"Poor boy, he's under the Imperius Curse!" John had intended to ambush Quirrell, but upon hearing someone approaching, he quickly feigned being under the curse's influence.
Professor Sprout hurried to John's side, her heart heavy with concern. Professor McGonagall, on the other hand, was like a lioness in fury. Her lips were white with rage, and the harm inflicted upon a Hogwarts student crossed a line she could not tolerate. Her wand glowed as she advanced, and with a swift gesture, the trees nearby transformed into a lion that leapt at Quirrell. "You will pay for this!" she declared. It was unwise to provoke a professor, especially one who was an Animagus.
Quirrell attempted to retaliate but found himself turned into a tabby cat by Professor McGonagall's spell. He dodged with agility, his claws unsheathed, leaving marks on his cloak. Returning to his human form, Professor McGonagall raised her wand once more and launched another spell. "Stupefy!" Quirrell was struck and sent flying. Mag tried to follow up, but their movement had already attracted the attention of a young wizard on patrol.
"Professor McGonagall?!" Harry exclaimed. Professor McGonagall, inwardly anxious, shouted, "Hide, Potter!" Quirrell, who should have been incapacitated, floated up and moved with serpentine agility. As he neared Harry, Professor McGonagall launched another attack. Quirrell turned and vanished into the Forbidden Forest.
"What's happening here?" Hagrid arrived, noticing the Fiendfyre burning fiercely. With the combined efforts of Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, they managed to extinguish the magical flames. Despite their success, the battle had been perilous.
Hermione, who had been anxiously watching Harry, sighed in relief upon seeing he was unharmed. However, her relief turned to horror when she noticed John lying on the ground. "Oh my God, John!" She rushed to Professor Sprout's side, her voice trembling with concern. "He'll be okay, right?"
Professor Sprout, the head of Hufflepuff House and a kindly witch, reassured her as she gently patted John's head. "He's been under the Imperius Curse. We need to get him to the hospital wing immediately."
"The Unforgivable Curse?!" Hermione gasped, the name of the curse sending shivers down her spine. Harry, Neville, and even Malfoy, who had chosen to stay, were shocked.
Professor McGonagall's expression was grave. "Someone has infiltrated Hogwarts and used the Imperius Curse on a student." Professor Flitwick added sharply, "Despicable cowards!"
The commotion had also alarmed a centaur. Firenze, young with platinum-blonde hair and a silver-maned horse's body, approached. "Hagrid, professors," he greeted, his eyes reflecting surprise at the scene before him. Centaurs were known to divine prophecies from the stars, but the current events were unexpected.
"Hagrid, escort them back and ensure Mr. Wick is taken to the hospital wing. We must conduct a thorough search of this area," Professor McGonagall commanded. Hagrid lifted John, and the group, accompanied by the anxious young wizards, made their way out of the Forbidden Forest. Firenze joined them, engaging Harry in conversation about the mysteries of the starry sky.
As they left the forest behind, John began to feel a sense of relief. "Three professors should be more than enough to handle Quirrell, provided they can find him," he thought, grateful for a reprieve from facing Quirrell. The unicorn had also survived, and Professor Sylvanus Kettleburn, responsible for the Care of Magical Creatures class, hurried to attend to it.
Feeling safe and no longer needing to maintain his tense facade, John's eyelids grew heavy with the need for sleep. Just as he was about to succumb to slumber, a rustling sound snapped him back to alertness. Opening his eyes, he was met with a pair of venomous eyes. "Avada—"
The narrative abruptly cuts off, leaving the reader in suspense about the unfolding events and the identity of the new threat. "Kedavra!" The word sliced through the air, but John hadn't anticipated Quirrell, driven to madness, would dare to strike first. Nor had he expected to find himself in the position of a savior. Cradled in Hagrid's arms, John acted swiftly, pushing Harry and Malfoy out of harm's way. The force of his action caused him to tumble to the ground. The Killing Curse, a sinister green light, sped towards him, but at that critical moment, the amulet he wore sprang to life. The Armor Curse it unleashed collided with the Killing Curse, significantly weakening its lethal power. Quirrell, already debilitated by Voldemort's influence and a subsequent confrontation with Professor McGonagall that left him nearly incapacitated, couldn't muster a strong enough curse. The Iron Armor Curse effectively blocked it. Though the impact sent John flying, he was certain it wasn't fatal. As he drifted into unconsciousness, the sound of hoofbeats filled the air - reinforcements had arrived. Quirrell, not waiting to see the outcome of his attack, fled, pursued by the arriving horsemen throughout the night for his folly.
John hadn't experienced such a deep sleep since his days of insomnia. When he finally awoke, darkness still enveloped him. He had been asleep for three whole days, during which chaos had erupted at Hogwarts. An intruder had ventured into the Forbidden Forest, abducting a Slytherin student under the Imperius Curse. Despite being directly involved in the incident, Harry, Malfoy, and the others didn't become the focus of public attention. Malfoy, in particular, was preoccupied with the memory of the green light and John's unexpected intervention. "Why did Wick save me?" he pondered, bewildered by the act of bravery from someone he had openly scorned and insulted. The event left him profoundly shaken.
Harry and Hermione were equally troubled, their concern for John keeping them awake at night. Harry, haunted by the green light that mirrored the one from his nightmares, understood its deadly significance. The thought of John risking his life for them was unbearable.
The long three days felt like years to everyone. Dumbledore, along with the faculty, including Snape who, despite his usual disdain for John, appeared visibly disturbed by the incident, visited the hospital wing. Snape's glare towards Quirrell could have been lethal on its own.
Upon waking, John's condition was quickly brought to the attention of the professors. Snape was the first to arrive, his tone laced with frustration, "What were you thinking, John Wick!"
"Calm down, Severus," Dumbledore interjected, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon glasses. "Let's be grateful. The assailant's weakness allowed John to survive."
Snape's expression softened slightly, though his concern remained evident. Dumbledore then inquired, "John, do you recognize the one who attacked you?"
After a moment's thought, John replied, "It was too dark to see clearly, but he seemed familiar with Hogwarts." The implication was clear to those present, though John stopped short of naming Quirrell directly. Dumbledore offered a knowing smile but chose not to comment further.
When Harry and the others visited the next day, they discussed the incident and the miraculous survival of the unicorn. Quirrell, they learned, had taken a few days of sick leave, likely unable to face the consequences of his actions.
In the aftermath, John found himself free from Quirrell's torment. His focus shifted to the upcoming exams and the intriguing matter of the Sorcerer's Stone, a topic that had previously caught his attention during a conversation with Dumbledore. With anticipation building, the exam week finally arrived.
_________
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