[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hogwarts-john-wick":3,"chapter-hogwarts-john-wick-hogwarts-john-wick-chapter-303":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Hogwarts’ John Wick",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1645887,2109,"Chapter 303 303: 303: Talent and Hard Work","hogwarts-john-wick-chapter-303",303,"\u003Cp>By the Black Lake, Neville and Malfoy were, for once, NOT training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them sat watching the sun slowly sink below the horizon, staring at each other in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"About John, do you think he might have…\" Malfoy hesitated, wanting to voice something ominous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville fell silent for a moment after hearing him, then said, \"He won't. You will.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of crap is that?!\" Malfoy exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville looked up over Malfoy's shoulder, confirming once more. \"You really will.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malfoy felt a chill creeping up behind him and swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning his head, he saw Daphne's pretty face frosted over with cold fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malfoy gave a tragic little smile, stood up bravely, and said, \"Today, though I die, I still remain Manly—ow!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish, he was hoisted upside down into a tree with a surprised yelp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bloody hell! Daphne!\" he yelped, flailing slightly. \"This is abuse! I could sue in Wizengamot!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're welcome to try.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daphne said coolly, arms folded as she turned her back on him and walked to the lakeside, heels crunching on the gravel, waiting for John to emerge. \"But I have all the blackmail material such as some moving pictures of you whining and talking shit about John while he trained you to death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pfft—!\" Neville snorted into his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ok, but this isn't justified! I-I demand to be released!\" Draco cried. \"My pants are custom-tailored! And I'm getting dizzy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You were dizzy long before I put you in the tree,\" Daphne said without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the directions of the young couple, John arrived at a place that resembled a mermaid village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Lake was vast, and beneath it lay many ruins that resembled ancient relics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John suspected that this area may not have originally been a lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking through the ruins, John finally saw the giant squid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, only its tentacles could be seen—very few had ever seen it in its entirety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The squid, even larger than a dragon, was sprawled atop a heap of collapsed ruins. Its tentacles drifted gently with the current as it slept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, John had the sudden impulse to go up and draw some blood with a needle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they were underwater, and if the squid went berserk, he probably wouldn't last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting closer, John used mental magic to try to communicate with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he touched a tentacle, countless images flashed before his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face turned pale, and he let out a muffled grunt, a bubble escaping his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant squid woke up, thinking John was a drowning student. One tentacle wrapped around him and started to lift him toward the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John quickly jabbed the tentacle with his wand, making the squid pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its movements halted, and its two large eyes seemed filled with confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John stopped trying to peer into its thoughts and instead used mental magic to speak directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Put me down, big guy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The squid slowly set John down, wiggling its tentacles to turn and face him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was remembering—could Hogwarts be hosting the Triwizard Tournament again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, why would there be a student underwater?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big guy, I'm John Wick, a student from Slytherin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant squid could recognize that he was from Slytherin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John tried to communicate with it, but the squid was too ancient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several attempts, John had no choice but to stop trying for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having exhaled half a breath earlier, he was starting to feel the pressure, so he asked the squid to bring him back up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aaah! What the hell!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get back, Daphne!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh! That's John!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When John was lifted to the surface by a massive tentacle, the three people on shore let out startled cries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You guys are still here?\" John asked, blinking water out of his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daphne, watching the tentacle quickly submerge again, asked worriedly, \"Are you alright?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evaporating the water from his body, John waved his hand. \"I'm fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draco flailed wildly. \"Is no one going to talk about me hanging upside down like magical laundry!!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Malfoy hanging upside down, John's expression turned a little odd. \"Umm.. Nice view up there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just peachy,\" Draco grumbled. \"The blood is rushing to my head, my wand is stuck in my sleeve, and if I see one more squirrel giggling at me, I swear I'll hex the entire forest!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville pointed. \"That one just winked at you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But what were you doing there? And why were you looking for that Squid?\" Daphne asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fixing his hair, John replied, \"I was just having a talk with the giant squid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can talk to a squid?