Chapter 10: Feathers, Flames & Foreshadowing
[Harry Arc – Part 4: Cloaks, Clashes & Chaos Owls]
The next morning, Harry was woken by the gentle snap-crackle-fizz of static.
Dratini, nestled on his chest, yawned lightning.
"Mate," Harry muttered, brushing sparks off his blanket, "you've got to stop doing that while I'm sleeping."
Hagrid chuckled from the doorway. "Up yeh get! We've got supplies to buy!"
[Madam Malkin's Robe Fiasco]
Madam Malkin's was a calm, well-ordered shop. Until Harry and Dratini walked in.
"First-years? Hogwarts?" the witch asked, smiling.
Harry nodded. Dratini burped a spark.
As Harry stepped up to the stool to be measured, another boy entered. Pale, pointy-faced, and acting like the shop owed him a throne.
"I'm Draco Malfoy," he announced to no one in particular. "And you are?"
"Harry," Harry replied flatly.
Draco sneered. "Your owl looks weird."
Harry blinked. "That's not an owl."
Dratini narrowed his eyes.
Draco opened his mouth to add something insulting—and yelped instead as Dratini shocked a lock of his bleached hair, turning it into a literal lightning bolt.
"MY HAIR!"
"Dratini, no!" Harry shouted, though he was secretly proud.
Madam Malkin, half-charmed and half-furious, finished measuring both boys before ushering them out.
"Try not to fry anyone else today," she muttered.
Dratini wagged his tail like an innocent noodle.
[Bookshop Pandemonium & Owl Rivalry]
In Flourish and Blotts, Harry picked out his schoolbooks while Dratini dueled an enchanted inkwell.
Nearby, a snooty boy with a perfect barn owl strutted by.
The owl hooted regally.
Dratini hissed.
Then, with a blur of feathers, sparks, and hoots — a chase began.
Books flew.
Wizards ducked.
Hagrid caught one of the falling shelves with his bare hands. "DRATINI!"
The owl retreated with a singed tailfeather. Dratini strutted back, smug.
"Overprotective much?" Harry asked.
Dratini licked his cheek.
[Final Stop: Platform 9¾ Glitch]
They reached King's Cross with time to spare — until Harry stared between platforms 9 and 10.
"Er, Hagrid… where's nine and three-quarters?"
"Right through the barrier," Hagrid said cheerfully.
Harry blinked. "The brick wall?"
Before Hagrid could respond, Jake's glitch kicked in.
For precisely 3.4 seconds, the barrier projected a neon sign saying, "WELCOME TO PLATFORM π."
Then it fizzled and reset.
Harry gawked.
"Just walk straight at it," Hagrid said, guiding him forward.
Harry ran.
Dratini leapt.
They vanished through the wall.
Hagrid sighed. "Kids today and their reality-warping lizards…"
[Naruto Arc – Part 4: Spiral Flame & Fire Alarms]
[Fox Trials – Final Day]
"Alright, you chaos foxes," Naruto grunted, stretching. "Bring it on."
Kurama smirked. "Today, you learn your first real technique. We call it…"
He paused for effect.
"Spiral Flame Fang."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "THAT SOUNDS AMAZING."
"Try not to burn your eyebrows off."
[Training Ground – Ten Attempts Later]
Vulpix circled him.
"Focus your chakra like a corkscrew," Kurama instructed. "Then unleash it with a twist of flame."
Naruto roared — "SPIRAL FLAME FANG!" — and a flaming spiral burst from his fists.
It punched through a tree.
And scorched a 20-meter trench in the ground.
Iruka arrived just in time to see the fire.
"WHAT HAPPENED?!"
Naruto smiled with singed eyebrows. "I MADE ART."
Vulpix purred.
Kurama cackled.
[Sasuke Sighting]
A shadowy figure watched from the treetops.
Raven hair. Sharp eyes.
"Sasuke Uchiha," Kurama muttered. "He's watching. Good."
Naruto had no idea.
He was currently trying to use Fox-Step to phase into a vending machine.
[System Notification: Achievement Unlocked – Certified Fox Disaster, Level 1]
Jake laughed.
[Jake's Interlude – Glitches, Owls & Glowing Kids]
Back in the System Lounge, Jake juggled screens like popcorn.
One showed a blonde wizard-electrocuting owls.
The other displayed a ninja setting his forest on fire.
Jake sipped his multiversal soda.
"This… this is what I signed up for."
He hit a button labeled: "Summon Next Customer?"
A new screen blinked on.
A digital voice whispered: "It's time."
Alphamon appeared, arms folded.
"…My kid's ready to meet his partner."
Jake grinned. "Oh, we're just getting started."