Chapter V

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"The true master does not seek to run away from Death.

He accepts that he must die, and understands that there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying."

— Albus Dumbledore, on the Master of Death

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"Catch a pig and cook it. This is much easier than the First Phase." Leorio mumbled.

"Don't rely on that, Leorio. The female examiner won't be satisfied easily." The oldest man in the group, physically, wrinkled his nose over his choice of words.

"I hope it's that easy." Kurapika agreed with Harry, his eyes looking around.

Harry stepped forward, following Gon when the boy walked in a certain direction. He is gliding on the grass without looking back because he knows the others are following. Changing his direction to avoid crashing into the spiky-haired boy, Harry instead chose his left side and hiding his laughter when he saw the others colliding with each other.

Noting that Gon seems to be focusing on something, he looks at Gon's line of sight and raises his eyebrows.

"Found them."

A group of giant pigs chewing on bones at their full view.

"Uh... They chew on bones."

"Don't tell me... they're carnivores."

"It seems like that... and now they are aware of us!" Harry said when the pig looked into his eyes before they howled like a pack of wolves.

Running with everyone with pigs on his tail was something he never experienced before.

"My God! We are chased by pigs! Pigs, of all things!" laughter bubbled out of Harry's mouth.

"This is not the time to joke, damn it!"

"Oh, this is indeed quite funny." Grinning when he saw other participants joining in on their escape when Leorio scowled at him.

Some become their victims when they are not fast enough or sufficiently agile.

"These pigs are crazy!" Leorio shouted, speeding up his pace.

"I wonder if I can make them my pet..." Harry stroked his chin curiously.

Killua raised his eyebrows, "Did you want to open a zoo or something?"

"Nah, not a zoo, but raising many types of animals might be fun, you know."

Nodding in understanding, Killua replied, "Yes, that might be fun."

"You two are crazy," Leorio said as if it was painful to admit it.

Seconds later Kurapika inputting his opinion, "We have to split up, but just in case we need help don't get too far from each other."

After the others ran in different directions, Harry jumped onto the tree branch. Ignoring the pig that keeps crashing into the tree where he stands. He watched the others when he tried to find the pig's weak spot.

Throwing a non-verbal stunner spell, the pig slumped motionless on the ground under his feet. At the same time, he saw Gon managed to find the weak spot and defeats it while the others following suit afterwards.

'So it's forehead is the weak spot.' Harry mused as he lifts it over his head, 'Nice strength too~' complimenting Hadrian inwardly.

Dropping his pig on the cooking place he choose, Harry frowned when he finds all of the examinees grilling the pig right away.

Shaking his head, Harry starts looking on the available ingredients.

Checking all of the ingredients prepared, Harry begins to carefully remove its head and inside before slicing the pork meat in an appropriate size bonelessly.

Harry's seasoning the pork with salt, pepper and garlic powder on both sides and heating a pan at the same time before searing the pork with two tablespoons of olive oil for minutes until it was golden and crisp. He was removing the pork chops from the skillet and preparing the sauce in the same pan.

Melting the unsalted butter in the same pan on medium flame, Harry did that to keep those flavors going into the sauce. He's adding soft minced garlic, honey and pouring chicken broth and rice wine at the end. Cooking the sauce until it reduces and thickens slightly about four minutes.

After it was done, he basting the pork with the sauce. Adding the herbs and broiling it for two minutes.

Satisfied at the flavors, Harry put it on the serving plate with parsley as a garnish and some vegetables as a finishing touch.

Pleased that he was done. Harry looks around only to find Gon and Killua set their eyes on him and the plate on his hand. A loud rumbling voices indicating their intent for throwing him with a puppy dog eyes, or on Killua's case is cat eyes.

"Help yourself," Harry gestured at the remaining plates on the table, "I cook too much anyway."

"Thanks, Hari!"/"Thanks!"

