The past week had been going smoothly with all the students in school agreeing that Ethan had been the best DADA teacher that they had ever had. Most of the students thought that after Lupin they would likely get another Lockhart or Quirrell. Ethan however taught them things that they had never even seen before and it made sense as Ethan was pulling from several magical worlds to teach them magic in tandem with the magic of the world of Harry Potter. Taking some magic books from Shield Hero, books and scrolls from DnD, Elder Scrolls and more.
Ethan planned to implement this knowledge slowly and throughout the school year amp up the lessons. The really powerful stuff though Ethan would save for his closest allies and his women. Ethan had been tutoring Hermione throughout this first week just like she had asked slowly building up his relationship with her. In fact it was right about time for Ethan to start another session with her in a couple of minutes.
Hermione Pov
I was walking towards Ethan's class with a sense of giddiness, never before had I enjoyed someone's company so much, he was so interesting, mature, and made me feel seen unlike anyone else ever had. Having spent even just a couple of sessions alone with him this past week in our sessions I wondered to myself why in the past I had even been interested in Ron. He never really noticed me like Ethan had. Even after having spent three whole years together in school the minute Fleur walked in he turned into a drooling mess and hadn't stopped talking with the other guys in our year about her.
In just a week with Ethan though I was learning things I hadn't even known existed, I hadnt even heard of Occlumency until Ethan brought it up, such a useful and important magic that could protect so many and it was something I hadnt heard of almost like there were people out there that didnt want the masses to know about it. Ethan said that learning it would help to facilitate my learning and help to keep me safe giving me a warm feeling in the center of my chest.
He had given me more care and attention in a week than I had been given in three whole years here from anyone else. Sometimes I felt like the third wheel in my relationship with Harry and Ron but when I was with him I felt like I really mattered, oh why did he have to be my teacher?! Sometimes I thought he might even be interested in me, I mean even though he is a teacher the age gap between us is so small maybe I could even...No Hermione get your head out of the clouds hes probably just being nice!
Walking into the classroom he gave me that calm smile that set butterflies in my gut and sparks of magic tingling throughout my body, oh if he showed even a hint of interest I think I would agree easily.
Hermione Pov end.
Greeting Hermione I invited her into my office. Today would be unlike other lessons I was going to show her the room of requirement, a place where we could accomplish much more and get some guaranteed privacy. Some of the things I was going to show her I didnt want enyone else to find out about yet, plus who knew what could happen if I saw the right moment I just might make my move.
"Hermione it's good to see you again, today were going to go to some place special that I think you might find interesting. There we can do much more than we can in this empty classroom." I said motioning her to follow me.
"Where are we going, the forbidden forest oh please tell me." Hermione pouted.
"Youll just have to see when we get there." I teased back as we walked to the seventh floor past the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy teaching trolls how to dance ballet. Walking three times thinking the same thing. (A private place for me and Hermione to train, somewhere we wont be disrupted)x3.
Slowly on the third lap a door began to appear next to me as I grabbed the door know and turned as we both walked inside. Before us was a massive room with stone floors and walls, a fireplace lit up on the side with magical fire that could either cool or heat the room as necessary, books lined the walls with other equipment dummies, weapons, weights, etc.
Turning towards Hermione I spoke "Hermione over the past couple of days I feel we have gotten closer and so I feel comfortable sharing this secret, this here is the Room of Requirement I found out about it when reading through some of the books in my families estate one day. Even though I never attended Hogwarts myself I know many of the secrets of this place."
Knowing just how to flatter her I continued "Having spoke with you this past week I realized just how kind, intelligent, and brave a woman you are. You're clearly more mature than your peers and I think you just might be ready for the next steps. I want to teach you things that you've never seen before, things that will put you years ahead of your peers or even full fledged wizards like Snape or McGonagall. For now though I hope you will keep this a secret as I am not yet ready share some of this with the rest of the world and some of this information could be dangerous if it got into the wrong hands. We don't want the likes of the death eaters learning any of this only to use it against us later on. Also now that I've taught you occlumency we can make sure it stays protected"
Hermione red faced and trying to appear serious replied "Ethan... thanks for sharing this with me, I wont let you down. You can definitely trust me Ill never betray you."
Reaching out and squeezing the witch's hand I thanked her "Thanks Hermione I knew I didn't misplace my trust."
