Hogwarts' Golden Glory

The Scottish winds cut like knives across the wilderness.

Lupin huddled in a half-collapsed shepherd's stone hut.

Snowflakes leaked through the hole in the roof, and he lit a small campfire with trembling hands.

In the corner was a pile of moldy bread, which I had exchanged for last week from Joko Widodo's shop; it was as hard as a rock.

He broke off a piece and soaked it in snow water until it softened.

The cramping pain in his stomach reminded him of the werewolves he had encountered yesterday—Greybuck's henchmen.

He bared his teeth at him in the back alley of Hogsmeade, and a threatening growl rolled down the other man's throat.

He had to abandon the food he had planned to buy and escape into the deep mountains.

"At least...a fight didn't break out."

He muttered to himself, his voice hoarse like sandpaper being rubbed.

An unmailed letter lay spread out beside the fire.

The parchment began with repeated writing and crossing out: "Dear Dumbledore, regarding the ward of Defense Against the Dark Arts..."

Finally, it was all painted black.

He knew he shouldn't agree.

How could a werewolf possibly stand on a platform?

He heard wolf howls outside the window, but they weren't any of his kind—they were real wild wolves.

Lupin instinctively reached for his wand, then gave a wry smile.

If they break in, should he use magic to drive them away?

Or should I let myself get carried away and tear them apart under the full moon?

Tonight is the night of the full moon, and he will lose his mind and become a werewolf, hated by all wizards.

But he can barely afford to eat!

How could they afford such expensive wolfsbane medicine?

So he could only complete his transformation in this small room where almost no one came.

The snow is getting heavier.

He wrapped himself tightly in his worn-out travel cloak, a Christmas gift from Lily in 1981.

I ate the last crumbs of bread.

I thought to myself that I should try my luck at the river tomorrow and see if I could catch any fish.

Or... if you're lucky enough...

Just then, footsteps came from outside the door.

It wasn't the stealthy movements of werewolves, but the cold rhythm of black robes billowing.

A sound came from outside the door.

"Hopefully, this werewolf didn't freeze or starve to death."

Snape's voice was like a blade slicing through iron.

Lupin had no time to pay attention to them at that moment!

Moonlight streamed through the tattered curtains and fell to the ground like a slowly approaching knife.

His knuckles were white, and his fingernails had grown slightly longer.

"Damn it..." He gritted his teeth, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

The transformation is about to begin tonight!

boom!

The door was suddenly flung open, and a cold wind carrying withered leaves rushed in.

"Looks like we haven't gone to the wrong place." A cold voice rang out.

Lupin looked up, his pupils suddenly contracting.

Snape stood in the doorway, his black robes billowing like a giant bat.

Kane Malfoy followed behind him, his silver-grey eyes gleaming coldly in the dim light.

"Severus?" Lupin's voice was hoarse. "What are you doing—"

"Dumbledore's orders."

Snape interrupted him, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Let's see if our dear werewolf has gnawed himself down to the bones."

Kane's gaze swept across the room—the worn-out furniture, the scattered books, and one or two empty potion bottles in the corner.

His gaze finally settled on Lupin's trembling hands.

"You didn't drink the wolfsbane potion, did you?" he said.

Kane wanted to make sure the other person hadn't taken any drugs, so he could better assess their effectiveness.

Lupin struggled to control himself, his knuckles turning blue: "Now is not the time for a visit, especially with a child involved!"

"Obviously," Snape sneered, "but we have no interest in watching your transformation show."

He took out a crystal bottle from his pocket, which contained a silvery-blue liquid.

"It's a new formula, and I don't know how effective it will be. I'll drink it and go to Wisconsin-Gamo tomorrow to testify."

Lupin's pupils contracted: "Tomorrow? Blake's trial?"

Lupin had absolutely no interest in the liquid.

Moreover, the wolfsbane medicine must be taken a week before the full moon.

He didn't even realize it was a modified wolfsbane potion!

"Surprised?"

Snape gave a fake smile and did not explain the effects of the drug.

"Your old friend is finally going to be exonerated—provided, of course, that you don't go berserk and bite people in court."

The moonlight outside the window grew brighter and brighter, and Lupin's breathing became rapid.

His bones began to creak and groan, and something seemed to wriggle beneath his skin.

"You...have to leave..."

He gritted his teeth, his voice already hoarse.

Snape remained unmoved, instead stepping forward: "Drink it quickly."

Lupin suddenly stepped back, knocking over the chair.

His fingernails had turned into sharp claws, leaving deep scratches on the wooden floor.

"I said—let's go!"

This sound was almost a roar, with the howl of a wolf.

Kane's hand was already on the wand.

But Snape just watched coldly, as if observing an experiment.

"interesting."

He whispered to Kane, "It seems your drug trials will be delayed."

Lupin's spine is curved, and his body is elongated.

Wolf fur pierced his skin, twisting his face and distorting it, with fangs protruding from his lips.

Seeing that the other party had already transformed, Snape instinctively shielded Kane behind him.

"Let's get out of here!" Snape whispered.

Kane drew his wand. "Professor, we could actually check if this potion is working!"

Seeing that Kane wouldn't leave, Snape had no choice but to draw his wand!

Lupin, now in werewolf form, lunged at them.

Snape's protective armor charm was formed almost instantly.

But the werewolf's claws still grazed the hem of his robe, tearing off a piece of cloth.

Kane dodged to the side, grabbing the iron fire tongs by the door as he did so.

"Professor!" he shouted, "Step back! Let me do it!"

A mocking smile curled at the corners of Snape's mouth.

The black robe billowed in the bloody wind stirred up by the werewolf.

"You sent him?"

His mouth was like poisoned ice. "You think this is your father's Quidditch pitch, where you can just swing a stick and—"

Before he could finish speaking, Lupin, now in his werewolf form, pounced again.

This time, its target is Kane's throat!

The fangs gleamed with a chilling light under the moonlight.

Snape's wand tip was already glowing red—but Kane was faster.

He gripped the iron clamps with both hands, exerted force from his waist and abdomen, and achieved perfect harmony between his waist and stance!

He swung a powerful sweeping motion, like hitting a ball that had been dribbling away!

boom!

The dull thud of metal colliding with bone exploded in the screaming shack!

The werewolf was knocked to the side by the blow, and saliva mixed with blood splattered from between its fangs.

But it merely shook its head, its red beastly eyes blazing with even greater fury.

Snape's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Are you crazy?!" he shouted, trying to pull Kane back from the danger!

But Kane didn't stop at all.

Before the werewolf could even fully regain his footing, Kane had already leaped into the air.

His movements were more like those of a well-trained fencer than a wizard!

The iron clamps were raised high above his head, and with the momentum of the impact, they cleaved down fiercely!

Boom-!

The blow landed precisely on the werewolf's temple.

The vibrations from the skull colliding with the metal traveled through the iron clamps, making Kane's hands go numb.

The werewolf's body stiffened for a moment, and its golden pupils suddenly became unfocused.

Its massive body swayed twice before crashing to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The shed suddenly fell into dead silence.