Wade nodded. "It should be a Muggle organization pulling the strings behind the scenes."
"Then… won't those people be punished?" Harry said angrily. "Those Muggles who experimented on werewolves and produced those hormones…"
Even though Harry grew up in the Muggle world, his harsh upbringing had led to little sense of belonging with them.
He is a wizard. His parents were wizards and his friends are wizards. As for his Muggle relatives, the Dursleys, they are among the people he despises the most in the world.
But as soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent. No one said a word.
Harry looked around in confusion and saw that both Sirius and Lupin looked grim, while Wade's expressions were unreadable.
"Am I wrong?" Harry pressed on stubbornly. "I don't believe the Muggles are innocent in this! Even if vampires forced them, the technology to extract hormones isn't something just anyone can master…"
"Harry," Wade said, "based on the information I have, the Muggle organization isn't just involved—they are the masterminds. The vampires you believe to be the real culprits are actually under their control."
Harry was stunned. "But… how? They're vampires! Muggles can't even use magic…"
"There are many ways to control people. Magic isn't the only one," Wade said. "Money, power, desire, family… As long as people have wants, it's easy to put a leash on them. Whether they have magic or not doesn't matter."
Both Lupin and Sirius looked shocked.
After a pause, Sirius suddenly asked, "Wade, are you going to see Marchionne later?"
"Yes."
"Oh…" Sirius turned to Lupin and said, "You should go with him… Otherwise, I'm afraid that money hyena will spread his filthy ideas everywhere…"
This time, Lupin didn't argue against Sirius's habit of giving people ridiculous nicknames. Instead, he nodded seriously.
Wade: "…"
"Don't change the subject!" Harry said angrily. "Shouldn't we be investigating the Muggles behind this? They must still have more of that hormone! That's the real danger right now!"
"Harry…" Lupin sighed. "It's not that we don't take it seriously, but any investigation involving Muggles has to be handled with extreme caution…"
Harry looked at him and his eyes were filled with uncertainty.
Sirius reached out and ruffled Harry's hair like he was petting a puppy.
"Harry, this isn't something you need to worry about. We'll take care of it. Now—are you hungry? Want a madeleine? I went all the way to a French pastry shop in London this morning just to get them."
Harry knew he was being brushed off, and his expression clearly showed his frustration. But as the rich aroma of butter and lemon wafted into his nose, his stomach let out an honest growl.
Sirius couldn't help but laugh.
Wade noticed that, as time went on, Sirius exuded more and more of a fatherly presence, which made him seem much more mature.
Perhaps the events surrounding James Potter and Regulus have finally forced this once free-spirited man to grow up and learn the meaning of responsibility.
As Harry picked up the madeleine, his eyes flickered toward Wade, and a thought suddenly struck him.
He no longer pressed Lupin and Sirius for the truth, and instead chose to focus on enjoying his food.
—Since Wade showed no surprise at how these two adults were behaving, it means he already knows the reason behind this incident.
Harry even suspected that Wade had more information than Sirius did.
If that is the case, then why waste time trying to get a straight answer out of two people who are clearly dodging me? I can just wait until we are back at school and ask Wade directly.
...
After lunch, Lupin really did accompany Wade out.
Having just recovered from a serious illness, he looked particularly thin under the sunlight. Along the way, people stopped to check on him and expressed concern over whether he was feeling unwell.
"I did catch a bit of a cold recently," Lupin responded gently. "But don't worry, I'm fully recovered now."
Seeing this, Wade couldn't help but feel relieved—thankfully, Caryll and his group chose to act at night, so the people in Hogsmeade didn't realize that the crazed werewolf was actually Lupin.
Lupin seemed to know what he was thinking and said naturally, "Let's go to the Hog's Head—Madam Rosmerta seems to have figured it out. She's been avoiding me lately."
Wade hesitated mid-step in front of the Three Broomsticks before changing direction to follow Lupin.
"She didn't say anything?"
"Mm… No, not exactly. She's still unsure, just suspicious."
"Has she been trying to investigate you?"
"No… But if I disappear again around the next full moon, she'll probably be certain."
"We're here. Let's go in."
Wade tilted his head up and looked at the tattered sign and the greasy woolen cloth hanging beside it. He took a moment to brace himself before stepping inside.
A strong smell of mutton fat hit him instantly. The windows were covered in layers of grime, and the stone floor looked like it hadn't been cleaned in ages—it was nearly turning into a mud pit.
Inside, a few patrons sat with their faces hidden under heavy coverings. At the sound of the door opening, they glanced over but, seeing it was just an ordinary man and a child, they quickly lost interest and looked away.
The bartender stepped out from behind the counter and asked gruffly, "What do you want?"
He sounded like he was saying—"What are you looking at?"
Wade took a serious look at the man. His face was hidden beneath a messy tangle of gray hair and an unkempt beard. Deep wrinkles lined the corners of his eyes, and the only clean thing on him was the pair of glasses perched on his nose.
This was Albus Dumbledore's younger brother—Aberforth Dumbledore.
It is hard to imagine that these two are actually siblings.
But once the idea settled in, the more Wade looked, the more he noticed the resemblance between them.
"I'd like to rent a room upstairs," Lupin said.
Aberforth's sharp blue eyes scrutinized Wade for a moment, then turned to Lupin with an intense, pressing gaze. He didn't respond immediately.
"We have an appointment with someone," Lupin lowered his voice. "Marco Marchionne."
—Although Lupin's house was nearby, when discussing business, they never invited people into their own homes.
At the mention of that name, Aberforth's expression softened slightly. He grumbled, "Three Galleons. Pay first."
Lupin placed the money on the counter, and Aberforth tossed it into the cash register before leading them upstairs. The wooden stairs creaked loudly under their steps, emphasizing the Inn's state of disrepair.
As they ascended, Wade suddenly halted mid-step.
Above the fireplace, he spotted a painting of a young girl. She was delicate, pale, and had a quiet, well-mannered demeanor.
Wade had seen her before—in an illusion Albus Dumbledore had once conjured.
Ariana Dumbledore.
"What's wrong?" Lupin asked, glancing back.
"Nothing."
Wade replied and quickly caught up with the other two.
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⭐Harry Potter: Becoming a Study God (HP:BSG)- +235 Chapters
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