https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-446-Sirius-Black-and-Remus-Lupin/13685498/
Chapter 447: Stay in Hogsmeade
Mabel soared on her Broomstick, watching the village below slowly come alive with light. A sense of exhilarating freedom surged through her, as if the world had opened up just for her.
As the journey neared its end, a deep wave of longing washed over her. She wished—truly wished—she could keep adventuring forever with these beloved Magic Puppets, this bond never to fade.
But the Magic Puppets themselves were already eager to return to their Master.
“Hurry up! Hurry up!” Cloak chided, its voice sharp with impatience.
The Broomstick bristled. “Stop nagging! I’m already at maximum speed! You know how heavy all of you are—why don’t you fly?”
“I can’t fly fast!” Cloak shot back, unapologetic.
“Almost there,” Peter Two said calmly, hoping to end the squabble.
Mabel mustered a weak smile and asked, “Is Wade’s home ahead? Will he be there?”
“Probably not,” Rubik’s Magic Puppet replied. “School’s in session. Master’s likely at the School—or back home visiting his parents.”
“You didn’t say that earlier!” The Broomstick instantly began to veer off course.
Cloak smacked it sharply. “Idiot! Bell’s home is still this way! Without Closet Space, how can we stay by Master’s side?”
The Broomstick fell silent. In the midst of Mihal’s delighted “chirps,” it reluctantly corrected its path.
“Huh?” Rubik’s Magic Puppet suddenly spoke, its voice low and sharp. The lens around its “eye” extended and retracted twice. “The bedroom light… it’s on.”
“What? A thief?” The Broomstick perked up instantly, accelerating sharply.
“No,” Peter Two murmured. “Master must’ve returned.”
“Oh no,” the Broomstick groaned. “If Master finds out we sneaked out… we’re in trouble.”
Cloak grimaced. “We might get punished. Maybe even beaten.”
“I’m not scared of pain,” the Broomstick said bravely. “I don’t feel it anyway.”
“Worse things could happen,” Rubik’s Magic Puppet added ominously. “Master might decide he needs a more obedient Magic Puppet. We could have our consciousness erased… and replaced with new thoughts.”
“What? That’s the same as dying!” Cloak gasped, then glanced enviously at Mihal. “At least this big bird doesn’t have to worry about that.”
Mihal gave it a sharp wing-slap—but the Broomstick suddenly swerved, throwing off the blow.
Mabel cried out. The Broomstick was now weaving wildly, clearly terrified.
Her heart softened. “Maybe… maybe you should hide for now. I’ll go ask Mr. Gray. If he really plans to… I’ll help you escape.”
“No, no—no!” The Broomstick trembled, yet flew on with unwavering resolve. “I can’t abandon Master!”
Mabel glanced around. When the Magic Puppets chose not to show emotion, they were utterly expressionless—impossible to read.
Yet none of them mentioned escaping again.
She had been torn about whether to face Wade. Now, that worry had vanished. All she could think about was the Puppets’ fate.
What if… what if Wade is truly angry? I’ll protect them. I won’t let them erase their minds…
A cold wind howled past. The small window grew larger in her vision, glowing with light from within. The silhouette of someone inside was barely visible.
Peter Two, seeing Sirius Black and Remus Lupin in the room, froze. He quickly pulled Cloak over himself, adjusted the hood, and subtly increased his height by a few centimeters.
After all, he was a Magic Puppet—crafted from alchemical materials. With a few careful shifts, he now looked completely unlike Peter Pettigrew.
Peter Two exhaled in relief. Good thing I reacted in time.
They reached the window. Under the watchful eyes of the three wizards inside, each Puppet passed through one by one, landing softly on the floor.
Mabel had already made up her mind. She stepped forward the moment she met Wade’s gaze. “Mr. Gray, please don’t blame them for acting without your command. It was my fault—I’m the one who—”
“I understand,” Wade said, smiling warmly. “I’ve heard everything, Mabel. Thank you for coming to rescue me. And thank you—boys—your performance exceeded even my expectations.”
Mabel blinked, then smiled. The weight on her chest lifted.
The other Puppets, already glowing with pride, began to boast. Cloak waved dismissively. “Heh, I didn’t do much… Master’s too kind.”
“Even if you didn’t help much,” Broomstick said, “we all know you gave it your best.” Then it added, “Unlike me—I was flying the whole time, never rested. But it was worth it.”
Cloak stared, silent. Then, without warning, it wrapped around the Broomstick and began beating it mercilessly.
“Hey! What are you doing?!” the Broomstick cried, flailing and slamming into walls.
Wade sighed, then opened Closet Space and tossed both Puppets inside. The others followed quietly.
The room fell silent.
Sirius Black burst into laughter. “Wade, your Magic Puppets are so strange—and funny.”
Remus Lupin, having studied Peter Two closely, nodded. “You made these yourself, didn’t you?”
“Yeah,” Wade said, smiling faintly. “I thought they’d be quiet, obedient types. But they’re all… surprisingly lively.”
