"Uh… Harry, I'm sorry. I don't really know either. But… whatever you're thinking… maybe it's best to talk to Dumbledore first…"
Hermione spoke carefully, even though she was more mature than her peers. Faced with such a potentially serious matter, she didn't dare give a careless answer.
"What's the point in asking Dumbledore? He's not from another world. And let's be honest—Dumbledore's so old he's probably starting to lose it…"
Ron replied grumpily.
He was still sulking about being forbidden from talking about the visitors from another world. That was prime material for showing off, and yet Professor McGonagall had made it clear they weren't allowed to share anything. It was maddening.
If only he could tell people about the interdimensional visitors, he'd be the center of attention at Hogwarts. Even George and Fred would be begging him, their little brother, for inside info.
The fact that Dumbledore had agreed to work with them and still insisted they keep it secret? Utterly frustrating.
Hermione frowned and was about to remind Ron how important this was when she noticed that both Ron and Harry were suddenly wide-eyed, pale, and staring behind her with trembling fingers pointing past her shoulder.
"About that part where old age equals senility... I feel I must express a small objection."
A lazy-sounding voice rang out behind her—Kizaru's.
With his imposing three-meter-tall "admiral physique," the trio looked positively tiny in comparison.
Originally, Kizaru hadn't planned to interact with the trio, but Ron's comment had been a bit of a cheap shot. Strictly speaking, Kizaru was part of the "elderly" demographic Ron had just insulted. Ignoring the fact that his lifespan was still long, he was technically several years older than Arthur Weasley.
"K-Kizaru, sir?! What are you doing here?"
Hermione stiffly turned around. Seeing Kizaru looming over them, her expression immediately turned tense.
Especially since he'd been with Dumbledore just moments ago. If Kizaru was here now and Dumbledore wasn't—did that mean something had gone wrong?
"No need to be nervous. This is just a shadow clone. My real body's still chatting with your headmaster in his office."
Kizaru raised his hands in a gesture of harmlessness. Sure, the three kids combined couldn't take on a single strand of his hair, but Hermione was a fellow chat group member. He was willing to have a proper talk with her.
"A clone? You mean… you can talk to us and Dumbledore at the same time?"
Hermione exclaimed, amazed. Even with all the magical wonders she'd already seen, this was still beyond her imagination.
Ron and Harry's eyes were practically sparkling. Of course someone from another world would have such incredible powers.
"Of course. It's really quite simple. In fact, if I wanted to, I could even… Shadow Clone Technique!"
Kizaru was more than happy to demonstrate something Hermione would find intriguing. If he could keep her interested in the chat group, there might be a way to get around Dumbledore's restrictions.
With a puff of smoke, seven or eight identical Kizarus suddenly appeared in front of them.
"Are they all real? I mean… can they really act independently like your original body?"
Harry asked, unable to hide his doubt. Even if people from other worlds had stranger "magic," being able to casually create multiple copies of yourself just seemed excessive.
Especially since this was just a clone—and yet the clone could make more clones? That was starting to defy all logic.
"Of course. Wanna shake hands?"
Kizaru's clones each extended their hands in a friendly gesture.
They took turns shaking hands with Harry and Hermione, and even Ron mustered up the courage to try it out.
To their amazement, the clones were all solid and tangible. No matter which one they talked to—whether one at a time or all three of them speaking to different clones simultaneously—each one responded naturally, without issue.
"This is incredible! I wish I had this ability… I could send a clone to class, one to listen to Mum nag, and the rest could just go play… I could even play wizard chess with myself!"
Ron's face was filled with admiration. And even if the clone that had to go to class didn't like it, they could rotate responsibilities. In a week, each of them would only need to attend class once!
Hermione rolled her eyes. If I had this ability, she thought, I'd stay in the library every day. With both her original self and clones reading, maybe she could finish every book in the Hogwarts library before graduation.
"Heh, this is just a basic Shadow Clone Technique. If you're interested in learning, just have Miss Granger exchange for the chakra refining method and the clone technique from Orochimaru. Should only cost about 50 Dimensional Coins."
Seeing the eager looks from the trio, Kizaru smiled. As long as Hermione was willing to make one small exchange, it would open the door for more purchases. Eventually, she'd be motivated to collaborate with them just to earn more Dimensional Coins.
"Really? I could learn it too? I mean… I'm not exactly as smart as Hermione…"
Ron sounded uncertain. That kind of incredible cloning technique had to be difficult to learn, right?
