80: Snape's Suspicion and a Letter from Durmstrang

Christmas at the school wasn't particularly interesting. Apart from regularly keeping an eye on the Marauder's Map, John spent his time making Malfoy experience Neville's struggles.

"Can't keep up? You can say so; I never force you," John said coolly as he stood outside the Whomping Willow, watching Malfoy get chased by its branches.

"Shut up, John," Malfoy snapped, already having been hit several times. At first, he had been puzzled as to why wizards needed to train in dodging. 

That was until John repeatedly evaded three of Malfoy's spells, making Malfoy realize the importance of agility.

But John didn't stay quiet, his tone laced with mockery. "You're right not to bring Goyle and the others along; you look too pathetic right now."

"Bahaha~ The Malfoys, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, and their heir can't even handle a tree."

"Maybe your father is right—after all, with your family's wealth, you could live your life as a useless layabout."

"Oh, I forgot, perhaps it's more than just 'like.'"

His words cut like a knife, throwing Malfoy into a state of frustration, and with one misstep, he was sent flying by the Whomping Willow's branch.

"Tut tut~ Look at you, like a rat being chased away with a broom."

"How much did your family donate to Hogwarts to convince them to let you in?"

John pulled out a turkey sandwich and took a bite, looking utterly relaxed, a sight sure to fuel Malfoy's resentment.

Malfoy was seething with anger. A voice in his head questioned why he was letting that Muggle-born wizard enjoy himself while he, a noble pure-blood, suffered.

As his anger surged, Malfoy couldn't take it anymore after being thrown back by the Whomping Willow once again. He drew his wand and fired a spell at the annoying tree.

Just as the spell was about to hit the Whomping Willow, a Shield Charm appeared.

"I told you to dodge. Who said you could attack?"

The first layer of the Shield Charm shattered upon impact, but the second layer managed to stop the attack.

The Whomping Willow, now enraged, swung its branches even faster and more furiously. Malfoy, unable to dodge in time, was about to get hit.

Seeing this, John quickly cast a Levitation Charm, pulling Malfoy back to safety. Noticing that Malfoy was still angry, John clapped and praised him, "This time, the power was greater than before. Keep that feeling."

John was testing the effects of emotions on the power of spells. After Malfoy got angry, the power of his spell had increased by half.

Although this kind of emotion affected accuracy, the increase in power was quite significant.

John took out a pen to note this in his journal. Glancing at the still-angry Malfoy, he sighed and said, "You're the one who asked me to train you."

Malfoy understood that John was trying to help him improve his skills, but he still had trouble controlling his emotions.

At times like this, John usually just needed to use a Sleep Charm on him.

"Alright, time to sleep again," John said.

"Ah Wait—" Without giving Malfoy a chance to react, John cast the Sleep Charm right in his face, sending him into a peaceful, baby-like slumber.

He called Goyle and Crabbe to carry Malfoy back. The two of them were used to Malfoy being so exhausted that he fell asleep every day.

After scribbling some notes in his journal, John closed the book and slipped it into his small bag.

"Anger is useful, but it's better to use it sparingly. This time, Draco's emotional state lasted longer."

John thought that if this continued, there might come a day when Malfoy would take things too far and turn against him.

Though it was a bit disappointing, John decided to put a temporary halt to their sessions.

Unbeknownst to him, someone had been observing his every move.

Snape, with his dark, shadowy eyes, had been watching and decided to report to Dumbledore.

...

"Dumbledore, you need to do something about John Wick," Snape said in the headmaster's office. This time, his tone was not his usual sarcastic drawl but one tinged with anger.

"What's the matter, Severus?"

Dumbledore looked up from his desk, surprised to see Snape in such a state.

"He's slowly gaining power, and don't tell me you haven't noticed, Dumbledore."

As a former Death Eater, Snape saw echoes of another person in John. The same extraordinary talent, the same good looks, the same ability to sway those around him.