Over the past week I had given great thought to what exactly I wanted to teach her in addition to magic, and what came to mind was Nen. After a quick trip in and right back out of HxH I gained the ability to use nen and teach it to others. I found this to be one of the most well thought out power systems in any work of fiction. It was all around useful. With the principles of nen you had scouting, stealth, and significant combat power available to you. I had tested these abilities especially gyo wondering if it could see magic and surprisingly it could. One simply had to infuse their nen with a hint of magic. The combination of the two was seamless as well.
Later on after mastering all of the basics she could alter develop a hatsu or nen ability of her own. First came activating her aura nodes however. There were two ways we could go about it, first she could slowly meditate to activate each of her individual nodes until they were all activated. This first method was slow and safe, key word however was slow. The next method was quick where someone exposed someone to their nen aura and forcibly opened their nodes, where after their aura would slowly leak from their bodies, potentially killing them if they could not learn to contain it fast enough.
Hermione however was quite talented and I had faith she could learn it quickly, plus the danger of opening the auras was leaking too much life energy or aura and with the horse talisman I could constantly restore her aura for as long as it took her to learn to contain it. After explaining the general idea of a fast but slightly dangerous path and a long slow but extremely safe option I let her choose.
"I want the fast method I feel confident in myself and I know if anything potentially goes wrong you'll make sure I stay safe." she said.
"What I'm about to show you isn't in any spellbook. It's called Nen. Think of it as the essence of your life force—your aura. Control it, and you can shape it into anything. Fail to, and you're like a vault with the door left wide open."
She frowned, skeptical but attentive. "Life force… aura? You mean like magical core theory?"
"Close," I said, shaking my head. "But this isn't just about casting spells. This is about you—the raw energy that makes you alive."
To drive the point home, I released my aura.
The air between us shifted instantly. A crushing weight pressed down like an ocean wave, invisible yet undeniable. Hermione staggered back, her breath catching as her knees buckled. Books rattled on the shelves; the lantern flames flickered, bending toward me as if afraid to burn too brightly.
Her eyes widened, pupils dilating. "Wh-what is this?!"
"This," I said calmly, "is aura. This is Nen. And if you don't learn to control yours, anyone who can use it will see you as prey."
I withdrew the pressure in an instant. The room stilled, the invisible weight lifting as though nothing had happened. Hermione gasped, clutching her chest, then looked up at me with awe and a spark of indignation.
"You could have warned me!"
"If I warned you," I said with a faint smirk, "you wouldn't have understood how real it is."
She straightened her robes, glaring, but her voice was steady. "Fine. Then teach me."
I stepped closer, placing a finger between her brows as I forced my aura into her nodes forcing them all open at the same time. "Close your eyes. Focus. Imagine a spring inside you, water flowing endlessly. Now imagine that flow circling your body, wrapping it like a second skin. That's Ten—the first step. It keeps your aura from leaking out, protects you, and strengthens your body."
Hermione stood there for around 30 minutes as I guided her as she began to utilise the visualization techniques I guided her through slowly I could see the aura slowly stop leaking as it was eventually contained in her body exactly as I described to her with a small layer of indigo colored aura just above her skin. Opening her eyes a smile slowly enveloped her face as she jumped up enveloping me in a hug "Ethan I did it!"
Taking my arms around her I whirled her around in a celebratory spin as I set her back on the ground. Looking into her eyes with some intensity her face slowly turned red as she realized what she was doing. Letting go and quickly turning away she muttered "Um sorry I was a little too excited..."
"Its fine, it was quite enjoyable to me." I teased her. I didn't mind taking things a little more slowly with Hermione, this was a different world with somewhat different logic than the Konosuba world and she had never so much as romantically held hands with someone let alone hugged them, no with her I had a whole school year to wiggle my way into her heart, I could wait a while longer yet.
Well while we still have some time lets test to see what type nen you have.
Hermione sat forward, her hands still tingling from learning to control her aura. Ethan stood across from her, holding a small glass of water with a single leaf floating inside.
"This," Ethan said, setting the glass between them, "is called the water divination test. It shows what category of Nen you belong to. Watch carefully."
He placed his palm just above the rim, closed his eyes, and exhaled. His aura flowed visibly into the glass. A moment later, the water shifted unnaturally, sloshing back and forth even though Ethan hadn't moved. The leaf twisted sharply, as though gripped by unseen fingers, jerking to the left and right in a rhythmic pull.
Hermione's eyes widened. "You're… manipulating it?"
"Exactly." Ethan smirked, pulling his hand back. The water stilled. "I'm a Manipulator. That means my aura is best suited to controlling things directly—objects, forces, sometimes even people if I push the boundaries. It fits my style. But now—" he waved his hand, and a fresh glass appeared, clear water shimmering under candlelight, "—it's your turn."
