John Constantine and The Useless Magic Rock

Dittany

"Harry I can't believe you picked a snake over your best friend!"

Harry sighed sadly, he hadn't meant to hurt the redhead's feelings, but that didn't mean that he could act as if he did it on purpose-that wasn't fair to Harry either.

"Ron....I didn't choose anyone over anyone, I just couldn't deal with yours and 'Mione's fighting this time."

"So this was her fault that I got stuck with her! By the time we stopped-we couldn't switch out our partnering sheets, now I'm left with the walking book!"

"That isn't nice Ron, Hermione just likes to read-and besides! It's just as much your fault as it was hers, this isn't the first time you've both babbled continuously back n forth!"

Ron pouted, the redhead still a bit peeved at his friend's so called 'betrayal'.

"So how is the snake any way? He ain't bothering ya is he?"

Harry smiled, while Ron could be the most stubborn kid he knew, he still cared, no matter what anyone said.

"John Ron, and he's different from any other Slytherin we've met I swear! He's just as lost about as this crap as I am!"

Ron wrinkled his nose, "Really? How is that possible? It's common that Slytherin families teach their kids 'right n wrong' from the get go-whether it be half or pure; but even if he didn't have a family pro-pure or pro-snake-even majority of halfbloods knew the feud was a thing."

"Ron, I'm a halfblood and I still didn't have a clue."

"Well didn't you grow up outside the wizarding world mate?"

Harry nodded, suddenly connecting the dots, "Ron! What if he's like me?!"

Ron blinked, getting the idea, "Well it's probably the most likely case.....that or he just didn't grow up in an place that didn't talk too much about the fighting."

"You know that's impossible Ron, no one talks about Hogwarts without hearing at least somethin about the houses. Only reason I didn't was because my uncle kept movin us round to avoid my acceptance letters, making my time talkin about Hogwarts really short."

He still hasn't forgiven his family for that.....granted that his cousin probably didn't know anything about him being a wizard until now....unfortunately just like he did.

"Whatever the case was Ron, John's different, I promise you that!"

Harry was sure of it!

Ron just nodded along, silently praying for the fact to be true.

      ————————————————

"John! You look terrible!"

John blinked slowly.

He was right of course, well mostly.
Instead of getting a bad sleep, he didn't sleep at all.

Now normally it would've been fine, he's pulled more all-nighters than could good ones, but his new physique wasn't used this.

"'m fine 'arry, really."
And obviously he just had to yawn afterwards, making his words worth nothing to anybody to payed attention.

Harry frowned, likely not believing his ass, but the kid carried on anyways.

"We should head up to Hagrid's. He doesn't live far away, but if we were to go looking around in the forest-we should make use out of the rest of lunch."

John nodded, waving a hand to lead the way.

Funny enough, the big man lived in an offly small hut.

Harry knocked on the door, stepping back when it opened.

The half-giant, Hagrid, smiled at Harry when he saw him.
"'arry! Good ta see ya! Wher's Ron an 'ermione-"

Hagrid paused when he saw John, as if surprised.

"Uh.....'ello der! Now-wher are me manners? Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts, who're you lad?"

"John Constantine sir."

Hagrid blinked but grinned along with Harry, "Sir eh? Ah-don you worry bout that nonsense John, now-what honor does dis trip entail ehm?"

"We need a favor Hagrid."

"Oh? Sure 'arry, nothin too big I hope! A half-giant like me can only do so much 'mfraid."

"Could you show me and John around one of the forests around here? It doesn't have to be too far, just enough to find and write a decent plant for Herbology class."

"Oh!....Hmm.....I don kno 'arry...I don take kids out too often...."

"Please Hagrid?" Harry's eyes grew larger than what John thought was possible.

John sighed, deciding to play along, "Harry mate, if he can't he can't....we'll just....go log down a leaf or something. That should a least get an adequate scorin...."

Harry turned to John, a small glint of humor in his eyes, "I know John...but, what if we could-"

"Alright! Alright! I'll take yas to the woods just stay ther for a moment!"

John and Harry let out sounds of triumph, even sharing a short high-five for their accomplishments in heartstring-pulling.

The Forest was fairly standard, but they should find something just fine.

"Alright lads-just make this quick, lunch'll be over soon!"

"Ok Hagrid!"

John and Harry split up slightly, far enough that they'd be able to find something sooner, but close enough to where Hagrid and themselves could see one another.

John knelt down time a small little shrub of plants, odd lookin things that brought back up a lesson from a week or so ago, a Dittany.

"Aye Harry! How bout a Dittany?!"

Harry looked up from where he was kneeling too, "Dittany? What were those again?"

"Uh...if memory serves me right, it was those plants that could go in potions and be used for healing things, that sound fine to you?"

Harry nodded and jogged over, his robe flaring around slightly.

Lowering next to his partner, Harry brought out their paperwork from their bag.

John grinned as they made the assignment on time.

     ————————————————

"-I'll make the diversion tomorrow my lord, while the teachers and their brats scurry around dealing with the issue, we'll sneak past them all and grab the stone!"

"Good and do not fail me servant."