Harry Potter: The Gamer's Dimension Chapter 5

Hi all,

Here’s the next chapter. This story will take a week’s hiatus so I can edit the chapters like the others. The schedule for next week's chapters is Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. I will post a chapter each for my other stories, with the possibility of a fourth chapter, but I make no promises. The way work has been going, I will probably run out of time again.

Chapter 5

Harry raised his hand and cast a Searing Light spell at the Drowner, desperately hoping it would have the same effect underwater. Just before releasing the spell, he made sure to close his eyes to avoid being blinded by the intense light.

The Drowner let out a soundless scream when the spell hit its head, causing it to release Harry and grasp its wounded head. Although the spell didn't kill it, it inflicted severe damage. Harry swiftly turned his head, catching sight of something from the corner of his eye. Another Drowner approached him, swimming through the murky water. He swam upward as fast as possible, breaking through the water's surface and gasping for air. A shiver ran through his body as the piercing coldness of the water finally registered.

He swam to the edge of the platform and pulled himself up. While he was in the water, Celeste skillfully evaded the Giant Zombie's ferocious swipes. Even though she could have flown out of its range by leaving the platform, she chose to distract it while Harry was occupied.

"You're alive!" Celeste exclaimed, filled with joy. "Quickly, come and lend me a hand with this monster."

Harry took a few steps back from the platform's edge, ensuring his safety before unleashing a Searing Light spell upon the Giant Zombie. While the spell didn't inflict any noticeable damage, it caught the monsters' attention. In response, the massive undead beast pivoted its colossal frame and lifted its foot, preparing to stomp on Harry.

Harry performed the same actions as before, targeting the weak spot on the Giant Zombie's foot. He successfully hit the mark once again, causing the monster to stumble and its health to decrease slightly. The attack removed 3% of its total health. He would need to spend a lot of time whittling its HP down. Fortunately, he had come prepared with some MP Potions, as he knew he would exhaust his magic reserves long before finishing the battle.

The battle continued in this manner, as Harry took advantage of the opponent's slow speed and weakness to steadily decrease its HP. Celeste couldn't make any meaningful contribution towards defeating it because her attacks didn't cause any damage. Instead, she served as an extra set of eyes for Harry, making sure he didn't approach the platform's edge too closely. He could focus entirely on the Giant Zombie without worrying about being ambushed. When the Giant Zombie's HP dropped to 75%, a change took place.

A low, deep rumbling sound reverberated throughout the chamber.

Harry swivelled his head towards the noise and let out a string of curses. The outer edge of the platform retracted into itself, shrinking the battlefield along with it. It appeared that water had surged in from somewhere underground, filling up the void and leaving the water level unchanged.

"Harry, focus!" Celeste yelled anxiously.

Harry swiftly turned his head, only to be met with the sight of the Giant Zombie's enormous foot taking up his entire field of view. Without wasting a second, he swiftly raised his wand and unleashed another powerful Searing Light spell at it.

He had to exercise extra caution now because there was less space available to manoeuvre. The margin of error had greatly decreased, and if he wasn't careful, he would be flattened like a pancake.

At 50% HP, the platform reduced once more, causing Harry to sweat under the intense pressure it exerted on his body and mind. He skillfully manoeuvred between the legs of the Giant Zombies, narrowly avoiding being crushed. Celeste served as his guardian angel, leading him through the chaos of the battlefield with the finesse of a conductor directing a symphony in a grand concert hall.

He had already exhausted two MP Potions and would require a third before the battle concluded. Interestingly, the mounting pressure made it difficult for him to retrieve a potion and consume it without risk.

At 25% HP, the platform shrank again, leaving an area roughly three times larger than the space occupied by the monster. But that wasn't his primary concern, as the monster unveiled a new weapon in its repertoire. This attack was straightforward yet brutal.

Harry readied his wand, ready to cast another spell, but the Giant Zombie surprised him with an unexpected move. With astonishing agility, it leapt ten feet into the air, its head nearly scraping the ceiling, before succumbing to gravity and descending, spreading out its body and threatening to flatten everything beneath it. There was no way to avoid it.

“Godammit,” Harry swore as he swiftly dived into the water, not caring that it was filled with Drowners.

