Chapter 89: Fanatical Werewolves
“The Wizengamot has resolved to establish the Werewolf Affairs Committee!”
In the spacious yet crowded storeroom, on a makeshift stage of wooden crates, Barnaby and James read the newspaper.
All the old, women, children, and even the strong adults who came to help, hundreds of people, hung on their every word, packing the storeroom to capacity.
James poked at a photo in the newspaper with his wand, trying to make the werewolves see it move.
But his mediocre spellcasting ability made such a thing very difficult.
Finally, Remus couldn’t stand it any longer and helped by casting a spell, re-infusing magic into the Developing Potion on the newspaper.
The werewolves finally saw, in the most prominent position on the front page, in a solemn and majestic hall, a stern-faced witch, facing the flickering flashbulbs, announcing something.
Then, she stepped aside, ushering a familiar figure onto the main stage.
The moment he appeared, the continuous flashbulbs were like lightning.
Whispers erupted around them:
“It’s Mr. Weasley.”
“He looks so distinguished!”
“Mr. Weasley seems to have grown taller…”
Standing in the crowd, listening to the friendly, proud discussions around him, Remus’s expression was complex.
Two months had passed, and he had almost witnessed firsthand, Vaughn’s reputation among the werewolf community grow from mild goodwill to respect, and then to immense trust and closeness.
Even though Vaughn rarely visited the werewolves.
This was the outcome he had always feared, but the longer he lived with these wandering werewolves, the less he could stop it.
He could only passively watch as these people’s feelings towards Vaughn grew more fervent and adoring with each passing day.
Lost in thought, on the stage made of wooden crates, Barnaby had already begun reading the report in the newspaper:
“…Just yesterday, February 20, 1992, when the full moon hung high in the sky （ the monthly full moon is a lunar calendar notation, but the solar calendar is not necessarily so ）, this moment when we would normally worry about werewolves acting up again, in the Ministry of Magic’s Wizengamot Chamber, a rather significant resolution was made.”
“From the moment Amelia Burns declared the Wizengamot vote valid, the Werewolf Affairs Committee, an organization proposed by Mr. Vaughn Weasley to help wandering werewolves and curb the spread of Lycanthropy, has been approved by the Wizengamot and established in England!”
Cheers erupted from below, everyone broke into smiles, excitedly embracing those around them.
Remus included.
After a brief burst of cheers, everyone stopped in unison, listening as Barnaby continued reading:
“…The establishment of the Werewolf Affairs Committee will likely have a profound impact on the entire Wizarding World. This is the first legitimate organization in the global Wizarding World primarily for non-wizarding groups…”
“…According to further disclosures from the Wizengamot, the main purpose of the Werewolf Affairs Committee is to gather all wandering werewolves residing in England, re-register them, and cooperate with various magical ministries to alleviate international werewolf issues and combat dark forces such as Greyback…”
“In his concluding speech, Mr. Vaughn Weasley outlined his plan for the committee’s organizational structure. It is understood that the Werewolf Affairs Committee will have one President, four Vice Presidents, and twenty-seven committee members.”
“According to Mr. Vaughn Weasley’s plan, fourteen of the twenty-seven committee seats will be mandated for election from among werewolves – giving werewolves their rights, which is also the original intention of the committee’s establishment!”
“Some pure-blood families in the Wizarding World, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed concern over this trend…”
The rest of the content was about the Wizarding World’s reaction to the matter, not worth reading aloud, and did not hinder the werewolves from immersing themselves in joy and discussing the whole affair – the committee, the legal institution, werewolf committee seats…
These things were enough to uplift everyone’s spirits.
Barnaby threw down the newspaper and shouted from the high platform: “Everyone, please act! Tell your brothers and sisters working outside this good news. Tell them we’re celebrating here tonight. Also, there are some things we still need to discuss!”
The crowd quieted for a moment, then someone loudly asked: “Barnaby, what needs discussing?”
“It’s about the committee, of course,” Barnaby replied loudly. “You heard, Mr. secured fourteen seats for us. That’s more than half of the twenty-seven committee members. These are the benefits Mr. Weasley has fought for us, so we must guard them.”
In the crowd, Remus’s expression changed; he had already guessed what Barnaby was going to say.
But looking at the people around him, he moved his lips a few times, but ultimately did not speak to stop it!
