Witcher at Hogwarts

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Ethan felt a chill run down his spine as the rattling voice echoed through the chamber. What horrified him most was that the voice sounded exactly like his own, almost flawlessly mimicked.

"Sir, is something wrong?" Ethan asked, frowning as his hand instinctively moved to grip the hilt of his sword, ready for any sudden danger.

Gaga, the source of the voice, twisted her fingers and looked genuinely puzzled. Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, she gasped.

"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry! I must have accidentally spoken in your voice! Please forgive me!" Gaga exclaimed, her tone shifting to that of a comical clown. The clownish voice reverberated in the empty stone chamber, making the eerie atmosphere even more unsettling.

"Alright, calm down," Ethan said, trying to soothe the jittery creature. After several reassurances, Gaga finally settled.

"Gaga, why were you using my voice?" Ethan asked, still on guard.

"Please forgive me, Sir. Gaga has been here alone for so long. There is no one to talk to. Gaga got lonely," she explained, looking downcast.

"I've had to chat with myself."

"So, those voices earlier…?" Ethan asked, suspicion lingering in his tone.

"Oh! Gaga is a mountain spirit. We're born with the ability to imitate other creatures! Gaga often talks to herself in different voices to pass the time!" Gaga explained, shifting uncomfortably.

Ethan hesitated but finally accepted the explanation.

"Alright then," he said reluctantly.

He had read about mountain spirits in the Hogwarts library—a rare and ancient magical race.

These creatures weren't born in the usual sense but formed naturally whenever a large mountain existed. The spirits' purpose was to guard the hills from excessive harm.

But mountain spirits had become so rare that many believed them mythical. The Hogwarts textbooks even listed them as legendary creatures, practically lost to time.

"So, Gaga, why are you still here?" Ethan asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Because Gaga cannot leave!" the creature cried out, clearly distressed.

"Oh, how Gaga wishes to feel the cool breeze, bask in the sunlight, and lie on warm, soft grass! But bad wizards trapped Gaga here, forcing me to guard their things."

"Someone trapped you?" Ethan asked, astonished.

The thought of imprisoning such a powerful magical being was hard to fathom.

"Yes! They promised Gaga that after five years, I could leave... but many years have passed since then!"

Gaga wailed, sitting heavily on the ground, tears welling in his eyes.

"Alright, it's okay," Ethan said, comforting the forlorn mountain spirit. It took a while, but he eventually calmed Gaga down.

"But, Gaga," Ethan continued, "I don't see any locks or magical seals in this cave. What's stopping you from just leaving?"

Gaga looked up at him, eyes wide with frustration. "There is magic here, very bad magic! Whenever Gaga tries to leave, it hurts—so much!"

Gaga stood and walked toward the tunnel's exit to prove his point.

As soon as she neared it, the vine-like decorations by the entrance sprang to life, writhing like snakes. They lashed out at Gaga, striking him viciously.

The vines were enchanted with dark magic. Wherever they hit, Gaga's skin sizzled, the air filling with the acrid smell of burning flesh as thin wisps of smoke rose from the wounds.

The pained quacking echoed through the chamber, sounding like the wail of a child. Ethan couldn't bear it any longer. With a swift motion, he drew his sword and sliced through two vines lashing and rattling against Gaga.

As soon as the severed vines hit the ground, they withered away, only to regrow rapidly. But this time, they didn't attack or quack.

Instead, they slithered back to their place around the doorframe as though retreating into dormancy.

"You... you helped Gaga!" Gaga exclaimed, her wide, mung bean-shaped eyes sparkling with disbelief.

Then, Ethan noticed how bright and clear Gaga's eyes were, and the pupils were a striking shade of gold.

"You're such a kind person!" Gaga rushed toward Ethan and pulled him into an enormous bear hug. Her strength was overwhelming, and Ethan could hear his bones creaking under the pressure.

"Alright, alright, Gaga," Ethan gasped, patting her arm until she finally let go, allowing him to catch his breath.

"Gaga, those wizards only asked you to guard this place?" Ethan inquired, finding the situation strange.

"No," Gaga shook her head.

"The bad wizards told Gaga to destroy anyone who dared to come here."

She suddenly wailed again, clearly distressed.

"But how could Gaga do that? Gaga doesn't even dare to hurt a lamb! How could Gaga hurt humans? If it weren't for those big bad dogs always biting Gaga"

She pointed to a pile of canine bones beside her, "It hurt so much! Gaga didn't even want to hurt the bad dogs, but they kept attacking Gaga!"

At that moment, Ethan noticed the countless scars and injuries covering Gaga's massive body, many from the vines' vicious whips.

But there were also bite marks and deep scratches that looked far older. Though the wounds had healed, they left thick layers of scars.

Seeing the extent of Gaga's suffering, Ethan felt sympathy.

He had read about mountain spirits before. According to the books in the Hogwarts library, mountain spirits were incredibly simple and kind-hearted creatures. They didn't need food and could survive by drinking water, which miraculously sustained their massive forms.

Never had a mountain spirit harmed a human. Legends spoke of mountain spirits helping villagers in need.

Some stories told of "mysterious tall giants" rescuing lost travelers or returning stray livestock to their owners.

There were even accounts of mountain spirits gathering wild fruits and leaving them at village entrances during the famine, helping human communities survive.

Ethan had always been skeptical of these stories, thinking them exaggerated folklore tales. But now, standing face to face with Gaga, a real mountain spirit, he began to understand that those old stories might just be true.

The kindness and simplicity in Gaga's eyes left no room for doubt.