16: The Forbidden Forest
A moment later, Professor McGonagall arrived.
"What's with that noise—!"
"What on earth are you all doing here?!"
Harry swore that he had never seen Professor McGonagall so angry.
Her lips were pale, and even the usually serious Professor McGonagall's face flashed with surprise and relief, but more of it was anger.
Turning her gaze to the trio who dared not lift their heads, her voice was laced with icy anger. "Why didn't you stay in your dormitory as you were supposed to?"
The trio felt wronged, especially Ron, who still thought of himself as a hero, believing he had brought at least 50 points to Gryffindor. However, Professor McGonagall's expression told him that they would be lucky if they didn't lose any points today.
Standing up for her friends, Hermione boldly stepped forward. "Please don't be like this, Professor McGonagall. They were looking for me."
Meeting Professor McGonagall's eyes, Hermione lied to a teacher for the first time. "I came looking for the troll because I thought I could handle it alone. You know, I've read a lot about them in books and felt I knew them well."
"If they hadn't found me, I would have been dead by now. They didn't have time to get help. When they arrived, the troll was about to eat me. John lured the troll away, and Harry and Ron saved me."
Hermione's actions surprised Harry and Ron, warming their hearts. No one dislikes a friend who is willing to take the blame. Even Ron, who had issues with Hermione, let go of his grievances.
Professor McGonagall was moved by Hermione's willingness to take the blame for her friends. Friendship is one of Gryffindor's most noble qualities. However, the ever-knowledgeable Hermione seemed to forget one crucial thing. Despite her efforts to concoct a story and bear all the responsibility, Professor McGonagall was no fool.
"Are you saying... John Wick killed the troll?"
Looking around at the chaotic scene, including the troll's severed fingers, the blood splattered on the walls, and the sword embedded in the ceiling, even Professor McGonagall was stunned.
She didn't believe for a second that the young wizards were capable of such a feat, especially not this trio from Gryffindor.
Turning her attention to John, who was pretending to be a dead fish, Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together in a severe line. "Mr. Wick, do you have anything to say?"
"Um, well, Professor McGonagall, there are reasons for all this... Alright, it was me," John admitted, bracing himself to explain. However, under Professor McGonagall's death glare, he decided it was best to be straightforward.
"My goodness, I can't believe a wizard as young as you killed a troll," Professor McGonagall said, her disbelief evident. Even an adult wizard would find it difficult to defeat a troll without special methods. Yet here was John, a first-year, who had slain one. It was simply beyond belief.
"Alright, because of this incident, Gryffindor will lose 5 points, Miss Granger. I am disappointed in you. If you're not injured, you should return to Gryffindor Tower immediately. The students are enjoying the Halloween feast in their common rooms."
Hermione left with her head hanging in dejection.
Harry and Ron remained, tense and nervous. However, Professor McGonagall did not blame them. Instead, she awarded them each 5 points for their bravery in fighting the troll to help their friend.
Both of them felt undeserving of the points, knowing it was John who had truly dealt with the troll while they had only helped get Hermione to safety.
They were sent back to Gryffindor Tower, leaving John alone.
As the head of Gryffindor House, Professor McGonagall decided to wait for Snape to handle the situation.
Soon after, Professors Snape and Quirrell arrived, both stunned by the news. Quirrell, in particular, was shaken; he had been the one to release and capture the troll, fully aware of its strength. To think that a first-year student had managed to defeat such a powerful creature was unfathomable.
The troll was now dead, and in a particularly gruesome manner.
This led Quirrell to focus more intently on John. This student had performed admirably in class, but to deal with a troll was another level entirely.
The Voldemort residing in Quirrell's head also took interest. Such an exceptional young wizard might make a suitable Death Eater.
"Mr. Wick, it seems you have always considered yourself quite capable," Professor Snape said in his usual snide tone, reassessing his view of John.
