The remainder of February passed without any significant happenings for Harry. Life at Hogwarts remained lively, especially with the antics of the Weasley twins, but for Harry, the simplicity of focusing solely on his homework had its appeal. It allowed him to delve deeper into his research on defeating Voldemort, without the immediate pressure of having to locate and destroy all of the Dark Lord's horcruxes.
Unfortunately, Harry's brainstorming had yet to yield any ideas beyond the notion of permanently sealing Voldemort's soul. Determined to figure out how to achieve that, he turned to the Hogwarts library, including its Restricted section, only to find no useful resources. Thus, he found himself seeking answers in the Room of Requirement. Sadly, it seemed that there were no straightforward solutions that didn't involve personal sacrifice. Or maybe he simply hadn't asked the room for the right books or materials. Disheartened by his lack of progress as March began, Harry decided to pause his research for the time being, hoping to rekindle his enthusiasm at a later date.
This proved to be a wise choice, as some professors began ramping up their preparations for the end-of-year exams, resulting in a sizable increase in assigned homework. It was baffling—after all, they were merely third-years—yet Harry couldn't help but dread the thought of what awaited him and his friends during their OWLs and NEWTs in the years to come. Fortunately, a much-needed distraction was on the horizon:
On Sunday, March twentieth, the fifth Quidditch match of the season pitted Slytherin against Hufflepuff. Much like their earlier encounter with Ravenclaw two months prior, the Slytherin team struggled, despite their chasers performing slightly better than the Hufflepuff ones. The game lasted just over an hour, concluding when Slytherin's seeker, in a stroke of luck, managed to unexpectedly outmaneuver Cedric Diggory and seize the Golden Snitch, securing victory for Slytherin.
As the match didn't stretch on too long, there was no need to rush from the pitch to the Great Hall for lunch. After finishing his meal, Harry headed to the library to tackle more homework. He still had that Ancient Runes project looming, with barely any work completed.
However, fate had other plans for him that day. Approximately fifteen or twenty minutes into his study session, he was joined by Draconica. Even though she tried to maintain her usual aloof demeanor, Harry could sense something different about her—like an aura he had only noticed once before, back in November, although it hadn't felt quite this... alluring.
Draconica dropped into the chair across from him, her foot lightly brushing against his under the table, making concentration nearly impossible. Realizing he wasn't going to make any headway on his homework, Harry closed his notebook and met her gaze. For several moments, they simply stared at each other, until she sighed, tilting her head while their feet continued to make contact.
"Harry…" she whispered, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Can we?.." The unspoken question lingered between them. "Pretty please…" she added with a pout, rendering her nearly irresistible. Sighing and cursing his lack of resolve when it came to captivating girls, Harry slowly nodded, resigning himself to the charm of his friend.
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Remus Lupin was not your typical werewolf. Adhering strictly to the harsh regulations imposed by the Wizengamot, he was a committed supporter of Dumbledore. Remarkably, he had attended Hogwarts despite having been turned before his eleventh birthday.
It was there, however, that he forged a friendship with Sirius Black, a fellow Gryffindor prankster—though many regarded him as a hero until he betrayed his closest friends, the Potters, to Voldemort. Following their deaths and Sirius's imprisonment in Azkaban at the hands of Crouch Sr.'s Aurors, Remus felt a bitter sense of closure. Guided by Dumbledore, he moved forward with his life.
That summer, however, Sirius managed to escape the notorious prison, shattering the fragile peace Remus had built. Now, driven by a need to protect Harry and to confront Sirius about his past betrayal, Remus, like many others in the Order of the Phoenix, embarked on a mission to track him down. Remus yearned to understand why his former friend had sided with the Dark Lord and betrayed the Potters.
Unfortunately, Sirius proved difficult to find, his cunning allowing him to elude capture even as countless Aurors hunted him tirelessly. Remus was left to chase shadows, roaming through the underbrush of a Muggle village in southern Scotland. His earlier efforts around Hogsmeade had yielded no results, primarily due to a snowstorm that had erased all scents.
Three days after the full moon, still recovering from his transformation, Remus sensed danger approaching. Instinctively, he ducked as an ash-gray curse flew past his head.
Having mastered Defense Against the Dark Arts, Remus recognized the curse: vulnero lupus—a dark spell created to inflict pain specifically on werewolves. Someone clearly intended to use it against him. But could it be Black?
Seventy meters away, a shadowed figure let out a frustrated sigh. Frederick Gamp relished the thrill of the hunt, determined to eliminate the werewolf he considered little more than vermin. He had long since shed any vestiges of nobility in his pursuit of superiority over what he deemed lesser beings.
"Let's see what we have here," Gamp taunted, his wand aimed at Remus. "A filthy mutt, ready for slaughter?" Remus remained silent, his grip on his wand tightening. Gamp, dismissing any further pleasantries, unleashed another vulnero lupus curse.
Remus dodged, aiming a series of disarming charms that splashed against Gamp's protective shield. As the dark wizard unleashed a cutting curse, Remus quickly transfigured a wall of debris for cover. Despite not being as powerful as Dumbledore or Voldemort, he was no pushover, reflecting his determination to survive this confrontation.
"Not bad for a filthy dog!" Gamp sneered, feeling a surge of excitement at having a worthy opponent. "Take this!" he shouted, launching a Reducto curse. Remus deftly countered, transfiguring the surrounding debris to explode, momentarily blinding Gamp.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Remus conjured stone dogs to keep Gamp occupied while he attempted to flee. However, he quickly discovered that anti-apparition wards had been set up, leaving him with no choice but to run.
As he sprinted away, he dodged curses that blasted the ground behind him. Gamp, tired from the chase but undeterred, pursued. "You can't escape, filthy beast!" he hissed. "Sectumsempra!" The curse missed wildly.
With the distance between them closing, Gamp unleashed a series of curses designed to harm, but Remus held firm, erecting barriers in his defense. However, he realized his strength was waning. When a killing curse skimmed past him, narrowly missing, he knew he needed to fight back.
"Vulnero lupus!" Gamp shouted, sending the ash-gray beam towards Remus, who narrowly dodged yet again. But when a stream of curses came flying, Remus found himself cornered. An earth wall broke under the impact of Gamp's onslaught, forcing him to confront the dark wizard.
With desperation settling in, Remus retaliated, unleashing several disarming charms that ricocheted off Gamp's shield. The ongoing barrage of attacks left him exhausted, but he pressed on. "Crucio!" Gamp shouted, and the curse penetrated Remus's defenses, causing him excruciating pain.
For ten long minutes, Gamp tormented Remus with the Cruciatus Curse, reveling in the suffering of his prey. Finally, when he felt satisfaction in having quelled the beast's spirit, he opted for the killing curse over the painful spell he had used.
"Vulnero lupus!" As the curse struck Remus's chest, he surged with survival instinct and refocused his energy. With newfound determination, he retaliated, casting a powerful Reducto curse that caught Gamp off-guard.
Remus's spell obliterated Gamp, bathing the area in a cloud of dust and destruction. With his hunter dead, Remus collapsed, holding on by a thread.
In his final moments, as the realization of his impending death washed over him, Remus was filled with regret for failing to ensure Harry's upbringing aligned with James and Lily's wishes. He had never witnessed the son of his best friends grow, blinded by his loyalty to Dumbledore. As darkness enveloped him, he silently hoped that when he reunited with James and Lily, they would find it in their hearts to forgive him for the neglect he had unknowingly inflicted upon their child. Even if he believed he didn't deserve their forgiveness...