The True Scum Bag Start
Trapped in James Potter's body, this male protagonist realized a few things.
He was, after all, the real scum bag.
Standing in front of Severus Snape, the little boy he was meant to torment, the beginnings of a hopeless villainy started the first chapter.
To be more specific, James Potter's job was to bring about the decay and darkening of the character of Severus Snape, who would make the life of Harry Potter, James' son and true protagonist, a misery during his school years. James Potter was nothing more than a secondary character who would appear and die in a few lines.
But at that moment, James Potter was the male protagonist of a silly romance novel. Or something like that.
"Snivellus, watch where you walk," the black-haired boy next to him mocked. The same boy who had intentionally hit Severus and made him fall to the ground, scattering his books everywhere.
The boy who is James Potter's best friend and his partner in tormenting others.
Sirius Black.
[The system welcomes you, getting started automatic activation code; "Stupid Author, Stupid Book" is in development, please proceed with caution.]
James had the unexpected urge to kneel down and help lift the poor boy, who was trembling on the ground without doing anything. As someone who had read the books in his childhood and had little reading comprehension, he had always thought that James Potter and Severus Snape had a rivalry comparable to that of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.
Obviously, this was a one-sided situation.
[The system reminds you to act as the original James Potter would. Currently you are in the initial stage and the OOC feature is activated. To unfreeze it, complete missions and earn points. Any OOC action by "James Potter" will be penalized.]
It all started like any novel of this type, spitting on the author's boots.
"Mmm, what do you say, Prongs? Should we teach this snake a lesson?" Black laughed beside him, taking out his wand.
God no, James couldn't help but think.
Snape's head snapped up.
Severus Snape looked at James from beneath his lashes with his large, bright doe eyes. He'd be lying if he said this protagonist's knees didn't suddenly go weak.
Shuddering, he could only reply, "Of course, show him."
[This system congratulates you, you have successfully started the program; "Pass the quill, author, you spilled ink on a fine character." Linked Role: James Potter. Skills: Master of Transfiguration. Weapon: Mahogany Wand. Starting Points: 100.]
[As you progress through the story, you'll receive more points. Make sure they don't reach zero, otherwise you'll be immediately punished and sent back to your original world.]
The problem is, like in any cheap transmigration novel, this protagonist's original body was already dead.
Before James had time to scream internally, Sirius cast a spell that soaked Severus and his books. Black began to laugh histerically, as if the pitiful sight in front of him was the best joke, James could only respond with a few nervous laughs.
Their eyes never left each other, wet and defeated, Severus Snape still had fire in his eyes.
"What are you looking at, freak?" Black growled, puffing out his chest. "Maybe you haven't learned enough yet."
James held Sirius's shoulder to stop him.
[Warning. Your action at this moment is extremely dangerous and classified as a violation, you are advised to desist.]
At this, he gritted his teeth and offered a smile. "Leave it to me."
Sirius smiled back and stepped aside, "Ah, ah, of course, mate. Have fun."
This protagonist wanted to flip a finger at the original author.
[Mission Alert! Beginner rank mission issued. Location: Hogwarts Hallway. Mission: "Toss a treat to the dog, pet the cat." Please click to accept.]
Right above Severus' face the mission summary appeared before him with two options "accept" or "decline". James' gaze rested on the green option that said "accept" for a while and it was automatically selected. [Mission successfully accepted. The System wishes you success.]
[Mission details: Perform Sirius Black's satisfaction but be sure to do the same for Severus Snape. Mission Failure Penalties: -50 points.]
It would have been nice to read the mission details before grabbing Snape's long, shiny hair and shoving his face into the ground, right where a puddle of dirt had formed.
Don't they clean the floors in this place?!, James thought desperately.
Severus let out a confused groan while Sirius looked surprised but pleased.
Luckily for him, before he could think of any strategy to salvage the situation, a professor appeared. He quickly released Snape and walked away, clenching his fists at his sides. The other boy, however, remained frozen on the ground. Sirius, it seems, knew what to do. An actor performing on stage.
"Merlin, Snape, how did you end up on the floor?" Black asked loudly but made no move to help. "Who could have left the floor wet?"
Professor Slughorn blinked at them but quickly moved on, leaving James dumbfounded. Sirius smirked and when he was sure the professor wasn't coming back, he stepped in the puddle and splashed Snape. Black laughed, congratulating James and dragging him away from the Slytherin. Potter followed behind him, unable to say anything. Behind him, Severus Snape stood with flushed cheeks and glassy eyes, a lost look on his face as he stared at James's back.
[Mission completed! +50 points. +15 extra points for resorting to physical combat.]
[Sirius Black's favor has increased, +15 points.]
[Severus Snape's favor has increased, +10 points. Obtained a character trait: Masochist Severus Snape.]
[Total points: 190.]
[Congratulations! You're one step closer to avoiding Harry Potter's misery thanks to Severus Snape, keep it up and save the real protagonist!]
This protagonist's mind was blank. Was it possible that all the damage the original James Potter had caused to Severus Snape had broken his psyche? He looked at his reflection in the window, lifted the frame of his glasses with one of his fingers and ruffled his messy hair. Then he turned to the charms teacher, not registering a word of what he said. What did the System mean when it said it should avoid Harry Potter from misery? How would he do that in the first place if he was destined to die from the start?
[The System is happy to answer all your questions! The answer is simple: your task is to change the plot so that most of the tragic events in the life of the protagonist Harry Potter are avoided, increase the IQ of the villains and supporting cast, and increase the gratification levels of the protagonist as you uncovers hidden plot points.]
James thought about each point one by one and concluded that he had to turn this children's book series into a young adult one. He not only had to clean up all the messes he had already caused but also everyone else's! How could he change the attitude of, for example, Sirius Black, who had maintained his hatred for Severus into adulthood? And how could James raise the final boss's aptitude without seeming like he was on his side? Would he have to do all that without knowing when he would unlock the OOC option?
[The timing is determined by the number of points you receive, depending on the reactions of readers. When the requirements have been met, the System will automatically notify you.]
James Potter was an easy person to get along with. The protagonist, however, was a different matter. He was gay for a start. So it would be difficult to fall in love with Lily Evans and worry about Harry Potter's birth, and he doubted that preventing the protagonist's birth altogether would be an event that would satisfy readers.
[The System agrees. But this System gently assures you that Harry Potter's birth will happen anyway, as long as James Potter is the father.]
So the System is saying that it doesn't matter which woman is carrying the child. What a fucking misogynist.
Is this the treatment that someone like Lily Evans, who sacrificed her life for her son, receives? To be easily discarded?
[...]
[This System offers the possibility of earning points with secondary missions; such as passing your subjects.]
"Mr. Potter, please come forward and demonstrate the spell I have so kindly taught you." The Professor, standing on his stool, smiled at him.
This isn't the end of it, System. James thought as he stood up and swayed to the front of the class, with all the gallantry he assumed the original James Potter would have.
Of course, he proceeded to fail spectacularly.