Harry felt a massive tremor in the water when the Giant Zombie crashed into the platform, but he had more pressing concerns. Without hesitation, he unleashed another Searing Light, not aiming at any specific target. He heard a screeching sound, but he was already swimming towards the surface. Just as he emerged from the water, he suddenly felt a claw grab his leg from below. Reacting promptly, he directed his wand downwards and cast another spell, causing the Drowner to release its hold on him.

Returning to the platform, he saw that the Giant Zombie had got to its feet, the platform looking undamaged.

“Let's finish this fight,” Celeste called. "I am starting to feel tired."

"Oh, seriously?" Harry retorted with an extra serving of sarcasm.

His outfit was soaked, his hair stuck to his scalp, and his stamina was nearly depleted. Celeste had no reason to complain.

Harry continued the fight, keeping a close eye on it, waiting for it to perform another aerial assault. Fortunately, it only used it once more and he employed the same strategy to stop himself from being crushed. Finally, Harry cast one last Searing Light spell, and the Giant Zombie’s HP fell to zero.

Harry jubilantly raised his hands in celebration but quickly had to dart to the side as the towering Giant Zombie began falling. The platform trembled violently upon impact, yet Harry skillfully maintained his balance. As he cast his gaze towards the scene, he could see that the massive monster's body was now sprawled across the moat, its immense size unmistakable.

He sighed and lowered his head, only to feel the platform suddenly jerk beneath him. He swiftly rose to his feet, worried that there was another incoming threat. Yet, there was no need for concern, as the platform was simply reverting to its previous state, expanding once more, and revealing the two bridges. Additionally, a treasure chest appeared in the middle of the platform, its gleaming gold finish promising bountiful rewards.

Celeste flew down and landed on his shoulder. “That fight was worth a thousand experience points. It should be enough to level me up again.”

Harry nodded, not bothering to check his own menu. He would have got the same amount of experience. “Do you think there are still Drowners in the moat?”

“Probably,” Celeste said. “But the bridge should keep us safe. Why are you so desperate for more experience points?”

“No, I should have plenty of experience coming my way if the treasure chest contains the last note to complete my quest.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Celeste asked.

“Let’s loot the Giant Zombie first,” Harry reminded her.

Harry placed a hand on the Giant Zombie’s huge leg, wrinkling his nose when he felt the smell of decay emanating from its body. Now that he wasn’t in the midst of battle, and his adrenaline levels had evened out, he couldn’t help but smell the four odours.

“I hope our loot doesn’t fall into the moat,” Celeste said.

“I am not going in there to retrieve it if it does,” Harry said, before looting the body.

The body of the Giant Zombie vanished, and several items appeared on the ground. Bending down, Harry inspected his haul. There was a whopping two hundred pounds lying there, so he pocketed it immediately. The next item was weird, as it looked like a certificate for a diploma or some other achievement. He checked his MP reserves, and he still had some remaining, so he used Comprehension on it.

======

Zombie Slayer Certificate

Description: A certificate granting the  Zombie Slayer title. Certificates can be earned by defeating a Boss or other noteworthy monsters. The title comes with a bonus that is often aligned with the type of monster vanquished. While players can only equip one title at a time, there are no restrictions on swapping titles for another.

Zombie Slayer: Deals 20% extra damage against Zombie-type monsters.

=====

“This is cool,” Harry grinned, picking up the certificate. It transformed into motes of light before rushing towards Harry’s head. Since something similar had happened before, he didn’t flinch this time.

"There's absolutely nothing here for me, is there?" Celeste cried, her voice filled with despair.

There were only three more items and none that looked to be useful for her.

“Settle down,” Harry said. “This is only our first boss monster. Maybe there is something in the treasure chest for you.”

He used Comprehension on the next item, which was a gold necklace with a small red gem attached.

======

Necklace of Health | Accessory | Common | Level Requirement: 1

Description: An item that provides a slight increase to HP, enhancing the player's survivability. Only one necklace can be equipped at a time.

=====

“Better than nothing I suppose,” Harry shrugged, putting it to the side.

The next item was an HP Potion, but it seemed different from the others. Upon inspection, he realised that it was a higher grade and restored twice as much HP.

