John exerted all his effort to maintain clarity of thought, and after a prolonged period of magical exertion, the chaotic changes finally ceased.
[Ding, the magical ordeal has concluded]
[You have acquired the Boggart's Blessings: Panic, Vientiane, Mindfulness, Heart Lock]
[Panic: Ability to unleash a terrifying aura]
[Vientiane: Enhanced Transformation Skills]
[Mindfulness: Increased insight, allowing perception of mental and emotional fluctuations, and the ability to discern others' fears]
[Heart Lock: Improved resistance against external mental intrusions]
John received four blessings, as anticipated. His Transfiguration skills had notably improved, advancing to level 5. Moreover, the Heart Lock blessing had fortified his Occlumency, while Mindfulness endowed him with abilities akin to Legilimency. However, unlike Legilimency, which is active, this new skill was passive, enabling John to sense changes in others' emotions and thoughts, as well as their deepest fears. This would prove invaluable in combat.
"Heart Lock, could it be because Boggarts are inherently timid?" John pondered, finding the final blessing intriguing, attributing it to the Boggart's natural disposition.
Suddenly, he felt a nudge at his feet. Glancing down, he discovered a small, fluffy creature with curved horns and a white body, its tail dragging on the ground, attempting to latch onto his trouser leg with its tiny claws. It was an unfamiliar creature, and John gently lifted it by the scruff, much like one would a kitten, noting its size was comparable to that of a newborn feline. The creature, seemingly shy, covered its face with its tail, emitting cow-like moos and occasional grunts reminiscent of snoring.
"Success?" John mused aloud, his gaze shifting from the creature to the vanished pile of materials. He placed the creature on the table, where it excitedly rolled about, nearly tumbling off the edge. Observing it, John noted, "It exhibits complete signs of life and possesses independent consciousness."
As he beckoned with a finger, the creature scurried over, clumsily settling on its haunches. John stroked its head, remarking, "It appears somewhat frail." With a flick of his finger, the creature rolled back, then, as John extended his hand, a black silk thread emerged from his palm. The creature, initially frightened, found itself cornered and, in a desperate attempt to escape, propelled itself onto John's shoulder, mooing defiantly at the black thread.
"A magical creature," John concluded with satisfaction. He had succeeded in creating a new magical being through the immense overflow of magical power. "A Horned Snork," he named it, his lips curling into a smile as he imagined Luna's delight upon hearing about it. "It's a shame there's only one," he lamented, recognizing the unique circumstances of its creation.
Seizing the moment, John proceeded to upgrade his skills. Alchemy and Runes were his first priorities, both requiring diligent study to advance. He hoped to reach level 6 in both fields by graduation. After selecting them, their proficiency indicators turned gray. His proficiency with the great sword, long neglected, now reached level 6. The Iron Armour Curse, Patronus Charm, and Apparition had also seen improvements, with the latter advancing to level 5.
After distributing his skill points, John reviewed his updated status:
[Magic Power: Level 4 (3700/5000)]
[Spells: Levitation Curse (Level 4), Transformation Curse (Level 5, with dragon form available), Phantom Body Curse (Level 5), Fiery Flames (Level 5), Bone Crushing (Level 5), Fiery Blast (Level 4), Mind Block (Level 5), Patronus Charm (Level 5), Iron Armour Curse (Level 5)...]
[Skills: Short Weapons Mastery (Level 7), Great Sword Mastery (Level 6), Firearms Mastery (Level 2), Runes Mastery (Level 6), Alchemy Mastery (Level 6), Ancient Magic Mastery (Level 3)]
[Blessings: Physical Fitness, Quick Attack, Precision, Scholar 2.0, Pilot, Long-Distance Running, Sword Dance, Night Devil, Troll Buster, Knight, Fire Eater...]