Hermione swallowed nervously, tucking a curl of hair behind her ear. She placed her wand aside and leaned over the glass. Ethan's voice was steady.
"Relax. Focus your aura into the water. Don't force it. Let it flow through."
She pressed her palm above the rim, breathing in deep, then exhaled slowly. A faint shimmer bled from her hand into the glass. At first, nothing happened. Then—
The water began to change. A faint, indigo glow formed within the liquid, and before Ethan's eyes, the water turned slightly murky a tell tale sign that Hermione was indeed a conjurer.
Hermione gasped, pulling back. "It… it changed! That wasn't normal water, was it? I created something inside of it!"
Ethan grinned. "That's Conjuration. You belong to the Conjurer category. It means your specialty is bringing constructs of aura into existence—objects with rules, tools with power. If you can imagine it and define its limitations, you can make it real."
Her eyes were shining, every bit of academic curiosity blazing to life. "So I could… build things? Create magical constructs that don't even exist in this world?"
"Exactly," Ethan said. "You're a born conjurer, Hermione. And with your mind? The possibilities are endless."
Hermione stared down at the glass, her reflection shimmering alongside the tiny conjured feather. For the first time, she wasn't just dreaming of learning magic—she was standing at the start of a new frontier.
Ethan let her sit in that moment a little longer before he spoke again. "Since you're a Conjurer, you should also understand the full system. Nen is divided into six categories, each one describing the way a person's aura naturally manifests. Let me break it down for you."
He conjured a glowing diagram in the air, six points on a circle, each labeled.
"Enhancement," he began, tapping the first. "Enhancers are straightforward. They strengthen themselves or objects. Simple, but incredibly effective—think raw power, durability, or boosting abilities to superhuman levels."
"Emission," he continued, pointing to the next. "Emitters project aura outward. They're great at long-range attacks or separating their aura from their bodies—like throwing blasts of energy."
"Manipulation," Ethan tapped the third. "That's me. Manipulators control things—forces, objects, even living beings if they're skilled enough. Precision and control define this category."
"Transmutation," he explained "These people can change the very properties of their aura. Imagine turning aura into fire, electricity, or rubber. They're creative, adaptable, but often unpredictable."
"Conjuration," he said, gesturing back toward the tiny feather Hermione had created. "That's you. Conjurers can create objects out of aura. These objects are real, tangible, and can even have special properties if you define rules for them."
Finally, he touched the sixth point. "Specialization, The wild card. Specialists don't fit neatly into the other five categories. Their abilities are unique to them, bending rules in ways no one else can replicate."
The glowing circle faded as Ethan folded his arms. "Each category has strengths and weaknesses. Most people are best at their main type, but with enough training, they can branch out to neighboring categories. Conjurers, for example, often find Manipulation and Transmutation easier to learn than the others."
Hermione's eyes sparkled as she absorbed every word. "It's… it's like a structured magical taxonomy. Categories, strengths, relationships. It's logical!"
Ethan chuckled. "Trust you to get excited about the framework. But yes, it's logical—and more than that, it's practical. Knowing your category tells you how to focus your training."
She sat straighter, determination already kindling in her expression. "Then I'll master Conjuration. If this is the path my aura chose, I'll make it mine completely."
Ethan smirked. "That's the spirit. With your brain and my guidance, you might just surprise the world."
Looking at the clock Ethan said "Well its just about time we head out, today is the day that the three champions will be announced and we don't want to miss it."
Shortly after Ethan and Hermione reached the Great Hall being among some of the last people to arrive, and just a few minutes after they had settled in Dumbledore began the feast.
As everyone had finished eating Dumbledore addressed the room asking for quiet, as the lights in the great hall began to dim and the Goblet of Fire grew brighter than ever before. "It is now time...the Goblet shall now select the champions, but know this even if you are not chosen you are among the brave who dared to try." Then it happened.
The Great Hall buzzed with tension as the Goblet of Fire burned atop its pedestal, blue flames flickering higher than normal. Students leaned forward at their tables, whispers rising and falling like a storm.
Dumbledore raised his hand, quieting the hall, just as the fire turned red and spat its first scrap of parchment. He caught it smoothly, eyes glinting in the firelight.
"Viktor Krum!"
The Durmstrang table erupted with cheers, fists pounding the table and voices echoing through the chamber. Krum rose, heavy and deliberate, every step a reminder of his fame. He disappeared into the champions' chamber, followed by the eyes of half the girls in the hall.
