{Edited} The Chaotic Traveler - Chapter 14 (Patreon)

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

Chapter 14 - Interlude 1: It’s For Science, I Promise!

Golden Trio POV:

It was the first week of September.

“Is this really necessary, Hermione?”

“Of course it is!” Hermione huffed by Harry’s side, raising a finger to chide him. “We need to gather information if we want to stay on top of things this year. It’s scientifically sound.”

"I agree with her, mate." Ron trudged behind them, hands behind his head, watching the passing clouds. “Not whatever the science stuff is about, but I’d rather not be looking over my shoulder all year.” His face scrunched up in a grimace. “Already have to think about the rat I shared a bed with for years.”

Harry's eyes darkened at the mention of Pettigrew. Still, his darker feelings were matched by his wince of sympathy for how awkward it must have felt for Ron. "Yeah, I don't envy you."

"Tell me about it. The rat's been in the room every time I-." Ron froze as he remembered Hermione was there. "Uh, never mind."

"No, go on, Ron." Hermione teased with a playful smile at the expression on Ron's face. “What were you doing in your room?”

“Push off, Mione.” 

The three friends trudged down the familiar path to Hagrid’s hut before dinner, wanting to catch up and ask the big guy about the mysterious new staff member.

"I don't think he's a bad guy." Harry couldn't help but say. "He seemed pretty cool in class."

“I’ll admit that.” Ron easily agreed. “Seeing Malfoy taken down a peg was great.”

“He also seemed very knowledgeable about Magical Creatures.” Hermione added. “I heard him make a few great book references for self-study. A surprising addition for how he looks.”

“How would you know?” Ron turned to her in confusion. “You didn’t even talk to him. None of us did.”

“Why didn’t we again?” Harry asked. “He was talking to everyone else.”

“For science!” Hermione answered with an evasive flush. “We can’t contaminate the investigation by getting too close.”

“Contaminate?”

“Getting too close?”

Seeing that her deflection wasn't getting across, Hermione coughed and tried to change the subject. "Oh look, Hagrid's hut."

She grabbed Harry’s arm and dragged him off, much to the teen's inner joy as his mind turned to mush, with Ron shrugging in confusion as he tried to keep up.

A quick knock at the door had it swinging open to the friendly smile of the lovable half-giant.

“Harry! Hermione! Ron! It’s good to see you three.” The trio chirped back their greetings as Hagrid held the door open for the three to enter. "Come on in!"

Ron entered first with flared nostrils. “What is that heavenly smell?”

"I'm making some forest stew.” Hagrid puffed out his chest proudly. “Want some?"

“Is that even a question?” Ron was at the table in a blink.

Hagrid just laughed as the other two entered, with Harry tapping Hermione’s shoulder. “Hermione, can I have my arm back?”

Hermione started, realizing she still had his elbow in a death grip. "Oh! Sorry, Harry."

She went to let go, but he squeezed her hand before she could step away.

“I didn’t dislike it.” He mumbled with rosy cheeks.

Hermione flushed at the comment. “Really?”

Harry swallowed hard and nodded. “Yeah.”

The two young teens looked a little red at their close proximity until Hagrid’s booming voice called over. “Atta boy, Ron. Ya two want some as well?”

Hermione snapped out of it with a squeak.

"What?!" She jumped back and looked at Hagrid, who was ladling soup into the bowl Ron held up. "Oh, um…"

She took in the pleasant scent but shook her head, having already learned years ago to question what Hagrid put in his food after trying his scones and chipping a tooth. "Dinner's not far off, so we don't want to impose."

“Nonsense!” Hagrid shook his head at the thought. “The more the merrier, I say.”

Hermione desperately turned to her friends, only to see Ron already going at his soup bowl like he was starved while fending off Hagrid’s dog, Fang.

Knowing the ginger was already lost, she urgently whispered. "Harry."

The green-eyed boy looked over and thankfully understood her intention when she gestured to speak.

“Oh, right.” He coughed into his fist. “Hagrid, do you mind if we ask you something?”

"Hm?" The half-giant filled his own bowl and looked over. "Sure thing, what's on ya minds? Oi, Fang, go eat your own food and leave the poor boy alone."

The dog whined and ignored him, instead following the food to where Ron sat.

“We wanted to ask about Mr. Fluff.” Hermione asked.

“Jin?” Hagrid blinked before smiling wide. “Great guy, he is. What do ya want to know?”

"Um…" Harry faltered under Hagrid's optimism, clearly not as interested in trying to dampen the man's spirits with unearned suspicion.

Thankfully, help came from Ron's bluntness as the ginger held off the mighty hound and drained his bowl. "What's that bloke's story?" He slurped up his soup with a happy sigh. "And seconds, please."

“Ronald!” Hermione kicked his shin under the table. “Be polite.”

"I am!" The teen looked at her in confusion. "It's a great soup."

“Hahaha, I take it as a compliment, Hermione.” Hagrid took Ron’s bowl for a refill. “Want to know about Jin, eh? Hmm, not really my story to tell, ya know?”

"We're not asking you to betray your friend, Hagrid." Hermione said quickly, with Harry chiming in.

"Yeah, we just get curious when a new Staff member shows up. Some of us more than others." He finished with a look to his friends and got a roll of the eyes and a shrug, respectively.

Ron pointed his spoon. “You can’t say you’re not curious, Harry.”

“Well, I’ll admit that much.” Harry shrugged.

Hagrid listened to them talk for a moment and hummed. “Well, I guess I can tell ya a few things, but don’t be spreading it around.” He sent them a stern look. “Jin’s been a good friend.”

“Of course.” Harry nodded in agreement.

At least he meant it when he said he'd keep it a secret.

‘Hermione might just blurt stuff out by accident, and Ron’s likely to forget, but I wouldn’t disrespect Hagrid like that. Not unless the new guy tries to murder me.’ Harry found it sad he honestly couldn’t rule out the possible homicide attempt.

He sat at the table next to Hermione, and if the two side-eyed another and scooted a bit closer together, no one would call them out on it.

"Alright." Hagrid dropped into his chair as his hound settled at his feet. "I don't know all the details myself, but Jin's shared a few things. He's like me in a way."

"How so?" Hermione asked, openly curious, already holding a journal Harry didn't see her take out.

Hagrid tapped his arm. “He’s resistant to magic like me.”

“How is that possible?” Hermione’s eyes were wide.

"He's a half-giant of sorts." Hagrid winced as he went on. “Was orphaned by some dark folk as a child and got mixed up in a bad kind of ritual. Ended up giving him a giant's skin.”

“Wait, so he’s a dark wizard?” Ron asked in confusion.

“Who? Jin?” Hagrid blinked in astonishment. “Bah, he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. Upstanding guy, he is.”

000

Meanwhile, over in Jin’s cabin.

"All hail her meowjesty, Queen Shadow, the first of her name, the new queen of England!" Jin held the sphinx-posing feline up on his palms as she wore a very lifelike crown upon her fluffy head. "Her reign of Meowranny begins now! For world domination and tuna!"

“Row.” Shadow chirped imperiously, posing majestically.

Over to the side, Sil quietly elbowed Gol while holding up a #1 Queen sign in support of their new political leader. “You gonna put the important crown back in the Muggle palace, right?”

“Hn.” Gol waved a foam finger in the air and grunted with all the energy of someone done with life. “When Sir goes to sleep.”

“Oh, thank magic.” Sil sighed in relief.

000

"Not a single dark bone in him, ya hear?" Hagrid's reassurance settled the trio with the confidence of a bull in a china shop.

"Oh." Ron nodded and rubbed his chin. "In that case, it's bloody cool."

Ron got another kick from Hermione.

“Ron! There’s nothing cool about what happened to Mr. Fluff!” She admonished.

"I'm not saying the bad part is!" Ron held up his hands in defense. "I'm just saying it's cool to have magic-resistant skin, is all."

"It helps." Hagrid admitted with a nod. "It's why Jin became a beast handler. Lots of magical critters are more dangerous due to their magical abilities rather than their size. Lots of folks want to hire someone like us."

“That makes sense.” Hermione nodded before realizing the issue. “Wait, he started working so young? What about school?”

“Ah… well, the Ministry don’t like folk who are different, ya know?” Hagrid frowned in sympathy. “Jin’s like me. Although instead of having his wand snapped in school, he was denied entry to schooling.”

“What?!” Hermione seemed to take that personally. “But Hogwarts takes everyone!”

“Not if you can’t cast magic.” Hagrid grunted.

Hagrid's comment took the wind out of Hermione's sails. "He's a squib?"

“Nah, Jin’s got magic. Don’t know the details, but I think something about the skin makes it difficult to cast magic?” Hagrid scratched his beard and shrugged. “He wasn’t accepted into school cuz of it, so he wasn’t allowed a wand.”

“That’s…” Hermione was lost for words. “So sad.”

"Yeah." Harry had been listening along, and the idea of being unable to cast magic terrified him.

He loved magic. It was what gave him the confidence he craved so much. 'And he was orphaned by a dark wizard, just like me.'

“So, why’s he here in the school?” Ron’s blunt question cut through Hermione and Harry’s thoughts as Hagrid sipped his soup.

"Hm? Ah, needed the extra help this year.” Hagrid groaned in relief. “Glad we did, too. It's nice having someone around to help out."

“What for?” Ron asked through a mouthful of soup. “You usually seem to have everything handled every year.”

"For the first round of the tournament, of course. Those beasties be…" Hagrid's spoon froze mid-raise as he realized what he had just said. "Ah, I probably shouldn't have said that."

Three pairs of eyes locked onto him.

“You know about the first round?” Hermione’s eyes lit up.

“Beasts?” Harry got a foreboding feeling.

"What's it gonna be?!" Soup escaped Ron’s mouth as he asked excitedly.

“Nothing! Ya heard nothing.” Hagrid coughed and stood up abruptly. “It’s getting late, isn’t it? Best be off with you three before it gets dark.”

"Wait, what about the tourn-." Hermione was cut off as Harry slapped a hand over her mouth, quickly seeing how nervous Hagrid looked and not wanting to get his friend in trouble.

“We didn’t hear anything, Hagrid.” Harry smiled tightly. “We just came over to say hi.”

Hermione shot him a glare, but Harry just shook his head, and she kept silent.

“And the soup.” Ron helpfully added, thankfully able to read the room. “That’s some good stuff.”

Hagrid visibly calmed at the topic change and shot Ron a thumbs-up. "Glad ya liked it! Don't know why so many folks shy away from Giant Purple Toad.” He gestured over to the pot. “Sure, they be full of poison, but if ya drain 'em right, there ain't nothing to worry about."

“Say what now?” Ron paled and slowly took the spoon out of his mouth in horror, looking down at his bowl just as an eyeball floated to the surface. “That’s not right.”

Before he could say or do more, Harry was quick to grab his arm. “Come on, Ron. Let’s head back.”

