Inside the rundown tavern, the diesel lamps covered in dirty stains emitted a faint light.
"...Then, I pulled out my magic wand and cast my created spell at that terrifying Wogawoga Werewolf!"
In the center of the tavern, the handsome wizard in a light blue robe proclaimed loudly. He held a cup of Butter Beer and rested his spotless leather shoe on the greasy table. As he spoke, he drew the magic wand from his robe, "Homorphus (Return to Human)!"
The wizard shouted dramatically. Although the spell had no effect, he still held his head high with pride.
"... So, after being hit by the spell, the werewolf regained consciousness on the full moon night?"
"Yes, the local villagers were very grateful. They not only erected a statue for me but also awarded me a pure gold medal to commemorate my heroic act!" The wizard nodded repeatedly and emptied his Butter Beer, only for the cup to silently refill itself.
After speaking, he burped and opened his robe, revealing a wooden root carving swaying on the lining.
"Well then, Mr. Lockhart, could you demonstrate for us?"
"...?"
The smile on the wizard's face stiffened, and he instinctively placed his shoe back on the floor as the flush on his face gradually faded. But as he glanced at the surroundings, the intoxication surged back, "Haha, of course I'd be willing, but there's no Wogawoga Werewolf here to demonstrate..."
"Does it have to be an Australian werewolf?"
"...What do you mean?"
A sudden premonition gripped Lockhart's heart, and he instinctively tightened his grip on his magic wand.
"I mean, since it's merely a Return to Human spell — shouldn't it work on Highland werewolves in Scotland too?"
"...You actually brought a werewolf?" Lockhart swallowed hard.
"..."
"Wait, I want to say—"
"Clap, clap."
The man seated in the shadow clapped his hands, and the next moment, the wooden door of the rundown tavern was forced open. A silver-glimmering figure appeared at the door, with gray-white fur, a snout slightly shorter than the usual canine, inverted joint legs, and a trailing gray tail —
"Human, human, human... wolf?"
Witnessing the scene before him, Lockhart's expression turned to fear. He instinctively turned to the silhouette seated next to him in the shadow, "Are you insane? Tonight is a full moon, and you dare to provoke a man-wolf—"
"Great, Mr. Lockhart, you may begin now."
"Begin, begin... begin what?" The man appeared bewildered.
"Return to Human spell."
The silhouette wasn't impatient but instead patiently reminded him once again.
"Yes, yes..."
The man trembled as he raised his magic wand, and at the same time, the werewolf at the tavern door began moving. It wagged its long tail and slowly approached the two, emitting a suppressed growl from its throat.
"Better move fast, or we're all dead."
"Stop, stop blathering, Homorphus (Return to Human)!"
Lockhart took a deep breath, swung his magic wand as he remembered, pointing its tip at the approaching werewolf. Under the gaze of everyone, a faint silver light drifted from the wand's tip and landed shakily on the werewolf, which then paused its steps.
"I knew it—"
Lockhart's face showed a hint of joy, and he instinctively shouted.
"Snort..."
The werewolf snorted and continued to advance.
"?"
"Ah, seems it had no effect, huh?"
"No way, that's impossible... It must be the wrong stance, Homorphus (Return to Human), Homorphus (Return to Human)!"
Lockhart swung his wand twice more, but the result was even worse this time. The wand's tip only faintly glowed before completely extinguishing. Meanwhile, the werewolf didn't hesitate anymore, pouncing forward and pinning Lockhart, who couldn't evade in time, to the ground, with sharp claws pressing on his chest—
"Quick, save me!"
Lockhart instinctively shouted for help, looking to the silhouette still seated nearby, subconsciously extending his right hand, hoping for rescue.
"But handling werewolves is supposed to be your specialty, isn't it?"
"Of course, I just... Homorphus (Return to Human)!"
The man, gathering courage, directly thrust his wand towards the werewolf's nose but was dodged by a turn of its head. Meanwhile, the werewolf opened its mouth and crushed his wand to pieces.
"Damn it, I can't deal with werewolves at all. Hurry, chase this beast away—"
Feeling the stale breath against his face, Lockhart's shout became a scream. He tried to raise his hand to swat at the werewolf pinning him down but lacked the strength for even the simplest move.
"Yet according to your 'book' 'Wanderings with Werewolves'—"
"I plagiarized it, handling werewolves isn't even my expertise. Now are you satisfied? Quickly chase this beast away. Aren't you folks all into news? I can grant you exclusive rights to this story—"
"Oh, plagiarized."
"Indeed, I don't know that nonsense spell, what Return to Human — that's a story from an old Armenian wizard. I borrowed his idea — quickly, chase the beast away, it's going for my neck!"
"Your story is quite popular in Armenia, even sold well in Australia — if that old wizard really exists, he should come forward and criticize you. So, Mr. Lockhart, no more hiding, get to it."
"Get to what—Damn it, I don't know the spell at all. I cast the Forgetfulness Spell on that old wizard, and he doesn't remember experiencing that at all. Besides, readers wouldn't want to read about a hideous old Armenian wizard. If his picture were on the cover, it would look awful and wouldn't sell..."
"I see..."
"Yes, quickly, this beast is opening its mouth—"
Lockhart continued to scream, not even aware that if a werewolf wanted to kill him, it wouldn't take this long.
Of course, even if he noticed, it wouldn't change anything.
"What a pity, Mr. Lockhart, casting a Forgetfulness Spell on someone warrants imprisonment in Azkaban, possibly for life if severe enough—"
"As long as you get it away from me, anything—"
"Sure, as you wish."
Under Lockhart's hopeful gaze, the shadow snapped its fingers, and then—
...
"Ah—"
The man screamed as he sat up in bed, instinctively clutching his throat, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. The feeling of having his throat bitten made him instinctively retch, but when he raised his head again, Lockhart's fear turned into puzzlement—
"Did I just... have another nightmare?" he murmured uncertainly.