The last item appeared to be exactly what he was looking for to escape this place. The Dimension Key. As soon as he picked up the small glowing key, it disappeared, startling him.

“What the hell?” Harry exclaimed.

“If it works as intended, then a portal should appear at each Campsite,” Celeste informed him.

“That’s a relief.”

Harry wore the necklace and stored the potions on his belt before moving towards the treasure chest. Lifting the lid, he peered inside. There were only two items inside, and one of them was a dimension note. Ignoring the other item for the moment, he picked up the note and read it.

=====

Dimension Note #9

Accessing the Dimension World

After acquiring a Dimension Key, the player gains the ability to return to their own world. However, each Dimension Key can only be used to access one portal. Once the player steps through a portal, it becomes permanently active. At any moment, the player can return through the same portal from the other side. To activate additional portals, the player must find more Dimension Keys. With enough keys, the player can create an extensive network of portals and unlock the ability to fast travel between each portal in both worlds.

=====

As soon as he sent the note to his database, he received a new notification, which he figured was related to his quest. He opened it and couldn't help but grin when his assumption was proven right.

=====

The player has completed a quest!

Knowledge is Power.

Rewards: 10000 Exp; Skill Crystal.

Bonus Rewards: 1 Skillpoint.

=====

A silver crystal materialised in his hand, the skill crystal he received as a reward. It flooded him with a deluge of information about the skill, prompting him to shut his eyes and fully absorb it.

“I’m really jealous,” Celeste sighed. “What skill did you get?”

Harry opened up his skill menu and showed her.

======

*Sense Magic | Active | Novice | Rank: 1 | Next: 1% | Cost: 0 |

• The ability to sense the presence of magic in one's vicinity.

======

"Damn, that's an incredibly useful skill!" Celeste exclaimed. "And it will save you so much time in the future. Sense Magic is not only useful on its own, but it's also the basis for all kinds of amazing abilities."

"It would be beneficial for me to be able to use the skill in my own world."

“You can try it out once you return,” Celeste replied.

Harry nodded, eager to try out the skill, but his curiosity about the other item in the chest restrained him. He reached down and picked up the scroll, unrolling it to reveal its contents.

"It's the Familiar Bonding Scroll!" Celeste exclaimed, spinning around with excitement.

"What are the chances of finding this here?" Harry asked.

Celeste paused her impromptu dance, taking a moment to consider the question. “As mentioned earlier, these things are extremely rare. It's quite the coincidence that I found myself teleported here, and the Familiar Bonding Scroll appeared at the same time.”

“So, is there someone manipulating us? Leading us down a specific path?”

"Who knows?" Celeste responded with a shrug, her tone sincere. "I am truly grateful for my good luck and I have no reason to complain."

"How do we use it?" Harry asked as he began reading the text written on the scroll.

"We both need to place drops of our blood onto the parchment," Celeste suggested, indicating a section at the bottom. "There's still a possibility of it not working if we're not compatible."

"But you don't believe that's going to happen," Harry stated.

“One way to find out.”

Before Celeste could bite her finger, Harry stopped her with a raised hand. "Are you really certain that you want to go through with this? If this actually works, then we will be forever bound together."

Celeste averted her gaze, a worried frown etched across her face. "Perhaps I am rushing into this, but this place can be intolerable at times. I understand that you are taking a great risk by accepting me as your familiar, but what if I were to make a solemn promise?"

“What kind of promise?”

"If our relationship becomes truly unbearable after we bond, I will choose to end my own life in order to break free from it."

Harry stared at her for a second, before reaching out and flicking her gently with his finger.

“Hey!”

"That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard,” Harry said. “Let's get this over with. We may not even be compatible, so there is no need to worry about it."

Harry used his dagger to slice his finger, allowing the drops of blood to fall onto the parchment. Celeste bit her own finger until it bled, mimicking Harry's actions. However, there was no immediate reaction.

“It didn’t work,” Celeste sighed. “Well, that‒”

The pair shouted out as a brilliant golden light engulfed them. Harry shielded his eyes with his hand until the intensity subsided a bit. He observed as shimmering ribbons of light sprung forth from the parchment, connecting to both Celeste and himself. He attempted to move but discovered he was unable to do so. As he watched, the ribbons continued to bury themselves deeper into his chest.