“Uhu… um…” Ron looked traumatized.

“Wait, but I-.” Hermione tried to speak up before Harry whispered in her ear.

“Drop it, Hermione, please?” At his look, she subsided and let him drag her out of the hut with Ron as Hagrid waved.

“Feel free to drop by if ya kids want.” Hagrid boomed after them. “Good seeing you!”

"Take care, Hagrid!" Harry called back with the others and walked off until they were a distance away before Hermione turned on him.

“Harry!” She jumped in front of him. “Why did you stop me from asking about the tournament?”

“You were making him upset, Hermione.” Harry stood his ground. “Didn’t you promise to listen when I point out that you're getting into your knowledge-seeking frenzies?"

"Ah." That took the wind out of her sails. "I did promise that when you promised to take your studies seriously this year."

“And I have been.” Harry countered.

He had been doing his best, and she knew it.

“I know…” She sighed and looked up unsurely. “Was I being rude to Hagrid? I didn’t mean to.”

“I know.” Harry patted her shoulder. “And I stopped you before you were rude, trust me.”

She nodded thankfully and put her hand on his. “Thanks, Harry.”

He smiled with a slight blush. “Anytime, Hermione.”

"Giant Poison Frog meat…" Ron zombie-walked right past them, muttering incoherently to himself as they turned to their devastated friend, who looked like he was going to be sick. "How hath food betrayed me so?"

“Oh, stop being so dramatic.” Hermione slapped his arm lightly to get his attention. “Besides, you should know by now to question anything Hagrid consumes.”

“But it smelled so good!” Ron whined.

“Food can be misleading.” Hermione shrugged.

“You take that back!” Ron dramatically pointed at her.

Harry laughed at the topic change. “Anyway, guys, I think I know who to ask about this tournament thing.”

“You do?”

“Who?”

"I heard a few of the Gryffindor Quidditch members whispering about it during practice.” He knew they liked to gossip. “Wouldn’t hurt to ask.”

Hermione grabbed him in a hug. “Harry, that’s brilliant!”

0000

“Harry, this is awful.” Hermione stated.

“I agree.” Ron nodded.

"How so?" Harry asked.

After dinner, the Golden Trio assembled in the Gryffindor common room.

A brief conversation with Katie Bell, the house's resident gossiping monster, gave them some details about the international tournament coming to the school.

"I'm okay with this." Harry said.

And why wouldn’t he be? The idea of the entire school focusing on something unrelated to Harry Potter?

Harry raised all limbs in support.

"How can you be okay with this?!” Hermione was frazzled. “Obviously, something is going to go wrong!"

“Yeah! They canceled Quidditch season for this?!" Ron added heatedly. "I expected so much more from such a cool-sounding event."

Harry sweatdropped at the two very different answers.

Katie explained that the fabled Tri-Wizard Tournament Dumbledore announced was, in fact, a competition between three wizards or witches across three events spread throughout the year.

To Hermione, it was a wildly dangerous event.

To Ron, it was a sorry excuse to replace two dozen Quidditch games.

Harry’s friends exchanged challenging looks.

“Ronald, a death tournament is a much bigger deal than Quidditch.” Hermione glared.

“Nothing is more important!” Ron glared right back.

“What about food?” Hermione asked.

“My loyalty to the holy plate has taken a hit recently.” Ron looked up and performed some religious gesture while muttering about some kind of spaghetti monster. “But it cannot be put down for good.”

Harry chuckled and held up a hand to stall them further. "Guys, I'm happy that there's an event that has nothing to do with me. I just want a quiet year to focus on, well…"

His eyes met Hermione's at his pause, and she had to fight down a small smile. “Non-life-threatening things for a change.”

"Mate." Ron surprisingly spoke up as the voice of reason. "Do you really think you won't get involved in this death challenge somehow?"

Harry’s good feelings vanished like snow in the summer as he considered it. “...Can you let me be happy for a day, Ron? Just one day?”

“Sorry, mate.” Ron placed a hand on his shoulder. “We all must suffer together today.”

“Is this about the soup?” Harry asked.

Ron grabbed his head and blocked his ears. “I don’t want to talk about it!”

Harry and Hermione shared a glance and laughed openly, soon joined by Ron, before Harry brought them back on track. “Anyway. I think this proves Mr. Fluff is innocent. He’s just hired help.”

“I don’t know.” Ron scratched his chin. “The guy is still suspicious.”

“But he hasn’t done anything.” Harry pointed out.

Ron narrowed his eyes. “That just makes him more suspicious.”

“…” Harry didn’t know what to say to that.

"Ron might be right." Hermione added thoughtfully. "Mr. Fluff does seem slightly suspicious."

“What?” Harry blinked at her. “You’re supposed to be the voice of reason, Hermione!”

“I am.” Hermione nodded imperiously. “We know nothing but what Hagrid told us, and as much as I care for him, Hagrid isn’t the best judge of character.”

“He-.” Harry started to speak before Hermione cut him off.

“First-year. The dragon egg?” She raised a brow. “Telling us about how to get past Fluffy?”

“That was-.” Harry started.

Ron cut him off this time. “Second-Year. The… s-spiders.” He shivered.

“He couldn’t have-.” Harry tried to interject.

“Third-Year.” Hermione waved a finger. “The Hippogriff.”

“That was Malfoy’s fault!” Harry defended.

“Mate, he tried to show us a bloody Chimera this year before Mr. Fluff stepped in.” Ron twirled a finger by the side of his head. “I think Hagrid’s awesome, but he’s just a bit of a nutter sometimes.”

Under the combined assault and logical points, Harry folded.

“Alright, fine.” He sat back with a huff. “Hagrid’s not the best judge of character.”

"See." Hermione smirked in victory, then took out her notebook. "Now, let's figure out how to spy on Mr. Fluff."

“We’re spying on him?” Harry looked over in confusion.

"Of course! How else can we observe his… characteristics?” She nodded and wrote down her thoughts. “Scientifically."

“Characteristics?” Harry shot her an odd look.

“Scientifically?” Ron looked worried.

Hermione shut her notebook and glared to hide the flush on her cheeks. “Just shut up and do what I say before something tries to kill us.”

Harry and Ron looked at each other and shrugged.

She was the brains of their operations.

0000

“Hermione, I don’t see how this is scientific.” Harry couldn’t help but comment.

“Shush, I’m concentrating.” Hermione waved him away.

"Yeah, you and a dozen others." Ron muttered, looking off to the side.

It was the second week of September, and Jin was helping Hagrid do some maintenance on the gatehouse.

Whenever the Reparo Charm couldn't fix something because pieces were missing, Hagrid came in to fix it.

Damage came from all sorts of things, from weather to curious magical creatures to random explosions and everything in between.

It was a magical campus filled with students who could alter reality as they wanted, and things were bound to explode eventually.

In this case, it seemed a couple of sixth-year girls got it into their heads to shoot a Reductor Curse at the wall for some odd reason and destroyed a bunch of bricks in the process.

They received detention for it, but some might question whether the culprits were even upset as they sat with their friends on picnic blankets, watching the sweat drip from Mr. Fluff's body as he worked shirtless, glistening in the sunlight to make the repairs under Hagrid's instruction.

The Golden Trio were off to the side with Omnioculars, although only Hermione seemed keen to use them.

“How are we learning about his characteristics?” Harry pushed.

“Characteristics?” Hermione muttered back distractedly, only to catch the question a moment later. “Oh. Um, we’re learning his habits.”

"His habits?" Seeing Hermione stare at Jin's sweaty abs was starting to make Harry annoyed for a reason he couldn't explain.

“Of course!" Hermione stated matter-of-factly. “We’ll follow him home after the day’s done.”

“Hermione, this is starting to get creepy.” Harry scratched his cheek. “Right, Ron?”

No answer came to Harry’s comment. "Ron?"

He turned and found his friend using his own Omnioculars to look not at Jin, but at the girls on the lawn.

Seeing Hermione preoccupied, Harry grumbled and tapped his friend on the shoulder. "Mate?"

“Huh?” Ron looked up and blinked. “Oh, Harry, check this out.”

He handed over his Omnioculars, and Harry followed his finger, only to zoom in on an impressive… cleavage.

“What the hell, Ron?!” Harry’s cheeks flushed as he pulled back.

“Shush!” Ron glanced back at Hermione, but seeing she was distracted, he leaned over and whispered. “Aren’t the girls in our year group getting curvy?”

He took back the Omnioculars.

“What… well…” Harry stammered and looked behind them, only to catch sight of Hermione’s swaying backside as she did her own stalking. “Maybe.”

"I know, right?" Ron said, completely missing where Harry was looking, and gazed with a dumb smile. "This year rocks."

Harry scoffed, letting his curiosity drag him down to Ron's level, and picked up his own Omnioculars. "What help is that? It’s not like they are paying attention to us."

 “Yeah.” Ron grumbled. “They’re all too busy goggling the new guy.”

“What does he have that we don’t?” Harry wondered.

“I don’t know.” Ron shrugged. “Muscles, I guess?”

“Muscles?” Harry felt a spark of hope light up. “We can get those, right?”

“Yeah, just gotta, um, work out, I think.” Ron scratched his head. “Probably.”

“Probably?” Harry pushed.

“I’ve only ever trained for Quidditch, mate.” Ron defended. “And Quidditch doesn’t give you muscles like that.”

“So how do we get them? Magic?” Harry asked.

"Maybe?" Ron felt a light bulb go up over his head. "Oh! We should follow Mr. Fluff and see what he does! We can just copy it; I'm sure it's not that hard."

“Oh, that’s a good idea.” Harry praised.

Ron preened. “I have them sometimes.”

“Sometimes.” Harry teased.

Ron flipped him off and gestured to focus on their target. “Shut up and look at the boobs, Harry.”

"Look at the what now?" Hermione's voice drifted to them, and the two froze at the menacing aura behind them.

“Er… it’s for science?”

0000

Sadly, their nighttime trip to follow Mr. Fluff home got delayed by a week due to a sudden need to visit Madam Pomfrey.

"Guys!" Harry whispered-shouted. "We shouldn't be doing this." 

“How else are we supposed to spy on Mr. Fluff?” Hermione asked from beneath the Invisibility cloak.

"Yeah, mate, this is our best bet to learn from him." Ron was in front, with Hermione in the middle and Harry in the back.

At their age, with all three in the cloak at once, it barely covered them from the ankles up, leaving their feet exposed.

Still, at night, how was anyone supposed to see that? 

"I'm just saying this feels weird." Harry admitted while trying to ignore his thoughts of how good Hermione's hair smelled.

The fact that she kept pressing into him as they walked beneath his cloak wasn't helping. "Shouldn't we at least respect his privacy when he’s in his cabin?"

““How will we learn his secrets?”” Ron and Hermione asked as one.

