.
Early the next morning, Char approached Harry with a determined look. "I want to visit Hagrid today," he said simply.
Harry's face showed signs of exhaustion—dark circles under his eyes hinted at a sleepless night. When Char spoke, Harry hesitated for a moment before replying, "Ah, okay, no problem. I'll write to Hagrid and ask him to prepare. Noon should be fine."
Char nodded, but couldn't help noticing Harry's tired expression. "Harry, have you been staying up late recently?"
Harry chuckled softly. "You know that book you asked me to find—the Advanced Potion Making? It's amazing, really amazing. We've all been staying up late studying it in the dormitory. Potions is a deep subject."
Lowering his voice, Harry added, "Char, do you have any more potion knowledge you can teach us? Or maybe another version of Advanced Potion Making?"
Char's expression flickered with slight awkwardness. "Harry, you have to be moderate."
Harry smiled sheepishly, eyes pleading. Char sighed. "Alright. In the Potions classroom, in the third locker from the left in the basement, there's a copy of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. I think you'll find what you're looking for there."
Harry's face brightened. "Brothers! New study materials incoming!"
Nearby, Hermione overheard their conversation. As Char passed by, she couldn't hold back her curiosity. "Char, how did you do that? You actually got Harry and the others to stay up late studying Potions on their own? When did they get so interested?"
Char smiled sheepishly. "Maybe they finally understand how hard you work. They want to share some of the pressure from the House Cup points."
Hermione's surprise melted into relief. "Is that so? So they don't care about the House Cup's honor after all? Maybe I've been too hard on them."
Char was momentarily stunned. Then guilt crept in. What if Hermione found out the full truth? Would she chase him around the castle? What if Dumbledore heard that he'd opened the door of "learning" for Harry—the savior? Char quickened his pace. Danger! Better to run away for now.
Fortunately, the morning passed without incident—no moths appeared.
At noon, Char took a deep breath and headed toward Hagrid's hut near the Forbidden Forest. From afar, he saw Hagrid's large figure waving.
The familiar cottage, warm and rustic, had been freshly painted—the wood gleamed with a reddish-brown luster in the sunlight.
When Char arrived, Hagrid greeted him with a bear hug. "Finally, you're here! It's getting colder. Come in, warm yourself by the fire, and have some hot tea."
"Oh, and I've got something for you!" Hagrid said, leading Char inside and presenting a plate of rock cakes.
Char eyed the infamous rock cake—a treat known for its hardness and ability to break teeth. He had no desire to try it, but couldn't refuse Hagrid's hospitality. Carefully, he took a bite.
To his surprise, the cake was crispy yet slightly chewy, with a rich wheat aroma. It was delicious.
Even more surprising was the warmth spreading through his body, reminiscent of the vitality enhancement he'd received before. Though small compared to his legendary life's power, this was clearly a potent treat.
His eyes gleamed as he asked, "Hagrid, what's in this rock cake? It's delicious. Can I have another?"
Tears welled in Hagrid's eyes, and he choked up before pulling Char into a strong embrace. "Char, I'm sure we share the same blood. No matter how distant, we're family."
Char wanted to explain that his physique was special but he wasn't truly a half-giant. Yet seeing Hagrid's emotion, he held back.
He looked down at the plate again. "Let's just eat the cake first."
Hagrid explained that while he wasn't a great cook—except for his famous sausages—he always insisted on serving rock cakes to guests. He even advertised them in the Daily Prophet as a "special delicacy," though no one ever bought a second one. The only people who'd buy more were likely half-giants, who could handle the toughness.
Char was the first to actually eat a second slice.
Hagrid's eyes filled with tears of joy. After so many years, he had finally found his kin in the magical world. The huge half-giant's tears threatened to flood the ceiling.
Hagrid then asked if Char wanted to see the troll. Without hesitation, Char said yes. "Do you want to see the giant monster? It's no big deal. Half-giants are naturally interested in dangerous magical creatures."
Soon, Hagrid led Char to a clearing outside the Forbidden Forest. "Don't worry, I've cleared the perimeter. It's safe now. The troll that broke into the castle is here, injured but healing. It'll be happy to see you."
The air was thick with the troll's pungent stench. Ahead, the massive figure of the troll—its bones broken by Char's hand—was almost fully healed. Such injuries would take a human months to recover from, but trolls healed fast, especially with Hagrid's care.
As Hagrid approached, the troll grunted happily. "Hagrid…"
Then its small eyes caught sight of Char. The troll froze, terror flooding its gaze. It backed away, finally collapsing on the ground, trembling.
"Don't hit me… I surrender…" it mumbled.
Seeing the troll's submission, Char's eyes flickered with curiosity. He pulled out a pot of freshly planted goldfish spider plant and approached slowly, his gaze fixed on the magical flora.
Char did not blink, his focus absolute.
If you'd like the chapter expanded further or with a specific focus, just let me know!