7 Chapter VII

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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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Walking in the woods, Harry is humming cheerfully with two dead rabbits in his hand. He was setting a magical tent on the few yards away with notice-me-not charm, animal-repelling charm, and the other charms for security measure.

Harry brought the rabbits into the kitchen. He skillfully dried the rabbit's blood, gutted, and skinned his game before cleaning it. He had immersed himself in his cooking and preferred doing it with his hand rather than with his magic.

For Harry, cooking is the only thing he enjoyed during his stay with the Dursley. It is an accomplishment that he had never punished for doing something better than Dudley. And he's good at it.

In Death's realm, as a spiritual being without a physical body, he did not need food to survive. Therefore, he never cooked ever.

Smiling as he prepared the grilled spicy rabbit meat, Harry thought his first vacation was rather fruitful as long as he stays alive then he could relishing this moment without restriction in time.

After all, there's no time limit as long as he did not die.

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Groaning, Harry rolls around on the rug for the fifth time before he jumped, standing tall with determination in his eyes. Alas, he was bored after spending a whole day in his tent, doing nothing. Harry then moved his hand in motion, his magic swirling, packing everything only the ones he needed leaves out.

Harry was exploring Zevil Island. And after an hour, he was accidentally run across a fresh corpse of a failed applicant with pink butterflies hovering above it.

"Hmm, this is rather an interesting phenomenon," he muttered before digging a big glass jar from his backpack. He poured his blood in a small quantity into a jar enough to catch a few butterflies.

Harry was looking at the horizon, casting a silent -tempus- he then searching a nice place to set a hotpot with the leftover of rabbits meat yesterday. When his eyes spotted a would-be-a-nice-place-for-cooking, his whole face brightened. He jogged lightly only to stop in his track to found someone playing with a butterfly, a serene smile on his face.

Harry's eyebrow twitched.

When that person was aware of his presence, he smiled and continued playing with the pink insect, so Harry decided to ignore him at the moment. Happily setting small cooking utensils through conjuration and patting his shoulder inwardly for his insight to bring all of the ingredients out in a basket beforehand, Harry then prepared to cook.

Glancing at that person, Harry sighed in his heart. 'He's maybe creepy as hell, but I am a person with manners.' he thought.

"Here." Hisoka accepted the plate and a glass of orange juice with a twitch of a smile on the corner of his lips, saying a brief of thanks.

Then, as they finished eating, Harry took the plate and packing the utensils back into his basket. He stands up and looking at Hisoka before leaving, "Good luck with your target."

Hisoka smiled, "Why did you think I haven't got my target yet?"

Rolling his eyes, Harry replied, "Because you are a lazy bastard, what else?" he hmph-ed, "If you happen to bump into your target, that would be thanks to Lady Luck."

"I don't know that you care about me."

"Whatever. Bye!" 

As Harry walked out, his eyes peeking at an exact spot in the bushes, and smiled faintly. The moment Harry arrived, he was aware of the spiky-haired boy presence. As a Master of Death, of course Harry's sense for life and death are exceptional. 'Good luck, Gon.'

When the distance gets further away, Harry apparated on the peak of a cliff. He was storing his basket back and took out his enchanted round eyeglasses. Harry wears it and sitting down cross-legged. 

Taking out a box of popcorn, Harry is waiting for the action to begin.

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On Gon's side, the boy's watching Hisoka silently, waiting for an opportunity. 

As the sun began to set, Hisoka finally moved. He walks into the bushes as an examinee named Goz challenges the clown for a fight.

But unfortunately, the fight isn't interesting enough as the challenger was on the brink of death.

When Gittarackur appeared and finished him off, Harry decides to come down.

"That was getting boring," Harry grumbled as he appeared on the branch of a tree near the place Gon was hiding. 

The kid was almost startled but managed to compose himself. Hisoka and Gittarackur didn't bat an eye at his arrival.

"Did you already got your target, Hadrian?" Gittarackur asked as he removed the pins on his face one by one.