When it came to awarding points to Slytherin, Snape never hesitated. John was given 20 points, a far more generous award than Professor McGonagall's.
"Because of your recklessness, Mr. Wick, you will spend some time in the Forbidden Forest this school year," Snape continued.
Just as John was beginning to think Snape was being unusually humane, hearing this made his face fall.
Before learning that Quirrell often went into the Forbidden Forest, John would have welcomed the punishment. Night strolls were enjoyable regardless of location. But with a Dark Lord potentially lurking around, he wasn't thrilled about it.
Unfortunately, his reluctance didn't matter. Professor McGonagall still needed to inform Dumbledore, and John was sent back.
"First, punishment in the Trophy Room, and now the Forbidden Forest. What a mess," John muttered to himself. Despite his complaints, he didn't regret his actions. The increase in his attribute points alone made it worthwhile.
He decided not to use the skill/attribute points he got from the system immediately but to save them for when he reached a bottleneck.
"Should I learn Fiendfyre or start with Occlumency?" he wondered.
Given the importance of Legilimency, John decided to prioritize learning Occlumency first.
He definitely didn't want to be read like an open book by an old bat or a noseless guy.
...
November 1st.
The story of a first-year student killing a troll spread quickly.
John became even more prominent within Slytherin. Even Malfoy couldn't resist coming over to inquire, "Did you really kill a troll?"
Elegantly eating his bread with nothing but water, John had no desire to see milk or tomato juice for a while, and he believed Harry and the others felt the same. After all, that 'delicious' scene of bloody brain matter was still vivid.
Glancing at the unusually talkative Malfoy, John replied coolly, "Do you really want to know? I can give you a detailed description."
Malfoy, recalling Filch grumbling and cleaning the walls in the first-floor corridor, suddenly found the milk before him resembling something else entirely.
"No, thanks—ugh."
Clearly, Malfoy's young mind couldn't handle the graphic details.
After this incident, John's reputation in Slytherin grew even more formidable.
Even the older Slytherins didn't dare to act arrogantly in front of John.
John, feeling annoyed, changed his seat. As soon as he sat down, the trio approached him.
"John, there's a Quidditch match tomorrow. Will you come to watch?"
The trio had reconciled, and John had gained the friendship of Harry and Ron. Especially Harry, who recalled hearing John's name before—Dudley, who always bullied him, was most afraid of John Wick.
"Quidditch? I think I'll go, but I need to make my position clear first: I'll be cheering for Slytherin."
Naturally, John had no reason not to attend. Harry and Ron gave awkward smiles, almost forgetting that John was in Slytherin. It seemed there was no hope of getting him to cheer for Gryffindor.
Hermione, on the other hand, was more concerned about John's punishment. She worriedly said, "The Forbidden Forest has werewolves in it. I can't believe the school would send a first-year student to patrol there."
She was quite angry about this; John had saved her and yet was being punished.
Harry also felt even more dislike for Snape, especially after he went to retrieve "Quidditch Through the Ages" and found out that Snape had been bitten while visiting the third floor.
Today, Slytherin and Gryffindor didn't share a classroom.
After class, when John was about to leave, Malfoy couldn't resist asking, "Wick, will you come and cheer for Slytherin at the Quidditch match tomorrow?"
To Malfoy, John seemed almost like a Gryffindor, and he worried that John might cheer for Gryffindor instead.
John smiled at Malfoy's words and said, "Of course, for eternal glory."
Malfoy was taken aback and mumbled to himself, "For eternal glory..."
This statement made Malfoy change his view of John. Perhaps this person could indeed be considered a Slytherin. Slytherins always pursued glory.
...
That evening, John followed Hagrid with a lantern in hand.
Hagrid's massive frame provided a comforting sense of safety, especially with the gleaming crossbow he carried.
John was certain that a hit from that would be quite unpleasant.
Shortly after they entered the Forbidden Forest, they heard a mournful cry.
Hagrid's expression changed, "That's a unicorn's cry."
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