Chapter 2: Exploring Hogsmeade~

If you have any questions, just ask~

Please report any grammar issues or typos. I'll most likely fix them.

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Carefully manhandling the mattress upstairs, Gale was quite satisfied with the results. While he had lost a curtain, it was worth it. His room was almost spick and span. Completely clean, albeit still very creaky.

He thumbed the mattress on the ground, admiring his handiwork. This was probably the most hospitable room in the whole establishment.

All Gale had in here was a single table, a wooden bucket, a mattress, and a few rags. Plopping down on the mattress, it seemed that he really had cleaned out the bedbugs.

It might have had something to do with the soap, which had also been charmed to clear out any pests and such. Extremely convenient. He didn't have to worry about anything as of now. The power of soap was truly hard to comprehend.

Besides the clothes on his back, Gale didn't really have any true personal belongings. Now that everything was clear, he could finally take a look at that card.

If what it said was true…. Then he now had access to the Ten Rings, which were ten metal bracelets and not ten rings.

One could argue that they were rings, as they looked like rings, and could theoretically fit on someone's fingers if they were big enough, but they were usually worn around the wrists. Therefore, in Gale's opinion, they were bracelets.

Walking out of his room, he closed the door behind him, not wanting any filth to get in while he was gone. Steadily clambering down the stairs, he felt it warp and creak with each step. Definitely not safe.

Going out the back door, which wasn't locked, Gale stared at his surroundings. To the back of the Hog's Head was a small stream. The water source wasn't too deep, coming up to Gale's knees, and was not too wide. One could hop over it if they liked.

Staring into the stream, Gale blinked, taking a good look at his reflection. It surprised him, he hadn't noticed even while washing the mattress and such.

He looked different. Only slightly though. Short for his age, he had inky black hair tinted a slight gold at the tips and ambery brown eyes.

Extremely muscular, he wore a smooth black shirt and those loose grey pants from before, with some sneakers. He was extremely handsome. Not that he cared really about that. What Gale noticed, was he seemed to be slightly taller.

Was it an illusion? Or had he actually grown when transmigrated? If so…. Then that would be awesome. Being 5 ft. 6 ½ had always been a sore point in his life.

And that was what he did. Leaping over the stream, Gale stepped through the thick weed-filled grass. In front of him, was a small wood, a forested area. Behind the stream, it provided much cover, and would prove useful in the testing of this…. Card.

Walking off behind a tree, Gale willed the green card into existence, which levitated there by his eyes. And then, he grabbed it. Hands clenching the card, it burst into pieces, those same green sparks from before dispersing into the sky above.

Then, he felt something. Gale felt a slight weight around his wrists and arms. Looking down, he laughed out loud, as the Ten Rings (Bracelets) were equipped.

They were metallic and glowed a dim silverish blue. Inscribed with mystical runes of some sort, and patterned with small carved details, they honestly looked badass.

Tightening his hands into fists, the Ten Rings shimmered slightly. Gale took a deep breath and swung his fist forwards. Immediately, one of his rings shot out, shooting forwards at blistering speeds.

*BOOM!*

The ring made an impact with a boulder, rendering the inanimate object to smithereens. Right after that, the ring returned to Gale, coming back around his right wrist

Gale gaped, stunned at the power. This would really have some getting used to. Swinging about, he began shooting out the rings around, manipulating them in different ways. The card didn't come with instant mastery sadly, so it would be a drag to learn this.

But it wasn't like he could do much else, besides this and helping out in the Hog's Head. He needed to find out how these Cards manifested.

Concentrating, he struck out with the rings like a whip, destroying another boulder with ease. Stumbling back, Gale's arms trembled, and sweat painted his face. The strain on controlling them was high.

After a few more minutes, Gale stopped using them and willed them to dematerialize, which they did. It surprised him as the Ten Rings dispersed into those green sparks, and suddenly, his arms were free of burden once more.

Waving his left hand, Gale noticed that the green card was once again there. Nice.

Leaving the woods, he looked around, noticing the other nearby buildings. This was behind, in the backwoods of Hogsmeade. No buildings or roads were around here. They were all facing the other way, so he mostly had a lot of privacy. The Shrieking Shack could be seen in the far distance. Gale decided that he would check it out sometime soon.

One of his many ways into Hogwarts if he couldn't get through the painting. Honestly, Gale felt it would be a bad idea to try to move the portrait of Ariana Gra- Dumbeldore. Aberforth could get pissed if he were to displace the portrait.

Walking back in, Gale moved his head around and around, taking in the complete mess of a kitchen. This would be a complete and utter drag.

Walking up the stairs, he wiped off the soles of his sandals on a rag, before entering his room. The whole thing really had exhausted him. It would be really nice if he could just go and take a nice steaming hot shower. Too bad the tavern didn't have a shower.

That was probably also why Aberforth smelled…. Unpleasant. But then again, even if they had a shower, Gale wasn't sure that the Dumbeldore would take one.

