Harry had been in frequent communication with Sirius lately. Before the school term began, Harry experienced a painful sensation in his scar and saw visions in his dreams. He confided in Sirius about the pain, which caused Sirius great concern. Harry initially intended to share the details of his dream with Sirius, but Draco Malfoy's taunting words echoed in his mind, "Potter, you should confront me, not run to your new nanny." Despite his disdain for Malfoy, Harry couldn't help but feel affected by his words. He realized he had been burdening too many people with his problems, including Hermione, who had been urging him to inform Dumbledore. However, Harry felt reluctant to trouble Dumbledore further and ultimately dismissed his scar pain as a mere psychological effect, leaving Sirius with doubts.
Meanwhile, Hermione had persuaded Harry to join the House Elf Rights Promotion Association, which required a mere two Sickles for membership and used the funds for advocacy. Despite the low cost, they struggled to attract new members, facing ridicule from many, especially Malfoy. Malfoy frequently mocked Harry, comparing him to a beggar for collecting money, and flaunted his own Star Club badge, which featured changing stars, in a derisive manner. Ron, incensed by Malfoy's arrogance, remarked, "If Malfoy is a member, the Star Club can't be worth much."
The workload from Professor McGonagall was overwhelming, as she piled on assignments in preparation for the OWL exams the following year. Despite the students' complaints, McGonagall maintained that the rigorous work was for their benefit.
In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Moody had taken an unconventional approach by demonstrating the Imperius Curse on students to test their resistance. Hermione questioned the ethics of using an Unforgivable Curse in class, to which Moody replied that experiencing the curse firsthand was a crucial part of learning to defend against it. Despite her initial reservations, Hermione stayed, intrigued by the practical application of resisting the Imperius Curse.
Moody, looking for a volunteer, chose John, who had previously been under the spell. Malfoy, visibly angry, seemed ready to confront Moody, suspecting revenge. John approached Moody calmly, unaffected by the tension in the room. As Moody cast the Imperius Curse, John experienced the familiar sensation of being controlled but remained composed, resisting the spell's influence with remarkable willpower. This defiance surprised Moody and earned John the admiration of his classmates as he walked out of the classroom, leaving a lasting impression of his strength and resilience. John had harbored a dislike for Moody since the beginning of the school year. Initially, he had held a certain respect for the legendary Auror, but Moody's indiscriminate favoritism towards Harry had quickly eroded that goodwill. As John exited the classroom, Moody's gaze followed him, a twitch betraying his irritation. Malfoy, witnessing this, couldn't help but feel a secret sense of pleasure.
Moody, now in a sullen mood, called the remaining students forward to practice resisting the Imperius Curse. Initially, some students were confident they could emulate John's resistance, but they quickly found themselves acting out of character—singing, dancing, or behaving like squirrels under the curse's influence. When it was Malfoy's turn, he approached with disdain for his peers, only to find himself reduced to a quivering, dancing figure, much to the amusement of the class. This scene was reminiscent of the horse fork worms, known for their frivolous dancing even in the face of danger, a behavior that had inspired a particular curse among wizards.
Harry, called forward by Moody, shivered at the sight of Malfoy's undignified performance.
Meanwhile, John had left the classroom with a significant purpose in mind—he was on the verge of a breakthrough. Deciding that his time was better spent outside the classroom, he headed straight for the Room of Requirement to focus on his training. As he completed his last sit-up, a chime sounded in his ear, signaling an upgrade in his magical power to level 5. Despite the progress, the daunting requirement of 5 experience points to reach level 10000 in magic power weighed heavily on him.
"How long will it take to improve just by exercising?" John pondered, wiping away his sweat. He knew that achieving invincibility was a distant dream, but he was determined to at least possess the strength to protect himself against Voldemort. He estimated that reaching level 6 in magic power would give him a fighting chance.
Reflecting on his progress, John considered the importance of selecting the right skills with his remaining points. "Is there a skill that can annihilate all adversaries in a single blow?" he mused, scanning the list of spells. To his surprise, he noticed that Fiendfyre, a spell he seldom used due to its dangerous and uncontrollable nature, had also leveled up to 5 alongside his magic power.
Contemplating the destructive potential of Fiendfyre, John realized it could serve as a powerful equalizer, capable of consuming everything in its path. However, employing such a spell would undoubtedly mark him as a dark wizard, inviting a host of complications.
After some deliberation, John decided to focus on enhancing his Transfiguration skills, recognizing the strategic advantage of improving in this area. With his magic power now increased, he experimented with Fiendfyre once more, finding it significantly easier to control than in his earlier attempts. This newfound ease led him to wonder if his affinity for elemental magic played a role in his improved mastery.
As John extinguished the Fiendfyre, he felt the drain on his mana but was satisfied with the progress he had made. Exiting the Room of Requirement, he emerged just as classes were ending, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead with his enhanced abilities. As John made his way to lunch, he couldn't help but overhear the curses Malfoy was hurling around, still fuming from the morning's events. In a spectacle that had the whole class talking, Malfoy had been transformed into a bug, performing an involuntary dance that had everyone's attention. It was clear to John that Professor Moody had orchestrated the whole scene, a suspicion that seemed to be shared by many, including Daphne, who looked on with a mix of horror and disgust.
The day's lesson had taken an even more bizarre turn when Daphne fell victim to the Imperius Curse, forced to act out the role of a bunny in front of everyone. The humiliation of the experience was such that she lost all interest in cooking, a hobby she usually enjoyed, which, in a roundabout way, worked in John's favor, allowing him to slip away unnoticed.
The class had been intended as a practical demonstration of the Imperius Curse, but it ended up serving as a lesson in humiliation and control, leaving a lasting impression on everyone involved. Heinrich, upon hearing of Malfoy's embarrassing performance, had whisked him away with a stern expression, only for rumors to later circulate that Malfoy had been made to dance yet again throughout the afternoon.
What truly astounded the professors and students alike was John's apparent immunity to the Imperius Curse. His mental fortitude was a topic of much discussion, elevating him to the status of a mythical figure in the eyes of his peers. They whispered among themselves, half in awe, half in fear, dubbing him a "100-year-old monster" for his unique resistance to what was considered one of the most insidious forms of magical manipulation.
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Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge