Chapter 524: Werewolves
Chapter 524: Werewolves
By the time Liam followed the path through several groves of trees and arrived at the living quarters, he found that Lupin's description couldn't begin to capture the joy the Werewolves felt upon discovering they would be sharing Christmas with him. Every Werewolf who saw Liam would excitedly approach to hug or shake his hand. Liam felt his current treatment was similar to how Harry was treated when he first entered the Leaky Cauldron in his first year.
Soon, they arrived outside a room in the living area. Through the glass window on the wall, they could see a middle-aged Former Auror Werewolf speaking on a platform, with about a dozen Werewolf students listening below. However, apart from a little girl named Mary, who sat in the front row with a smile and listened attentively, everyone else looked utterly disheartened.
"What class is being taught here?" Liam asked curiously, as he couldn't imagine what kind of class would have adults and children together.
"Grammar class", Lupin said with a sigh. "Many Werewolves were abandoned by their families when they were young. After testing, we found that many of them have problems with reading and writing, so we have to teach them basic literacy. Besides that, we've encountered a myriad of other issues."
"What kind of issues?" Hermione asked.
"Because we are the first, and possibly the only, group of good Werewolves to gather together in nearly a century", Lupin said with a bitter smile. "We now have 37 people, which includes most of the good Werewolves in Britain and some from other European countries. After coming together, we, who previously lived in isolation for safety, must learn how to survive in a community. This has led to countless problems, but everyone hopes this community will thrive, so they are willing to make compromises. We are slowly maturing, albeit with a few stumbles."
Seeing the weary look on Lupin's face, Liam felt a bit guilty. After all, the idea of bringing Werewolves together was his, but since he was in school, all the responsibilities fell on Lupin.
Lupin noticed Liam's thoughts and waved his hand with a smile. "Don't blame yourself. This work is incredibly rewarding for me, and it has been the happiest time of my life."
Hearing Lupin's words, Liam smiled. He was right; Liam could no longer see the former look of sorrow on Lupin's face. Although he looked tired, he was full of energy and his eyes were filled with hope.
"By the way, where will you be spending Christmas this year? I remember the Weasley family's Christmas party invited both of us, as well as you and Tonks", Liam asked, recalling something.
"I'll definitely stay here", Lupin said seriously. "In the past, I went to other places for Christmas because I had no home, but now... this is my home. Tonks will come to visit me this Christmas, along with some relatives and friends of the Werewolves who have maintained contact. Speaking of which, what about you two? I remember your families are not in Britain."
"We'll be spending the entire holiday here. See, we even brought our luggage", Hermione patted her small bag, which had been enchanted with a high-level Undetectable Extension Charm. "This place is like a second home to us."
From then on until Christmas, Liam and the others stayed and interacted with the Werewolves, treating two Werewolves per week. By Christmas Eve, when Liam and Hermione emerged from the Healing Room, exhausted, they had treated 18 Werewolves, surpassing the number of Quileute werewolves.
"Thank you very much, you've worked so hard." As they stepped out, a large group of Werewolves stood in two neat rows at the Healing Room's entrance and bowed deeply.
"This is—", Liam felt deeply moved, and Hermione's eyes glistened with tears.
"We heard that people from the Orient express their gratitude this way, so we decided to show our thanks in the same manner." At this point, everyone started walking towards the Great Hall, with Lupin standing beside Liam explaining, while Hermione was pulled aside by Tonks for a private conversation.
Well, it's quite normal for Europeans to not distinguish the cultural differences among Far Eastern countries, let alone for this group of mostly reclusive Werewolves. Liam felt that as long as the sentiment was there, the form didn't matter.
Soon, they arrived at a brightly lit hall. The entire hall was decorated in vibrant colors, and in the center stood a small but dazzling Christmas Tree adorned with glittering ornaments.
Before the meal, Lupin gave a brief speech to the nearly fifty Werewolves, Wizards, and Muggles gathered below. In his speech, he addressed the recent situation. "As you all know, the forces of evil have returned. There are those led by Greyback, the evil Werewolves who take pleasure in killing, and there is also a group of Dark Wizards who are even more cruel and bloodthirsty. They will not tolerate the existence of Werewolves who do not stand with them. In short, we must unite and remain vigilant, and always remember our motto—"
At this moment, all the Werewolves stood up and, led by Lupin, recited in low, resonant voices: "Snow falls, cold winds blow, the lone wolf dies, the pack endures."
"Are you prepared to lead everyone into this war, even though it may be larger and more brutal than the last one?" After the banquet, as people gathered in small groups to drink tea and eat snacks, Liam asked Lupin, who was sitting beside him.
"Actually, we cherish our current lives and do not wish to be drawn into the war. But it is clear that the choice to participate is not ours to make. It's better to be well-prepared than to be dragged into the war unprepared." Lupin paused here, as if considering whether to continue.
"Is there something you're worried about?" Liam, noticing Lupin's hesitation, asked softly.
"It's like this: all the Werewolves, including myself, hope to collaborate with you in the war." Lupin seemed a bit uncomfortable as he spoke. He felt that this war shouldn't require the blood of a minor like Liam.
However, the long-isolated Werewolves needed human allies who could fight alongside them, and the only Wizards who were recognized by all the Werewolves were Liam and Hermione. Their contributions to healing the Werewolves demonstrated that they possessed the strength to undertake tasks usually reserved for adults. After much deliberation, Lupin decided to bring up the matter.
"Why not collaborate with Dumbledore? He is more powerful and has more prestige than I do." Liam asked.
"If it were just me, I would definitely choose to work with the Headmaster. But now I have to be responsible for all the Werewolves here." Lupin's mood seemed to darken. "Even in the Order of the Phoenix, most Wizards still do not trust Werewolves, and the Werewolves do not trust those Wizards. You are our only option."
"If that's the case, I am happy to take on this responsibility. While I can't guarantee the extent of their success, I will do my best to bring them all back alive." Liam was pleased that the Werewolves were willing to join the war under his command.
Previously, the only reliable people Liam could call upon were Rose Crystal, Gill, and Hermione. Even though their actions could cause some damage to the enemy, they were often powerless to prevent many tragedies. Now, with the addition of the Werewolves, Liam felt that with adequate manpower, they could achieve much greater results.
"Ensuring that my packmates return home safely is my top priority, and I believe you can make it happen." Lupin firmly shook Liam's hand.
(End of Chapter)
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