Chapter 381: John Awakes?

Harry heard Dumbledore's words.

Although he had been prepared, Harry still couldn't help but feel his heart jump.

Harry knew very well what a Horcrux meant.

If not destroyed, Voldemort could never be truly eliminated.

But now, the Horcrux is himself.

This means that to truly defeat Voldemort, one must first kill oneself......

Harry looked at John lying nearby, a flash of complex emotion crossing his eyes.

In an instant, a wave of negative emotions surged up in his heart.

Because he is still alive, everyone is helpless against Voldemort.

Because he is still alive, John repeatedly confronts Voldemort.

Because he is still alive, everyone must live under Voldemort's shadow.

Because he is still alive......

At this moment, Hermione suddenly stood up, blocking Harry's line of sight.

"Harry!"

"Clear your head!"

Although Hermione's voice still trembled, her tone was unusually firm.

"John and I have known this for a long time, but we have never regretted it."

"In order for you to follow your true heart, John even sought out Rita and Luna's father, constantly clearing your name as savior and your responsibility in the media, so that you could truly freely choose your own path."

"Don't choose a path you don't want to walk out of guilt or so-called duty, betraying John's sincere intentions."

Hearing this, Harry was stunned, his eyes slightly red.

Hermione's words gave him a jolt; he had indeed just been thinking that if he died, everything would end.

But Hermione's words were like a bucket of cold water waking him up—John had done so much for him, not to let him easily give up his life.

"But...... but..."

Harry still wanted to say something, but Dumbledore's hand lightly rested on his shoulder.

Dumbledore's voice was calm and strong: "Harry, a Horcrux does not mean you must die."

"I have already paved the way for you."

"You can choose for yourself; no matter what you choose, we will support you."

"This is also John's meaning."

"John does not want you to become a sacrifice of victory, but hopes you can follow your true heart."

Afterwards, Dumbledore led Harry toward the Meditation Basin, that silvery-white light appearing especially soft in the darkness.

"Go in and take a look."

Harry hesitated a moment, then still put his head into the Meditation Basin.

The scene before his eyes blurred like ink.

This is Dumbledore's memory, not just one segment.

There were fragments of them discussing with Grindelwald how to break the Horcrux, there were their two-handed preparations for Harry, and there was John's figure.

John frankly said to leave Harry this Horcrux, directly kill Voldemort, and afterwards he would guard to prevent Voldemort from resurrecting.

Obviously it could be done once and for all.

But he insisted on choosing the most troublesome way, solely to preserve Harry's life.

After viewing everything, Harry finally withdrew from the Meditation Basin.

His gaze became more determined.

But before he could speak, Dumbledore quickly pressed his hand on his shoulder.

"Don't rush to decide."

"Wait until John wakes up, then we'll talk; you can think slowly."

Harry took a deep breath, did not refuse, and nodded.

Not wavering, but wanting to tell John his decision in person.

Yesterday, those rushing to Xiao Hange Dun were not just their people.

There was also a group of reporters.

They all saw the charred corpse held in Dumbledore's arms.

Although they did not get Dumbledore's personal confirmation, they still inferred from clues.

That corpse was the recently prominent genius teenager, John Merick.

Thus, the next morning, the front pages of major newspapers all published the same headline.

【Genius Fallen—John Merick Possibly Met with Disaster】

The overwhelming coverage swept across the entire magical world.

Under the headline of the Daily Prophet, a blurry photo was paired—Dumbledore holding the charred figure.

The moment Titus and them saw the newspaper, they all froze.

Because they were not at the scene, they had no idea what had happened to John or his condition.

After seeing the report, they immediately contacted John like the wind.

But no matter how many letters they wrote or most phone calls, they sank like stones into the sea.

Titus went to ask his father; their family were also members of the Order of the Phoenix.

However, Titus's father this time also did not know the specific situation.

Because John's news was completely blocked.

Before he woke up, Dumbledore made everyone present yesterday keep strict secrecy.

To prevent anyone from taking advantage, and also to prevent Voldemort from exploiting the situation to cause trouble.

Finally, on the evening of the third day.

Headmaster's Office.

Good news came one after another.

"Hagrid has returned; he brought a pair of unicorn couple and their child, a family of three, to the edge of the Forbidden Forest."

Professor Maige pushed open the office door, speaking with a delighted expression.

Professor Snape strode in holding a bottle of shimmering emerald magic potion.

"The restorative potion is also completed."

Professor Flitwick also poked his head from behind.

"The ritual is ready, Albus; we can start anytime."

Dumbledore rose from his chair, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally settling on John.

"Alright, let's begin the ritual now."

Afterwards, they carefully moved John's body to the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

A magic circle had already been set up here.

The center of the magic circle was a platform; they placed John's body on the platform.

Then they signaled Hagrid to begin.

Hagrid, slightly nervous yet solemn, walked up to the unicorn couple.

He gestured something at them, and the unicorn couple seemed to understand his meaning.

The unicorn couple glanced at each other, then, accompanied by their child—a little smaller than they—slowly approached the edge of the platform, beside John's body.

The three unicorns occasionally let out low cries, as if discussing something.

After a moment, the unicorn couple stepped back one step.

Seeing this, everyone felt a moment of disappointment, thinking the unicorns were unwilling to give their blood.

However, that unicorn, a little smaller than them, did not retreat; instead, it circled John's body twice.

It let out a low cry toward its parents, as if requesting something.

The unicorn couple hesitated a moment, then finally nodded slowly.

Having received permission, the little unicorn lowered its head, lightly touching its horn to John's chest.

Its pure, flawless horn shimmered with silver-white light in the moonlight.

The light flowed along the horn, turning into a silver stream that seeped into John's shattered chest.

John's body began to faintly glow, silver-white light spreading from his chest to his limbs.

Seeing this, Professor Snape immediately stepped forward, carefully dripping the restorative potion onto John's body.

The potion merged with the silver light, forming a flowing light membrane on John's body surface.

Lastly, Dumbledore came forward holding a floating magic stone before John.

(He) muttered some ancient incantation under his breath, and the magic stone's light grew brighter.

Afterwards he suspended the magic stone above John's forehead.

The magic stone emitted a soft colored light, enveloping John's entire body, intertwining with the silver light and the potion.

Everyone held their breath, watching this scene.

Dumbledore's hands hovered above John's forehead, and the magic stone's light became even more brilliant.

The magic circle beneath their feet also began to light up.

John's body began to slowly rise, hovering in midair.

The cracks in his flesh gradually healed in the light; silver-white and colored light streams intertwined like countless tiny threads stitching the torn fabric.

Boom—

A muffled heartbeat sound came from John's chest, shaking everyone's hearts.

Then came the second, third—

Hermione covered her mouth, weeping with joy.

As the light faded, John's body slowly descended back onto the platform.

Everyone stared intently at John.

Until.

John's eyelashes twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes.

Those were a pair of clear eyes.

And they seemed somewhat different from John's.