"Disappeared?" John was taken aback. Where could Daphne have gone? In his mind, apart from her occasional preference for sitting next to him, Daphne Greengrass, the beautiful Slytherin girl, was primarily known for her aloofness. She barely acknowledged anyone, not even Malfoy and his clique, with anything more than a cursory glance.
Malfoy, looking guilty, admitted, "She took off with the diary."
"Draco, let's have a chat about your redeeming qualities," John sighed deeply. Malfoy was regretful; the diary had been whispering to him, leading him into temptation. He had nearly succumbed to its influence several times. When he had sought Professor Snape's guidance, the professor had been preoccupied with the recent incidents involving Harry and John. Daphne, noticing something was amiss with Malfoy, had taken the diary from him. Unfortunately, she had proven to be less resilient than Malfoy and had vanished soon after taking it.
Malfoy was filled with regret. Had he known the consequences, he would have kept the diary with him. Meanwhile, John, still under the influence of the Felicia potion, pondered over Harry's account of Tom Riddle. "How could he possibly deal with me? I've slain the basilisk; there's nothing left in Hogwarts that could pose a threat," he mused.
His mind raced, piecing together the puzzle. Recalling Pansy Parkinson's mention of a poison bottle sparked an idea. "Where is Pansy's poison bottle?" he asked urgently.
Malfoy, puzzled by the question, took a moment before responding, "Professor Snape confiscated it."
Upon hearing this, John rushed to find Professor Snape, realizing that the poison was the final piece of the puzzle. Riddle, aware that the basilisk had been defeated, had resorted to using it as a distraction. While eliminating Harry was a tempting prospect, Riddle's primary objective was resurrection.
"He's been growing stronger since he took control of Ginny. He must have found a way," John reasoned. Reflecting on the condition of those who had come into contact with the diary—Ginny's weakening state, Pansy's odd behavior, Harry's secret hypnosis, and Malfoy's auditory hallucinations—it was clear that Riddle's influence was expanding. Initially, communication was limited to writing, but it soon escalated to hypnosis and soul possession. This escalation was likely due to the diary absorbing the magical power and life force of its holders, facilitating Riddle's transformation.
John surmised that Riddle was seeking another wizard to drain in the trophy room, but his plan was thwarted when John and Tom discovered it. Given John's robust magical power, Riddle had to redirect him, revealing Harry's venture into the Chamber of Secrets.
"Clever, Voldemort. I underestimated him," John mused. Recalling Voldemort's less-than-stellar schemes from his past life, he had initially thought little of Voldemort's intelligence. However, reflecting on Voldemort's younger years, John acknowledged his cunning and ambition.
Upon reaching Snape's office, John found the professor analyzing the poison bottle. "Mr. Wick, I expect better manners from you," Snape remarked with a hint of disdain.
John, undeterred, inquired urgently, "Professor, have you identified the contents?"
Snape, misinterpreting John's concern, replied condescendingly, "You would do well to study more. The components of a potion are complex and not easily discerned by the untrained eye."
He suggested, somewhat dismissively, "If you're truly concerned, you might visit Miss Parkinson in the hospital wing."
"That would be too late," John replied, taking an unexpected action that caught Professor Snape off guard. John carefully picked up the vial of poison, giving it a cautious sniff. Before Professor Snape could even begin to mock him, John daringly took a sip. Snape was taken aback; while it was true that the fastest way to discern a poison's ingredients was to taste it, he hadn't expected such a bold move from John. As the various toxins were identified by his keen sense of taste, John felt a slight numbness spread through his body, but his expression eased. "Acromantula venom," he declared. Thanks to his fire dragon physique, John had a high resistance to poisons. The effects were mild, and after pinpointing the main ingredient, he casually consumed the antidote as if it were mere water.
Snape's face turned pale with worry and then darkened with anger. "Twenty points from Slytherin!" he snapped.
"Okay," John replied nonchalantly, hurrying out of the office.
On his way, he encountered Harry, who was flanked by Ron and Hermione. Noticing John's brisk pace, Harry instinctively followed him. Hermione, visibly annoyed, stamped her foot, and Ron, intimidated by her frustration, hesitated to follow.
"John, where are you headed?" Harry called out, catching up to him.
John paused and turned to face Harry. "Daphne's in trouble. I suspect Riddle has taken her to the Forbidden Forest."
"Riddle? Who's that?" Harry's confusion made John stop in his tracks. He looked intently at the scar on Harry's forehead and explained, "Riddle is just his surname. His full name is Tom Marvolo Riddle. It's a name that's shaken the wizarding world, though not many recognize it."
"What name?" Harry asked, puzzled.
John looked deeply at Harry's scar and whispered, "Voldemort."
At the mention of Voldemort, Harry froze, a chilling vision flashing before his eyes accompanied by a woman's scream, sending shivers down his spine.
"Harry, Riddle is after you. He's planning something for his resurrection, and it's going to be extremely dangerous," John warned, suggesting Harry stay behind. But Harry, determined not to let John face the danger alone, insisted on joining him. "You know the connection between me and Voldemort," he said.
Respecting Harry's decision, John nodded. "I respect your choice, Harry."
Together, they hurried towards the Forbidden Forest. As they passed Hagrid's hut, John called out for Fang, who eagerly bounded out. John presented Daphne's handkerchief to Fang, instructing, "We need you to find her."
Fang barked affirmatively and dashed into the forest, with John and Harry following closely. The forest grew darker and the path more treacherous with fallen branches littering the ground. John navigated with ease, but Harry struggled to keep up, relying on his wand for light.
Deeper into the forest, Fang suddenly halted and barked towards a specific direction. John signaled for silence, drawing his wand and cautiously approaching. There, they encountered a humanoid, ape-like creature with black eyes and long hair, which had just revealed itself from invisibility.
"An invisible beast?" John, familiar with "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," was surprised. The creature, known for its gentle nature, seemed anxious and pointed them in a certain direction.
"Are you guiding us?" John inferred, trusting the creature's intent under the influence of Felicia. With a mutual glance, he and Harry followed the direction indicated.
After navigating through a thorny path, they arrived at a serene silver lake, the moonlight casting a mystical glow over the water. Bathed in moonlight, the lake beside them glimmered like a sheet of silver. Standing at its edge was a boy clad in a Hogwarts uniform, his gaze fixed on the figure before him—a girl with striking blonde hair lying at his feet. This boy, with his dark eyes, tall stature, and pale, handsome features, was none other than a young Voldemort, holding Daphne's laurel wand with a confident smile playing on his lips.
"You've finally arrived," he said, the corners of his mouth curling upwards. In his hand, the wand seemed more a symbol of his arrogance than a tool of magic. He regarded the two before him with a dismissive air. "That old fool of a snake must be dead by now, but no matter. It's time for me to act." His pride was palpable, a testament to his belief in his own superiority.
Pointing his wand directly at Harry, Voldemort's youthful incarnation declared, "Draw your wand, Harry. I'm aware you've been taught to duel. I intend to take your life personally." He had learned from Ginny the tale of Harry Potter, the dark lord who had been defeated by a mere infant, and he was determined to rectify that humiliation himself.
Even John, standing to the side, could only watch as the scene unfolded. Harry, summoning all his courage, reached for his wand and took a determined step forward. A smile spread across Riddle's face, anticipating the duel that was to come.
This moment was more than a confrontation; it was a clash of destinies. Harry, aware of the weight of history on his shoulders, faced Voldemort not just as an opponent, but as a symbol of the darkness that had once engulfed the wizarding world. The air was charged with tension, the outcome of this encounter poised to echo through the annals of magical history.
_________
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