I Swung a Sword at Hogwarts

"Neville's music box finally came in handy."

The music box rotated, playing a gentle melody. It was a Christmas gift from Neville to John.

After learning that Fluffy liked music, John made a trip back to the dormitory specifically to get it.

"Accio music box."

After entering through the trapdoor, John summoned the music box with a Summoning Charm.

This was a gift from Neville—John definitely didn't want Fluffy to smash it if he woke up.

[Ding! Challenge mission triggered: Clear the chamber with the Philosopher's Stone. Reward: 2 free points; Buff: Knight's Blessing]

As he stepped into the room, John triggered a new challenge mission.

Falling freely through the trapdoor, John saw squirming, tentacle-like things below.

"Reducto!"

A white flash pierced through the tendrils. Just before landing, John cast a Levitation Charm on himself.

He landed softly and looked up.

The shattered tendrils writhed and sealed the opening again. Upon closer inspection, John recognized the plant as Devil's Snare.

"Is this to cushion falls?"

Touching his chin, John figured only someone as kind as Professor Sprout would set up such a mechanism.

She probably never expected someone to use such a violent way to pass it. Devil's Snare liked damp and dark places.

Beneath it was a stone corridor—the only way forward.

As he walked down the corridor for a while, John began to hear fluttering and clinking noises.

It sounded like a swarm of insects beating their wings.

At the end of the corridor was a brightly lit room with a high arched ceiling. Countless shimmering, gem-like little birds fluttered their wings as they flew around the room.

They were flying keys with wings.

On the other end of the room stood a heavy wooden door with a keyhole.

John thoughtfully glanced at the broomstick nearby and said, "This challenge must be about catching the matching key."

Looking at the swarm of keys, John figured that by the time he found the right one, Harry would probably be long gone.

So—time for a different approach.

John took down the greatsword from his back and walked up to the wooden door. He tried Alohomora, but it didn't work.

"In that case, I'll just break it open."

Gripping the sword with both hands, he brought it down on the wooden door.

The sword was already quite heavy. With his greatsword mastery skill, each swing sent wood chips flying.

By the tenth strike, the wooden door finally gave way and collapsed.

Hoisting the sword onto his shoulder, John stepped through.

The second room was pitch black. John blinked several times, disoriented from the sudden shift from light to dark.

As he stepped further in, lights gradually brightened the entire room.

It was a gigantic chessboard.

John stood at the edge and observed the setup. The chess pieces were black and white, styled like wizard's chess. A wooden door stood behind the white side.

"Ron?"

John noticed a red-haired figure lying just outside the chessboard.

His heart sank. Something must've happened.

He called out several times but got no response. John tried walking over.

The white chess pieces drew their weapons and blocked his path. John's face turned cold as he said, "Move aside or I'll smash you to bits."

The white pieces refused to budge, so John didn't hold back. Wand in hand, he attacked.

"Reducto!"

The front pawn shattered under the white flash. That stirred up the hornet's nest.

The white pieces mobilized at once. John cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, vanishing from their sight.

The white pieces were on high alert but confused. Sparks flew as John's greatsword smashed into another piece.

Wand in his left hand, greatsword in his right, John blended into the shadows, systematically destroying the white pieces.

When the shattered pieces started reassembling, John frowned. That level of Transfiguration—likely set by Professor McGonagall.

"Trying to recover? Let's see you reassemble this."

He waved his wand, sending all shattered pieces floating into a messy pile.

Then he locked eyes on the White King—the apparent core.

Leaping high, John twisted his waist and brought the blade down with all his strength, cleaving the White King clean in half.

The white pieces fell still. John glanced at his now-dented greatsword and frowned.

"This sword still isn't good enough."

With the chess pieces dealt with, he reached Ron's side.

He shook him gently until Ron finally came to.

"Ron, are you okay?"

Ron was dazed. He remembered sacrificing himself so Harry could take down the White King—then everything went blank.

Hearing a voice, he opened his eyes to see… nothing.

Startled, he screamed.

"It's me, Ron. You're okay."

John dispelled the Disillusionment Charm and reassured him.

"I'm fine, just a bit dizzy… John? What are you doing here?"

Realizing something felt off, Ron stared at him, wide-eyed.

John shrugged casually. "Hagrid was worried about you guys, so he sent me to check."

Fair enough—that reason would pass.

Still dizzy, Ron stood up and nearly fell again.

Just as John was considering whether to send Ron back, Hermione came through another door.

"Ron!"

Hermione called out urgently, spotting John standing beside Ron. She froze for a second.

"Hermione, where's Harry?"

"He's gone on to the final room. The potion for the fifth challenge has already been used."

With no antidote left, Hermione couldn't do much even if she was worried. She could only head back and try to find Dumbledore.

"The flames…" John instinctively patted the pocket where he kept several potions.

What a coincidence.

He happened to have a fire-resistance potion—something he found in Advanced Potion-Making, made using dragon blood.

Just one vial—exactly enough to pass.

"You two stick to the plan and get out. I'll go help Harry."

Without waiting for Hermione's shocked reaction, John stepped through the door behind the white chess pieces.

As soon as he entered, a terrible stench hit his nose.

Too familiar. He'd smelled this before—on a certain big guy he once defeated.

Only this time, the smell was even more intense—his eyes were watering.

Through his teary vision, he saw a massive troll lying on the floor.

Even larger than the last one. The troll's head bore a massive lump—he'd been unconscious for a while.

Just when John thought he could skip the fight, the troll inconveniently opened his eyes.

[Ding! Subdue the second troll. Reward: 1 free point; Buff: Troll Slayer]

[Troll Slayer: Greatly increased damage against large creatures; heightened fear effect on such creatures]

Another mission triggered. John narrowed his eyes.

The massive troll began to stir. John cast another Disillusionment Charm.

Before the troll fully woke, he had moved behind it.

The lump on its head clearly marked its weak point.

John aimed at the head and cast a full-power Reducto.

The poor troll had just sat up before being blasted back again. This time was worse—a massive hole opened in its skull, and blood began to pour.

It quickly formed a small stream across the ground.

The system pinged mission completion. Even Dumbledore probably hadn't imagined such a brutal way of clearing the puzzles.

At the final door, John reached out and pushed it open.

Purple flames blocked the path ahead. He took out the fire-resistance potion, ready to drink it.

Then he paused, eyes going distant as he summoned his status panel.

[Magic Level: 3 (105/1500)]

[Spells: Alohomora (Lv. 3), Levitation (Lv. 4), Transfiguration (Lv. 2), Disillusionment (Lv. 3), Lumos (Lv. 2), Incendio (Lv. 3), Reducto (Lv. 3), Fiendfyre (Lv. 2)…]

[Skills: Short Weapon Mastery (Lv. 7), Greatsword Mastery (Lv. 4), Firearm Mastery (Lv. 1), Runes Mastery (Lv. 1), Alchemy Mastery (Lv. 1)]

[Buffs: Enhanced Physique, Quick Strike, Precision, Scholar, Pilot, Long Distance Runner, Sword Dance, Night Demon, Troll Slayer]

"Last time my Disillusionment Charm failed in front of Dumbledore. I shouldn't take any chances now."

With his decision made, John added his newly earned free point into Disillusionment.

The number flickered—and it rose to Level 4.