On Valentine's Day, John bravely sampled a piece of Wellington steak covered in chocolate, a culinary experiment that left his entire body numb with disbelief. It was unclear who had inspired Daphne to combine such ingredients. While most aimed for balanced nutrition and palatable flavors, Daphne seemed indifferent to the dish's lack of appeal, disregarding both its aesthetic and nutritional value. The concoction was a caloric nightmare, and only someone with John's compromised sense of taste could manage to stomach it. Heinrich, witnessing this, couldn't help but express his admiration. He too received chocolates, which to his surprise, tasted strongly of garlic. Rumor had it that the Weasley twins faced a blockade in the Gryffindor Tower later that day, narrowly avoiding a trip to the school hospital thanks to Professor McGonagall's timely intervention.
As days turned into weeks, Sirius Black remained elusive, prompting John to wonder if he had taken refuge in the Forbidden Forest. On March 6th, under a gray sky signaling the end of winter, a somber mood enveloped the castle. The students were visibly affected by the gloomy weather. John, however, found himself outside the castle, gazing upwards, sensing that a significant moment was approaching.
With a small bag in hand, he ventured toward the Forbidden Forest, not in search of Sirius Black this time, but to await an impending storm. Influenced by the presence of a Thunderbird, John could feel the tension in the dark clouds above, a massive rainstorm brewing with intent.
He made his way to the site of the former spider's nest, a barren reminder of the destruction caused by Fiendfire a year prior. Standing at the entrance, he awaited the thunder's cue. Glancing at his pocket watch, he counted the minutes until the first raindrop fell, marking the beginning of a torrential downpour. Hogwarts was soon enveloped in a gray veil of water vapor, punctuated by the occasional flash of lightning.
On this day, as the old saying goes, everything comes back to life. John hurried to the spot where he had buried the concoction, quickly uncovering a bottle filled with a blood-red potion. His preparation had paid off. Clutching the bottle, he braved the storm, rushing to a predetermined location deep within the forest. Transformation required a secluded and secure area, and despite the Forbidden Forest's reputation for dangerous creatures, it was unlikely anyone would venture here.
Upon arrival, John released a mist from his palm, concealing his surroundings. Pointing his wand at his heart, he recited the spell he had memorized: "Amato Animo Animato Animagus." Without hesitation, he drank the potion in one gulp.
What followed was an excruciating pain that coursed through his entire body, accompanied by an alien heartbeat echoing in his ears. John doubled over, supporting himself on his knees as he endured the sensation of his bones being split and marrow cleansed. Amidst the chaos, a foreign consciousness attempted to invade his mind, but John fought to suppress it.
The transformation began with his hands, as sharp claws emerged from his fingertips. His school uniform morphed into dark green scales, and his eyes took on a reptilian appearance. John's body expanded rapidly, his breaths growing labored under the strain. The fabric of his clothes fused with his skin, and from his back, spines and bat-like wings emerged. His tail, now fully formed, effortlessly swept aside a nearby tree.
In the midst of the mist, a pair of brown eyes blinked open. John, now a monstrous creature stretching fifty feet in length, exhaled sharply, a burst of flame escaping his nostrils, a startling revelation even to him. He had transformed into a dragon, its dark green scales shimmering like black jade in the faint light, wings gently stirring the air, clearing the fog before him. This transformation marked him as possibly the largest Animagus ever, a majestic and formidable sight to behold. Under the cloak of night, a dragon, black as the void itself and not the native green of England, loomed large and formidable, reminiscent of the fearsome Hungarian Horntail. A burning sensation ignited in John's throat, culminating in the release of a massive fireball that scorched the earth below. The rain, falling steadily, evaporated upon contact with the inferno. With eyes as large as lanterns, John's vision extended hundreds of meters, piercing through the darkness. The rain's persistent patter against his scaly hide did little to disturb his dominion over the landscape. The sheer presence of the dragon instilled a primal fear in the surrounding wildlife, compelling them to cower and tremble.
After some time, John willed himself back into his human form. His massive stature dwindled, and his scales receded, revealing flesh and cloth. Opening his eyes, he found himself once again human, the rain now a cold reminder of his transformation. Retrieving his fallen wand, he noticed the Thunderbird feather tattoo on his left hand had vanished, a sign that his ability to manipulate the weather remained intact. With a flick of his wand, John summoned a bolt of lightning, striking a nearby tree. The tree ignited momentarily before the relentless rain extinguished the flames. "A blessing in disguise," John mused, a slight smile playing on his lips. Using Transfiguration, he conjured an umbrella, effectively shielding himself from the rain. Now, only his hair bore the evidence of his recent ordeal.
Exiting the Forbidden Forest, John observed the Quidditch players on the field, their red uniforms stark against the grey sky. They trained relentlessly, undeterred by the rain. As he departed, a black dog, soaked and looking rather pitiful, approached the area, its eyes wide with terror at the sight of the devastation. "What kind of monster could instill such fear?" Sirius wondered aloud, unaware of the true nature of the beasts that roamed the Forbidden Forest.
...
The anticipation for the Slytherin-Gryffindor Quidditch match in April was palpable. Both teams trained with a desperation borne of rivalry. Gryffindor's practice came to an abrupt halt when Wood was struck by lightning, leaving the team in disarray. Wood's unfortunate accident was met with a mix of concern and humor, with the Weasley twins joking about the team's seemingly cursed luck. Despite the setbacks, Wood's passion for the game remained unshaken, a testament to his dedication.
The Slytherin team, with Malfoy at its core, took to the field with a sense of entitlement, their practice sessions guarded zealously by Goyle and Crabbe. Malfoy, the undisputed star, strutted onto the pitch with a Firebolt in hand, drawing envious glances. John, indifferent to the spectacle, offered a nonchalant farewell, his mind already on the challenges ahead.
...
The Ministry of Magic faced a crisis of its own with the mysterious disappearance of three dementors. The Aurors were at a loss, their investigations leading nowhere. Amidst the chaos, John returned to Hogwarts with the captured dementors, their essence used to restore his arm. With the competition looming, Malfoy's obsession with training was evident, though it came at the cost of his academic performance. John, in contrast, excelled in his studies, earning praise and additional points from Professor Flitwick.
Hermione's absence from morning classes and her subsequent irritability raised concerns among her friends. John noted her fatigue and frustration, a stark contrast to Daphne's delight. As the days passed, the tension within the castle walls grew, with the upcoming match and Hermione's uncharacteristic behavior casting long shadows over the students' preparations. For the first time, Hermione decided to forgo the Divination class entirely, a decision that took John by surprise. It seemed out of character for Hermione, who was usually so committed to her studies. However, Professor Trelawney's harsh critique, claiming Hermione lacked any talent for Divination, deeply wounded her. Ironically, this incident seemed to fulfill one of Trelawney's own prophecies about students leaving her class.
With Easter approaching in four days, John continued to receive his daily dose of the soul potion. By Easter Day, the tremors in his hands had ceased, though his fingers remained slightly stiff. This minor inconvenience was manageable, especially since he had enough of the potion left to ensure a full recovery.
John hadn't abandoned the search for Sirius Black, occasionally transforming into his Animagus form to scour the area. One such expedition nearly startled the centaurs in the Forbidden Forest and succeeded in keeping Sirius on edge. In the wild, scent is a powerful indicator of territory, and John's presence led Sirius to believe a dragon was marking its domain. Unbeknownst to John, his efforts to locate Sirius had inadvertently caused him multiple scares. Eventually, John ceased the active search, opting instead to monitor the Marauder's Map daily. Given that Sirius was also on the move, searching for someone, John reasoned it was more strategic to wait and let Sirius come to him.
This shift in strategy marked a new phase in John's approach, blending patience with his keen sense of strategy. The dynamics of the hunt were changing, and John was adapting, ready to face whatever came next.
_________
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