Hogwarts: From Selling White Peppers to Becoming a God

Chapter 167 Harry Potter

"Hello, Remus."

In the hospital room, Murphy met the man who had just woken up.

Remus Lupin's injuries were severe. The virus in Graybock's saliva entered his brain, causing severe brain inflammation that kept him in a coma for a long time until he recently regained consciousness.

Remus looked extremely haggard. Because he had been relying on injections and liquid food to supplement his nutrition, he had become emaciated and looked even paler and weaker than before, with almost no color in his face.

"Are you Murphy Darkholm?"

Murphy nodded.

"Those werewolves..."

He woke up a few times during the night, but quickly went back to rest each time. He didn't leave the ward and was unaware of the situation outside.

"Oh, twelve died. The rest were all rescued," Murphy said. "Your friends are lucky; they're all still alive."

Most of the werewolves who died were the ones who had been jumping around the most enthusiastically with Greyback. Murphy's ravens had been tracking them for some time. In fact, Radwan Perry and his men already knew who should be killed and who could live before they made their move.

"Twelve..." Lupin was somewhat shocked, but didn't say anything more.

Among his compatriots, some were indeed worthy of death.

"Thank you for letting them go," Lupin said.

He was referring to the werewolves who were on good terms with him. Most of them were relatively weak-willed and followed Greyback out of necessity. They didn't have much blood on their hands and belonged to a group that Greyback and his loyal warmongers looked down upon.

Lupin knew that with those dozen or so werewolves who could transform at any time and maintain their rationality, it was possible to kill everyone. Their survival must have been due to Murphy's intervention.

"You're welcome, they're still useful," Murphy said.

"What do you plan to do with them?" Lupin asked.

"For a period of time, they will be my prisoners," Murphy said. "I will educate and reform them to make them ordinary people who pose no threat to society. Then... it will depend on their own wishes. Those who want to stay and work for me can join my team, and those who want to go back to being ordinary people will not be forced to stay."

Lupin looked at him for a while and then said, "What you said is not quite the same as what they said."

Murphy smiled. "Don't worry too much about what others say. If you get annoyed, just punch them back. Mr. Remus, what about you? What are your plans for the future?"

"I...don't know yet," Lupin said, somewhat bewildered.

When he decided to stand up for his compatriots, he was almost prepared to sacrifice himself.

He himself didn't quite understand how his motivation came about. For so many years, he had lived a muddled and wandering life, just numbly. But when he heard the news that Sirius was innocent, he was overjoyed, but also felt deeply hurt.

My friends have been fighting.

James sacrificed himself for this.

Sirius Black suffered ten years in prison.

But they never bowed to fate.

In comparison, what have I been doing all these years?

How am I any different from that timid mouse? How can I be their true friend?

Perhaps it was this anger towards himself that led him to recklessly challenge Graybury.

"If you don't have any plans yet, I have a suggestion," Murphy said, seemingly noticing his confusion. "I'd like you to train those werewolves."

"Your fellow countrymen are very hostile towards wizards and Muggles, and it's difficult for my people to really get close to them. Only you can win their trust."

"Of course, you don't need to decide on this right away. Take care of your health first, and then think about it."

"Once you're better, I'll take you to see someone."

"Oh, right, there's one more thing I need to ask your opinion on," Murphy said, taking out an iron cage.

Inside the cage, a large, gray rat missing a finger was huddled in a corner, its head buried in its chest, looking listless. It was unclear whether it was dead or alive.

"Little Pettigrew?!" Lupin recognized him at first glance.

"Wasn't he kidnapped? How come he's with you?"

Murphy shrugged. "Because I'm the one who kidnapped it."

Lupin was puzzled. "Why save him? Letting him rot and stink in Azkaban is the end he deserves."

"If Sirius Black could escape Azkaban even as a large dog, what chance would a mouse, who's even better at running away, have?"

"Azkaban might not be able to hold him. Rather than letting him escape on his own, I'd better capture him first."

"I'm bringing him out now to get your opinion," Murphy said. "If you want to kill him, you can do it now. If not, I'll take him away; he's still somewhat useful to me. Of course, I can assure you, his end won't be any easier than death."

"Does Sirius Black know about this?"

"I told him from the beginning, but he said he had already gotten what he wanted and didn't care whether Little Pettigrew lived or died, so he wanted me to decide."

Lupin thought for a moment, "Can you guarantee he won't continue doing evil?"

Murphy nodded.

"Take it away, do with it as you please, it's the punishment he deserves."

……

In mid-June, Remus Lupin had largely recovered from his injuries, and Murphy took him to Weasel Mountain, where they knocked on a door halfway up the mountain.

"Sir, someone is knocking on the door." A boy's voice came from inside the room.

"Oh, it's probably Arthur again. Tell him that if he says anything about apologizing again, I won't open the door for him."

But as he was speaking, the door suddenly opened.

A handsome man with long, curly hair, wearing a light purple shirt, stood inside the room with a slight smile on his face, but his expression froze when he saw the two people.

"Black," Murphy said, holding up the two bottles of wine he was carrying, "Royal Blanco, to celebrate your housewarming."

"Ah, thank you." Sirius Black glanced at Murphy, but quickly turned his gaze back to Lupin beside him.

"You seem to be doing well, Sirius," Lupin said, much to Murphy's surprise.

"Oh, you don't look so good, my friend, another scar?"

There was no apology, no tearful embrace; the two simply exchanged a few jokes, as if the more than ten years apart had never existed, and their last meeting was just yesterday.

The two men smiled, reached out their arms, and embraced.

Tsk.

This kind of friendship.

Murphy was actually a little envious.

"Come in, come in." Blake opened the door and invited Murphy and Lupin into the cabin.

Surprisingly, the room was very clean and tidy, and in the living room stood a thin boy wearing round glasses, looking curiously at his godfather's friend.

"Sirius, this is..."

"Yes," Sirius said with a kind of loving expression, "Harry, the child of James and Lily."

"Harry Potter".

Death is really like finally going to bed after a long day, and for a person with a clear mind, death is just another great adventure.

May you rest in peace.

(End of this chapter)