"You should present it over, Hari, or you will run out of time." Kurapika drawled cooly but if Harry didn't pay attention earlier he wouldn't notice Kurapika swallowed at the sight of his food when Leorio was openly drooling at it.

"How were everyone's dishes?" Kurapika shakes his head. "I see..."

"It seems you were right all along." Looking at the blond teen, he only nods.

Kurapika raising his eyebrow at the delighted expressions on Gon and Killua, and later Leorio. After the realization sinks in, he turned his attention at Harry, "You're not going to present your dish."

Smiling in response, Harry furrowed his eyebrow when Kurapika's face suddenly became pale.

Turning around, he saw the red-head magician who stood right behind him smiling creepily.

At lost with what the clown wants, he found a hand shoved at him in demand-way.

"Ah!" it clicks.

Harry walks on his table, taking two plates of his dish and giving its to the red-head.

"There, for your green friend too, Hisoka-san." Nodded at him, the magician then leaning forward beside his ear and whispering his thanks. Harry maintained his Occlumency barrier, banishing the urges to draw his wand and hexing him.

Behind him, Kurapika's releasing his breath and the examiners announcing that no one passes on this phase.

As expected, the hell broke loose.

•

When insults, shouts, and angry remarks were voiced, Harry busied himself bringing all the remaining plates, after casting stasis charm, of course, into his bottomless backpack. He hummed happily, remembering some of the pigs he had caught were safe in his possession.

However, his body was tense as he felt the killing intent released by a certain red-haired male. But it soon disappeared when the echoing sound was heard from the above.

"That said, it would be excessive to fail every single applicant."

An airship with the Hunter Association emblem was flying right above them. At the same time, someone jumped from the plane and landed with a heavy impact in front of the examiner thus making thick dust obstruct the visions of the participants and a few debris flown over.

A sound of geta reached his ears. An old man who had a ponytail, a thick beard, and stretched earlobes with two piercings in both ears appeared. He was wearing a white traditional man's kimono and a pair of geta.

'This man must be... The Chairman of the Hunter Association and the Head of this Exam Commission.'

"The Chairman of the Selection Commitee. He's in charge of the Hunter Exam... Chairman Netero." Menchi, the female examiner informed.

"Well, I work behind the scenes. I only take action when there is an issue, like now." Harry narrowed his eyes, that man gave the same vibe as his old Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. "So, Menchi-kun..."/"Yes, sir."/"You failed all of the applicants because you disapprove of their reluctance," Harry's eyebrow-raising, he was certain the old man was eyeing the female's bosom for a second there, "to try new things?"

"What a pervert." a snort was heard and Gon threw him a curious look.

The female examinee was explaining her reasons. While it was natural for her to be annoyed or angry, it was not the way a professional handled her job thus makes her a failure as an examinee. But she was bravely admitting her mistakes. And she would give them a proper demonstration before redoing the second phase.

Using the Hunter Association's airship as transportation to the particular area, Harry and the others find themselves on a hard ground mountain that split in half.

Looking at the ravine below there is Spider Eagle's web connecting on both sides.

Harry shielded his eyes with his hand when he felt a rather strong gust of wind sweep over them.

When he looked further, there were Spider Eagle eggs hanging under the net to protect it from their predators. The Chairman said that it makes one the most difficult ingredients to obtain.

Known as a Dream Eggs.

With that, the female examiner jumped down after confirming the need to get one egg for them to pass the second phase. She grabbed the web in focus to get the egg.

"Even if she can grab some eggs, how will she climb back up?" Leorio voiced everyone's thought.

"Strong gust of wind..." all of the applicants' attention was on him instantly, Harry shrugged, "If the wind was able to push back even examinee number 255, Todo-san, there's no way it can't push back Menchi-san."

Their attention was back on the examiner as she released her hold, grabbing one of the eggs.

And free falling afterward.

"Is she trying to kill herself?" Leorio slapped his head.

"No, she's not. It probably as Hari says, the gust of wind will throw her back," stated Kurapika calmly.

