The door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts office burst open as Moody, with his distinctive wooden leg, made his entrance. His gaze immediately fell on Heinrich, who was standing in front of a box, the lock of which was conspicuously undone. Moody's face darkened with anger as he strode over, seized Heinrich by the collar, and slammed him against the table, causing various items to scatter.
"Edgar, you dare to enter my office uninvited? What in Merlin's name are you plotting?" he bellowed, his voice spraying saliva in his fury.
Heinrich responded with a calmness that belied the situation. "I apologize, Professor. I was here to inquire about the Defense Against the Dark Arts assignment and entered without permission," he explained, attempting to downplay the intrusion.
Moody's magical eye darted suspiciously between the box and Heinrich, scanning for any sign of theft. Finding none, he reluctantly released Heinrich. Straightening his robes, Heinrich maintained a composed demeanor despite the altercation.
"You had no right to enter my office without permission. Fifty points will be deducted!" Moody declared gruffly.
Heinrich, undeterred and not a Slytherin to be concerned about house points at Hogwarts, remained in place. His gaze lingered on the box behind Moody, curiosity piqued. "Professor, may I ask what is contained within that box?" he inquired, attempting to peer into its contents.
Moody, now seething with irritation, snapped, "Another fifty points!" He had momentarily forgotten Heinrich wasn't a Hogwarts student, his anger clouding his judgment.
Heinrich observed Moody's reaction quietly and, sensing further inquiry would only exacerbate the situation, decided to leave. Once Heinrich had departed, Moody hastily secured the door and returned to the box, whispering to himself, "He won't discover the truth."
---
As the Easter holidays approached, John convened a meeting with a group of former Death Eaters in Knockturn Alley. These individuals, unlike those still loyal to Voldemort, lived in fear of the Dark Lord. Their ranks included those who, like Karkaroff, had betrayed their comrades or feigned being under the Imperius Curse to escape punishment. Marked by the Dark Mark, they were pariahs within the wizarding community, despised by Voldemort above all.
"Dear Sir Johnny Silver Hand, may I inquire as to the reason for this summons?" asked a visibly terrified woman, more dragged here against her will than summoned. She was Daisy Jafar, proprietor of a clothing store in Knockturn Alley, who had once betrayed fellow Death Eaters to reduce her own sentence, resulting in a brief stint in Azkaban.
Before she could even comprehend her situation, she found herself in the presence of Lord Johnny Silverhand, the feared ruler of Knockturn Alley and a figure second only to Dumbledore in power. Uncertain of her offense, Daisy was too afraid to meet his gaze, having heard tales of his lethal attention.
"Daisy, I believe that's your name, correct?" John's voice was deep and menacing, causing Daisy to respond with a nervous smile, "Yes, Your Excellency."
John pondered their fate, his fingers idly caressing a ring. After a moment, he offered them a deal. "I require your assistance with a matter. In exchange, I will forgive three years' worth of rent for your establishments in Knockturn Alley."
The atmosphere shifted from fear to disbelief, then to cautious optimism. Daisy, momentarily overcome with surprise, exclaimed, "Truly, sir?"
"Are you doubting my word?" John's stern glance was enough to make Daisy shrink back in submission, her earlier excitement replaced with fear.
The once noisy crowd fell silent, their earlier panic subsiding as John continued, "I have a task for you. Succeed, and your debts will be forgiven. Fail, and well, I trust you understand the consequences."
With that, John outlined his plan, leveraging their fear and desperation to his advantage. The meeting, initially marked by terror, had now transformed into an opportunity for these outcasts—a chance for redemption or, at the very least, survival. John's request was simple yet chilling, "I need you to willingly return to Voldemort when he makes his return." His tone was as casual as if he were asking them to tend to the garden, but his words sent shockwaves through the room. Gasps filled the air, and Daisy, with tears brimming in her eyes, pleaded, "Your Excellency Johnny Silverhand, you can't be serious."
