"The Ministry of Magic reminds wizards in Hogsmeade to be on alert for fire dragons that have been appearing unexpectedly in the area. To date, five fire dragons remain unaccounted for," Malfoy announced, reading aloud from the Daily Prophet in the Great Hall.
Daphne, finding the news rather ludicrous, commented, "Fire dragons? Are they the same ones from the Triwizard Tournament?" She recalled the previous day's events when a fire dragon demonstrated its formidable power, even managing to strike the 'savior'—a reference to Harry Potter, who had his name cleared of any cheating allegations due to the peril he faced. "Such a dangerous task could only be the work of a madman," she mused, reflecting on the general consensus that no sane person would willingly engage with fire dragons.
As Malfoy nonchalantly continued with his breakfast, Neville approached the table, looking puzzled. "Why isn't John here today?" he inquired.
Daphne, gracefully spreading jam on her bread, didn't respond, but Malfoy sneered at Neville, "Oh, isn't this Neville celebrating for Gryffindor? You seemed to have a grand time."
Neville, taken aback by Malfoy's sudden hostility, scanned the room for support. Just then, Heinrich walked by, and Neville, hoping for an ally, called out to him. However, Heinrich's response was cold and dismissive, "Go away!" His voice, louder than intended, caused a brief silence in the bustling Great Hall.
Confused and hurt, Neville didn't understand what he had done to warrant such treatment. Malfoy's voice, dripping with sarcasm, cut through the tension, "Go back to your place, Longbottom. You don't belong here."
Stumbling over his words, Neville felt isolated, thinking perhaps his actions the previous day had upset them. Dejected, he made his way back to the Gryffindor table, only to encounter Cedric. Cedric, usually friendly and approachable, recoiled as if Neville was something unpleasant and quickly moved away, deepening Neville's sense of rejection.
However, Cedric called out to him, "By the way, Neville." Neville turned, hopeful for a kind word, but was instead met with a harsh admonition, "John said you'd better recognize your position first, understand?" With that, Cedric left, leaving Neville feeling even more alienated from his peers.
Meanwhile, John had been busy rescuing Amohan and other fire dragons, relocating them to a hidden part of the Forbidden Forest, inhabited by a colony of unicorns. In exchange for the unicorns' cooperation, John offered several bottles of Stellaris. He planned to test the dragons in the Valley of Never Rest the following year, but for now, they would stay hidden in the forest. The imminent hatching of several dragon eggs seemed to be a concern, but the maternal instincts of the dragons meant they were content to wait.
John's recent endeavors had left him exhausted, oversleeping due to the numerous sleeping spells he had cast on himself. His dragon form had also grown, a sign that his magical power was increasing. When he finally woke, he had missed breakfast and was barely able to keep himself upright as he made his way through the castle, his appearance causing quite a stir among the students.
Rumors about John's activities the previous night circulated, with some speculating he had been searching for the missing fire dragons, while others believed he had thwarted some nefarious deed. Regardless of the speculation, John's reputation for good character over the past four years meant that no one suspected him of any wrongdoing.
Throughout the day, John's exhaustion was evident, even to Malfoy, who couldn't help but ask, "John, what on earth were you doing last night?"
"Just leave me alone," John replied, barely keeping his eyes open as he tried to eat, clearly not in the mood for conversation.
Daphne, observing John's state, considered offering him some food, hoping to provide some comfort to her weary friend. With a blush on his face, Heinrich skillfully cut the food into small pieces and delivered them to John's mouth with precision, allowing him to eat with ease. Daphne, on the other hand, was seething with anger, her eyes burning with fury as she glared at Heinrich, who remained unfazed by her reaction. After dinner, instead of exercising as usual, John returned to his bed and fell into a deep sleep. His sleep was so restful that when he awoke the next day, he still felt as if he were in a dream. This drowsy state persisted until Friday, when Snape, with a scowl dark as a storm cloud, glared at John, almost tempted to dunk his head into a cauldron to jolt him awake. Despite his sleepiness, John managed to process all the potion ingredients with his eyes closed, completing the potion flawlessly. This only served to darken Snape's mood further, and in a rare moment of begrudging respect, he awarded "20 points to Slytherin."
Snape then hurried off to find fault with Neville, who was already feeling isolated and dejected. As John wandered the corridors in a daze, he caught the scent of wine and followed it, eventually stopping at a corner where his lethargy seemed to lift. Surprised, he looked around, wondering where he had ended up. The scent of wine led him directly into Moody, who greeted him with a gruff, "What are you doing here, Wick?" John took a step back, maintaining a respectful distance, and apologized with a polite smile, "Sorry, I think I took a wrong turn." After a slight bow to Moody, he turned and walked away, leaving Moody to mutter to himself and stomp off with his wooden leg.
John hadn't seen the Zouwu for a few days. During the last Triwizard Tournament, Hagrid had temporarily hidden the Zouwu in the former cave of Aragog. The creature was thrilled to be out again, its large, peony-like tail swishing back and forth beautifully. John could feel the Zouwu's joy at seeing him again as he patted its head. The Zouwu, looking around suspiciously, seemed to catch a scent and circled John, prompting him to joke, "Ahem, as a student, it makes sense that I smell like a fire dragon, right?" He enjoyed the Zouwu's company, especially since it resembled a large, furry cat.
John then revealed a gift for the Zouwu, a fluffy ball that he had enchanted. The Zouwu was immediately captivated, batting the ball around with its large claws, completely engrossed in the game and ignoring everything else. John watched with a smile, pleased that the toy he had specially crafted could withstand the Zouwu's playful assaults. He had spared no expense on the materials and had imbued them with magic to ensure their durability.
After spending time with the Zouwu, John prepared to leave, feeling the chill of a cold wind on his cheek. He noticed Hagrid feeding the Thestrals single malt whiskey, the scent of which filled the air. The strong smell of alcohol made some of the younger students blush as if they were tipsy just from passing by. John wondered if Hagrid was paying for the whiskey out of his own pocket, considering the expense. Hogwarts, being funded by the Ministry of Magic, donations from school governors, and other sources, did not charge tuition fees, making Hagrid's generous act even more noteworthy. John understood the financial workings of Hogwarts well. The school wasn't one to merely sit back and rely on its laurels for funding. The founders of the four houses had established a Hogwarts foundation, tasked with managing the school's expenditures and revenues. This foundation benefited from future donations and sponsorships from alumni associations, ensuring a steady flow of resources. Given this setup, John reasoned that the cost of the rune horse wouldn't significantly impact the school's finances. Moreover, many of the country's renowned magical shops regularly contributed to Hogwarts, making John a supporter by extension.
Observing Garen, who might as well have been his reflection, succumbing to the intoxicating effects of the rune horse, John couldn't suppress a twinge of sympathy. The sensation of loss, akin to a physical pain, lingered for a brief moment. "Well, that's three seconds of discomfort," he mused, quickly regaining his composure. "And now, it's time to recoup that loss." With his spirits lifted, John resumed his walk, his mind already plotting the next steps in his Hogwarts journey.
_________
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Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge