"John!" Hermione approached, visibly upset, with Harry and Ron trailing behind her. John looked at them, slightly puzzled by their demeanor.
Hermione, unable to contain her frustration, raised her voice. "Did you know about Nicolas Flamel?"
"Yes, I did," John replied, his calm demeanor taking the trio by surprise.
Harry, puzzled, asked, "If you knew, why didn't you tell us? We've been searching for this information for ages."
John responded, a hint of amusement in his tone, "I hinted at it, but you didn't connect the dots until you found the wizard card, did you?"
Harry sheepishly scratched his head, and the trio, initially ready to confront John, found themselves at a loss for words. Ron, however, still seemed eager to challenge John's approach. "You could've been more straightforward and given us the answer from the start," he muttered.
John's expression turned serious, prompting Ron to regret his words and lower his head, feeling guilty. John spoke earnestly, "Ron, the answers handed to you are never as valuable as the ones you seek out for yourself. In the quest for answers, you gain not only the solutions but also invaluable knowledge."
The trio absorbed John's words, realizing the wisdom in them. Harry, who had always struggled with the history of magic, found himself understanding the subject better now. They acknowledged their mistake in doubting John, and Hermione apologized, "I'm sorry, John. We shouldn't have doubted you."
"It's alright," John reassured them. "But now that you know about Nicolas Flamel, what's next? Are you still suspecting Professor Snape of trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone?"
Harry's hesitant expression gave away his thoughts, and John continued, "It's a common mistake to suspect Slytherins. However, the Philosopher's Stone isn't as miraculous as you think. While it is the pinnacle of alchemy and can theoretically grant immortality, it comes with significant drawbacks, including the deterioration of the body and the loss of emotions over time."
"Professor Snape, being a master of potions, is well aware of these limitations and certainly doesn't need the money. Do you really think he has any reason to steal the Philosopher's Stone?"
Harry was left speechless, unable to counter John's logic. Ron, after a moment of thought, suggested, "Maybe he's doing it for Voldemort."
John was taken aback by Ron's insight. "You're aware that Voldemort isn't dead. Have you also traveled through time?" he joked, though Ron looked embarrassed.
"I heard that many of Voldemort's followers were from Slytherin," Ron whispered. "After Voldemort's downfall, many Death Eaters claimed they were under the Imperius Curse. Snape's past as a Death Eater is no secret, but Dumbledore vouched for him."
John, momentarily speechless, realized the complexity of the situation. "It's impossible, Ron. We must be careful with our accusations, especially since he is the head of Slytherin House."
After steering the conversation away from dangerous speculation, John managed to ease the trio's concerns. Time seemed to move on peacefully.
John continued his studies with Professor Quirrell and didn't neglect his duty to patrol the Forbidden Forest. Since the acromantula attack, Hagrid had grown wary of Aragog's offspring and warned John to be cautious of spiders. Prepared, John found a spell in the library effective against spiders, which proved to be a lifesaver.
Balancing classes, reading, training, and patrolling the Forbidden Forest at night, John's schedule was packed. If not for his ability to go without sleep, he would have been overwhelmed by exhaustion.
One day, as he was heading to the Quidditch pitch for the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff match, John realized he would have forgotten about it if not for Hermione's reminder. It was a rare opportunity for him to relax, and he was determined to make the most of it. John was walking down the corridor when he heard the sound of things being smashed. First-year students and Hufflepuffs, dressed in Slytherin attire, were being pelted with stones by Peeves. "Stop it, Peeves," John called out, but Peeves, notorious for fearing only Professor Hogwarts and the Bloody Baron, paid him no heed.
John noticed his classmate, Daphne Greengrass, among those being targeted by Peeves. "Peeves, your behavior is unacceptable," he declared, his tone authoritative. Peeves, mistaking the voice for a professor's, turned around only to find John, a fellow Slytherin. "Ah, it's you, John Wick," Peeves sneered, undeterred.
John helped Daphne to her feet. The blonde-haired girl was surprised by his intervention, given his less-than-stellar reputation within Slytherin. "Thank you," she murmured, her cheeks flushing at the sight of John's determined expression.
John faced Peeves with a dangerous glint in his eye. "You deserve to be punished for this," he stated firmly. Peeves, mocking the idea, hurled another stone at John. Daphne, still reeling from the previous attack, braced herself for impact. However, John, with the grace of a conductor wielding a baton, drew his wand and cast, "Waddiwasi!" The stone reversed its course, striking Peeves instead.
Without pause, John continued his assault. "Wingardium Leviosa! Waddiwasi!" he chanted, orchestrating the stones on the ground to barrage Peeves. The poltergeist, overwhelmed by the unexpected counterattack, fled with a sizable lump on his head.
The students, previously at Peeves' mercy, erupted into cheers. John turned to Daphne, offering a reassuring smile. "It's all right now. Do you need to visit the school hospital?" His actions had not only taught Peeves a lesson but also altered his classmates' perception of him. Daphne, usually prideful, found herself viewing John in a new light. "I'm sorry to have troubled you," she said, her voice soft, sneaking glances at her defender.
As John escorted the injured students to the school hospital, Madam Pomfrey busied herself with their care. The news of someone standing up to Peeves spread quickly throughout Hogwarts.
Meanwhile, the aftermath of the Quidditch match saw Ron nursing a broken nose, and Neville being carried to the hospital wing. Malfoy, along with his cronies Goyle and Crabbe, sported black eyes, their glares directed at the Gryffindor table. "That damned Weasley ambushed me," Malfoy fumed, recounting his scuffle with Ron during the match, which had escalated to include Neville and Goyle.
John, overhearing Malfoy's rant, couldn't help but shake his head. "Malfoy, you're not exactly outnumbered," he remarked, earning a flushed response from Malfoy who boasted, "With a wand, I could take on a dozen Weasleys and Longbottoms!" John dismissed the claim with a silent chuckle.
As night fell, John closed his book and prepared for a night of training in the Room of Requirement, followed by patrolling the Forbidden Forest. The Gryffindors, sensing another potential confrontation, wisely retreated to their tower. Meanwhile, Fred and George were off to pilfer cakes from the kitchen, a venture John chose not to interfere with, knowing the house-elves would likely indulge the twins.
At the entrance to the Room of Requirement, John encountered Harry, who had just returned. With a grave tone, Harry shared his discovery: "John, it's Snape. I saw it with my own eyes. He was threatening Professor Quirrell in the Forbidden Forest."
_________
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Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge