Ch. 981His magic already rivaled the Dark Lord's

Lucius confronted Travers for dismissing the Muggle textbooks the Death Eaters had been ordered to study, reminding him that ignorance had led to disastrous missions. He argued that learning from the books was their only chance to prove their worth, and ended by warning that Douglas Holmes’s magic already rivaled the Dark Lord’s.

  • Travers stood up, denounced the physics textbook as an insult to pure-blood wizards, and tore it apart.
  • Lucius approached Travers and recalled how his failed Azkaban operation had left two Death Eaters dead and another badly injured.
  • Lucius listed the captured Death Eaters and explained that the Dark Lord had ordered them to study because their ignorance had cost him dearly.
  • Lucius said the textbooks offered the remaining Death Eaters a chance to admit their mistakes and prove they were still worth keeping.
  • Lucius praised Douglas Holmes for using Muggle engineering to build an impregnable prison, then reminded Travers that the Death Eaters could not even understand how its gears and wires worked.

Ch. 982The grand event was about to begin

Lucius forced the Death Eaters to study Muggle technology as atonement for their failures, and they began learning in silence. Meanwhile, Sirius oversaw final preparations for the grand event in Glen Coe Valley, where the field and viewing stands were ready for the evening.

  • Lucius threatened Travers with a Muggle meat grinder and made him study a mechanics formula as atonement.
  • Lucius told the Death Eaters that Voldemort was studying Muggle science and ordered them to learn about their enemies' technology.
  • Travers, Old Nott, Rowle, and Lucius returned to their books and worked through basic formulas and problems.
  • At 4:17 p.m. on September fifteenth, Sirius checked the preparations at the Moonlight Field in Glen Coe Valley.
  • Tom confirmed that the soundproofing and isolation barriers were ready, then returned to the Engineering Zone, eager to witness the event.

Ch. 983Guests

Sirius oversaw the arrival of guests for the event in the Vale as security officials scanned the delegations and representatives inspected the venue. The international gathering left open the possibility of Uagadou pursuing a similar werewolf collaboration in Africa if the event succeeded.

  • Fudge arrived wearing a self-commissioned werewolf integration medal, while Scrimgeour ordered individual security scans and assigned Aurors to the perimeter.
  • Umbridge arrived with an array of official titles, was scanned by Scrimgeour, and headed to the Viewing Stand to take notes.
  • Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape arrived by Portkey; Snape spotted Douglas across the Vale and looked away.
  • Alberti and Marco arrived with the Italian delegation, and Marco explained that his Ashen Claw battle armor was his people's formal attire; he and Lupin exchanged nods.
  • The French, Durmstrang, and MACUSA delegations arrived, and the MACUSA representative asked Scrimgeour about the Golden Skynet's protective range.
  • A Uagadou representative delivered Headmistress Amanit's congratulations and offered future discussions about a similar African project if the event succeeded; Sirius welcomed the proposal.

Ch. 984Coming of Age

Rita Skeeter and international guests arrived for a ceremony in Glen Coe Valley, while Douglas thanked the Church delegation for its restraint. As night fell, Lupin and the members of Wolfmane Academy gathered on the Moonlight Field to await the moon and their coming-of-age ceremony.

  • Rita Skeeter claimed a prime seat on the viewing stand, and Elphias Doge challenged her about taking someone else’s place.
  • Three Church representatives watched the valley through a hidden Crystal Mirror, and Douglas thanked them before leaving; their leader silenced a suggestion to ask for the Holy Relic’s return.
  • Fred and George prepared fireworks bearing the names of those coming of age, and George told Tom they were gifts for all of them.
  • As night fell, more than two thousand people fell silent while Fudge, Scrimgeour, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Douglas, and Rita watched the Moonlight Field.
  • Lupin stood with Wolfmane Academy’s uniformed members and waited for the moon, while Tonks sat nearby with her hair shifting between pink and silver-gray.

Ch. 985Tonks: Are you nervous?

At Wolfmane Academy, Lupin and the werewolf students prepared to face the full moon together in the open for the first time, while new students watched from the Training Room. As Lupin stood beside Tonks, a driverless carriage pulled by two Thestrals arrived at the valley entrance.

  • Erin watched her mentor Edwin stand proudly on the Moonlight Field and told a fellow student she hoped to stand there one day.
  • Students in the Training Room drank their preferred flavors of Improved Wolfsbane Potion while watching the ceremony through a Two-Way Mirror.
  • Lupin checked in with Tom and Margaret, who each shared what it meant to stand outside beneath the full moon after years of fear and confinement.
  • Tonks joined Lupin, asked whether he was nervous, and stood close beside him as they watched the students.
  • Two Thestrals descended at the valley entrance, pulling a black carriage with no driver.

