{Edited} The Chaotic Traveler - Chapter 12 (Patreon)

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

Chapter 12: The Puffskein Protocol

"You want me to shadow your classes?" Jin raised a brow at the shy half-giant standing in his doorway.

Hagrid coughed into his hand. “I’m… well… I’m not great with toning things down, ya know? The younglings are quite fragile. Ole Buckbeak gave one of the students a gentle peck the other year, leading to lots of trouble.”

The big guy rambled nervously and pointed between them. “They ain't like us, used to being around magical beasts an all. If you could help keep me in line, I would appreciate it greatly.”

Jin dryly stared at him and slowly slid his gaze to the covered cage. "Considering the first words out of your mouth were that you said you wanted to show students a pair of Fwoopers, I feel morally obligated to step in here.”

A sigh left his lips. “Which is weird cuz I don't care for such things." Jin felt odd as he shook his head at Hagrid's questioning look. "You got it, bud. Just let me know when and where."

“Thanks, Jin! I knew I could count on ya.” Hagrid patted his shoulder with a bright smile. “Yer are a real friend.”

‘Don’t say that so honestly.’ Jin grunted under the blow, having braced for it and surprisingly endured. ‘How am I supposed to be annoyed when you do that?’

He huffed and elbowed the guy back. “Don’t mention it.”

It would take time away from his studies, but Jin enjoyed being around Hagrid, which was really the only reason he was willing to help. ‘Maybe I can use it for stress relief. I can’t run at 100% forever.’

Besides, Jin thought, if he couldn't find time to enjoy his life, what was the point of living it?

0000

"Good morning, class! Are ya ready to see some magical creatures?" Hagrid's booming voice rang through a clearing filled with fresh third-year students, most of whom were still struggling with the fabled Monster Book of Monsters.

One kid was even fighting the book to give back his half-eaten shoe.

Standing off to the side, Jin easily noticed the mixed looks of hesitation and despair on many of their faces, as they had likely heard rumors about Hagrid's class from the previous year. 'Is that Luna Lovegood?'

Jin focused on a certain blonde girl with elfin features, wearing radish earrings and strange, patterned glasses, who seemed to be whispering to an oddly calm Monster Book of Monsters.

"Today, we'll be joined by my good friend here, Jin Fluff, or Mr. Fluff to you all.” Hagrid pointed a meaty finger his way, and Jin waved while casually puffing on his pipe, blue smoke drifting gently from it. “Feel free to ask him if help is needed."

A few waved back, but the overall reaction was mild.

'They're thirteen; they probably don't care.' Jin noticed that Luna was one of the few who waved with an unnerving level of focus. 'I wonder if she's still being bullied. Weird how I can recall that detail.’

The class stood in the area reserved for Care of Magical Creatures outside the northwest corner of the school campus.

It had a multitude of pens for keeping magical creatures, though what creatures it held was always up to the professor in charge.

“Now then, today I have a special treat for everyone!” Hagrid boomed and bent down to pick up a covered cage. “Who here has heard of Fwoopers?”

A collective breath was drawn as those who knew what they were took a step back, faces pale.

'Hagrid, what did I tell you like ten minutes ago?' Jin pinched his nose and figured now was the time to step in.

He quickly coughed loudly into his fist as Hagrid reached for the flap.

The big guy stopped and turned as Jin calmly approached, took the Fwooper cage from his hands, and replaced it with a cage Jin had prepared an hour before for this exact scenario.

He motioned for Hagrid to bend down and whispered in his ear.

"What? Are you sure? Hm. Ok. I'll try." Hagrid readily accepted the replacement and spoke up to the class. "Change of plans, everyone. Today, we'll be discussing Puffskeins!"

He pulled the tarp off the cage, and over a dozen awed squeals echoed around as a fluffy ball with two eyes and a long pink tongue panted happily.

The kids clambered up to get a closer view, with Hagrid trying to gently corral them, and Jin coolly walked away with the cage of Fwoopers until a particular blond student stopped him. "Mr. Mosquito, Sir. Can I see the Fwooper?"

Jin almost choked on his pipe as he coughed out a cloud, unsure of which part of that address he was supposed to be more concerned with.

