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London: St Mary's Hospital - Neurology Ward
Jonathan Grey
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Once Dr Richards concluded the assessment, the nurse returned to assist me in getting up. The transition from the bed to my feet felt unsteady, and I had to rely on her steady support as we made our way to the restroom, gradually getting used to it as we went.
The sensation of movement felt different, like one would expect, as if I'm moving through the world of a highly realistic VR headset, but with significantly advanced tech that also sends back physical touch. My steps were lighter, the ground beneath me was closer than I was used to, and with the long stretch of the hospital corridor, the drastic shift of perspective of the world around me was hard to ignore.
It was a surreal experience, adjusting to a smaller body. Every movement felt… not quite new, but one of experience either. It was like I had weights on previously and had to carry it around everywhere until I stopped noticing, then took them off just before my muscles were reset or something. It was hard to explain.
Nurse Mitchell matched her pace to mine, offering encouraging words from time to time as I adapted to my now smaller frame. Personally, I could have gone without the words and preferred to just be left alone to get used to things. But I suppose that was the introvert in me or something.
As we navigate the hospital corridors, I couldn't help but marvel at the world from this altered perspective. The hospital corridor is quiet, and I could hear the soft sounds of distant footsteps echoing. Something older-me would have struggled to hear thanks to years of wearing headphones and putting the volume up on my music.
As I entered the restroom, the nurse wanted to remain by my side, but I had already gotten a hang of the new body I found myself in so I declined the offer. As a mentally grown man, the idea of getting help there just didn't sit well with my pride, unless I was actually injured, and transmigration didn't count.
Standing in front of the mirror, I caught a glimpse of myself for the first time since waking up. The features staring back at me were those of what Skyrim players would call a light-skinned Redguard boy. Considering I was born in West Africa in my previous life, I guess they thought keeping the ethnicity the same would have made the entire process easier.
Then I took a closer look. There was an obvious similarity in my facial features to my previous life, yet it seemed healthier and more vibrant. They made me better looking, or at least, gave me a higher potential to be better looking in the future. Because if you can warp reality like they already have, why not, right?
Opening my mouth, I could see I no longer needed braces, thanks to the set of perfect teeth reflecting the light. While I slowly ran a finger across the pristine, straight, pearly whites, I couldn't help but feel relief and subtle joy as the memory of orthodontic appointments, the discomfort of adjustments, and the self-consciousness that often accompanied my braces faded away.
"Johnathan?" Nurse Mitchell called out from behind the door. It was a toilet that could open from the outside in case the patient needed help, and I could faintly hear her place a hand on the door as she spoke. "You alright there?"
"Er, yeah. Just getting used to my reflection, that's all," I admitted, before actually using the loo.
"Oh," she seemed to pause. "Just... take your time, alright? And say something if anything hurts."
"Okay, I will."
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Leaving the restroom, the kind nurse guided me back to my hospital room, and I took the time to just look around at the older medical equipment.
"How long has the hospital had those medical equipment?" I inquired as we walked, wanting to know when they got them and if it was the latest versions they had.
She worriedly glanced at me, nodding in acknowledgement. "We're on the way back to your room."
Oh, she probably thought I had short-term memory loss.
"I know" I replied. "I mean, what date is it? I'm just trying to see if anything will trigger my memories."
"The current date is XX December 1988, love." She said. Luckily, she said the date and year, indicating that I am still on a version of Earth.
I blinked in surprise. 1988? That was years before I was even born in my previous life. The hospital, the technology, everything around me all corroborates her words.
As we walked back to my room, the weight of curiosity compelled me to inquire about the hospital.
"Nurse Mitchell, can you tell me which hospital this is?" I asked with a slight uncertainty in my voice. It made sense to take advantage of the fact that she was rather forthcoming to get as much information as possible.
"You're at St. Mary's Hospital, Jonathan," she said. "One of the best medical facilities in the country and known for its commitment to patient care."
That seemed practised, but she seems proud, so she either likes working here, or I'm bad at reading people. Then again, she probably has to talk to a lot of patients with memory loss, considering the wards she works in.
Considering she has a London accent, along with everyone else I have walked by. I think it's safe to say that this hospital is somewhere in England.
St. Mary's Hospital? The name feels vaguely familiar, but a lot of hospitals are named after saints. I nodded, absorbing the information as we navigated the corridors.
She continued to guide me back to the room while occasionally greeting her colleagues as we passed them. Their greetings were always brief, mostly just a smile and nod, but I could tell by most of their expressions that they were overworked.
Back in my hospital room, I finally let the surge of questions flood my mind and run free. Taking a deep breath, I mentally address the mysterious system that seems to be my constant companion like Rimuru's Great Sage, wanting to know exactly where I was now in order to plan for any shenanigans.
