Luna was just about to soothe her startled owl when the stream nearby erupted in a violent surge. A massive shadow burst from the water.
Thanks to the clarity granted by his meditation, Wyzett didn't falter. He sensed the creature's tail lashing out—a deadly sweep aimed straight for them.
In that heart-stopping instant, fear didn't cloud his mind. He grabbed Luna's arm, and together they dove forward, barely dodging the attack.
Thud!
The beast's tail grazed Wyzett's shoulder, slamming into the earth with bone-jarring force. The ground trembled. The creature yanked its tail free, sending clods of dirt and grass flying.
Hiss!
Water exploded in all directions as the monster let out a cold, sibilant hiss and slithered onto the bank.
It was a serpent—unlike any Wyzett had ever seen. Its body rose more than two meters tall, and most astonishing of all, it had three heads.
The three-headed snake was enormous and bizarre, its hide armored in orange-red, spiky scales. The color wasn't vivid but tinged with a lifeless gray, as if the creature carried the weight of many years.
As it hissed, Wyzett caught a glimpse of venomous fangs glinting with eerie green light in the rightmost head's mouth.
The snake was as thick as a wagon wheel, writhing as it lunged toward them.
Hiss!
It struck again. The right head shot forward, jaws gaping wide to reveal razor fangs. But the other two heads snapped and twisted, holding it back just enough for Wyzett to drag Luna away, dodging the lethal bite by a hair's breadth.
The snake's head slammed into the grass, sending up another spray of dirt and debris.
"Wyzett, that's a Runespoor—it's probably old, not very nimble," Luna said, utterly unruffled. "Each head has its own mind. They fight all the time."
Right on cue, the middle head opened its eyes and hissed as if speaking. The left head flicked its tongue, shaking back and forth, seemingly scolding the others. The three heads glared at one another, baring their fangs—then, astonishingly, began to attack each other.
Just as Luna predicted, the Runespoor was embroiled in a three-way quarrel.
"That's an XXXX-class magical creature. Why is it here?" Luna scrambled to her feet.
"You're hurt!" Her voice trembled as she spotted blood seeping from Wyzett's shoulder.
She hauled him up, supporting him as they fled toward the house.
But the Runespoor, realizing its prey was escaping, abandoned its bickering. It surged after them, faster than any serpent had a right to be—like a magical motorcycle in full throttle.
Through his meditation, Wyzett could sense its pursuit; they had only seconds before it struck again.
As he racked his brain for a solution, Luna suddenly pushed him forward, her voice steely with resolve. "Wyzett, you're injured. I'll distract it!"
He was stunned.
Never in his previous life had anyone risked themselves for him in a moment like this.
He spun, and time seemed to slow. The three heads loomed ever closer, Luna's pale-gold hair swirling in the wind. In her eyes, there was no fear—only calm, unwavering determination.
To protect her family.
A memory surged up from his past: the lonely years in the orphanage, longing for someone—anyone—to claim him as family, no matter the cost.
Now, he understood Luna. He understood her choice.
Back then, she'd been powerless and lost her mother. Now, she refused to let history repeat itself.
And Wyzett felt the same. He'd finally found family—he couldn't bear to lose them, especially not because they were protecting him.
The details of Ancient Magic: Shield Charm flashed through his mind, each step shining with new clarity.
He was ready. His wish was fierce—he would not let the Runespoor harm Luna.
He pressed his palms together. The Obscurus within him surged, pouring ancient magic into his veins.
The serpent's venomous fangs were inches from Luna's slender neck.
His hands moved in a perfect arc—magic gathered between them, forming a shimmering orb that began to expand—
This time, when the orb burst, the power did not rush back into his body.
Instead, silver-blue light washed over Luna, then exploded outward in a radiant, spherical shield.
The barrier shone with dazzling silver-blue brilliance. The Runespoor's fangs slammed into it and shattered into sparkling fragments.
A sudden intuition struck Wyzett—he spread his fingers apart, and the shield ballooned outward, shoving the Runespoor bodily back into the stream.
It was his first time casting the Shield Charm, and the barrier was far larger than he'd ever imagined.
To sustain it, he drew deeply on the Obscurus's power. The darkness inside him roiled, the chains binding it rattling ominously, as if on the verge of snapping.
Hiss!
The Runespoor rallied, all three heads shrieking in unison. But the shield was just that—a shield. It had no offensive power, couldn't truly harm the serpent.
At that moment, a tabby cat shot from the undergrowth.
In mid-leap, the cat twisted and transformed into a stern, bespectacled witch in deep green robes, wand in hand.
She leveled her wand at the Runespoor and flicked her wrist—
The stream's water surged, hardening into an iron cage that snapped shut around the furious serpent.
"Merlin's beard! Thank goodness you're both all right! Episkey!" The witch hurried to Wyzett, her wand tip glowing emerald.
A tingling numbness swept through his shoulder, and in a heartbeat, the wound and blood vanished without a trace.
"That was magic too?" Wyzett grasped Luna's offered hand and scrambled to his feet.
"Indeed," the witch answered, lips pressed tight, her tone brisk and severe. "You'll learn all this and more at Hogwarts. Lucky I arrived in time—if that Runespoor had bitten you, you'd be back at St. Mungo's for sure."
"Thank you!" Wyzett said, bowing repeatedly. "May I ask your name, madam?"
She allowed herself the faintest smile. "I forgot to introduce myself. Minerva McGonagall, Professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts."
She reached into her pocket and produced a thick parchment envelope, sealed with a wax crest. "I came here today to deliver your Hogwarts acceptance letter."
Wyzett accepted it with both hands. The seal was a shield-shaped crest, a bold "H" at its center, surrounded by a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a serpent…
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