"Yeah." Harry shrugged, "By the way, have you found any unique animals on your way here?" 

Gittarackur who already transformed into his original looks, answered, "I do. But what would you exchange it for?" 

"Hmm, how about I cook for dinner?" 

"Alright." 

"Count me in."

Harry give Hisoka a stink eye, "You just want a free dinner, aren't you?"

"You know me well."

Rolling his eyes, Harry sitting down and began rummaging his backpack. A basket that he brought for lunch before was pulled out of his bag.

"Hmm~" Hisoka smirked at him knowingly while Illumi staring at his bag curiously.

"Is stew alright with you?"

Illumi nodded, "I'm not a picky eater."

After they had their dinner, Illumi told him the specific locations using the map that personally drawn by Harry (with magic).

After he bid them goodbye, Harry pulls out the Black Snitch. It had the same texture as the Golden Snitch for Quidditch in his old world. 

It is walnut-sized but with a black-colored sphere with silver wings.

Harry create the Black Snitch on his own with enchantments for spying purposes.

He got that idea after seeing the uses of Drones and CCTV. He was also watching many kinds of action genre movies in the realm of Death if he had a spare time. In that boring place even if his mind is always intact without any psychological problems, Harry thinks that his needs of entertainment sources must be fulfilled. No question asked. If not, let just say the Death and its subordinates workload would be tripled.

After whispering commands for the Black Snitch, Harry begins to find another safe place for him to build his tent and watching Gon's adventures from a screen that connected to the Black Snitch.

"I know you can do it, Gon!"

A few minutes later,

"Darn!" Harry cursed after seeing Hisoka encounter with Kurapika and Leorio, "A battle maniac who feels the thrill of killing talented individuals as a pleasure." He shuddered. A box of popcorn is left untouched.

Shaking his head, Harry looking at the time, "Hunting the animals is not an urgent matter. Observing Gon's takes priority." 

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As the sun high in the sky, Harry was riding on his broom with invisibility on, tailing both Gon and Hisoka, also taking note of the examinee stalking the green-haired kid.

With his glasses on, Harry whistled. "That kid sure learns fast." He commented as Gon stays still in a place waiting for Hisoka to attack his opponent.

Hovering above with his broom, Harry observing the situation below him. His was eyes glimmering when he saw Gon concealing his presence. 

"He is truly a gem, that boy." Harry smiled, watching as the green-haired kid stealing Hisoka's tag number during the clown's encounter with examineé number #281.

Looking at Hisoka's expression full of bewilderment, Harry can't help but cackle hard. He clutched his stomach as the broom maneuver itself following Gon.

Harry managed to calm himself down when he saw Gon dropped to the ground as examineé number #384 shows himself and taking Hisoka's tag from Gon's hand.

Turning his head to the other side, Harry noticed Hisoka watching Gon too, and then set his eyes on applicant number #384 before following him.

'Hmm, at least that person can be a life lesson for him.' Harry thought, pitying the would-be-dead examineé.

A few seconds later, Hisoka brought the dead number #384 in front of Gon and began monologuing while complimenting Gon's plan before placing Gon's and His tags down.

Harry ensures that Gon will be fine before deciding to carry out his previously delayed plan. 

"I have two days maximum to collect all the exotic animals and plants on this island." Harry thought.

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One day before the deadline on Zevil island.

The sound of someone happily humming was heard in the deep of the forest. Harry smiled as he rode on his broomstick. He earned a lot. 

"Hmm, what should I do now?" Harry then switched on the connection between Black Snitch and his glasses. His brows furrowed when he saw the place where Gon was right now. 

"What is he doing in that cave?" Harry was busy hunting animals and plants for two whole days, so he didn't pay any attention to the kids.

Harry then decided to activate the connection to the trail he had left on the four kids. He tilted his head in surprise because three out of the four tracks were on the same path.

"Did they get into trouble?" Harry pondered.

