Alan nodded after hearing the wolf's explanation. Based on the fragments he had pulled through Legilimency, Hog was telling the truth.
However, to be safe, Alan produced a test tube, collected a saliva sample from Hog, and carefully stowed it away. If Hog truly didn't carry the lycanthropy virus, Alan wouldn't mind taking him in. The creature's history was tragic, and he knew Hagrid was far too soft-hearted to discriminate against Hog's unique origins.
With a rough plan forming, Alan surveyed the cavern. He couldn't simply release the magical creatures; in their current emaciated state, they wouldn't survive a day in the Forbidden Forest. Predators would pick them off, and species like the Graphorn or the Manticore might snap and hunt the weaker ones like the Mooncalves.
Furthermore, the stronghold needed to be monitored. If Fenrir Greyback returned to salvage his operation, Alan wanted to be there to catch him.
It was always best to let professionals handle professional matters, but he had to choose his allies carefully. His first instinct was to notify the Ministry of Magic, specifically Alastor Moody, but he hesitated. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures wasn't known for its nuanced treatment of "beasts," and Hog's status as a near-sentient wolf might lead to him being tossed into a cage or worse.
He decided on a middle ground: use his own connections at Hogwarts to stabilize the creatures first, then hand the surveillance of the site over to the authorities.
Alan turned back to Hog. "Wait here. I'm going to bring someone back to give you proper medical attention. If Greyback shows his face, use your magic to pulse this charm. I'll be back to support you immediately."
Alan handed Hog a communication amulet and a few strips of dried meat to settle his stomach before exiting the cave. Once outside, he dragged the sentry's corpse into the heavy brush to hide it, then located Kiki where she was waiting in the forest.
When she saw him, Kiki's eyes widened with relief. She started to chirp a greeting but caught herself, remembering his order for silence, and settled for an expectant, wide-eyed stare.
"Kiki, I need you for a specific task. Follow me." Alan led her to a massive oak overlooking the tunnel entrance and draped his shimmering cloak over her shoulders. "Watch that boulder. If the werewolf wizard appears, activate the amulet. If anything feels wrong, pull the cloak tight—it will keep you hidden. Prioritize your safety; if you're spotted, Apparate away instantly."
"Don't worry, Master. Leave it to Kiki." Despite having only known him for a day, his blunt, decisive nature was already rubbing off on her, giving her a flicker of confidence she'd never possessed before.
Leaving Kiki on watch, Alan Apparated to the edge of the Hogwarts grounds. The rising sun was just beginning to burn through the morning mist as he landed his broom in front of Hagrid's hut.
"Hagrid! Are you up?" Alan began pounding on the door.
After a few moments, the door groaned open. Hagrid stood there in his oversized pink jumpsuit pajamas, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "Alan? Is that you? You've been out all night looking for those poachers. I've been worried sick—didn't even take the amulet off."
Alan didn't waste time with pleasantries. He detailed the night's events, the death of the pack, and the discovery of the hidden hollow filled with abused magical creatures.
"What? You ran into a pack of smugglers and fought them alone? Good heavens, Alan, that's suicide! Why didn't you send for us?" Hagrid's face paled, his concern for Alan clearly outweighing his curiosity about the beasts.
"I can handle myself. Look, I'm in one piece, aren't I? The situation was moving too fast. If I'd waited, those centaurs would be dead or in chains. These werewolves are monsters, Hagrid. I couldn't just stand by." Alan offered a plausible, if somewhat sanitized, explanation. He certainly wasn't going to admit he'd been treating the encounter as a live-fire exercise for his new spells.
"Right, right," Hagrid muttered, still shaken but quickly pivoting as the plight of the animals set in. "But we can't move over a dozen creatures by ourselves. We're going to need help."
"I agree. And I need someone to help me verify the status of a specific wolf. I need to know for certain if he's a carrier for lycanthropy before we can integrate him. I won't risk a spread at the school."
"A werewolf cub born from a full-moon mating?" Hagrid scratched his beard. "I've heard the legends, but I've never seen one. Oh! I know!" He slapped his thigh with a sound like a small explosion. "Let's find Professor Kettleburn. He's seen more than anyone. If he's not sure, we can go to Dumbledore."
"Kettleburn? He's only got one good leg left and he's well past his prime. Is he up for a trek into the deep forest?" Alan asked, though he knew the Professor's passion for creatures was equal to Hagrid's.
"For a chance to see a true moon-wolf and save a Manticore? He'd crawl there on his hands if he had to," Hagrid insisted.
Alan nodded, following Hagrid to Kettleburn's quarters. They found the Professor already awake, preoccupied with a clutch of Ashwinder eggs. Kettleburn had always been fond of Hagrid and took a particular interest in Alan, mostly because Alan was the only student who volunteered to look after the "dangerous" specimens—even if Alan's secret motivation was simply ensuring his future dinners were well-fed and healthy.
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