Chapter 564: Treatment (Part 1)
Chapter 564: Treatment (Part 1) (Please subscribe, favorite, and vote!)
“Liam, what happened?” Hermione asked as she followed Liam up the stairs.
“A five-year-old boy was bitten by a Werewolf and is on the brink of death. Professor Lupin needs me to save the boy,” Liam explained succinctly. “So I’m heading to Professor Dumbledore’s office to use the Floo Network to get there as quickly as possible. By the way, it would be best if you came with me; I could use your help.”
“Of course, I’m happy to help save an innocent life,” Hermione nodded, eager to assist in such a noble cause.
Liam wanted Hermione to come along primarily because the boy’s condition was extremely complex and critical. With Hermione, who specialized in the Laws of Death, by his side, their chances of saving the child would be significantly higher.
When they reached the door to the Headmaster's Office, they realized they didn’t know the password to enter. Fortunately, Liam had learned from Lupin during the Christmas holidays how to send messages using a Physical Patronus. He took out his wand and summoned his Silver Crab Patronus, watching it disappear into the wall.
A few seconds later, the Stone Gargoyle at the entrance to the Headmaster's Office moved aside, and the door opened. Liam hurriedly pulled Hermione up the stairs. When they pushed open the door, they saw Professor Dumbledore sitting at his large desk, a thick parchment book spread out before him.
“Liam, you mentioned you needed to use my fireplace to leave urgently. Could you tell me what’s happening?” Dumbledore asked, looking at them over his half-moon glasses.
“Professor, we need to go to Montgomery Manor. Professor Lupin informed us that the youngest Montgomery child, a five-year-old boy, was bitten by a Werewolf and is near death. Hermione and I believe we can save him,” Liam said quickly.
“Oh, if that’s the case, you should go immediately,” Dumbledore stood up and used the Elder Wand to light the fireplace. He then handed them a small silver canister filled with Floo Powder. “Good luck, and I hope the victim recovers.”
“Thank you, Professor,” Liam bowed slightly to Professor Dumbledore, then walked to the fire pit and tossed a pinch of Floo Powder into the flames. With a whoosh, the fire turned emerald green. Liam stepped in and called out, “Montgomery Manor.”
Instantly, he felt as if he were inside a washing machine, his body spinning rapidly. Finally, when he thought he might vomit, he tumbled out of a white-gilded marble fireplace.
As soon as he emerged, he saw Lupin waiting for him. Using his wand, Liam cleared the soot from himself and Hermione, who had just arrived. “Good afternoon, Professor Lupin. How is the boy?”
“The situation is dire,” Lupin pressed his lips together tightly, then gestured for Liam to follow. “But thanks to your Elixirs, his condition hasn’t worsened. The main issue now is the Werewolf Toxin in his system—”
As Professor Lupin gave his introduction, Liam and the others made their way to the second floor. Pushing open a white-painted, gold-trimmed wooden door, Liam saw a child lying on the bed, wrapped in bandages. A middle-aged couple, presumably the child's parents, were anxiously watching over him. Additionally, a man in his fifties with graying hair was feeding the child a golden liquid from a glass vial. This must be the werewolf named Clark.
Upon hearing the door open, everyone in the room turned to look. Lupin quickly approached the parents to explain Liam and the others' identities, while Liam and his companions began the preparations for the treatment.
"Someone—could actually do this to such a small child", Hermione whispered in shock as Liam started setting up the Alchemical Array.
Liam raised his head to look at the child and was equally shocked by the extent of the injuries. The small body was covered with a dozen or so wounds, even the smallest of which was as long as Liam's pinky. Many of the wounds were not just cuts but entire chunks of flesh were missing.
"This was done by a werewolf in its wolf form", Hermione said, her voice trembling with barely contained anger. "And this werewolf is a natural-born one, who was fully conscious when attacking the child."
"How can you tell?" Liam asked, placing a gold plate embedded with gemstones and Mithril Runes on the ground.
"Each of the child's wounds is designed to cause maximum pain and blood loss, yet all of them avoid vital organs", Hermione explained, releasing a Blood Mist from the tip of her wand to try and stop the bleeding. However, she soon frowned. "There seems to be a strange force devouring the child's life force and preventing the wounds from healing."
This must be the effect of the Werewolf Toxin, Liam thought. "You keep using the Blood Mist to stop the bleeding. The rest is up to me."
After five minutes of setting up, Liam had constructed a small golden Alchemical Array in the center of the room. He then signaled to Lupin, who was talking to the parents by the door, that he was ready.
"Alright, let's wait in the living room downstairs", Professor Lupin said, leading the way. The parents looked hesitant but must have been reassured by something Lupin had told them. After a moment of hesitation, they gave their son a serious look and then turned to Liam and Hermione with pleading eyes. Without a word, they turned and left the room with the former Auror, Clark, closing the door behind them.
"Let's begin", Liam said once the others had left. Hermione immediately waved her wand, transforming the blood-red mist into a cluster of tentacles. These tentacles gently lifted the boy from the bed and placed him on the Alchemical Array. The bandages that had been wrapped around the boy were removed, and the wounds were now being blocked by the Blood Mist to prevent further bleeding.
Once the boy was correctly positioned on the Alchemical Array, Liam waved his ringed hand over it. The Alchemical Array was filled with the Elixir of Life, and the silver oil lamps with gold cores ignited, casting a golden flame. As the flame burned, a thin layer of golden mist slowly enveloped the entire Alchemical Array.
When the golden mist completely surrounded the child, his vital signs finally stabilized, indicating that the treatment could officially begin.
(End of Chapter)
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