Ch. 986The Moon Was About to Rise

Fenrir Greyback’s preserved body was displayed at the Moonlight Field, prompting painful memories among the gathered wizards. As Douglas and Dumbledore reflected on the werewolves’ changed lives, the moon began to rise and Lupin and Tonks held hands.

  • Staff placed Fenrir Greyback’s crystal coffin in a quiet corner of the Moonlight Field, and Marco paused before it before walking away.
  • Fudge and Scrimgeour recognized Greyback’s body, while wizarding representatives remembered those harmed by him and Rita began planning her headline.
  • Douglas told Dumbledore that the werewolves still had to choose their own path, and credited Lupin with addressing their hearts.
  • Dumbledore and Douglas watched the formerly imprisoned and persecuted werewolves stand together in clean robes beneath the stars.
  • As silver moonlight rose over the ridge, Tonks hooked her finger around Lupin’s, and he curled his finger around hers.

Ch. 987When the Moonlight Shone on Me

Dozens of werewolves stood beneath the full moon on the Moonlight Field without transforming or suffering pain. As the minutes passed, they began to cry, and Edwin told the valley, “I... don't hurt anymore.”

  • The full moon rose over the Moonlight Field, and none of the silver-gray-robed students fell or transformed.
  • Scrimgeour confirmed that no abnormal magical fluctuations appeared while Dumbledore and McGonagall watched the minutes pass.
  • Tom Richardson crouched in the moonlight and wept, and George stopped Fred from approaching him.
  • The werewolves across the field began crying as years of fear and hardship overwhelmed them.
  • Edwin stood beneath the moonlight and said through the Sonorus charm, “I... don't hurt anymore.”

Ch. 988No politicians, no schemers

At the moonrise ceremony, Lupin stood beneath the full moon without transforming and told the crowd that the curse had not made him a monster. His speech prompted the transformed students to stand as people, and the silent audience rose in applause.

  • Lupin stood motionless beneath the full moon for ten minutes while the ceremony’s witnesses watched.
  • Lupin recalled how his father had told him he would become a monster, and said that his father was wrong.
  • Tom, Margaret, Edwin, and the other students stood upright beneath the moon without turning into monsters.
  • Tonks realized Lupin had long been cured, but understood he was speaking for those who had not yet recovered.
  • The crowd stood and applauded, while Scrimgeour stood silently and Fudge joined the applause.

Ch. 989Under the Full Moon, Humanity Won

At the Moonlight Field, werewolves demonstrated that they could remain human under the full moon, prompting celebration and political calculations. As fireworks honored the achievement, Marco and Lupin clasped hands, and the gathered werewolves stood united.

  • Fudge directed Pius Thicknesse to prepare a Daily Prophet headline crediting his leadership and the Ministry’s support for the breakthrough.
  • Scrimgeour counted the werewolves who had not transformed and worried that a disciplined force loyal to Lupin and Douglas would operate outside Ministry control.
  • Rita Skeeter chose “Under the Full Moon, humanity wins” as her headline and ordered the entire front page devoted to the story.
  • Fred and George Weasley launched fireworks that depicted silver wolves becoming people, spelled HUMAN across the sky, and showed a wolf flying alongside a crane.
  • Marco and several werewolves from the Italy Delegation knelt before Lupin, who took Marco’s hand and helped him stand.

Ch. 990Reactions from all sides

Reactions to the improved potion’s success spread among the delegations, Hogwarts, and the Church as werewolves stood safely beneath the full moon. The chapter leaves Douglas Holmes’s achievement drawing both hope and heightened scrutiny from powerful observers.

  • The senior MACUSA representative ordered a proposal for the improved potion and told her assistant to record Remus Lupin and Douglas Holmes’s names.
  • Dumbledore watched the transformed trainees with tears in his eyes, while Snape left the Viewing Stand thinking of a potion that could turn back time and bring someone back.
  • Tonks watched Lupin beneath the full moon, crying and smiling as her hair settled into silver-gray.
  • At Hogwarts, Harry, Hermione, and Ron watched the live projection, while Neville wondered whether Douglas Holmes could help his parents.
  • The Church representatives watched the ceremony through a Crystal Mirror, and their leader declared Douglas Holmes more dangerous and more valuable than they had expected.

Ch. 991The Ministry of Magic Takes Charge of Greyback

Lupin silently paid his respects to Greyback’s body, while Oliver Brennan showed Greyback his old bite scar and declared that Greyback had lost. Scrimgeour then formally verified Greyback’s identity before international witnesses, turning his death into a public legal record.

  • Lupin touched Greyback’s crystal coffin once and returned to the students without speaking.
  • Oliver Brennan revealed the bite scar Greyback had left on his arm, stared at the body, and said, “You lost.”
  • Scrimgeour approached the coffin with a Ministry-sealed document folder and began the formal identity verification arranged at Sirius’s request.
  • A young Auror cast the Identity Verification Charm, displaying Greyback’s name, birth and death dates, cause of death, and official verification by the United Kingdom Ministry of Magic.

Ch. 992Fudge: He's Doing My Job

Scrimgeour officially confirmed Greyback’s death and the completion of his transfer while Fudge suspected Sirius had arranged the moment behind the scenes. Marco secured Alberti’s support for aid to isolated werewolf communities in Italy, and Douglas began arranging a single-table dinner with Fudge seated opposite Tom Richardson.

  • Scrimgeour signed the prepared document and announced that Greyback was deceased, the file was sealed, and the transfer was complete.
  • Sirius praised the moment while Fudge glared at him and suspected he had secretly coordinated with Scrimgeour.
  • Marco asked Minister Alberti for improved potion supplies and a British Ministry guarantee to help three unregistered communities in Italy, and Alberti agreed to raise the request at a ministry meeting.
  • Marco gave Alberti Lupin’s letter detailing potion allocation, transport routes, and contact procedures for the Calabrian community.
  • Douglas instructed Hawkins to arrange one long table for the gathering and placed Fudge between Dumbledore and Alberti, directly opposite Tom Richardson.

Ch. 993If Only James Could Be Sitting Here

Dobby oversaw a formal feast where Fudge praised Tom, the Weasley twins celebrated him, and Tonks and Lupin grew closer. Sirius joined Lupin for a drink and quietly wished James could have been there.

  • Dobby directed six Hogwarts House-elves through final checks before the feast began.
  • Fudge praised Tom’s defensive rune work and his years imprisoned, but Tom credited Mr. Holmes.
  • Fred and George joined Tom, shielded him from Fudge’s attention, and toasted him as their partner and the world’s only Muggle electrification rune engineer.
  • Tonks sat close to Lupin, whose gestures suggested he returned her feelings.
  • Sirius joined Lupin for a drink, surveyed the lively gathering, and said he wished James could be sitting there.

Ch. 994The End

At a banquet celebrating the improved Wolfsbane Potion and its new supply chain, Lupin negotiated international licensing and amnesty talks with an American representative. The gathering continued beneath the moon as werewolves shared a meal and celebrated their changed circumstances.

  • Lupin and Sirius toasted Harry, while Scrimgeour stood guard and recorded plans for a Ministry-controlled strategic reserve of Wolfsbane Potion.
  • Douglas and Lupin discussed Scrimgeour’s interest in controlling the potion industry.
  • An American representative offered shared technology licensing, and Lupin demanded a Seattle purification plant and a draft bill granting blanket amnesty to unregistered individuals.
  • The representative agreed to begin preliminary talks with Lupin next Monday through an encrypted Floo Network channel.
  • Dobby served Douglas a carefully calculated meal, while Margaret O’Brien ate with a young French apprentice and wore her new employee badge.

Ch. 995Defense Against Dark Magic-The Magical Science Series

Douglas reviewed four Dark wizard research papers and planned a seven-booklet Hogwarts Defense Against Dark Magic series with Flitwick. Flitwick warned that its Muggle scientific terminology would face resistance, and Dumbledore arrived as the discussion continued.

  • Douglas reviewed Barty Crouch Jr.'s, Dolohov's, Bellatrix Lestrange's, and Rodolphus Lestrange's research papers, marking some for use in future booklets.
  • Flitwick read Dolohov's analysis of curse residue and radioactive half-life, and Douglas said it could become a line of defense if its casting details were removed.
  • Douglas showed Flitwick outlines for seven supplementary booklets, proposing that he handle theory and Muggle science while Flitwick integrated practical Charms work.
  • Flitwick warned Douglas that pure-blood families and the Ministry would reject the scientific terminology in the books.
  • Dumbledore entered and asked Flitwick whether he had said pure-blood families would not accept the material.

Ch. 996We need a champion to lead the charge

Douglas planned to push a new series of magical science teaching materials into Hogwarts by making Dolores Umbridge their editor-in-chief. After Douglas, Flitwick, and Dumbledore prepared the seven drafts, Douglas set out to meet Umbridge alone.

  • Douglas proposed naming Dolores Umbridge editor-in-chief so she would use her Ministry influence to put the teaching materials into Hogwarts’ curriculum.
  • Dumbledore removed dangerous details about Horcruxes from the sixth-year draft and agreed to review that section himself.
  • Douglas and Flitwick planned links between the booklets’ theory and Hogwarts lessons, while Douglas removed specific spellcasting instructions from the source papers.
  • Douglas, Flitwick, and Dumbledore spent the morning reviewing the drafts, and Douglas ordered Dobby to bind copies with bright pink covers.
  • Douglas decided to visit Umbridge immediately and declined Dumbledore’s offer to accompany him.

Ch. 997"Whoever controls education controls the next generation"

Douglas brought Umbridge a pink textbook filled with Muggle scientific terminology and argued that adopting precise, quantifiable standards would let the Ministry challenge Hogwarts’ control over education. Umbridge rejected the book as an attack on pure-blood tradition, but Douglas left her with the argument that whoever defined knowledge could shape the next generation.

  • Douglas took a finished pink booklet and told Flitwick that the papers from the Cave prison belonged to every child sitting in a classroom.
  • Dumbledore predicted that Umbridge would ask to make the textbooks compulsory next term, and Flitwick agreed while calling Douglas pretentious.
  • Douglas entered Umbridge’s office and placed the booklet before her.
  • Umbridge read its scientific terminology, condemned it as a desecration of pure-blood tradition, and shoved it toward Douglas.
  • Douglas argued that Dumbledore and Hogwarts controlled education because they held the authority to define knowledge and educational principles.
  • Douglas told Umbridge that the Ministry could control the next generation by redefining magical knowledge through precise, quantifiable standards.

Ch. 998Douglas, a man without ambition

Douglas persuaded Umbridge to consider adopting his seven-volume theoretical curriculum by presenting it as a way to favor pure-blood students and earn her a lasting political achievement. Umbridge agreed to review the drafts and considered surprising Director Black with the proposal at a meeting.

  • Umbridge questioned how she could justify Douglas's curriculum to pure-blood families, and Douglas argued that it would give their children an advantage.
  • Douglas promised Umbridge lasting recognition if her name appeared on the textbooks and reminded her that Fudge valued major achievements.
  • Umbridge examined the booklet and asked whether Black would obstruct the plan, and Douglas portrayed Black's practical training as its weakness.
  • Umbridge requested all seven draft volumes and said she would make a final decision after reviewing them.
  • Douglas suggested that Umbridge raise the proposal at the next day's curriculum meeting without warning Black, and she considered the tactic.
  • After Douglas left, Umbridge stared at the manuscript's empty signature field and thought he was a wonderful scholar with no ambition.

Ch. 999A Hands-on Acting Lesson

Dolores Umbridge reviewed seven proposed textbooks and began revising them while planning to use a meeting to advance her ambitions. Douglas coached Sirius on how to stage a convincing defeat at that meeting, with McGonagall and Flitwick set to support the plan and Snape remaining neutral.

  • Dolores Umbridge reviewed the seven booklets, marking many ideas favorably and deciding the material could help her gain political influence.
  • Dolores Umbridge signed the first booklet, erased her name, and began revising the sixth-year booklet while planning to let Black make a fool of himself at the meeting.
  • Douglas told Sirius to criticize the textbooks, accuse their supporters of undermining the Academic Affairs Office, and make an overbearing defense of his authority.
  • Douglas explained that Sirius needed to appear defeated by authority so Dolores Umbridge would remain focused on him instead of the real threat.
  • Douglas told Sirius that McGonagall would stay silent, Flitwick would lend the textbooks academic legitimacy, and Snape would observe without taking sides.

Ch. 1000Duel me, Umbridge

Umbridge presented Douglas’s proposed teaching materials as a basis for new trial classes, but Sirius objected that their technical theory would undermine the Academic Affairs Office’s practical training. The meeting remained undecided as Flitwick saw value in incorporating part of the materials, while McGonagall stayed silent.

  • Umbridge presented seven proposed reference booklets and cited Ministry decrees giving her authority to submit them for review.
  • Sirius questioned the booklets’ technical content and accused Umbridge of weakening the practical training system.
  • Umbridge argued that theoretical study complemented practical training and pushed the relevant decrees before the professors.
  • Flitwick said the third-year volume’s explanation of the Patronus Charm could deepen students’ understanding in his Charms class.
  • McGonagall remained silent as the professors considered the proposal.
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