"W-what?" He beat his chest to clear his airways, and Luna Lovegood ooo'd at the blue rings that came out with each beat.

“I’d like to see the Fwoopers, Sir.” Luna repeated.

“What? Why?” Jin shot her an incredulous look. “You do know they inflict madness with their songs, right?”

“I’ve heard it’s a lovely tune.” Luna dreamily replied. “They must be lonely.”

"…" Jin exhaled smoke from his pipe and turned fully to the girl. "What would your name be, young lady?"

“Luna Lovegood, Sir.” She held out her off hand for a shake.

“Right.” Jin awkwardly tried to shake. “Ms. Lovegood, what the fuck?”

“Daddy says bad words should only be said when the situation is appropriate.” The finger wave Jin received was demeaning, and he felt demeaned.

“...Parenting issues aside.” He drawled. “I think this is an appropriate situation.”

“Why would that be?” Luna tilted her head.

Jin saw pure, honest curiosity in the girl's eyes and internally sighed. "I can't in good conscience let a student be crippled due to their curiosity.”

He saw her open her mouth and quickly added on. “While I’m watching."

The last part was key.

Luna pouted, then laughed. “Oh, you have nothing to worry about, Sir." Luna pointed confidently at the cage. "Their songs won't harm us."

Jin blinked. “By us, you are referring to?”

"Us, of course." Luna gestured to the two of them, then pointed thoughtfully at Hagrid. "Professor Hagrid, too."

Now he was really looking at her oddly. “And you know that because?”

Luna looked around and leaned in to whisper. “The Nargles told me.”

“Uhu.” Jin scratched his chin with conflicted feelings. ‘My instinct says she knows what she’s doing. It’s Luna Lovegood after all, but is she saying even I wouldn't be affected by these birds?'

Jin figured his Occlumency would help, but he hadn't originally planned to put it to the test. Yet now, with the girl he was pretty sure was as much of a natural Diviner as he was an Occlumens plainly asking, Jin figured it was worth a shot.

"Alright, fine, let's move a distance away from the others." He pointed to an area near the wall where the sound shouldn't travel to the rest of the class. “And if it looks like trouble, I’m stopping it.”

“Thank you, Mr. Mosquito.” Luna beamed up at him.

Jin’s face twitched. “Why do you keep calling me that?”

“Isn’t that what you are?” Luna grabbed his hand as they walked, her more skipping than walking to keep up with his steps.

Jin was flabbergasted by her casual attitude. “And what makes you say that?”

“It’s what the rainbow vampire called you.” She stated proudly.

“How the fu-.” At Luna's pointed look, Jin swallowed his curse. "Fudge, would you know that?"

“Nargles.” She whispered conspiratorially.

Jin furrowed his brow and silently packed his pipe as they walked, only choosing to speak once he lifted it to his lips and breathed out some calming smoke. “Keep that information to yourself, ok?”

“Ok~!” Luna answered dreamily.

“I meant it.” Jin narrowed his eyes at her.

She met his gaze. “So did I.”

All Jin saw reflected in her eyes was childlike honesty mixed with a frightening maturity.

A snort escaped Jin’s lips as he shook his head, somehow finding the situation oddly amusing. “I strangely believe you.”

“I don’t lie.” Luna skipped along by his side to a tune only she could hear. “It’s not my fault if people don’t believe me. Too many wrackspurts hovering around their minds.”

“I’m sure.” Jin chuckled, reaching over to pat her head before jerking his chin to a nearby rock. “That should be far enough. You sure about this, Ms. Lovegood?”

She nodded seriously. “As sure as a cherry pot pie with sprinkles.”

"…If I get fired for this." Jin muttered to himself and braced as he unlatched the cage flap.

Underneath, a bright neon green owl blinked owlishly as it turned its neck and took in its surroundings.

“Oooh!” Luna leaned in. “He’s so pretty!”

"You know it's male?" Jin raised a brow in curiosity.

He had read up on the birds, of course, seeing as it was vital to his backstory, but even with the knowledge in his brain, Jin had a tough time telling their genders apart.

