ch 48 My Antics

Sept. 7, 1991, Saturday 8:23 am Outside the Great Hall 

"Say hi to your new friends for me. And Tania, I have already prepared food in your pouch. It has shrimp fried rice. You guys can have your lunch outside. If you see anything interesting, check first if it has an owner or a guardian!" I said my reminders to the three.

I'm happy they had a fun time exploring yesterday. When they came back, they told me stories of what they encountered. They also brought me gifts like unicorn hair that were freely given.

I asked Long to make a small pouch for Tania that has expanded space, so they can bring lunch boxes and to store the things they find in the forest.

I waved them goodbye as they flew away towards the Forbidden Forest. I did want to meet the unicorn herd, but I let my pets establish a friendly relationship first and have them ask for permission, so I could meet them.

I sense that Quirrell is still stable and won't require unicorn blood yet. So there is no hurry.

I had the whole day free and seeing the large lake, I smiled and made my way to the greenhouse area. 

At the back of the greenhouse area is a vegetable patch, and next to it is a bank of the lake that is lined with water grasses. It's a perfect place to go to enter the lake.

I sense my surroundings to make sure that no one is around. When I was sure, I turned invisible and took my black swimming shorts from my pouch. I change into it while putting all my clothes and wand in the pouch. I then kept the pouch in a zippered pocket on the side of my short.

As I dived into the water, I created an air bubble around my head and manipulated the water to ease my movement. 

I started singing "Under the Sea" in my head while looking around the water. It's not the first time I have dived in large open water. I always dive in the sea after practicing teleportation with Reza. 

At first, I felt a bit uncomfortable and even scared. Your imagination runs wild when facing the vast emptiness of the open sea. Good thing I have a soul sensing ability to warn me of anything or anyone around a mile away.

Back in my dive. I was still near the shore and was surrounded by a tall forest of kelp-looking grass. I sense several hostile creatures hiding in the grass.

I just used a bit of pressure to intimidate them and saw a glimpse of one of them and recognized that it was a Grindylow. They can be territorial, so I quickly left the kelp forest to avoid a confrontation. I didn't come here to fight, just to explore.

Outside the forest, I was quickly met by a fast-moving creature circling and observing me. It looked like a torpedo made of grass, but I quickly realized that it was a kelpie. It was probably hunting the grindylows in the kelp forest.

It quickly made a turn and headed my way. I sigh and prepare a low charge of electricity. When the kelpie is about 5 meters away from me, I discharge an electric field around me that quickly shocked the creature. It tried to push forward, but it only resisted for another 10 sec before it couldn't take anymore and swam away.

I didn't try to attempt communicating with it. From what I learned back in the English Channel, predators like sharks only have one thing in mind...and that is to eat.

I remember that Newt was able to tame a kelpie, but I'm not interested in the creature. And I would rather not add it in my beast space. It might even mess up my fisheries.

Thereafter, I swam a bit near the lake bed.

"MmmmmMmm!!" I heard a call and looked up to see the Giant Squid waving its tentacles. It turned to its side, so its eyes were looking at me.  

I'm surprised at how huge it was. The mantle alone is comparable to three double-decker buses combined. But the size of the squid looks more massive, with its thick tentacles freely waving in the water.

I approached it and waved my hand. I expanded my air bubble so that it covers my whole body. I took out my pouch and retrieved a Tupperware full of crab cakes. I just dumped all the food in the water and the squid quickly grabbed it.

"Mmmm?! Mmmmmm?" The Giant Squid asks me what I'm doing down in the lake.

I replied, "I don't have class for the entire day. I'm exploring the lake. Could you please give me a tour? I'll pay with food."

"Mmm?.. MmMmmMmMmmm" The squid agreed but made a request for French toasts next time I come down here.

I laughed and agreed to his request. The squid coiled a small, thin tentacle around my waist and slowly dragged me around.

I saw some ruins of a castle . I didn't see any writing that would give a clue about its origin. 

The Giant Squid slowed down and said that we had entered merpeople territory. I could already sense a party heading our way.

A school of merpeople wielding spears and tridents approached me and the squid. They kept their distance and observed us from afar.

I tapped the tentacle on my waist and yelled, "Stop, Big guy! I'll talk to them..." The squid let me go, and I swam in front of the merpeople.

Their appearance is surely not easy in the eyes. Coupled with the obvious aggression they are showing, I'm doubting if talking to them was a great idea. I spoke in Mermish,"[Hello, friends. I come in peace!]"

The merpeople showed a surprised look when I greeted them fluently in their language. One of them came forward ,still pointing a trident at me, and said," [Why are you here, young wizard?]"

"[Oh, I don't have class today, so I decided to explore the lake. ]" I nonchalantly said with a shrug of my shoulders and a smile on my face.

They didn't know how to respond to my explanation. Some even scratch their heads. The same mermaid then looked at the Giant Squid behind me and asked, "[Why are you with the lake guardian?]"

I replied,"[I asked it to give me a tour of the lake. I bribed it with food, though.]"

"[[[WHAT!? ]]]" They were surprised again. They know the squid is friendly to the students, but to be able to ask it to give me a tour is another level. Then they remember that I can speak Mermish. They are now realizing that I'm not just a simple student of Hogwarts.

The mermaid became polite and said, "[Can we ask your name, young wizard?]"

"[Oh! Apologies, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Marshall Witcherly.]" I politely introduce myself.

"Mmm..Mmm!?Mmmmmm" The Giant Squid asked if we should continue with the tour. So I said to the merpeople, "[Can I visit this area again?]"

"[Of course, young Witcherly. Just show this to the guards if you wish to come here...]" The mermaid then tossed his necklace to me. The string is made of fibers from aquatic plants and there is a teardrop pearl dangling on it.

