"They really like to make a big deal out of everything don't they?" Harry said aloud, putting the Prophet and Herald to the side.
"Yes they do tend to do that." I chuckled a bit at his disbelief.
"But why? Shouldn't they have better things to write about? I mean, the World Cup is going to start soon, Sirius is recovering and is preparing for a trial to determine stuff, Pettigrew escaped and there was an attack on the minister of magic. So why in the world is the news about you?" He asked, totally not getting it.
"Two reasons mostly: I am fresh news, and there is almost nothing known about me. Doesn't help that I've experienced a few changes in my appearance as well. I mean, have you seen the comparison in Witch Weekly? It's scary how women get into those debates." I say to the growing teen.
"Yeah, Susan showed me cause she thought it was good for a laugh." Harry agreed with a grin.
"Some of those comments were ridiculous." I nodded in agreement.
"Oh right! You said Professor Lupin was going to visit you soon right. Do you know when and why?" Asked the green eyed teen.
"Should be soon. I hope he comes before he tries to go into hiding again, or decides that the new Lord Bones would look bad if he met a werewolf. I'm sure the thought crossed his head even if I've probably hung out with more werewolves than he has. But he would see me about what I injected him with and... oh speak of the werewolf. It looks like we have a guest." I explained until I sensed someone coming from my wards.
Since I am the Head of the House, I took the liberty to upgrade the houses wards and protections to a ridiculous degree to protect my family. And a sensory Ward is just an outer layer of this upgrade.
"He's here? Really?" Asked the excited Harry.
"Yup. Tilly we are having a guest, prepare some tea and snacks please." I call out as I rise from my seat in the common room.
Harry happily follows me as well, and helps me welcome the shaggy man.
"Professor, it's good to see you!" The kid greeted.
"Hello Mr. Lupin, i was expecting you to come soon. Welcome to Bones House." I say with a calm and polite tone.
"Hello Harry, and thank you for welcoming me , it's Lord Bones now isn't it." He said with a smile at Harry and a bit of hesitation towards me.
"That is only for formal occasions and time were it is necessary for me to act as such, at all other times I'm just Aedan." I answer with a smile.
"Aedan it is then. I'm sure you know why I'm here." He nodded and said.
"Of course, please come in. Tea and snacks will be ready soon." I say as I welcome the man into the house.
We all head to the common room, where Tilly finished setting a small table for everyone to have tea.
"Thank you very much Tilly, I'll call you if there's anything else ok." I say to the little house-elf with a smile.
"Of course young master Aedan. Always Tilly's honor to serve." She quickly replied and popped away.
"Please sit down, relax. I'm sure Harry has a lot he wants to talk to you about as well and I am currently having a little bit of a break myself, hence no paperwork." I say with a grin.
Harry immediately started bombarding the man about his life, time at school, his father, what he's done after school, the war and how he knew how to teach so well. But after some time passed, Lupin finally looked at me.
"I guess I have to start somewhere, so how did you stop my transformation? I haven't been feeling any of the cravings, instincts, or even desires I have felt for almost my entire life. The moon doesn't affect me. I feel better than I have in decades. And I haven't felt anything wrong, just me feeling normal." He asked hopefully.
"That was a vaccine that has been in its testing phase for two years now. It is a culmination of a lot of research and ingenuity. It can deactivate the virus responsible for Lycanthropy in a werewolf's body for a full 18 months. By that I mean no transformations, no bestial instincts or traits, no transmission, and so far no side effects have been found either." I inform the man.
"You mean, I won't transform for over an entire year." Remus whispered in shock.
"That is right. We currently have 100 werewolves of various age, sex, physic and race, undergoing voluntary testing on this vaccine's second round of injection, with 200 more on their first. None have had any rejection, no issues or negative effects. We are currently testing to see if potions could affect it, sickness, spells, health conditions, and a variety of other tests. We even have one of our volunteers currently pregnant as we closely monitor everything." Say to him proudly.
"You have over 300 werewolves together!" Shouted Remus at the thought.
"Mr. Lupin, you really seem to not have researched me at all. I have hired pretty much every willing werewolf in Europe and no incidents have occurred since. They all have proper jobs and support system too." I say with a shake of my head.
"But what about the anti-werewolf legislation?" He asked almost desperately.
"You mean the piece of paper which exemplifies the cowardly and bigoted? Why should I give a fuck what those bastards even think? My results speak for themselves. If they have a problem they can step up, if not they can shut up." I say with a sneer at the very thought of that piece of paper controlling me.
Lupin and Harry were a bit stunned at my reaction.
"So, Mr. Lupin. I would like for you to take part in the testing program at least, so we can make sure nothing wrong happens with you as well. We only have so many examples of injection during a transformation and I would like to make nothing went wrong. And if you wish, I can hire you as an educator for the children who's parents I have employed or are without a family. It could do a lot of good for them." I say with a gentle smile.
"You'd hire me?" He asked almost to himself.
"Of course. What better interview could there be than having learned under you personally?" I say with a chuckle.
"That's brilliant Aedan! You wouldn't have to live like a criminal anymore Professor!" Happily exclaimed Harry.
"I wouldn't have to hide anymore?" The man asked as he started to understand the implications.
"No."
"I won't have to fear harming anyone?"
"No."
"I'll be able to have a real job?"
"Yes."
"And you're willing to pay me properly?"
"Of course."
"And you offer housing?"
"All included, but it does reduce your pay."
"Who in there right mind wouldn't accept such an offer? But what's in it for you? Why are you doing this?" He asked as this was the final question holding him back.
"I saw a problem in this world I thought I could help with and I did. I won't stand back and watch as our world slowly kills itself out of bigotry and stupidity. I will help make the magical world a place of wonder for everyone. And that includes werewolves." I answered seriously as he looks at me.
The man contemplates my answer for some time as I enjoy my tea and Harry fidgets under the suspense.
"You've convinced me. I guess you'll be my employer then. It feels odd to be such for a student though." Lupin finally said as he came to a decision.
"If it makes you feel better, the business is under house Bones, so you can also consider yourself an employee of my aunt." I say with a little grin.
"No need. I am not ashamed, but I am thankful for all this Aedan. Thank you." He sincerely said in response.
"Many have suffered for far too long like you Mr. Lupin, they deserve to be happy. Thank you for trusting me and I hope I live up to that trust." I say as I offer him my hand.
The man stands up and takes it with a bright smile on his face, sealing the deal.
After that we talk for some time as I give him more information about the place and his future duties, but he leaves content. I also escorted Harry back to his place afterward, leaving me to continue my training.
Ever since I went through the ritual I've been focusing on understanding myself. I went through every spell I knew a dozen time, I took my time to understand my new limits when it comes to transfiguration, I pushed my body beyond its limits to know it inside and out, I've tested my eyes continuously in tandem with my mind arts, and most importantly I have been understanding my own fire.
At first I was only able to make my entire body burst into flames. It was interesting, but i was always distracted by my clothes getting burnt to a crisp. So my first goal was control. I started at lighting one finger on fire by channeling my energy to it, then two, three, four, five, then my entire hand. The next step was to quicken the process to make it near instant, then deciding exactly where and how strong the flame would appear. Only after that could I properly start studying it.
I found that it was a mix of the destructive force of the dragon fire and the restorative abilities of Phoenix flames. I could burn everything I willed with ease, but I could also gently nourish a small sprout. But it took a lot of time to get it up to this point. Destruction is such an easy thing to channel through a flame that it always needs to be properly restrained. It was fantastic training for my control and my intent for when I use magic, the blue flames training aiding me there as well, resulting in my wandless magic prowess to take leaps forward after having stagnated for so long.
After two weeks of constant training, I finally had good enough control to not burn anything I didn't wish to. I could make animals out of fire and have them move away from me. I figured out how to make fire come out of any part of my body at will. It was almost instinctive in all honesty. I was pretty sure that if I spent more time on it, I could figure out how to flame around like Phoenixes.
So summer marched forward and the World Cup finally began in full, and with it my promise to take Harry and Susan to it.
I then had to slow my progress in that field significantly and prepare for the event.