Sirius Black, a key figure in the battle against the Death Eaters, was undeniably strong. Despite not having wielded a wand for twelve years, the moment he grasped it again, his proficiency returned instantly. His spell, "Petrificus Totalus," was cast with the elegance befitting his noble bloodline. If one could overlook his worn attire, Sirius stood as a true nobleman in the heat of battle.
John, however, was quick to dodge the attack and counter with a spell of his own. A burst of white light from his wand struck the ground, creating a crater. The exchange between them resembled a duel, yet this was no friendly competition. Utilizing transfiguration, John transformed a nearby fence into a python that swiftly coiled around Sirius' ankles, nearly causing him to stumble. In retaliation, Sirius cast a spell that transformed the ground beneath John's feet into a swamp, attempting to ensnare him.
"Incendio," John uttered, igniting flames to dry out the swamp and free himself. He then conjured a wall of fire to encircle Sirius. Unperturbed, Sirius broke free from the confinement and, with a raise of his wand, attempted to counter the flames with a spell of his own. However, the fire only intensified, morphing into a towering tornado. Sirius hastily transfigured the fence into a shield for protection, but the fire tornado eventually dissipated, leaving behind only charred remnants of the shield.
Seizing the opportunity, John pursued Sirius through the gap in the fence. As he stepped through, a large black dog lurking in the shadows bit down on his leg with formidable strength. John, enduring the pain, managed to punch the dog, sending it flying. Sirius, reverting to his human form in an instant, aimed his wand at John, ready to strike.
John was quicker. "Fuchsia! (Levicorpus)" he cast, causing Sirius to be lifted off the ground and suspended from a tree. "Expelliarmus!" With a flash of red light, Sirius' wand was disarmed and flew into John's grasp.
"You should leave with me," John stated, his wand still pointed at Sirius as he approached.
"Your spells are excellent," Sirius remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Thank you for the compliment," John replied, his expression unchanging and his vigilance unwavering.
Hanging upside down, Sirius inquired, "Who taught you that spell?"
"Is that important?" John was tempted to silence him, but Sirius persisted.
"Of course," Sirius chuckled. "That spell was created by Snape, the slug."
"He's a professor at the school, head of Slytherin House," John responded coolly, to which Sirius expressed surprise at Snape's current position.
"If you're so familiar with Professor Snape, I wouldn't mind taking you to him," John offered, recalling the murder mentioned by his headmaster. "What's your relationship with Remus Lupin?"
Sirius, momentarily taken aback, replied, "Remus? He was an old friend, but that's all in the past."
John, looking intently into Sirius' eyes, pressed further, "Professor Snape mentioned a murder. I believe you know something about it."
"Murder? Did he really say that?" Sirius quickly realized the incident in question and retorted, "He brought that upon himself, and James had to save him!"
John, intrigued, encouraged Sirius to elaborate.
"It was just a prank. Severus Snape was always a thorn in our side at school. One day, when Remus was... well, I decided to play a prank on Snape. It was dangerous, but nothing happened," Sirius explained reluctantly, his voice trailing off when mentioning Lupin's whereabouts.
John, piecing together the information, realized the story involved Lupin and was keen to learn more. In a moment of realization, John said, "A joke? If by joke you mean Lupin transforming into a werewolf during the full moon, then it's far from a mere jest." Sirius' eyes widened in surprise; he hadn't anticipated John's awareness of Lupin's secret. However, John didn't allow him any time to dwell on his shock and, with a raise of his wand, urged him to continue. Left with no alternative, Sirius resumed, "Well, on full moon nights, Remus retreats to the Shrieking Shack. Severus Snape, eager to catch us in the act, was misled by me into believing that a simple trick could activate the Whomping Willow." He left the rest unsaid, but John could infer the grim outcome: Snape, in his pursuit, would encounter not mischief but a frenzied werewolf. A lucky escape would leave him cursed, a fate dreaded by all wizards. John's eyes narrowed, his voice laced with disdain, "This 'joke' of yours lacks humor."
Sirius, undeterred, smirked, "So, you seek vengeance for your headmaster?" He doubted the young wizard's resolve, but John's indifferent reply, "Why not?" was followed by a surge of white light from his wand. Sirius felt a surge of fear; he was in mortal danger. Without hesitation, he transformed into a large dog and fled. The tree targeted by John's Crushing Curse exploded, its innards scattering.
John hadn't anticipated Sirius' swift escape and was about to give chase when Hagrid's booming voice halted him, "Who's there?" Close to Hagrid's hut, the commotion had drawn his attention. Armed with a crossbow, Hagrid approached, and in that moment of distraction, Sirius vanished into the night. "He's been waiting for this moment," John thought, as he noticed Aurors accompanied by dementors approaching. Underestimating the cunning of an Azkaban escapee had been a mistake. Casting a Disillusionment Charm on himself, John made a beeline for the Forbidden Forest.
The aftermath of their confrontation drew the Aurors' attention, prompting John to sneak into Hogwarts via the entrance to Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets located in the forest. As dawn approached, he emerged from the Star Society's secret room, blending back into the school as if nothing had transpired.
The previous night's events had left Ron utterly terrified. He and Harry overheard a female Auror briefing Professor McGonagall, while a male Auror and Filch surveyed the area, convinced they had seen Sirius Black. With the Fat Lady reinstated and troll guards patrolling, the castle was on high alert.
As Harry and Ron discussed the improbability of Sirius entering through Honeydukes, they stumbled upon John exiting a door. Harry, feeling an inexplicable urge to remain unseen by John, hid with Ron. Puzzled by John's presence, they speculated about his overnight stay and decided to investigate the room he had left. Despite Ron's skepticism, Harry insisted on searching the seemingly empty room, hinting at a discovery yet to be made. As they continued their search, Harry and his friends found nothing. The mystery deepened, leaving Harry to ponder, "What secret is John hiding?" The possibility of a hidden treasure or perhaps even a person crossed his mind. Recalling a previous conversation, Harry remembered asking Ron if Blake was wealthy. Ron's response was unequivocal: Blake was exceedingly rich. This memory brought Harry back to a moment when John's extravagance was on full display, suggesting an almost limitless wealth.
The lavishness that John exhibited was unlike anything Harry had seen before. It wasn't just the opulence but the ease with which John seemed to wield his wealth, as if there was an endless reservoir from which he could draw. This observation made Harry even more curious about the source of John's fortune. Was it inherited, or was there a more mysterious origin? The thought that there could be hidden depths to John's wealth, perhaps even tied to the secret they were currently trying to uncover, intrigued Harry.
As they moved through the dimly lit corridors, the silence around them seemed to thicken, adding to the atmosphere of mystery. Harry couldn't shake off the feeling that they were on the brink of discovering something significant. The idea that John might be guarding a secret, possibly linked to his vast wealth, only fueled Harry's determination to uncover the truth.
With each step, the anticipation grew. Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged looks of determination, their resolve strengthened by the mysteries that lay ahead. They knew that whatever John was hiding, it had the potential to change everything they thought they knew about him. The question that lingered in the air was not just what John was hiding, but why. And as they delved deeper into the unknown, they were ready to face whatever secrets awaited them.
_________
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Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge