Today marked the visit to Hogsmeade, and Snape, momentarily setting aside his ongoing search, moved briskly through the school corridors. John, observing Snape's hurried pace, deduced he was on the verge of apprehending someone. Casually folding the Marauder's Map, John made his way to the secret chamber of the Society of Stars. It had been a week since his last visit, during which Malfoy had borrowed the Firebolt, initially stored within the Society's premises, claiming it would serve as a secret weapon. However, John had noticed Malfoy returning to the dormitory with injuries on several occasions, likely the result of falls.
Upon entering the Society's chamber, John stood before the round table, illuminated by 36 purple stars embedded in the dome above, casting a star map onto the table's surface. With a snap of his fingers, the table split open, revealing a hidden armory beneath. Among the items stored there was a half-completed pair of shoes and various magical artifacts, including the ring of spells. The Silver Wick Sword, prominently displayed on the wall, caught John's attention. He summoned the sword with a gesture, and it flew into his grasp.
John then proceeded with a daring experiment, beginning by consuming a prepared soul potion. He termed this process "possessing spirits." Once the potion's effects took hold, John retrieved a pure soul stripped from its physical form and, with his right hand enveloped by the silver ring, which spread like liquid over his arm, he temporarily alleviated an injury on his hand.
Placing the soul on the table, John recited ancient, obscure incantations. The soul, responding to the rhythmic syllables, began to intertwine with the Silver Wick Sword. The room was suddenly filled with light as the sword absorbed the soul, causing a significant drain on John's magical power. He watched intently as the soul fully integrated into the sword's mithril blade, which then trembled violently, echoing the turmoil within John's own soul.
"Return of the soul," John uttered, struggling to contain the rebellious spirit within the sword. The resistance he faced was unlike any he had encountered before, even when pushing the boundaries of magic to their limits.
Questioning whether he had touched upon a forbidden resistance, John observed as the Silver Wick Sword levitated, acting of its own accord without his magical intervention. With his free hand, he drew his wand, and the 36 magic crystals embedded in the dome above concentrated their energy, creating a formidable force that pressed down upon the wand. This force, absorbed by the wand, transformed it into a beacon of purple light, its power so overwhelming that it began to etch thunder-like patterns onto John's arm.
John, surrounded by projections of himself casting spells, directed the wand towards the Silver Wick Sword. A brilliant white beam emerged, inscribing intricate patterns onto the blade. This intense transfer of power, with John serving as the conduit, lasted over ten minutes. Throughout this ordeal, the sword threatened to spiral out of control, but John managed to maintain dominance with the aid of a gauntlet.
As the wand expended its energy, a wisp of black smoke signaled the completion of the process. John's left sleeve was in tatters, but his focus remained unwavering on the transformed Silver Wick Sword, now pulsating with newfound power and potential.
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Later that day, amidst the excitement of Hogsmeade, John found himself in a quaint shop, indulging in strawberry dumplings. The contrast between the morning's intense magical endeavors and the simple pleasure of enjoying a sweet treat highlighted the multifaceted nature of life at Hogwarts. On the Sword of Silver Wick, silver light danced along the blade, igniting it with flames and electric arcs. The blade was etched with mysterious and ancient patterns that, despite their chaotic arrangement, held a unique beauty. Most notably, the magic crystal embedded in the hilt was cracked, yet it miraculously remained intact. It was both functional and not. John cautiously reached out, gripping the hilt with his right hand. A tremendous force surged from the sword, but the six magic crystals embedded in his glove stabilized it. Despite the sword's initial resistance, it eventually yielded. It was as if the Sword of Silver Wick had compromised, conveying a sense of confusion and reluctance akin to a child robbed of candy, unable to reclaim it.
With a swift motion, John tested the sword on a humanoid target within the secret chamber. Without physically touching it, the target was cleanly bisected, the edges of the cut charred black. "It's effective, but I'm uncertain how long this super magic crystal will last," John mused, returning the Sword of Silver Wick to its stand. With a simple gesture, the sword flew back into his hand, demonstrating its newfound obedience. The sword, now infused with a soul, had initially resisted but ultimately accepted John's control. This soul, shaped from the combined power of thirty-six magic crystals, was a testament to John's foray into forbidden magic. Yet, in the secrecy of the chamber, his actions remained undiscovered.
Magic, to John, was an ideal, and he pursued it with a clear conscience. The chamber, powered by thirty-six dimmed magic crystals, functioned like a vast alchemical furnace, continuously replenishing its magic power without need for intervention. This self-sustaining mechanism was the cornerstone of the Star Society, inspired by the Room of Requirement.
After repairing the damage caused by the magical backlash, which left a mark resembling a Thunderbird tattoo on his left hand, John exited the chamber. He encountered Harry, looking distressed and caught by Professor Snape near the one-eyed witch statue. Despite Harry's protests of innocence regarding a visit to Hogsmeade, Snape was unyielding and escorted him to his office. John observed the scene briefly before moving on.
He soon ran into Hermione, who appeared visibly anxious, her hair plastered to her forehead with sweat. "John," she called out, stopping him in his tracks. After a moment's hesitation, she requested a more private place to talk, away from prying eyes. John agreed, and as they moved, he couldn't help but admire the intricate, lightning-like mark on his hand, which, unlike Harry's scar, possessed a strange allure.
As they reached the secluded covered bridge, Hermione prepared to share her concerns, marking the beginning of another mysterious chapter in their magical journey. Hermione, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. She gazed at John with a mixture of confusion and hope. "John, where's the password note I gave you?" she inquired expectantly.
John paused, his mind racing back to the moment he had battled Sirius. In an attempt to dry the swamp with a flame spell, the paper had inadvertently turned to ashes. With a hint of regret, he admitted, "It's gone. It was burned."
Hermione was taken aback by his response, finding it almost unbelievable. After a prolonged silence, she turned and walked away without uttering another word.
John, puzzled by her reaction, rubbed his chin in thought. "Did she want me to feed her cat?" he mused. However, he quickly dismissed the thought, reminding himself of the more pressing task at hand—finding Sirius Black. Time was of the essence, and he couldn't afford to dwell on minor misunderstandings.
As John continued on his way, he unexpectedly ran into Daphne near the covered bridge. He was curious about her presence in this particular spot, especially since it offered a clear view of the bridge.
Daphne approached him with a triumphant smile, clearly in high spirits. She even went as far as to grab John's sleeve excitedly. "I've mastered pineapple pizza and Chinese strawberry dumplings," she announced with pride.
John was taken aback by her culinary choices. "Is this really what people come up with?" he wondered aloud. Despite his initial amusement—evident from his teasing remark about her two-and-a-half-year cooking endeavor—he couldn't help but question her decision to experiment with fruit in such a manner. "You do realize that both Italy and China might banish you for these creations, right?" he joked, trying to lighten the mood with a playful nudge at her unconventional dishes.
The interaction between John and Daphne added a lighter, more humorous tone to their day, momentarily distracting them from the more serious and mysterious events unfolding around them.
_________
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