Hogwarts' Golden Glory

A brief hesitation. Then, a slender young female werewolf stepped out from the crowd. Her name was Ella, and she had just experienced her third full moon, each time leaving her battered and bruised from the ferocity of her transformation.

"I...I'll try." Her voice was soft, but firm.

Next came a middle-aged male werewolf, his face covered in scars and blind in his left eye: "I'll join too. I have nothing to lose anyway."

Kane handed them the test tubes. The two drank them and began their transformation in full view of everyone.

The process was similar to Tobias's: smooth, controllable, and clear-headed. Ella transformed into a smaller brown wolf, even attempting to trace simple lines on the ground with her claws; the middle-aged werewolf, on the other hand, transformed into a massive black wolf, turning his remaining right eye to survey his surroundings with astonishing clarity.

Three examples, three body types, three different werewolves.

But what they had in common was that they all remained rational.

The atmosphere in the camp had completely changed. The initial fervor drawn by Greyback's new form began to waver, replaced by a genuine, hopeful restlessness.

"He's lying!" Graybury roared, his dark red body trembling slightly with rage. "It's temporary! It's a lie!"

"Is that so?" Kane turned to him, his eyes calm. "Then why are you so afraid, Graybury? If you truly possess 'perfect power,' why would you fear a 'deception'?"

Greyback opened his mouth to retort, but Voldemort spoke first.

"An interesting trick." The Dark Lord's voice remained cold, but Kane detected a hint of suppressed anger. "An improved wolfsbane potion. I've heard you've been researching this. But child, do you understand the nature of the power you wield?"

He took a step forward, his staff lightly tapping the ground. There was no obvious magical fluctuation, but Kane felt a chilling pressure wash over him, like the cold wind of midwinter.

"You've brought them to their senses," Voldemort continued, his crimson eyes fixed on Kane. "But what happens after they're awake? They're still werewolves, still ostracized by the wizarding world, still only able to transform on the night of the full moon. And I—"

He pointed to Graybuck: "—I can give them more. Eternal life, the ability to shapeshift at any time, immunity to the threat of silver, immunity to wolfsbane. Isn't that true evolution, Fenrir?"

Greyback immediately replied, "Yes, Master! I can feel it—power flows in my blood, clarity takes root in my marrow. I am no longer a beast, I am… a higher being!"

"A higher existence?" Kane repeated the word, a mocking smile playing on his lips for the first time. "Then why do you need a 'master'?"

This statement is like a bucket of cold water poured on burning charcoal.

Greyback froze. Voldemort's crimson eyes narrowed into slits.

"Look at yourself, Fenrir." Kane took a step forward, and Ig spread its wings on his shoulder, the golden light intensifying and dispelling some of the oppressive darkness. "You gained power, but at what price? You kneel before others, drink their 'gifts,' and then call them master. Is this truly evolution, or... a more refined form of enslavement?"

He turned to the werewolves, raising his voice: "Voldemort has given you chains—chains that bind your souls with his vampire blood, making you forever unable to resist him. He can grant you power today, and take it away tomorrow. And then, you won't even have the chance to turn back into ordinary werewolves; you'll just become mindless puppets at his feet."

"He's dividing us!" Greyback roared, his crimson body swelling as claws extended. "Kill him! All loyalists, kill him!"

A dozen or so loyal werewolves immediately responded and pounced on Kane from all directions.

But at that very moment, Lupin made a move.

He leaped down from the side of the platform, his movements so fast they were almost invisible. The instant he landed, he had already drawn two short swords from his waist—the blades were made of a special silver alloy and engraved with intricate runes.

The first strike aimed at Broken Tooth's knee. The old werewolf screamed and fell to the ground.

The second strike, with the back of the blade, landed heavily on the back of the neck of another werewolf lunging at Kane, who collapsed unconscious without uttering a sound.

Third, fourth, fifth—Lupin moved like a gray whirlwind through the crowd, precisely taking down five of Graybury's most loyal followers. His movements were clean and swift, without the slightest hesitation, and the three scars on his face looked particularly cold and stern in the moonlight.

"Greymane, you—!" Graybury stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"My name is Remus Lupin." Lupin stood beside Kane, twin swords in hand, his voice calm but firm. "A graduate of Hogwarts."

Meanwhile, Moody's wand was already pointed at Voldemort.

"Fiercefire Imprisonment!" The moment the old Auror uttered the incantation, seven chains of fire shot up from the ground, coiling around Voldemort. It wasn't an attack, but a restraint—each chain precisely blocked a possible direction of movement.

Voldemort snorted and waved his staff lightly. Black magic spread out like a shield, colliding with the chains of fire and bursting into dazzling sparks.

But that's enough.

Moody's bought them the crucial three seconds.

Kane seized the opportunity, pulling ten test tubes from his belt in one swift motion, and held them high: "Those who choose freedom, step forward! Those who choose clarity over slavery, take this!"

A brief silence.

Then, the first werewolf stepped forward—Scarface, who had nearly attacked old Walker earlier. He kept his head down, avoiding eye contact with Greyback, but his steps were firm.

The second, the third... like a flood bursting its banks, more than thirty werewolves emerged from the crowd and headed towards Kane.

Greyback roared deafeningly, his crimson body erupting in fury. His eyes turned completely blood red, and his reason began to crumble in his rage: "Traitors! You are all traitors!"

He lunged at Kane, moving so fast that he left a blur.

But Kane was prepared.

Ig spread its wings and let out a clear, high-pitched cry. It was no ordinary sound, but a "purifying sound" imbued with the magic of the phoenix. Where the sound waves spread, the dark red light on Greyback's body fluctuated violently, and he let out a painful roar, his movements pausing for half a second.

Half a second is enough for Kane to act.

He didn't dodge, but instead took a step forward, his wand sliding out of his sleeve and tracing a complete circle in the air. It wasn't an attack spell, but some kind of complex array of runes shimmering with silver light.

"Moonlight Shackles, bind!"

The ring exploded, transforming into countless fine silver threads that coiled around Greyback. Each thread reflected moonlight and emitted a unique energy that suppressed dark creatures.

Greyback tore at the silver threads with his claws, but though thin, they were exceptionally strong. The more he struggled, the tighter they coiled around him. Worse still, the silver threads sizzled and emitted blue smoke when they touched his dark red fur.