A week into the term, Professor Lu Ping's exceptional teaching skills had garnered widespread acclaim across the school. The incident where Neville had managed to make a Boggart, taking the form of Professor Snape, don women's clothing was still a topic of hushed admiration among the students. This act of defiance seemed to compensate several times over for the numerous scoldings Neville endured in Potions class. Professor Snape's glares, filled with malice, were now more frequent than ever, especially towards Neville, resulting in the loss of many points in Defense Against the Dark Arts class for trivial reasons.
John, on the other hand, consistently excelled in his homework, earning Slytherin a significant number of points daily. His brilliance was undeniable, and even Professor Snape's attitude towards him showed signs of improvement. Heinrich, equally adept in his studies, remained unpopular among his peers. With an air of superiority, he distanced himself from everyone except John. His aloof demeanor and pale, vampire-like appearance only added to his mystique. Heinrich's penchant for casting malevolent spells on his detractors led to the deduction of points from Slytherin, much to the secret delight of his housemates. It seemed that individual grievances were bearable, but collective suffering brought a sense of normalcy. Dubbed the "vampire of Slytherin" in whispers, Heinrich became the target of the twins' pranks, often involving garlic essence. Their rivalry escalated to a direct confrontation during a spell class, which only ended when Professor Flitwick intervened.
As night fell, John stealthily left the dormitory. Instead of heading to the Room of Requirement, he ventured outside the castle, where dementors patrolled. Aware of Dumbledore's advice that disillusionment spells were ineffective against dementors, John relied on his mastery of Occlumency to shield his emotions, rendering himself invisible to the creatures that fed on happiness.
He targeted a lone dementor, calculating its patrol route and setting traps along its path. As the dementor neared, John allowed a sliver of emotion to escape, luring the creature with the promise of a feast. As it approached, he sealed his emotions once more, puzzling the dementor. It was then that the dementor encountered John's trap: a meticulously crafted box that appeared innocuous yet contained a powerful suction force. As the dementor reached out, it was swiftly pulled into the box, which John promptly secured with numerous locks, ensuring no escape.
Triumphant, John levitated the box and returned to the castle. This box, specifically designed to capture dementors, was a testament to his ingenuity. His mission complete, John ventured into the Forbidden Forest and deposited the box in the Slytherin Chamber of Secrets, which he had transformed into a study. Surrounded by books on the soul, he sought information on dementors, intrigued by their unique existence between soul and body, more formidable than ghosts.
As he pondered the nature of dementors, John's fingers brushed against a silver skull, a symbol of his deep dive into the mysteries of the dark creatures that haunted the wizarding world. John pondered the peculiar encounter between the Boggart and the Dementor, the sound of their collision echoing in his ears. He glanced at the old cabinet next to the box where the confrontation had taken place. A curious thought crossed his mind: what form would a Boggart take in the presence of a Dementor? With a flick of his wand, John cast the Disillusionment Charm on himself, followed by Occlumency, to shield his mind from any potential intrusion. The locks on both the box and the cabinet clicked open almost simultaneously. From the box emerged a Dementor, while a cloud of black smoke billowed from the cabinet, rapidly changing shape until it settled into the form of a black albatross, albeit a grotesque and distorted version.
The two entities seemed to pause, as if taken aback by each other's presence. Despite lacking eyes, they exuded a palpable sense of mutual scrutiny. The Dementor floated aimlessly around the room, while the Boggart, in its albatross guise, flapped its wings as if attempting to mimic something. John's lips twitched in amusement as he realized the Boggart was imitating his Patronus. It was a peculiar coincidence that the Dementor present was one he had previously encountered on the train. The Boggart's attempt to mimic the Dementor suggested that even these dark creatures harbored some form of thought or consciousness.
Not wishing to witness any further abstraction between the two, John quickly used his wand to return them to their respective confines. As he sealed the box and cabinet once more, he sat atop the box, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "It's all very vague, suggesting that the Dementor's mind is clouded," he mused. "It's akin to dementia, or perhaps an issue with the soul. What's clear is that both entities possess abilities akin to Legilimency." The complexity of his thoughts weighed heavily on him, and he sighed, acknowledging the long journey ahead in solving the enigma of Nagini's soul.
John made it a routine to visit the secret room daily, dedicating time to unravel the mysteries of the Dementor and the Boggart. Days turned into weeks, and on September 19th, an unexpected event unfolded in the Great Hall.
Hermione, dining in the Great Hall, received a gift delivered by an owl she recognized as Basil. Harry and Ron watched as Basil navigated skillfully through the maze of dinner plates to deliver the package. Ron, reminded of his less graceful owl, couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Hermione, touched by the gesture, discovered a beautiful glass ball within the package, containing a miniature starry sky. A card accompanied the gift, bearing a simple yet heartfelt message from John: "Happy birthday to you."
Ron's initial reaction was one of sourness, a hint of jealousy in his voice as he remarked on John's thoughtfulness. Hermione, unfazed, reminded him that she had shared her birthday with them at the start of school, a detail they had evidently overlooked. Both Harry and Ron felt a pang of embarrassment, realizing their oversight.
Harry, intrigued by the glass ball's apparent value, pondered how John, coming from a Muggle family, could afford such a lavish gift. He recalled the substantial loan John had provided him, further fueling his curiosity about John's financial means. Meanwhile, Ron's thoughts drifted to the practical use of the glass ball for his astronomy homework.
Grateful for the thoughtful gift, Hermione sought out John to express her thanks. John, ever humble, insisted that formalities were unnecessary among friends. The conversation soon turned to Hermione's cat, Crookshanks, prompting John to inquire about its absence. Hermione shared that Crookshanks's penchant for chasing Scabbers had necessitated keeping the cat confined to her bedroom, a decision that saddened her.
This exchange not only highlighted the complexities of the relationships among the characters but also underscored the depth of their connections and the challenges they faced, both mundane and magical. "Scabbers caused quite a stir, which really upset Ron, so I ended up having to confine him to the bedroom," Hermione explained, her tone reflecting the tension of the situation.
John nodded in understanding, "Well, it's only natural for cats to chase mice. It's hardly surprising with Crookshanks." He then glanced down to see Tom, the cat, darting around his feet with evident joy. At Hogwarts, aside from Filch's Mrs. Norris, Tom enjoyed a level of freedom that was enviable. "Hermione, I've noticed you spend a lot of time in the library. If you wouldn't mind, I could look after the cat for you." He quickly added, trying to mask his true intention, which was less about helping and more about his desire to pet Crookshanks. The cat's round, fluffy body seemed irresistibly soft to the touch.
Hermione appeared hesitant, unsure if Crookshanks would be comfortable spending time in the Slytherin common room. Later that afternoon, she approached John again, this time with a sheepish expression. "Crookshanks doesn't seem too keen on leaving the Gryffindor common room," she admitted.
"Okay then," John replied, trying to hide his disappointment. He had been looking forward to spending time with the uniquely charming, albeit somewhat scruffy, Crookshanks. He reached into his bag and pulled out some cat treats and dried fish he had prepared earlier. "Here, take these to him," he offered, extending the treats towards Hermione.
Hermione looked at the small bag in John's hand, which seemed to contain an overly generous amount of treats. The gesture, though simple, spoke volumes about John's fondness for the cat, despite not having the chance to bond with him as he had hoped.
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Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge