On the morning of February 14th, Jon took extra care in dressing himself up.
After leaving the dormitory, he learned that Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle wouldn't be going to Hogsmeade. They had Quidditch training to attend—as Seeker and Beaters. Ever since several Gryffindor players had been suspended, Slytherin had never been closer to winning the Quidditch Cup.
Jon headed to the Great Hall alone. After grabbing a quick bite, he signed out at the entrance with Filch.
Because of Mr. Patrick's close relationship with Professor Umbridge, Filch was rather courteous and didn't trouble him at all.
After a very easy inspection, Jon set off down the path to Hogsmeade.
...
The weather was pleasant today—at least much warmer than it had been lately.
Hogsmeade's streets were full of students: some strolling along, some browsing shop windows, and others gathered in lively groups. With Umbridge's oppressive rule back at school, it was rare for them to feel this free.
At the sight of Christopher Patrick, students instinctively moved aside to give him space.
It seemed Mr. Patrick's image as Umbridge's "lapdog" had become deeply rooted in everyone's mind.
Passing by Devis & Bans, a shop that repaired magical equipment, Jon noticed a large poster displayed in the window, attracting a crowd of locals and Hogwarts students.
Curious, he stepped closer… and two third-year Gryffindors immediately scrambled away from him.
Inside the window, Jon found himself once again staring at the ten photographs of the escaped Death Eaters. According to the wanted notice issued by the Auror Office, anyone who provided information leading to the capture of any fugitive would receive a reward of one thousand Galleons.
"So stingy!" Jon muttered. "Back when Black escaped, the reward was five thousand!"
And back then, Hogsmeade had been crawling with Dementors sent by the Ministry to catch him. Now ten Death Eaters were loose, and yet there wasn't a single Dementor around…
It appeared even the Ministry had realized the Dementors had abandoned them.
...
Jon continued down the road and soon arrived at the entrance of the Three Broomsticks.
Through the windows, he spotted several familiar figures—Rubeus Hagrid sitting alone in a corner with a wooden-barrel-sized mug, drowning his sorrows; Hermione Granger at a table across the room, accompanied by two unlikely companions: Luna Lovegood and Rita Skeeter.
When Jon entered, Hermione glanced at him briefly before leaning in to continue her conversation with Luna.
Jon ignored them and walked straight toward Madam Rosmerta.
"Oh, Mr. Patrick!" Madam Rosmerta greeted him with a warm, slightly flirtatious smile. She lowered her voice. "Your companions are still in the cellar, but you're the early one today."
"Thanks." Jon ordered a Butterbeer and headed down to the cellar with practiced ease.
Just as Madam Rosmerta had said, they were still inside—only two people were there: Pansy Parkinson and Tiffany Selwyny.
They were whispering about something, but their conversation cut off the moment Jon entered.
"Marietta Edgecombe should be here any minute," Selwyn said confidently. "If she dares not show up… I'll write to my father and have him dismiss her mother from the Floo Network Authority!"
"And what if she tricks us?" Pansy suddenly asked. "What if she lies… or only tells us part of the truth?"
Selwyn frowned at that.
At that moment, Jon reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial filled with clear liquid.
Under the astonished gazes of Pansy Parkinson and Tiffany Selwyn, he uncorked the vial and dripped three drops into the Butterbeer he had brought.
"Christopher… what is that?" Pansy asked, surprised.
"Veritaserum," Jon replied calmly. "Three drops are enough to make the drinker reveal every secret in their heart."
The two Slytherin girls exchanged shocked looks.
"I heard… this is an extremely advanced potion," Selwyn whispered. "Rare… and tightly controlled by the Ministry."
"Christopher, did you brew this?" Pansy asked, disbelief written all over her face.
"Impossible!" Selwyn cut in. "Christopher's Potions marks aren't that impressive—that's practically his only weakness!"
"I obtained it by chance at Durmstrang," Jon explained. "And I suggest you don't mention it to anyone—especially Professor Umbridge. This stuff is valuable, and I don't intend for her to use it on meaningless targets."
"Of course!" Pansy Parkinson and Tiffany Selwyn nodded eagerly.
...
The D.A. members began to arrive one by one. Jon sat at the innermost seat, deep in thought.
In the original storyline, Marietta Edgecombe would be forced by these future Death Eater sympathizers to reveal everything she knew about the other D.A.
However, the parchment she'd signed had been enchanted by Hermione Granger. The spell caused thick clusters of purple pustules to appear across her face, forming the word "SNITCH."
By her fifth year, Hermione's skill in Charms had already become remarkable. Her enchantment was masterful. In Jon's memory, even twenty years later, Miss Edgecombe's purple pustules still hadn't fully faded—only barely concealed with makeup.
For a young woman, such a lifelong scar was nothing short of torment.
Strictly speaking, Hermione wasn't wrong. Signing a magical contract and then betraying it meant accepting the consequences.
But Jon felt that condemning a girl to permanent disfigurement for one mistake was far too cruel.
If it were Dumbledore, he would've been more forgiving—he would have given Marietta Edgecombe a second chance.
That was why Jon had brought Veritaserum. Speaking the truth under its influence didn't violate the contract, and it meant she wouldn't break out in the purple pustules.
...
As he thought about it, Jon couldn't help but smile.
When had he started thinking like Dumbledore?
What was this—learning by osmosis?