Barnaby looked at the people below, their faces a mixture of apprehension, and shouted: “Everyone, you also heard the wizards’ opinion of us at the end of the report. We need to ensure that these fourteen committee members can work together, unite against the wizards, and protect the interests of all of us…”
In any group, there is no shortage of smart people. Before Barnaby could finish, someone in the crowd shouted: “Then let’s elect you, James Brown, William White… you people were the first to follow Mr. Weasley. I believe in you!”
Soon, someone else chimed in: “After the committee election, we’ll elect the President and Vice Presidents, right? Let’s just have Mr. Weasley be the President. I only trust him, I won’t recognize anyone else!”
“That’s right. When we were down and desperate, only Mr. was willing to help us. We only trust him.”
Some also worried: “What if Mr. is unwilling? After all, he still has to attend school. I heard he’s a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”
“With the committee members we elect to help Mr. Weasley, it won’t take up much of his time. Michael, you’re an adult, you should understand that no matter where a person is, it’s best to hold some power. We are Mr.’s power, his strongest backing!”
“Yes, yes, everyone should know that Mr. Weasley offended the Minister of Magic for our sake. We can’t let him continue being an ordinary student all by himself!”
“Yes, brothers and sisters, do you remember what the newspaper once said? They thought we werewolves could form an armed force. If it’s for Mr. Weasley, I don’t mind being a weapon in his hands!”
The crowd, with their constant interjections, gradually grew restless.
Remus watched as the expressions of the people around him turned fanatical and unfamiliar in the blink of an eye, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions. This was what he had always wanted to prevent, but it had happened after all…
The werewolves’ discussion was, for the time being, just a discussion.
The most important thing right now was to quickly notify others working outside so they could share the joy together.
Everyone suddenly became very busy, except for Remus Lupin, who felt out of place with everything around him.
He certainly supported the Werewolf Affairs Committee. As a werewolf, he was destined not to oppose a legal organization that protected his rights.
What he couldn’t adapt to was the fanaticism of the people around him and his worries about the committee’s future.
At noon, receiving news and rushing over during their break, more and more werewolves arrived. Barnaby, William, and James organized people to go shopping.
Remus took the opportunity to leave, finding a deserted alleyway, and pulled out a leather glove.
The moment the glove was pulled out, it automatically flew into the air and puffed up, as if an invisible hand had put it on, making a few gestures in the air, pointing in one direction.
Remus followed the glove’s guidance, threading his way through the crisscrossing alleys.
Until he turned a corner, the number of which he had lost count, and arrived at a secluded, dim dead end.
Crackle!
With a faint sound of shattering, the space twisted a few times, and Dumbledore, with Fawkes perched on his shoulder and wearing a pink bathrobe, appeared before Remus.
The old man’s bright blue eyes were as luminous as Remus remembered, and his smile was curved, just like his crescent-shaped spectacles:
“Remus, my dear, was the full moon yesterday smooth?”
Remus bowed slightly: “Hello, Headmaster. With the Wolfsbane Potion, it’s at least much better than before.”
“I heard from Vaughn that the current Wolfsbane Potion still has some side effects he hadn’t considered before?”
Remus nodded: “Yes, while it keeps us conscious, it forces us to endure the pain of transformation, much like the first time attempting Animagus transformation…”
As he said this, his gaze became somewhat distant.
Distant memories surfaced from the depths of his heart, as if he were seeing that time at Hogwarts again, when even the cold, werewolf-fearing moon seemed like the golden-yellow glow of sunset.
A werewolf, a black dog, a stag, and a mouse.
Such a peculiar group roamed and dashed through the Forbidden Forest, the laughter of memories drifting vaguely through the mist in the woods.
It wasn’t just him who thought of it. Dumbledore, who had a deep impression of the mischievous group known as the “Marauders” （ James, Remus, and their small clique ）, also thought of it.
He sighed: “I remember James’s Animagus was a stag, wasn’t it? I heard he specifically learned Animagus to accompany you through your full moon transformations… He was a good friend and leader, Remus.”
Hearing the familiar name, Remus’s heart suddenly ached.
Yes, James was the best friend and leader, and also the most talented wizard Remus had ever seen. James not only learned Animagus himself but also helped two others learn it, a fact unknown to outsiders.
But he was dead… betrayed by another good friend!
Remus took a deep breath and, as if to escape, changed the subject: “Dumbledore, will you be entering the Werewolf Affairs Committee?”
“Why do you ask?”
Dumbledore asked with a smile.
As they spoke, he waved his hand, and a powerful spell enveloped him and Remus.
Their figures vanished into the air, and then Dumbledore led Remus out of the dead-end alley and onto a Muggle street.
It was already evening, the liveliest time of the day in Newham.
The old buildings lining the streets, built in the 19th century, gradually lit up. The lights of thousands of homes illuminated each other, and workers from nearby factories and docks, bathed in the prosperity and everyday life forged by the lights, enjoyed a rare moment of peace in their day.
Dumbledore observed the Muggles with great interest, appearing very patient.
After a long period of thought, Remus replied: “I don’t believe you can’t see Vaughn Weasley’s influence on werewolves. If you’re unaware, then let me tell you, today, the werewolves are clamoring to use their majority committee seats to nominate Vaughn Weasley as the committee’s President…”
He recounted what had happened that morning.
Just then, a plump child munching on ice cream brushed past. The scent of the dessert attracted Dumbledore’s attention, and he couldn’t help but look back repeatedly, thus being somewhat perfunctory: “So?”
Remus, filled with worry and anxiety, couldn’t help but say angrily: “So? Isn’t that cause for concern? Those werewolves are even shouting that they are willing to be Vaughn Weasley’s weapons… Are you going to stand by and watch the committee become Weasley’s personal tool?”
“Then what do you want me to do?”
Dumbledore finally withdrew his gaze and looked at Remus seriously. “Squeeze in as a committee member? Or at my age, become his deputy? Or perhaps rally the werewolves and compete with Vaughn for the presidency?”
“Remus, I can’t do any of those things…” Dumbledore’s bright blue eyes were filled with gentle wisdom. “You yourself said that the werewolves trust no one but Vaughn, unless I go back on my word and push the Wizengamot to abolish the Werewolf Affairs Committee… Is that what you want me to do?”
Remus was speechless.
This was also what he had been struggling and worrying about. He mumbled for a moment, “But if you entered the committee, at least you could counterbalance him…”
“No, I can’t counterbalance anyone. My presence would only escalate the conflict, child!”
In the time they were talking, they had unknowingly walked out of the city and into the storeroom district where the werewolves were gathered.
What was usually quiet and somewhat desolate was unexpectedly lively today. The storeroom gatekeeper stood dazedly at the entrance, having been placed under a Confundus Charm. For the duration of the charm, he would be a diligent gatekeeper and would not notice anything unusual.
For example, the huge bonfire that the werewolves were lighting in the center of the storeroom area!
Hundreds of people were crowded in the open space, everyone busy, with occasional shrieks of children running past their legs.
A scene of bustling yet peaceful merriment.
Gazing at it all from afar, Remus suddenly didn’t know what to say, and like Dumbledore, he silently watched from a distance.
Until, he heard Barnaby’s surprised, hoarse voice from the crowd:
“Dear brothers and sisters, look! Who has come to visit us!”
The crowd paused, then excited cheers erupted. People put down their work and surrounded a boy who had suddenly Apparated, their faces flushed as they shouted and screamed at him.
Some even imitated Barnaby, prostrating themselves on the ground and kissing his robe.
“Vaughn… Weasley!”
Gazing at the boy’s fiery red hair from afar, Remus whispered his name.
Dumbledore remained silent, quietly watching the fervent crowd, watching Vaughn suddenly cast an Illumination Charm with his wand.
The moment the light bloomed, the crowd seemed to freeze, quickly falling silent.
Only when people genuinely revered someone could such a thing be achieved.
Without training, they could obey orders instantly, just like… the person in his memory…
Dumbledore broke free from his memories and sighed.
Everything was as Vaughn had anticipated.
As the inventor of the Wolfsbane Potion and the founder who pushed for the establishment of the Werewolf Affairs Committee, even though he rarely visited the werewolves, he remained irreplaceable in their hearts.
At least, for a few years to come!
Hearts are indeed fickle, but werewolves who have experienced hardship are precisely the group least prone to change at present.
These impoverished people currently crave stability the most, and they want to protect the rights they have just gained. So, who will help them?
The answer is self-evident!
Conversely, did Vaughn Single-handedly facilitate the establishment of the Werewolf Affairs Committee just to hand the werewolves over to others, to be a stepping stone for someone else?
Of course not!
Therefore, when James, through the Floo Network, nervously invited him to the evening celebration banquet, Vaughn agreed without hesitation.
Even though he didn’t particularly like such boisterous occasions.
Vaughn entered the crowd, feeling the fervent, overflowing emotions of the werewolves towards him, their simple gratitude and trust, but his heart remained unmoved.
From the beginning, his purpose in helping the werewolves was not pure.
He wouldn’t pretend to be moved or empathetic now.
