John couldn't help but smile at the good news he had just received. However, his mood quickly shifted as he opened the second envelope. It was from Tommy Shelby, bearing news that was far from pleasant. "The shop was attacked?" John murmured, his eyes scanning the lines of the letter. Johnny Silverhand's store had been targeted one night by three dark wizards. Although they were repelled by Tang Mi, the threat of their return loomed over them.
The attackers were linked to Bojin Boke, a name known among those who valued rare and powerful magical artifacts. Despite the shop's modest appearance, it housed treasures that caught the eye of the wrong people. Bojin Boke, feeling threatened by the competition, had sent three wizards to eliminate the problem. Unfortunately for him, they were unsuccessful.
John's concern deepened. "It seems my worries were justified," he thought. Tang Mi had enlisted the help of three werewolves, a decision that now seemed more prudent than ever. These individuals, marginalized by the wizarding world, were grateful for the opportunity to work and prove their worth.
"The time has come to take a stand, or these problems will only escalate after the award ceremony," John resolved, a determined glint in his eyes. The inhabitants of Knockturn Alley were notorious for their lack of scruples, and it was time they learned a lesson. With the full moon approaching, John planned to unleash the werewolves on those who dared threaten their peace.
"I hope this will put an end to our troubles," John mused, snapping his fingers to ignite the letter. He watched it burn to ashes, a blank expression on his face. He then instructed Basil to deliver a letter to Tang Mi, along with an amulet and a spell ring he had prepared. Armed to the teeth, they would launch a decisive strike against Bojin Boke.
John also reached out to Alex Dharma, hoping to leverage his influence and pure-blood status to prompt the Ministry of Magic to inspect Knockturn Alley. As a recipient of the Order of Merlin, First Class, Dharma had the clout to make it happen.
After addressing these pressing matters, John turned his attention to maintaining his network of contacts, much like Lockhart did with his fans. However, John's correspondents were alchemy experts, rune scholars, and potion masters, all introduced by Dharma Alex. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and John diligently replied to each letter.
Among the letters was an unexpected note of thanks from Barty Crouch, the director of the International Magic Exchange and Cooperation Department. Crouch expressed his gratitude for John providing Tang Mi, a former Auror turned werewolf under his command, with stable employment. Touched by Crouch's sincerity and acknowledgment of his efforts to support werewolves with the sale of Wolfsbane potion, John saw him as a valuable ally and promptly penned a response.
---
After guiding Neville through a workout by the Black Lake, John noticed Neville's curiosity. "Why do we exercise even though we're wizards?" Neville inquired earnestly.
"Only a healthy body can support a strong soul," John replied, encouraging Neville to continue his training. Despite Neville's reluctance, he complied, and they parted ways in the corridor.
As John navigated the corridors, he stumbled upon Luna Lovegood, barefoot and seemingly in a panic, with Ginny Weasley by her side. Ginny, the newest Gryffindor and looking rather unwell, likely due to a recent cold, caught John's attention.
"What are you looking for?" John inquired, noticing their frantic search.
Luna, still in a daze, greeted John, her voice trailing off as she resumed her search. "John, it's nice to meet you. I'm glad you didn't get caught in the rain," Ginny Weasley greeted, having already heard of John. She was close friends with Luna Lovegood and expressed her frustration, "It's the Ravenclaws. They've hidden Luna's shoes again."
"It's just a game," John tried to soothe.
"This is no game!" Ginny retorted, her patience thinning. Luna's tolerance for such pranks was something Ginny couldn't comprehend, especially given her own experiences with bullying. She feared losing Luna, a friend she cherished deeply.
"Okay, perhaps I can help you find them," John offered, noticing Ginny's agitation and aiming to comfort both her and Luna.
Suddenly, Mrs. Norris, the caretaker's cat, appeared from around the corner. John approached her, gently stroked her head, and softly requested, "Mrs. Norris, could you help us find Luna's shoes?" The cat glanced at Luna, seemed to ponder for a moment, and then led them down another corridor.
Ginny was taken aback by this scene, knowing Mrs. Norris's reputation for reporting to Filch. They arrived at a corridor on the fifth floor where Mrs. Norris stopped and yowled towards the ceiling. Following her gaze, John spotted Luna's shoes dangling from a fixture above. He promptly retrieved them with a spell and rewarded Mrs. Norris with some cat treats he had on him.
"I'll have to find some time to brush your fur soon," he remarked, noticing her matted coat. After Mrs. Norris departed, John bid farewell to Ginny and Luna, leaving them with an offer of further assistance, particularly concerned about Luna's well-being in Ravenclaw.
John then made his way to the library, where he had special permission to access the Restricted Section thanks to a note from Professor Lockhart. Inside, he searched for books on curses, picking up "The Book of Spells" and another titled "Toxic Magic," under the watchful eye of Madam Pince.
Later that night, John emerged from the Gryffindor common room with a newly crafted wand in hand, intended for Ron. "Making a wand takes longer than I anticipated," he mused.
In Monday's Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Professor Lockhart, ever the delegator, had John demonstrate practical defense techniques. After class, John presented Ron with the new wand, crafted from the old core. Ron was pleasantly surprised by its quality, and Hermione, initially skeptical, admitted its craftsmanship.
"Great, now I can make Malfoy pay!" Ron exclaimed, eager to settle scores with his rival.
Percy Weasley, passing by, greeted them with a pompous air that irked Ron. "You know, Lockhart made him an assistant, and he's been unbearable ever since," Ron complained.
Harry, too, noticed Percy's growing arrogance, a side effect of his new position. John, however, failed to see the issue, believing it was beneficial for Percy to have more responsibilities. After bidding farewell to several acquaintances, John made his way to the dormitory with the intention of taking Tom out for a stroll. Upon his return to the bedroom, he was met with the sound of Tom's voice, raised in anger. Gripping his wand tightly, John cautiously entered the room. There, he found a house-elf, dressed in nothing but a pillowcase, cornered by Tom, who appeared menacing and unyielding. The elf seemed too frightened to retaliate or defend itself.
John observed the scene, puzzled and concerned. "What's going on here?" he asked, his tone firm yet laced with curiosity. The tension in the room was palpable, and it was clear that the situation needed to be defused quickly.
_________
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