“That’s the magic of it,” Sirius grinned. “Every Puppet has its own personality. I know a Ministry of Magic employee whose Puppet is so shy, it can’t even argue. So he bought a second one—full of insults—to yell at people for him.”
Wade raised an eyebrow. He felt a flicker of surprise. Sirius Black didn’t seem burdened anymore—there was a lightness in him, a hint of his younger, carefree self.
He filed the observation away.
Then he turned to Mabel. “Where were you hiding all this time? Professor Dumbledore’s been worried.”
Mabel froze. She unconsciously began tracing circles in the floor. “I… I stayed in empty attics, places no one went.”
“That must’ve been hard,” Remus said gently. “To keep going… that takes strength.”
Tears welled in Mabel’s eyes. She swallowed hard. “It wasn’t that bad… I’m not easy to beat.”
“Since you’re here now,” Wade offered, “why not come with us to Hogwarts? No need to worry about Dementors—they won’t come near the school.”
Unlike in the original timeline, Dumbledore had grown firmer. After the train attack, Dementors were banned from approaching the school grounds. And Fudge, ever the pushover, had backed down once Dumbledore stood firm.
Mabel looked up, then quickly looked down. “No… I can’t. I know you mean well, but I don’t want to trouble you. I’m not a Hogwarts student. I’d stand out too much.”
“How about Hogsmeade?” Remus suggested. “No Dementors there. Hogwarts students often visit. You could stay at my place—”
He paused, then added, “—or better yet, with Sirius. We’re neighbors. If anything happens, we can help each other.”
“Exactly,” Sirius said, seeing her hesitation. “You crossed the sea to save Wade in a foreign country, with no help. You’re not a stranger—you’re a friend. Accepting help isn’t a burden. It’s a gift.”
Mabel hesitated. She glanced at Wade. He gave her a soft nod.
Finally, she managed a small, shy smile. “Thank you.”
Dumbledore and Wade had both saved her before. Now, knowing she’d live close to both of them, she felt safer than she had in years.
Wade accompanied her and Remus Lupin Apparated to Hogsmeade. They tidied the small room, and Remus moved his things to Sirius Black’s house, preparing essentials for Mabel.
“It’s late,” Wade said. “We’ll buy supplies tomorrow.” He handed her a large sack of Galleons.
With Closet Space restored, his supplies and funds returned. He also left her a few bottles of Polyjuice Potion and a small bag of Ferdinand’s hair—collected long ago.
“This Potion lets you change your appearance. No one will recognize you. Drink a sip every hour if you go out.”
The generosity overwhelmed her. She tried to refuse.
Wade looked into her eyes. “I know you’re strong. But everyone needs help sometimes. When you risked everything to save me—why treat my help like a burden?”
Mabel swallowed, then nodded. “Thank you,” she whispered, eyes glistening, head down.
“Don’t be so formal,” Wade smiled. “I’ll send you my study notes. If Silent Shadow emerged because magic was suppressed for too long, then embracing your magic—learning to use it properly—might help control it.”
Mabel had once hated her magic, blaming it for losing her parents, for the endless pain. But now, her thoughts were changing.
She paused, then nodded. “I’ll learn.”
“Good,” Wade said. “We’ll work on it together.”
…
Later, Sirius stayed behind. Remus Lupin Apparated with Wade back to the Gray residence.
The streets were quiet. As they walked, Remus said, “Wade… once Silent Shadow forms, it’s not easy to let go.”
“I know,” Wade replied softly. “But we have to hold on to hope.” He looked ahead. “Silent Shadow is a magical creature—born of inner darkness. If she gets care, safety, and proper magical education, we might just keep her from breaking loose.”
“I’m glad you understand,” Remus sighed. “Keeping her in Hogsmeade means we can act fast if her power flares. No repeat of what happened with Credence—almost exposing magic to Muggles.”
Wade nodded. He knew their motives weren’t purely kind. They wanted to contain the risk. But their help was real. And if disaster struck, Sirius and Remus would be the first to face it.
“There’s one more thing,” Remus said gently. “Silent Shadow harms the host—body and mind. The Silent One rarely lives past ten.
“Credence was an exception. But even he grew weak fast. That’s the cost.”
Remus had spent weeks digging through old records. Mabel seemed fine now, but how long could she last?
He didn’t want Wade to face the grief of losing a friend—unprepared. Better to keep distance, just in case.
“I know, Remus,” Wade said quietly.
They reached the Gray residence. Remus stopped, watching Wade enter. A barely audible sigh escaped him.
…
Wade wasn’t as heavy-hearted as Remus thought.
He knew more about Silent Shadow than anyone. The moment he’d seen Mabel unleash it, everything clicked.
And he’d “seen” more deaths than Remus could imagine. If he carried every future “death” in his heart, he’d be broken before the day ended.
So for now, he stayed hopeful. Dumbledore and Scamander had tried. They failed. But their experience wasn’t wasted.
Maybe this time… it wouldn’t be.
(End of Chapter)
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