"Confringo!" It was Alice who struck. She moved with astonishing speed, nothing like someone who had spent more than a decade in St. Mungo's.
The Exploding Charm hit the werewolf squarely in the left arm as he raised his wand.
The werewolf was blasted off his feet. His wand shattered, blood and flesh flew, and his entire left arm was blown off, leaving a jagged stump of bone that set everyone's teeth on edge.
"Alice?" Moody, Lupin, and the other members of the Order of the Phoenix looked at her in surprise.
"What?" Alice looked just as bewildered. "He was about to attack us! Petrificus Totalus!"
Another werewolf had only raised his wand halfway when he froze on the spot, unable to move.
"What are you all standing around for? Do something!" Alice shouted.
Some of the werewolves closed in, while others fled toward the exits—many had never received a proper magical education. Not every werewolf had been as fortunate as Lupin.
In the wizarding world, knowledge was power, so the vast majority of werewolves were weak except on the night of the full moon.
In an instant, the entire room descended into chaos.
"Get them!"
"Take these bastards down!"
"Let them see what it feels like to be treated like outcasts!"
Some of the werewolves bared their claws—even in human form, many werewolves had nails that resembled claws, sharp and pointed.
But Moody and the others showed no fear.
"Want a go? Shall we see who drops first?"
"Diggle! Guard the door! Alice, easy now. Watch for anyone trying to catch us off guard!"
The room was in turmoil. The negotiations had clearly broken down, and the air was thick with tension.
Then Lupin barked, "Enough! Everyone, stop!"
He swept his wand, and a gust of wind slammed every