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"Expelliarmus!"
A dazzling red beam of light, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, shot in unexpectedly from a broken window frame of the Shrieking Shack, accurately targeting the pale-faced wizard who was boasting with his back to the window.
The pale-faced wizard didn't even turn around.
Just as the light of the Disarming Charm was about to strike his back, the three motionless "Blood Puppets" suddenly sprang into action!
Their bodies moved with swift initiation, instantly shifting sideways, firmly shielding him like a wall of shields.
Hum—!
A viscous, almost tangible blood-red light erupted from the two Blood Puppets in front, instantly weaving into an arc-shaped crimson shield, its surface swirling with blood-like ripples.
Bang!
The Disarming Charm slammed solidly into the crimson shield, producing a dull thud.
The shield merely rippled before forcefully deflecting the Disarming Charm! The red light veered upward diagonally, piercing through the shack's roof, sending down a shower of dust and wood splinters.
Only then did the pale-faced wizard leisurely turn around, showing no surprise on his face but instead a mocking expression.
"Oh! Look who it is~"
He drew out his tone.
"Isn't this our dear, respected Professor Remus Lupin? Hogwarts' medical care seems quite impressive, dragging you back from death's door so quickly, and you're already bouncing around looking for me... So, did Dumbledore tell you I was here? Or did you sniff your way here?"
The sarcasm and malice in his words were unmistakable.
Lupin had initially found the figure vaguely familiar from the back. Only when the other turned around, revealing that pale, gaunt yet recognizable face, did he fully confirm it.
"Lennus?!" Lupin's voice rose slightly in shock. "Aren't you... Aren't you supposed to be in Egypt..."
"Yes, Remus, according to your script, I 'should' be dead, rotting in some ditch, right?"
Lennus took a step forward, his smile twisting.
"But look, not only am I alive, I'm living better than ever! And who do I owe all this to?"
His voice suddenly turned sharp and piercing, his eyes blazing with red light:
"It's all thanks to you, Remus! It was your 'justice' that forced me onto this greater path! Now, it's time to collect the interest!"
Before the words faded, two Blood Puppets smashed through the already dilapidated roof of the shack. Amid flying wood splinters, like two meteors trailing dark red streaks, they shot unhesitatingly toward the brightly lit Hogwarts Castle in the distance, their target clear, their speed extreme!
"No! Stop them!" Lupin instantly understood Lennus's intent, his heart filled with terror.
Hogwarts still had a few students staying over the holidays and the remaining staff! If those two bizarrely powerful alchemical creations charged in, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Instinctively, he tried to raise his broken wand, casting a spell to intercept the two Blood Puppets flying toward the castle. Even if he could only delay them for a moment, buying time for those in the castle to be warned!
Meanwhile, the last Blood Puppet beside Lennus suddenly billowed its black robes!
A pair of sharp claws, gleaming with cold blood-red light, emerged from its sleeves. The ground beneath its feet slightly sank as its form blurred into a shadow of black and red, tearing through the air with astonishing speed, lunging straight at Lupin!
Before the claws arrived, the stench of blood and aura of death already assaulted his face!
The Blood Puppet's claws lunging at him were already within three feet of his face! Its speed far exceeded the reaction limits of an ordinary wizard!
"Protego!" Lupin almost instinctively cast the Shield Charm. A translucent magical shield instantly materialized in front of him.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
A dense, ear-piercing cacophony erupted, like rain beating on plantain leaves or metal clashing!
The Blood Puppet's claws slashed wildly at a speed barely visible to the naked eye, each strike containing terrifying force capable of tearing through steel, hammering relentlessly against the shield formed by the Shield Charm!
The shield trembled violently, its light flickering erratically, countless fine cracks rapidly appearing on its surface, like tempered glass being struck repeatedly by a heavy hammer.
After all, Lupin had only recently recovered from severe injuries. How could a hastily cast Shield Charm withstand the full assault of this alchemical creation born for slaughter?
Crack—!
A crisp shattering sound rang out. The shield finally gave way, dissolving into a shower of light particles!
Almost the instant the shield shattered, the vicious blood-red claws, now unhindered, swept fiercely across Lupin's chest!
Rip—!
Fabric tore, flesh split open!
A terrifying wound, deep enough to reveal bone, slashing from his left shoulder to his right rib, instantly appeared on Lupin. Blood immediately soaked his tattered robes.
The immense impact sent him flying backward, crashing heavily into a pile of rotten furniture behind him, wood splinters flying, dust billowing.
"Ugh—!" The excruciating pain forced a muffled groan from Lupin, his vision darkening momentarily.
His wand, caught in the impact and the claws' sweep, was directly severed, leaving only a pitiful stub of wood in his palm.
"Hehehe... Hahahaha!"
Lennus's eerie laughter echoed through the shack once more, filled with triumph.
He looked at Lupin, lying on the ground gasping in pain, blood quickly pooling beneath him, as if admiring his most prized work.
Lennus swaggered toward the defenseless Lupin.
He bent down, reached out, grabbed Lupin's hair soaked with sweat and blood, forcing him to look up and meet his gaze.
At such close range, Lupin could clearly see the madness in the other's eyes and smell the strange scent on him.
"Who would have thought, Remus," Lennus's voice lowered, yet grew more venomous, "that the little wolf cub who once hid in the shadows, tormented by his identity, would now become a respected Professor at Hogwarts? How ironic... If that old dog Dumbledore hadn't arrived so quickly last time at the Shrieking Shack, saving your life, you should have long become part of my grand collection..."
He seemed to recall the failure of the last full moon night, a flicker of regret in his eyes, quickly replaced by another emotion.
"Never mind, it doesn't matter. Old debts and new grudges can be settled together today."
He released Lupin's hair, letting the other's head droop from exhaustion.
Lennus straightened up, pointing his wand casually.
"Incarcerous!"
Chains flew from the wand tip, swiftly binding the severely injured Lupin tightly, then roughly dragging and pressing him onto a chair.
Ropes wound around, securing him so he couldn't move an inch, leaving him slumped helplessly against the chair back. The wound flared with more intense pain from the friction, blood flowing faster.
"You stay here," Lennus leaned down, close to Lupin's ear, "and watch quietly. Watch carefully how the Hogwarts you fought so hard to protect, how you and Dumbledore's students... struggle in fear, then one by one become nourishment for my precious 'Blood Puppets' to grow stronger! This is the retribution you deserve for stopping me back then!"
With that, he abruptly straightened up, waving his hand forcefully toward Hogwarts Castle!
The last Blood Puppet, standing by, received the command. It transformed into a third streak of black and red light, shooting toward Hogwarts Castle.
Inside the shack, only the severely injured and bound Lupin remained, along with the smug Lennus, eagerly anticipating the bloody feast.
Lupin struggled to lift his head, gazing toward the castle, his eyes filled with worry.
All he could do now was pray fervently in his heart—pray that someone would sense the danger, pray that Dumbledore would arrive before everything became irreparable...
Time seemed to stretch in the dead silence and cold wind.
Then—
Boom!!!!
An earth-shattering explosion suddenly erupted from the direction of Hogwarts Castle! Even from a distance, the slight tremor of the ground beneath their feet could be felt!
Immediately after, a blazing, dazzling blood-red light shot skyward from an area near the castle! The crimson light illuminated half the sky, its piercing red glow visible even through the holes in the dim Shrieking Shack!
Amid the flames, a figure could vaguely be seen standing, waving a wand.
"Partis Temporus!"