"Mhm. Look at the feet; they are smaller than females would be." She pointed at the obvious.

‘They look exactly the same to me.’ Jin chose not to comment as the bird flapped its wings and opened its beak.

Immediately, a hauntingly piercing sound blasted from the cage.

A beautiful sound, one Jin could see as the masterpiece of a classical composer from the distant past.

Yet, along with that sound came the sensation of a hammer smashing into his mind.

Not a particularly powerful one, but a consistent one that kept knocking with the equivalent of light taps vibrating through his mind, stopping short on the smoke-covered maze at the center of his mental plane.

'It's… not that bad.' Jin gritted his teeth. ‘Kind of gives me the sensation of a chihuahua headbutting my brain.'

The smoke acted as insulation, keeping the vibrating sound waves from pushing through, but the attempted intrusion was certainly felt. 

If anything, however, it made Jin thoughtful. 'This is giving me ideas on how to improve my defenses.'

He watched the effect with scholarly curiosity, pushing past the pain to study what it felt like to have a foreign presence in his mind, before recalling Luna by his side. 'Oh, shit.'

Jin quickly turned to replace the tarp, only for the sound to cut off without his input as he found the young teen petting the owl.

“Who’s a beautiful madness bird? You are.” The Fwooper chirped and leaned into Luna’s touch, looking happy at the scratching it was getting and not making even a slight attempt to assault her with its razor-sharp talons. “I’m naming you Jeffery.”

Jeffery seemed happy with the name choice, leaving Jin staring as the two chatted.

‘I don’t…’ He inhaled from his pipe and blew out through his nose, watching the girl play with the bird for a few minutes before giving up and shutting his eyes to focus back on his mental observations. ‘Couldn’t ask for a better training partner for Occlumency.’

If he pretended nothing weird was happening, then nothing weird was happening.

He spent nearly half an hour playing with the defenses of his mind before finally speaking up at the distant sound of Hagrid’s voice. "Luna."

"Yes, Mr. Mosquito?" The girl turned from where she sat with the now-freed bird on her lap, listening to it sing.

Smoke left Jin's lips. "The period is almost over; go back to class."

"Oh, ok. Bye Jeffery. Be good." She booped the murder bird on its beak, put it back in its cage, and then made Jin choke as she trilled out a sound frighteningly similar to the Fwooper’s song.

Even the bird seemed taken aback before it excitedly trilled back.

"Was my pronunciation wrong? I'll work on the tone later." The young girl waved and skipped back over to Jin's side. "Thanks for letting me see Jeffery.” She hummed and poked his arm. “Your thick skin protected you from the worst of his song."

She poked him a few more times in an odd fascination while Jin stared at her like one would an alien creature.

"Are you sure you're human, Luna?" He couldn’t help but ask.

Luna tilted her head with a hum. “Are you?”

Jin took a moment to think about that. “Fair point.”

The way she innocently smiled up at him, despite knowing exactly what she was doing, made Jin more amused than annoyed.

It ignited instincts he didn't even know he had as he reached out to ruffle her hair. "You're gonna be one scary magi-zoologist someday.”

“I hope so!” Luna leaned into his touch like a cat. “I like reporting too, so maybe I’ll combine the two and become an adventurer.”

Jin snorted. “Follow your heart, kid.”

“And I’m gonna find a Crumple-Horned Snorkack one day.” She said determinedly.

“Do that.” Jin nodded.

Luna pulled a colorful notebook from her bag. “Have you heard about how they reproduce?”

"I have not, but maybe next time." Jin looked down at his watch. "Next period starts soon. Get going; I'll take the bird back with me."

"Make sure to use his name." Luna swung a mighty finger his way in admonishment but still listened as she started walking away. "Oh, and you might want to start studying French."

“Say what now?” Jin coughed as the girl giggled and skipped away.

“Trust the Nargles, Mr. Mosquito!” She shouted behind her.

"It's Mr. Fluff!" He yelled back in a huff, his voice rising in response to the sound of her laughter.

'Why am I supposed to learn French?' Jin turned to the magical owl, who stared at him in shared flabbergasted silence at whatever the hell had just happened. "You got any idea what that was about, Jef?"

