The next day, the halls of Hogwarts buzzed with excitement and disbelief. "Have you heard?" one student whispered to another, eyes wide with awe. "John Wick, he's real—and he's our protector!"
Indeed, the news had spread like wildfire. Colin Creevey's photograph, capturing the moment John Wick confronted the basilisk, was the talk of the school. The image was so perfectly timed it seemed staged, with John's hair dramatically swept across his face as he cast his spell.
Harry Potter, freshly discharged from the hospital, reunited with Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley in the girls' bathroom, where they had been brewing a complex potion. Ron, barely containing his excitement, waved Colin's photo in front of Harry. "Is it true?" he asked, eager for confirmation.
Harry felt a twinge of embarrassment. At the crucial moment, he had been preoccupied, talking to Dobby, and had missed the action. However, he had seen John being escorted to the hospital wing. Hermione, ever concerned, immediately inquired about John's condition.
"He's fine," Harry replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Just hungry, apparently." This response left Ron baffled, while Hermione let out a sigh of relief.
The conversation quickly turned back to their potion-making endeavor. Initially, their goal had been to extract information from Draco Malfoy, but John's heroic act seemed to render their plan unnecessary. Yet, Harry remained adamant. Recalling Malfoy's earlier slander against Muggle-born wizards and his subsequent vendetta, Harry suggested that Malfoy might have had a more sinister motive. "Maybe Malfoy wanted to kill John," he proposed, considering Malfoy's capacity for revenge.
Determined to protect their friend, they decided to continue with their plan but realized they were missing some crucial ingredients. Hermione suggested seeking assistance from Professor Snape, who, as a potions master, would undoubtedly have what they needed.
On Monday, John was officially discharged from the hospital. Madam Pomfrey couldn't help but give him an odd look, noting his unusual appetite during his stay. John, puzzled by his improved appetite despite the poisoning, decided not to dwell on it.
As he walked through the school, he was met with admiring glances. At the bulletin board, he saw Colin's photograph and couldn't help but admire the skill behind the shot. "Colin really should consider a career in photography," he mused, appreciating his own photogenic qualities in the image.
The Weasley twins, Fred and George, had somehow acquired a collection of John's personal items and were now selling them as protective charms against the "heirs." John was taken aback upon discovering they were selling his socks. "Wait, why do you have my socks!" he exclaimed, incredulous.
George assured him, "Of course they're yours. We never sell fakes." Fred sheepishly admitted they had paid someone to gain access to John's belongings.
John, unamused by their antics, proposed a deal. "Fifty-fifty," he suggested, threatening to expose their scheme as fraudulent if they refused. The twins, realizing the popularity of the items and fearing the backlash of being labeled as frauds, reluctantly agreed.
"Take it, you Slytherin," George grumbled, acknowledging their defeat. John, satisfied with the arrangement, wondered what else the twins might have of his to sell. John had just purchased a brand new set of pencils, which could be bought individually. Despite having the means to afford them, John believed that money should never be a source of trouble for anyone. It was during this time that he encountered Neville, who was still wearing John's scarf. This sight rendered John momentarily speechless. "Why are you wearing my scarf?" he inquired.
Neville, looking visibly embarrassed, scratched his head. "Uh…" His discomfort was palpable, akin to being caught wearing someone else's clothes. John was about to remind Neville not to judge people by their appearances when he learned that Neville had acquired the scarf as an amulet from the twins. This revelation eased John's concerns, though he couldn't help but question Neville's choice. "Don't you have the sword I personally crafted for you? What use do you have for a scarf?" John asked, his tone laced with incredulity.
After some contemplation, Neville realized the sword indeed held more practical value than the scarf. John, wanting to ensure Neville's safety, arranged a strengthening package for him. However, John found little peace in his classes, as students from other houses often crowded in, seeking a sense of security.
During a Defense Against the Dark Arts class, John noticed Professor Lockhart seemingly designing a stage on paper, which struck him as odd. Once the class concluded, John sought out Percy, hoping he could convince him to take Ginny to the Whomping Willow. Percy, protective of his sister, was initially wary of John's intentions. "Don't you have feelings for Ginny?" he asked, suspicion evident in his voice.
John was taken aback by the accusation. "What are you thinking? Ginny is just a little brat to me," he responded, trying to clear the misunderstanding. After several assurances, Percy reluctantly agreed to John's request, recognizing the importance of their cooperative relationship and trusting John not to harm Ginny.
John had chosen Percy for this task, deeming him more reliable than Ron or the Weasley twins, who were likely to cause trouble or eavesdrop.
Despite having confirmed Ginny as the heir who opened the Chamber of Secrets, John chose not to expose her immediately. He was puzzled by how someone from the Weasley family could possess such knowledge and use advanced spells like the Crushing Curse, especially at such a young age.
Later that afternoon, John arrived at the Whomping Willow, which had fully recovered from its previous state. As he waited, he experimented with enhancing the flame of his Iron Wick sword by reciting a spell in dragon language, which transformed the flame into the shape of a fire dragon. This experiment led him to believe that the dragon's blood used in the enchantment played a significant role in this effect.
When Ginny and Percy finally arrived, Ginny appeared visibly tense, and Percy had to reassure her. Upon seeing John, Ginny's fear was evident, confirming to John that her actions were not of her own volition. Gently, he asked, "Ginny, you did it, didn't you?"
Ginny, overwhelmed with emotion, nodded, tears streaming down her face. "What did you do?" Percy interjected, confused and concerned.
"I don't know why, but I was scared. I think he influenced me, so I threw him away," Ginny sobbed, revealing the source of her torment.
"Who is 'he'?" John pressed, seeking clarity.
Ginny, barely able to speak through her tears, confessed, "Riddle's diary." This revelation left Percy in disbelief, as he struggled to comprehend the gravity of his sister's involvement with the monster from the Chamber of Secrets. John, with a sense of urgency in his voice, pressed for answers. "John, please, tell me what happened!"
After a moment of contemplation, John replied, "Initially, I suspected Ginny might have been chosen as the heir of Slytherin. But now, it seems the diary might be the key." He paused, the name hanging in the air, "Tom Riddle. That's Voldemort's real last name." The realization hit John like a cold wave; this diary had a direct connection to Voldemort.
With a grave expression etched on his face, John inquired, "Where did you dispose of the diary?" It was imperative that he retrieve the diary before it fell into the wrong hands.
_________
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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