The inside of the dress robe shop was warmer than Harry expected, air humming faintly with magic. Rolls of fabric floated along the walls, rearranging themselves at the twitch of the tailor’s fingers. Enchanted mirrors turned on their own, clearly eager to judge.
“Oh my,” the witch said brightly, peering at Harry over half-moon spectacles. “First set of dress robes?”
Harry hesitated. “Is it that obvious?”
She smiled in a way that suggested yes, painfully so.
Mrs. Weasley ushered him forward. “Nothing too flashy. Practical, but nice.”
The witch nodded, already circling Harry. Tape measures slithered out of thin air and wrapped around him before he could protest.
Behind his eyes, the System hummed.
[Hidden Quest: “A Proper Wizard’s Wardrobe” – In Progress] Status: Candidate evaluated Compatibility scan underway…
Harry stiffened. “You’re scanning my clothes now?”
[Relax. I’m scanning you. The clothes are innocent.]
Ron snorted from a nearby chair. Hermione had wandered off, inspecting fabrics with academic fascination.
The witch snapped her fingers, and a set of robes drifted toward Harry. Dark charcoal, with subtle silver threading along the sleeves. They looked… normal. Almost boring.
“Try these,” she said.
Harry slipped them on. The mirror shimmered, showing him from every angle. They fit well. Too well.
“Not bad,” Ron admitted.
Harry nodded slowly. “Yeah. They’re… fine.”
The System was silent.
That alone made him uneasy.
The witch frowned. “Hmm. They suit you, but…” She tilted her head. “No. That won’t do.”
With another flick, the robes dissolved into motes of light.
Before Harry could object, something else happened.
The shop lights dimmed slightly.
The mirrors flickered.
And the System chimed—lower, more deliberate than usual.
[Hidden Quest Condition Met.] [Reward Manifesting…]
Harry blinked. “Now?”
[Yes. And for the record, you didn’t pick it. The multiverse did.]
A new set of robes drifted forward—deep midnight blue, almost black, but speckled faintly with shifting points of light, like a barely-there night sky. The fabric didn’t shine. It absorbed light instead, subtle and restrained.
Mrs. Weasley inhaled sharply. “Oh… those are lovely.”
The witch stared. “…I don’t remember stocking those.”
Harry swallowed. “Is that a problem?”
“No,” she said slowly. “Just… unusual.”
The robes settled onto him as if they knew where to go. The fabric was warm, steady, grounding. The mirror shimmered again.
This time, the System spoke.
[Rare Item Acquired.]
Item Obtained
◆ Starlaced Formal Robes Rank: Rare Origin: Unknown Multiverse Type: Equipment – Formal Wear
Effects: • Automatically self-adjusts for comfort and fit • Minor resistance to charm-based influence • Reduces magical signature while worn • Enhances wearer’s composure under stress
Passive Trait: “Unnoticed When It Matters” The wearer is less likely to draw attention during formal or high-society events unless they choose to.
Note: “You look respectable. This may be a first.”
Harry stared at his reflection. He didn’t look flashy. He didn’t look powerful.
He looked… calm.
Centered.
“That’s… actually nice,” he said quietly.
Ron squinted. “Blimey. You look like someone important.”
Hermione finally turned from a rack of fabric and froze. “Harry—those robes are fascinating. The stitching pattern is non-standard. I don’t recognize the enchantment layering at all.”
Harry smiled faintly. “Yeah. Funny thing.”
[Quest Complete: “A Proper Wizard’s Wardrobe.”] Reward Claimed. Additional Note: Better than a turnip. You’re welcome.
He exhaled. “You’re not wrong.”
Mrs. Weasley paid, chatting happily with the witch, while Harry carefully stored the robes in his Inventory the moment no one was looking.
As they stepped back into Diagon Alley, sunlight hit him square in the face. The noise, the crowds, the owls—all of it rushed back in.
But something felt different.
Not heavier.
Sharper.
The System chimed one last time, quietly.
[Player Progress Updated.] Current Status: • System Integration: Ongoing • Gacha Resources: Low • Survival Probability: Improved [Enjoy the calm while it lasts.]
Harry glanced down the alley, where Hogwarts supplies, secrets, and the coming school year waited.
“Yeah,” he murmured. “I had a feeling.”
And somewhere deep in the multiverse, the Game continued to watch.