Since October began, Professor Sybill Trelawney had grown increasingly thin. Her odd face and eccentric clothes now made her look almost spectral.
Her Divination classes were getting worse and worse... She often blurted out strange, hysterical remarks during lessons.
High Inquisitor Umbridge had become even more brazen, stopping just short of openly saying she intended to fire Professor Trelawney from Hogwarts. From the way she acted, it was clear she'd already decided to dismiss at least one person soon, just to make an example.
Most students could see it coming—Trelawney's dismissal by Umbridge was only a matter of time.
Especially with the rumors about Christopher Patrick's prophecy spreading across the school... It had been exaggerated to almost legendary proportions!
These days, Jon was already something of a "prophecy master" on campus. Over the past week, several girls had even approached him to ask what their future husbands would be like.
Jon didn't know whether to laugh or cry...
Still, the other professors hadn't been affected by Umbridge's presence.
Even Mad-Eye Moody remained the same. Aside from that one incident, Umbridge had never returned to the swampy area by the Quidditch Pitch—the place where Professor Moody conducted their Auror training.
It was as if nothing had happened.
...
Lately, Jon had been spending most of his time in the library.
Professor Dolores Umbridge was quite pleased to grant a library permit for the Restricted Section to a student like Christopher Patrick—someone who showed proper respect for both the Ministry of Magic and herself.
Although Madam Pince was strongly opposed, she had no authority to challenge the High Inquisitor.
Jon had spent days in the Restricted Section researching various materials... Unfortunately, after nearly two weeks, he still hadn't found anything useful.
One morning in late October, during breakfast, Jon sat absentmindedly at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall when—
"What are you thinking about?" Draco Malfoy suddenly sat down beside him, patting him on the shoulder.
Crabbe and Goyle took their usual spots on either side, keeping others from getting too close.
"Nothing!" Jon replied with a strained smile.
"You've got Defense Against the Dark Arts this morning, right?" Malfoy asked, looking slightly uneasy.
"Yeah..." Jon nodded.
Malfoy quietly slipped a rolled-up parchment into Jon's hand and whispered, "Take this to Moody... My father gave it to me. It's from the Dark Lord. Keep it safe and make sure no one finds out."
"Oh, really?" Jon's breathing quickened slightly, though he kept his tone casual. "Why don't you take it to him yourself?"
"Well..." Malfoy's expression soured as he explained, "Last year, Moody and I had a little... disagreement. I'd rather not see him again. If I were to mess up the Dark Lord's plan..."
It seemed that the ferret incident had left poor Draco Malfoy with quite the lasting trauma.
"Alright!" Jon subtly slipped the parchment into his pocket, then suddenly raised his voice. "Oh, Draco—so the Gryffindor versus Slytherin Quidditch match starts next Sunday, right? Got it!"
As he spoke, Jon shot Malfoy a meaningful look.
He had just noticed Ron Weasley from Gryffindor edging closer, clearly trying to eavesdrop.
"Yeah!" Malfoy caught on immediately and said loudly, "I promise you, I'll crush Gryffindor completely!"
...
Jon didn't attempt to open the parchment, even though he was just as curious about its contents.
But this was something from Voldemort... If there was a curse on it, opening it might trigger it. That would be disastrous!
That morning, his first class was Charms. He gave a flawless demonstration of the Banishing Charm before Professor Flitwick, earning high praise—and five points for Slytherin.
After Charms came Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Mad-Eye Moody's class was as exhausting as ever, but genuinely useful.
In less than two months, Jon and the others had learned a good deal of practical Auror experience from him.
Although a few of the Knights of Walpurgis members in the class scoffed at the lessons as pointless, Jon told them, "Learn the enemy's strengths to defeat the enemy!"
By the time the castle bell signaled the end of class, all the students were panting from exhaustion.
At Moody's order, both houses trudged off the Quidditch Pitch, worn out.
Jon, however, deliberately lingered at the back.
...
In truth, Jon could already guess what Voldemort's message contained.
It was likely a warning from his mole in the Ministry—telling him that Fudge's Aurors were preparing to move against Mad-Eye Moody (Barty Crouch Jr.), and that he needed to leave immediately.
If it weren't such an urgent matter, Lucius Malfoy wouldn't have risked involving his son.
This meant that unless Dumbledore and the Ministry completely broke ties, Moody would have to leave Hogwarts soon.
That left Jon in a difficult spot.
He'd been wanting to consult an expert on dark magic for some time... Mad-Eye Moody was obviously the right person, but Jon wasn't close enough to him to ask comfortably.
Now, though, he was running out of time.
Clutching the parchment in his pocket, Jon made his way toward Professor Alastor Moody, who was preparing to leave.
...
"Patrick?" Mad-Eye Moody frowned as he turned and spotted the lingering student. "Why aren't you heading back to the castle?"
"Sir, I wanted to ask you something," Jon said calmly.
"Then ask quickly, boy, ask quickly..." Moody waved impatiently.
"Sir, I wanted to know... do you understand blood curses?" Jon asked earnestly.
"Blood curses?" Alastor Moody's scarred face turned fully toward him, and in his rough, gravelly voice, he asked, "How much do you want to know?"
"Everything," Jon answered.