John set aside the newspaper, his gaze drifting towards the Gryffindor table where Ron and Hermione were embroiled in yet another argument. He pondered, "How do they manage to quarrel every day yet maintain such a strong bond?" The root of their frequent disputes was their pets. Crookshanks, Hermione's cat, had a penchant for chasing after Scabbers, Ron's pet rat, which only fueled Ron's disdain for the feline. From Ron's perspective, his loyalty lay with Scabbers, a companion of 12 years, over a cat that Hermione had owned for barely six months. John couldn't help but wonder about Crookshanks' peculiar obsession with Scabbers. It was odd, considering Crookshanks should recognize the rat as his owner's friend's pet.
A thought struck him, "Peter Pettigrew?" The Marauder's Map, capable of revealing the identities of everyone within Hogwarts, never listed the rat by Ron's side as Scabbers. John had been aware of this anomaly but found himself at a loss on how to approach Ron with his suspicions about the rat's true identity.
Lately, Scabbers had become increasingly reclusive, hardly ever leaving the dormitory, which thwarted John's plans to investigate whether the rat was an Animagus in disguise. With no opportunity to confirm his theory, John reluctantly shelved his curiosity.
As he continued his meal, John sensed a presence behind him. Turning, he saw Professor Snape deliberately slowing his pace. Deciding it was time to address the matter, John called out, "Professor." Snape halted and turned, an expectant look on his face. John, wiping his mouth, hinted at the heart of their unspoken conversation, "Full moon."
Snape's response was quiet yet meaningful, "Mr. Wick, you are a clever man." John couldn't help but wonder if Snape was subtly mocking him. Dismissing the thought, he replied with a smile, "Thank you for the compliment." Their exchange, cryptic to onlookers, resembled a dance of wits between two sly foxes. Snape's quickened departure hinted at his uplifted spirits.
The scene shifted to the Gryffindor table, where the atmosphere was lightened by Harry's excitement over Professor Lupin agreeing to teach him the Patronus Charm. This new skill promised to shield him from the ridicule of Malfoy and his cronies.
Speaking of Malfoy, he made a dramatic entrance, circling the tables to taunt Harry about the dementors, eliciting laughter from his friends. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, momentarily united against a common adversary, stood ready to defend their friend.
"Shut up, Malfoy!" Ron's temper flared, his patience worn thin by the taunt. Malfoy, unfazed, issued a veiled challenge, "Weasley, you should be thankful we're in the Great Hall."
Ron hesitated, aware of Malfoy's improved prowess. He noted Malfoy's uncharacteristically civil tone, a change he attributed to Percy's influence within the Star Society.
"I'll fight you, Malfoy," Harry declared, stepping forward in defense of his friend. Hermione, ever the voice of reason, intervened, "Enough, Malfoy. Do you want to be locked up?" She stood firm, ready to protect her friends from losing points or facing detention. Casting a curse, Ravenclaw triumphed over Gryffindor. Malfoy, with a sneer directed at Harry, mocked, "Oh, dear Potter, always hiding behind your friends." He then mimicked a crying baby, turned, and led his group away. Ron, fuming with anger, slammed his fist on the table, while Hermione comforted Harry, "He's just a coward at heart." Harry, feeling somewhat reassured, replied softly, "I know, thank you." This incident seemed to strengthen the bond between the trio.
As time flew by, John dedicated himself to his magical practice, greeting each sunrise and sunset with new spells. Despite the absence of any impending storm, a sense of unease lingered. To hone his skills, he often hunted dementors, leaving one less in their ranks after each encounter. The Aurors' efforts had confined the dementors to a specific area, yet they frequently attempted to escape, not realizing their disappearances were the work of an unseen predator. John, indifferent to their plight, mastered the art of soul extraction, filling shelves with bottles of soul fragments, each glowing with a white light.
The ring on his finger darkened as he became more adept at using the Soul Eater Curse to attract dementors. "Almost enough," he murmured, eyeing the collection of soul fragments, now sufficient for his plans with Nagini. Demonstrating his mastery over ancient magic, John crushed a box effortlessly, a spell far more sophisticated than the Levitation Charm, designed to capture and destroy objects. This technique, discovered in a tome of forbidden magic, left no trace behind.
With his preparations complete, John released a Boggart that had remained untouched for some time, showing a rare moment of mercy.
On December 18th, as students gathered at the castle gates for a trip to Hogsmeade, John noticed Harry standing alone, a picture of solitude. Moved by the sight, John decided to gift Harry one of his Marauder's Maps, reasoning it rightfully belonged to him. Approaching a puzzled Harry, John revealed the parchment, quickly dispelling any notion of assigning homework with a mysterious hint at the map's true nature. With a tap of his wand and the declaration, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," the map's secrets were unveiled to Harry, who was astounded by the gesture.
"This... for me?" Harry asked, visibly touched by the gift.
"Of course," John affirmed, a knowing smile on his face. "It belongs to you."
Harry's joy was palpable, a testament to the unexpected kindness and the deepening connections within the magical community. Harry discovered several escape routes from Hogwarts, sparking his curiosity. "Thank you, John," he expressed his gratitude genuinely. With a wave and the words "Mischief managed," John departed from the castle. Shortly after, as Harry was about to use a secret passage to sneak out, he was intercepted by the Weasley twins. With a twinkle in their eyes, they teased, "Before we embark on our adventure, let's add a bit of flair to the occasion." With that, they ushered Harry into an adjacent classroom.
Inside, they revealed to Harry a clandestine method of exiting Hogwarts. Harry, looking perplexed, was about to voice his thoughts when Fred noticed the Marauder's Map in his grasp. "Ah, so it's been in your possession all this time. We feared it was lost forever," Fred remarked. Harry, still processing the situation, handed over the Marauder's Map, which the twins promptly activated. Their ease and familiarity with the map struck Harry as both odd and amusing.
Thanks to the twins, Harry's path to Hogsmeade was now clear. Brimming with anticipation, he navigated through the secret tunnel hidden within the statue of the one-eyed, humpbacked witch. He followed the winding passage until he emerged in the storeroom of Honeydukes Candy Store, his heart racing with the thrill of the covert journey.
_________
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