Jeffery opened his beak, and the chihuahua hammer restarted its assault on Jin's mind. "Yeah, that's about right."

0000

The classes continued throughout the following week, and Jin had his hands full with the friendly assassination golden retriever of Hogwarts.

On the second day, they dealt with the sixth years.

"Today, we'll be taking a look at some good ole Blast-Ended Skrewts!” Hagrid looked overly proud of himself, not noticing the utter panic his words invoked on the suddenly pale teens. “Raised em myself, I did."

Jin's cough cut through the rising panic as he walked up, calmly took the key to the horribly dangerous creature's cage, a cage that was made entirely of metal and was currently shaking from explosive vibrations, and placed another Puffskein in the man’s hands.

Hagrid looked between the adorable fluff ball and the key in Jin’s hands. “Are you sure?”

“Mhm.”

“But…”

“Hagrid.”

"Right." Hagrid cleared his throat and spoke up. "Today, we'll be going over the Puffskein!"

The students' resounding cheers reinforced Jin's decision in Hagrid's mind as the big guy wondered why so many people seemed to love the little critters so much.

000

On the third day, they had the fifth-year class.

"Today, we'll be looking at the Giant Purple Toad, a marvelous poison-sack-filled creature that-.."

Jin coughed and silently handed him a Puffskein.

000

On the fourth day, they had the seventh-year students.

Hagrid sent a cautious look Jin’s way, who seemed oddly exhausted, before speaking. "Today, we've got a really special one from Africa!” He waved behind him. “An Erumphant!"

An explosion in the background heralded his announcement, freezing Hagrid in place.

Jin quickly handed the big guy a Puffskein before rushing off to contain the rampaging magical rhinoceros with an exploding elephant's nose.

Hagrid coughed. "I meant Puffskeins. Today, we'll be discussing Puffskeins."

None of the students seemed to argue with the correction as Jin was sent flying through a tree by an explosion, errantly knocking away his pipe.

"You wanna go, you overgrown anteater?!" Jin growled and dove back in.

Hagrid nodded in approval.

0000

On the fifth day, they had the fourth-year students, accompanied by the legendary Golden Trio.

"Today…" Hagrid's eyes shifted nervously to the bandaged, clearly scorched Jin, currently deadpanning at him as he puffed away at his pipe, and swallowed. "Today, we'll be looking at Chime-."

Jin's stare hardened like a physical force, and Hagrid rapidly changed his sentence. "I mean, Puffskein. Today, we'll be talking about Puffskeins." He looked down at the cage with a childlike grumble. “Puffskeins, darn it. Where’s the venom, teeth, magically resis-.”

The big guy fumbled over his words before taking the offered cage from Jin and smiled far too innocently at the group of fourth-year students.

A group that wasn’t buying his fumble for a moment.

None other than Hermione raised a hand. "Professor, if we are discussing Puffskeins, why is there a giant metal cage in the corral?"

"Oh, that?" Hagrid tried to play it off. "Nothin to see, nothin. Just something I'm holding onto for a friend from Greece."

An annoyed yowl rang from the reinforced steel cage as it rattled, and Hagrid avoided Jin's thousand-yard stare. "I'll just uh… go take it out back. Jin! Watch the class for me."

The Puffskein cage was shoved back into Jin’s hands as the half-giant shuffled off.

Jin blinked in surprise as he suddenly became the center of attention for around twenty pairs of eyes.

"Wonderful." Jin blew out a smoke ring and sighed. ‘Low blow, Hagrid.’

A scoff from the side had everyone turning to see none other than Draco Malfoy speaking up in an arrogant tone. "We're supposed to learn from a squib? As if a half-creature wasn't bad enough!"

Jin hummed and silently took him in.

Dressed in the green robes of Slytherin, with platinum blond hair and aristocratic features, Jin felt it was a pity the pretty boy had such a bad attitude. “Twenty points from Slytherin for insulting a teacher.”

"What!?" Malfoy's eyes widened. "You can't do that! You're nothing more than an assistant groundskeeper!"

