Hogwarts: Don't Starve in the Forbidden Forest Chapter 5 5: Hogwarts Life Begins with Chopping Trees

"Talk about persistent fans. This level of 'sasaeng' behavior is enough to make want to call the police," Kane said with a helpless smile, delivering a threat that didn't sound particularly threatening.

Kingsley rubbed his nose awkwardly. He had just rembered that he was, in fact, an Auror.

"In any case, please believe us when we say we an you no harm. It is simply that, as a young wizard of exceptional status, you require an education," Dumbledore said warmly.

"Or a trip to Azkaban," Kingsley added, his professional instincts kicking in. To keep Kane in line, he instinctively slipped into a 'good cop, bad cop' routine, naturally assuming the role of the stern 'bad cop.'

Dumbledore glanced back with a look of mild exasperation. Kingsley suddenly found that his mouth wouldn't open. Dumbledore then turned back to Kane.

"Please ignore him. My na is Albus Dumbledore. I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry—a place dedicated to teaching young witches and wizards how to harness their magic."

"Alright, 'no harm'... I suppose I can see that. So this is just a ho visit? You really should have sent a letter in advance," Kane said, deciding to play along. There wasn't much use in resisting; given the current situation, he wasn't going anywhere.

"Perhaps the owl carrying your letter got stuck in a draft. No matter. Now... tell about your parents?" Dumbledore asked.

"I don't have any."

"I am sorry to hear that," Dumbledore said, his expression softening into one of apology before shifting the topic. "Would you mind telling how you ca to master such remarkable magic?"

"Is this part of the ho visit too?"

"Naturally," Dumbledore nodded.

"Well... it was a rather unpleasant adventure," Kane said vaguely. Dumbledore, being perceptive, sensed the boy's reluctance and changed the subject again.

"Since you now know you are a wizard, you must also understand the rules of the magical world. Kingsley, you are the expert on this."

With a subtle gesture, Dumbledore allowed Kingsley to speak again.

For the next ten minutes, Kane was forced to endure a long-winded lecture. The gist was simple: exposing magic to Muggles is a catastrophe for both worlds.

Kane was strictly forbidden from using magic in front of non-magical people—especially since his magic was a very "pure" form of the Dark Arts, which was doubly prohibited.

"But I have to eat," Kane said, leaning against the wall. He asked the question with a flat tone that carried shocking weight.

Dumbledore and Kingsley both froze. Kane was currently earning his living by performing magic on street corners.

Telling him not to use magic was essentially telling him to starve. Unless the Ministry or Hogwarts intended to cover his room and board, they had no moral ground to stand on.

"Perhaps you could... co to Hogwarts early," Dumbledore suggested, taking the responsibility upon himself.

He knew the "beings" at the Ministry. If Kane spent a month under their supervision before starting school, he'd likely graduate as the next Voldemort. The Ministry had a unique talent for making their own people miserable.

Kane looked at Dumbledore's sincere face and then at the massive silhouette of Hogwarts Castle. He no longer regretted following the old man here.

Dumbledore first led Kane to his office. "Since the Sorting Ceremony hasn't happened yet, you can't stay in the student dormitories. However, we have two options. A: You can stay here with ."

"I'll take the second option," Kane said instantly. He wasn't used to sleeping in the sa room as others, and he was a restless sleeper.

He had once nearly kicked Harry out of the cupboard under the stairs; he didn't want to accidentally kick the Headmaster into several fragile pieces.

Dumbledore smiled. "Congratulations. I think you'll like your new roommate. I'll call Severus. He is our Potions Master. His ho at Spinner's End is being renovated this sumr, so he's staying at the castle. I'm sure you'll find him... charming."

Dumbledore conjured a silvery, translucent bird that flew out of the office. Monts later, the bird returned with a ssage from the man nad Severus: If you dare send that boy here, don't be surprised if I turn him into a potion ingredient.

"Um... can't you just find an empty classroom for to crash in?" Kane asked, staring at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore simply shook his head. If he didn't have Kane under his roof, how could he study the "low-intensity Dark Magic experints" that occurred every night after midnight? It was all about strategy.

"Lunch is at noon, dinner is at seven in the Great Hall. Curfew is at ten—make sure you're back by then. For the rest of the ti, feel free to explore the castle."

Dumbledore gave him total freedom, making sure Kane didn't feel like a prisoner despite not yet being an official student.

"Wait, your office has a second bed, right?" Kane asked as he headed for the door.

"Ah... you'll have to forgive . My old bones can't manage the top bunk," Dumbledore said apologetically.

"Bunk beds? That's luxury," Kane muttered, stepping out of the Headmaster's office.

"The castle is nice, isn't it? The Constant didn't have places where you could safely study magic," Maxwell suddenly said, appearing beside him.

"You shouldn't have left so quickly. You should have asked the old wizard to teach you a few tricks, or you might not survive the night."

"I don't need a reminder. I have a plan," Kane replied. "If I infuse the shadows into physical matter in this world, I might be able to... make a small campfire."

"And after that? Are you planning to build a Science Machine?" Maxwell asked.

"Once I find so gold. For now, the plan is firewood," Kane said. He sat on the banister and slid from the eighth floor down to the sixth, searching for the next set of stairs.

Soon, he left the castle and headed toward the Forbidden Forest. He snapped a few branches, gathered so stones and tall grass, and sat on the ground.

His hands moved with practiced speed, and in a matter of monts, he had crafted a crude axe—looking like sothing straight out of an early-access survival ga.

As he shouldered the axe and walked into the forest, a less-than-pleasant mory flickered in his mind.

"A magical school's forest... shouldn't have Treeguards, right?"

...Well, sticking to the outskirts for so small logs should be fine.

A while later, Hagrid erged from the depths of the Forbidden Forest with Fang. He stopped dead in his tracks, watching Kane—who was staggering back toward Hogwarts with a bundle of firewood in his arms and pockets stuffed with grass.

"???"