Harry gasped as he felt an intense pressure on his chest. His heart raced like a jackhammer, and beads of sweat formed on his brow. It felt like he was dying. Just as he thought he couldn't bear it any longer, the sensation abruptly vanished. In its place, a wave of euphoria washed over him as he sensed another mind gently touching his own.

A memory arose in his mind, but it did not belong to him.

The fairy opened her eyes, taking in her surroundings. She found herself embraced by the protective walls that encircled her, creating a sense of security. As days went by, impatience started to grow within her, intensifying the desire to break free from the confines of her sanctuary. She desperately pounded on the walls, but her strength proved insufficient. The only solution was to tap into the power of her magic.

After mastering her innate magic, she emerged from the cocoon and soared outside. The cocoon was suspended from a towering tree, the birthplace of all fairies of her kind. She looked forward to connecting with her fellow fairies, as she was a social creature, and longed for companionship.

To her horror, every single one of the cocoons appeared aged, worn out, and completely devoid of any hint of their former magic. With mounting panic, she desperately scoured the surroundings for any sign of her fellow kin, but alas, not a trace could be found. She crumpled to the ground, consumed by a desolate sense of isolation. Why was she alone?

Harry snapped out of the memory and glanced around, discovering Celeste sprawled on the ground beside him. A warmth in his chest and a peculiar tugging sensation made him wonder if this was the sensation of being bonded.

He was certain that she wouldn't have appreciated him watching the memory. It held both intimacy and sadness, and it made him understand why she didn’t want to be left alone. Celeste had no one else; her family were all gone, and she had been surviving all on her own. How long had she felt this profound sense of loneliness?

While he waited for her to wake up, he opened his menu to see if there had been a change as a result of the bond. There was a new entry, labelled Special Perks, which showed that the bond had been formed.

======

Familiar Bond Level 1: Celeste (Umbra Fairy)

• Telepathic Communication

• Enhanced Magic

======

Before he could delve deeper into it, Celeste abruptly sat up, accompanied by a yawn that suggested she had just woken up from a nap. Dismissing his menu, he watched her as she clumsily rose to her feet.

"Whoa, it was like I was about to meet my maker!" Celeste said.

“I felt the same,” Harry murmured. “But we survived the ordeal and came out on the other side unscathed.”

It took a moment for her to grasp his meaning, and she gasped. Without hesitation, she quickly accessed her menu, her excitement evident as she discovered the same thing that had caught his attention.

“Yeah!” Celeste cheered. “I knew it would work.”

Harry glanced at the chamber, a growing sense of aversion washing over him. Although the prospect of exploration intrigued him, there was a limit to how much he could endure before craving a respite from this place.

“I don’t know about you, but I feel like leaving this place,” Harry said.

Celeste did not argue. She flew onto his shoulder, and he could feel her visibly shaking with excitement as he left the chamber and returned to the Campsite.

The room had changed, as a magnificent bronze door was now standing against the back wall. He glanced down at his attire, realising that it was not suitable to wear in the real world. The outfit would undoubtedly draw too much attention

“Give me my bag please,” Harry said to Celeste.

Celeste extracted the bag from her inventory and Harry retrieved his regular clothes from within it. He grumbled about having to wear the loose-fitting garments once more, but he had no other options available.

“I don’t suppose your inventory can shrink clothes to size?” Harry asked hopefully.

“No, it only cleans them. Why are you planning on wearing those baggy clothes? You look ridiculous.."

Ignoring her, he removed his outfit and swiftly changed into his own clothes. He packed everything back into his bag and handed it over to Celeste, who stored it away in her inventory. Finally prepared to depart, he approached the door, his hand instinctively reaching out to touch it.

"Wait!" Celeste said. "You are aware that certain abilities can carry over, aren't you? Wouldn't it be better to invest your experience points and level up? Consider using your skill points to unlock more spells!”

Harry shook his head. "It can wait. We can come back here whenever we want. I haven't had a proper meal in more than a day. And now I have the funds for it."

“Oh yeah,” Celeste grinned. "I'm eager to explore the culinary delights of your world. Does it surpass the food available in Dimensia?"

"I have not experienced enough food of this world to make a definitive judgement," Harry replied. "However, I would say it is likely."

