Chapter 203. Lycanthropy
"Much as I'd like to help them," Adrian Wesson sighed, "I simply don't need that many hands."
He suddenly remembered the isolated werewolf village he had encountered in Albania.
A quiet, self-sufficient life like that might actually be a good choice for werewolves.
"By the way," Adrian remembered something and said to Lupin, "do you recall that thing I gave you not long after you started working here?"
"What?" Lupin looked blank.
"A golden apple."
Only then did Lupin catch up.
"Oh, I still have it," he smiled. "Adrian, you pay me well enough that I haven't needed to spend that gold…"
Lupin had actually taken the golden apple as real gold, and Adrian couldn't help wanting to cover his face.
"It's food," he said, half amused, half helpless.
"Oh?" Lupin didn't react much. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I think I put it in the storeroom. I do hope it hasn't rotted."
Adrian wasn't entirely sure about the shelf life of a golden apple, but it probably wouldn't spoil as easily as ordinary fruit.
"Leave that be. We've something more effective now."
Adrian smiled mysteriously, rummaged in his pocket for a while, and finally produced a small golden vial.
It was the Purifying Potion.
In fact, ever since the newest batch of Purifying Potion had been brewed, he'd wanted Lupin to try it, but the chance hadn't come up.
Lupin stared curiously at the golden vial. "Is this…"
"It might do something for that furry little problem of yours."
Adrian gave the vial a shake; the liquid within shimmered with a golden light.
Lupin's eyes flew wide; his fingers trembled of their own accord. "You mean…"
"But don't get your hopes too high just yet," Adrian cut off his rising excitement in time.
To be honest, he couldn't guarantee this would work on lycanthropy.
Lupin took the vial from Adrian with shaking hands.
He knew that if the Purifying Potion could truly treat lycanthropy, it would shake the entire wizarding world.
The wizarding world had suffered werewolves for far too long.
Lupin carefully twisted off the cap and brought it to his nose.
There was a fresh scent like a forest after rain, with the faintest hint of apple.
He drew a deep breath and, to his astonishment, found the scent left him calmer than he had ever felt.
"Just drink it straight."
Adrian smiled slightly, watching intently; he wanted to see whether his Purifying Potion really worked against lycanthropy.
By rights, the Purifying Potion could cleanse the effects of Dark magic within the body or the surrounding environment—curses and the like.
But lycanthropy was a magical disease, and Adrian wasn't quite certain.
Lupin nodded, tipped back his head, and drained all the golden liquid.
He froze, as if quietly feeling out the changes in his body.
"Any changes?" Adrian asked, curious.
"A bit sweet…" Lupin answered on reflex.
"I didn't ask you to describe the taste."
"Oh!" Lupin came back to himself and gave an awkward little laugh. "In fact, aside from feeling a bit lighter, there doesn't seem to be much change."
"Then perhaps it failed," Adrian murmured to himself.
The light in Lupin's eyes dimmed a little.
"It's all right," he waved a hand. "I shouldn't have hoped too much to begin with…"
Just then, Adrian keenly noticed a faint, smoke-like blackness seeping from above Lupin's head.
It was so dim as to be almost imperceptible, and it faded quickly into the air.
Lupin himself seemed unaware.
"Eldra."
Adrian silently communed with the Tree of Wisdom.
Soon, a line of information surfaced in his mind.
[Name: Remus Lupin]
[Status: Lycanthropy (Imperfect)]
Imperfect lycanthropy?
A glint flashed in Adrian's eyes. "Wait—perhaps it didn't fail."
Lupin looked up, puzzled. "But I truly don't feel…"
"We'll know come the full moon," Adrian said with certainty, nodding. "That's next week."
Seeing how confident Adrian was, a little hope stirred in Lupin's chest.
"Ding-dong!"
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"One moment, please!"
Adrian headed for the door. At this hour, it had to be—"Harry?"
Adrian opened the door to find Harry outside, giving him a little wave. "Good morning, sir."
"Now that's a surprise," Adrian said. "I thought you'd choose to rest at home a bit longer."
"No one would want to stay in that place, you know? When I went back to my room yesterday, Dudley had turned it upside down…"
Harry pulled a face. "And this morning, somebody got into my room…"
Before Harry could finish, a small figure stepped out from behind him.
"Dobby?" Adrian looked a little puzzled. "Why did you come with Harry?"
Dobby hunched his shoulders and said in a small voice, "Dobby… Dobby got lost, but Dobby knew the noble Harry Potter's home was nearby."
With dark circles under his eyes, Harry sighed. "I spent the whole night tidying my room, and then got jolted awake this morning…"
"An accident," Adrian nodded, gently. "You can go take a rest now. There's a spare room upstairs."
Harry nodded, rubbed his darkened eye sockets, and asked, "So, what's this House-elf here to do?"
Adrian led Harry and Dobby into the shop and explained, "As a matter of fact, Dobby is my newly hired employee."
Harry didn't react much to that.
Just an employee.
In truth, he felt Adrian did need more help.
Lupin, though, was stunned for a moment at the sight of Dobby.
He pulled Adrian aside and said in a low voice, "Where did you get a House-elf? House-elves can't be hired casually. They'll always obey their masters' orders; even if they've lost their current master, they can't be trusted."
Adrian smiled faintly; Lupin wasn't wrong.
It was like those masterless House-elves up for sale on the black market—everyone knew they made excellent servants, yet few dared buy them.
"You can trust Dobby," Adrian told Lupin something even more astonishing. "He used to serve the Malfoy family. He wasn't willing to work under a master who'd once been a Death Eater, so I used a few little tricks…"
Lupin's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.
But seeing how firm Adrian was, he didn't press the point.
"All right," Adrian clapped his hands. "Perhaps you can help Dobby get familiar with the tasks he'll need to do next."
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