{Edited} The Chaotic Traveler - Chapter 4 (Patreon)

AN: Edited chapters do not count toward monthly quota's

Not Beta Read yet.

Chapter 4: Help Wanted

Jin scrolled through his supplies one final time. 'Tom, the bartender, told me I was set for a month-long stay, so the only things I might need to spend more money on are food, books, and potions.'

Scrolling through his inventory list, he clicked an item, and a glass vial with swirling, glowing liquid dropped into his palm.

‘There’s something about a real potion that tickles a part of me.’ Jin mused with a smile as he held it up to the light.

Wit-Sharpening Potions. A potion to increase the wit of the drinker temporarily.

It didn't make one a genius by drinking it; it sharpened mental focus, boosted memory retention, and eliminated distracting thoughts.

The potion was a regulated substance, as overdosing on it could cause brain damage. Thankfully, Healer Thorn gave him the green light. 'Apparently, my body is sturdy enough to handle them.’

With the potions in hand, his next step became simple.

Jin grinned down at his dozing kitten and scratched her fluffy head. ‘Time to use drugs and try to fix my mind before studying like I’ve never studied before… not that I remember studying before. God, that’s weird.’

He had a month until he had to be at Hogwarts, and while his background setting ensured he wasn't expected to cast magic, he only had around ten months at the castle before his year would be up. 'I need to see just how far my choice to boost my learning speed in Charms can get me this month.'

His starting choices were quite varied, and Jin went all in on specialization to maximize his benefits.

This was the year of the Triwizard Tournament, meaning he would have enough time to move around the castle unbothered. 'Speaking of moving around…' Jin rubbed his chin and hummed. 'I wonder if that cliché would work.'

Seeing no harm in trying, Jin looked around the room and cleared his throat. “Are there any House Elves without a master around? I’m hiring.”

A moment passed in silence, and Jin only gained the judgmental eyes of his new kitten, who had been startled out of her nap when he spoke up.

“Sorry, girl.” Jin shook his head and let her go back to sleep. ‘Well, another cliché down the drain-’

His thoughts cut off as a series of small pops went off in the center of the room.

Jin spun his head around in surprise, only to stop short at a bizarre sight.

“Someone’s be calling me?”

“A m-master?”

“He…ll…pp…m…ee…”

Three house elves, three very different conditions. Jin ignored the surprised hiss of his mighty feline protector hiding behind his body and examined the trio.

The first looked normal, wore clothes, and stood tall with a plain expression.

The second wore a pillowcase, had a large scar on its face, and stood nervously.

And the third was on the ground, in dirty scraps, looking like a war victim with hollow cheeks, reaching out for help.

Jin jumped out of his seat and knelt by the third. “How can I help this one?”

He asked the well-dressed one, assuming they would know.

The two standing elves looked at each other for a moment before the addressed House Elf spoke. "You's be needing to bond with him, Sir. He's be starving from lack of a magic source.”

‘Holy shit, that actually worked.’ Jin looked down at the half-dead elf. 'Well, I did ask for a House Elf; I shouldn't be complaining.'

He looked into the third's eyes and followed his gut. "Would you like to bond with me, little dude?"

The weak House Elf nodded pleadingly.

Jin coughed into his hand and nodded thoughtfully. "Then by the power invested in me… okay, I have no idea what I'm doing; a little help here?"

He looked at the others.

The well-dressed one stepped forward. "You's must be placing a hand on his head and say that he belongs to you’s now, with your name.”

Jin nodded and turned back, only to sweat drop as he found his kitten pawing the half-dead elf.

He picked her up by her scruff and put her on his shoulder as she meowed in protest. “No poking the dying elf.”

Jin put his hand on the elf’s head and spoke as seriously as he could manage without wincing. “I claim you as my House Elf in the name of Jin Fluff.”

His name was not meant for a serious setting, but it would have to do.

A small flash of light passed, and Jin felt that familiar heat flush down his arm before the half-dead House Elf looked like it had been hit by a time spell.

Its cheeks inflated, its body filled out rapidly, and in moments it was standing on its own legs and throwing its hands up in a cheer. "I's be alive! Thank you's, Master!"

'What are you, a jack in the box?' Jin exclaimed internally, keeping a firm hand on his kitten so she couldn't reach the elf with her claws.

The little guy kowtowed, showing how grateful he was, until Jin asked him to stop and sit down. He asked the other two if they wished to be bonded, and they quickly agreed.

Doing it three times in a row made him feel lightheaded, so Jin sat back down in his chair, his kitten climbing into his lap to get comfortable. "So, what're your stories?"

