Harry Potter: Origin Magic

The moon was shrouded in an impenetrable darkness that enveloped the earth. The clouds clashed and tumbled, unleashing flashes of light and vibrations that reverberated through the night. For the fifteen-year-old Jace, however, it was just another day.

Jace's routine had become a solitary one since the tragic car accident that claimed the lives of both his parents a year ago. He was living in a small house in an even smallish town. Every day he woke up at 5:00 am sharp, and went through his morning rituals of using the bathroom and getting a glass of water, before settling down at his small wooden desk. He had no relatives to turn to, and the townsfolk held an inexplicable disdain for him, leaving him with no one to rely on.

Switching on his desk lamp, he reached down and picked up a bulky book that was laying on his violin case. The book was in pristine condition, titled "The C++ Programming Language 4th Edition" by Bjarne St.. Jace was really passionate about technology, he found solace in the world of computers that he couldn't quite put into words. Whenever he delved into the realm of technology, all his worries and troubles seemed to fade away, and he could fully immerse himself in the subject matter. It was his escape from the harsh reality of his lonely existence.

Jace turned to page 30 and continued reading from where he left off the previous night, "1.2.4 Languages, Libraries and Systems." As he delved into the content, his excitement grew. Jace quickly got captivated, and the time slipped by unnoticed. When he finally glanced at the clock, it was already 8:00 am, and he realized he was running late for school.

Panicked, Jace hastily gathered his school bag and rushed out of the house. As he hurried along, he berated himself for forgetting to eat breakfast in his absorption with his studies. "Shit, I got so engrossed in reading that I forgot to eat. Now I'll have to endure hunger for the whole day," he muttered to himself, a pang of hunger gnawing at his stomach. Despite his words, he felt like the distraction of coding had been worth it, even if it meant facing hunger at school. He reached his school ten minutes later.

Jace's school day passed by in a blur. He sat through his classes with an empty stomach, feeling the dull ache of hunger persisting throughout the day. His classmates seemed distant, and he felt disconnected from the usual banter and activities that filled the school hallways. Jace's thoughts often drifted to his parents and the accident that took them away from him. He missed them deeply and wished he had someone to talk to, but the townsfolk's disdain for him had created a barrier that seemed insurmountable.

After the final bell rang, Jace packed up his bag and headed home. As he walked his hunger pangs were becoming unbearable but he had to go to the town's mini-market to buy food. The fact that the shop's owner and cashier was the only one in the whole town that didn't dislike him was pleasant.

As he entered, he spotted George, the old cashier. Jace picked up two cans of soup and placed them on the counter.

"Are you buying soup cans again, boy? You look quite pale, did you forget to feed yourself again?" George asked knowingly. "That'll be 1 dollar."

Jace nodded and handed over the money, grateful to George. The cans cost more than that but he lowered the prices for him. "Thank you, George. Have a great day," Jace said, eager to get home and continue his book.

As he turned to leave, George called out to him. "Off to study again, are you? Why not sit here for a bit? I could tell you about my time in the second world war, you know."

Jace hesitated for a moment, touched by George's kindness, but he knew he couldn't stay. "I already know everything about it," he replied softly, before closing the shop's door and hurrying home, clutching the soup cans tightly in his hands.

A few minutes later, Jace lifted his doormat to take the keys that he always hid there. He unlocked the door and stepped inside. The house felt eerily quiet and empty, and the memories of his parents flooded his mind.

He opened one of the soup cans and heated it on the stove, relishing the warmth and aroma as it filled the kitchen. He sat down at the table, his hunger pangs finally subsiding as he ate the meager meal. Despite the simple fare, Jace found solace in the routine of preparing and enjoying his meal. It was a small comfort in an otherwise solitary and challenging time.

After finishing his meal, Jace turned his attention to his studies. He pulled out his late father's old laptop and dived into coding, finding refuge in the familiar world of programming. The lines of code blurred together as he lost himself in the task, forgetting about his hunger and loneliness for a while. As the night wore on, Jace felt a sense of accomplishment as he made progress on his project, and a spark of hope flickered within him.

As the weeks went by, Jace continued his routine. He focused on his studies during the day, finding solace in his academic pursuits, and spent his evenings coding and tinkering with his projects. He made use of the limited resources he had, often relying on his coding skills to earn some money by freelancing online. The townsfolk's disdain still stung, but Jace was determined not to let their opinions define him. He found comfort in his own company and the solace of his routine.

One day, as Jace was walking home from school, he noticed a flyer for a coding competition posted on a bulletin board. Intrigued, he took it and decided to give it a shot.

Reaching his home, Jace inserted the key into the lock and turned it, but before he could push the door open, he felt a sudden sense of unease. His instincts were telling him that something was off. He paused, his hand on the doorknob, and listened intently for any unusual sounds.

After a moment of silence, Jace cautiously pushed the door open, entering his home slowly and with heightened caution. He surveyed the familiar surroundings, but his unease grew as he noticed something out of place or rather someone. There was a stranger sitting in his late father's armchair, casually sipping tea from his late mother's favorite mug.

The stranger was a tall, white man with dark spiky hair and dressed in expensive-looking strange clothes. Jace couldn't help but feel a slight curiosity and apprehension at the unexpected presence of this stranger in his home.

"Who are you?" Jace asked, his voice laced with caution as he took a step back, ready to defend himself if needed.

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Edited 13/04