Chapter 198: Harry and Lupin's First Meeting
Two Aurors who failed to hold their breath began convulsing almost instantly. Their wands discharged wildly, spells flying without aim—until one of them struck a sealed jar inside a nearby shop.
The container shattered.
What burst forth was Fiendfyre.
It roared into existence like a living inferno, twisting into the shapes of monstrous beasts that surged outward in all directions. Within seconds, the two Aurors were swallowed whole.
At least their deaths were swift.
That was the only mercy.
"Quick—Finite Incantatem!"
Dawlish barked the command, leading the remaining Aurors in casting counter-curses. Their combined effort barely managed to suppress the raging Fiendfyre, forcing it back before it could consume the entire alley.
Amid the chaos, Fenrir Greyback slammed into a cabinet, smashing it apart and revealing a dark passage hidden behind it.
Dawlish's expression hardened.
There was no time to mourn the fallen. If Greyback escaped now, there would be no commendation waiting for him—only disgrace, perhaps even dismissal.
Without hesitation, he charged forward.
The Aurors followed.
Above Knockturn Alley, a squad of reinforcements swept in on broomsticks, cutting through the smoky air. At that same moment, Remus Lupin tore down a cursed tapestry hanging outside an abandoned shop.
It was a Portkey.
His final contingency.
Just as he was about to activate it, a deafening explosion shook the alley.
Lupin turned—
And saw Greyback.
Charred black, yet grinning like a beast, he burst through a shattered wall. Their eyes met—both startled for a split second.
But Lupin reacted first.
He activated the Portkey.
As Greyback roared and lunged forward, Lupin's body began to dissolve into light. The werewolf's claws tore through nothing but a fading afterimage.
Greyback stared at his empty hand, disbelief flashing across his face before rage consumed him. His howl echoed through the alley.
And in that moment of hesitation—
The Aurors caught up.
They intended to take him alive, so they refrained from using the Killing Curse. Though Avada Kedavra was one of the Unforgivable Curses, Aurors were sometimes permitted to use it against Death Eaters under strict conditions—followed by mandatory evaluation at the Department of Mysteries to ensure no damage to their souls.
"Confringo!"
Dawlish roared.
A blazing red bolt shot forward, striking something unseen—
And detonated.
The explosion thundered through the alley.
He wasn't worried.
After all… a curse like that shouldn't be enough to kill a werewolf.
Amid a chain of explosions, Fenrir Greyback dove into a sewer that suddenly split open beneath him. As the red flashes of Blasting Curses wove a deadly net across the water's surface above, he held his breath and grabbed onto a rusted ladder—one that led to a safe house he had prepared long ago.
When the smoke finally cleared, Dawlish stepped forward eagerly, expecting to find Greyback's shattered, dying body.
Instead—
There was nothing.
Only a deep, yawning hole.
"…Search it. Now!" Dawlish barked, his earlier excitement collapsing into hysteria. "We will catch him today!"
But even as he shouted, he already knew.
This had slipped beyond his grasp.
---
Back in the treehouse, Sirius let out a low whistle.
"I didn't expect your life to turn into something this… legendary," Sirius said, half-teasing. "Brewing Wolfsbane Potion and everything."
Then his tone softened.
"Remus… come home with me."
He leaned forward, grinning slightly. "To the Black house. I'll introduce you to a few people—there's a surprise waiting."
Remus Lupin hesitated. For a brief moment, something like longing flickered across his face—then vanished.
"…I shouldn't," he said quietly. "I'd only cause trouble for you."
He shook his head.
"Your mother never liked me. And I've got… my own problems."
His voice dropped.
"I'm worried the werewolves will come after you."
Sirius waved it off.
"Don't worry about that. Greyback, 'king of werewolves' or not—I'd like to see him try something in front of me. If he doesn't want to end up back in Azkaban."
"Sirius, he—"
"Enough."
Sirius cut him off, his expression suddenly serious.
"If you still think of me as your friend, then listen to me. I'm not letting you live like this anymore."
He paused, then added, more gently:
"…And Harry's at my place."
Lupin froze.
"…Harry?" His breathing quickened. "James's son?"
"Who else?" Sirius smiled. He knew he had him.
After a long silence, Lupin nodded.
"…Give me a moment."
He stood slowly and began packing everything in the treehouse into a worn leather case.
---
"Sirius? Where did you—"
Harry rushed toward the door at the sound of movement. He stopped short when he saw Sirius—disheveled, clothes torn, but smiling in a way Harry hadn't seen before.
And behind him stood a middle-aged wizard.
Tired. Worn.
But when he saw Harry, his face lit up with genuine warmth.
"You must be Harry," Lupin said softly. "My name is Remus Lupin. I'm Sirius's friend… and your father James's friend as well."
"Really?" Harry glanced between them, suspicion flickering. "The way you two were just acting didn't exactly look friendly."
Sirius and Lupin exchanged a glance.
Then both laughed awkwardly.
"Just… a misunderstanding," Sirius said vaguely.
---
"Morning."
Russell walked past them with a yawn—then suddenly stopped, turning his head to look at Lupin.
A werewolf.
Wednesday would definitely be interested.
What was the leader's name again? Something like that giant wolf from mythology…
If he ever got the chance, maybe he could capture him. Might make a decent pet for Wednesday—or at least a useful guard dog.
Lupin felt that gaze linger on him.
It was… strange.
Not disgust.
Not fear.
Curiosity.
And somehow, that was even more unsettling.
"…And this is?" Lupin asked, turning to Sirius.
Sirius grinned. "The one I told you about—the kid with two Orders of Merlin."
"Nice to meet you," Russell said casually, already half-thinking about heading out to buy supplies.
---
Sirius then introduced Lupin to Hermione, Ron… and Wednesday.
Wednesday studied Lupin closely, her brows knitting slightly.
"There's something familiar about you," she said.
Lupin's heart skipped.
Did she… notice?
He had spent enough time in Knockturn Alley to know of a place called the Worm Nest—and its owner, Chuck Addams. Even Greyback avoided provoking him, no matter what he claimed aloud.
That girl…
She felt dangerous.
Sensing the tension, Sirius clapped his hands suddenly.
"Alright, I've got an idea!"
He grinned.
"How about we throw Lupin a proper Christmas?"