The Day of the Full Moon

The Weasley brothers who knew the truth, along with Seamus, Neville, and the others, did not reveal anything about Loren.

Dumbledore did not tell the Ministry of Magic the exact details of Peter Pettigrew's capture, and the Ministry did not press for answers.

Or rather, no one dared question anything Dumbledore did not wish to discuss. Fudge had gained a great deal of prestige for nothing and was in high spirits, so he did not go looking for trouble either.

The Daily Prophet was even less likely to know the truth. Under Dumbledore's intervention, everyone else maintained a uniform silence.

Dumbledore had not discussed this with Loren, but the two had reached an unspoken understanding. Dumbledore wanted to protect his student for some reason, while Loren felt that his current life was good enough and did not want to be exposed to the public eye.

That afternoon, Loren did not drag Hermione into sparring practice. Frequent training might trigger his correction talent, but that was tedious work. Reviewing and organizing what he learned afterward, then asking Flamel for more theoretical knowledge about the Shield Charm that evening, was the right path.

Loren wrote and drew on paper, listing spells one by one, sorting them into categories, selecting suitable ones, and trying to build his own combat system.

The final spell that secured victory was not important. Whether it was the Disarming Charm, the Stunning Spell, the Shattering Curse, or even the Killing Curse, as long as it hit the enemy, it could strip him of his ability to fight.

The defense, evasion, and control before that were what truly determined victory or defeat. Among the spells he could currently access, Loren built his combat system around three categories: defense, control, and attack.

The defensive spells were mainly the Shield Charm, Protego, and the stopping spell, Finite Incantatem.

The control spells included the Impediment Jinx, Impedimenta, the Binding Charm, Incarcerous, and the Binding Charm, Petrificus Totalus.

The offensive spells were the Cutting Charm, Sectumsempra, the Disarming Charm, Expelliarmus, and the Stunning Spell, Stupefy.

Once he mastered those spells, all that remained was improving his combat awareness in the virtual Duel Chamber.

No system remained unchanged forever. Loren would continue to enrich and refine it as he grew. Any new spells he learned later, such as Apparition, Fiendfyre, and Sectumsempra, would also be added to it.

True masters of magic, like Dumbledore and Grindelwald, could cast the most suitable spell in the shortest possible time. They excelled at using Transfiguration to put their opponents in impossible situations. Loren was still far from that level.

Other than the Shield Charm, Loren could practice all the other spells by himself and fully master them in about two months.

"Flamel, is my plan feasible?" Loren told Flamel about his ideas.

Flamel pondered for a moment. "For a student, it is more than enough. You have to start with the basics, after all."

Footwork, breathing, and rhythm were more important factors in battle, but Flamel did not mention them. Loren would naturally understand once he could use the Duel Chamber.

Loren asked for more detailed knowledge about the Shield Charm. Comparing it with his memories from the day and the contents of his correction, he came up with a more complete method of using it.

Sunday, the day of the full moon.

From the moment he got up, Loren had been listless and unable to summon any energy. Ever since learning that Bates was a Werewolf, Loren had never worried about him like this.

In the past, he had lived beside Bates and knew that on the night of the full moon, Bates would go up the mountain and lock himself away. Loren had not been able to do anything for Bates, but when he was nearby, he always felt a little more at ease.

Now that they were in different places, it felt as though more than distance separated them. With the full moon approaching, Loren could not settle his heart.

"Are you all right?" Ron noticed that Loren was even eating slowly. That was completely unlike Loren.

Loren forced a smile. "I'm fine."

Ron felt that something must be terribly wrong. Loren was always at his most energetic when eating. Yesterday, he had managed to eat an entire steak for breakfast.

Ron wanted to say something else, but Hermione grabbed him and shook her head.

After breakfast, Harry dragged Ron off to play on the pitch.

Hermione sat down beside Loren and looked at his complexion.

"Come with me!" She pulled Loren out of the courtyard, went to another staircase, and led him all the way up.

Beneath the great clock of the Hogwarts Clock Tower was an open attic. From there, they could see the Black Lake, the Forbidden Forest, and most of the Castle's towers.

Hermione pulled Loren down to sit, letting their feet dangle outside the attic. The wind passed through the attic from one side to the other. The damp morning mist had not yet dispersed, and the orange-red sunrise cast soft light over them.

"I sometimes come here to clear my head. The open view makes me feel better," Hermione began.

Loren guessed it was probably because Hermione had not gotten along very well with her Roommate before.

"Actually, I knew a long time ago!"

Loren was a little confused. Knew what?

"At Flourish and Blotts, there were so many books about magical creatures—Goblins, Trolls, Vampires—but you did not even look at them. You immediately picked up that book about Werewolves."

Wow, Miss Know-It-All really had noticed that.

"I also read some information about Werewolves. They transform during the full moon and lose their minds. It is a painful process." Hermione's voice grew somewhat low.

Thinking of Grandpa Bates's aged face, Loren said nothing.

"And you asked me to practice spells with you. Those were signs too."

Loren was puzzled. What did practicing spells have to do with Grandpa Bates being a Werewolf?

"Tonight is the full moon. You must be feeling awful right now." Hermione's voice began to tremble with tears.

Something was not quite right.

"Loren, let's go find a professor later!" Hermione sobbed. She thought her friend was a Werewolf, and it made her terribly sad.

Loren finally realized that Hermione had mistaken him for a Werewolf. Seeing the girl about to cry louder and louder, he quickly explained, "You're overthinking it! I'm not a Werewolf!"

"Hmph—" Hermione hiccupped, her hand freezing as she wiped her eyes. "Huh?"

Loren began to explain. Grandpa Bates was the Werewolf. He only had no appetite because he was worried about Grandpa Bates.

Hermione felt as if a ball of fire were burning on her face. This was far too embarrassing. She had presumptuously guessed that he was a Werewolf, then brought him here to say all sorts of strange things.

"R-right, I'm sorry. I was just making wild guesses." Hermione struggled to her feet in a panic, wanting to flee this scene of utter humiliation.

"No, I'm glad to have a friend like you." Loren held her in place and handed her a handkerchief.

At first, Loren had been surprised by Hermione's careful observation and sharp reasoning. Although her conclusion had been wrong, the fact that someone noticed his behavior and worried about the difficulties he might be facing was, in itself, something warm.

After comforting Hermione, the two began chatting about trivial matters: Hermione and her Roommate, Filch and Peeves's arguments, and the tree over there covered in orange-red small fruit...