Sitting on his clean mattress, Gale lay against the sidewall, the room's wallpaper partially peeled off, revealing a deep unpainted wood behind. In the corner of the room, above a small pile of stone bricks, was his sweater from the other day.

He was short on clothes, and the sweater had gotten dirty from laying on a train all day. Could be said to be the same for his pants, but Gale only had one pair. Wasn't about to go around practically naked.

Gale sat there for a few minutes, as still as a state. He really had nothing to do.

Maybe he'd go off into Hogsmeade? It wasn't like getting seen would do him bad as of now. He could just say that he was a squib working at the Hog's Head. Now, he had backup. Yes, that was indeed a good idea. Today's temperature was lukewarm, and he probably wouldn't get a cold.

He walked back down the stairs, exiting the Hog's Head. Gale strolled out, walking into the central buzz of Hogsmeade. It was a nice place really.

On each side were tall elegant buildings that were mostly of a simple Old English design. They could be said to be medieval almost.

Walking down the cobblestone streets, Gale passed the life-saving water fountain from before and walked into a more populous area of town. He saw a variety of witches and wizards going about their daily lives.

He watched as a broom swept the street with no visible owner, and a mannequin in a window moved on its own, posing. Gale passed a clothing shop, which displayed the latest fashions. A bunch of random robes. Nothing that he himself considered fashionable, but he might have to wear some later on in order to blend in more.

Gale was indeed very out of place in his black shirt and dirty grey pants. While he didn't really care, at the same time, it was annoying getting looked at.

Muscles bulging through his loose black shirt made even more apparent due to sweat, he wasn't exactly being the most lowkey. With his unique looks and physique, many people had gained interest in him.

Gale suddenly stopped in place, staring up at a certain building. It was a tall one, approximately three stories high, with many, many windows. It was a lot homier and welcoming than the Hog's Head, with a polished wooden door and many sorts of customers milling about just outside, and of course, inside. Three Broomsticks Inn, it read on a fancy plaque.

He didn't enter of course. Didn't have any money to spare.

Right now, he was just sightseeing in a sense. Gale was also attempting to memorize the layout of the village, for convenience's sake in the future.

After stopping for a moment, Gale strolled on straight for a while and then rounded a bend. Just as he stepped on forwards, he bumped into someone. Or rather, two people. Stepping back, Gale regained his footing, coughing in surprise as he stared at the two figures before them.

They were almost identical, both in those silky black Hogwart school robes, with a Gryffindor badge on the left breast. But what was most striking, were their bright redheads.

With mischievous smiles on their faces, Fred and George Weasley looked at each other, before looking back at Gale in surprise.

"Sorry, didn't see you there…." Gale said apologetically.

" "No problem." "

The two twins spoke in absolute synchronization, and Gale chuckled a little in response.

"Hogwarts, huh? Aren't you only supposed to be in Hogsmeade on the weekends?"

He remarked, scratching his head.

"Well….."

"It's a long story."

"But to make things simple."

"We snuck out."

Fred and George laughed, speaking in that unique way.

"Fair enough." Shrugging, Gale smiled. They really were interesting, the twins. The two had always been favorites of his in the series, and that definitely didn't change when he met them in person.

"Oh!"

"We almost,"

"Forgot!"

"The name is Fred."

"I'm George."

"We go to Hogwarts…"

"If you couldn't tell."

The twins once again spoke in their strange fashion.

Gale nodded, before introducing himself too:

"Hi, I'm Gale. Part-timer at the Hog's Head. Just started out."

"Hog's Head…"

"Dang…"

" "Pretty cool…." "

"Mum told us to stay away from that place." The twins finished speaking, staring at each other and laughing a little.

"Well, not going to lie, the place is in quite the derelict state. Not very sanitary." Gale wrinkled his nose just thinking about the bar. He would really have to give the bar a good clean in the future, but for now, it was…. Passable.

They chatted and quickly became good acquaintances. Apparently, the twins, much like Gale, had been really bored. And what did that lead to? Sneaking out of school on the very first day. Fred (Or maybe George?) said that most of the school staff wasn't as on guard at the beginning, making it a prime time to leave campus.

Being the role model he was, Gale encouraged their behavior. While he wasn't much of a rule-breaker in his previous life, pranks, in his opinion at least, were the spice of life. Added some excitement to the mix.

"You know George? I believe we will get along just fine with young Gale right here."

"I agree Fred, dearest… I feel the beginning of a wonderful friendship."

The two twins said, smiling goofily.

"Good fun.. " Gale said, shrugging innocently.

They shook hands before the twins went off to Honeydukes to stock up on candy for the year. Gale would definitely check it out in the future. Seemed like a fun place. He should also check out Zonko's later.

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How do you guys think it's developing? Is it coherent?

I'm trying to improve right now, so I need some input on grammar crap.