In the vast kitchens of Hogwarts, where a hundred house-elves tirelessly worked, it was a rare occasion for John to seek a late-night snack. Since his third year, his visits had become infrequent. However, on this particular night, driven by a sudden whim, John found himself walking towards the kitchen. With practiced ease, he tickled the pear in the fruit painting, which giggled and transformed into a vibrant green doorknob. Pushing the door open, he was greeted by a cacophony of voices, among which a shrill cry stood out, "Get out, you disreputable alien!"
John's gaze quickly located the source of the commotion—an older house-elf was pointing accusingly at a familiar figure. Upon closer inspection, John recognized the figure as Dobby, surrounded by a group of house-elves who were clearly unwelcoming. Beside Dobby stood another familiar face, Winky, who had previously served the Crouch family.
John squinted, puzzled by the presence of these two house-elves who seemed out of place in Hogwarts. The kitchen was filled with insults hurled at Dobby, branding him a freak for his audacity to seek payment for his services—a notion abhorrent to traditional house-elf values. Dobby, once a servant of the Malfoy family, faced the accusations with a bravery born from years of mistreatment, whereas Winky, less accustomed to such hostility, dissolved into tears.
Upon noticing John, the atmosphere shifted. Dobby, elated, rushed over, exclaiming, "Dobby knew that one day he would meet John Wick again!" His excitement was palpable, though Winky's sobbing continued unabated.
The house-elves who had been leading the verbal assault on Dobby now displayed open disgust and alienation, wanting nothing to do with him. John, curious, inquired, "When did you arrive, Dobby?"
"Today, sir," Dobby replied, his voice tinged with a mix of pride and fear. "Dobby came to work here today. Professor Dumbledore offered ten Galleons a week, but Dobby negotiated down to one Galleon a week and one day off every month." The mere mention of his salary sparked a fresh wave of muttering among the other house-elves, as if Dobby's acceptance of payment was a betrayal of their kind.
Despite the controversy, Dumbledore's authority meant that Dobby's employment was accepted, albeit grudgingly. John, taken aback by this development, then turned his attention to Winky, whose distress seemed to deepen at the mention of payment. "Winky was dismissed," she wailed, "but Winky hasn't stooped to accepting payment."
John, while not an advocate for house-elf rights, couldn't help but feel a sense of injustice at the scene before him. His attention was soon captured by a spotlessly clean area of the kitchen, proudly maintained by an older house-elf named Puffy. It was a point of pride among the house-elves to serve a wizard or witch directly, and the envy from the others was palpable.
The kitchen was a marvel of organization and cleanliness, with an array of knives ranging from the smallest paring knife to larger, more intimidating blades, all meticulously maintained. The ingredients section boasted an impressive variety of fresh fruits, magically preserved meats, and neatly arranged bottles of grains and nuts. John was astounded by the setup, which could rival any professional kitchen.
Among the culinary tools, he noticed a small notebook that chronicled Daphne Greengrass's cooking adventures, a testament to the personal touch and dedication found within the Hogwarts kitchens. The scene painted a picture of a community bound by service and tradition, yet standing at the cusp of change, as represented by Dobby's unconventional employment. John found himself holding a notebook that he suspected belonged to Daphne. He was tempted to open it, curious if it might reveal the source of John's own distress. However, he restrained himself, reasoning that invading a friend's privacy was not justifiable. With that decision, John left the kitchen, receiving respectful bows from the house-elves as he departed, though he humorously misinterpreted their gesture as a send-off for him.
Over the past week, the initial excitement of facing a fire dragon in the first task had been tempered by the return to routine classes. The corridors of Hogwarts were now free from students daring to provoke Filch, the caretaker, who had remarkably improved his physical fitness. No longer the man who would be out of breath by the third floor, Filch could now ascend to the eighth floor with ease. John, impressed by this transformation, gifted Filch with weighted steel blocks and a pair of shoes enhanced with a speed function. This upgrade enabled Filch to catch mischievous students with unprecedented efficiency, much to the dismay of those who had underestimated him, including the notorious twins who were now more cautious about their nocturnal adventures. "Another day contributing to the betterment of Hogwarts' learning environment," John mused with satisfaction.
In Divination class, John's presence was almost inconsequential due to Professor Trelawney's evident favoritism towards him. However, today was different. As he gazed into the crystal ball, a vision began to form amidst the mist. "It was black, death soaked through it, eager to pull life into its depths. Water, both the essence of life and a potent poison. Once consumed, it becomes an insatiable thirst until it runs dry. The warrior's choice leads to a bloodied battle, death blossoms in the night, and an undying flame steals away love," John prophesied, his voice taking on a hollow, eerie tone, his eyes clouding over with a layer of gray.
Professor Trelawney, who had approached unnoticed, halted any further fabrications from the students with a trembling voice, addressing John with a soft, "My dear?" As John's gaze left the crystal ball, the mysterious gray in his eyes faded, leaving him feeling inexplicably uneasy. Lavender, visibly shaken, whispered about John's ominous prediction.
Taking a deep breath to shake off the discomfort, John witnessed the crystal ball crack and then shatter completely, startling even Professor Trelawney. This ominous event left the class in a state of unease, with Harry and Ron, who had recently made amends, looking at John in astonishment. Apologizing to Professor Trelawney, John requested an early leave from the class, which she granted with a worried expression, awarding him thirty points for his prophecy.
Leaving the class, John was troubled by his own prediction. "Could it be related to something happening around me?" he wondered. Seeking solace at the Black Lake, he attempted to calm his nerves. Staring at the lake, he felt a surge of panic for the first time. "It's okay, as long as everyone is equipped and prepared, it will be fine," he reassured himself, though his confidence was shaken when his casual stone-throwing startled a mermaid, who cursed before diving back into the water, silenced by John's glance.
By the time John returned to the castle, rumors of his death prophecy had already begun to spread, adding an air of mystery and concern around him. This time, the prophecy felt ominously close to home, leaving John to ponder the implications for himself and those around him. The atmosphere was more tense than it had ever been in their third year. "The choice of the warrior, let the blood be spilled, death shall bloom in the night, and the undying flame shall steal away love." Ernie McMillan recited with a nervous swallow. His words hung heavily in the air.
Hannah Abbott covered her mouth in shock, her voice trembling as she asked, "Which warrior is destined to die?"
"I believe it's Harry Potter, considering everything you know..." Ernie's voice trailed off, his sentence left unfinished as he caught sight of Harry walking by.
John, having overcome his initial discomfort, made his way to the auditorium. His spirits lifted when he overheard Malfoy engaged in a heated discussion. Seizing the opportunity, John decided to intensify his training regimen. Among all the students, he felt Malfoy was the most likely to encounter trouble. His penchant for attracting animosity made him a prime candidate for unforeseen accidents. Malfoy's actions seemed to almost invite danger, a magnet for the ill will that brewed within the walls of Hogwarts.
_________
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