“Which makes me a member of the Staff.” Jin calmly responded and ashed his pipe. ‘Technically. McGonagall probably didn’t intend for me to use the privilege this way, but I doubt she would mind.’

“How dare you!” Draco shouted.

Jin countered. “Five points from Slytherin for disrupting a class.”

“My father will-.” Draco was cut off by Jin repeating himself.

“Five points from Slytherin for disrupting a class.”

Draco opened his mouth to say something else, but someone else cut him off.

""Shut up, Malfoy!""

Twin hissed voices came from what Jin could only assume were Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis, as aside from a plain Slytherin girl standing behind Draco, they were the only females among the fourth-year Slytherins in his class. "Stop costing us points."

The non-Slytherin students had held back to watch the show in amusement. Still, even the other Slytherin boys didn’t seem happy with Draco’s actions.

Jin studied the two girls.

'The blue-eyed blond must be Daphne; the green-eyed brunette should be Tracey.' He nodded his head slightly in gentlemanly approval.

"Are we done?" Jin's calm voice cut through the show as they all turned back to him. "Good, today we're talking about Puffskeins."

Removing the tarp from the cage, Jin was already mentally prepared for the wave of estrogen coming his way. 'Why couldn't I do the demonstration with the seventh years?’

He looked up at the fluffy clouds with a sigh as the class gathered around him. ‘That one Ravenclaw seventh year with the amazing ass was giving me bedroom eyes.'

000

Ron lightly elbowed Harry as most of the class rushed forward to pet the ball of fluff in Mr. Fluff’s hands. “I take it back; I like this guy now.”

“Yeah.” Harry was sniggering along with him. “I agree. I haven’t seen anyone put Malfoy in his place like that since Professor McGonagall.”

“Oh, please.” Hermione scoffed from beside them. “Just because a teacher properly reprimanded Malfoy isn’t a reason to drop our suspicions.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I’m going to go talk to him.”

Harry almost nodded in agreement before he noticed something in Hermione’s hand. “Why do you have a bucket of water with you?”

Ron turned at the question and noticed it too. "Did you want to give the Puffskein some water?”

“…” Hermione panicked and latched onto Ron’s excuse. “Yes! I thought it might be thirsty!”

“It’s not the only thirsty one~.” Susan Bones teased as she passed by, making Hermione flush and quickly escape from the two boys who didn’t understand the reference.

“What was that about?” Harry asked in confusion.

“Hell if I know, mate.” Ron narrowed his eyes. “I kind of want to punch the assistant, though.”

Harry slowly nodded in agreement.

0000

It didn't take long for the Puffskein to be snatched from Jin and passed around for the students to pet. 'They'll get firsthand experience with a magical creature. That's technically learning.'

"Mr. Fluff." A voice startled Jin out of his thoughts as he turned to see the two Slytherin teens he recognized approaching.

"Hi!" The bubbly voice of the green-eyed brunette called out with a smile. “I’m Tracey Davis.”

“Daphne Greengrass.” The blond, blue-eyed girl said.

“Nice to meet you.” Jin nodded and blew out a smoke ring. “Can I help you two?”

“We wanted to apologize for Malfoy.” Daphne answered with a huff. “That buffoon does not represent all of Slytherin, despite whatever claim he makes.”

“No need.” Jin shrugged. “I don’t judge groups by the actions of individuals.”

“Hn.” Daphne seemed happy with that and went to say something else, but Tracey beat her to it.

"Who are you?" Tracey asked bluntly, and it took Jin aback.

He looked at her oddly. “Excuse me?”

Daphne lightly tugged on her friend's hair. "Calm down, Trace." The blond added, looking at him. "She was asking why we have never heard of you before."

“Oh. That’s simple.” Jin repacked his pipe and answered as he calmly relit it. "I spent the last few years working with magical beasts overseas."

“You don’t say.” Daphne looked him up and down with a cool look, trying to make it obvious she was looking down on what he was wearing. “You fit the image.”

Jin snorted in humor at her tone.

As his body continued to grow, and since he wasn't yet skilled enough in technical details to risk enlarging his clothes with the Growth Charm, Jin had opted for a flannel shirt and suspenders in a lumberjack style that did little to hide his bulging frame.

