Harry was in a significantly better mood, albeit a bit restless. The anticipation of learning the Patronus Charm from Lupin on Thursday left him too excited to sleep. Deciding to take a walk, he donned his invisibility cloak and quietly left the Gryffindor common room. The recent break-in by Sirius had deterred most students from wandering the halls at night, but Harry felt emboldened by his cloak's protection.
As he meandered without a particular destination in mind, Harry passed the room that once housed the three-headed dog. He caught a glimpse of a figure swiftly moving by—it was John. John moved silently, his form almost blending into the shadows under the moonlight. Harry, with his Seeker's sharp eyes, managed to spot him. Curiosity piqued, Harry watched as John entered the room and decided to follow.
Peering into the dark room, Harry felt a wave of nostalgia and a hint of apprehension, half-expecting the three-headed dog to emerge. He pushed the door open wider, only to find the room empty. Puzzled, he wondered if he had been mistaken, but he was certain he had seen John enter.
"Illuminating his wand with a soft 'Lumos,' Harry conducted a thorough search but found no sign of John. "John has always been enigmatic," Harry thought as he left, puzzled by John's mysterious ways.
Shortly after Harry's departure, John emerged from a hidden chamber within the room, contemplating the need for more dementors. Despite his physical weakness, John's mind was occupied with his tasks.
The following day, John was confronted with an unusual sight. Daphne, with a dusting of flour on her nose, stood before him, presenting what she claimed were waffles. The burnt, unrecognizable lumps bore little resemblance to the breakfast treat. John, trying to maintain his composure, questioned if there was any reason for Daphne to harbor ill feelings towards him.
Daphne, embarrassed by her failed attempt and feeling dejected, moved to discard her creation. John, however, gently stopped her, causing her to blush at the unexpected contact. She awkwardly suggested they not eat the ruined waffles, despite her mother's advice that a man would find anything made by someone he liked delicious.
As Daphne turned away shyly, John, covered in maple syrup due to a mishap, couldn't help but comment on the situation. Daphne, realizing her mistake, rushed to clean up the mess, apologizing profusely.
This chapter showcases the lighter moments of life at Hogwarts, highlighting the characters' attempts to navigate their personal challenges and relationships. Harry's curiosity and John's mysterious activities hint at deeper plots unfolding, while Daphne's cooking disaster adds a touch of humor and human connection amidst the magical chaos. John took out a towel and wiped off the cold maple syrup that clung to his face. He caught a glimpse of Heinrich's mouth twitching at the corners, a clear sign he was fighting back laughter. Taking a deep breath, John decided it was best not to venture outside today. Daphne attempted to assist, but John quickly stopped her, "Don't worry, stand back. I'll handle it myself." With his wand in hand, John cast a cleansing charm, effectively removing the syrup. However, he still felt a slight stickiness, prompting him to head to the bathroom for another shower.
Daphne, seeking comfort, buried her head in Pansy's arms and lamented, "I've messed up." Pansy, ever the comforting friend, reassured her, "It's alright, John isn't upset." Upon hearing she wasn't in trouble, Daphne's spirits lifted, and she declared with newfound determination, "Then I'll just have to try harder next time." Pansy couldn't help but wonder, "...Does John know I encouraged her? Will he hold it against me?"
In the days that followed, John found himself on the receiving end of Daphne's various antics, pondering if this was her way of retaliating against Tom for stepping on her homework with his muddy shoes. While consulting the Marauder's Map, John noticed Lupin's peculiar behavior, seemingly searching for something. "Heading to the kitchen at this hour? Could he be hungry?" John mused, watching as Lupin moved from the kitchen to the faculty office, then elsewhere. Though puzzled by Lupin's actions, John remained focused on his own mission to confront the dementors.
Employing the Disillusionment Charm, John left the castle undetected and made his way to the dementors' lair. He observed a significant decrease in their numbers, a fact that puzzled the Aurors and Ministry of Magic alike, leading to speculation that Sirius Black might be enacting revenge on the dementors for his time in Azkaban.
Upon capturing a dementor, John was startled by a sudden shout, "Who's there!" Realizing he had been discovered, he didn't hesitate to use an illusion spell and his meteor shoes to make a swift escape. Ozzy and Lippi, arriving shortly after, deduced that the mysterious figure was Sirius Black, based on the glimpse of black hair. This revelation prompted an immediate search by the Aurors, under the suspicion that Sirius had mastered a dark spell capable of silently capturing dementors.
Meanwhile, back at Hogwarts, Harry Potter approached Professor Lupin with a heavy heart, determined to learn the Patronus Charm after reading about Sirius Black's actions in the "Daily Prophet." Lupin, recognizing the gravity of Harry's request, agreed to teach him. Despite the complexity of the spell, Lupin was confident in Harry's potential, having hoped initially that John Wick, a master of the Patronus Charm, would be the one to teach Harry. However, Lupin hesitated, harboring doubts about John that he chose not to voice, leaving Harry curious and eager to learn more. Harry's elder, Lupine, harbored a deep-seated concern about Harry's interactions with John. This apprehension stemmed from the innate intuition of a werewolf, which screamed that John was a figure shrouded in danger. Despite Harry's gaze, filled with a mixture of confusion and curiosity, Lupine remained undeterred as he proceeded to open the crate he had brought along.
Within moments, the Boggart, a creature adept at sensing the fears lurking in the hearts of those around it, burst forth. It immediately transformed into the shape of a Dementor, the very embodiment of Harry's deepest fears. In a desperate attempt to defend himself, Harry tried to summon his patronus with the incantation "Expecto Patronum," but his efforts were in vain. Instead of the powerful spell, the words that escaped his lips were "Call the Lord," a clear sign of his panic and confusion.
As the situation escalated, the comforting voice of his mother echoed in Harry's mind, a soothing presence amidst the chaos. However, it was not enough to keep him anchored to consciousness, and he succumbed to the overwhelming fear, fainting.
Lupine, witnessing the distressing scene unfold, acted swiftly. With practiced ease, he managed to subdue the Boggart, forcing it back into the crate from which it had emerged. The incident served as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked in their world, dangers that Harry was still learning to navigate. Lupine's protective instincts towards Harry were further reinforced, his resolve to shield him from harm stronger than ever.
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Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge