Chapter 307: The Victim
Chapter 307: The Victim
"There really are werewolves in the Forbidden Forest!" exclaimed Hannah, her face filled with shock. Under Professor Smith's guidance, they had all learned about the tragic and dangerous nature of werewolves.
"I don't think so," said Albert, who had never heard of werewolves in the Forbidden Forest. "Werewolves are still human; they need to eat and sleep. I doubt any werewolf would wander into the Forbidden Forest just to play survival games."
"Should we secretly follow them?" George suggested, clearly curious about the situation.
"With Dumbledore there, do you think you can keep anything hidden from him?" Albert retorted. "I'll find time to talk to Hagrid later and get to the bottom of this."
"Wow, a werewolf! And you're so calm about it?" Lee Jordan muttered in disbelief.
"What other reaction do you expect from me?" Albert replied, giving Lee Jordan an exasperated look. "Rest assured, Professor Dumbledore will handle the werewolf situation."
While Dumbledore might not kill the werewolf, he would definitely ensure that any werewolves near Hogwarts were driven away.
"Aren't you the least bit curious?"
"No, staying away from them is the wisest course of action." Albert shook his head, puzzled as to how a werewolf could have ended up in the Forbidden Forest. Could that unfortunate poacher be the werewolf?! The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
After all, not many people would be willing to offer werewolves employment, and while hunting Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest was dangerous, it could also be lucrative.
However, the reality of the situation differed from Albert's imagination.
At that moment, on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest, Dumbledore was accompanying Hagrid toward the hunting cabin.
The werewolf had been locked up by Hagrid.
When Dumbledore entered the cabin, he saw the man bound tightly to a chair with iron chains. The werewolf appeared weak and had fallen into an unconscious state.
"This guy is one of Fenrir Greyback's followers. I've had dealings with them before," Hagrid explained. "I had to ensure the safety of the Hogwarts students, so I locked him up tight."
"You did the right thing," Dumbledore said, not blaming Hagrid. "But what happened to him?"
"I'm not sure. I found him like this, and he didn't seem to be in his right mind. Now he seems to have passed out completely," Hagrid said, patting the man's cheek with a frown. "I suspect he might be a poacher. Aragog mentioned that there are wizards hunting Acromantulas."
Dumbledore examined the unconscious man and waved his wand, casting spells, but to little effect.
"It seems I need a little help!" Dumbledore waved his wand, and a ball of white light flew toward the castle.
Soon after, Snape arrived.
"Dumbledore, where did you find this werewolf?" Snape asked, his tone unfriendly. "I don't think anyone would want a werewolf roaming around Hogwarts School."
"Hagrid found him in the Forbidden Forest. We need to understand why he's here and what he's doing," Dumbledore said.
"He's been poisoned, a non-lethal toxin, but it has weakened him. Also, I suspect he may have been cursed with the Imperius Curse," Snape deduced after examining the man's condition.
In fact, Dumbledore had considered using Legilimency on the man directly, but given the werewolf's poor condition, he decided to have Snape help treat him first.
"I suggest you don't bother curing him of the poison. Let him remain weak. At least he won't pose a threat to us or the students of Hogwarts," said a voice from outside the cabin. It was Professor Smith, who entered and narrowed his eyes at the werewolf bound to the chair. "I heard you had captured a werewolf, and it seems that's indeed the case."
"What are your insights?" Snape asked, his tone less than friendly.
"I suggest we use Legilimency on him directly. I recall you're an expert in that field, so we can figure out his intentions," Professor Smith said coldly. "If his target is a student of Hogwarts, I think he should spend the rest of his life in Azkaban."
Hearing Professor Smith mention Azkaban, Hagrid's neck shrunk slightly, as the place had left him with unpleasant memories.
"I agree with that suggestion," Snape said, a rare occurrence. "Letting him spend his life in Azkaban is a fitting choice."
"Let's wait for him to wake up and understand the situation before making any decisions," Dumbledore said to Snape. He would never presume guilt based solely on the man's identity as a werewolf.
Snape nodded and began preparing a potion, taking out a crucible and various ingredients from his pockets. It didn't take long for him to successfully brew the potion.
The unfortunate werewolf soon regained consciousness and was startled to find himself surrounded by a group of people.
"Legilimens!"
Without wasting time on pleasantries, Dumbledore delved into the man's memories.
The werewolf's fragmented memories flashed through Dumbledore's mind, but they didn't provide a clear picture of what had transpired.
The man's name was Joreman, a werewolf and follower of the infamous werewolf leader, Fenrir Greyback.
A few days ago, he had been attacked by someone using a curse, and before he could understand what was happening, he found himself in the Forbidden Forest with another werewolf.
They had been trapped in the forest for several days, and just as they managed to break free from the Imperius Curse and were about to escape, they ran into Hagrid.
Joreman had been hit in the knee with an arrow and captured by Hagrid.
Initially, Hagrid had thought he was a poacher, but upon seeing Joreman's pitiful state, a vague memory stirred, and he decided to bring him back to the hunting cabin to uncover the reason for his presence in the Forbidden Forest.
Along the way, Hagrid had encountered Ronan the centaur, who informed him that the man was a werewolf.
It was then that Hagrid remembered who he was.
"He's probably done plenty of bad things, and I suggest sending him to Azkaban prison!" Professor Smith said coldly. "Moreover, I think it's necessary to search the nearby forest to prevent the other werewolf from lingering around Hogwarts."
"Severus, please contact the Ministry of Magic. Rowena, go and notify the other professors to help search the entire Forbidden Forest," Dumbledore instructed.
Dumbledore agreed, as the safety of the Hogwarts students was paramount. With Easter approaching, the school's supervision of the students would weaken during the holiday, and they couldn't afford to take any risks.
Half an hour later, Fudge arrived with four Aurors in tow, hurrying to the scene.
Fudge believed that Dumbledore's private use of Legilimency on a werewolf was irregular, but when he heard that the werewolf was one of Fenrir Greyback's followers and that they might pose a threat to the students, he became alarmed. If a student of Hogwarts were to be bitten by a werewolf, it would be huge news, and he, as the Minister of Magic, would suffer the consequences.
"You're right. Azkaban prison will be the best place for him," Fudge said, nodding at Professor Smith. He then instructed the Aurors to take the restrained Joreman away.
That day, Dumbledore and the professors searched the Forbidden Forest near Hogwarts, and even the centaurs were persuaded to help look for the other werewolf.
The commotion finally died down the next day when Hagrid found the other werewolf. Unfortunately for him, he was already dead. In the end, Hagrid traded two deer to Aragog in exchange for the werewolf's body, preventing him from becoming a meal for the Acromantulas.
(End of Chapter)
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