Deciding to follow the three kids, Harry silently apparating with that cave in mind.

Inside the cave...

Ponzu, applicant number #246, was explained how Bourbon, number #103, died before they heard someone steps approaching inside.

Everyone's body gets tense. Gon then yelled, warned that person to stay away from the cave.

A silhouette of a person walked inside, and killing-curse green shines in the dark.

"Hari!!!" Three identical shouts ring out in the cave.

"I thought I heard your voice, Gon. What are you guys doing here?" Harry casually asks.

His eyes darted to Leorio's kneeling figure with tattered clothes. Harry crouched down, looking at Leorio's pale face.

"What happened?"

Kurapika explained the situation to Harry briefly. He then reaches out his hand, feeling Leorio's pulse.

"Kurapika, Hari, please look after Leorio." Harry glanced at the green-haired kid, "I'm sure we will find it." Gon smiled at them, but before he moved, Harry interrupts him.

"There's no need, Gon." 

Gon, Kurapika, and Ponzu were looking at him in surprise.

"What do you mean, Hari?" Gon tilts his head.

Taking a small glass bottle out from his back, Harry opened the wooden plug. Gon and Kurapika inched closer, even Ponzu was sitting straight, trying to see what's in the bottle.

A small stone with size like marble was in Harry's hand. He showed it to Leorio, "Leorio, do you trust me?" Harry asks, looking straight into Leorio's eyes.

"I do." He answered sincerely.

Harry gives it to him, "Just swallow it whole, and you'll be alright." 

Nodding, Leorio swallows the stone in one breath. A few seconds later, his cold sweat reduced, and his energy slowly recovered. 

"Woah, a magical stone!" Gon exclaimed cheerfully.

"It is, indeed." Kurapika agrees, shaking his head mentally to dispel his curiosity, "Now, we only had to get out of this cave safely." He said while looking at the snakes lingering in the wall.

Harry stands up and reaching out his hand to help Leorio before he came face to face with examineé number #246.

"Hello, my name is Hadrian, applicant number #***. Your name is Ponzu, right?"

"Yes." She nodded curtly.

"Kurapika said that you're already giving up to escapes from this place, aren't you?" she stared at him, refused to answer. "I had a way for us to escape safely from this place, and you just had to give us your tag."

"Why would I give it to you? What's the benefit I will receive if I agreed to your plan?" she rebuked.

"Whether you are out of this place or not, the outcome would be the same anyway." Harry shrugged, "So Miss Ponzu, would you kindly give us your tag? Or should I take it by force?"

"Don't you know that I had my protection as well?" she raised her eyebrows.

Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio were looking at each other. But before any of them can speak, the sound of hissing is heard from Harry's mouth. The viper has lingered around the cave, and the corpse of examineé #103 slithering towards Harry's feet.

The mint-haired girl stands up abruptly, a cold sweat dripping from her head as the snakes were backing her to the wall. 

"How is it, Miss?" Harry smiled at her, but she didn't dare to look at him, her face pale with fright.

"Alright." She nodded, "I'll give you my tag."

"That's good," Harry clapped, and the snakes darted out of her way after she gives her tag to him.

"Thank you, Miss Ponzu. I hope there are no hard feelings between us." Harry gave the tag to Leorio.

"As long as you keep your words." she's clenched her fists.

"You don't have to worry. I always keep my words." Harry answered as he was leading them out of the cave.

When they went on their separate way with the mint-haired girl, Gon walks beside Harry, looking at him in curiosity. But before he can open his mouth, Leorio beat him to it.

"So, what is that stone earlier? How come it can heal me?" Leorio asked while scratching his head.

"It is called bezoar, and it can save you from most poisons." he answered, "Why? Do you plan to get poisoned again, Leorio?" Harry's arching his eyebrow at the black-haired teenager.

"Hell no!" Harry laughed. "But, I want to become a Doctor, so I had to know that kind of things," he said seriously.

