The hum of the factory returned first — steady, cold, and real.
When Harry opened his eyes, the torches and stone were gone, replaced by dust-covered beams and the faint orange glow of sunset slipping through the cracked roof.
For a long moment, he just listened. The quiet had weight now — he always found the quiet quite nice. Then it came — crunch. Glass breaking somewhere on the main floor. Not wind. Not rats. Footsteps.
Harry froze, eyes sharpening, breath held. He stood, every sense alert. Another step echoed.
He moved toward the railing, hiding behind a small sheet of wood, and peered down.
Light moved below — a pale, steady glow. Not firelight, not electric. Something else entirely. Then came people.
A group stepped through the doorway, cloaked and careful, their lights cutting through the dim. Voices carried softly between the metal pillars.
"Spread out. He's somewhere inside," one said. Then another voice, older and calm, called out, "Harry Potter?"
Harry stiffened. They knew his name. He stayed hidden in the shadows, eyes tracking every motion. The man who had spoken stepped forward — silver hair, half-moon spectacles glinting in the strange light. He didn't look cruel, but that didn't mean safe. Harry had learned that the hard way.
The old man looked up toward the second floor where Harry was hidden. "It's alright," he said gently. "We mean you no harm."
Harry's grip tightened around the handle of his sword. "People who say that," he muttered under his breath, "usually do."
Still, curiosity crept in with caution. These people didn't look like anyone from Little Whinging — too composed, too certain. And the light in their hands . . . it wasn't burning or electric. It floated.
Harry stepped out from behind the board, keeping a small barrier between them. "How do you know my name?" he asked, voice flat but steady.
The silver-haired man's eyes softened. "You're someone the world lost for a long time, Harry. We've been trying to find you."
"Why?" Harry questioned.
"To help," the man said. "You've shown signs of… abilities. Things that don't belong to the ordinary world. We can explain them — teach you."
Abilities. Teach. The words pressed at the edges of Harry's thoughts. He thought of the System, the block world, the rules that made sense when nothing else did.
If they knew even part of what he could do, they might become a danger. But if they understood things he didn't — that knowledge had value.
He glanced around the factory — the cleared floor, the piles of metal, the first home that was his by effort and mind. No one was taking that from him.
Harry looked down at the man again. "I'm not leaving this place," he said firmly. "This is my home."
The man nodded slowly. "Then we'll come to you. I'll visit, if you'll allow it. No tricks — only answers."
Harry studied him for a long moment. There was no tremor in the man's voice, no anger. Just patience. Maybe too much of it.
"Fine," Harry said at last. "You can talk. But if you try anything, I will not stand idle."
The man inclined his head slightly, as if agreeing to a fair trade. "My name is Albus," he said. "Albus Dumbledore. I'll return when you're ready to listen."
Their lights dimmed as they turned toward the exit. The others followed him silently, leaving the faint scent of old parchment and air that felt . . . different.
When the last glow disappeared, Harry finally exhaled. His heartbeat steadied. He turned back to his room, mind already cataloging possibilities. If they knew about his ability, he'd have to be careful. But if he could learn from them, use their knowledge — it would be a risk worth taking.
"Information first," he murmured. "Trust later."
As Harry was returning to his room, a small prompt appeared before him.
[Quest: Discover the Secret World]
(Reward: 1 Mod Token)
Harry stared, confused. He didn't know what a mod token was, though he did know what a mod meant. As he pondered this, another window appeared, displaying new information:
Mod Tokens — Used to acquire mods through the store.
Mod Shop — Used to buy mods that are unable to be obtained through the natural world.
Mod Types:
• Natural — Mods obtained through items or discoveries in the real world. These mods can be accepted or declined and do not come with a manual or description.
• Quest — Mods acquired by completing a pop-up quest. These appear rarely and come with a book on the basics of the mod but no description, these mods also cannot be declined.
• Shop — Mods acquired by using a mod token in the shop. Shop mods come with a full manual on their use and a basic description of the mod. Shop mods appear after prerequisites are obtained (example: a weapon mod could appear after acquiring an ore mod).
(Note: Some mods will lock other mods upon acquisition.)
Harry's lips twitched into a smile. This was perfect. He was already preparing to learn more about the people who had shown up — but now, he could even get a mod from it. One that would come with full instruction, though the part about him not being able to decline quest mods slightly worried him.
He came to a conclusion "It's time," he murmured. "To adventure a bit in the real world."