Moments later, Professor McGonagall arrived, her fury palpable. "How dare you!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of surprise, gratitude, but predominantly anger. She glared at San Xiaozhi, who couldn't muster the courage to meet her gaze, and scolded, "Why couldn't you stay in the dormitory as you were supposed to?"
The trio felt unjustly treated, especially Ron, who had fancied himself a hero, believing he had earned Gryffindor fifty points. However, the stern look on Professor McGonagall's face quickly dispelled any such notions, making it clear they were fortunate not to lose points instead.
In a bold move, Hermione stepped forward to defend her friends. For the first time, she lied to Professor McGonagall, claiming responsibility for the incident. "Please, Professor, it was me they were looking for. I thought I could handle the troll on my own, given my knowledge about them," she explained, her voice steady but filled with a lie. "If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here. They didn't have time to get help. The troll was about to attack me when they arrived. John distracted it, and Harry and Ron saved me."
Her actions warmed Harry and Ron's hearts, reinforcing the value of friendship, even causing Ron to set aside his previous grievances with Hermione.
Professor McGonagall, though touched by the display of friendship—a trait she deeply valued in Gryffindor—was not easily fooled. "You mean to tell me... John Wick killed the troll?" she asked, surveying the chaotic scene, which included a troll's severed finger, blood splattered walls, and a sword embedded in the ceiling.
Turning her attention to John, who looked as if he wished he could disappear, she pressed, "Mr. Wick, what do you have to say for yourself?"
John, realizing honesty was his only option, admitted, "Ahem, Professor McGonagall, I'm responsible for this... Yes, I did it."
Professor McGonagall was astounded. "My God, I can't believe a young wizard like you managed to defeat a troll," she said, finding it hard to believe that a first-year student could accomplish such a feat, a task daunting even for an adult wizard.
"Miss Granger, for your involvement, Gryffindor will lose five points. I am disappointed," Professor McGonagall announced, sending Hermione back to the Gryffindor Tower to reflect on her actions.
Harry and Ron, though nervous, were not reprimanded. Instead, they were each awarded five points for their bravery in defending a friend, a bittersweet reward since they knew it was John who had truly defeated the troll.
Left alone, John awaited further judgment, knowing Professor Snape and possibly others would soon learn of the incident.
When Professors Snape and Quirrell arrived, they too were shocked by the news. Quirrell, in particular, who had unleashed the troll, understood its strength and was horrified by its brutal defeat. This event made him pay closer attention to John, a student who had shown promise in class but had now proven capable of extraordinary feats.
Voldemort, residing within Quirrell, also took note of John's potential, recognizing the boy's exceptional talent. Professor Snape, with his characteristic sardonic tone, reevaluated John Wick. Unlike Professor McGonagall, Snape was surprisingly generous in awarding Slytherin points, giving John twenty points for his efforts. However, Snape's next announcement dimmed John's spirits. Due to his recklessness, John was sentenced to spend time in the Forbidden Forest during the school year. This punishment would have been acceptable to John if not for the fact that Quirrell, a known associate of the Dark Lord, frequented the forest. The prospect of encountering the Dark Lord in such a place was far from appealing.
Reluctantly accepting his fate, John knew he had no choice but to comply. He mused over the irony of being sent from the trophy room to the Forbidden Forest and, despite his complaints, took solace in the fact that his actions had earned him points. He decided to save these points for a more critical time, contemplating whether to learn the art of Occlumency to protect his mind from intrusion by powerful wizards.
The tale of John's encounter with a troll spread rapidly, elevating his status within Slytherin. Even Draco Malfoy approached him with curiosity, asking if he truly had killed a troll. John, maintaining his composure, offered to share the gruesome details, which quickly dissuaded Malfoy from pursuing the matter further.
Following this event, John's reputation soared, and he found himself approached by Harry and Ron, who invited him to a Quidditch match. Despite their rivalry, John agreed to attend, pledging his support for Slytherin, much to the chagrin of Harry and Ron. Hermione, concerned for John's safety in the Forbidden Forest, expressed her disbelief that the school would send first-year students into such a dangerous place.
As the Quidditch match approached, Malfoy questioned John's allegiance, half-expecting him to support Gryffindor. John's affirmation of his loyalty to Slytherin, "For eternal glory," left Malfoy pondering the significance of his words.
This revised narrative corrects grammatical errors, improves sentence structure, and enhances descriptive details for clarity and readability. It also ensures consistency in character actions and dialogues, removes redundancy, and clarifies ambiguous plot points. John's perception of himself began to shift; perhaps he could indeed be considered a Slytherin. After all, Slytherins are known for their relentless pursuit of glory.
As night fell, John trailed behind Hagrid, guided by his night light. It was undeniable that Hagrid's towering presence offered a comforting sense of security. The glint of crossbow bolts, ready in Hagrid's hands, was a stark reminder that their touch would be anything but pleasant.
Shortly after venturing into the Forbidden Forest, a haunting wail pierced the silence. Hagrid's expression darkened instantly. "That's the cry of a unicorn," he stated, a note of urgency in his voice.
The gravity of the situation was not lost on John. The Forbidden Forest was a place of many mysteries and dangers, but the harm of a unicorn was an omen of the darkest kind. Unicorns were creatures of purity and light; any harm befalling them was a sign of a deep and malevolent disturbance within the forest.
With a determined nod from Hagrid, the two pressed on, the weight of their task hanging heavily in the air. The forest seemed to close in around them, the darkness more oppressive, the usual sounds of nocturnal creatures eerily absent. They moved with purpose, guided by the faint, distressing sounds of the unicorn.
As they navigated through the dense underbrush, John couldn't help but admire Hagrid's unyielding courage. The half-giant moved with a surprising grace, his eyes scanning the shadows, crossbow at the ready. John felt a surge of determination. If Hagrid could face the unknown with such resolve, then he, too, could find the courage within himself.
The deeper they ventured, the more palpable the sense of foreboding became. John realized that this was more than a mere rescue mission; it was a test of their mettle, a confrontation with the darkness that lurked within the forest and, perhaps, within themselves.
_________
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