It wouldn't be a big deal if none of them could learn it—but if Hermione and Harry mastered it and he didn't…
"Relax, the Shadow Clone Technique is super easy. Even an idiot can learn it."
Kizaru was pulling out all the stops to tempt the trio, practically thumping his chest in guarantee.
"That sounds awesome…"
Ron and Harry exchanged glances, their eyes full of anticipation as they turned toward Hermione.
They didn't have any Dimensional Coins and couldn't deal directly with chat group members, so Hermione was their only hope.
"But without Dumbledore's approval…"
Hermione looked conflicted. She really wanted to learn that "magic," but most of the time she was a rule-abiding student. Without the headmaster's permission, she was nervous about the consequences.
"How about this? You three give me your old first-year textbooks. In exchange, I'll trade for the chakra refining method and the Shadow Clone Technique and gift it to you. That way it's not technically a transaction."
Kizaru simply rephrased the deal, and suddenly it didn't feel like a forbidden exchange anymore.
Even Hermione was beginning to feel tempted—let alone Harry and Ron.
"As soon as dinner's over, I'll write to Mum and ask her to send the books with Errol!"
Ron said excitedly. Errol was the Weasleys' old owl. Because of his age, he flew slowly and often got lost.
Ron used to complain about Errol all the time. But now, he could hardly wait to see the old bird again.
"You only want our used textbooks?"
Hermione asked cautiously.
For someone usually strict about rules, she could still be quite flexible when she saw value.
"Of course. No need to worry—it's just an ordinary ninja technique. Like your common magic spells. Do you think a spell that everyone knows is worth that much?"
Kizaru smiled as he dispelled the other clones.
Seeing this, Harry and Ron grew even more excited. They were already thinking—if a clone got in trouble, just dismiss it. The professors wouldn't be able to pin anything on them!
Ron, who was often pranked by Fred and George, was already dreaming up ways to use clones to finally get some revenge.
'Grrrr…'
Just then, the air was filled once again with the protesting growl of someone's stomach—but this time, it was Harry clutching his belly.
Thankfully, the trio was already getting familiar with Kizaru, so apart from Harry being a little embarrassed, Ron gave him a look full of sympathy.
"Mmm, looks like my real body has finished talking with Dumbledore too. You'd better head to the Great Hall… Oh, and remember—keep this a secret~"
With that, Kizaru's clone dissipated into a puff of smoke. The trio couldn't help but look on with eager anticipation.
"Oh, let's go already—I'm starving!"
The aroma of food was already faintly wafting from the direction of the dining hall. Ron could already imagine his and Harry's stomachs performing a duet if they delayed any longer.
By the time the trio sat down in the Great Hall, the professors had already begun filing in.
Tonight's dinner was clearly more elaborate than usual. Even Neville, who was usually the least perceptive, could tell the dishes were more extravagant than normal.
"Hey! Look over there!"
As Dumbledore entered the Great Hall, someone shouted in surprise. Almost everyone turned their heads, astonished by the towering figure that followed behind the headmaster.
"Merlin's beard, he's so tall! I bet he's at least nine feet—maybe even ten!"
George Weasley exclaimed, just as he was about to come over to talk to Harry and Ron.
Dumbledore was already considered quite tall compared to the average person, but next to Kizaru, he still seemed noticeably shorter.
In fact, the only person in Hogwarts who could surpass Kizaru in height was Hagrid, who just so happened not to be present at the moment.
"Who do you think he is?"
"Is he a new professor?"
"He's so handsome!"
"Please don't let him be another Lockhart…"
…
The students from all four houses whispered among themselves. The poor kid who dared to compare Kizaru to Gilderoy Lockhart was promptly glared into submission by a mob of Lockhart fan-girls, nearly diving under the table in panic.
"The students at Hogwarts are certainly passionate."
Kizaru took his seat without issue, seeming perfectly comfortable in the lively environment of the Great Hall.
Compared to the peak of Marineford's mess hall, where over ten thousand soldiers could dine at once, Hogwarts' Great Hall felt as quiet as a private booth.
As the most approachable admiral of the navy, Kizaru had eaten countless meals in the Navy's crowded dining hall and had long gotten used to enduring hundreds—if not thousands—of gazes at once.
"Children of that age are always full of energy. I hope you don't mind their lack of manners."
Dumbledore said sincerely. His tone surprised many of the professors seated at the staff table. It was the first time they had seen Dumbledore speak with such respect—perhaps even placing the other man on a higher pedestal.
Even the Minister of Magic tended to seem somewhat diminished in Dumbledore's presence. So who exactly was this tall man, to warrant such treatment?
°°°
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