He reached out and touched the door, causing it to swing open. Inside was a dark tunnel devoid of any light. He had not noticed it during his first journey through the portal.

Harry stepped through the tunnel and experienced a peculiar sensation as if he were soaring through the air. Furthermore, it felt as though his body was being dismantled and reconstructed, albeit without any discomfort. After merely a few seconds, he emerged on the other side.

The portal transported him to a children’s park, concealed behind a play fort. Although he didn't immediately recognise his surroundings, the darkening sky hinted that it was approximately eight o'clock in the evening. During this time of year, nighttime didn't arrive until around eight-thirty.

“Where are we?” Celeste asked, her eyes darting around the unfamiliar surroundings with a touch of curiosity.

"I'm not sure," Harry replied. "Considering that this portal is different from the one I initially entered, it's not surprising that I ended up in a different location. My best estimation would be the Greater Whinging area."

Celeste rolled her eyes. “That means absolutely nothing to me.”

To satisfy his curiosity, he attempted to access his menu, but it failed to appear. The sensation of being denied access to the system after relying on it so heavily left him feeling vulnerable. It was peculiar since he had managed without the system before. He still had his wand and his wits.

"Let's leave the park and find something to eat before we go back to the Dursleys," Harry said.

“Food!”

“You’re going to have to hide,” Harry stated, indicating his shirt pocket. "Most people in our world are unaware of the existence of magic and magical creatures. Should you be seen, it would get us in a lot of trouble."

“Rude,” Celeste huffed, but she followed his suggestion and slipped into his pocket.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Harry was right. They found themselves in the Greater Winging area, which was about a forty-minute walk from Little Whinging. Luckily, Harry found a Fish and Chip shop that was still open, so he bought some takeaways and treated Celeste to a meal in the park.

She thoroughly enjoyed the fries, eating a lot until she held her stuffed stomach, lying lethargically on her side. Harry treated himself to two delectable cheeseburgers, savouring the burst of various flavours on his tongue. Naturally, he shared a portion with Celeste once she had emerged from her food-induced coma.

Afterwards, Harry began walking back to Little Whinging, but he took his time. He saw no need to hurry, as reaching there a little later wouldn't change the punishment that awaited him. While walking, he confided in Celeste about his unpleasant relatives and made sure she stayed hidden until he reached his room.

If they try anything funny, I will mess them up.

"You won't do anything of the sort," Harry reprimanded her firmly. "You will get us in even more trouble. I will handle it."

Celeste gazed at him, her face filled with bewilderment. "I didn't say anything."

Harry blinked, thinking back on a few moments ago and coming to the realisation that she was correct. He couldn't help but wonder where that had come from.

"Perhaps it's our telepathic connection," Celeste proposed. "It could be one of the abilities that have carried over to this world."

That was highly probable. He was unsure about the specific criteria for an ability to be carried over to this world. He knew that familiars existed in the magical world, as Fawkes was the perfect example. It is possible that the requirement could be as simple as being able to use an ability that already existed here, in some shape or form. Somehow, he didn’t think it was that easy. At least he knew that attributes were transferable in some way, as there was already some evidence of it.

He glanced down at his body and noticed a subtle change. Somehow, despite being gone for only a day and a half and not consuming much food, he could feel that he had gained some weight. He still appeared malnourished, although not as severely as before.

It seemed impossible, but he reasoned that one of his physical attributes must be responsible. Based on his earlier recollection of allocating points to his Vitality, it was likely the culprit. Furthermore, the attribute's name literally means someone's health.

There were several experiments he needed to conduct in order to determine the gains he made from his journey to the Dimension World. However, the use of his wand in these experiments would not be possible. He wanted to share this information with Hermione since she was more skilled with research. The dilemma was whether or not he should tell her about the Dimension World. No, it was still too early for him to share the secret with her, even if he ever chose to do so in the future.

Harry and Celeste practised speaking to each other telepathically before they reached the Dursleys’ house. Walking up to the front door, he took a deep breath before he knocked on the door. He didn’t need to care about the Dursleys. If they got too annoying, he could simply leave. He already had another place to stay. The safest place he could be was the Campsite in the Dimension World.

“Where the hell have you been?” Uncle Vernon thundered, his face turning puce from anger.

