As the dementors swept through the castle, their chilling presence made the air almost suffocating, causing the young wizards to toss and turn in their sleep. After two hours had passed, John's eyes snapped open at the precise moment he had planned to wake. His first realization was the absence of his dog, Tom. Glancing at his three roommates, he noted their obliviousness to his wakefulness.
With a gentle press of his palms against the ground, John silently invoked the Super Sensation Mantra. An invisible wave of energy radiated from him, extending his sensory reach to over 300 meters. "Have the dementors entered the castle?" he pondered, surprised that Dumbledore would allow such creatures inside. He reassured himself that animals, including Tom, would be safe as long as they avoided direct encounters with the dementors.
Feeling energized after a good rest, John lamented his inability to leave the dormitory for his usual experiments. Resigning himself to his current situation, he retrieved a book on transfiguration from his bag. Thanks to his ability to see in the dark, he didn't need to light a lamp.
As dawn approached, the dementors withdrew from the castle, having failed to locate Sirius Black. This sparked a flurry of discussions among the students about how the notorious criminal could have infiltrated the school. Hannah Abbott shared a rumor that Sirius had disguised himself as a flowering bush, adding to the intrigue.
The day brought more challenges for the Gryffindor students when they discovered that Sir Cadogan had replaced the portrait of the Fat Lady, leading to a series of bizarre and confusing passwords.
After freshening up, John encountered Peeves tormenting Moaning Myrtle in the girls' bathroom. Myrtle's tears and Peeves' laughter filled the air until John intervened. "Peeves, come here," he commanded, his presence immediately dampening Peeves' spirits. Having once captured and experimented on Peeves, John had earned a reputation that even the Bloody Baron couldn't rival.
Curious, John inquired about the attack on the Fat Lady. Peeves, ever the trickster, responded with a hint of fear, "Sirius Black's temper is terrifying, like a bear." This clue led John to suspect that Sirius might be an Animagus, capable of transforming into an animal to evade the dementors.
Before Peeves could dart away, John reminded him of a previous request. Peeves' demeanor shifted to one of eager anticipation, hoping for a favor in return for his information. Agreeing to help, John saw this as an opportunity to further his understanding of the magical world, particularly the complex art of transfiguration.
As the day unfolded, John's thoughts lingered on the implications of Sirius Black's abilities and how they might influence his own studies and experiments. The mystery of Sirius's escape and his potential as an Animagus added a new layer of intrigue to John's academic pursuits, fueling his determination to master the art of transformation. At the same time, John added a stipulation, "You're not permitted to use it during class, but feel free to do so at any other time." Peeves, unable to contain his excitement, zipped away with a mischievous giggle, exclaiming, "Of course, Mr. John Wick." John could only shake his head, foreseeing the chaos Peeves was likely to cause. He thought to himself that for such pranks, the Weasley twins were the go-to experts.
The Weasley twins were busy at Hogwarts, utilizing the school's owls to dispatch prank items to their fellow students who had placed orders. John penned a letter for Basil to send out, expecting the delivery to be completed by evening. It was Monday, marking the start of another hectic week.
In the afternoon, during the Care of Magical Creatures class, John encountered the Hippogriff once again. Upon inquiry, he learned that Hagrid's adventurous spirit had gotten the better of him again. Hagrid regretted that many students hadn't had the chance to ride the Hippogriff during their first class. John, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation, informed Hagrid, "Professor Hagrid, I must request leave today and won't be able to assist in managing the class."
Hagrid, taken aback, asked, "You're asking for leave? Are you unwell?"
"It's not that; I have some personal matters to attend to," John clarified. In reality, John was preparing for a significant personal challenge: Animagus transformation. This complex process required a full moon cycle to complete, during which John would be unable to speak as he needed to keep Mandrake leaves in his mouth at all times.
Understanding the importance of John's request, Hagrid readily granted him leave, confident in his ability to manage the class without John's assistance.
"John left?" Harry noticed John's departure, prompting Ron to speculate, "Maybe the workload's too much, and he's decided to skip this class?"
Hermione, annoyed by Ron's comment, retorted, "Don't be ridiculous. If he were to skip any class, it would be Divination." Despite her words, Hermione felt a pang of guilt, aware of how exhausted John had been. Unlike her, who had the aid of a Time-Turner to manage her schedule, John had been attending all his classes without any magical assistance. This realization made Hermione question why the school hadn't offered John similar support, leading her to feel as though she had inadvertently taken advantage of him.
Meanwhile, Hagrid reintroduced the Hippogriff, Buckbeak, to the class. An overly curious student approached Buckbeak too hastily and was knocked to the ground, causing a commotion. Hagrid, his mind in a whirl, quickly ended the class and escorted the injured student to the hospital wing.
John, meanwhile, was busy preparing for his Animagus transformation. He consulted Professor Sprout for Mandrake leaves and gathered the necessary materials, including a chrysalis of a grimacing hawkmoth. As he awaited the approaching storm, essential for the final phase of his transformation, John reflected on the complexity and rarity of successful Animagus transformations. He acknowledged that perseverance, talent, and a bit of luck were crucial, and considered seeking guidance from Professor McGonagall, an experienced Animagus, who he believed would be willing to assist him despite his not being her student. John hesitated to seek Professor McGonagall's assistance, aware that his Animagus transformation was far from ordinary. The prospect of morphing into a dragon in her presence was daunting; after all, it was common knowledge that Animagi were incapable of taking the form of magical creatures. John's unique ability stemmed from an extraordinary event where he had consumed the blood imbued with magical power. He reasoned that the fewer people who knew about this, the better.
Understanding the gravity of his situation, John contemplated his options. Revealing his secret to Professor McGonagall could lead to unforeseen consequences, not least of which would be her shock or fear at witnessing such an unprecedented transformation. The traditional teachings of Hogwarts stated clearly that Animagi transformations were limited to non-magical animals, a rule that John's condition blatantly defied.
John's internal conflict was palpable. On one hand, he recognized the value of Professor McGonagall's guidance in mastering his Animagus form. Her expertise was unparalleled, and her support could prove invaluable. On the other hand, the risk of exposing his unique ability—and the mysterious origins of his power—weighed heavily on him.
In the end, John decided to tread carefully, opting to explore other avenues for mastering his transformation. He knew that the path ahead would be challenging, but the desire to control his unique power without compromising his secret drove him forward. The journey to understanding his dragon form was just beginning, and John was determined to navigate it with caution and discretion.
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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