Chapter 100 . Born a Werewolf
"I was born a werewolf."
Lynn and Cedric exchanged bewildered glances.
One came from a family with a strong magical tradition, the other was a learned scholar, and both had read many magical texts, but they had never heard of werewolves being born that way.
Ian paid no attention to their reactions. His voice was calm, as if he were telling a story completely unrelated to himself.
"My mother died because of my birth, and my father, after seeing my appearance, denied that I was his son. He said that my mother had shamelessly committed adultery with an animal to give birth to such a monster.
He wanted to drown me when I was born, but my grandfather stopped him by pointing a hunting rifle at his head.
I was sent to the countryside to live with my grandfather.
Five years passed like this, until I was five years old, when my grandfather passed away, and my father took me back.
Because no matter how much he indulged in debauchery and promiscuity, he couldn't have a normal child.
The doctor gave him a diagnosis: he was sterilized and would never be able to have another child ." There would be children besides me.
To prevent the title from ending and to avoid becoming a disgrace to the family, I became his only choice.
But even so, he never considered building a genuine father-son relationship; he still loathed, hated, and feared me.
The servants in that household were the same; they were outwardly respectful to me, but behind my back, they constantly cursed me as a monster.
Every time I transformed during the full moon, they would lock me in the cellar. Even after the full moon night had passed, they wouldn't let me out. They would use this excuse to keep me inside for three days, only bringing me water through a small hole.
I knew that each of them would rather I starve to death in the cellar.
When I was nine, I displayed my magical talent again. A servant, at my father's behest, poisoned the dog my grandfather had left me. I lost control, and the magic that erupted from me blasted him off the third floor.
He died.
I killed someone when I was nine, which is why I can see Thestrals.
My father didn't reveal that I had killed someone. He had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and didn't have many years left. If I were arrested, the dukedom would truly fall into the hands of some distant relative who had no connection to him whatsoever. So,
my murder was kept secret.
After that incident, the servants in the house were even more afraid of me. They didn't even dare to speak to me, and no one dared to lock me in the cellar during the full moon.
And so it went until last July, when Headmaster Dumbledore himself came to my house and told my father, who was now confined to his sickbed, that I was actually a wizard and that I had to go to wizarding school.
My father was furious. He wouldn't allow me to come to Hogwarts because he planned to give me a comprehensive aristocratic education, introduce me to high society, and gradually have me take over the family business and title.
Ultimately, Professor Dumbledore persuaded him, and I was allowed to attend Hogwarts for a year. How much magic I learned wasn't important; the key was controlling the magic within me.
But I had my own ideas. I tried to find the secret of why I was born a werewolf at Hogwarts. At first, I even naively thought that the magic school might have a way to turn werewolves back into normal humans.
But the more I learned, the more absurd my fantasy seemed.
Then I met you all, and I realized that staying at Hogwarts might not be so bad. At least you were willing to sit beside me and chat while I transformed.
This summer, after returning home, my father, unusually, accompanied me on a beach vacation. He had given up hope of curing his illness and just wanted to comfortably enjoy the rest of his life. He boasted to me about the luxurious life of the upper class, but to me, it wasn't as interesting as a simple illumination charm. He introduced me to the sons and daughters of his cronies, hoping I could become their friend, but their conversations only disgusted me and left me feeling nothing.
I missed Hogwarts terribly, missed the life and friends there, so I disobeyed my father's orders and boarded the train back to Hogwarts.
He suddenly stopped and turned to look at Lynn and Cedric.
He looked like he was smiling, but Lynn and Cedric weren't sure.
They had never seen Ian smile before, let alone in his werewolf form.
"I had a falling out with my father. He said if I dared to leave, I could never set foot in that house again. I took all my belongings with me before I left, including the snacks you ate on the train. Now I'm homeless. You'll protect me from now on, right?"
Lynn and Cedric didn't speak; they answered him with their actions.
They put their arms around Ian's shoulders.
"I'm an orphan, but I have a big house, and I'm very rich. There are three inheritances in the Muggle and Wizarding worlds waiting for me, so Ian, do you understand what to do now?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow at him.
The werewolf shook his head blankly.
"Call me Dad."
Ian: "…"
Even Cedric scratched the back of his head and said,
"My dad is a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic, and my family has some prestige in the Wizarding world. Putting aside everything else, if you want to support yourself and stay in the Wizarding world, I can definitely help you, but…"
Cedric smiled sheepishly.
"Call me Big Brother, try it."
Ian: "…"
You big, thick-browed guy, you've gone bad too!
Lynn suddenly patted Ian on the shoulder.
"Hey! I have a brilliant idea."
They turned to look at him.
"There should still be pubs open in Hogsmeade, right? Let's go buy some butterbeer and food to celebrate Ian's freshman year, how about that?"
Cedric nodded in agreement.
"The Three Broomsticks Pub usually closes at midnight, I'll go, I've been to Hogsmeade Week before, I know it well."
They had a small party in the Screaming Shack, drinking butterbeer and chatting until the wee hours.
After spending more than a year together, the task that Lynn had even forgotten about was finally completed tonight.
[You have learned the secret of the natural werewolf Ian Campbell and gained his friendship. Side quest complete.
Quest reward: Constitution +3]
Meanwhile, while they were having a blast…
Inside Hogwarts Castle, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville fled the fourth-floor corridor guarded by the three-headed dog, their hearts pounding with fear.
In the Gryffindor common room, Hermione was furious.
Lynn's methods were completely useless against those two!
They were utter idiots and reckless fools!
(Note: I misremembered the previous chapter's account of Snape's leg injury. I reread the original text today, and Snape's injury occurred after Halloween. I've corrected that part now. Apologies to those who have already read it.)
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(End of Chapter)