Another burst of flame.
"Fleur Delacour!"
Beauxbatons answered with a chorus of cheers and elegant claps, their students glowing with pride. Fleur glided forward, her presence as radiant as a Veela's charm, and vanished through the door with her head high.
Then came Hogwarts' turn.
"Cedric Diggory!"
The Hufflepuff table exploded with pride, chants of "Cedric! Cedric!" shaking the very benches. Cedric strode forward, tall and steady, the perfect picture of a champion, and disappeared into the chamber.
The Goblet quieted. Its flames settled back to blue, and the hall exhaled. Students leaned toward one another, buzzing about their chosen champions.
But then—
The fire turned red again. Sparks shot upward, higher and hotter than before. Gasps filled the hall as a fourth scrap of parchment was ejected into the air. Dumbledore caught it, his eyes narrowing as he read the name aloud:
"Harry Potter."
The silence broke like glass.
"That's not possible!""The Goblet only picks three!""He cheated!""Hogwarts gets two champions?!"
The hall dissolved into uproar. Some shouted in disbelief, others booed, and the tension crackled like static in the air.
Ron's face twisted, jealousy and anger mingling in a way Harry had never seen before. He shoved his plate aside, muttering loud enough for those nearby to hear:"Of course it's you. You couldn't stand Cedric having the spotlight, could you?"
Hermione, pale and unsettled, stared at Harry with wide eyes, her worry clear. She didn't believe he'd cheat—but she also couldn't explain what had just happened.
Harry's heart hammered in his chest as he stood, the weight of every accusing eye pressing down on him. He hadn't asked for this. He hadn't wanted this. But the Goblet's decision left him no choice. His feet dragged him forward into the champions' chamber, every step heavier than the last.
Harry's POV
The antechamber felt colder than the Great Hall. Fleur stood tall and aloof, Cedric calm but watchful, Krum as stoic as stone. All three turned as Harry entered, confusion and disbelief flashing across their faces.
"Harry Potter?" Fleur said, her voice sharp.
Before Harry could answer, the door slammed open again. Dumbledore swept in, robes trailing, flanked by Madame Maxime and Karkaroff. Their faces were grim, their voices cutting.
"This is outrageous!" Karkaroff barked, teeth bared. "The Goblet cannot choose four! Either the boy tampered with it—or Hogwarts is playing for advantage!"
"Indeed," Madame Maxime said coolly, her sharp eyes flicking toward Dumbledore. "Two champions from one school? That is hardly fair, Albus."
Harry's throat tightened. He wanted to scream, to deny it, to disappear. Instead, his voice cracked out, raw:"I didn't put my name in! I don't even want to be in this stupid tournament!"
Inside, his frustration burned hotter. Why me? Every year—it's always me. Trolls, basilisk, Dementors—can't I have one normal year? Just one without danger?
Dumbledore's hand lifted, silencing the bickering headmasters. His piercing gaze fell on Harry, weighing his words carefully."Whether he entered willingly or not, the Goblet has spoken. Harry Potter is bound by contract. He must compete."
The words landed like a hammer. There was no escape.
The meeting ended in a storm of mutters and accusations, but one fact remained: Harry was the fourth champion.
Dumbledore called across the room."Ethan, would you see Harry back to his dormitory?"
Ethan nodded, falling into step beside Harry as they left the chamber. Their footsteps echoed through the quiet corridor. For a long time, neither spoke.
Finally, Ethan broke the silence. His voice was calm, steady."For what it's worth, Harry, I believe you."
Harry blinked, startled. "You… do?"
"Yes," Ethan said firmly. "You don't strike me as someone hungry for fame. If you say you didn't put your name in, I trust you. Which means someone else is pulling strings. If you ever need help—find me."
For the first time that evening, Harry felt something loosen in his chest. "Thanks," he muttered, meaning it more than he could say.
They reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, who squinted at them expectantly. Ethan stepped back, offering a reassuring nod.
"Go on. Get some rest. Tomorrow will be difficult enough."
Harry gave the password, the portrait swung open, and he slipped into the Gryffindor common room, where the storm of his housemates awaited him.
Ethan turned and strode away, cloak whispering at his heels, leaving Harry alone with the crushing reality of what the Goblet had done.
Ethan POV
With me as the DADA teacher Moody never showed up, so who is the one who put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire? Wondering just how the world would adjust to keep the plot on track Ethan walked back to his room as he endeavored to figure out who exactly was pulling the strings this year...