Hogwarts' Golden Glory

The moment the magic circle was fully activated, the air in the valley seemed to change. It became fresher, more tranquil, and even the wind softened. The werewolves could feel the eternal restlessness deep within their blood being gently soothed by a pair of tender hands.

"It's a success..." Tobias murmured, his eyes welling up with tears.

Lupin let out a long breath, as if the fatigue of the past three days had vanished. He looked at Kane standing on the altar on the island in the middle of the lake—the boy's figure appeared somewhat thin in the afterglow of the setting sun, but he stood ramrod straight.

That evening, the valley held its first general assembly.

In the newly built "Council Hall"—which was actually just a large wooden shed with a roof—more than seventy werewolves gathered together. A bonfire burned in the center, its flames dancing on everyone's faces.

Kane stood before the fire, Igor perched on his shoulder. He looked around at the faces—old, young, scarred, and still innocent. But at that moment, everyone's eyes shared something in common: hope.

"From this day forward," Kane began, his voice not loud but clearly audible, "this place is no longer just the 'Werewolf Camp.' This is the home of the 'Moonshadow Alliance.'"

He paused, then continued, "Moonshadow, because we once struggled under the curse of the moonlight; Alliance, because from now on, we will no longer fight individually, but as a whole."

He held up three fingers:

"First, within the alliance, we will not harm each other. Regardless of past grievances or which tribe we come from, here we are companions, not enemies."

"Secondly, during the full moon, we should help each other. During the transformation, the elderly, children, and the infirm should be given priority in care; the conscious should help the out-of-control; and everyone should work together to maintain order."

"Third, skills are shared, and everyone contributes what they can. Those who know how to hunt teach others to hunt, those who know herbalism teach others to gather herbs, and those who know carpentry teach others to build houses. Here, everyone's abilities are a valuable asset."

A brief silence followed, then Tobias was the first to stand up: "I agree!"

Then Ella chimed in: "I agree too!"

Soren, Lina, old Walker… one after another, everyone stood up. There were no cheers, no shouts, only resolute gazes and slightly trembling hands—the expression of emotions suppressed for too long finally finding an outlet.

“Well then,” Kane took out four silver badges from his bag—which he had made overnight using alchemy, engraved with the silhouettes of a crescent moon and a wolf—“I need four people to assist Remus in managing daily affairs. They will be the Alliance’s first ‘Moonshadow Guards’.”

He looked at Tobias: "Tobias, you are brave and upright, and you chose the right path at the most dangerous time. Are you willing?"

Tobias froze, then nodded vigorously: "I'm willing!"

"Ella, you are meticulous and patient. Herbal knowledge is crucial to the Alliance."

Ella's eyes lit up: "I do!"

"Soren, you are calm and quick to learn; your talent for alchemy needs to be passed on."

Soren straightened his back: "I do!"

"Lina, you are resilient and never give up. You can accomplish even the most difficult tasks."

Lina bit her lip and nodded vigorously.

Kane handed the badges to the four people. The badges warmed slightly the moment they touched their hands, and the names engraved on them began to glow—the marks of magical contracts, symbolizing responsibility and trust.

"Now," Kane said finally, "about the potion."

He took out two large wooden boxes from his bag, opened them, and inside were neatly stacked hundreds of crystal test tubes, each containing a silver-purple modified wolfsbane drug.

"This is the first batch of officially supplied medicine, enough for everyone until the next full moon. And more importantly—"

He pointed to Lupin and Lina standing to the side: "Remus and Lina have successfully concocted a potion with 85% effectiveness on their own. Starting next month, we will no longer be completely dependent on external supplies. The raw materials will be delivered through secure channels, and we will produce and distribute them ourselves."

The shockwaves from this news were even greater than those from the magic circle. Self-sufficiency—for werewolves, who had long been controlled by various forces, this was an almost unimaginable freedom.

"However," Kane's tone turned serious, "this also means responsibility. The potion's formula is our top secret and must never be leaked. The procurement of raw materials, the refining process, and the distribution of the finished product must all be kept strictly confidential. If anyone violates this..."

He didn't finish speaking, but everyone understood the consequences.

The gathering continued late into the night. People discussed their plans: expanding houses, cultivating farmland, building schools to teach children literacy and basic magic, and even planning a small craft workshop to produce items (wood carvings, herbal sachets, simple amulets) that could be safely sold on the black market in exchange for other necessities.

Kane mostly listened, offering advice only occasionally. He noticed that the werewolves were beginning to think and plan proactively, instead of waiting for instructions. This was the most important change—they were beginning to truly become the masters of their own destiny.

At midnight, as the crowd gradually dispersed, Kane and Lupin stood on the lakeshore, gazing at the lake under the moonlight.

"You changed them, Kane," Lupin said softly. "You didn't just give them medicine and a house, you gave them... dignity."

"They changed themselves," Kane shook his head. "I just provided the opportunity."

Ig chirped softly, pointing its beak towards the sky. The full moon was high in the sky, its light pouring into the valley like mercury. But under the influence of the outer magic circle, the violent magic in the moonlight was filtered out, leaving only a pure and gentle radiance.

In the valley, some werewolves have begun to transform spontaneously—not out of necessity, but to test their capabilities in the new environment.

Tobias was the first to transform. The enormous gray wolf stood in the moonlight, its eyes a clear amber. He tried to take a few steps, his gait steady; he tried to howl, but his voice contained no madness, only a kind of... release.

Then came Ella, Soren, Lina… one after another, the werewolves transformed under the moonlight, but no one lost control, no one attacked each other. They simply stood there, savoring the long-lost, lucid moment of their transformation.

Some looked up at the moon, tears welling in their eyes.

Some touched each other lightly, as if confirming each other's presence.

Some began to run slowly through the valley, enjoying the feeling of power and freedom.

Lupin watched this scene, feeling a resonance within his own blood. But he didn't transform—as the leader of the League, he needed to remain in human form during the full moon to deal with any possible emergencies.

"Aren't you going?" Kane asked.