"But how if she's not?"

Before Kurapika can answer Leorio's question, a strong gust of wind came from below the cliff bringing the female examiner back.

"It's like what he did says. This ravine has updrafts that help the hatched spiders fly up the web." Chairman Netero said as Menchi landed on her feet and telling them the need to boil the egg to pass her test.

"I've been waiting for this!" without further ado, Harry jumped along with Gon and the others.

Grabbing the web on the same side as the four kids, he was staring at the other brainless examinees as they jumped to grab the egg immediately and rolled his eyes at their stupidity.

"Let's go."

"Not yet." Gon said.

"Why not?" Leorio asks curiously.

Killua replied, "There's no wind."

"There isn't always an updraft," explained Kurapika.

"When's the next one?"

"Wait." hearing Gon's confident's tone, many of the applicant's was observing him.

A few people began panicking as the web won't hold much longer for this many weight.

If all came to worst, Harry sure he can save them with his broom or his magic. The secrecy for his magic doesn't really matter for him, because he was quite fond of the four kids.

"Now!"

Releasing his hold, Harry focusing his magic on his fingertip. Cutting through the web which holds the whole pack of eggs after casting a notice-me-not charm, of course. Taking one egg before shrinking all of them and putting it in his pocket.

•

In Hunter's airship that brought applicants of the year, Harry stride over with a boiled egg on his hand.

After the Second Phase was over, they got a ride from the Board Chairman to the Third Phase. The Chairman was formally introducing himself and Bean-san (the green man who gave him his plate number actually is his secretary) to the remaining contestants.

And they had plenty of time before it reached the Third Phase.

'We'll arrive at eight in the morning, still had ten hours to spare.' he thought while licking his fingers clean.

While continuing with his stroll, Harry's ears picked up a commotion at the end of the corridor from the room on the left.

And saw a pair of kids get thrown out like a cat.

Snort.

"Hari!"

As two pairs of feet jogged lightly on his way, Harry grinned.

"What did you do to piss off the Chef?"

"Mou, we're just hungry," said Killua muching on a chicken leg while Gon only nodded with his cheeks bulging.

"Sure~," he said, gesturing the kids to take a seat, "It helps with the digestion."

"Wow, awesome!" Killua's eyes twinkled brightly seeing the night scenery from the glass window. "Look, Gon!"

"Hmm? What is it?" Gon was standing, "Whoa! It's like the ground is covered in jewels." awe looks planted on his face.

"It's certainly beautiful, especially if you feel the wind."

"Uh-huh," Gon agrees, "Hey Killua, I was wondering where are your mother and father?"

Harry's eyes stay on the night view, but he pays attention to both kids.

"Hmm... They're alive." Killua answers vaguely and adds "Maybe."

"What do they do?"

"They're assassins."

Harry turned to Killua, his eyes blinked for seconds, not hearing any lies in the silver-haired kid's words.

"That was a surprise."/"Huh? Both of them?" He can't help but comment at the same time as Gon.

Looking at both of them, Killua laughs at their reactions. "You guys are the first who's ever responded seriously."

"Well, you're telling the truth, aren't you?"

"What makes you think that?"

"It's just a hunch."

"Well, for a kid likes Gon it's what you call an instinct," Harry said naturally.

Accepting his answer, Killua turned to him, "What about you, Hari? How did you know?"

Harry shrugged, "I had a talent."

"Talent? What talent?"

"I can tell from the voice and eyes of the people," Harry answers as he rests his chin on his left hand's palm, "If they're lying or not."

"Whoa!"/"Really?"

With a Cheshire grin, Killua rubbing his hands, "Then you wouldn't mind if I test it, would you Hari?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"I am the richest assassin in the world," he said with a grin.

Harry raised his eyebrow, "That's a bold faced lie, Killua and you know it."

"Fine. I hate sweets."

"Nay."

"I got my first skateboard when I was nine."

