Hogwarts: Lacus doesn't want to be a witch who destroys nations.

In the days that followed, Lux and Slughorn became regulars at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries. Every afternoon after class, the two would appear on time through the Floo Network of the fireplace in the corridor on the fifth floor of the hospital's Charms Injury Department, which was always filled with the faint smell of disinfectant.

Lux would bring Vera special treats from the Hogwarts kitchen, as well as all sorts of novel magical gadgets from Diagon Alley, and most importantly, a small bottle of wolfsbane potion that always made Vera frown.

"Ugh... here we go again, Lux." Vera pinched her nose, looking at the crystal bottle that Professor Slughorn carefully handed over, her little face full of resistance.

"This stuff tastes like you've been boiling stinky socks and coffee together for three days and three nights—it's bitter and astringent."

Lux grinned and pulled a Honeydukes hard candy from her pocket: "Good medicine tastes bitter, little hero. Think about it, after drinking this, you'll be able to stay awake on the night of the full moon—a feat that even many adult wizards can't accomplish!"

Encouraged by Lux, Vera would eventually muster the courage to gulp down the potion, then quickly snatch a hard candy and stuff it into her mouth, mumbling incoherent complaints. Her comical appearance always drew a burst of good-natured laughter.

Three days passed in a flash. On the day of the full moon, Slughorn specifically sought out Dumbledore to ask for Lacus's leave, as he might be at St. Mungo's for a day or two. Students who were away for too long needed to explain the situation to the Headmaster, especially in this era.

In Dumbledore's office, the great wizard was struggling with mountains of documents and spellbooks when Slughorn told him about the wolfsbane potion.

"Wolfsbane Potion?" Dumbledore looked up. "Of course, Horace. This is not only a breakthrough in potions, but also a blessing for a group that has suffered greatly. As a key participant, Miss Lux should witness this moment."

He readily agreed to Slughorn's request, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes: "To be honest, I would love to go with you, but lately... some rumors circulating in Europe have made it impossible for me to get away. Please give my regards to Miss Vera and wish her good luck."

With six hours to go before the moon reached its zenith, Lux and Slughorn once again entered St. Mungo's Hospital.

Holmes was already waiting in Vera's hospital room. He had changed into a neat suit and remained silent, but a hint of nervousness was hard to hide.

Lux stayed with Vera, telling her interesting stories about Hogwarts, from Peeves' pranks to the grudges and feuds between the four houses, trying to ease the growing fear in Vera's heart with lighthearted topics.

Time ticked by, and as the clock struck one hour before midnight, Professor Slughorn entered, his expression serious. "Time's almost up, Vera. We need to go to the observation room."

It was a special ward on the top floor of the hospital. The walls were made of thick stone slabs, engraved with magic for reinforcement and soundproofing. A huge glass wall separated the inside from the outside, and there was only a sturdy metal bed in the center of the room.

Lux gave Vera a tight hug at the door: "Don't be afraid, Vera, we're just a wall away."

Vera nodded, her small body trembling slightly, but her light gray-blue eyes were filled with trust in Lux.

The heavy iron door slowly closed, leaving Vera alone in the empty, cold room. Lux, Slughorn, and Holmes stood on the other side of the glass, waiting for the full moon to rise.

Moonlight streamed down through the specially designed skylight in the observation room, instantly filling the entire room.

Almost at the same moment, Vera's body trembled violently, and she let out a suppressed groan. She knelt down and scratched at the smooth metal floor with both hands, her nails scraping against the ground with a screeching sound.

The wolf transformation began, starting with her bones. A sickening "click" sound came from her body as her spine arched upwards in an unnatural curve, and the joints of her limbs lengthened and reshaped.

The intense pain contorted her delicate face instantly, and sweat soaked her forehead. But unlike the uncontrollable rage of werewolves in legends, Vera's eyes remained clear. She was enduring the pain, not being consumed by it.

Thick, silvery-black hair grew rapidly from beneath her skin, covering her limbs and back, gleaming with an eerie metallic sheen in the moonlight.

The powerful vitality brought by the elixir of immortality showed astonishing effects at this moment. Her body did not collapse during the reconstruction. Instead, under the guidance of the wolfsbane potion, it underwent a transformation at an amazing efficiency.

Her head began to change as well, a pair of furry, pointed wolf ears emerging from her thick black hair, twitching nimbly. Her hands and feet became stronger and more powerful, full of a wild beauty poised to be unleashed, her nails turning black and hardening at a visible speed, then suddenly lengthening to form sharp, gleaming claws.

In the observation room, a completely new creature stood up. She was much taller than Vera's original size, her whole body was covered with soft and shiny silver-black fur, her pair of lively wolf ears stood up, her limbs were long and strong, and the ends were sharp black claws.

But most importantly, her light gray-blue eyes, even beneath her wolf-like face, remained clear, rational, and full of Vera's own unique brilliance. She moved her powerful new body with a touch of novelty, raised her claws to examine them, and then, under the tense, almost frozen gazes of Lux, Slughorn, and Holmes, she turned to the observation window, slowly raising a fur-covered hand with claws, making a clear, slightly playful "V" sign.

In that instant, the boulder that had been pressing on everyone's chests finally came to a halt. Slughorn was so excited he almost jumped up, and even Holmes's perpetually poker face showed a rare hint of relief.

Lux didn't hesitate at all. She unlocked the magical door to the observation room, pushed it open, and hugged the furry, familiar yet unfamiliar friend tightly.

"Vera! You did it!" Vera's body stiffened slightly. She held up her claws somewhat awkwardly, afraid that the sharp edges would tear Lux's school uniform.

"Awooo..." Vera's body had transformed into a werewolf, but the wolf's physiological structure could not support the production of human language, yet her tone still carried Vera's gentleness.

Lux hugged her tighter, nonchalantly rubbing her cheek against the soft fur on her neck: "What's a school uniform! I'm just glad you're alright!"