled, stretching his fingers as a faint golden glow flickered around him. "Alright then, let's see what happens when the Devil grants a wish."
As the energy pulsed outward, the air around them seemed to ripple. Hermione inhaled sharply as knowledge flooded her mind—real, undeniable, and entirely beyond what any Hogwarts textbook contained. Her knees nearly buckled as she gripped the edge of a nearby table, her breath hitching.
Harry watched her with wide eyes. "Whoa—Hermione? You good?"
She didn't respond immediately, still processing the influx of information. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her lips.
"Oh… Oh."
Nova's smirk returned. "Looks like it worked."
Hermione inhaled deeply, steadying herself as she reached for her wand. The knowledge surging through her mind was real—she could feel it, like an instinct just waiting to be put to use. Now, it was time to see if it actually worked.
Nova leaned back, watching with an amused smirk. "Go on, Granger. Show us what you've got."
Harry, meanwhile, had a wary expression. "Uh, maybe we should step back a bit—"
Too late.
Hermione flicked her wand in a motion that she knew shouldn't exist in any Hogwarts spellbook. The incantation rolled off her tongue with perfect fluency, despite her having never spoken it before. The moment the spell activated, the room shifted.
A golden sigil flared to life beneath her feet, intricate patterns weaving into existence as the magic pulsed outward. The air shimmered like a heatwave, and for a split second, Harry felt a pressure similar to what he had felt in Dumbledore's presence—raw, unrestrained magical power.
His eyes widened. "Bloody hell, Hermione—"
And then, just as quickly as it appeared, the sigil faded, leaving only a faint warmth lingering in the air. The magic settled, dispersing like mist.
Hermione lowered her wand, breathing hard. Her heart pounded in her chest—not from exertion, but from exhilaration.
It had worked. It had actually worked.
She turned to Nova, eyes blazing with excitement. "That was a high-tier enchantment stabilization spell—something that should take years of Arithmancy to even attempt! And I just did it instinctively!"
Nova chuckled. "Well, what do you know? The wish worked."
Harry ran a hand down his face. "Great. You just gave Hermione even more ways to be terrifying." He turned to Nova. "Do you have any idea what you've unleashed?"
Nova smirked. "Oh, I have every idea."
Hermione, however, was still caught up in her thoughts, muttering excitedly. "This changes everything… The spell structure was flawless, no backlash, no instability. The calculations were instant. If this works for other applications—"
Harry groaned. "She's gone full mad scientist."
Nova chuckled. "Let her have her moment. She just got handed something beyond Hogwarts-level magic for free. You'd be freaking out too."
Hermione finally looked up, her expression somewhere between awed and calculating. "Nova," she said slowly, "I have so many questions."
Nova grinned. "I figured. But I think you already know the answer to the biggest one."
Hermione bit her lip, then nodded. "It's real."
"Now she believes it," Harry muttered.
Hermione ignored him, her focus locked onto Nova. " Well then, then onto the important question. You and Harry made a deal that in exchange for information on Horcrux's, Harry will have to transfer his magical knowledge. Since he is a regular slacker, his knowledge wasn't upto the par, which led to the contract terms that as he gains the knowledge, it will be copied to the system library."
Nova nodded," Indeed, and so?"
And both of them ignored, Harry shout," HEY!!"
Hermione took a deep breath, her gaze steady as she spoke. "I want to renegotiate the contract terms."
Nova arched an eyebrow, smirking. "Oh? And what exactly do I get out of this?"
Hermione's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Instead of just one person, you'll have two contributing to the trade. Twice the knowledge, twice the progress."
Nova tilted his head slightly, pretending to consider it. "Hmm. Sounds interesting. Continue."
Hermione's eyes gleamed with calculation. "I'll focus on learning—researching spells, breaking them down, expanding our magical knowledge base. Then all my learned knowledge will be shared to Harry, who will master them, refining the spells through practical use."
She hesitated for a moment before adding, "Then, he'll transfer his experience, mastery, and practical application of those spells to the system's library… and to me."
Nova smirked, but before he could respond, he noticed the way Harry had suddenly tensed.
Harry narrowed his eyes. "Wait, hold on—why am I the test dummy here?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Because, Harry, you have an uncanny ability to pick up spells instinctively. You're brilliant at learning through experience. It makes sense."
Nova chuckled, his golden eyes glinting mischievously. "Yeah, Potter. You've always had a hands-on approach."
Hermione hummed in agreement. "Though, let's be honest, we both know if he had to actually study the theory behind those spells, we'd never make any progress."
Nova let out a mock gasp, putting a hand to his chest. "Oh, you're right! Imagine poor Potter reading an advanced magical theory book—his eyes would start rolling back before he even got through the first page."
Hermione grinned. "The moment he sees a complicated rune structure, his brain just shuts down."
Nova nodded sagely. "Tragic, really. It's like his brain actively resists absorbing information from a textbook."
Harry scowled. "I do study!"
Both Nova and Hermione turned to him with identical are you serious? expressions.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Really? What was the last theory book you read?"
Harry opened his mouth—then promptly shut it.
Nova smirked. "That's what I thought."
Hermione sighed dramatically. "It's a good thing I enjoy doing all the hard work."
Nova shook his head in mock disappointment. "And to think, Potter, you had one of the brightest witches of our time sitting next to you all these years, and you still slacked off."
Harry groaned. "Oh, bugger off."
Hermione burst into laughter, and seeing her so amused, Nova's smirk widened. He turned to Harry with a sly grin.
"Well, sorry, Potter, but I'm straight. I can't bugger you…" He let his words hang for a second before tilting his head toward Hermione. "But this lady right here… well…"
Harry's brain stalled for a second before his face twisted in horror. "Oi! Don't even start!"
Hermione's laughter died instantly as her face turned a deep shade of red. "Nova!" she sputtered, eyes widening.
Nova leaned back, clearly enjoying himself. "What? Just pointing out the obvious."
Hermione opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out—just an embarrassed huff as she looked away, trying and failing to hide her blush.
Harry, meanwhile, groaned, rubbing his temples. "Nope. Not listening. Not happening."
Hermione finally managed to find her voice. "Y-you're insufferable," she muttered, still avoiding eye contact.
Nova grinned. "And yet, you're still here."
Harry shot him a glare. "I hate you."
Nova smirked. "As much as you hate studying?"
Hermione, still pink, quickly jumped in. "Oh, that's a lot, then."
Harry groaned again, throwing his hands up. "I walked right into that, didn't I?"
Nova chuckled. "Like you walk past your textbooks without opening them? Yeah, you did."
Hermione finally managed to glare at him, though her blush was still very much present. "You are impossible."
Seeing her blush, Nova wanted to continue teasing but he held himself back, they aren't that familiar currently, so he smirked. "And you love it."
Hermione huffed, crossing her arms, but the way she refused to meet his eyes didn't go unnoticed.
XxxxX
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