John Wick.

Aside from his bloodline, this boy was a complete replica of that person.

There was a hint of madness in Snape's voice, his tone as dark and murky as if it had been dredged from the depths.

"He's mimicking the Dark Lord. He won't settle for being ordinary—Slytherin is proof of that. In just one year, he's turned the entire house into his own."

Dumbledore, seeing how agitated Snape was, responded calmly, "Severus, calm down. He's just a child."

"Voldemort was also just a child once!" Snape retorted, emphasizing every word, even going so far as to say the Dark Lord's name.

He was deeply concerned about John Wick.

A sneer spread across Snape's face as he continued in his usual sarcastic drawl, "Don't tell me you haven't noticed what he's been up to. In his first year, he was already dabbling in Dark Magic. He's cunning, ambitious, and even Draco Malfoy now bows to him."

"Dumbledore, we both know what this could mean. The heir of Slytherin—how do you know it's not him?"

"Severus!"

Dumbledore's expression became stern, causing Snape to calm down slightly.

"That's a very serious accusation, you know."

Dumbledore's wise eyes gazed towards the Sword of Gryffindor as he softly spoke, "I believe John Wick will not become that person. He's different—he has family, friends, and... love."

Snape, now fully composed, stared coldly at Dumbledore, his voice returning to its usual tone.

"I hope you're right. We won't have another Dumbledore in the future after all."

With that, he left, leaving Dumbledore alone in thought.

Voldemort was a painful subject for Snape, as he had taken the life of Snape's beloved.

Dumbledore was fully aware of this, and he also understood that when Voldemort was in his second year, he was far less exceptional than John. The people around John were drawn to him because of his power—not because of his bloodline, but because of his strength.

In this regard, John was much like another person from the past.

Dumbledore looked at the Sword of Gryffindor and sighed, "I hope it's you, John."

He recalled the time the Chamber of Gryffindor had been opened. If it weren't for Harry, Dumbledore couldn't think of anyone more exceptional than John. If it was John, then he wouldn't become the next Voldemort.

Snape was right—there isn't another Dumbledore in the magical world. They couldn't afford a third Dark Lord.

...

John was unaware that because of him, Snape and Dumbledore had a heated argument. He was currently opening an envelope delivered by an owl.

The letter was from Durmstrang.

The owl looked utterly exhausted after delivering the letter. The envelope showed that it was sent from Durmstrang but the family seal on the envelope was one John had never seen before—a bat holding a sword.

Inside, there was a letter and an object that looked like a scale.

"A dragon scale?"

Opening the letter, John saw a line of elegant handwriting.

"I've come to find you."

"Why does this feel like a threat?"

John fell into thought. Could it be a prank by the Weasley twins?

He noticed the sender's name: Heidrich Edgar.

This name instantly took him back to that day during the summer holiday when he and Fleur had fallen into the forest. The Durmstrang student he had dueled with.

"Come to find me?"

Thinking it over, John realized he hadn't done anything to provoke the other person. So why send a threatening letter?

"Forget it, no point in dwelling on it."

Unable to figure it out, John decided not to worry about it and headed to the Secret Chamber of Gryffindor.

He held a new piece of parchment in his hand, intending to try replicating the Marauder's Map. This was a student-made item, so theoretically, the level of alchemy involved should have its limits.

Level 3 alchemy should be just enough to accomplish it.

Replicating the map wasn't the main goal—John was more interested in studying the tracking spells embedded within it. The map could mark anyone who entered Hogwarts, using a magic similar to tracing charms.

John had previously extracted tracing spells, so he had some understanding of them.

The four people who can combine the two and make a map are really geniuses.

In the Secret Chamber of Gryffindor, John first added an ingredient to the Felix Felicis.

The Felix Felicis is nearing the end, and it is estimated that it will be completed after the start of the next semester.

John is also preparing to enter the Slytherin Chamber at that time.

______

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