Ron suddenly found himself in the spotlight, a novel experience that overshadowed even Harry's usual fame. Despite the discomfort of the shock, Ron reveled in the attention, recounting his adventures with animated enthusiasm. "I was asleep when I heard something tearing. At first, I thought it was just a dream," Ron narrated with the flair of an ancient storyteller, captivating his audience of young wizards who listened with bated breath. "Then, a cold breeze woke me, and I saw one side of my curtain had been shredded..."
In the midst of his tale, a shout interrupted the gathering. "Look, there's a dog standing on its head outside!" Instantly, the crowd dispersed, rushing to witness the spectacle. A Beagle, looking rather forlorn, balanced upside down in a corner. Its adorable demeanor tempted a few girls to approach, but the stern glares from nearby Slytherin students kept them at bay.
The Weasley twins, curiosity piqued, exchanged bewildered glances. "Is that John's dog?" they wondered aloud. John, known throughout the school for his affection for dogs, seemed to be punishing Tom, his pet. This revelation was more shocking to them than if they had been told Filch had found love.
Speculation about John's true identity began to swirl, with Malfoy among those suspecting there was more to the story. In a show of loyalty, Malfoy rushed to defend his friend's dog, only to end up nursing a black eye, courtesy of Goyle and Crabbe's clumsiness, which only made Malfoy retaliate with his wand.
Daphne, concerned, approached John, who wore a menacing sneer. "What's wrong?" she asked, noticing Tom's distress. John's response was cold, revealing the dog had stolen a spare wand intended for Sirius. "Don't plead for it," he warned, his tone unusually harsh.
Daphne and Pansy exchanged puzzled looks. "Did you feed him something?" Pansy inquired. "No, I haven't made any strawberry mapo tofu yet," Daphne replied. They were at a loss, unable to understand what had incited John's anger, unaware of the pain he felt from the dog's bite. If not for Crookshanks' absence, they mused, a cat might have been standing upside down as well.
John, trying to move past the incident, felt a twinge of pain from the bite. "That dog is ruthless," he thought, grateful for his resilience. Deciding to let Tom stand on his head until class ended, John's gaze hardened, reminiscent of a past ordeal involving a nest of spiders. His grim expression deterred any further questions.
Ron, slightly miffed at being upstaged, wondered if John had discovered their morning's escapade. Harry, however, was certain John remained unaware.
After class, John sought treatment for his leg, opting for a costly but effective magical healing that cost him 100 galleons. The spell worked flawlessly, leaving no trace of the injury, though John couldn't help but question the steep price, suspecting goblin magic involved middlemen.
With his leg healed, John made his way to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, his gaze fixed on a particular tree that had caught his attention the day before. John reflected on the battle from the previous night. Sirius had refrained from using offensive spells against him, opting instead for traps and disarming techniques. As he pondered this, he found himself wandering deeper into the Forbidden Forest. Just before stepping into the dense foliage, he paused, noticing Luna Lovegood's gaze fixed on him. "Luna, what brings you here?" he asked, approaching her.
Luna, appearing somewhat distant, replied in her dreamy voice, "I'm searching for the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. Neville Longbottom has been troubled by Wrackspurts lately, so I ventured out here."
John was puzzled. "Wrackspurts?" he questioned, scanning the area with his insight but finding nothing of the sort.
"They're invisible. They float into your ears and muddle your thoughts," Luna explained, her voice light and sing-song. "But they're drifting away now."
John raised an eyebrow, realizing he had indeed been feeling confused moments earlier. Luna's unexpected presence had snapped him back to reality. He smiled at her, a warmth in his gaze akin to that for a sister, though he had none.
Noticing Luna's bare, mud-stained feet, John frowned. "Were your shoes hidden again?" He was aware of Luna's unpopularity within Ravenclaw and the bullying she faced.
"My shoes like to play hide-and-seek when I'm asleep," Luna said nonchalantly.
John pondered for a moment before offering, "Let me give you a pair of shoes that won't play hide-and-seek."
Luna's rare smile appeared. John cleaned her feet with water conjured from his wand, then removed his own shoes and placed them on her feet. With a tap of his wand, the oversized shoes shrank to fit perfectly.
"Now these shoes won't hide from you," John assured her, standing barefoot.
Luna examined her new shoes, her mood visibly lifted. As they walked, John inquired about the Crumple-Horned Snorkack, and Luna described it in her ethereal voice, adding a touch of magic to the forest air.
Upon returning Luna to the Ravenclaw tower, John noticed the change in demeanor among some Ravenclaw students who had previously mocked her. He met their stares with a silent challenge, causing a few to hastily retreat.
Leaving Ravenclaw behind, John sought out Professor Snape in his office. Upon entering, he couldn't help but compare Snape's unkempt appearance to Sirius Black's. Snape, noticing John's muddy feet, greeted him with a cold stare.
Breaking the silence, John ventured, "So, Professor Lupin wasn't the only one involved in the incident, was he?"
Snape's impatience was palpable. "As I've told you, John Wick, that werewolf is not to be trusted. He was in league with Sirius Black and Harry's father."
John, undeterred by Snape's dismissive tone, pressed on, "Then... the victim was you, Professor, wasn't it?"
At this, Snape's composure faltered, his face darkening with anger. "You know too much, Mr. Wick. Lupin must have been very forthcoming about those days."
Snape struggled to contain his anger, his lips pursed tightly, barely restraining himself from lashing out. "No," John said, shaking his head. He observed Snape's expression, which was on the verge of anger, and stated flatly, "Sirius Black told me."
Snape stood up abruptly, his gaze piercing through John. His face trembled with a mix of emotions, and he managed to squeeze out his words through clenched teeth, "You met him? That damned Azkaban fugitive, Sirius Black?" Anger, embarrassment, and a visible intent to kill intermingled on his face. "Tell me... where is that accursed man!"
The tension in the room was palpable as Snape's voice echoed, filled with a blend of outrage and disbelief. John remained calm, understanding the gravity of his revelation and the storm of emotions it had unleashed in Snape.
_________
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