Lupin stared at the smiling Gerald in silence for a long time.
There could be no reconciliation with his father's killer.
It was only natural that the boy wanted to kill Peter Pettigrew to avenge his father.
But the magical talent and power this boy had displayed were far too astonishing.
At eleven, his combat abilities already approached those of an adult wizard. All he lacked was a broader repertoire of spells.
And then there was that immense strength Lupin couldn't begin to understand.
If this boy went down the wrong path...
Lupin didn't dare think any further.
He crouched and cast a basic Healing Charm on Peter's external injuries with his wand. He wasn't doing it for Peter; he now utterly despised this scum who had betrayed his friends.
He only wanted to keep the man alive long enough to stand trial.
But shattered bones and severed tendons were beyond the Healing Charm's abilities. Even if Peter woke up, all four of his limbs would be useless.
"All right. At least spare his life so he can make the truth public." Lupin slipped his wand back into his sleeve and addressed Gerald, who stood nearby. "What do you want to do next?"
"Honestly, I still want to kill him outright."
"Er-"
"But you're right, sir. Being locked up in Azkaban is what he deserves."
Gerald stood beside the fireplace, the firelight illuminating one half of his face while the other remained hidden in shadow.
His voice had regained its composure, so calm that it was hard to imagine he had been tearing a man apart with his bare hands like a rampaging beast only seconds earlier.
"I'm glad you see it that way. Sometimes killing isn't the best solution."
Gerald nodded at those words, but sighed inwardly.
He really