The same sentence came from two mouths, yet Harry weirdly felt each meant something different. "I don't know about that, but Mr. Fluff's coming out."

“Did he see us?!” Ron panicked.

"He's gonna hear us; shut up!" Hermione pushed Ron's head down as the trio ducked behind a tree with the cloak up, watching Jin exit his hut with something over his shoulder.

“What’s he holding?” Ron squinted.

“I can’t see.” Hermione failed as well.

“Is that an axe?” Harry noted.

“What’s he doing with an axe at this time of night?” Ron had to double-check it was dark out.

“Chopping wood?” Harry offered.

"He's walking past his wood pile… is that… he's moving toward the Forbidden Forest!" Hermione hissed.

“Hermione’s right, this is suspicious.” Ron was already moving.

“Wait, I heard he goes in there all the time-." Harry couldn't finish as Hermione grabbed his hand and rushed behind Ron.

The fact that running under a cloak meant a lot of physical contact and that Hermione was initiating it was the only thing keeping Harry quiet.

The trio fluttered from rock to tree to bush as they stalked their prey, who walked casually and smoked beneath the bright moonlight lighting up the path.

Various glowing flowers and flora illuminated the landscape, creating a magical atmosphere that made it impossible not to get lost in the sight.

Under the trio's eyes, Jin approached the fenced sign for the Forbidden Forest.

“He’s going in.” Ron observed.

"Should we follow him?" Hermione asked.

“I’m happy where I am.” Harry muttered.

“Huh?” Ron didn’t look back. “You don’t want to go in, mate?”

"Never mind.” Harry snapped out of his daze. “I'm good to go."

Hermione was the only one of the two to look back at Harry and notice she was pressed against his chest, her grip on his arm unconsciously wrapping it around her waist.

‘Oh.’ She flushed and felt a flutter in her stomach but didn’t move away as they waited for Jin to get far enough to cross the open space into the tree line.

Ron looked nervously into the area. “I don’t like being back here.”

Even in his happy place, Harry sensed his best friend's fearful voice and spoke up. "We're far away from the spider nest, Ron. Don't worry."

"Yeah.” Ron took a reassuring breath. “Thanks, mate."

The three continued on their path.

“Where did Mr. Fluff go?” Hermione asked after a minute, then caught a flicker of light. “Over there.”

The other two followed her gaze to see Jin standing in a clearing, removing the sheath from his axe.

“Is he going to kill something?” Ron gulped.

“With an axe?” Hermione was unsure.

"This might be serious." Harry finally felt a flicker of suspicion.

Jin kept walking, and the trio collectively held their breath when a bush rustled, only for a small round shape to roll out and into Jin's path.

The ball unrolled into what the trio recognized as a Puffskein.

It whined up at Jin as he gripped his axe and squared off.

“Is that thing going to fight? Doesn’t seem like much of a challenge.” Ron was skeptical.

“We have to stop him.” Hermione was ready to rush forward. “No one hurts a Puffskein.”

“Wait.” Harry held Hermione back, a niggling sense in the back of his mind.

A moment of silence passed, a soft breeze rustling the surrounding leaves.

The Puffskein let out a warbling war cry and charged forward.

Jin released his own in response and swung his axe.

A squeaking gasp escaped Hermione’s lungs as she tried to bring her wand to bear, but it was too late as a dust cloud exploded from the impact.

“Did he win?” Ron’s tone was tinted with open curiosity.

“He killed that defenseless creature!” Hermione was scandalized.

“Technically, I think it charged at him.” Harry tried to justify self-defense.

The dust settled, and the trio was ready to start blasting until they froze at an odd sight.

"Oy. Back off. I said enough, god damn it!" Jin was ineffectively using the handle of his axe to ward off the hopping, happily panting ball of fluff that kept trying to headbutt him in the stomach. "Fine! Take it!"

Jin threw something down, and the Puffskein happily gobbled it up.

It warbled cutely and rolled away, leaving Jin muttering something too low for the trio to hear before he continued his walk like nothing happened.

“I think he beat it in honorable combat.” Ron observed with a critical gaze.

"What combat?!" Hermione smacked the back of the redhead's head. "It just wanted a snack."

“Guys, he’s moving away.” Harry pointed out.

The trio hurried after Jin, but things just got weirder from there.

Jin never went more than shallow deep into the forest.

Still, he skirted the edge, looking for something, and all the while, various creatures kept coming out.

"Is that a Mooncalf dancing around him? Is it a duel challenge?" Ron grew increasingly excited as they continued their chase. "This guy's pretty cool."

“Did you pay attention in class, Ronald?” Hermione observed the dance and expounded. “It’s performing its famous moon dance.”

“Uh, guys.” Harry blinked in confusion. “When did the others show up?”

Ron and Hermione rubbed their eyes at Harry's comment.

They looked again, only to see the single Mooncalf become six, all dancing around an irate-looking Jin.

They blinked again, and suddenly, it became twelve.

“Go dance somewhere else!” Jin shouted and swung his axe in irritation.

“Is he going to have to kill them all to get through?” Ron was smiling. “Wicked.” 

“He’s going to harm those beautiful creatures!” Hermione tried to mount an offense while Harry desperately tried to hold her back.

“Hermione, put your wand down.” Harry struggled. “Ron, help me!”

A loud thump rang out, and the three noticed Jin's axe buried in a tree.

It hit a coconut-like fruit hanging from a branch, cracking open the hard shell as it fell in two pieces.

The Mooncalves dove at it and let Jin pass as he stomped off with a shout over his shoulder. “Get them yourself next time! I know you can jump that high!”

