"Ah, it seems almost no one remembers my fondness for the lilac color, a detail I shared in 'A Year with the Tibetan Snowman'," Lockhart lamented as he reviewed the test papers. His disappointment was palpable, given the students' failure to answer his 'simple' questions. Yet, he couldn't help but offer a mischievous wink to comfort the young wizards. Ron, along with his classmates, struggled to contain their amusement. Hermione, however, remained the sole figure of concentration in the room, until Lockhart unexpectedly mentioned her name, causing her to startle.
"But Miss Hermione Granger is aware that my secret ambition is to rid the world of evil and to launch my own line of hair conditioners," Lockhart announced, his surprise turning into relief upon reading Hermione's test paper. "Indeed, exceptional individuals always stand out," he remarked joyfully. "Where is Miss Hermione Granger?" Hermione, her hand shaking, raised it to acknowledge her correct answer. "Splendid, 10 points for Gryffindor!" Lockhart declared, sending waves of excitement through Hermione. It was her first time earning points ahead of John, and she couldn't help but look at him with a sense of triumphant challenge in her eyes.
John sensed something amiss in Hermione's gaze. The once disheartened student seemed reinvigorated, ready to surpass John once more. Unbeknownst to Lockhart, his casual actions had rekindled the competitive spirit in Hermione.
Lockhart then placed a large cage, shrouded with a cloth, on the podium. His exaggerated gestures hinted at something ominous. "Prepare yourselves! I am here to teach you how to defend against the darkest entities known to the wizarding world! You will confront your worst fears in this classroom!" His voice carried a hint of menace, designed to instill fear in the young wizards. Sensing he might have overdone it, Lockhart quickly reassured them, "But fear not, for as long as I am here, you shall be safe. All I ask is for you to remain calm."
The class fell silent, their laughter ceasing as some, like Neville in the front row, visibly tensed. "Please, try not to scream; it will only provoke them," Lockhart warned, his tone low and foreboding, successfully casting a pall of terror over the room.
As Lockhart unveiled the cage, the class held its breath in anticipation. Seamus, who typically maintained his composure, couldn't contain his laughter when, instead of the feared dementors, a group of Cornish pixies was revealed. These small, iron-blue creatures, with their pointed faces and shrill voices, were more akin to noisy budgerigars than terrifying beasts.
Lockhart, embarrassed by Seamus's reaction, defensively claimed, "They may be small, but these creatures are as cunning as devils!" His attempt to salvage the situation was met with more laughter, much to his chagrin.
"Well, let's see how you handle them!" Lockhart declared, opening the cage to unleash the pixies. Chaos ensued as the pixies darted around the classroom, lifting students by their ears and shattering the window glass. True to Lockhart's words, they wreaked havoc like little demons, spraying ink everywhere.
One pixie, daring to approach John, was met with a threatening glare that sent it flying away in terror. Clearly, even the Cornish pixies knew better than to provoke certain individuals.
Lockhart, in a desperate attempt to regain control, hastily instructed the students on how to manage the pandemonium. His efforts, however, only highlighted the gap between his boasts and his actual ability to manage magical creatures, much to the amusement and dismay of his students. As the chaos unfolded in the classroom, with elves darting about and students either trying to catch them or avoid being splattered with ink, John had had enough. With a commanding presence, he stood up amidst the disorder, his voice cutting through the noise like a cold blade. "Enough!" he shouted, and an aura of authority, reminiscent of a dragon's might, radiated from him. This sudden display of power caused the mischievous elves to freeze in their tracks, and even Professor Lockhart, caught off guard, yelped in fear and made a hasty retreat from the room. The elves, overwhelmed by John's presence, trembled and collapsed in a heap, their pitiful state drawing a mix of reactions from the students.
John, maintaining his composure, quickly brought an end to the mayhem. With a flick of his wand, he cast a Transfiguration spell, transforming a nearby table into a cage that corralled the still-escaping elves. As the bell signaling the end of class rang, the students snapped out of their daze, looking around as if waking from a dream. As John made his way to the door, a student's voice broke the silence, "Aren't you going to dismiss the class?"
"Right," John replied, acknowledging the oversight. The students' reactions varied—Daphne gazed at John with newfound respect, while Malfoy was momentarily speechless. The Slytherins erupted into cheers, viewing John as the hero who had salvaged the lesson. "Cool, that was amazing!" exclaimed Seamus from Gryffindor, impressed by John's ability to intimidate the elf into submission. "I felt like he was a fire dragon just now, it was just too scary," Harry added, sharing in the awe. Ron, however, was more terrified by the thought of enduring another of Lockhart's classes than by John's display of power. "I never want to take Lockhart's class again, it's a nightmare," he declared. Hermione, trying to defend her idol, suggested that Lockhart might have been giving them a chance to practice, but her confidence waned as the conversation continued.
The incident highlighted John's understanding of how deterrence could be effectively used against lesser magical creatures. He considered this ability, which stemmed from his natural presence and strength, as a potential magical skill.
Later, tasked by Dumbledore with caring for the Whomping Willow, John approached the task with a sense of duty. Despite his initial attempt to calm the tree with his presence alone, he resorted to using a petrification spell when his deterrence proved insufficient. After applying dragon dung around the tree—a beneficial treatment for plants—the Whomping Willow settled down.
Back in his dormitory, John crafted an amulet from the Whomping Willow's branches, designed to alert the wearer to approaching danger. This amulet, sensitive to even the faintest malice, was a testament to John's ingenuity and connection to the magical world around him.
With preparations complete, including a bag filled with potions for detoxification and fire protection, John set his sights on the Room of Requirement. His mind focused on the challenges ahead, he was ready to push his boundaries and explore the depths of his magical abilities. John tapped his foot on the ground three times, and as he did so, a door materialized in front of him. Stepping inside, he found Gryffindor already waiting. John gave a nod, signaling his readiness. "I'm prepared to begin the test," he declared.
With a graceful wave of Gryffindor's wand, the Room of Requirement underwent a dramatic transformation. Vines sprouted from the floor, entwining around them, while trees burst forth from the earth, their branches reaching skyward. The transformation unfolded over several moments, and by the time it ceased, John found himself standing in the midst of a vast forest. It was his first encounter with such a use of the Room of Requirement. Had he not witnessed it with his own eyes, he might have believed he had been transported into the heart of the Forbidden Forest.
The air was thick with the scent of moss and damp earth, a stark contrast to the usual ambiance of the Room of Requirement. John looked around, marveling at the intricate details of the forest that had been conjured around him. The trees towered above, their leaves whispering secrets in a language only the wind understood. The ground beneath his feet felt alive, pulsating with the magic that had created this place.
Gryffindor's presence was a reassuring constant in the ever-changing landscape of the room. "Remember, the test will challenge you in ways you might not expect. Stay vigilant," Gryffindor advised, his voice echoing slightly in the vast expanse of the forest.
John took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill his lungs. He was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead, his determination fueled by the knowledge that this was no ordinary test. It was a journey through the depths of magic, a testament to the power and creativity that the Room of Requirement held within its walls.
_________
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