The well-dressed one spoke up first. “I be’s the House Elf for a minor noble family; the last master died recently, and no more babies be around.” He looked genuinely sad at that. “The greedy Goblins claimed the manor, leaving I to slowly die out until you’s call, Sir.”

Jin raised a brow in surprise. “Is it normal for House Elves to be tossed aside like that?”

“Yes, Sir.” He responded with a bowed head. “We be’s living for hundreds of years on a strong source of magic, but wither in weeks without one.”

Jin felt that was pretty fucked up, but he held his tongue. If he didn't plan to do anything about it, he shouldn't complain.

He leaned over and patted the elf on the shoulder. "That's rough, man. Don't worry; you won't be fired as long as I'm alive."

The elf gave him a grateful nod and bowed his head. “Thank you’s, Sir.”

Jin turned to the second House Elf in the pillowcase, who quickly spoke up at Jin’s look. "I's too had a master, but my master not be kind. Two weeks ago, he's die in a bar fight, I nowhere to go until you’s call, Master."

Jin felt for the little guy and reassured him he would never hurt him, then turned to the elf who almost died. "I's be young, Master! I’s parents were held in cages, and I be tossed out for being to’s small by the mean wizards. I’s never bonded to a master before.”

Even the other elves winced at that one.

Jin gave the little guy a nod and quickly laid down the law from what he faintly recalled. “There will be no self-punishment. No harming yourselves on purpose. If you are hungry, eat or speak up and I’ll try to help. And frankly, just make sure you care for yourselves mentally.”

He scratched his chin as he tried to think of anything else.

The trio gave him a confused look at the last part, so Jin elaborated. "Look, I hold nothing against you guys for not having any education, but I'm giving you English language books; I want you to be able to pronounce the language correctly."

Jin was glad they didn’t seem bothered by the order, because if he had to hear them butcher the English language for the rest of his life, he’d go mad or start talking like a hick.

As far as Jin was concerned, he wanted a symbiotic relationship.

He was in charge. He paid them in Mana, and in return, they took care of things for him.

Equivalent exchange.

It helped that they actively enjoyed work and got upset if they didn't have work to do. He even ordered them to take days off every month since he didn't always need three elves.

'But what to do with three elves is the real question.' Jin didn't really plan for the cliché to work. Never mind it working so well.

He looked at them and asked plainly. "Can you guys sneak into Hogwarts and pretend to be part of the House Elf staff?"

The three looked at each other before the oldest slowly nodded. “I’s know some elve’s be at Hogwarts.”

“Really?” Jin looked at him curiously. “Why didn’t you go there then?”

The House Elf looked sheepish as he answered. "Too many elves. Not enough students. It be like eating gruel with no work. Sad fate for a House Elf.”

“Worse than dying?” Jin asked.

His only answer was a shrug, and the little guy didn't look like he wanted to talk more, so Jin dropped the matter. "Alright then, try and see if you can sneak all three of you into the staff. Don't connect with the school; you can still take from my Mana."

“Yes, Sir.” The oldest spoke for the rest.

"Good. Now, we have one more important matter to discuss." Jin leaned back, his gaze shadowed, and slowly stroked his purring kitten as the three leaned closer. "Do you… have names?"

“…”

“…”

“…”

The three blinked awkwardly and shook their heads in unison.

"Of course you don't; what the fuck is this culture?" Jin thought it over quickly, then decided to keep it simple.

He pointed to the well-dressed one, the eldest. “You’re Gol.”

Then, the pillowcase one, the second oldest. "You’re Sil."

Then, the one who had been half-dead, the youngest. "And you’re Bron.”

Simple and to the point.

“Thank you’s, Sir.” Gol bowed.

“Thank you’s, Master.” Sil bowed.

“Thanks, Boss!” Bron jumped up and down.

Jin waved them off. “For now, you know what to do. Follow Gol's instructions and come back once you're set. And I want you to practice the English language for at least one hour a day, okay?"

They all nodded and popped away.

A soft meow drew Jin's attention to his kitten's expectant eyes. "Oh, right. You need a name as well." He thought quickly and said the first thing that came to mind. "How about Shadow? You seem like a sneaky one."

The kitten tilted her head adorably, nodded imperiously, and curled up with a yawn.

Jin chuckled softly and sat silently for a minute, thinking about how lucky he just got. 'So not all of my meta knowledge is useless, it seems. I guess I'll just have to experiment.'

With nothing else pressing to do and surrounded by learning materials, he took out the first book on Occlumency and a potion vial. ‘Might as well get started.’

Chapter End.

AN: Hope you enjoyed! To readers who made it this far, the beginning month is going to run on this theme of grinding, and after Jin reaches Hogwarts things go back to my typical way of writing. Chapters for this story run shorter than my usual projects as well, running anywhere between 2K - 8K words.