"What's wrong with her?" Harry asked, his gaze fixed on Daphne. She lay motionless, her once rosy complexion now pallid, and her lips, which were usually a vibrant cherry, had turned an alarming shade of white. He couldn't fathom why the Heir of Slytherin would target a pureblood.
"For me, eliminating Mudbloods is no longer a priority. My true aim has always been resurrection," Riddle explained softly, a hint of amusement in his voice as he observed Harry's shocked expression. He sneered, "You see, she's just like Ginny—a foolish little girl blinded by love. Such absurd affection."
"John Wick, she's infatuated with you. Blinded by her feelings, she followed me willingly because I lied that you were in the Forbidden Forest."
Hearing Riddle's words, John's expression shifted from calm to furious. "Ever since you unleashed the basilisk, I've stood in your way. You expected the school to be engulfed in fear, but because of me, everyone found their courage again."
"John, it wasn't supposed to be this way. You've ruined everything—my basilisk, my plans," Riddle's tone darkened with each word. He had meticulously planned to use the basilisk to murder Muggle-borns, plunging the school into chaos. But John, single-handedly, thwarted his plans. Despite this setback, Riddle had managed to resurrect himself. Pointing at the unconscious Daphne, he chuckled, "Her death will complete my resurrection. But before that, I'll kill you."
He confidently pointed his wand at them, believing that even together, they posed no threat to him. After all, he was Tom Riddle, Hogwarts' top student and the future Dark Lord.
"Harry, don't hesitate. Come out and face me. I'm eager to watch you die a painful death," Riddle taunted, angering Harry. Even facing defeat, Harry knew he had to confront him.
"Let's do this, Riddle!" Harry declared, gripping his wand firmly. Riddle responded with a calm and graceful salute. "One should always salute before a duel. Didn't your teacher teach you that?"
Refusing to be outdone, Harry mimicked Riddle's gesture and saluted. As they both lowered their heads, a sudden sound shattered the silence—boom.
Startled, Harry looked up to see astonishment on Riddle's face, a bullet hole in his chest from which black smoke billowed. John stood there, expressionless, with white smoke curling from the pistol in his hand.
Seeing Harry's puzzled look, John remarked indifferently, "There's no honor in dealing with scum like him."
He couldn't understand Harry's thought process. With a two-on-one advantage, why would Harry choose a fair duel?
John's wand flickered, sending streaks of white light towards Riddle. Riddle attempted to counter with the Iron Armor Curse, but it shattered under the force of John's Shattering Curse in less than a second.
"How is this possible!" Riddle exclaimed, disbelief in his eyes. He couldn't fathom how a second-year wizard could surpass him in skill. Unbeknownst to him, John was no ordinary second-year student. Despite his youthful appearance, his strategic mind and magical prowess were unmatched.
Forced to retreat by John's relentless assault, Riddle found himself backed into a corner. As John advanced, he continued to unleash a barrage of spells, interspersed with the occasional gunshot. All fourteen bullets were a gift for Riddle to "enjoy."
Cornered, Riddle shouted defiantly, "John Wick, do you dare face me in a duel?"
"A duel? You've taken hostages, and yet you have the audacity to challenge me?" John scoffed, dismissing Riddle's proposal. It was ludicrous—akin to kidnappers demanding a fair fight from the police. Such tactics might deceive a child like Harry, but to John, they were mere child's play.
As Riddle was driven step by step towards the lake behind him, John raised his hand, ready to deliver the final blow. Harry learned a valuable lesson from John during their confrontation with Riddle: never attempt to reason with Death Eaters. As the battle intensified, Harry and John, positioned on opposite sides, managed to push Riddle back with a relentless assault. Riddle's fury was palpable as he launched a Flying Shattering Curse at Harry, sending him flying. Despite the pressure, John, leveraging his combat experience, managed to counter Riddle's attacks with precision.
The air was charged with the colors of their spells—green, white, and red lights weaving through the chaos. A stray spell nearly hit Daphne, causing stone debris to scatter dangerously close to her. Seizing a momentary advantage, John cast a Level 4 Flame Curse, creating a fiery barrier between them and Riddle, and urged Harry to get Daphne to safety.
As Riddle attempted to breach the barrier with a Cruciatus Curse, John and he exchanged powerful spells, their magic clashing with the intensity of a storm. John, fueled by a potion that enhanced his strength, taunted Riddle, suggesting he was fortunate they hadn't been contemporaries at school.
The duel reached a climax as John, with unexpected assistance, landed a decisive blow on Riddle. Riddle's body, unable to withstand the onslaught, disintegrated into black smoke. In the aftermath, Harry and John noticed the diary, a source of dark power, attempting to escape. Harry, stumbling upon the Sword of Gryffindor by chance, used it to destroy the diary, effectively neutralizing the threat.
John, impressed by Harry's quick thinking and bravery, offered him a chance to learn swordsmanship, acknowledging his skill in combat. The battle, though harrowing, demonstrated the importance of teamwork, quick thinking, and the unexpected ways in which help can appear. "Me?" Harry asked, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Uh... no need, I still think the wand is easier to use." The mere thought of Neville's unfortunate mishap made Harry shudder.
John couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity. To him, it was clear that this device was far more straightforward to use than a magic wand. After ensuring the diary, now with a hole punctured through it, was securely placed in his small bag, he walked over to Daphne to assess her condition. The destruction of the diary had evidently brought color back to Daphne's cheeks.
"She'll probably need some time to rest," John mused, observing her peaceful face. A thought crossed his mind, making him ponder the logistics of their situation. "Carrying someone on my back would be quite exhausting," he realized, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
His gaze shifted to Harry, considering the possibility of enlisting some help. Harry, feeling an inexplicable chill, couldn't shake off the feeling that he might need an extra blanket to ward off the cold tonight.
_________
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