Harry was rushed to the school infirmary, but the chaos of the day was far from over. Dumbledore descended upon the scene with a level of fury that John had never witnessed before. The sight of the dementors ensnared within a Patronus-crafted water cell ignited a fire in the White Demon King's eyes. The potential disaster that could have unfolded had the dementors invaded the Quidditch pitch was unthinkable.
"I need to speak with Cornelius Fudge immediately, John. Please, keep these dementors contained," Dumbledore instructed with urgency.
John nodded in agreement, even as a few daring students ventured closer, driven by curiosity. Managing the water prison with his wand, John felt the strain of his task. Professors Flitwick and McGonagall joined him, their expressions a mix of fear and outrage. The audacity of the Ministry of Magic to gamble with the safety of Hogwarts' students was unforgivable.
"We must lodge a formal complaint against them!" Professor McGonagall declared, her voice laced with venom.
"Mr. Wick, your timely intervention and innovative use of the Patronus Charm, combined with a water prison, is nothing short of brilliant," Professor Flitwick chimed in, his voice tinged with admiration. As the Charms professor, he was genuinely impressed.
John, however, was preoccupied with the practicalities. "Where should we relocate this? My magic crystal is depleting rapidly, and once it's exhausted, it's useless." The cost of a magic crystal was not insignificant, and the thought of its consumption pained him.
Professor McGonagall suggested the dungeon—not the one belonging to Slytherin, but another within Hogwarts. Together, they managed to suppress and relocate the dementors, leaving John feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion. He noticed the ring on his right hand had absorbed numerous curses from the dementors, its black lines growing increasingly distinct.
By evening, the Ministry of Magic arrived, led by Minister Cornelius Fudge and Auror Chief of Staff Rufus Scrimgeour. Fudge, visibly distressed and mopping sweat from his brow, was clearly shaken by the day's events. The potential backlash from the wizarding families of England weighed heavily on him.
John was summoned to the headmaster's office, where he encountered Dumbledore's sternest expression yet. Fudge, upon seeing John, eagerly approached him, his demeanor shifting to one of gratitude.
"John Wick, the hero who thwarted the dementors! Your actions have averted a tragedy and salvaged the Ministry's reputation. We are in your debt," Fudge exclaimed, extending an offer for future collaboration. His glance towards Dumbledore hinted at a deeper motive, perhaps an attempt to curry favor with the headmaster.
Rufus Scrimgeour remained stoic, indifferent to Fudge's overtures. John, observing Dumbledore's disappointed gaze towards Fudge, sensed the complexity of the situation. Fudge's actions, though misguided, stemmed from a place of dedication to the wizarding world—a sentiment Dumbledore seemed to acknowledge, albeit with reservations. John stood before the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, with a perfectly crafted smirk on his face. "I'm sorry, Mr. Minister, but Principal Dumbledore is expecting me," he said, withdrawing his hand and turning to leave. Upon reaching Dumbledore, John was met with a look of satisfaction. "John, we need you to recount the entire incident," Dumbledore requested.
John proceeded to describe the events in detail, from the moment the Dementor invaded the Quidditch pitch to how he managed to subdue it. Throughout his explanation, he remained composed, as if the feat he had accomplished was nothing out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, Fudge's expression grew increasingly sour, but John was unfazed by the Minister's discomfort. He calmly suggested, "I believe the Dementors might have been unable to resist their nature due to the joyous atmosphere of the Quidditch match. Leaving students in their presence is akin to asking a greedy cat to watch over fish."
Dumbledore gave a slight nod of agreement, his gaze fixed on Fudge. John knew he didn't need to be involved in the discussion that followed. Dumbledore's words to Fudge were sharp and critical, leaving the Minister visibly embarrassed. As the meeting concluded on an unhappy note, John observed everything keenly, sensing an opportunity.
Fudge's incompetence was glaring, especially in the face of Voldemort's resurrection. John decided it was time to see if he could expedite the Minister's downfall. Unlike Fudge, Rufus Scrimgeour had always been decisive, employing Aurors to manage the Dementors. Unfortunately, Fudge viewed this as a power struggle and refused to cooperate.
After the incident, John sent out a dozen letters to influential purebloods and other prominent figures. He knew that their collective dissatisfaction would be a thorn in Fudge's side, even if the Minister hadn't explicitly erred. The current chaos only made Fudge's position more precarious.
The next day, the Dementors were removed from Hogwarts. Over twenty of them appeared less menacing than before, with some even wearing ill-fitting robes. Scrimgeour, who had taken charge of the situation, assured Professor McGonagall of their punishment, confident in the support promised by Lord Johnny Silverhand. After Fudge's hasty retreat to his office the previous night, Scrimgeour was pleased to hear the sounds of the Minister's frustration. It had been a long time since he had felt such satisfaction in dealing with Fudge.
Meanwhile, Harry Potter had yet to awaken from his fall during the Quidditch match. That night, John gazed up at the clear, cloudless sky, illuminated by a full moon. It was the perfect time to begin his journey to becoming an Animagus. With mandrake leaves in his mouth, John was unable to speak, but he had a workaround. Using his wand, he created red sparks in the air to communicate, planning to explain his temporary muteness as a result of excessive magical exertion.
When Harry finally awoke, he was devastated to learn that the Quidditch match had been lost because of him. It wasn't the first time, but this loss was particularly hard on Oliver Wood, who was in his final year and had yet to win the trophy. To make matters worse, Harry's Nimbus 2000 had been destroyed by the Whomping Willow, leaving him without his beloved broom. John was in a foul mood. The stream of visitors to see Harry seemed endless, and to add to the chaos, John had brought him a box of cockroach clusters. Hermione eyed John with suspicion. "What's gotten into you, John?" she asked, her tone laced with concern.
John remained silent, offering no explanation. Instead, he gestured towards his throat and then, with a flick of his wand, a marker appeared in his hand. He scribbled down the reason for his condition on a piece of parchment. It turned out that his current state was a result of an incident where he had saved Harry, causing him to lose his voice temporarily.
Upon learning this, Harry's guilt intensified. He realized the depth of John's sacrifice and the pain he must be enduring. The atmosphere in the room shifted as Harry and Hermione processed this revelation, understanding the gravity of John's actions and the bond of friendship that compelled him to act despite the personal cost.
_________
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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