Chapter 291: The Werewolf's Dilemma
Chapter 291: The Werewolf's Dilemma
Werewolves possessed keen senses, and although the girl named Claire seemed distracted, she immediately became alert and looked over when Vendar entered the alley.
Seeing that it was an unfamiliar wizard, Claire shifted to the side, leaning against the wall to make way.
However, the stranger stopped not far in front of her.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation," the stranger said gently. "But I just heard you say... you're a werewolf?"
"Ah!" The girl was startled and hastily said, "Sorry, I... I'll leave right away!"
Werewolves were discriminated against even within the wizarding world, and Claire, in her haste to leave, accidentally stepped on a jar on the ground, causing her to fall backward. Her hands flailed in panic.
Suddenly, her arm was grabbed, and she was pulled back.
Claire stared with wide eyes, looking startled, and then stammered, "Th-thank you."
"Don't worry, I mean no harm," Vendar said, extending his hand again. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Vendar, a wizard, as you can see."
"Ah, I... my name is Claire."
Claire cautiously extended her hand and shook Vendar's lightly, her face still bearing a nervous expression, but slightly more relaxed.
A few minutes later, they sat outside an ice cream shop. Vendar ordered two ice creams and handed one to Claire. She scooped a small spoonful and put it in her mouth, then narrowed her eyes slightly, revealing a very satisfied expression.
"It's so delicious," she sighed, then smiled. "Thank you for the ice cream."
"Don't mention it," Vendar said.
"Um... what did you want to talk to me about?"
Holding her spoon, Claire spoke softly, "As you can see, I'm a werewolf who was once a Muggle. I don't know magic, I'm not very strong... and I don't have any money."
Vendar fell silent for a moment. Seeing Claire's tense and ready-to-flee demeanor, he said, "Actually, I'm researching the possibility of curing lycanthropy, so I'm looking for a cooperative werewolf... I think I heard you say you're willing to help test the potion..."
Upon hearing Vendar's purpose, Claire's eyes lit up. Without waiting for him to finish, she eagerly nodded and said, "Yes, yes! I'll do anything if it means I can stop being a werewolf!"
"But there are risks involved in testing the potion... and I can't offer much in terms of compensation..."
Seeing her enthusiasm, Vendar pretended to be hesitant.
Claire bit her lip and said, "It's okay, I don't need money!"
"That's not possible. I can't let you work for free."
Vendar smiled and added, "Ideally, this research would benefit from a control group for comparison. Can you introduce me to a werewolf with magical abilities to join our study? That way, I can eliminate magical interference and pinpoint the factors causing lycanthropy."
"Wil..." Claire hesitated before saying, "Wil might not be available. He's busy with work... Can I introduce you to other magical werewolves instead?"
"Sure, that's fine," Vendar said casually. "Do you know many werewolves?"
"We have our own community, and we help each other out. Because... as you know, most wizards can't accept the existence of werewolves," Claire explained, trying to sound natural.
"How do you manage your daily life, then?"
"What do you do during the day?" Vold asked.
"I usually find odd jobs in Muggle cities, like being a restaurant server or handing out flyers," Claire said softly. "Because I can't work before or after my transformations, I often get fired."
"What about during your transformations?"
"I just lock myself up in advance and take a few sleeping pills... but they're not very effective. I've heard the Elixir of Life and Death is very effective, but... potions are too expensive..."
Claire forced a smile, as if to say 'it's not a big deal', and unconsciously pulled her sleeves down, covering her hands up to her wrists.
Even in July, she still wore long-sleeved shirts and pants, with an old scarf wrapped around her neck.
But even so, Vold could still see a long, thin scar near her ear.
He recalled what he had read in the book about werewolves.
For example, after transforming on the night of the full moon, werewolves become extremely violent and indiscriminately attack anyone within their field of vision, even if they are family or friends.
The Ministry of Magic mandates that werewolves must lock themselves up during the full moon to prevent harming others.
However, werewolves without a target do not calm down; their blood still boils with agitation and bloodlust. Only in the company of other animals do werewolves become more peaceful.
If they lack companionship, they turn on themselves, attacking their own bodies until they wake up in the morning, covered in wounds, and regain their human form, remembering all their actions during their wolf form.
This process is obviously very painful.
Therefore, law-abiding werewolves appear more haggard and weak, while werewolves who let themselves go gradually lose their humanity.
The purpose of the Wolfsbane Potion is to allow werewolves to remain rational during their transformations, preventing them from harming others or themselves, and peacefully getting through the night.
Even so, this time is still difficult to endure, which is why Lupin always appeared especially weak in the days following his transformations until Sirius, after his release from prison, always kept him company, and Lupin visibly regained his health.
It was only at this moment that Vold suddenly understood why, when he first saw Wil, he felt something was off, but couldn't pinpoint what it was.
—That person's mental state was too exuberant.
Although he was as thin as Lupin used to be, he showed no signs of darkness or depression. Instead, he was enthusiastic and smiled so brightly that it felt almost aggressive to Vold.
Of course, one couldn't say that someone was definitely troubled just because they were cheerful... After all, Wil could be a naturally ebullient person, able to face any setback with a happy heart.
Or perhaps his recent living conditions had improved, so he expressed his joyful mood in a more exaggerated manner.
Vold lightly caressed the handle of his wand, and in an instant, countless thoughts flooded his mind.
"Um... Mr. Vener..."
Claire finished her ice cream and asked quietly, "When do I start working? What preparations do I need to make?"
Vold had only been looking for an excuse to start a conversation, and he was about to respond casually. But before he could open his mouth, he saw Claire's eyes.
They were filled with a strong desire, hoping that his casual words would become reality, but deep down, she seemed to know it was impossible.
So in those eyes, there was both dependence and pleading, as well as a deep-seated fear.
(End of Chapter)
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