Glancing at the tall teenager, Harry asks, "What kind of Doctor do you want to become, Leorio?"

Leorio's eyes had a faraway looks, he's silent for a seconds, "I had a friend, his name's Pietro." Leorio started, "Where I used to live, Pietro and I were the only children there, so I was close to him. 

"But one day, Pietro got sick. 

"The disease actually can be cured, but it costs a lot. So in the end, because we were too poor, Pietro died.

"I ..." Leorio clenched his fists tightly, "I don't want the other kids to experience what Pietro went through." He looks pained, remembering his childhood friend, "I want children who can't afford treatment to be treated without having to think about the cost.

"That's," Brown eyes looking straight into killing-curse green, "That's  what kind of Doctor I want to be."

Harry looking at Leorio and gave him a sincere smile, "That's an admirable dream, Leorio." Kurapika and Gon smiled at the black-haired teen. "I think you will be great in that field because you have the right heart." closing his eyes, Harry muttered in his breath, "If only there are many people like you..."

Gon was staring at him in silence when he heard Harry's last sentence.

"That bottle was already there in my backpack. I don't recall where it's originally from though." Leorio's jaw dropped when he heard how casually Harry answered his question.

"You, you," pointing his finger accusingly at Harry, Leorio stuttered, "What if it's doesn't work!?" he shouted.

Harry's eyes glimmer mirthfully "It has a how-to-use instruction on its cover." chuckling, Harry pats Leorio on the back. "Don't worry, Leorio. I won't give it to you if I don't have the confidence it would work." Kurapika's chuckling silently while Gon was trying to hold his laughter.

"Shut it!"

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Looking at the clear blue sky through the glass window of the Hunter Exam airship, Harry was wondering, 'Ten applicants passed this round.' He thought, 'The end of the exam should be near.'

"Pathetic..." Leorio muttered, their attention swept to him, "I needed the three of you to do everything for me during the Fourth Phase." He straightened his back, "I promise I'll return the favor. So.." he trailed.

"Thanks." He said while turning away his face, a pink hue visible on his cheeks.

"So, you can be shy too, Leorio," Harry smirked teasingly.

"Shut up!"

[I have an announcement for all applicants.]

The announcer's voices rang out inside the airship. He's informing the applicants to attend an individual interview based on the tag number with the chairman on the second floor in the first reception room. 

When it was Harry's turn, he sits in seiza (Japanese term for the standard formal traditional way of sitting in Japan) position in front of the chairman of the Hunter Association.

"Why do you want to become a Hunter?" The chairman asks while holding a brush and a note in each hand.

"Honestly, I don't know. A person close to me registered me in, and I'm just complying with her." Harry answered honestly. The white-haired chairman looking at him interestingly before he write his answer on his notebook.

"Which of the other nine applicants are you keeping an eye on?"

"Hmm, that would be #405, #99, #404, and #403." A flash of a green-haired kid, a blue-eyed kid, a petite blonde teen, and a tall teenager appeared in Harry's mind.

"Which of the other nine applicants would you least want to fight?"

"My answer is the same as the previous ones, in the same order."

"Hmm, alright. That's all. You may leave."

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Wandering around the airship, Harry tossing a blood pop into his mouth. His eyes caught the figure of Kurapika and Gon looking outside in silence.

Vanishing the sound of his foot steps, Harry quietly approaching from the back when he heard Kurapika asking Gon about the Fourth Phase.

Gon then telling him about what happened to him before they met at that time. He gritted his teeth, and his voice laced with frustration. A bunch of tears drooped from his eyes. 

"Then, you just have to pay it back to him." Sitting on a bench at Gon's left side, Harry inputted his thought.

Kurapika startled, 'When did he get here?'

"Harry!" 

He smiled at them, "That's a valuable life lesson, Gon. You can learn from it so that in the future, you won't make the same mistakes again." he said while patting Gon's head.

"Un!"

And then, the beginning of the Phase Five will begin...