\" Malfoy asked, head still hanging down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Strictly speaking, I was the one doing the talking. That squid's been alive for over a thousand years—it's hard to really communicate with it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John felt a bit regretful—he had wanted to negotiate with the giant squid for some of its blood, but unfortunately, the squid didn't seem to understand him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only plan to come back and try communicating again later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked Daphne to let Malfoy down, then returned to the castle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Quidditch matches once again brought a lively atmosphere back to Hogwarts. Umbridge was still as disturbingly effective as ever, but even she couldn't quench their passion for Quidditch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since John had threatened her, Umbridge hadn't dared to cause trouble again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was genuinely afraid that John might rally other Slytherin students to file a formal complaint with the Ministry of Magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was one thing Slytherin students excelled at, it was connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her restraint, however, was limited to Slytherin. The other houses weren't so lucky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every few days, Umbridge would crack down again. Not just the students—even the heads of house were full of complaints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under such circumstances, Slytherin's Quidditch training naturally went much more smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since founding [Dumbledore's Army], Harry felt like he had a warm secret tucked close to his heart, like a protective charm. It supported him through life under Umbridge's oppressive regime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could even look at Umbridge's terrifying toad-like eyes and manage a gentle smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly, trying times create heroes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leading the oppressed through hardship always fosters growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was one troubling issue—they couldn't fix a single training time that worked for all the students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Quidditch practice schedules of the three houses made it hard to gather everyone together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Hermione always came to the rescue when her \"sons\" needed help. She created a magical silver coin that looked just like a Galleon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It functioned similarly to the Dark Mark—but not carved into the arm, thankfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By changing the numbers on the coin, they could effectively notify all the students of training sessions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How come I didn't know you could do that?\" Ron exclaimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione said smugly, \"There are plenty of things you don't know I can do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry was thrilled. Now they could quickly inform everyone of the special training times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only concern was accidentally spending the fake Galleon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To that, Ron sadly assured them there was no need to worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because aside from the fake Galleon, he didn't have any real ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poverty kept him safe from mistakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How fortunate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first Quidditch match of the season: Gryffindor vs. Slytherin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two long-time rival teams both had lineup changes this year, as both of their captains had graduated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor McGonagall, always a devoted fan of Quidditch and one who took the game very seriously, showed her support once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A week before the match, she exempted the Gryffindor Quidditch team from homework so they could have more time to train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Slytherin wasn't about to back down. Snape had long since reserved the pitch for Slytherin's practice sessions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the often-criticized Head of Slytherin House, Snape fully embodied the house's strategic cunning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John went to check on Malfoy, who was training tirelessly in the wind, rain, and mud despite the match still being a week away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Montague, unable to bear watching any longer, rushed over and grabbed Malfoy, who was about to mount his Firebolt again. He shouted, \"Draco, that's enough! You've trained plenty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let go of me,\" Malfoy said stubbornly, pushing Montague away. He jumped on his Firebolt and shouted, \"I need more training if I want to keep up with Potter! If you're tired, go ahead and leave. I'm going to practice a bit longer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Montague opened his mouth, but in the end only muttered, \"You've already worked so hard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not enough. It's not nearly enough,\" Malfoy roared. \"Do you have any idea how fast Harry Potter flies? He's been a Seeker since first year—do you know what kind of talent that takes?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it came to Quidditch talent at Hogwarts, there was no doubt—Harry Potter was number one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since his very first year, his flying skills had caught Professor McGonagall's eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Harry's first time ever touching a broomstick!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Malfoy? He had been flying since he was a child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had several more years of experience than Harry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, what was the result?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In first year, he couldn't even make it onto the team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In second year, he watched helplessly as Harry snatched the Golden Snitch right in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In third year, once again, the Snitch slipped from his grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where had he lost?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with a better broom, he still couldn't beat that Harry fucking Potter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malfoy knew—he had lost because of talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That slight edge in talent had defeated him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the same amount of training time, Harry's progress was several times his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, he had to put in double, ten times, a hundred times the effort to make up for that gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood of Slytherin was etched into his very body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to win!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malfoy had just taken a fall from his Firebolt, his head still dizzy and foggy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Golden Snitch appeared before him, but in Malfoy's eyes, there were several Snitches darting around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head and urged his Firebolt forward at high speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh..\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His vision went black, and his hands slipped from the broom—his whole body plummeting rapidly from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the other team members reacted, it was already too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to hit the ground, his body abruptly halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rainwater had condensed into a cushiony bed, catching him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John walked past Montague and said, \"Call it for today. Make sure you're in your best condition before the match.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haah! Thanks a lot, John!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Montague snapped out of it, exhaled in relief upon seeing John, and quickly issued the dismissal order to the rest of the team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Malfoy, battered and bruised from overtraining, John led him off in another direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Read 12 Chapters ahead: Patreon\u002FDragonel\u003C\u002Fp>",1803,"2026-06-06T11:45:53.361Z",1,"novelbin.me","62db8eef3281dc96de8706229d837250a90da3278c1d179c26b0950e4f22b3cb","hogwarts-john-wick-chapter-304","hogwarts-john-wick-chapter-302",577,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhogwarts-john-wick-cover.jpg"]