Hagrid was enormous and wild-looking in the woods.
Seamus and Dean were a little scared, but Loren seemed familiar with Hagrid, so they resigned themselves to his handling, wearing resigned expressions.
Loren introduced them as they walked. "This is Seamus Finnigan, my and Harry's roommate, and this is Dean Thomas, our classmate."
"And this big guy," he added with a smile, "is Hagrid, Harry's friend."
Hagrid carried Seamus and Dean effortlessly and joked, "Don't learn from the Weasley brothers—too many people tossing me around."
He tossed them up and caught them repeatedly.
At first, Seamus and Dean screamed in fright, but soon they were laughing and cheering each time.
"I knew you'd like it," Hagrid said. "Fang loved playing like this when he was a pup."
Loren felt something was off.
Hagrid set them down near his hut, where neatly stacked firewood awaited—logs twice Loren's waist thick.
He grabbed a huge axe and began splitting the wood into firewood strips.
While Hagrid chopped, Loren and the others stacked the wood, but Hagrid worked far faster.
As they worked, the three chatted.
"I heard there are centaurs and unicorns in the Forbidden Forest," Dean said eagerly. "I want to see them."
Hagrid swung his axe, splitting a tree stump. "They're not easy to mess with. Best to keep away."
"There are plenty of dangerous creatures in the forest. Listen to the principal and professors—don't go near it."
Seamus and Dean peppered Hagrid with questions about the forest.
Loren, tired, sat down to rest for a bit, then ran off to play with Fang.
Seamus and Dean, now more familiar with Hagrid, eagerly followed Loren's lead.
Hagrid laughed and scolded them gently but didn't stop their mischief—just as long as they didn't blow up more of the forest.
As the sun dipped low, painting clouds golden, Hagrid had finished chopping.
Most of the firewood was still scattered on the ground; he planned to tidy up later.
Standing tall, he shouted to the muddy boys, "You should eat dinner here or head back to the castle!"
Recalling the rock cake incident, Loren replied, "Let's go back to the castle. The professors will worry if it gets dark."
Seamus and Dean agreed, though they would've loved dinner at the cabin. Loren's subtle hand patting theirs conveyed the message.
Hagrid entered the hut and returned with small items, handing one to each boy.
"These are the teeth shed by Aragog's children when they molt. Consider them your reward for today."
The three thought the teeth were cool but didn't realize their great value as potion or alchemical ingredients.
They declined Hagrid's offer of escort and happily ran back to the castle.
Loren forgot to ask why there was so much firewood stored in September.
At the Gryffindor table during dinner, Dean excitedly recounted the day's adventures for the third time.
"Loren first taught us a powerful 'crackling' spell near the Forbidden Forest."
Hermione's interest peaked.
"We blew up a tree as tall as a two-story building and startled a four-meter giant living in the forest!"
"Oh!" the friends exclaimed respectfully.
"That giant is a friend of Harry and Loren. He invited us to his home deep in the forest."
"Oh oh!"
"Before we left, he gave us a gift—teeth from a giant spider."
Seamus pulled out a tooth necklace he wore around his neck.
"Oh!"
Loren doubted himself for a moment. Was that really how he had spent the day?
It sounded like it, but something felt... off.
Harry was jealous beyond words. He attacked his lamb chops with his knife and fork as if cutting up Draco Malfoy himself.
"I knew Hagrid first, and I'm way closer to him!" Harry muttered, frustrated.
Remembering his lonely afternoon—Ron gone home, Loren and Seamus out playing without him, and him stuck in the lounge with nothing to do—Harry cut harder.
"It's all Malfoy's fault! If it weren't for him, I'd be with them! It's all Malfoy's fault…"
Neville, noticing Harry's dark mood, quietly moved a little to the side.
That night, Loren, Harry, Seamus, and Neville lay in their dormitory beds.
Without Ron, the room felt quieter and emptier.
"Let's chat!" Harry said eagerly. He still had many questions.
"My eyes can see Animagi. I saw something wrong with Scabbers, told Headmaster Dumbledore, and you know the rest," Loren explained rapidly, rattling off details at lightning speed.
Seamus and Neville were shocked.
"Hey, wait—why is your Hogwarts so different from ours? We haven't even finished the map yet, and you're already fighting mini-bosses!"
Harry was stunned Loren had anticipated his questions.
He opened his mouth to ask, "Why—"
"I can read minds too," Loren interrupted again, delivering another swift combo.
Harry wondered if Loren was serious or just joking.
"Really!" Loren declared, launching a full set of rapid-fire moves that left Harry's brain spinning.
After his verbal assault, Loren jumped into bed and pulled the quilt over himself.
"Bedtime! Good night, everyone!"
Harry's mind was about to explode. Intuitively, he didn't believe it—but this was the magic world. What if it was true? Loren had just answered a question in his head!
Seamus thought that if Loren could teach him that explosive spell, mind-reading wasn't so unbelievable.
Neville believed everything Loren said but was simply amazed.
Loren lay under the quilt, shaking silently with laughter and stomach aches from suppressing his amusement.
Elementary schoolers! Psychological warfare straight to the CPU. Can you even sleep tonight?!
Moonlight spilled through the window. After some unknown time, Neville fell asleep first, then Seamus. Harry's mental gears still burned.
Loren thought of Grandpa Bates.
With credit for catching Peter Pettigrew, he had confessed everything to Dumbledore directly.
For Dumbledore's sake, if nothing else, there was now a good chance he could obtain some rare knowledge or items.
He began planning practical spells to practice until he could master one like Portaberto.
For defense, he wanted to focus on the Shield Charm and the Freezing Charm.
For offense, he needed a signature spell.
Harry had fought his way up from the low ranks using Expelliarmus, a unique style.
The Weasleys passed down Bombarda through generations, and if it suited Loren, he might become invincible.
He would also train Transfiguration deeply—Dumbledore and McGonagall both emphasized its usefulness.
Whether to learn Animagus would depend on circumstances.
He also planned to master Patronus and Apparition for later stages.
Regarding alchemy, the two books he had were invaluable.
He aimed to master the vast prerequisite knowledge, seize the Philosopher's Stone opportunity, and perhaps even chat with Nicolas Flamel someday.