It was winter, nearing Christmas, with snowflakes fluttering in the London sky.
Anton, riding on his broom, shivered. His days were filled with activities, leaving little time to learn unnecessary magic spells.
'If I cast a warming charm now...' Anton pondered.
"Ah~" Anton sighed contentedly. He felt a comforting warmth envelop his body, softening the chilling wind around him.
Turning back in surprise, he saw Miss Lisa tucking her wand back into her wizard's robe.
"Thank you," Anton expressed his gratitude.
Lisa twitched the corners of her mouth, attempting a smile. Her emotions were so complex that a genuine smile eluded her.
Werewolf!
The realization dawned that Lupin had been a werewolf all along!
Throughout that long month, she lived in daily regret. She despised herself for stepping back upon hearing Lupin reveal his werewolf nature, a step that led to her never seeing Lupin again.
After grappling with her feelings for three days, she finally realized she had truly fallen for this kind-hearted man. She was willing to accept everything about him, even his lycanthropy.
Yet, Lupin's intelligent nephew had taken this opportunity to bring her to Lupin...
This was a test. Having the courage to go was merely the first step.
She was uncertain about what lay ahead. Anxious thoughts plagued her, even causing her to worry about how she would handle the situation.
Will she involuntarily back down again?
Absolutely not!
No way!
Anton soared on a broomstick, weaving through the snow as the sunset slowly descended from the distant peaks.
Anton wielded his wand once more.
A compass materialized in front of him, which he manipulated, pointing it towards the northwest.
There was clearly room for improvement in this magical navigation. It lacked the ability to move autonomously and provide continuous guidance like a car's navigation system.
They had to stop and start frequently, using the compass to determine the direction of their next move.
However, Anton soon discerned a pattern.
From a high vantage point, a lengthy train track remained in view.
"Hahaha, how intriguing. Lupin actually left London by train?" The pair soared above a bustling train platform, guided by the magic compass pointing to a precise destination.
"Is that surprising?" Lisa eyed him skeptically. "Lupin is a business professional. Isn't it quite common for him to travel by train?"
She often invited Lupin to dine together. She sensed his slight discomfort whenever she drove, prompting her to enroll in a driver's license training course secretly.
"A business professional?" Anton's eyes gleamed mischievously. "How fascinating."
Locking eyes with Lisa, he spoke earnestly, "Perhaps next time, you'll encounter the real Lupin, stripped of the delicate facade of modern society, just the ordinary him."
Lisa pursed her lips. "I will accept him completely!"
Her determination resounded with unwavering conviction.
Anton shrugged nonchalantly, a playful smile gracing his lips.
Setting aside his identity as a werewolf, Lupin was a genuine wizard, the kind who still lived in Europe in the previous century.
A witch like Lisa, who actively assimilated into modern society—Anton had encountered such a wizard before.
The two took flight once more, and as the sun finally dipped beneath the horizon, a brilliant moon ascended.
Round and radiating a luminous glow.
They soared over the city, the outskirts, the village, and as anticipated by Anton, over the desolate mountains.
The compass shifted. After adjusting it, it pointed directly below.
Descending on his broomstick, a cave materialized before him, accompanied by a faint werewolf's howl.
Touching down and standing outside the cave, Anton raised an eyebrow.
He doffed his hat and extended his hand gracefully. "Ladies first!"
Lisa was on the brink of nervous collapse. Observing Anton's sly grin, she couldn't resist rolling her eyes. This young wizard, meticulously groomed by his uncle, displayed remarkable intelligence, grace, and decorum akin to his uncle.
However, it was undeniably amusing. He seemed to relish observing others' antics without realizing the influence he had on them. Her mind involuntarily drifted to the bickering pair of goblin and ghost in the Lupin family, adding to her anxiety.
No amount of fleeting thoughts could mask her rising panic. Strengthening her resolve, she took tentative steps towards the cave.
The werewolf's growls intensified.
