Building Blocks
The morning light spilled into the sitting room of Number 12, Grimmauld Place, where Harry sat cross-legged on the rug, his notebook spread out before him. Beside it, scraps of parchment and loose sketches littered the floor, each filled with ideas he couldn't seem to stop jotting down. His laptop balanced precariously on a nearby chair, playing yet another YouTube video about Pokémon design.
Today, Harry's focus had shifted. He wasn't just taking notes about regions anymore—now, he was digging into the Pokémon themselves.
The "Pika Clones"
The video's presenter, a cheerful fan with an encyclopedic knowledge of the series, gestured to a lineup of small, rodent-like Pokémon on screen.
"Every generation has its electric rodent!" the fan announced with a grin. "We call them 'Pika Clones.' They're modeled after Pikachu and usually have similar traits—small, adorable, and great for marketing."
Harry paused the video and scribbled in his notebook:
Pika Clones: Electric rodent Pokémon unique to each region. Small, cute, often have cheek markings. Examples: Plusle, Minun, Pachirisu, Togedemaru.
He sat back, thinking. "So it's like how every magical school has its unique creature guarding its secrets, like the giant squid in the Black Lake or the Sphinx in the Triwizard Maze," he mused.
The Route One Pokémon
The next segment delved into the Pokémon found at the start of every Trainer's journey. These were the common Pokémon—easy to catch, straightforward to train, and emblematic of the region's themes.
"Every region has its staples," the presenter explained. "Route One Pokémon are usually a mix of birds, mammals, bugs, and sometimes a canine or feline. They're the first Pokémon Trainers encounter, so they need to be iconic yet simple."
Harry jotted furiously:
Route One Pokémon Themes:Bird: Often Flying/Normal type (e.g., Pidgey, Starly, Rookidee).
Mammal: Small and rodent-like, often evolves into something larger (e.g., Rattata, Bidoof, Zigzagoon).
Bug: Early bug type with multiple evolutions (e.g., Caterpie, Wurmple, Grubbin).
Canine or Feline: Friendly and adaptable (e.g., Poochyena, Lillipup, Yamper).
Harry tilted his head, thinking of how these Pokémon served as companions for new Trainers, much like Hedwig had been for him—a comforting constant in unfamiliar territory.
Regional Variants
As the video continued, the presenter brought up one of Harry's favorite discoveries: Regional Variants. These were unique adaptations of existing Pokémon, shaped by the environment and culture of the region they inhabited.
"For example," the presenter explained, "Alolan Vulpix is an Ice-type because it evolved in snowy mountains, while Galarian Zigzagoon's dark stripes reflect its mischievous, punk-rock vibe."
Harry grinned as he added to his notes:
Regional Variants: Existing Pokémon adapted to specific regional conditions. Often differ in type, appearance, and behavior.
Alolan Vulpix: Fire → Ice
Galarian Zigzagoon: Normal → Dark/Normal
The idea fascinated him. "It's like how magical creatures in different parts of the world behave differently—like how dragons from Romania are nothing like those in China," Harry murmured.
Villages and Towns
After several hours of watching videos and browsing forums, Harry had noticed recurring elements in the towns and villages Trainers visited on their journeys.
"Every town has a Pokémon Center, where Trainers can heal their teams," one fan explained in a forum post. "And there's usually a Poké Mart, where you can stock up on essentials."
Harry wrote:
Key Town Features:Pokémon Center: Healing station run by Nurse Joy (same look, different regions).
Poké Mart: Shop for items like Potions, Poké Balls, and TMs.
Recurring Characters: Nurse Joy (healer) and Officer Jenny (law enforcement).
Harry chuckled at how consistent these characters were across regions. "It's like the magical equivalent of Madam Pomfrey and Kingsley Shacklebolt showing up in every village."
Parental Figures
One thing that stood out to Harry as he watched more content was the role of the Trainer's parental figure.
"In most games, your journey starts at home," the presenter explained. "Usually, there's a mother figure who wishes you luck and gives you a key item, like running shoes or a map. But some fans like to mix it up—using a father figure, a grandparent, or even a sibling instead."
Harry made a note:
Starting Home Figures:Canon: Mother figure provides initial support.
Fan Variations: Father, grandmother, grandfather, or sibling.
Common Role: Gift first item, offer emotional encouragement.
This struck a chord with Harry. He thought of Mrs. Weasley—how she'd taken on a maternal role for him during his Hogwarts years—and the bittersweet absence of his own parents. "It's the small gestures," he muttered, "that make the biggest impact."
By the time Harry finished, his notebook was bursting with notes, diagrams, and half-formed ideas. He leaned back, rubbing his temples as Kreacher appeared with a steaming cup of tea.
"Master Harry is overworking himself again," the elf grumbled, setting the cup down.
"Thanks, Kreacher," Harry replied, distracted by his latest scribble.
At the top of the page, in bold letters, he had written:
What kind of Pokémon would my world have?
The question buzzed in his mind. Pokémon that reflected the magical creatures he'd grown up with? Unique types inspired by wizarding history? His imagination raced as he flipped to a blank page and began sketching.
Though he wasn't sure where this fascination would lead, Harry knew one thing: the more he learned, the more this world of Pokémon felt like his own kind of magic.