The responding calls only made Jin stomp off with a groan.

Harry met Hermione and Ron’s eyes and shrugged.

They followed.

Next to appear was a duo of Kneazles, and the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.

“It’s another chance encounter!” Ron’s eyes were practically sparkling. “I bet a chocolate frog the Kneazle draws blood first.”

“I don’t even like chocolate frogs.” Hermione grimaced.

“Why is Ron getting so excited?” Harry scratched his head.

The trio leaned in to hear what Jin was muttering as he waved his axe threateningly.

“Don’t you dare!” He growled at the stalking felines. “I’m warning you.”

"Yes. Attack!" Ron pumped his arms.

"He better not!" Hermione was practically on top of Ron's head and would have rushed forward if Harry hadn't held her back.

“Hermione, stop wiggling around!” Harry had his own troubles as he was in the back, and Hermione kept wiggling a certain part of herself into a certain part of his.

The Kneazles yowled and charged as Jin's axe gleamed.

“Get some!” Ron cheered.

“Don’t!” Hermione protested.

“Guys, relax.” Harry answered tiredly. “The cats are rubbing on him.”

Harry was correct.

The Kneazles purred furiously as they rubbed against Jin's legs.

"Why? Why must you do this to me? I know exactly what you're doing!" Jin kept trying to shoo them away, but they ignored him until they were satisfied, gave him smug looks, and bounded away.

"Shadow is going to kill me." Jin looked up at the sky with an expression of pure suffering.

"I want my money back." Ron grumbled. "What the bloody hell was that?"

“Who’s Shadow?” Hermione asked with a frown. “I kinda wanna be a Kneazle right now."

“Hermione…” Harry gave up.

Next came an Erumpent that charged through a tree to get to Jin, exploding it with a resounding boom.

"This time, for sure!" Ron was still pumped for blood sports for some odd reason.

“He better not!” Hermione was still jumping to conclusions. “Those things are endangered!”

“Am I in a time loop or something?” Harry muttered in bafflement.

Jin's axe swing removed a branch stuck around the beast's leg. "There, stop getting into the berry bushes."

It headbutted him lightly with a cheerful sound and ran off.

Then a Fwooper swooped in and almost sent the trio down, if not for Harry's quick Silencing Charm.

The bird swooped down to harass Jin for a time while he swung his axe in annoyance. “Don’t think I won’t come up there, Jeffery! Luna isn’t here!”

Things only got weirder from there, and Harry was almost done with this whole adventure until Jin finally stopped next to a surprising sight.

“Is that a bloody Unicorn?” Ron asked in shock.

“He’s here to hunt a Unicorn?!” Hermione gasped.

“He’s walking toward it.” Harry deadpanned.

The pure white horse looked up at Jin's approach and snorted. Unlike its usual brethren, which ran from most male humans, this one lowered its horn in a clear challenge.

The trio couldn't see Jin's expression from where they were, but they noticed he didn't look like he was stopping.

"Is he really gonna do it?" Ron's bloodlust was accompanied by genuine worry. "He'll be cursed for life."

“That’s only if you drink the blood, Ron.” Hermione idly corrected.

"This might be a real situation." Even Harry had his wand ready for this one. His first year at school taught him how serious it was to harm a Unicorn.

They all waited with bated breath as Jin raised his axe and spoke softly. "I'm sorry."

The horse neighed and moved.

“Shit!”

“Stop him!”

“Expelli-!”

"Wait!" Hermione noticed something and jumped up at the last second, unintentionally interrupting Harry's casting and knocking them both out of the cloak while Ron was too engrossed in the scene before him to notice they were gone.

Harry and Hermione yelped as they rolled down an incline and came to a stop in a very compromising position.

Harry’s lips were on Hermione’s own.

Her arms were around his neck, and he held himself up on an elbow while his other hand was on her chest.

The two teens' eyes widened in shock and fear, only for a spark to travel through their lips, making them melt into the kiss and deepen it.

How long they got lost in said kiss went unsaid, but a sudden voice snapped them out of their haze.

“Huh, kids sure are bold these days.”

Jin's voice rang through the clearing, and Harry jumped off Hermione like a startled cat, shooting to his feet with his weapon in hand, ready to cast.

Yet all he found was Jin's raised brow as the man blew out some smoke. "You showing off, trying to flatter me, or planning to attack with that thing?”

“What?” Harry blinked and looked at his hand, only to find that instead of his wand, he was holding a bra. “Bloody hell!”

“Um, Harry.” Hermione silently pulled Harry's wand out of her cleavage, where it had accidentally lodged, as she hid her face. “Can I have that back?”

"O-of course!" Harry quickly handed it back and retrieved his wand.

Jin coughed into his fist and looked away. “Help her up.”

Harry blinked before the logic reached his brain, and he rushed to do so as the girl quickly hid behind his back. "Thank you."

The two males looked away to let her have a moment before Jin spoke up. “You know you two could have found a broom closet in the school or something, right?”

“Er…” Harry was at a loss for words.

Thankfully, Hermione came to his rescue with her deductive prowess. “I get turned on in forests.”

“…”

“…”

Hermione realized what she said too late and turned bright red before hiding her face in Harry’s back. “…Please kill me now.”

Jin scratched his chin awkwardly and shrugged. "You know what? Let's just get out of here. I won't tell anyone about this."

“Really?” Harry blinked in surprise.

“Really?” Hermione looked up with a hopeful voice.

“Really?" A whispered shout came from the side that Mr. Fluff thankfully didn't seem to notice.