John's journey through the Muggle world and his magical travels had not only expanded his horizons but also significantly enhanced his magical abilities and arsenal. With new skills and a unique magical creature by his side, he felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. John was steadily closing the gap towards his next magical power upgrade, needing only 1300 more points. He had grown increasingly adept at casting spells without a wand, achieving a significant percentage of a spell's power through this method. He had also mastered silent spells, allowing him to cast even when his mouth was sealed. His experiments with the Vientiane Blessing in the basement had enhanced his comfort with Transfiguration, enabling him to grow dragon horns and wings at will. These transformations left the horned snoring beast, which he had taken to calling the Horned Snork, utterly astonished.
Emerging from the basement, John was greeted by Uncle Seryozha's goofy grin, to which he responded in kind. Up in the attic, he found Tom circling the Horned Snork, which leaped up in surprise at Tom's touch. John mused about the magical capacity of dogs, unnerving Tom with his intense gaze. Tom's reaction, scrambling up a cabinet in fear, was comically out of place among the otherwise intelligent company, prompting John to sigh in amusement.
A letter from Tang Mi awaited John, confirming the arrangements for the upcoming banquet. John promptly replied before joining his family downstairs, where a discussion about travel destinations was underway. Mrs. Wick expressed a desire to visit America, while Watson Wake and the others proposed various alternatives. Ultimately, Mrs. Wick's interest in attending Fashion Week in the United States overruled all objections.
When asked about his preference, John nonchalantly agreed with his mother's choice, secretly considering the proximity to Ilvermorny, a school with ties to Hogwarts and Salazar Slytherin. His casual agreement set the family's travel plans in motion, coincidentally aligning with his need to miss the banquet for the trip.
The following day, John prepared for his departure by stowing the Horned Snork in a dark closet, akin to a boggart's preferred habitat. He then used the Floo network from his basement to travel directly to his office, bypassing the Ministry of Magic's system. John harbored ambitions of creating a private Floo network for the Johnny Silver Hand system but shelved the idea for the time being.
Upon arriving at his office, John was soon informed by Tang Mi of Lucius's arrival. Lucius entered with a troubled expression, prompting John to address him warmly, "Lucius, my friend, is there a problem with attending my banquet?" In a deep, commanding voice, Lucius Malfoy addressed the room, his expression betraying a hint of panic. He glanced around nervously before securely closing the door behind him. Approaching John, known as Johnny Silver Hand, Lucius struggled to mask his anxiety. "Your Excellency, Johnny Silver Hand," he began, his voice trembling slightly, "the Dark Mark... it has reacted."
Lucius rolled up his left sleeve, revealing the mark that caused him a twinge of pain. John raised a hand to silence him, setting aside his Heart of Silence and deactivating the barrier of silence, signaling for Lucius to proceed.
With a noticeable effort to control his fear, Lucius continued, "Since yesterday, the Dark Mark has been reacting. The Death Eaters are summoning me; they demand my return." His voice took on a pleading tone, "Your Excellency, I implore you, I need your assistance now more than ever."
Lucius had sought out Johnny Silver Hand immediately upon receiving the summons. Aware of his own identity being known to Johnny, Lucius believed him to be his only hope for aid. Previously, Johnny's help had not only reinstated Lucius to the board of Hogwarts but had also elevated the Malfoy family's prestige. To Lucius, aligning with Johnny Silver Hand was far preferable to living in fear under the Dark Lord's command.
John responded calmly, "Do not panic, Lucius. Trust me, and heed the call of the Death Eaters."
These words caused Lucius's heart to plummet. Was Johnny Silver Hand abandoning him? Sensing Lucius's distress and understanding his thoughts, John chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Worry not, I haven't forsaken you. Instead, I'm offering you a chance to infiltrate the Death Eaters," he explained.
"An opportunity?" Lucius echoed, confusion evident in his voice.
John spoke with a meaningful tone, "A chance to completely sever your ties with the Death Eaters. I have the power to remove the mark, but first, you must use it to rejoin their ranks."
Realization dawned on Lucius. Johnny Silver Hand was proposing he become a double agent. The prospect of eradicating his Death Eater identity once and for all was enticing. With newfound resolve, Lucius agreed to the plan.
_________
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