My Hogwarts has a serious problem.

"I was a werewolf when I was born."

Lynn and Cedric exchanged bewildered glances. One came from a family with a strong academic background, and the other was a learned scholar who had read many magical texts, but they had never heard of werewolves being born that way.

Ian paid no attention to their reactions; his voice was flat, as if he were telling a story that had nothing to do with him.

"My mother died because of my birth, and my father denied that I was his son after seeing what I looked like. He said that my mother had shamelessly committed adultery with a beast to give birth to such a monster as me."

He originally intended to drown me when I was just born, but my maternal grandfather stopped him by pointing a shotgun at his head.

I was sent to the countryside to live with my maternal grandfather.

Five years passed like this, until I was five years old, when my grandfather passed away and my father took me back home. Because no matter how much he indulged in debauchery and messed around outside, he could never have a normal child again.

The doctor gave him a diagnosis: he was sterilized and would never have a child other than mine in his life.

In order to prevent the title from being cut off and to prevent me from becoming a sinner to the family, I became his only choice.

Even so, he never considered building a genuine father-son relationship; he still loathed, hated, and feared me.

The servants in that household were the same; they were respectful to me on the surface, but behind my back they were constantly cursing me as a monster.

Every time I transform during the full moon, they lock me in the cellar. Even after the full moon night has passed, they refuse to let me out. They use this as an excuse to keep me inside for three days, only bringing me water through a small hole.

I know they all wish I would starve to death in the cellar.

When I was nine years old, I displayed my magical talent again. At my father's instruction, a servant poisoned the dog that my grandfather had left me. I lost control of my emotions and unleashed magic that blasted him off the third floor.

he died.

I killed someone when I was nine years old, which is why I can see creatures like Thestrals.

My father didn't expose my murder. He's been diagnosed with a terminal illness and doesn't have many years left to live. If I were arrested, the dukedom would really fall to some distant relative who has nothing to do with him.

That's how my murder was kept secret.

After that incident, the servants in the house became even more afraid of me. They didn't even dare to speak to me, and no one dared to lock me in the cellar during the full moon.

And so it went until July of last year, when Headmaster Dumbledore came to my house in person and told my father, who was confined to his sickbed, that I was actually a wizard and that I had to go to wizarding school.

My father was furious. He wouldn't allow me to come to Hogwarts because he was going to give me a full-fledged aristocratic education, introduce me to people in high society, and let me slowly take over the family business and title.

In the end, Professor Dumbledore convinced him that he was allowed to come to Hogwarts for a year. It didn't matter how much magic he learned; the key was to be able to control the magic within his body.

But I also had my own ideas. I tried to find the secret of why I was born a werewolf at Hogwarts. In fact, at first, I naively thought that this magic school might have a way to turn werewolves back into normal people.

The more I learn, the more I realize how absurd my fantasy is.

Then I met you guys, and I realized that maybe staying at Hogwarts wasn't so bad after all. At least you guys were willing to sit next to me and chat with me when I transformed.

This summer, after I went home, my father, unusually, accompanied me on a beach vacation. He had given up hope of curing his illness and just wanted to comfortably enjoy the rest of his life. He bragged to me about the luxurious life of the upper class, but to me, it wasn't as interesting as a magic spell. He introduced me to the sons and daughters of his cronies, hoping I could become friends with them, but their conversations only disgusted me and left me feeling nothing.

I missed Hogwarts terribly, I missed the life there and my friends, so I disobeyed my father's orders and boarded the train to Hogwarts once again.

He suddenly stopped and turned to look at Lynn and Cedric.

He looked like he was smiling, but Lynn and the others weren't sure.

Because they had never seen Ian smile, let alone in his werewolf form.

"I had a falling out with my father. He said if I dared to leave, I should never set foot in that house again. I took all my belongings with me before I left, including the snacks you ate on the train. Now I'm homeless. You'll take care of me from now on, right?"

Lynn and Cedric didn't speak; they answered him with their actions.

They reached out their arms, and one of them put his arm around Ian's shoulder from one side.

"I'm an orphan, but I have a huge house, and I'm very rich. I have three parts of inheritance from both the Muggle and Wizarding worlds, so Ian, do you understand what to do now?"

Lynn raised an eyebrow at him.

The werewolf shook his head, looking bewildered.

"Call me Dad."

Ian: "..."

Even Cedric scratched the back of his head and said...

"My father is a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic, and my family has some prestige in the magical world. Putting everything else aside, if you want to support yourself and stay in the magical world to develop, I can definitely help you, but..."

Cedric gave a simple, honest smile.

"Call me 'Big Brother' and let me hear it."

Ian: "..."

You, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, have actually gone astray too!

Lynn suddenly patted Ian on the shoulder.

"Hey! I have a brilliant idea."

They turned to look at him.

"There should still be pubs open in Hogsmeade, right? How about we go buy some butterbeer and food to celebrate Ian's new life?"

Cedric nodded in agreement.

"The Three Broomsticks pub usually closes at midnight. I'll go. I've been to Hogsmeade Week before, so I know the place well."

They had a small party in the Scream Shack, drinking butterbeer and chatting until the wee hours of the morning.

Having spent over a year together, Lynn had even forgotten about the task, but it was completed tonight.

You have learned the secret of Ian Campbell, the natural werewolf, and gained his friendship. Side quest complete.

Task Reward: Constitution +3

Meanwhile, just as they were having a good time...

Inside Hogwarts Castle, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville fled in terror from the fourth-floor corridor guarded by the three-headed dog.

In the Gryffindor common room, Hermione was furious.

Lynn's methods were completely useless against those two guys!

They're two complete idiots and brutes!