"Hotpot? What's that?" Hagrid asked, puzzled by the unfamiliar term.
"It's delicious. Just wait, I'll handle the beef first," Alan said confidently.
Alan drew his wand, directing the knives in Hagrid's kitchen to get to work. Since there was far too much meat to finish in one sitting, he prioritized slicing four large platters of paper-thin beef and hung the remainder outside the cabin to flash-freeze in the winter air.
Then, he reached into his linen spatial bag and pulled out the large copper pot he had purchased in Chinatown. He hadn't expected to put it to use quite so soon. He plucked a few glowing coals from the fireplace and placed them into the pot's central chimney, added water, and tossed in some chopped green onions and ginger.
As the water began to simmer, Alan produced a pair of chopsticks. "Alright, once it boils, we dip the meat in to cook it through, then pair it with the sauce I've prepared. That's all there is to it."
Hagrid sat at the table, fork in hand. "That simple? Is it really any different from just boiling water?"
"You'll know once you taste it," Alan said with a smile.
Hagrid began his first hotpot experience. The tender slices of beef, coated in the rich sesame sauce Alan had mixed, created a complex explosion of flavor. Hagrid let out a series of delighted exclamations, and the two of them ate until they were thoroughly satisfied.
After the meal, Hagrid let out a content burp. "Alan, you know so much. It'd be grand if you lived out here."
The comment was offhand, but Alan took it seriously. It wasn't a bad idea. Normally, aside from his classes, he spent his time cooped up in the Slytherin dungeons. While the view of the Great Lake was pleasant, it couldn't compete with the open air and the warmth of a bonfire. Staying here occasionally sounded like a perfect escape.
"Staying here now and then isn't impossible," Alan replied. "The area is spacious, and it's a good spot for me to practice my spells and conditioning. But you've only got the one room. Where would I sleep?"
Hagrid was thrilled at the prospect of the company. "That's no trouble at all! I can help you build an extension right next door. There's plenty of timber in the forest; I can have a room ready for you in a few days."
Alan nodded. "Alright then. I'll come by to help every afternoon starting tomorrow. Once it's finished, I'll move in part-time. I can probably manage two or three nights a week."
Hagrid agreed instantly. As the Keeper of Keys and Grounds, his only regular company was his animals and the occasional visit from Professor Kettleburn. He was often incredibly lonely.
The next day, as soon as his classes ended around three, Alan headed straight for the hut. He found that Hagrid had already been busy, having felled a significant amount of timber and gathered stones nearby. He had even cleared and leveled a ten-square-meter plot of land adjacent to his own dwelling.
Alan jumped in to help, clearing the remaining brush. He used a Cutting Charm to shape four sturdy logs, driving them into the corners of the plot to serve as foundation pillars. Using his magic, he levitated the stones into place to create a floor, then smoothed the surface with another charm. While they weren't bricks, the result was a solid, relatively flat base.
Next came the walls. They spent the afternoon cutting planks and fitting them tightly together. Hagrid handled the heavy labor with a hammer and nails, while Alan used his Levitation Spell to hold the massive wall panels in place against the support beams. By evening, the four walls were standing, with one side shared directly with Hagrid's original structure.
Over the next few days, they repeated the process for the roof, the indoor fireplace, the floorboards, and the windows. Hagrid even thoughtfully included a small balcony, providing Alan with a place to rest or have tea. The room had two entrances: one leading out to the balcony and down into the vegetable garden, and another leading directly into Hagrid's main living area.
Hagrid personally crafted the furniture, showcasing remarkable carpentry skills. He even helped lay down heavy leather rugs. When finished, the room felt like a proper hunter's lodge, rugged and warm with its fur bedding and sturdy wooden finish.
Once Alan began staying at the hut, he became even more of a "ghost" at the castle. Even Vivian struggled to track him down; he would appear for his lectures and then vanish before the dinner bells rang.
One afternoon, however, after History of Magic, Alan didn't head for the forest. Instead, he made his way to a boys' lavatory on the upper floors. Someone was already waiting for him.
"Randall, you're quite punctual," Alan said, a thin smile on his lips as he looked at Randall Rozier.
"Alan... what do you want? Just let me go," Rozier said, his eyes darting toward the door in fear.
Alan stepped forward, resting a hand on Rozier's shoulder. "Don't make me sound like a monster. I haven't mistreated you, have I? Your cousin Evan was... removed from the picture, wasn't he? Doesn't that move you up the line for the family inheritance? By the way, did you bring this month's protection fee?"
Rozier trembled under Alan's grip. "Evan's death caused a massive uproar in the family. I haven't had a second to think about inheritance. I truly have no gold left. I risked taking a few magic books from our private library instead. See if these will cover the debt."