John's tendency to keep to himself had become well-known among the Slytherins. It was rare to see him at dinner, even during the Christmas feast. By the time John arrived, the dinner party had concluded. However, as he sat down, a steaming turkey, potatoes, and bread magically appeared on the golden plate before him. "Thank you," he murmured, unsure if the house-elf working in the kitchen could hear his gratitude. Due to his frequent absences from dinner, John had become acquainted with the house-elves in the kitchen. They always saved a portion for him, and today was no exception. He sliced a piece from the turkey, took out the little jar of old godmother sauce he had left, and spread it on the bread. With the turkey and bread enhanced by the sauce, John savored his meal with narrowed eyes of satisfaction.
After dinner, John returned to the Slytherin dungeon. Malfoy, looking furious and wary, confronted him. "Are you John?" he demanded.
John, puzzled, replied, "Of course I am."
"Evidence!" Malfoy, resembling a child who had been deceived, already had his wand in hand, ready to retaliate if John couldn't prove his identity.
After a moment's thought, John gestured for Malfoy to come closer. Despite his wariness, Malfoy approached. In a swift movement reminiscent of a venomous snake, John grabbed Malfoy's wand hand, twisting it until the wand dropped. He then seized Malfoy's collar with his other hand, lifting him with ease. Gasping for air, Malfoy quickly capitulated, "I believe it, I believe it."
"It would have been better if you had realized this sooner," John remarked, releasing Malfoy.
As John sat down, Tom, the cat, ran over to be petted. Clearing his throat, Malfoy mentioned, "There are two guys impersonating Goyle and Crabbe."
Convinced that no one in Hogwarts but John possessed such strength, Malfoy vowed revenge on the impostors. "If you let me know who it is, I'll show them the power of a curse!"
"Masquerading as Goyle and Crabbe? Could it be Polyjuice Potion?" John mused, stroking Tom's head as the cat settled comfortably. He suspected the trio, as no one else would undertake such a scheme.
"What did you tell them?" John inquired, already guessing the answer but curious about the specifics.
Malfoy hesitated before admitting, "I basically spilled everything."
"Draco, it's time for you to change your habit," John said, exasperated. Malfoy, embarrassed, redirected his frustration towards Goyle and Crabbe for their tardiness.
"We ate a cake and passed out," the two explained, equally aggrieved.
"Alright, that's enough," John said, standing up. As he was about to leave, Malfoy stopped him with a final piece of information. "John, they also asked about you."
"Me?" John was taken aback, but Malfoy confirmed, "I said you often disappear without a trace."
John pondered this, doubting it was a suspicion against him, as he was a true Muggle-born wizard. He assumed Harry had asked out of casual curiosity about his life in Slytherin.
Dismissing the thought, John turned his attention to the pile of Christmas presents awaiting him. Most were from his pen pals, as he believed in maintaining good relationships and had also sent out many gifts for Christmas.
Among the presents, Neville had sent a beautiful glass ball that projected stars when placed next to a candle. Hermione gifted a delicate quill, Ron a wizard chess set, and Harry a Quidditch book. His mother sent cufflinks, and his father, a wizard hat made of Muggle materials and handcrafted. Accompanying his father's gift was a letter hinting that John should bring home a golden snitch, revealing his interest in Quidditch. During the summer vacation, John had received numerous gifts and letters, one of which was particularly blunt from Mrs. Wick, simply stating, "Tell your father to go to hell, don't listen to him." As he neared the end of his pile of presents, John's attention was caught by the last one, curiously sent from his own home. Inside the package was a letter that read:
"My dearest Yadani, I hope this gift finds you well. It's unfortunate you couldn't join us for Christmas this year, especially with the family turmoil. Your uncles are caught up in it too. Father is aging, and there have been those attempting to exploit him, though I've managed to fend them off. Let's leave those matters aside. Do you remember the brown bear whose cubs grew stronger than their mother? I hope you can visit next year; I've yet to take you hunting. With love, your uncle, Seryozha Jovonovich."
Yadani Jovonovich was a name only used by his grandfather's side of the family. The letter, sent by his uncle, had been forwarded by Mrs. Wick. A wave of nostalgia washed over John. Despite the distance and their unusual hobbies, like wrestling with brown bears, his uncles' affection was evident through their consistent gifting.
Curious about his uncle's present, John eagerly opened the book-sized gift box to find a sleek, expensive-looking black box. Inside, a matte black object rested, its design unfamiliar yet intriguing. Upon closer inspection, John realized it was a pistol, complete with a synthetic handle, a 9mm caliber, and a magazine capacity of 17 rounds. The realization that his uncle had gifted him a gun left John bewildered, questioning the sanity of both himself and his uncle.
"A wizard with a gun?" he mused, noting the limited ammunition provided, perhaps a sign his uncle didn't intend for it to be used recklessly. Despite the absurdity, John decided to safely store the gun away, deeming it too extreme a gift for a twelve-year-old.
The following day, upon hearing that Hermione had been hospitalized, John, considering her a good friend, visited her in the school hospital. To his surprise, he was greeted by a face obscured by fur. Hermione, mortified, urged him to leave. John, unable to resist, joked about her wanting to emulate Professor McGonagall, only to learn Hermione's condition was the result of a mishap with Millicent Bulstrode's cat during a Dueling Club session.
Suppressing laughter, John found Hermione's new appearance somewhat endearing, though he wisely refrained from petting her to avoid any potential backlash. Before Hermione could express her frustration with a pillow, John quickly conjured a curtain for privacy and cheekily requested the badge under her pillow, recalling he had left it with Harry previously and forgotten about it. The mention of Hermione and Harry sharing a bed was a mix-up, a humorous misunderstanding in the midst of the chaos. John retrieved his badge, his expression one of mild concern as he pondered the health protocols of the school hospital. Hermione, observing this, couldn't hide her confusion. John, noticing her puzzled look, explained nonchalantly, "After Harry was attacked by a Bludger during the last match, I've been thinking it's crucial we find out who was behind it. It appears the heir of Slytherin hasn't targeted him yet."
"Okay," Hermione replied, a hint of guilt seeping into her voice at the mention of the heir. With a plan in mind, they decided to transform into Slytherins to question Malfoy about the incident. After their conversation, John bid Hermione farewell and left the school hospital, his mind racing with thoughts of their next move.
Their investigation into the attack on Harry was not just about finding the culprit but also about understanding the deeper machinations at play within Hogwarts. The mention of the heir of Slytherin brought an ominous air to their quest, suggesting that the events unfolding were part of a larger, more sinister plot.
As John walked away from the hospital, he couldn't help but feel the weight of their mission. The safety of their friend and the peace of the school rested on their shoulders. With each step, he resolved to uncover the truth, no matter how dangerous the path might become.
_________
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