“Come off your high horse, girl.” Tracey rolled her eyes and whispered in her friend's ear, loud enough for Jin to hear. "You were staring at his ass just as much as the rest of us.”

“Tracey!” Daphne’s pale face lit up with a flush as she turned away while Tracey giggled.

“Sorry about her, Daphne’s just shy.” Tracey stuck out a hand. “Welcome to Hogwarts!”

Jin met it in bemusement. “You’re quite a forward girl, aren’t you, Ms. Davis?”

“You bet!” She winked with an immature attempt at flirting. “And please, call me Tracey.”

“Uhu.” Jin deadpanned at the girl and fought the instinctive urge to bonk her head with a karate chop. “Ms. Davis, I think your friend is trying to kill you with her eyes.”

“I am.” Daphne confirmed as Tracey wilted and stepped back. “I’ll deal with you later.” She turned to Jin and inclined her head. “I apologize for her manners.”

She held out a hand differently from Tracey, obviously expecting a gentleman’s kiss on the back of her hand, and Jin found it adorable.

"A pleasure, I'm sure." Jin wrapped her smaller hand in his much larger one for a handshake, pumped her arm once, and let go, clearly enjoying the semi-insulted face Daphne made. "However, I'm still a member of the staff.”

“Ooohhh, trying to be sneaky, Daph?" Tracey poked her friend in the side. "Thinking about the wild, handsome guy's lips on your skin~?"

Daphne’s face lit up as she turned to try and smack the brunette. “I was not!”

“I was.” Tracey winked again at Jin.

Daphne was aghast. “Tracey!”

"That's my name; don't wear it out." She stuck her tongue out.

“I hate you.” Daphne growled.

Tracey blew her a kiss. “You love me.”

“Girls.” Jin cut in.

““What?””

The two turned on Jin, and he raised a brow at what felt like two ticked-off kittens. "You're still in class."

“Oh, right.” Tracey blinked and noticed more than a few students looking at them.

“Hmph.” Daphne turned her nose up like the watchers were beneath her. “Why are you in this school, you… brute.”

She still seemed upset from the handshake.

“What she said, minus the faked disinterest.” Tracey tacked on.

Jin chuckled and blew out some smoke. “I’m extra help for this year’s event.”

“Then why are you teaching Care of Magical Creatures?” Tracey asked curiously.

A sigh couldn’t help but escape Jin’s lips. “Hagrid asked me to help reel him in.”

“And how exactly are you doing that?” Daphne asked in a high-handed tone.

Jin silently removed his pipe and pointed it off to the side, where Hagrid was even now trying to stop the Chimera from poking adult human-sized holes in the reinforced steel cage.

The two girls rapidly paled.

“Would you prefer studying a Chimera up close?” Jin asked.

“I retract my statement.” Daphne flipped her tune.

“You know what, I’m glad you’re here.” Tracey said, trying to regain her former cheer. “For more than the eye candy, of course.”

“Agreed.” Daphne distractedly nodded.

“Oh?” Tracey rounded on her friend like a shark smelling blood. “So, you agree with me, Daph~.”

“What?” Daphne blinked away from the sight of the shaking cage and realized what had been said. “That’s not…!” She snuck a shy glance at Jin before rounding on her friend. “Tracey!”

The brunette laughed openly and ran around Jin to use him as a shield, quickly followed by the blond who was trying to strangle her.

All the while, Jin stood there silently smoking his pipe, doing his best impression of Gandalf and wishing he had a fancy beard. 'Youngin’s have so much energy.’

It took all of 15 seconds for one of them to bump into Jin's arm, knock the pipe out of his hand, and ignite his wrath with the fury of a calm carnivore.

"Girls."

This time, they were not stopped by his voice, but by the iron claws that grabbed their heads.

The two fourteen-year-olds gulped at the fire in Jin’s amber eyes while they dangled off the ground like misbehaving kittens.

"Get back to class." Jin growled.

The two saluted. ““Yes, Sir.””

In other news, a rumor spread that day, and the student population learned not to mess with Jin’s pipe.

Chapter End.

AN: Hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you thought.