It was a crisp Saturday morning when John decided to take Neville aside for some special training. They left the castle grounds, making their way past the Whomping Willow and towards the Shrieking Shack. Neville, who had recently begun to shed his timid nature, couldn't help but ask, "John, why are we here?"
John glanced around cautiously. Once he was sure they were alone, he retrieved the Heart of Silence from his bag and placed it on the doorknob. Activating the device, he ensured that no sound from within the Shrieking Shack could escape. His actions, shrouded in secrecy, made Neville uneasy. Although he trusted John, the fear was palpable in his throat.
Just as Neville braced himself for the unknown, John's next move took him by surprise. He tossed a wand to Neville and asked, "Do you want to heal your parents?"
Neville, momentarily stunned by the question, nodded emphatically. "Of course!"
"Are you certain?" John's gaze was intense, a seriousness etched on his face that was seldom seen.
Without hesitation, Neville nodded again, his expression mirroring John's seriousness. John, reassured by Neville's determination, adopted a more relaxed tone. "Alright, from today, I'll teach you how to use the Cruciatus Curse."
Neville's disbelief was palpable. "The Cruciatus Curse?" he exclaimed. It was an Unforgivable Curse, one not even Moody dared to teach. The implications of using such a curse weighed heavily on Neville; being caught meant Azkaban. Yet, John's stern rebuke cut through his doubts. "If you want to save your parents, you must learn this spell!"
Neville's objections died in his throat, his face flushed with a mix of fear and resolve. John was adamant. He believed that to heal, one must empathize, and who better than Neville, the son of the Longbottoms, to serve as the perfect conduit. The blood of his parents flowed through him, a connection that could not be severed.
John also saw this as an opportunity to test Neville's suitability for the Stars Club. Sometimes, achieving one's goals required stepping into moral grey areas.
---
By October, John's training on the Cruciatus Curse had made little progress, hindered by Neville's inherent kindness. This trait, while admirable, was not conducive to their current objective. Frustrated, John sought advice from an unlikely source in the Great Hall.
"Malfoy, how can one quickly make someone detestable?" John inquired.
Malfoy, puzzled and slightly offended by the question, hesitated. "Why are you asking me?"
John's silent stare was answer enough. Malfoy, reluctantly admitting his expertise in the area, shared his insights. "Target their vulnerabilities, their scars. The more they cherish something, the more you should belittle it."
John found Malfoy's advice enlightening. "Indeed, you're quite skilled at being detestable," he remarked, a backhanded compliment that Malfoy chose to ignore.
Armed with this new strategy, John's training sessions with Neville saw significant improvement. As the days passed, the arrival of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students drew near. A buzz of excitement filled the air, with a large group of Hogwarts students gathering around a notice at the foot of the marble staircase, eagerly discussing the upcoming event scheduled for the 30th of October. The class ended half an hour earlier than usual, eliciting visible joy among many, particularly the Gryffindor students. It was Potions class that day, a subject under Snape's tutelage, which they openly disliked. John glanced at Heinrich, a hint of amusement in his voice as he said, "You're about to see your classmates." Heinrich, pale and listless, barely lifted his gaze to respond, "They're just a bunch of foils to me." John found Heinrich's dismissive comment about his classmates rather harsh.
Heinrich sneered as he spoke of Karkaroff, "He doesn't see the value in people. He's utterly utilitarian, with Krum being his prized possession." John raised an eyebrow, "Krum? The Bulgarian Seeker?" "Hardly an acquaintance, barely an opponent," Heinrich replied with conceit. "Karkaroff parades him around, basking in his reflected glory."
John decided not to delve deeper, turning his attention to Ernie McMillan, who was hurrying to inform Cedric. In John's eyes, Cedric had the potential to be a formidable competitor, assuming the competition remained fair. Cedric's prowess was acknowledged even by Heinrich, despite his usual arrogance.
"That idiot wants to be a Hogwarts champion too?" Ron's voice cut through the air, drawing a pause from John. Ron, looking indignant, pushed through the crowd. Both John and Heinrich fixed cold stares on him. "He's not an idiot. Your dislike stems from him besting Gryffindor in Quidditch," John corrected.
Hermione chimed in, defending Cedric's character, "He's an exemplary student, a prefect, and a member of the Star Club." Her words were met with Ron's sharp retort, accusing her of favoring Cedric for his looks. Hermione, visibly upset by the insinuation, retorted, "I don't judge people solely on their appearance!"
Ron, about to mock Hermione's past infatuation with Lockhart, found himself interrupted by John's imposing figure. "Ron, you really should learn to think before you speak," John advised, his tone firm yet composed. "Neville and Cedric are both commendable individuals. The Star Club is honored to have them."
Ron's face flushed with embarrassment, his attempt to belittle the club by mentioning Malfoy's membership quickly silenced by John's chilling rebuke. Harry stepped in, trying to defuse the tension, "John, Ron didn't mean any harm."
"I hope that's the case," John replied coolly, his gaze shifting between Harry and Ron. Heinrich's golden eyes glinted menacingly, ready to defend John's honor at a moment's notice. Harry, feeling the weight of John's indifferent stare, found himself at a loss for words.
"John, I'm sorry. Ron didn't intend to offend," Hermione interjected, hoping to shield her friends from John's wrath. She knew all too well the extent of John's capabilities, having witnessed his bravery firsthand during their first year.
After John and Heinrich departed, Ron grumbled about the possibility of becoming a champion himself, if not for the age restriction. "It's never going to be Slytherin's turn anyway," he added bitterly. Harry, though silently agreeing, chose not to voice his thoughts, mindful of Hermione's growing frustration.
The incident highlighted the complex dynamics within their group, underscoring the importance of respect and understanding among friends.
_________
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Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge