Slytherin's cheers echoed throughout the stadium, spreading from the pitch to the auditorium and then to the lounge. Hogwarts was awash in a sea of green, and the word "glory" was on everyone's lips once again. This marked Slytherin's eighth championship victory, a title they had held for seven consecutive years, with the exception of the second year when the Quidditch tournament was unexpectedly canceled. Their joy at reclaiming the championship was palpable.
Malfoy was at the center of it all, the badge on his chest shining like a beacon. "John, did you see that? We are the champions!" he exclaimed, trophy in hand, his eyes scanning the crowd for John. Daphne approached him, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness, "John left earlier. He wanted me to tell you that you shine as brightly as a star now." She had hoped to share this moment of triumph with John, to take his hand in hers, but he had abruptly left after glancing at a piece of paper.
Despite John's absence, the celebration continued unabated. Malfoy was lauded for his relentless pursuit of the Golden Snitch, a strategy that kept Harry Potter on his toes and filled the Slytherin team with a fighting spirit. Malfoy and Montague were hoisted into the air as heroes, their surprise and joy evident.
Meanwhile, John had left the field early, choosing not to partake in the festivities. Consulting the Marauder's Map, he noticed Crookshanks on the move and deduced his next course of action. "The Forbidden Forest. Keeping Crookshanks was indeed the right choice," he mused, recognizing the opportunity to connect with Sirius Black. After scribbling a message on his badge, John cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself and headed towards the forest.
He maintained a cautious distance, aware of Sirius' keen senses. Even under the guise of the charm, John knew he could be detected. To avoid alarming Sirius, he stayed 200 meters away from the forest's edge. Through the dim light, John's eyes, now resembling those of a cat, spotted Crookshanks approaching the shadowy depths of the Forbidden Forest. A dark figure rose to meet the cat, vigilant and constantly scanning its surroundings.
"Sirius Black," John whispered to himself, observing the interaction between the dog and the cat. Sirius appeared gaunt, his fur matted and unkempt, a stark contrast to their last encounter. "It's a shame I can't understand their conversation," John thought, lamenting his limited ability in mind magic which required closer proximity to be effective.
After a brief exchange, Crookshanks ran back, seemingly bearing a message. John seized the moment to follow Sirius discreetly, marveling at the man's cunning for choosing the forest's edge as his hideout, a place most would overlook. Sirius skillfully climbed a tree, finding refuge in its dense foliage. John admired his ingenuity, recognizing the traits of a man who had escaped Azkaban.
As time ticked by, John prepared to make his move. He wrote another message on his badge and approached Sirius's hiding spot. Knowing Sirius' reliance on his keen sense of smell, John decided to neutralize this advantage. He exhaled a mist from his palm, blending it seamlessly with the forest's natural fog. Sirius, unsuspecting, was taken by surprise when a dark orb rolled to the base of his tree and exploded with a loud bang.
John's actions were calculated and precise, a testament to his strategic thinking. As the mist enveloped the area, the stage was set for an encounter that would unfold under the cover of confusion and shadows. A suffocating stench filled the air, overwhelming Sirius to the point where tears and snot streamed down his face. His normally keen sense of smell was now assaulted by an unbearable odor of feces. Realizing the danger, Sirius attempted to flee. However, a dense fog obscured his vision, making it nearly impossible to see even two meters ahead. He suspected it was some form of magic at work.
"Damn it, when did this happen?" In a desperate bid to escape, Sirius transformed into a black dog, hoping his four-legged form would offer him better speed through the fog. But his escape was not to be so easy. After narrowly avoiding a tree that loomed out of the fog, Sirius felt a massive force strike his waist. The impact reminded him of a familiar foe. Once he managed to clear the fog, he looked up to see none other than a Slytherin student, John, standing before him.
John was relentless. Despite Sirius's attempts to dodge, the pain in his waist slowed him down significantly. Gritting his teeth, Sirius shifted back into his human form and, with his wand, cast a sleeping spell towards John while simultaneously trying to defend himself. John, however, seemed unfazed and launched a series of curses: an Iron Armor Curse, a Sleeping Curse, and a Disarming Curse. The air crackled with the energy of their duel, a mix of suppressed excitement and hatred.
"Avada... disarm you! (Expelliarmus)" John's voice abruptly changed from the lethal Killing Curse to a Disarming Spell. The red light of the spell exploded against Sirius's back like a fireball, not just disarming him but also sending him flying into a tree, where he collapsed, bleeding from a head wound.
John turned to see Snape, his wand still raised calmly. If John hadn't heard the start of the Killing Curse, he might have believed it was merely a slip of the tongue by the professor.
"Look who we have here," Snape sneered at the unconscious Sirius, launching into a tirade of insults that were left unsaid for brevity's sake. He then sinisterly suggested, "Give me a reason to end this now."
John, observing Snape's interaction with Sirius, interjected, "He's already passed out."
Snape's expression momentarily showed surprise, not expecting Sirius to be incapacitated so easily. John hinted, "Your Disarming Spell seemed a bit more potent than usual."
Snape, unfazed, admitted to his intentions. Given Sirius's actions, he felt a strong urge to punish him severely.
John, with his own agenda, suggested, "Professor, we shouldn't let him go just yet." He knew Sirius was crucial for Acting Minister Rufus Scrimgeour's political stability. Scrimgeour had been unstable lately, and John saw an opportunity to leverage Sirius's situation.
Snape, realizing he wouldn't be the one to finish Sirius, especially not in front of John, asked, "And who will you hand him over to?"
John, with a light smile, replied, "Let's return him to where he belongs."
After a moment of scrutiny, Snape used a spell to levitate the unconscious Sirius, and together, they transported him to a secluded spot in the Forbidden Forest, known as the spider's nest. This location, outside the range of the Marauder's Map, was perfect for hiding Sirius away from prying eyes. John retrieved his wand, deliberately ignoring the half-amused glint in Snape's eyes. With a flick and a whisper, he conjured a prison using the Transfiguration Charm, showcasing the convenience of magic. Sirius was enclosed within, isolated from any contact with the outside world. To further secure the prison, John employed surveillance spells around the perimeter. These spells were designed to alert him if anyone attempted to tamper with the door or break Sirius out.
Once everything was in place, John summoned a stream of water as clear as spring, directing it towards Sirius to rouse him from unconsciousness. The water splashed gently against Sirius's face, stirring him awake within the magically fortified prison.
_________
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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