"Nope."

"I spend five hundred thousand Jenny for Pocky in a year."

"Nein." Harry sweat-dropped 'you spent one million Jenny just for Pocky!?'

"I love my sister.'

"Yadaa."

"Ha!" Pointing at him in triumph, Killua grinned, "It's not a lie!"

"Non, you don't have a sister." he deadpanned.

"Grrr..." grinding his teeth, Killua looked at Gon who was watching them like a tennis ball match.

"Gon, you ask him too!"

Quite a bit distressed, Gon blurted out something in his mind, "Um, Mito-san had a long hair!"

"Iie."

Seeing at the look of amazement on Gon's face, Killua blinked in wonder, "Woah, you've really had talent, Hari!"

Winked at Gon, he smiled, "I did."

"But, that's weird," Killua deflated, "People only like me because they can't ever tell whether I'm serious."

"Hmm,"

"I'm from a family of assassins. So, they're all assassins." Looking outside with his chin on his hand, Killua drawled, "And my family has really high hopes for me..." he said while smiling mockingly. "But, I can't stand it." closing his eyes indifferently, "Who wants to have their life planned out for them?" and then Killua turns around and talking in a heated manner, "When I told them I wanted to decide my own future, they all snapped! My mother had tears streaming down her face, as she told me I have the potential to be a top assassin," Kilua told them hotly.

Gon only laughing uncomfortably at his friend's rambling.

"Horrible parents, right?" shrugging his shoulder, "It's natural their kid would go bad." leaning back, he continues, "We ended up fighting. So, I stabbed my mother in the face, my brother in the side, and ran away from home."

'This kid is bloody bipolar!' Harry's tunning the kids out. Killua seems indifferent toward his family, but Harry was sure the kid had a deep thought about them. 'He certainly hold a strong feeling about becoming an assassin.'

Feeling a spike of killer intent, Harry unconsciously threw a dagger at the said direction as Killua and Gon turned abruptly at their left.

Sensing a presence on his right, Harry turned his head and staring right in the pair of brown eyes. The sound of geta reached Harry's ears as he was scolding himself at being reckless.

"Something wrong?" the Chairman asked them like he wasn't the one who's throwing his KI seconds ago.

While Gon was still a sheltered kid who doesn't know the darkness of life, Killua's definitely not if his menacing eyes is anything to go by.

"Ano, Netero-san... Did you see anyone coming from that side?" he ask unsuspectedly.

"No."

"You're pretty fast for an old man," Killua remarked.

"That little trick? I barely moved."

'What a senile old man, bullying kids.' Harry rolled his eyes inwardly.

As the atmosphere grows heavy, Harry tried to comment in placating manner, "Maa, he wouldn't become the Hunter Association's Head if he's not Killua." he then turned to the old man, "Is there anything you need, Netero-san?"

"I got bored and was looking for some companions." The elder eye-smiling at them, "By the way, I meant to ask the three of you... Any thoughts on your first attempt at the Hunter Examination?"

"Uh-huh! It's fun!" answered Gon, "And there haven't been any of the written exams I was dreading."

"It's certainly interesting." Harry inputted.

"I'm disappointed..." Killua said still in a hostile manner, "I expected the exam to be far more difficult. I assume the next phase will be more entertaining?"

"Well, now... I wouldn't know about that." the Chairman said, looking away.

'What a liar.' Harry thought.

"Let's go, Gon! Hari!" turning around, Killua stopped when the Chairman called out.

"Would you care to play a game with me?"

"A game?"

"If you're able to defeat me, I shall let you be Hunters!"

"Really?" Gon shouted in enthusiasm, "I'll play!"

"How about it, eh?" In about ten seconds long Killua answered with an 'Alright.', the Chairman then turned at him, "You're free to join too, of course."

"I'm good."

Waving at the energetic Gon, Harry saw them getting further before stretching his arms.

"I need my beauty sleep!"

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