Chapter 368. Bean
Fell jumped in surprise, his body jerking backward—only to be caught mid-fall by a hand that appeared out of nowhere.
“Careful,” Wade said.
Fell turned his head just in time to see that he’d nearly slammed into the Red Hat of the Magic Puppet. The puppet, which had been as still as a statue moments ago, now slowly rotated its eyes, glaring at him with unmistakable malice.
The face in the Mirror before him looked demonic, and the Magic Puppet behind him radiated menace. Fell froze solid.
Wade patted the puppet’s head. “You go stand by the wall now.”
As Fell started to rise, he watched the puppet obediently nod, then walk to the wall with a stiff, wooden gait, its wooden staff propped like a cane.
Wade sat down beside him. “Don’t worry. That person’s in London.”
“Mm,” Fell murmured, instinctively leaning closer to Wade.
…
Inside the crumbling building, Clare rushed to the window and saw an Owl perched outside. It didn’t flinch at her movement, only tilting its head to regard her with quiet scrutiny.
“Relax,” Clare called back to her companion. “It’s just an Owl.”
She turned back—and saw the Owl lift one claw with deliberate elegance. Clutched in it was a Letter and a Serpent Skin Pouch.
“A Wizard’s Letter?” Fatos hobbled over, his voice sharp with anger. “Are you really starting to contact Wizards now? Don’t you remember how they’ve treated us? Don’t you remember the harm they’ve caused you?”
“I remember,” Clare said evenly. “But I also believe not every Wizard is evil. And if we ever want to escape this curse, only Wizards can help.”
“Wizards can’t help!” Fatos roared. “After thousands of years, if they had a way, there wouldn’t be any Werewolves left!”
He looked furious, like a bear about to charge. But Clare wasn’t afraid. She kept reading the Letter, her voice calm as she countered:
“Just because they couldn’t before doesn’t mean they can’t now. Look at how much the world has changed. Everything is possible.”
“Will believed that too,” Fatos snapped. “But where is he now? I won’t let you become like him!”
Clare ignored him. After finishing the Letter, she fed the Owl a strip of dried meat, then swiftly pulled a scarf over her head and neck, leaving only her eyes and crown exposed.
“You’re going to Diagon Alley?” Fatos blurted. “What did the Letter say? Don’t go! Wait—once I’m better, I’ll—”
“You’re overthinking it,” Clare said. “It’s not someone inside asking me to meet. They sent payment—just a reward. I’m going to buy medicine for you. Real potion. Your wound will heal in a single night.”
She held up the Pouch, letting the golden Galleons spill out—enough to dazzle Fatos’s eyes.
Without waiting for protest, Clare turned and bolted down the stairs, her footsteps fading into the distance.
Fatos stood frozen. He turned back to the window. The Owl still sat there.
He stepped forward, pulled out a scrap of Note Paper, and scribbled in hurried, jagged letters:
[Come to me if you need something. Don’t harm Clare. I’m a Werewolf too.]
He rolled the paper and shoved it into the Owl’s claw—but the bird refused to take it.
Fatos sighed. “Ah… you want payment, huh? Wizards’ Owls are all the same—greedy little devils.”
Muttering under his breath, he tore off a long strip of dried meat and offered it.
“Go on, you little demon. Take the Letter to your master. Tell him—any trouble comes my way, I’ll hunt you to the ends of the world!”
The Owl snatched the meat and the Letter, then spread its wings and soared into the high sky.
It flew high, quickly spotting Clare running through the streets below.
The bulky scarf was awkward—but unavoidable.
People cursed with lycanthropy often bore subtle differences even in their human form. Some were barely noticeable—just slight shifts in features, enough to hide among ordinary humans or wizards. Will, for instance, or Remus Lupin.
Others were unmistakable. Their faces—forehead, eyes, nose, teeth, ears—could all twist into something wild and alien. Anyone could spot them instantly.
Clare’s face had changed noticeably around the mouth and nose. A Wizard could spot her in an instant.
In fact, Wizard children began learning to detect and kill Werewolves from their third year.
Even though the Ministry of Magic had passed laws forbidding the harm of non-human magical creatures, many still took pride in hunting Werewolves.
So Clare had no choice but to work in the Muggle world—where no one knew of Werewolves. To them, she was just a strange-looking woman with a peculiar appearance.
She took jobs where she could wear a mask, and somehow managed to survive.
But to get Wolfsbane Potion, she had to enter the magical world—had to visit Gringotts Wizarding Bank, exchange Galleons. Every trip to Diagon Alley felt like an adventure.
Eva shifted her gaze.
The Letter was delivered. The reply was secured. She was eager to return to her Master.
Without hesitation, she turned and flew toward Hogwarts.
The Mirror’s image faded into swirling white mist, with glimpses of open farmland beneath. Wade finally suppressed the streaming.
“Is that it?” Fell asked.
“Yes,” Wade smiled. “Thanks for your help, Fell.”
“You’re welcome,” Fell said shyly. “Fell is happy to help. The jobs today were mostly done by Zoe and Habi.”
“Then I’ll thank them too. But you were the most important help.” Wade turned to him. “Fell… do you want anything? I can buy it for you.”
Fell swayed slightly, as if trying to speak, then hesitated, holding back.
Wade knew exactly how to handle this.
“It’s okay,” he said gently. “If you’re unsure, just tell me. I want to know.”
The words—soft but firm—relaxed Fell’s expression.
He twisted his long fingers nervously, then whispered: “Fell… um… Fell… can I have a Bean?”
“A Bean?” Wade frowned. “What kind?”
There were plenty of ordinary Beans in the kitchen.
Fell whispered, “Not ordinary. The kind… like Zoe’s. The kind that can be summoned…”
Wade suddenly understood.
His first true Alchemy Artifact hadn’t been the Book of Friends. It had been a small, protective Bean—given to Zoe long ago.
He hadn’t needed it since, and had almost forgotten it entirely.
But the little sprites hadn’t.
Wade smiled. “Sure. You’ll get it tomorrow morning. Your gift.”
Fell’s face lit up with pure joy.
(End of Chapter)
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