"I don't quite understand…" Astoria asked, clearly puzzled. "Jon, are you planning to ask someone for help?"
"Of course not."
Jon shook his head.
"Do you remember… a few months ago, I gave you a small vial of potion and told you to keep it on you at all times?"
"A potion that increases luck."
"Oh, right!" Astoria reacted immediately.
She slipped one hand into the inner pocket of her top and pulled out a crystal vial. Inside it swirled a golden liquid that lifted one's spirits at a glance.
"I've kept it safe the whole time. I didn't use a single drop," Astoria explained.
"I think… we need a bit of luck right now," Jon said solemnly. "And as for where we make the Horcrux… I think that should be decided by luck as well."
...
The vial contained Felix Felicis—brewed by Jon months earlier several months during his contest with Professor Horace Slughorn.
Felix Felicis was an extraordinarily peculiar potion, also known as "Liquid Luck." Drinking it granted a wizard a period of extraordinary good fortune.
However, if consumed in excessive amounts, it became highly toxic.
Not only would it fail to bring luck, it could instead cause severe negative consequences. Most wizards, depending on their constitution, could only safely drink it once or twice in their entire lives.
A vial this small was enough to provide twelve hours of good fortune. If Jon and Astoria shared it, that would be six hours of luck for each of them.
Six hours was certainly enough time to make a Horcrux.
Of course, as a potion, the so-called "luck" Felix Felicis provided wasn't some miraculous force. Rather, it greatly enhanced all aspects of a person's abilities—social skills, magical prowess, reaction speed, and especially intuition.
That was why everything seemed to go smoothly while under its effects. It wasn't omnipotent, and even with it, success could never be absolutely guaranteed.
Still, at a moment where life and death were on the line, Jon wasn't about to give up any chance to increase the odds.
Astoria nodded. Separated by the iron bars, Jon watched as she carefully opened the crystal vial.
The golden potion inside immediately began to bubble and churn. A deeply pleasant scent drifted out, and Jon felt a surge of vitality spread through his entire body.
"You go first," he said with a smile. "Don't drink it all. Remember to leave half for me."
Astoria hesitated. She nodded lightly, staring at the golden liquid in the vial as she unconsciously licked her lips.
Then, as if she had reached an important decision, she shook her head. Her small hand, still holding the crystal vial, passed through the iron bars and handed the completely full bottle straight to Jon.
"Hm?" Jon looked at her in confusion.
"It brings good luck… right?" Astoria bit her lip, then spoke with firm resolve. "Jon, have you ever thought about this… what if I drink it, and then that monster's soul happens to take over my body?"
"What if the effects of Felix Felicis end up bringing luck to the monster instead? What would we do then?"
Jon froze.
He hadn't considered that possibility at all. And thinking about it now, what Astoria said did seem entirely possible.
"So…" Astoria continued softly, "so you should drink all of it. If it brings you good luck, that's the same as bringing me good luck too, isn't it?"
...
Jon hesitated for a moment.
But Astoria's attitude was unyielding. She showed no sign of backing down.
In the end, Jon had no choice but to accept the full vial of Felix Felicis.
"Drink it," Astoria said with a smile.
Jon took a deep breath and nodded. He raised the small bottle, looked at the golden liquid inside, then tilted his head back and drained it completely in one go.
"How does it feel?" Astoria asked quietly.
Jon didn't answer right away.
Then, slowly but unmistakably, an overwhelming sense of exhilaration flowed through his body, as if limitless possibilities were opening up before him. He felt like he could do anything—absolutely anything.
"What should I do… what should I do… what should I do…" he repeated silently in his mind.
"Where should I go to give us the best chance of successfully making the Horcrux?"
At the same time, a voice slowly rose within his thoughts—his own voice. More precisely, his intuition.
Jon stood up with a smile, confidence radiating from him.
"Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Perfect…" He looked at Astoria. "I think we should go back to Hogwarts Castle."
"Hogwarts Castle?" Astoria blinked in surprise.
"Let's go now," Jon said without hesitation, abruptly opening the iron door of the "cell."
Astoria jumped in fright.
She scrambled backward, trying to avoid him, murmuring anxiously, "No… Jon… even if we go to Hogwarts, you should still lock me up, or tie me up… what if I hurt you…"
"It's fine," Jon said calmly, full of confidence. "Lady Luck is on my side today."
He reached out gently and caught Astoria's hand with perfect precision.
Holding her hand, Jon stepped out of the suitcase first.
Then the two of them strode straight out of the hotel.
...
"How are we supposed to get to Hogwarts…?" Astoria Greengrass asked softly, standing on the twilight street as the autumn wind brushed against her cheeks.
"Wait," Jon replied without hesitation.
Almost the moment his words fell, a loud whistle sounded in the distance.
A massive vehicle came roaring toward them at astonishing speed, then slammed on the brakes and screeched to a halt right beside Jon and Astoria.
It was a triple-decker bus. On its windshield, golden letters formed the words: "Knight Bus."
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, the emergency transport service for witches and wizards in trouble. Just stick out your wand and hop on, and we'll take you anywhere you want to go. My name's Stan Shunpike, and I'll be your conductor tonight—"
A familiar voice rang out as the doors swung open.
Compared to the last time Jon had heard it, though, the voice seemed to carry a little less energy.
"What should I call you?" Shunpike looked them over. "Sir, and the lovely young lady…"
"I'm Draco Malfoy!"
Jon answered loudly, cutting in before Astoria could speak.
"She's my friend… Pansy Parkinson!"