“Just…” Jin sighed and blew out some smoke. “Let’s go back.”

He reached behind him and grabbed his axe, swinging it over his shoulder.

The blade being stuck in a thick log of wood didn't seem to be an issue as his muscles bulged.

“You came out here for that?” Hermione couldn’t help but ask as she looked at the log.

"Hm?" Jin noticed her gaze and nodded. "Yeah, there's a nice-sized Chaga Mushroom growing on it. Hagrid showed me how to make it into tea. Great stuff.” He rubbed the side of his head with a finger. “Soothes headaches from reading too much."

“Really?” Hermione perked up, highly interested. “Can I try some?”

“Now?” Jin looked at her oddly.

“What? Oh! Not right now.” She flushed and shook her arms in denial.

Jin shrugged. "I'll bring you some ground-up Chaga during the next class."

“Ah, uh, thank you.” Hermione bowed her head.

“No problem.” Jin waved it away and gestured to the path.

While they talked, Harry looked to the side and saw the Unicorn had run off. "Um, Mr. Fluff?"

“Yeah, kid?” Jin asked over his shoulder.

"Was there a magical creature here a second ago? I thought I heard something." Harry pointed back to where they came from and noticed Jin's face darken.

“Yeah, just an annoying Unicorn. They love Chaga Mushrooms and keep eating ‘em all.” He grumbled and adjusted his bounty. “Damn gluttons.”

“Oh.” Harry looked up at the canopy, thoroughly done with his current excursion. “I’m gonna head back to my dorm and go to sleep now.”

“Mhm.” Jin chuckled.

Harry took a breath and nodded politely. “Thank you, Sir.”

He had a feeling their stalking wasn’t as unnoticed as they hoped.

Jin sent him a smirk. “Don’t mention it.”

Harry found his opinion of Mr. Fluff rising for how laid-back the guy was. 'This could have ended badly if he was a bad guy.’

The rest of the walk out of the forest was silent as Jin smoked peacefully while Harry and Hermione shuffled behind, brushing shoulders and flushing heavily every time they made eye contact.

Jin split off a little way from the school's courtyard, making sure they were on school grounds before heading home to his hut and leaving the teens standing there.

“I can’t believe he really let us go.” Harry stared in surprise. “He’s a cool teacher.”

“He’s an irresponsible teacher.” Hermione huffed. “Who doesn’t take points away for catching students breaking rules?”

Harry sweatdropped. “Is that really what you should focus on, Hermione?”

"Well, yeah, but, I mean, ugh.” Hermione sagged with a small smile. “I appreciate it in this case. He is pretty cool.”

“Yeah, he is.” Harry rubbed his neck and side-eyed his best female friend. "About earlier, sorry about, um, you know?”

"Ripping my bra out and trying to assault a teacher with it?" Hermione asked back, cheeks red and a smirk on her lips. "Is that what you meant?"

“Yeah. That.” Harry flushed awkwardly. “I never want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

He fumbled with his words.

Hermione giggled nervously and leaned against him. “It was a surprise, but I didn't hate it. That it was you, I mean."

Harry swallowed and mustered his courage. “Hermione, I-.”

"Guys!"

And Ron chose that moment to re-appear.

Harry and Hermione jumped at the call and quickly scampered into the bushes where Ron was waving from.

"You missed it! Mr. Fluff is awesome!” Ron gestured with his arms like he was in a grand battle. “He was deflecting that Unicorn's horn with his axe like it was nothing. That guy's my new hero!"

“Oh, is that what you saw?” Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yeah, what else was there to see?” Ron tilted his head.

Harry and Hermione met each other's gaze and shared a small smile.

““Nothing.”” The two responded.

“The mystery is only bigger now!” Ron exclaimed. “I gotta find out Mr. Fluff’s secrets now.”

Ron looked more determined than his friends had ever seen him. “Maybe he practices some kind of magical monk martial art or something that doesn’t need a wand.”

“Yeah, who knows what he’s hiding under his shirt-.” Hermione coughed at Harry’s look. “I mean under his persona.”

“See, Hermione’s on board.” Ron barely seemed to notice what she said.

The two friends were not on the same page.

Harry deadpanned at them and turned around. “I’m going to bed.”

“Harry, wait!” Hermione called.

“I’m going to bed!” He stomped off.

0000

The following week only got weirder as the trio, a duo really, with Harry tagging along and questioning his life choices, were determined to stalk their prey.

They snuck around to follow Mr. Fluff whenever they weren't in class, studying, or eating, even forgoing sleep to stalk him at night.

Yet all their years of mystery-solving were coming back to bite them as their expectations fell flat each time.

Jin would go for a run around the Black Lake, almost cartoonishly making sure the coast was clear, and then practice something where he took a stance, put his hands together, squeezed his butt cheeks, and shouted ‘KAME-HAME-HA!’ while throwing his hands forward with nothing happening.

Hermione tried to explain it was a comic-book thing while using Omnioculars from an angle directly behind Jin’s back for some reason, but Ron didn't buy it and thought it was a secret monk martial-arts routine.

Harry helplessly found his best male friend repeating the phrase and performing the actions over the next few days, much to the Weasley twins' amusement after they discovered it and started copying him.

The trio next found Mr. Fluff sneaking off with Luna Lovegood into a hidden grove, thinking he was going to do something to her.

However, all they saw was her singing a song that hurt their brains, with a green Fwooper on her shoulder, while she braided Jin's hair; the older man stoically accepted his fate for some reason, while seventh-year female students ran away screaming.

