ChronoLuna - Across realms

Chapter 20: Shadows in Dreams

The silvery dawn over Hogwarts cast long, soft shadows across the castle as Luna Lovegood stirred from her bed in the Ravenclaw dormitory. Her dreams had been vivid again—this time not of Hogwarts or spells, but of swirling equations, biotech schematics, space elevators, arc reactors, and stories from the countless novels she had devoured in her past life. The Detection System hummed quietly within her mind, Recording Dream Memory: 86% retained. Formatting for Integration...

She sat up, blinked away the weight of the dream, and let her fingers trace the edge of her wand before whispering a soft spell to summon her notes. The parchment floated over from her nightstand, hovering neatly as the system appended notes in the margin.

Training Suggestion: Begin basic mnemonic recall routines. Initiating long-term memory partitioning for multiverse correlation...

The dream hadn't just been memory. It was a reminder—of technologies that once powered civilizations in another world, of timelines converging silently, and of dangers that would eventually rise. Her system softly projected a calculated estimation:

Estimated Divergence: Current Earth-199999 deviation remains within stable flux. Main Marvel Timeline Crisis begins in approximately 5.2 years.

Classes resumed as usual that day, with a chilly breeze sweeping through the corridors. Luna made her way to Defense Against the Dark Arts, where Professor Quirrell—nervous as ever—twitched at every shadow. Her eyes narrowed slightly. It wasn't the stutter or fear that bothered her. It was the way his aura shimmered oddly, like two frequencies overlapping, just out of sync.

The Detection System whispered in her mind:

Signature mismatch: Arcane Contamination Detected — Probability of Possession: 72.4%

She made no move. Not yet. Her memories from a thousand novels and timelines told her this was the beginning. A dangerous fragment of a soul riding a host. She watched Quirrell's movements, his subtle coldness when facing students, and his awkward glances when passing by reflective surfaces.

Instead, Luna quietly observed, learning, listening. During Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall, she followed every gesture, every inflection, letting her wand mirror the motions fluidly. The system tracked her progress:

Spell Detected: Avifors

Type: Transfiguration

Effect: Converts small objects into birds (typically ravens or sparrows).

Casting Gesture: Sharp upward flick followed by a circular motion.

System Analysis:

"Function Analysis: Transfiguration—Energy Recomposition Grade I. Converts inert matter into animated biological constructs using structured magical matrices. Requires controlled intent and clear visualisation of avian form."

Learning Source: Professor McGonagall, Standard Curriculum

System Metrics: Precision: 91%, Stability: 88%, Progress: Level 1.2

Caution: Improper casting may result in partial transformation (e.g., winged teacups)

In Charms class, Luna practiced a foundational levitation spell.

Spell Detected: Wingardium Leviosa

Type: Charm

Effect: Levitates and maneuvers objects through directed magical control.

Gesture: Swish and flick

Pronunciation: Win-GAR-dee-um Levi-O-sa

System Analysis:

"Function Analysis: Levitation Matrix—Gravitational Disruption Field I. Modifies local gravity and mass interaction for controlled ascent. Requires pronunciation clarity and wand trajectory alignment."

Learning Source: Professor Flitwick

System Metrics: Precision: 93%, Stability: 85%, Progress: Level 1.4

That evening, after dinner, she wandered the quiet corridors until the Room of Requirement emerged once more. The space had shifted again—this time to mimic a vast library interwoven with a spell-practice arena. Enchanted targets moved with deceptive unpredictability.

She spent hours cycling through standard spells: Lumos, Expelliarmus, Levicorpus, and her favorite—Arresto Momentum. Each one guided not just by memory, but by the adaptive voice of her system.

Spell Detected: Expelliarmus

Type: Defensive Charm

Effect: Disarms opponent by ejecting object from their grasp.

System Analysis:

"Disarmament Matrix—Force Pulse Channel I. Releases focused kinetic thrust to sever object-hand binding."

Status: Mastery Level: 1.8, Accuracy: 87.6%

Spell Detected: Arresto Momentum

Type: Control Spell

Effect: Slows down objects or individuals in motion.

System Analysis:

"Motion Deceleration—Kinetic Damping Grade II. Produces anti-force to nullify velocity. Effective on falling subjects or loose projectiles."

Status: Mastery Level: 1.3, Control Index: 82.1%

Time Magic Compatibility: Dormant — Recommended Delay: Minimum 2.5 Years. Space Magic Compatibility: Minor Sensory Link Detected — Begin Meditation Practice.

Even as she trained in Hogwarts spells, her mind cycled back to the dream—books where technology touched magic, stories where dimensions twisted and bled into each other. A fragment of a Stark-tech schematic hovered in the back of her mind like a ghost.

Not yet, she reminded herself. The world wasn't ready for those things. And neither was she.

For now, she would grow stronger quietly. She would observe Quirrell. She would prepare. She would keep one eye on the horizon—where science and sorcery would one day clash.

And when the shadows came for this world, she would not be caught unready.

System Status Update – Luna Lovegood

Magic Proficiency: 19% (Early Adept)

Spell Accuracy (Standard Spells): 84.3%

Quidditch Skill: Enhanced Reflex Calibration — Above Average

Physical Fitness: Ravenclaw Training Schedule – Compliant

Dream Recall Integration: 46% Total

Space-Time Compatibility: Latent

Recommended Focus: Magical Reinforcement, Mental Conditioning, Aura Refinement

Multiverse Correlation Sync: 5.1% and Rising

Cognitive Fragment Recovery: Initiating Module Alpha – Creative Design Frameworks

Luna closed her eyes as the candles in the Room of Requirement flickered low. In her dreams that night, she saw a city skyline unlike any she had seen in this world—metallic, vibrant, filled with energy. And in its center, a tower.

Stark Tower.

The countdown had begun.