"I'm dead serious, Daisy," John replied, his voice devoid of warmth. "You know what this means." His declaration felt like a death sentence, causing immediate dissent among the crowd. A dark wizard from Knockturn Alley, his face twisted in horror, shouted, "Impossible! I'll never go back!" His defiance was palpable, but with the room secured by John's security team, his resistance was futile. Tang Mi quickly disarmed him with a spell, and he was subdued and brought before John.
John, with a cold expression, held the dark wizard's head, extracting his soul with a chilling ease. He then branded the soul before returning it to the wizard's body, a stark warning to all present: "Remember, never disobey my orders." His gaze swept over the silent crowd as he added, "Refuse, and death is certain. Your allegiance is your only salvation."
The threat of death hung heavily in the air, pushing the Death Eaters towards a grim acceptance. Rationality prevailed among many, as they recalled the fate of those who had previously defied John. The promise of rent exemption for three years was a small consolation for those struggling to survive. In a world where resistance seemed futile, aligning with John, who offered some semblance of mercy, appeared to be the lesser of two evils. Moreover, the fall of Voldemort's power had sown seeds of doubt about his return.
However, unbeknownst to many, loyalists to Voldemort were among them, their plans to rally the Death Eaters now fraught with fear of infiltration by John's followers. The thought of summoning their allies only to find them turned against them was a terrifying prospect. They resolved to investigate further upon their return.
John, aware of their unease, deliberately left flaws in the branding of several individuals, a trap for Voldemort should he scrutinize them closely. "Voldemort, I hope you appreciate my gift," John sneered, aiming to sow discord among the Death Eaters and ensure the safety of those like Lucius who were caught in the crossfire.
Upon returning to school, John found the atmosphere charged with the tension of upcoming studies. The students, eager to cling to the remnants of their holiday, shared stories of their adventures, a brief respite before the rigors of academia resumed. John's first order of business was to inspect the Star Club, which had remained untouched since he last closed it. Retrieving the magic crystal formed from excess magic power, John prepared to delve back into the world of magic and intrigue, his actions shaping the fate of both the wizarding and muggle worlds. In the auditorium, the holiday spirit momentarily eased the previously tense atmosphere among the Slytherin students. The air of discontent that had lingered seemed to vanish, if only for a while. This change persisted until the arrival of the morning post, when a flurry of owls swooped into the room, delivering parcels and letters of all sorts.
Ernie Macmillan, a Hufflepuff known for keeping abreast of the latest news, eagerly grabbed a newspaper from one of the owls. As he scanned the front page, he couldn't help but exclaim, drawing the attention of those around him. The headline that caught his eye was sensational: "Dumbledore's Puzzling Conduct Raises Concerns Over His Fitness to Lead." It was prominently displayed, designed to capture the reader's attention.
Soon, a crowd gathered around Ernie, eager to hear more. "The Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts position is once again a topic of heated debate," he read aloud. "The annual turnover of professors in this role significantly disrupts the students' educational continuity. This year, the post is held by Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody. Credible sources report that Moody has not only demonstrated the Unforgivable Curses to students but also took a life during a lesson. The article questions whether such actions might mislead students, potentially setting them on the path to becoming dark wizards. Furthermore, Moody's claim of being attacked by a trash can and his near-madness are cited as evidence of his instability. Despite Moody's reputation as a formidable Auror, his recent behavior paints him as nothing short of a deranged old man."
As Ernie relayed the article, which criticized Moody's teaching methods and mental state under the guise of concern for Dumbledore's leadership, the auditorium fell into a hushed silence. John, a Slytherin student, listened with a smirk. Unlike others, he felt no urge to defend Moody. Instead, he saw an opportunity. "If they want to play this game, then let's take it all the way," he muttered to himself, taking a sip of water. "Public opinion isn't a tool exclusive to Moody."
John's thoughts reflected a deeper understanding of the situation. He recognized that the article wasn't just an attack on Moody but a strategic move in the ongoing battle of perceptions within the wizarding world. And in this game, he was more than willing to participate.
_________
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