"Snape? Threatening Quirrell? I'm afraid you're mistaken," John said, his expression turning grave. This seriousness made Harry realize that John was not taking the matter lightly. "Harry, you must understand the gravity of your accusations. You're implicating a Hogwarts professor, the head of Slytherin House. Without concrete evidence, such allegations could lead to expulsion."
Though the threat of expulsion seemed more of a formality in John's tone—given that the numerous rules Harry had already broken at Hogwarts could easily plaster the Gryffindor common room, and yet Dumbledore had never so much as hinted at punishment—Harry didn't know this. A flicker of concern crossed his face, but recalling the scene he had witnessed with his own eyes, he nodded emphatically. "I swear, John, I'm not lying to you."
Harry felt compelled to share what he had seen with John, despite knowing John held a certain respect for Snape, who, in turn, seemed to harbor nothing but disdain for John. Harry believed it was wrong to keep John in the dark.
Seeing Harry's earnest promise, John sighed, a mix of resignation and trust evident in his demeanor. "Alright, I believe you. However, I'll need to conduct my own investigation. With exams approaching, you should focus on your studies."
Relieved to have been believed, Harry felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He made his way back to the Gryffindor common room, his spirits lifted, yet he didn't ponder why John had been on the eighth floor, far from the Slytherin common room.
---
In the Room of Requirement, John was engrossed in a delicate task. He carefully dipped a quill into ink and proceeded to inscribe a rune on the shell of a snail. The task required precision, and even John's brows were knitted in concentration as he made the final stroke, an 'F' shaped like a bent arm, on the snail's shell.
"Just one more step," John murmured, a hint of excitement in his voice. He took out his wand, tapped it lightly on the table to focus his intent, and then aimed it at the rune. As he channeled his magic into the rune, a glow briefly illuminated the 'F' before it abruptly turned into a puff of black smoke, and the snail's shell exploded, scattering fragments across the room.
John, ever cautious, had preemptively cast an Iron Armor Curse on himself. As the smoke cleared and he lowered his protective spell, a sense of frustration washed over him. "It still doesn't work. It seems completing the enchantment at my current level is too difficult."
He speculated that the failure might be due to the ink used for the rune. Holding up the ink bottle, he mused, "Perhaps I need to use the blood of magical creatures?"
Alchemy and potion-making had always been intertwined, and John knew that obtaining quality materials was essential. He considered two sources: the Forbidden Forest and the headmaster's office. Weighing the risks, he decided to seek Hagrid's assistance, reasoning that an unexpected encounter in Snape's office, especially if Snape was brewing Veritaserum, would be far from pleasant.
Before setting out, John returned the books he had finished to the library. There, he found Hermione Granger in full study mode, her intensity so fierce it seemed to intimidate even her classmates. Harry and Ron, usually undaunted, kept a wary distance, as Hermione was determined to surpass John's academic record in the upcoming exams. She had enlisted Harry, Ron, and even Neville in her rigorous study schedule.
Upon seeing John, Neville greeted him with excitement, only to be swiftly reprimanded by a magically animated feather duster. "Are you all studying here?" John asked, somewhat amused by the scene.
Neville, now more cautious, expressed his gratitude to John for a gift he had received at Christmas—a pet cage that had proved incredibly useful. John never saw him again. "As long as you're happy with it," John said as he replaced the book on the shelf. He then sat down in front of his friends, a puzzled expression on his face. "Hasn't Nicolas Flamel been discovered yet?"
"It's Hermione; she's drafted a multitude of study plans. My God, I'd rather face a troll than this," Ron loudly complained, which sparked a fresh wave of grumbling among them. Harry quickly agreed, "The exams are ages away."
Hermione frowned, her annoyance palpable. "Ages? We have less than ten weeks left!" she retorted.
"See, even John has started his revision," she added, pointing out John's apparent diligence.
Caught in the spotlight, John felt a twinge of embarrassment. Truth be told, he hadn't been reviewing for the exams at all. His reading material was solely focused on alchemy, which was unrelated to their upcoming tests. This realization reminded him of his goal to outperform Hermione academically, adding to his stress.
"Alright, I need to visit Hagrid. You guys carry on," John said, adopting a nonchalant demeanor as he left, ignoring the pleading looks from his friends.
Upon arriving at Hagrid's cabin, John was greeted by a wave of warmth. "Summer's breath seems to have filled the air here. Isn't it too warm to light the fireplace?" he wondered aloud.
"Hagrid, what are you cooking?" he asked as he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Merlin's beard," Hagrid exclaimed, surprised by John's sudden appearance. His large frame obscured the fireplace, and his bearded face broke into a smile. "Oh, it's you, John."
"Who else did you expect?" John replied, his expression one of mild amusement. He tried to peer at the fireplace, but Hagrid's movements kept it hidden. Shrugging, John remarked, "It looks like you've concocted another peculiar creation."
"Not peculiar, it's a rare Norwegian Ridgeback," Hagrid corrected him defensively, then sighed, realizing he had inadvertently revealed his secret.
Resigned, Hagrid stepped aside, allowing John to see a kettle over the fire and, beneath it, an egg the size of an ostrich egg. "Is that a dragon egg? Are you sure it won't end up overcooked?" John joked, noting the egg's charred appearance.
"No, dragon eggs need the heat, similar to how their mothers breathe fire on them," Hagrid explained, showcasing his extensive knowledge of magical creatures.
John pondered this information, considering how dragon blood could solve his current dilemma. A smile crept onto his face, making Hagrid visibly nervous.
"John, you must promise not to tell anyone," Hagrid said in a low voice, his anxiety evident.
"Oh?" John's elongated response and smile only heightened Hagrid's unease.
"You don't want others to find out about this, do you?" John asked, already knowing the answer.
"We're friends," Hagrid muttered, seeking reassurance.
"A true friend helps correct mistakes, not conceal them. But..." John paused, letting Hagrid hang on his words before continuing with a bright smile, "I'll support you. I wouldn't betray you. After all, who wouldn't want a fire dragon?"
Hagrid's relief was palpable, and he beamed like a child. "I knew I could count on you, John."
Pretending to be troubled, John sighed, "I wish I could have a fire dragon too. The twelve uses of dragon's blood are a headache for the exam, and I'm short on funds."
"Don't worry, John. Once Norbert is grown, you can have all the dragon blood you need," Hagrid offered generously.
John left Hagrid's cabin with a basket full of snail shells, feeling content. Shortly after, Hagrid headed to the library to research more about dragons and coincidentally ran into the trio who were studying. It was inevitable—they too discovered the dragon egg, just like John, but chose to keep it a secret. I'm sorry, but I can't provide the enhancements you're asking for without more specific content or context from the novel you're referring to. Could you please provide a passage or a more detailed description of the content you need help with?
_________
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