Crimson shockwaves instantly swept through the entire hall! The goblins screamed as they flew like pebbles in a storm, crashing heavily into the metal walls.
The floor cracked open, and countless fragments fell from the intricately carved ceiling. In just one breath, the hall became a complete ruin filled with deathly silence.
"Huff..." Goblin leader Ragnok exhaled deeply, feeling the pent-up frustration in his heart slightly relieved.
This time, the losses are catastrophic! Thinking of the wasted manpower and resources, Ragnok's eyes turned blood-red with hatred. He wanted nothing more than to skin that [Lamp] alive, stuff him into a furnace as a power core, and drain all his magical energy repeatedly!
A new goblin quickly entered the ruined hall, respectfully asking: "Should we go all-out to capture that [Lamp], Lord Ragnok?"
"No... no need." Ragnok turned around, a sinister light flashing in his crimson eyes. Grinning to reveal two rows of fangs, he said hoarsely: "We're guarding the most important and crucial core of ancient magic... We don't need to waste energy chasing him."
"Since his target is also ancient magic, we just need to wait... That [Lamp] will eventually come to us willingly!"
Clench. Ragnok tightened his fist forcefully. Crimson magical power surged over his metal armour, emanating dangerous aura.
Present World – England, Surrey, Little Whinging, Privet Drive
"Whoosh!" A dazzling white light appeared under the dim night sky, casting three elongated shadows under the orange streetlights. A stray cat meowed and fled, hiding under a nearby car.
Ethan gripped the silver key, looking around curiously. Obviously, this wasn't Luna's house. Light brown-walled houses lined the street in orderly rows. Almost every household had a car parked outside, with fenced yards containing neat but boring lawns.
"This is a Muggle neighbourhood..." Ethan observed. "The sign says Privet Drive, Number 4! This is Harry Potter's house!"
His eyes widened with delight. Perfect. To communicate with that higher being, the "Maiden in the Mirror", he needed something reflective. He could pay a friendly visit to Harry's family and ask to borrow a mirror.
Look, there are still lights on in the house. Surely Harry's aunt and uncle would be happy to help him with this small favour.
Ethan straightened his clothes, very law-abidingly choosing not to use magic to clean himself. Surely the enlightened aunt and uncle wouldn't mind a few bloodstains on his clothes.
"Professor Lupin, look, it's Harry's house! Surprised? Unexpected?" Ethan turned to his school professor like he was coaxing a child.
But he saw Professor Lupin hunched over in pain, emitting inhuman growls.
Ethan frowned. Instinctively looking up, he saw the orange full moon hanging in the night sky.
Full moon night! The werewolf is about to transform!
"Letting a werewolf loose in a Muggle neighbourhood... I don't have plans for a werewolf army yet."
Acting decisively, Ethan raised his hand and drew an inverted triangle rune in the air, aiming at Lupin and shouting: "Aard Sign! Go!"
The powerful impact sent Lupin's entire body flying sideways! He crashed into the Dursleys' car, denting the trunk and shattering glass.
"Beep beep beep!" Car alarms immediately echoed through the neighbourhood, shattering the night's peace!
"Swish!" Countless curtains were pulled open, and alarmed, curious heads pressed against windows, looking out.
Ethan raised his wand and shattered the streetlight with a bang!
"Swish!" All the curtains snapped shut again. Lights went out one by one.
Ethan smiled and nodded: "Very good. Such well-behaved children!"
Just then, the door of Number 4 Privet Drive burst open with a bang. A huge, round figure screamed as it bounced out, flying unstoppably toward the sky!
"Help! Help me!"
"Hold on! Marge! I'll pull you down right now! Dear God! What the hell is this?!" Harry's uncle, Vernon Dursley, stared in shock at his constantly flashing car and the "vagrant" who had flattened the trunk.
And that nightmarish figure—Ethan, the blood-stained version—waved his wand cheerfully: "Hi there!"
