The relationship between John and the trio had grown strained over time. In their first and second years at Hogwarts, they had been friends. However, as they grew older, their interactions dwindled. If Hermione hadn't intervened, Ron might have faced consequences for his derogatory remarks about Cedric. To John, Cedric was a friend, whereas his connection to Harry and Ron was primarily influenced by their roles as the protagonist group in a book from his past life.
The term "Savior" brought Dumbledore to John's mind. He reflected on how the headmaster had meticulously maneuvered Harry into the role of the savior, a title that Dumbledore himself had bestowed upon Harry. A sense of unease settled over John, but he chose to remain silent, as did Heinrich.
The following day, John was at the Shrieking Shack, teaching Neville. They started with simple targets like rats and worms. Initially, Neville could only cast the Cruciatus Curse on insects, but he gradually progressed to larger animals. "Calm down, Neville," John urged, seeing the difficulty Neville had in regaining his composure after casting the curse. He used mind magic to soothe Neville, aware of the subtle, corrupting influence of dark magic on some individuals.
John had been pushing Neville, inciting a self-loathing that made it hard for the boy to stay calm. Neville, panting and with bloodshot eyes, apologized hoarsely, "Sorry, John." He struggled to control his urge to lash out physically, a reaction John had previously countered with ease. Among those at Hogwarts, only Hagrid could potentially match John in combat.
John used the Water Summoning Charm to help Neville fully calm down. Observing Neville's return to his usual demeanor, John sighed, "Neville, do you want to give up? It's not too late." Neville, wiping his face, replied with determination, "John, I will persevere." He was unclear about John's motives for teaching him the Cruciatus Curse, but if it could somehow aid his parents, he was willing to endure.
John felt a twinge of guilt for putting Neville through this. "Okay, the two schools are arriving tomorrow. You need to adjust your mood. Your mastery of the Cruciatus Curse is nearly complete." He advised Neville to take some time to calm down, keen to avoid any unexpected confrontations.
Later, in the secret room of the Society of Stars, John noticed an additional Firebolt beside his own. "Draco really is a coward," he mused, knowing without a doubt it was Malfoy's doing, attempting to mimic his actions within the Star Club. John then turned his attention to several magic crystals, processing them before leaving late into the night. On his way back, he encountered Snape on patrol and used a disillusionment spell to avoid detection.
On October 30th, the students were instructed to don their cloaks. Snape, displeased with his class being shortened by half an hour, coldly ordered the Slytherin students to gather in the hall. The heads of houses were managing their students, with Professor McGonagall taking a more serious approach than usual. "Weasley, straighten your hat," she chided. "Miss Patil, remove that ridiculous item from your hair." Ron quickly adjusted his hat, while Parvati Patil, frowning, removed a large butterfly decoration from her braid.
Without further ado, Professor McGonagall addressed the students, "Please follow me, first-years at the front. Let's avoid crowding." She led the procession, struggling to maintain order as they descended the steps and lined up in front of the castle. The evening air was crisp, adding a chill that made everyone shiver slightly. Night had fallen, and a translucent moon cast its glow over the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid was present too, wielding two large fans as if directing traffic.
The students buzzed with excitement, eagerly discussing the impending arrival of the two schools. Some speculated it was by train, while others suggested a Portkey. Broomsticks, Apparition... the methods of arrival were a topic of great interest among the students. Malfoy, scanning the crowd, failed to spot Heinrich and asked in a hushed tone, "Where did that guy Heinrich go?" John, with a hint of exasperation, replied, "His school is Durmstrang, so naturally, he won't be arriving with us." "Ah, right," Malfoy said, a light of realization dawning in his eyes. Since taking up physical training, John had observed a curious decline in Malfoy's sharpness. The burly duo, Goyle and Crabbe, seemed to grow more in stature than intellect, leading John to wonder if they might possess magical creature ancestry.
