Mundungus Fletcher was busy decorating his shop, feeling optimistic that after working under the tutelage of Lord Johnny with the silver hand, he might one day rival the esteemed Bojinbok Antique Store. John, ensuring that Mundungus refrained from any discourteous remarks, didn't leave the premises until he was satisfied. Stepping out, John made his way towards Diagon Alley, only to notice the Malfoy father and son duo emerging from Borgin and Burkes, apparently having sold something.
Just as John was about to continue on his way, a familiar figure caught his eye exiting Bojinbok. "Harry?" John was taken aback, puzzled as to why Harry was in Knockturn Alley. Harry, who had inadvertently wandered into Knockturn Alley, was visibly shaken. The sight of shrunken human heads for sale in a shop across from Borgin and Burkes, along with a large cage filled with menacing black spiders, had unnerved him. As Harry hurried along the alley, trying to adjust his glasses that had slipped down his nose, he attracted the unwanted attention of the local wizards.
John observed from a distance as a wizard began to stealthily approach Harry. An old witch, revealing her decayed, mossy teeth in a grotesque grin, grabbed Harry's hand. "You're not lost, are you, dear?" she croaked, her other hand ominously holding a plate of what appeared to be dead man's nails. Harry, his heart racing with fear, slowly backed away from the witch's chilling presence. "I'm fine, thank you. I just want to leave," Harry stammered, trying to resist the witch's advance.
John intervened just as the old witch became more aggressive, attempting to share the gruesome contents of her plate with Harry. "Harry, what are you doing here?" John's sudden appearance startled the witch. As she turned to face the handsome newcomer, her sinister smile faded when John's expression darkened. With a swift movement, John's left hand conjured a whip-like shadow, striking the witch's plate from her grasp. The old witch screamed, ready to retaliate, but halted when she found John's wand aimed directly at her eyes. "Go away, or I will make you blind," John warned coldly, sending a shiver down the witch's spine.
At that moment, a towering figure emerged from the crowd. "Harry, John! What are you doing here?" Hagrid's booming voice filled the alley as he approached, immediately recognizing the old witch and scolding her, "Go away, you shameless thing." He quickly pulled Harry away, leading them out of Knockturn Alley with the witch not daring to follow, cowed by John's threat.
Once outside, the familiar white marble of Gringotts greeted them. Hagrid ushered the two into Diagon Alley, helping Harry clean the soot from his clothes. Upon learning that Harry had gotten lost, Hagrid could only chide him for his carelessness. "John, why were you there?" Hagrid asked, surprised to find John in Knockturn Alley as well. John, preferring not to mention his business dealings, simply smiled and replied, "I was checking for any interesting alchemy materials."
"That's too risky; you just need to tell me," Hagrid complained, revealing that he too had been in the area to procure materials for John, as well as to buy a potion to eliminate flesh-eating slugs. He shuddered at the thought of what might have happened to Harry had John not been there to intervene.
"Thank you, John. You saved me again," Harry expressed his gratitude sincerely. John shrugged it off, claiming he was merely passing by. Harry then excitedly shared that he was staying at the Weasleys', describing it as fantastic. Remembering that he had been separated from Ron, Harry grew anxious to reunite with him.
"Harry, why didn't you write back to me?" Hagrid inquired, concerned. Harry apologized, explaining the ordeal with the Dursleys that had prevented him from responding. An enraged Hagrid vowed to teach the Dursleys a lesson for their treatment of Harry.
As they continued their walk, Hermione's voice called out from the steps of Gringotts. "Harry! Harry! Come here!" She hurried down to greet them, her presence bringing a sense of normalcy and safety after their unsettling encounter in Knockturn Alley. Hermione's brown, shaggy hair flew behind her as she approached with a wide grin, her prominent teeth on full display. "What's the matter with your glasses, John? Oh, you're here too, Harry! And Hagrid, it's wonderful to see you again," she exclaimed, her joy unmistakable after just stepping out of Gringotts. "Have you been to Gringotts yet?" she inquired.