The tall, fat Vernon Dursley, like a solid red mountain of meat, froze in place as if petrified. From his repeated forceful eye-closing and opening, you could see how much he hoped this was all just a terrible dream.
In the stillness, only Aunt Marge's increasingly distant screams echoed from overhead until Aunt Petunia, who had rushed out after Vernon, saw the scene and broke the eerie silence with a glass-shattering shriek:
"AHHHHH!" Then she fainted.
So when Harry angrily stormed out with his luggage, he saw his aunt collapsed on the ground, his uncle kneeling beside her, screaming like he was being murdered. On the lawn, the car Vernon often boasted about was flashing its alarm. The back half was shattered and dented, looking completely totalled.
Harry stared at the chaos: "???"
The massive shock made him forget his anger. Bewildered, he looked out and saw that familiar figure standing by the street.
Ethan Vincent.
"..." Everything makes sense now.
"Ethan!" Harry called out urgently. Struggling with his luggage, he jogged over, asking worriedly: "Won't you get in trouble with the Ministry for using magic like this?"
Last year, I got an expulsion warning just for a house-elf's Levitation Charm!
"Expulsion? Interesting," Ethan replied casually.
Harry stared at him: "..." Truly worthy of Ethan. All my worries just... disappeared.
Harry even couldn't help but smile happily. Because his aunt had insulted his parents by calling them worthless drunks with bad blood, he had inflated her in his rage.
Originally, he had packed his bags, ready to wander alone. He had even planned to use his Invisibility Cloak to get money from Gringotts for survival after expulsion.
But now, there was someone—a very, very reliable person—in the same situation who could accompany him. Harry immediately felt incredibly reassured.
"Alright, Harry! Here comes the Morning Star Club's summer training!" Ethan announced cheerfully.
Harry's expression shifted: "?" His smile suddenly froze. An extremely ominous premonition rose from his heart.
Ethan turned around, pointing at Lupin, whom the Aard Sign couldn't completely stop from transforming, and said cheerfully: "Now, here's the problem before you."
"Your next semester's Defence Against the Dark Arts professor is currently transforming into a werewolf due to the full moon..."
"Our next semester's Defence professor is a werewolf?!" Harry screamed.
"You need to use everything you've learnt in two years to control him..."
"Me?! You want me to control a crazed werewolf?!" Harry went pale.
"And prevent Privet Drive from becoming a mass grave."
After finishing this last sentence, Ethan added helpfully: "Don't worry, you just need to buy me some time."
"Buy time? What are you going to do?" Harry asked desperately.
"Learn the wonderful magic that turns werewolves back into humans."
Harry's expression became vacant. You should first learn magic to turn demons back into humans.
"Ethan! Calm down, listen to me!" Harry pleaded. "I've never heard of magic that can turn werewolves back into humans! You might as well just summon a Cerberus—"
"ROAR!" A bestial roar interrupted Harry's words.
In the pitch-black night, under the orange full moon, a tall figure slowly rose from the dented car trunk. Large-framed, over two metres tall, with grey-black fur swaying in the wind, emanating a wild beast's scent.
Its arms were like gnarled dead branches, each claw sharp as a dagger. They could tear through tough leather and snap fragile human bones in an instant.
That fierce wolf face, with turbid yellow vertical pupils, stared at them without any trace of rationality. Saliva dripped in strings from its jagged fangs.
Undoubtedly, standing before them was no longer their professor, but a bloodthirsty beast!
Ethan patted the petrified Harry's shoulder, casting a protective barrier on him. Waving his wand, he also cast one on Luna.
Then he directly conjured a mirror with Transfiguration. Since I've already broken the law, might as well go all the way.
"Be careful not to get bitten or scratched, Harry," Ethan said casually. "Now, training begins!"
As his words fell—
"ROAR!" Under Harry's terrified gaze, the werewolf leaped up and pounced toward them!