Then came the day Jin accidentally bumped into Professor Snape.

The trio was confident something dangerous was about to happen as Snape stared at Jin with pure disgust. Yet, all they saw happen was Jin pulling a Puffskein out of his pocket, placing it in Snape's hand, nodding, and walking away without a word.

Snape was so flabbergasted he didn't react to the curious prodding of the Puffskein's tongue until he looked both ways to make sure no one was watching and then lightly patted the small creature with a finger.

Ron almost fainted at the sight.

That was not the last time Jin handed out Puffskeins.

Mr. Fluff seemed to have an unending supply in his pockets whenever someone took up too much of his time.

The distraction let Jin slip away and continue his day with none the wiser, while Ron took notes.

Even the attempts to stalk him at night fell through when he never seemed to leave his cabin, and Harry drew the line at breaking into his hut, no matter what crazy idea Hermione cooked up.

It took until the last week of September, but Ron finally had enough.

000

“I’m done!” Ron was red in the face as he threw his notebook down in the Gryffindor common room. “That monk routine was doing nothing for me!”

“Ron.” Hermione rubbed the bridge of her nose in exasperation. “Like I keep telling you, that’s just a comic book thing.”

"What the bloody hell is a comic book?!" Ron shouted in outrage.

"A Muggle thing." Harry casually added while turning a page in a Transfiguration book. He had seen Dudley read some, even if he was never allowed to. “A made-up character with magic-like abilities in a drawing.”

"Oh." Ron's interest faded. "Whatever, I'm going to talk to Mr. Fluff."

“You are?” Hermione blinked.

“Why?” Harry looked up.

The two saw their redheaded friend take a deep breath and stand tall.

“I want girls to look at me like they look at him.” Ron admitted openly, without an ounce of shame for who might hear. “I want to deflect unicorn horns with bladed weapons.” He gripped his fist tightly. “I want to be cool like that.”

“…”

“…”

Harry and Hermione had nothing to say to that honest confession as Ron nodded and left to go find the staff member.

“He wants to get buff?” Hermione asked thoughtfully.

“And fight Unicorns, I think.” Harry added with a raised finger.

"Huh, buff like Mr. Fluff?" Hermione's imagination went off, and Harry didn't like the look on her face. 

The two hadn't talked about what happened that night in the Forbidden Forest, never finding the chance since Ron shattered the original moment, and Harry didn't know how to cross that invisible line.

“I think I’m going to go catch up with him.” Harry put his book down and stood up.

“What?” Hermione snapped out of her thoughts. "Should I come too?"

"No, it's fine.” Harry gestured for her to stay. “You keep studying; I think this is a guy thing."

"Oh, okay." Hermione shrugged and returned to her studies while Harry caught up with Ron in the hallway.

“Mate, wait up!”

Ron turned in surprise. “You coming?”

“Yeah.” Harry responded seriously.

The two male best friends met each other's gaze and nodded in understanding.

The hallways cleared the way for the two determined young boys on their quest as they made their way to Mr. Fluff while he cleaned up after a Care of Magical Creatures class.

“Sir.” Ron called.

"Hm?" Jin turned from where he was putting some equipment away and idly smoking the pipe that never seemed to leave his lips. "It's you two. What's up?"

Ron stepped forward bravely. “Make me a man.”

“…” Jin removed his pipe and looked at the contents. “Did Bron mess up my herbal mix again?”

Harry stepped up and elbowed Ron in the side. “Sir, he meant to say we want to know how to become big like you.”

“Like me?” Jin set down what he was carrying and faced them properly.

“Muscled.” Ron specified.

Jin finally seemed to understand. “You want to get buff?”

“Yes.” Harry nodded to avoid misunderstandings.

Jin considered them for a moment. “Why?”

“To make girls think I’m cool.” Ron stated directly.

“To be the only guy a girl thinks about.” Harry planted his flag.

Jin blinked at the honest answers. "Huh."

He scratched his chin for a moment, then nodded, and for the first time since Ron and Harry saw him, Mr. Fluff put his pipe down.

"With answers like that, I can't in good conscience turn you away." Jin put the pipe in his pocket and straightened his shoulders. “You came to me with a heartfelt plea.”

All of a sudden, Ron and Harry felt the air press on their thin frames while some kind of aura seemed to make the man before them swell in size. "It seems you two wish to walk the path of GAINS."

“Gains?” Harry repeated the odd phrase.

“Yes, Sir!” Ron saluted without knowing what he was saluting about.

"Good answer." Jin nodded at Ron and ignored Harry's question before throwing meaty arms around their shoulders, making their knees buckle as he directed them toward the Black Lake.

A finger was pointed forward. “Harry Squatter, Ronald Gainsley, today, you two take your first steps to becoming men.”

Ron's eyes shone, but Harry turned to look at the man.

“It’s Harry Potter, Sir.”

Jin smirked. "Not anymore, it's not."

Chapter End.

AN: Hope you enjoyed! This was a very fun chapter to work through and reminded me how much fun this story could be at times.

Hagrid is too lovable to trick into revealing secrets.

Jin crowns his kitten queen of the isles.

Ron is traumatized by food.

Harry just wants a normal year.

Puberty and hormones comes for them all.

The trio stalk Jin on his bloody and frightful adventure; with varied opinions.

A young romance is blooming... through happenstance and totally not author intervention.

Snape is unable to resist the Puffskein

And Harry and Ron embark on the path of GAINS. Nothing could go wrong.

See you next time!