“Do you want to have this conversation here?” Harry asked with a raised eyebrow, unmoved by his uncle’s anger.

Uncle Vernon looked around nervously before he grabbed Harry’s arm and pulled him into the house. Slamming the door, he dragged Harry into the living room, where Aunt Petunia and Aunt Marge were seated.

“You little bastard,” Aunt Petunia yelled, rising from the sofa. “You better have a good explanation for your disappearance.”

"I must say, the extent of your concern for me is truly flattering," Harry said.

Aunt Petunia's face turned red with anger. She took a few steps toward him, her hand raised as if she was about to strike him. However, she halted a few feet away upon noticing the look in his eyes. It was clear that he would not tolerate any mistreatment from her.

"Look at that devil's spawn," Marge exclaimed, her eyes narrowing. "Shows no remorse whatsoever. Bad genes are to blame. The parents should take responsibility for siring such a bad seed."

These people are horrible! Celeste said from within his mind. Are you sure we have left the Dimension World? Two of them have a passing resemblance to a slug monster I once encountered.

Harry concealed his smirk while patiently enduring the tirade from the three Dursleys. After they concluded their rant, they proceeded to punish him by confining him to his room for the remainder of the summer.

He closed the door to his bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. He wasn't about to stay stuck in this place for so long. Perhaps he should see if the Weasleys would be willing to have him for the remainder of the summer.

Celeste emerged from his pocket and surveyed the room. "What a mess! Why is the furniture so shabby?"

"My relatives don't like to spend money on me," Harry replied.

"We won't be staying here for long, will we?" Celeste asked, settling herself on his pillow.

“No,” Harry said. "Even if I don't find alternative accommodations for the summer, I will be going back to Hogwarts in September."

“Hogwarts?”

"It's the school I go to," Harry explained happily. "It's where they teach wizards and witches all about magic."

“They won’t care if I come with you?” Celeste asked.

“You can only bring an owl, cat or toad to Hogwarts,” Harry said, trying to recall if they made exceptions for other animals. "But perhaps they will make an exception for familiars. I need to write a letter to Hermione and ask about it. She will have the answers."

“Hermione? What a strange name.”

“She is one of my best friends,” Harry replied. “You will like her.”

“If you say so,” Celeste sighed.

“Speaking of owls, where did—”

“Prek!” Suddenly, a form glided through the open window and landed on the headboard. Golden eyes stared menacingly down at him, promising severe punishment for leaving for so long and causing her immense worry.

“Hi, Hedwig,” Harry said weakly. “I can explain—”

“Prek!”

“Ow! Not the face!”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The following night, Harry, seething with anger, slammed the front door and marched out into the street. He lugged his heavy trunk behind him with Hedwig's cage under his arm.

The door swung open behind him, with his uncle’s voice calling out, "Come back here, boy! Take responsibility for the mess you've made."

“Leave me alone, asshole,” Harry yelled.

The door slammed. Uncle Vernon must have realised he was making a scene. Harry walked down the street, completely unaware of his destination. He needed to get away from that horrible woman after what she said about his parents.

Celeste popped her head out of his pocket and stared up at him with admiration. “Man, that was an awesome bit of magic. That fatass swelled up like a balloon and floated away. I was tempted to reach for a fork and find out if she'd go "Pop!"

Harry couldn't help but smile, despite his worries. He had already gotten in trouble with the Ministry for using underage magic the previous summer, even though he wasn't responsible for that incident. Now he was concerned whether this new situation would lead to his expulsion.

He continued to make his way down the street in the direction of Greater Whinging. It was already late, so he needed to find a place to stay for the night. The Dimension World seemed as good a place as any.

Harry heard the sound of a bush rustling to his right. Whirling around, he summoned his wand, feeling a surge of adrenaline course through his veins. He strained his eyes in the darkness, attempting to discern the source of the noise..

“Something’s there,” Celeste whispered.

Just as a massive black dog stepped into the illuminated area beneath the streetlamp, a sudden loud bang erupted from the street, startling him and making him fall to the ground.

The dog aggressively lunged towards him, showcasing its bared teeth.

So, what do you think? Harry meets Sirius in the next chapter. Will it go down differently, or will it remain the same?

Thanks for reading.