The cave, formed by the compression of numerous rocks, twisted and turned, occasionally requiring sideways maneuvers through narrow gaps until a spacious area opened up ahead.
Surrounded by earth and stone walls adorned with moss and unfamiliar vegetation, a large gap above allowed moonlight to filter in.
A thick chain anchored to the wall securely bound a massive werewolf.
The towering creature compelled her to crane her neck to meet its gaze.
It was immense.
With fangs resembling those of a malevolent beast, saliva dripped from its gaping maw as it unleashed furious roars. Its thick wolf fur concealed a pair of eyes brimming with a desire to wreak havoc and dominate.
"Lupin!"
Lisa gasped, her voice trembling.
The werewolf answered with a thunderous roar, its chains straining against its powerful thrashes. The creature's massive claws tore into the wall, scattering debris in its frenzied rage.
"I won't leave, Lupin!" Lisa's steps echoed with unyielding resolve as she advanced towards the werewolf, her gaze unwavering. Lifting her slender chin defiantly, she proclaimed "Bite me and transform me into a werewolf too!"
"So we can remain together for eternity."
Oh, faced with such a tempting feast of meat before him, the werewolf showed no restraint. With a roar, he lowered his head, poised to sink his teeth into her neck.
Eyes sealed shut in a fervent display of hope and acceptance, Lisa awaited her fate with an expression of serene anticipation.
"Protego!"
The protective charm's luminance enveloped her form, causing the werewolf to recoil as though gnashing against an impenetrable barrier, causing it to shake it's head in sheer agony.
Reacting swiftly, Anton pulled her away from danger.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Lisa's expression bore a mixture of fear and defiance as she glowered at Anton. "Why did you pull me back and prevent me from becoming a werewolf? I wanted to..."
Anton sighed in resignation. "You can't transform into a werewolf. Your neck is slender, and his jaws are massive. The most likely outcome would have been him severing your neck." he explained.
"Even if you were to become a werewolf, Lupin would undoubtedly fight me upon awakening." he continued.
"I..." Lisa's voice wavered, tears welling in her eyes and streaming down her cheeks. Trembling with emotion, she struggled to voice her inner turmoil, her lips quivering with profound sorrow. "I don't know what to do. I just don't know."
Anton offered a resigned shrug. "The wizarding world isn't as idyllic as I once imagined. Despite the presence of magic, it's rife with challenges. I know of someone whose relative transformed into a snake. Like a werewolf, when you lack connections, you may resort to attacking others."
Gazing up at the werewolf with a mix of admiration and pity, he shook his head. "At times, it feels truly hopeless."
Lisa sat despondently on the ground, her gaze fixed on Lupin, her thoughts a tumultuous whirlpool of conflicted emotions.
Anton retrieved a vial of 'Oculus' potion, consumed it, and drew closer.
Enduring the disorienting effects of the potion, he focused on the werewolf's runic symbols, which morphed into a myriad of twisted lines.
Unlike the first time he delved into Lupin's body through the Soul-shifting curse and examined it internally, from an external perspective, although he couldn't discern the deepest intricacies, he could perceive the overall changes more distinctly.
"Amazing."
The runic symbols were as intricate as a piece of art.
"It's far more complex than snakes. No wonder my teacher is so fixated on werewolves." Anton remarked, his pupils widening to mirror a sky full of twinkling constellations.
The customary recording magic displayed numerous luminous lines beside him, meticulously documenting each incremental alteration.
Given the complexity of these transformations, he focused solely on the werewolf's arm, delving into the specifics.
"Tsk tsk tsk, the teacher enjoys boasting. The final stage of a grand experiment marks just the beginning, hehe." Anton commented with a sly grin.
Unaware of Anton's musings, Lisa interjected, placing her hands firmly before Anton and fixing him with a stern gaze. "You are not permitted to criticize him. It's not his fault that he transformed into a werewolf. He is a pitiable, afflicted individual!"
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Anton's mouth. "Of course."