In his opinion, this was simply a mutually beneficial transaction: he helped the werewolves solve the troubles of their full moon transformations, and in return, the werewolves became his backing, increasing his influence and spreading his reputation further in the Wizarding World.
Therefore, at the subsequent bonfire banquet, Vaughn ate only a few bites and then left, leaving the pure joy for the werewolves.
Only the earliest werewolves who followed him were called to the storeroom by him to ask for their opinions on serving as committee members.
Barnaby was a staunch supporter. When Vaughn asked, he replied without hesitation, “Mr., whatever you ask me to do, I will do!”
Saying that, he smiled shyly again and hesitantly took a brand new fountain pen from his pocket, offering it to Vaughn with both hands: “This, this is what I bought with my first salary in life… Mr., I, I want to give it to you!”
Vaughn, who was deep in thought, was somewhat taken aback. He stared at the fountain pen, speechless for a moment.
Barnaby’s expression was a little nervous and anxious: “Mr., do you like it?”
Vaughn came back to his senses, retracted his wandering thoughts, and nodded, “…Thank you, Barnaby, I like it very much.”
Seeing Barnaby’s happy, innocent smile at his approval, Vaughn felt a moment of daze. He even instinctively wanted to use Legilimency to see if Barnaby had unknowingly fallen prey to some old man with a white beard.
But in the face of the other’s pure smile, Vaughn ultimately suppressed his thoughts.
He glanced at a corner of the storeroom.
There was nothing there, but in his magically revealed sight, a power of spells was lurking.
It was both immense and extremely subtle. If Vaughn didn’t have absolute confidence in his own spells, he might have mistaken it for an illusion.
At the corner, Remus, who had just arrived with Dumbledore inaudibly, was startled by Vaughn’s gaze.
“He…”
Dumbledore calmly replied: “Yes, Remus, he discovered us. He sensed us from the moment he Apparated.”
Remus was a little speechless and a little astonished: “His magic is that strong?”
The Invisibility Charm surrounding the two of them had been personally cast by Dumbledore.
In his mind, no one should be able to see through Dumbledore’s magic.
Hearing the surprise in his tone, Dumbledore shook his little white rabbit nightcap, tossing the dangling rabbit ears behind him: “Vaughn is indeed very strong. He changes every day, especially in terms of spells…”
Dumbledore wiped his eyes, his magically enhanced eyes looking at Vaughn, who was surrounded by werewolves. In his eyes, the child radiated a sun-like brilliance.
His magic, entering the growth and development phase, was like boiling magma, propelling Vaughn’s vitality to bloom.
Having gone through this stage himself, Dumbledore knew that in the next few years, Vaughn would enter a period of rapid strength growth.
He paused and continued, “…Remus, I am pleased that you can keenly perceive his ambition, but I hope you will not have any thoughts of underestimating or opposing him, nor attempt to use me to restrain him.”
“If I were to strike down someone merely because they have ambition, then I would not have brought you to Hogwarts to study in the first place, nor would Voldemort have appeared.”
“Child, as a professor, my consideration has always been how to guide my students, not how to crush threats in the cradle… That is not something a professor should do.”
Saying that, he looked at Vaughn, who was unobtrusively putting the fountain pen into his pocket, and at the werewolf named Barnaby, and smiled slightly: “See, love is everywhere. What a person ultimately becomes depends on their environment. The environment he is growing in now is very good in my opinion, and nothing needs to be changed.”
“Remus, after entering the Werewolf Committee, fight for the werewolves with peace of mind. Do not try to manipulate things you cannot control, as that will only make matters worse. Sometimes, keen observation and guidance in line with the situation are the best choices.”
After giving his final instruction, Dumbledore playfully winked at Remus: “Now, go to your meeting. After all, you were one of the first to follow Vaughn.”
With that, he vanished with a crackle.
As he left, the Invisibility Charm dissolved, and Remus was exposed to the air.
Just as he was at a loss, Vaughn on the other side waved to him: “Remus, where did you just go? Come over quickly, I want to hear your thoughts.”
“Uh… okay…”
Seeing that Vaughn showed no unusual reaction and even covered for him, Remus finally understood that the two had a tacit understanding long ago.
He walked into the crowd in a daze.
Vaughn withdrew his gaze, continuing to listen to Barnaby, William, and others’ accounts, his thoughts already turning to Dumbledore’s whisper in his ear as he left.
“The plan is about to begin. Return to Hogwarts soon, Vaughn!”
Yes, with the Werewolf Affairs Committee gaining legal status, he should indeed return to school…