'System,' I thought with a small frown, hoping it was one of the more advanced versions, 'Where exactly have I been transmigrated to? What reality is this?'
The response was quick, as not a moment later, a cool and detached voice echoed in my mind.
[You have been transported to one of the Harry Potter realities.]
The revelation sent a shiver down my spine. Harry Potter? Depending on the reality, I could have ended up in a version with which Voldemort won the first war and planned to attack tomorrow. Not that I had a reason to worry about it now anyway, I didn't have a way to defend myself at the moment.
Then again, I could be stressing due to the fanfictions I read, which had no bearing whatsoever on where I actually was.
I need to know the difference between this world and the actual Harry Potter universe. 'One of' isn't good enough for me. Hopefully, there's no evil Dumbledore. Or those magical contracts that can essentially make a person a slave.
'System', I thought. 'What is the difference between this reality and the Harry Potter reality that I witnessed in my previous life? The movies, not the books.'
'...?'
'System?'
Hmm, I'm not even surprised at this point. I could only sit and think of possible outcomes. Well, that and I look forward to receiving my Hogwarts letter at the age of 11. But that was years away. In the meantime, there's a life to be lived in the non-magical world.
Muggle world? Mundane world? No-maj world?... Yeah, that sounds better. No-maj world, let's go with that.
Anyway, first comes Education. Well, scientific education anyway. At least the best the current time can get me.
I'd need to throw myself into my non-magical education with fervour. It wouldn't just be about grades either. I'd aim to develop a keen intellect and a profound understanding of various subjects, like a real life Sherlock. Considering I'm a fully grown adult, that shouldn't be as difficult as it was in my previous. Plus, I had the [System].
I may have had slightly above-average grades, but there's nothing wrong with trying to do better. I'll need to study subjects from mathematics to literature, and each lesson will become a stepping stone towards peak human intelligence. I might need to give up a lot of free time, but it's not like I wanted to hang out with other 8-year-olds anyway, so that was no great loss.
Then there's my physique. A healthy body can only benefit me when going up against weakling Death Eaters who don't even lift. I will need to incorporate regular exercise and possibly meditation practices into my routine for the full warrior package.
As for other people? Well, while I wasn't the most social of guys in my past life, nor do I particularly like politics, I understand how useful it can be.
I'll need to make a conscious effort not to be a dick to other kids when they get on my nerves. I might not join many clubs or extracurricular activities, but decent connections with others may pay dividends later, even if I'm going to be spending a lot of time in a library.
While I only really remembered a few spells from the movies and how to do them, I knew I also needed to prepare for the magical realm. Not in the 'go to Diagon Alley right this instant' kind, but more in the 'gain language skills as I can' due to spells being in other languages.
That meant learning French and Bulgarian first, given the Triwizard Tournament. And more importantly, Latin, considering spells and incantations learned in Hogwarts. They would also help me in the no-magical world as well, so it was a win either way. While I was at it, I would add calligraphy to the list in case it had any bearing on runes.
As I delve into my meticulously planned approach to life in the non-magical world, a realisation dawns upon me – it's not just about preparing for the magical realm; it's also an opportunity to showcase my intelligence to the professors at Hogwarts. This realisation adds a layer of purpose to my endeavours, driving me with a newfound motivation.
The pursuit of peak intelligence, even in the non-magical world, takes on a deeper significance when I realised my performance in non-magical subjects could serve as a testament to my intelligence when I eventually step into the magical world. Each high score would not only be a personal achievement but a signal to the wizards and witches who will mentor me at Hogwarts, possibly allowing me to delve into magics in the restricted sections of the Library and more.
If I actively engage in thoughtful discussions during non-magical classes, showcasing my analytical and critical thinking abilities, it not only aids in my intellectual growth but also ensures that the professors at Hogwarts will recognise my capacity for intelligent discussions. Well, that's if they tell the professors that when they come to pick me up, or if they read my teachers and carers minds.
The inquisitive nature, asking probing questions, and seeking additional knowledge beyond the curriculum to feed my insatiable curiosity would make teaching me too enticing to educators. The thought of graduating high school earlier, at the age of 11, just in time for Hogwarts and with a respective about of scientific knowledge. With the [System], it was definitely possible. Probably college as well now that I thought about it. The graduation age for that in the UK was 18, which would put at an extra 6 years of knowledge than anyone in Hogwarts when I arrived.
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"Every moment is a fresh beginning."
― T.S. Eliot
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Hello There
Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
I've removed the part at the top that said 'Previously on Playing With Magic'. I don't really see a reason to keep it there and some of the reviews said it would make the reading experience better. I'll get around to removing the others as well at some point.
Later chapters are at a minimum of 3k words excluding author notes, so bear with me on the early chapter length. 2k isn't enough, I know.
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