"I'll head there as soon as I find the Weasleys," Harry replied, recounting his unintended detour to Knockturn Alley, from which he had no means of escape.
Hagrid, towering above the crowd, spotted the Weasleys navigating through the bustling street. "Harry, we were worried you'd lost your way," Mr. Weasley said, catching his breath. His red hair, a trait common among the Weasleys, was thinning, and his tall, slender frame was adorned with glasses. "Molly's been frantic. She'll be here any moment. And this must be... ah, John Wick, of course."
Ron, upon noticing John, immediately wondered about Harry's whereabouts. Hagrid, with a stern expression, informed them, "He ended up in Knockturn Alley."
"That sounds amazing!" the Weasley twins exclaimed in unison, their envy evident as their family strictly forbade visits to Knockturn Alley.
"It was far from amazing. If John hadn't been there, Harry could have been in serious trouble," Hagrid remarked, still upset about the encounter with the old witch.
This revelation only fueled the twins' curiosity further, urging Harry to share his adventurous tale. "Harry, oh dear, I'm so relieved you're safe," Mrs. Weasley said as she arrived, panting. She immediately began fussing over Harry, brushing off his clothes with a coat brush she pulled from her bag. Mr. Weasley, meanwhile, took John's glasses and expertly repaired them with a flick of his wand.
Ginny, the youngest daughter, joined her mother in tending to Harry, eager to show her gratitude. "I must be off. I'll see you all at Hogwarts," Hagrid announced, eager to escape Molly's overwhelming concern.
"Oh, John, thank you so much. You're a true friend," Molly said, her fondness for John growing upon learning of his timely assistance. Even Ginny approached to express her thanks, though John modestly claimed it was mere coincidence. However, Molly's warmth soon made John feel as if he were one of her own, a sentiment that overwhelmed him slightly.
"Ahem, I've already visited Gringotts. I'll wait for you outside," John said, hastily excusing himself as the group prepared to enter the bank.
After a short wait, John observed Mr. Weasley and Hermione's father exiting Gringotts, arms around each other in camaraderie. They agreed to reconvene at Lihen Bookstore in an hour, giving Molly time to take Ginny clothes shopping.
As the four friends strolled along the winding, cobbled streets of Diagon Alley, Ron expressed his envy of John's travels. "John, have you been abroad? That's so enviable."
"Where did you visit in France? Paris?" Hermione inquired, recalling John's mention of the trip in a letter but lacking specifics.
After a moment's thought, John replied, "Yes, I visited Paris. There, I encountered a drunkard selling door keys in a hideout. He sold me a faulty key, and I ended up being chased by a fire dragon."
"Ha, John, you're hilarious," Ron laughed heartily, assuming John was jesting.
Harry and Hermione also found amusement in John's tale, appreciating his sense of humor, though John felt a bit helpless knowing his story was indeed true.
Upon reaching Lihen Bookstore an hour later, they found it bustling with people and adorned with huge banners featuring Gilderoy Lockhart. "Gilderoy Lockhart? That name sounds familiar," Harry mused.
Hermione's excitement was palpable. "We'll get to see him in person! Nearly all the books on our list are his work," she said, beaming.
John, overwhelmed by the sight of the long queue, spotted Draco Malfoy. The crowd dispersed the group, and John, using his stature to his advantage, made his way to the second floor. Observing Malfoy's clenched teeth as Harry took pictures with Lockhart, John couldn't help but comment, "Really, you're envious of this?"
Malfoy, startled by John's presence, nearly lost his balance but was steadied by John's quick reflexes. "Look at Harry Potter, acting as if he's above everyone else," Malfoy sneered. He was extremely displeased with the attention Harry was receiving, unaware that Harry himself felt as though he were walking amongst the living as a ghost.
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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