Several students, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, hurried back to the Gryffindor common room, paying no mind to whether Filch might be lurking in the corridors. As luck would have it, Filch was elsewhere, allowing them to reach the portrait of the Fat Lady without incident.
The Fat Lady, taken aback by their sudden appearance, inquired, "Where have you all been?"
"Just open the door, please," they replied, barely catching their breath, their heads swiveling back in fear that the monstrous creature they had encountered might pursue them.
At Harry's nod, the door swung open. Just as they were about to step inside, Harry paused, realizing, "Wait, John, aren't you from Slytherin?"
It was only then that John remembered he wasn't a Gryffindor. He watched as the others entered the common room, leaving him behind as the door closed. The Fat Lady's astonishment at seeing Gryffindors mingling with a Slytherin went ignored by John as he made his way back alone.
On his return, he encountered Malfoy, who seemed to be checking if his scheme had worked. Malfoy, caught off guard by John's presence, attempted to retreat but was quickly cornered. John, towering over Malfoy, pinned him against the wall with a menacing glare.
"Malfoy, I'm sure you wouldn't want the headmaster to learn about your nocturnal adventures, would you?" John's tone was threatening, causing Malfoy to glance around nervously, realizing they were alone; even his usual cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, were nowhere to be seen.
"It was your night out, not mine," Malfoy retorted, his voice trembling under John's intimidating presence.
"I'm not one to hold grudges; I prefer to settle them immediately. What do you think I'm going to do?" John sneered, his hand swiftly covering Malfoy's mouth before he could scream for help. With a flick of his wrist, John's wand, expertly concealed by a sleeve modification, appeared in his hand.
"Did you know that a wand's material is quite hard, useful for more than just casting spells?" John taunted, waving the wand dangerously close to Malfoy's eye, causing him to shudder in fear.
"Shh—keep quiet. We wouldn't want Filch to hear us, would we? His office is full of torture instruments for punishing students," John whispered menacingly, making Malfoy regret ever crossing paths with him.
Suddenly, John delivered a swift punch to Malfoy's stomach, leaving him gasping for air and doubled over in pain on the floor. "Remember, don't even think about crossing me again," John warned, looking down at the writhing Malfoy.
After a few steps away, John's conscience got the better of him. He couldn't bear the thought of Slytherin losing more points if Filch caught them. "We're all from the same house; there's no need for this hostility," John said, offering a hand to help Malfoy up.
Malfoy, pale and in pain, could hardly believe the turn of events. John continued, "We're all Slytherins. There's no reason we can't get along. As long as you don't bother me, I won't bother you. We might even become friends."
John saw Malfoy as nothing more than a spoiled, pure-blooded child, not worthy of his anger unless directly provoked.
Upon reaching the Slytherin common room, John muttered the password to the stone wall, which slid open to reveal the entrance. He helped Malfoy onto a sofa inside the dimly lit, narrow lounge, adorned with bones and bronze, reflecting the house's dark aesthetics. Despite their differences, John's actions hinted at a possible reconciliation, or at least a truce, within the house, setting the stage for future alliances and perhaps, a change in Slytherin's internal dynamics. The lounge was adorned with dark, swirling decorations, casting an eerie, cold shadow over the room. Outside, the Black Lake glistened under the moonlight as a giant squid glided past the window, adding to the mysterious ambiance. John turned to Malfoy, his voice low, "Remember what I said. We may not be friends, but there's no need for us to be enemies." Malfoy, clutching his stomach, looked at John, puzzled by the extent of his words. With a dismissive wave, John didn't elaborate further and retreated to his room.
After a rigorous day of training, John's magical power had increased to 65. He was close to advancing to the next level. Following his nightly routine, he washed up and lay in bed, his mind wandering to the three-headed dog and the trapdoor it guarded. He recalled something about music being its weakness. As he pondered this, sleep eventually overtook him.
The next morning, Malfoy passed by John without the usual provocation, seemingly taking John's words to heart. Meanwhile, Harry and Ron were deep in discussion about the secret beneath the trapdoor, connecting it to the recent Gringotts break-in and the mysterious bag they saw with Hagrid. Their conspiracy theories grew wilder by the minute.
Hermione, still upset from a previous argument with Harry and Ron, sought solace with John, venting her frustrations. "Can you believe those two? We nearly got killed by that dog, and they found it amusing," she fumed. John listened patiently, accustomed to her rants. Neville, seeking comfort in John's presence, joined them, grateful for John's intervention the day before which likely saved him from a grim fate.
It was an unusual sight - Gryffindors and Slytherins mingling together in harmony. After breakfast, John stuck to his rigorous daily schedule, which included running, push-ups, and studying, with occasional visits to the Forbidden Forest with his pets, Tom and Basil. Despite a close call with Hagrid, John's adventures only deepened his connection with the magical creatures of the forest.
[Ding, magic power upgraded successfully, current magic power: level 2]
While jogging by the Black Lake, John wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled, pleased with his progress. "Finally upgraded. Now, I can start training with spells." With his magic power now at level 2, he was eager to learn new spells beyond the simple unlocking charm he had mastered.
Blessed with an exceptional learning ability, John quickly mastered the Levitation Charm before the Charms class even began. Holding his wand, he focused on a fallen leaf. "Wingardium Leviosa," he chanted, and the leaf gracefully lifted into the air, guided by his newfound magical strength.
[Magic Power: Level 2 (10/500)]
[Spells: Alohomora (Level 3), Levitation Charm (Level 1)]
[Skills: Proficiency in Short Weapons (Level 7), Polearms (Level 6), Heavy Weapons (Level 3), Firearms (Level 1)]
[Blessings: Enhanced Physical Fitness, Quick Reflexes, Precision, Academic Excellence, Piloting Skills, Endurance Running]
Though it was a simple levitation of a leaf, John's achievement filled him with a sense of accomplishment and a bright smile. He was eager to see what other magical feats he could achieve with his enhanced abilities. He also shared his unconventional preference with the restricted area. Unlike most, he found electric welding more intriguing than the levitating spell. Indeed, he pondered, if one desired to venture into the restricted area, the upcoming two months presented a prime opportunity. Following the completion of the nocturnal expedition, survival alone would suffice to claim the mission rewards. Given the penalty imposed upon him, it seemed only logical to undertake a cleanup mission in the restricted area, didn't it?
_________
If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge