"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Before Lynn even reached the hut, Fang's excited barking was already shaking the windows.
"Hagrid, it's me!"
He knocked on the huge door, and a second later Hagrid swung it open with a massive grin.
"Lynn! Perfect timing. I just got back from the centaurs with those spices you wanted. Was about to send you an owl."
"No Hallie today?"
"She went off with Hermione and Parvati. Probably buried in the library by now."
"Oh, right, I forgot to give you the hot-pot recipe last time." Lynn reached into his pocket for the parchment. Unfortunately, the half-snapped piece of chewing gum came out with it and landed on the ground.
Fang, tail wagging like a helicopter, snapped it up in one gulp.
"Fang! No eating random junk!"
Lynn grabbed the dog's giant head and gave it a good scrub. "That's chewing gum, buddy. Spit it out."
"Woof~"
Fang just wagged harder. Gum already swallowed.
"You little glutton."
Lynn sighed. With a dog Fang's size, one tiny piece of gum wasn't going to hurt him. Chocolate would've been a disaster, but gum? He'd live.
"I guess the other half's getting tossed. Nobody wants gum that's been in Fang's mouth…"
He reached into his pocket again. Empty. The second half was gone.
Huh. Must've dropped it somewhere. Oh well. It's open gum. Nobody's desperate enough to pick it up and chew it… right?
"Anyway, Hagrid, do you know where I can find some Grasshoppers or Bouncing Bulbs in the forest? I need them for potions, and buying them feels like a rip-off. There's gotta be tons near the edge of the Forbidden Forest."
"Loads of 'em," Hagrid said, scratching his beard. "Grasshoppers hide in the moving bushes. Bouncing Bulbs grow under trees, especially the ones with rocks around the base. Edge of the forest's full of 'em. Professor Sprout even takes her classes to pick some sometimes."
"But remember: edge only. No going in deep."
"If you need anything else for potions, I can grab it for you. Or trade some meat with the centaurs. They love meat, and I've got plenty."
Hagrid was the kind of guy who'd give you the shirt off his back if he liked you, and Lynn was definitely on the "liked" list.
"Nah, I'm good. Most ingredients I can just buy, and they're cheap enough. I don't want to keep bothering you."
He wasn't about to take advantage of the guy just because Hagrid was nice.
"Alright, off to pick herbs then. Planning to brew something when I get back."
"Go on, go on." Hagrid waved cheerfully. "Started working on those dragon-hide cloaks for you lot. Still gotta cure the hides. Takes about two weeks, but they'll be ready before the first snow. Come try 'em on together when they're done!"
"We'll definitely be here!"
Lynn waved goodbye and headed toward the forest edge, practically skipping.
With his telekinesis, catching Grasshoppers without a net was child's play. Bouncing Bulbs tried to hop away, but they never made it far. He even found a bunch of other useful magical plants while he was at it. The Forbidden Forest was a treasure chest.
Free stuff is the best stuff. Even with an adult mind, Lynn couldn't help feeling like a kid again, grinning like an idiot as he stuffed his four-dimensional pockets. It was like a thirty-year-old dude still loving LEGO, except now it's the giant complicated sets, and you'll sit there for hours even after a soul-crushing day at work until your back screams.
Time flew. When the sky started turning purple, Lynn finally brushed off his robes and headed back, pockets overflowing with future galleons.
He was humming as he reached the castle doors. The Great Hall was already noisy with students, and smoke was rising from Hagrid's chimney behind him.
As soon as he reached the Gryffindor table, he heard Ron bragging at full volume.
"Thirteen in a row! I just beat thirteen people straight!"
Ron's face was glowing. Seamus, whose shoulders he had in a vice grip, looked like he was regretting every life choice that led to buying Wizard's Chess in Diagon Alley.
"I told you I'm awesome at this. Wizard's Chess is hard, yeah, but if you've got natural talent like me, it's not something you can just learn... it's, uh... advanced skill."
Lynn didn't really care about chess, but as he passed, Ron gave him this weird smug eyebrow raise. Lynn had no idea what that was about, so he just nodded politely and kept walking.
"Lynn! Over here!"
Hallie waved from across the bench. Cho was sitting at the Gryffindor table too (rare sight), whispering with Marietta. All the girls were wearing colorful beaded bracelets made of little round stones.
"Where'd you disappear to this afternoon?" Hallie asked the second he sat down next to her.
"We did constellation divination! Cho's amazing at it. And look, we made zodiac bracelets!" She shoved her wrist under his nose. The beads were connected with tiny threads that formed her star sign when lined up.
"Cho made one for you too," Hallie said with a huge grin, elbowing him. "She's totally into you~"
"Special delivery, just for Lynn~"
"Hallie!" Cho's face went pink. She leaned across Lynn, grabbed Hallie's cheeks, and squished them like dough.
"I was wrong~" Hallie squeaked, giving puppy eyes.
But the second Cho let go, she was back at it. "So when are you giving him your super-secret present? After dinner? As a surprise?"
"I take it back, Cho, but I'd do it again."
Cho couldn't even pretend to be mad anymore. Hallie was being an absolute gremlin, but it was impossible to hate her.
Still playing angry, Cho asked, "And why exactly should I be the one to give it first?"
"Because Lynn's too dense! Someone's gotta make the first move."
"Since when do you care about my love life?" Lynn flicked her forehead, laughing.
"Can't a guy just be devastatingly handsome and have girls throwing themselves at him? Is that so unbelievable?"
Hallie fake-gagged. "Wow. I can't believe someone this shameless actually exists."