Curiosity piqued, Malfoy inquired, "John, how do you think they'll arrive here?" Daphne, trying to get a better view, stood on her tiptoes, her expression a mix of pride and calm. John, amused by their curiosity, pondered for a moment before responding, "Beauxbatons might arrive by flying horse. Ms. Maxime is known to have raised twelve winged horses."
"As for Durmstrang, I'm not as familiar, but Heinrich mentioned their school has a black ship. They'll likely approach by water." As he speculated, a dark speck appeared in the distant sky, growing larger as it approached. Excitement rippled through the students, with one exclaiming, "It's a fire dragon!" only to be corrected by another, "Don't be silly, it's a flying house!"
The object, a massive carriage, soared over the Forbidden Forest's treetops, illuminated by the castle's windows. It was indeed a carriage, but of such size that it resembled a large house, drawn by twelve winged horses, each the size of an elephant. The carriage descended rapidly, its landing causing a gust that made the students hastily retreat.
Daphne, caught off-balance, stumbled backward. Just as she was about to fall, a firm hand caught her waist, steadying her. She looked up, her cheeks flushing at the sight of the handsome face before her. John, noticing Astoria's amused glance, asked Daphne, "Are you okay?" With a gentle lift, he helped her to her feet. Daphne, her ears tinged with red, nodded shyly.
Together, they turned their attention to the carriage. The rune horses, now calm, held their heads high. The carriage door bore a crest of two golden wands crossed with three stars radiating from each. A boy in a light blue robe descended, unfolding a golden spiral staircase from beneath the carriage and stepping aside.
Ms. Maxime, in a stunning dress and opulent opal jewelry, emerged. Dumbledore led the applause, welcoming her warmly. "Welcome, Madam Maxime, to Hogwarts," he greeted, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "I hope you are well," she responded, her voice low and dignified.
"Very well, thank you," Dumbledore replied. With a casual wave, Ms. Maxime gestured to her students, who filed out from the carriage, shivering slightly in their thin robes despite their poised appearance. The air was crisp and cold as Harry and the others watched the new arrivals with keen interest. Among the students, one in particular caught Harry's eye, their badge shimmering like a distant star in the night sky. However, the figure was partially obscured by the towering presence of Madam Maxime, making it difficult to see clearly. Nearby, Hagrid seemed equally unsure of what to do with himself, his large hands awkwardly searching for a place to rest. Upon noticing him, Madam Maxime offered a nod of acknowledgment, eliciting a bashful giggle from Hagrid, who had promised to take excellent care of the Beauxbatons' Abraxan horses.
As Madam Maxime led her students up the steps and away, the night was suddenly pierced by a strange grunt. John's attention was drawn to the lake. "In the lake!" someone shouted. The previously tranquil black waters were disturbed, a large whirlpool forming at its center. From the midst of the churning waters, a long black pole emerged, slowly revealing itself to be a ship's mast. Before their astonished eyes, a magnificent ship rose from the depths, its timbers gleaming in the moonlight. The vessel had an eerie, skeletal appearance, as if it were a sunken ship miraculously returned to the surface.
An anchor was cast into the shallows, and a gangplank extended to the shore. A group of imposing figures disembarked, each cloaked in fur. The leader, adorned in silver-white fur that matched his flowing hair, approached Dumbledore with a warm greeting. This must be Igor Karkaroff, the headmaster of Durmstrang Institute, Harry thought. Karkaroff, tall and slender with a neatly trimmed goatee and hair curling at the ends, exuded a sense of enthusiasm that somehow felt superficial, leaving an impression of underlying coldness.
"Victor, come here and get warm," Karkaroff called out, beckoning Viktor Krum forward while seemingly disregarding the other students. It was in this moment that John understood why Heinrich held such a low opinion of him. The selective warmth Karkaroff showed to Krum, a celebrated Quidditch player, contrasted sharply with his indifference to the others, revealing a preference for fame over genuine camaraderie.
_________
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