"HP: Too Late, System!"Chapter 354: Peaceful Guardianship on the Full Moon Night: The Minister of Magic and a Werewolf, Twelve Hours Together
The second match was about to begin.
Sirius Black floated above the octagonal arena, his presence magnetic.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to our second match of the evening. I am your referee, Sirius Black—and, of course—"
He pointed dramatically at the student stands, a mischievous grin on his face.
"—your official sponsor of magical gadgets!"
The students burst into laughter, the tension melting away in an instant.
From the sidelines, Douglas Holmes exchanged an amused glance with Lupin.
"Now then, let's welcome our contestants: from Slytherin—Cassius Warrington; from Ravenclaw—Tom Cruise; from Hufflepuff—Malcolm Shaw; and our ever-charming Auror—Minty!"
As the arena's enchanted light swept over the platform, the four competitors materialized in place.
No sooner had they arrived than the duel erupted into action.
Auror Minty, having clearly learned from Garrick's earlier mistakes, wasted not a second. She fired a Stunning Spell at one of the students, then Apparated out of harm's way, deftly dodging their retaliatory curses.
Her tactics were simple: burn through their Badge Shield charges first—otherwise, the advantage was never truly hers.
Sirius narrated with delight as, within less than a minute, each of the three students had already lost a shield.
"Now that's an Auror for you! I have to admit, they do have their moments. In just sixty seconds, all three students have been hit once..."
Minty's lips curled with satisfaction. Among her peers, her Apparition was the most fluid—three rapid relocations, three precise spells, and the students found themselves unable to organize any effective counterattack.
But just as Minty vanished again, the three students converged at the center of the ring.
In perfect sync, they hurled Stunning Flash Bombs in three separate directions.
A burst of blinding white light filled the arena. Minty reappeared—only to be dazzled. As she realized her peril and tried to Apparate away, she found herself locked in place by powerful magic. Apparition was impossible.
Simultaneously, she felt her body seize up—Full Body-Bind Curse. She couldn't move a muscle.
The trio advanced, grinning with triumph.
Cassius said coldly, "You're quick, Auror—but I'm quicker."
The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students exchanged exasperated glances—he hadn't been so cocky when he got hit earlier.
In the stands, students who'd once again been caught by the flash bombs grumbled and cursed.
Yet no matter how lively or tense the match, the Aurors who weren't competing kept their eyes fixed on Lupin in the stands.
On the platform, both Fudge and Scrimgeour watched Lupin intently. Scrimgeour, especially, sat beside him, wand concealed in his sleeve and always pointed at the werewolf professor.
As the moon began to rise, tension thickened in the air.
The officials from the Wizarding Examinations Authority observed Lupin calmly, waiting to see if things would unfold as Douglas had promised.
This wasn't their first time dealing with Douglas Holmes—even if they didn't trust him, they trusted Dumbledore.
The moon rose above the distant stands.
Lupin's eyes never left the arena, but he spoke in a quiet, steady voice:
"I cherish every chance I get to watch the full moon."
Scrimgeour frowned, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, vigilance undiminished. The moon would hang in the sky all night—this was only the beginning.
What puzzled Scrimgeour most was how utterly unconcerned Dumbledore and Douglas seemed. Both men watched the match with genuine interest—Douglas even took time to explain the magical items in play to the Examinations Authority's officials. Dumbledore chatted idly with Griselda Marchbanks, and Douglas overheard them discussing how to convene a Wizengamot session to formally address werewolf rights.
Only Sirius, circling overhead, seemed to keep a careful watch on the platform, subtly ensuring nothing amiss happened near the VIPs.
Scrimgeour couldn't help but wonder—perhaps their confidence was justified.
He turned back to the arena, quietly marveling at the courage and ingenuity of these young witches and wizards. Perhaps they truly were the hope of the magical world.
He resolved, come what may, that tonight would pass without incident.
The moonlight bathed every face in silver, reflecting a tapestry of complex emotions. The duel continued, tension mounting with every spell.
Aside from the ever-anxious Fudge, it seemed everyone had forgotten the original reason for tonight's gathering. For a moment, it truly felt like they were simply here to witness a spectacular magical duel.
Of course, Fudge was at his wits' end—two matches, two Auror defeats.
He was beginning to grasp just how powerful these magical items were. They didn't just boost combat ability—they could turn the tide of battle. If such tools ever fell into the wrong hands, the consequences would be unimaginable.
At the same time, he kept a wary eye on Lupin. But so far, the improved Wolfsbane Potion seemed to be working. He couldn't help but regret not taking Dumbledore's advice earlier—he should have let reporters from the Daily Prophet in.
Who knows, maybe tomorrow's headline would read: "Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge Personally Oversees New Wolfsbane Potion Clinical Trial at Hogwarts" —or— "Peaceful Guardianship on the Full Moon Night: Minister Spends Twelve Hours with a Werewolf"
Beautiful nights always pass too quickly.
It wasn't until the morning run began the next day that many students remembered—their original focus had been Professor Lupin's lycanthropy, not the duels.
When a few students glanced nervously at Lupin, he quipped, "Fear comes from the unknown. Now that you know my secret—who wants to test their stamina against me? How about we make this morning's task ten laps around the castle?"
The students burst out laughing—and quickly shook their heads.
At breakfast in the Great Hall, the previous night's matches were still the talk of the school.
Especially the final round—Kingsley Shacklebolt's performance had been nearly flawless. His precise spellwork and nimble footwork had earned him a legion of student admirers.
Just then, the latest issue of the Daily Prophet arrived.
Peaceful Guardianship on the Full Moon Night: Minister of Magic Spends Twelve Hours with a Werewolf
[Last night, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry witnessed one of the most groundbreaking events in magical history—Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge personally presided over the Quidditch Pitch, spending the full moon night alongside openly werewolf professor Remus Lupin, overseeing the clinical trial of the new Wolfsbane Potion.
Headmaster Dumbledore hailed the event as "a dual experiment of courage and science," which concluded without a single incident, sounding the first bell for the werewolf rights movement.
...
"Prejudice is a mountain," Minister Fudge remarked as he watched the sunrise. "But someone has to be the first to push the cart."
...
As Minister Fudge noted at the end of his report: "True magic isn't about conquering darkness, but learning to dance with the shadows."
This paper will continue to follow the mass production of the new Wolfsbane Potion and the legislative process for the Werewolf Employment Act.
—Perhaps the dawn of the wizarding world is finally within reach.]
"???"
"Unbelievable!"
At the staff table, Hagrid slammed the table so hard it echoed through the hall.
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