'Oh, silly me! I don't have a greeting gift prepared.' I thought fast and took out my wand. I waved it and a white smoke momentarily appeared but quickly dissolved in the water.

The wand waving is actually just for show. I took 5 boxes full of apples from the warehouse in my Beast Space. Over time, we accumulated a lot of fruit that we kept under stasis charms.

I pushed the boxes of apples at the merpeople and said, "[A gift from me. Until we meet again, friends…]" I bid goodbye and swam to the Giant Squid. It wrapped its tentacles around my waist before continuing on our tour.

After we left, the merpeople opened the boxes and were surprised to see fruits. One of them hold an apple with both hands and examine it. Then it took a small bite. A surprised look appeared on his face. He exclaimed,  "[DELICIOUS!!!]"

The rest of the merpeople grabbed and ate an apple. They were surprised at how delicious it was. The leader of the group, "[Quickly! Let's bring it to the Chief! And remind the guards to be friendly to the boy. Someone who can befriend the lake guardian should be treated with the greatest respect!]"

I didn't know that I became a VIP to the merpeople after that meeting.

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11:30 am, Slytherin Common room

-Third-person POV-

"His fellow Hufflepuffs said they hadn't seen Marshall after breakfast." Tracy pouted as she sat on the couch in their common room. She wants to hang out with the mysterious red head after hearing Daphne yesterday.

Daphne sighed and said, "Just give up for now. Besides, that guy is probably playing around with his pets somewhere. And can you show a little restraint in approaching that guy?"

"Oh, please. I'm not the only one who got curious about that guy. Millicent obviously has a crush on him." Tracy rolled an eye and teased the other Slytherin girl with them.

Millicent blushed and quickly denied it, "N.nn.No I don't!!, He just seemed fun to be around. Well, I can say he is better company than Malfoy and the other boys here."

"I can't deny that." Daphne just nodded.

"MMMMmmmMmMmmMmmmmm!!" They heard a sound of a familiar creature coming from the glass window. Their common room is located underground where the side is underwater. The window shows a view of the lake from below. Occasionally, they can see a glimpse or hear the wails of the Giant Squid inhabiting the lake.

Remembering the Giant Squid, Tracy recalls the time they took the boats to Hogwarts, "Marshall would probably try to play with the squid. I can picture it now.. The guy swimming and feeding the squid like before....huh!?!"

"Why did you stop talking, Tracy?" Daphne asked her friend.

"Uhm.. I think I'm thinking of Witcherly too much.. I'm starting to have hallucinations about him.." Tracy rubbed her eyes and took a look again at the window.

Daphne and Millicent then follow Tracy's gaze that point toward the window showing the lake. Then they saw it... Or more properly, they saw him!

It was Witcherly swimming shirtless and only in black shorts. There was a thin tentacle around his waist and an air bubble covering his head.

"""WITCHERLY!!!""" The girls came closer to the window. They noticed Marshall was looking at them and waving his hand.

They were still stunned by what they'd seen, but reflexively returned a wave.

Daphne frowned and just mumbled, "This guy is just so…"

Millicent absentmindedly said, "...sexy"

Tracy and Daphne rolled their eyes at the girl. But they can't deny the guy looks attractive and has an athletic physique. He looks silly but attractive.

Marshall then turned around and tapped the tentacle around his waist. He was then pulled by the squid far from the sight of the girls.

Seeing Marshall's antics left an impression on the girls. The three Slytherins got more curious about the silly red-headed boy.

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12:33 pm Hogwarts Great Hall

I enter the Great Hall with a smile on my face. I had a fun time exploring the lake. I'll try to visit the merpeople settlement on my next dive.

I waved at Harry and the Weasleys who were eating at the Gryffindor table. Seeing that there was no free space around them, so I just walked directly to the Hufflepuffs. I sat in between Kevin and Naomi, and a plate and utensils appeared in front of me.

I sigh, seeing the dishes. They were the same dishes for the past week. I can't complain about the taste, but eating it over and over again really bores my palate. Luckily, I asked Jolly to cook shrimp fried rice this morning for my pets' lunchboxes, and there was still a lot of left. 

I took my wooden lacquer bento box from my pouch. It was still warm. It can go well with the roasted dishes on the table.

"Ah! RICE! You have rice! Can I have some? Please!!!" Naomi yelled and grabbed my shoulder tightly. 

"Jeez… Ok…ok… just let go for a bit, Naomi" I asked her to let go and quickly took another lunchbox from my pouch. I sometimes have Jolly cook in large batches and store the food in case I get hungry. Nana applied a stasis charm to our warehouses so the food never decayed.

Naomi grabs the lunchbox, opens it and quickly eats the shrimp fried rice. She was acting as if she hadn't eaten in a long time.

I felt a tap on my shoulder, so I turned around to see six Ravenclaw girls. I recognize three of them as Padma Patil, Sue Li and Cho Chang.

Padma asked, "Witcherly… I mean, Marhall, do you still have some rice?"

'Uhmm…', I looked at them and just opened my pouch and took six more lunchboxes filled with shrimp fried rice and handed them to the girls.

""""""YAaahh!"""""" They all squeal, making a scene in the Great Hall. Padma looked hesitant but still asked, "Do you have one more? I'll give it to my sister"

I turned around to see that Parvati was already making her way to me.  When she was in front of me, she reached out her hand and I just handed her another lunchbox.  I heard a "TSK" coming from Padma.

The girls quickly came back to their seats after promising to return the lunchboxes.

I'm still stunned at what happened, but just quietly began eating my fried rice and some roasted pork.

The rest of my group looked at me… then looked at Naomi who was happily eating the food in the lunchbox… Then back at me again.

I saw their puzzled looks and shrugged my shoulders and lazily said, "Don't underestimate the power of rice."

~end chapter ~