Chapter 178: The Burning of the Gaunt House

Wade had always thought highly of Lupin, but now he found himself increasingly impressed by him. 

Though Wade had helped Lupin in many ways, he was well aware that some people, even after receiving help, acted as if the world owed them something. They like to dispense advice from on high or endlessly demand more without considering the need for reciprocation.

Then there were those who, feeling ashamed or unwilling to give back, might avoid their benefactor altogether, or worse, secretly hope that misfortune would befall the person who helped them—only to feel better about themselves as a result.

But Lupin was different. 

Like water, he was gentle yet accommodating. He never looked down on Wade because he was teaching him magic, nor did he become overly ingratiating because he was employed by him. 

If he noticed that something Wade wanted to do was dangerous or harmful, Lupin would gently advise him against it. 

However, once Wade had made a decision, no matter how odd it seemed, Lupin would do his best to see it through without a hint of "I'm doing this for your own good" or probing questions.

This made things comfortable between them, especially for Wade, who carried so many secrets.

Take now, for instance. Lupin didn't ask Wade about what he had discussed with Dumbledore, or where he got his information, or why he wanted to burn down the Gaunt house—a decrepit old shack nearly overtaken by plants. 

Instead, he immediately thought of a plan and got to work.

There was a large, gnarled tree beside the house, its roots were tangled and sprawling. The branches had even broken through the roof, reaching down inside. The glass windows were all shattered, and tall nettles grew thickly, blocking most of the view. The narrow windows were layered with dust and grime. 

Fortunately, the vegetation was long dried up, so clearing it wasn't too troublesome.

"Incendio!" (Fire-Making Spell)

With a flick of their wands, Wade and Lupin ignited the dry grass in front of them with a loud whoosh.

If they had let go of their control at this point, the flames would have spread wildly, moving to consume any nearby fuel just like any natural fire.

But they maintained their focus and directed the fire with their wands. It moved along the ground, sweeping around to form a massive circle of flame.

Lupin had already explained many times the method for controlling fire.

Some wizards enhanced their control by using specific methods: loudly shouting spells, taking on certain stances, staring intensely at the flames, or even using magical tools. 

But fundamentally, it came down to having a steady and clear intent, unwavering and unbothered by distractions.

As the fire circle closed, it began to expand outward, slowly moving from the center. Insects and small animals hidden in the grass scurried frantically to escape beyond its edge.

The flames spread at a measured pace. After a wild cat escaped, it paused briefly in the bushes and observed for a while, then darted back to carry away its kitten.

Thick smoke billowed upward, as though a wildfire had ignited in the forest.

The fire circle expanded for several meters before halting, burning everything within its boundary to ash before slowly dying down.

With a flick of his wand, Wade conjured a gust of wind that swept away the black ash, revealing the charred ground beneath. 

Lupin followed with a water charm, letting streams of water spray over the area to prevent dried leaves from scattering.

In the end, only the small house nestled under the tree and a patch of surrounding brush remained intact.

Throughout, neither Wade nor Lupin had approached the house.

Looking at the smoke gradually dispersing overhead, Wade turned to Lupin and said, "Let's begin… Though everyone in Little Hangleton is asleep, someone from farther away might spot the smoke and call it in."

Forest fires were serious business; anyone seeing smoke from a distance would likely alert the fire department. Luckily, the town's fire station was far away and the road was rough, giving them plenty of time.

Lupin nodded and said, "Remember what I told you—precise control matters more than sheer power."

"Yes." 

Wade put away his usual wand and took out the wand he had picked up from a secondhand shop, a yew wood with a phoenix feather core. He took a deep breath, and cleared his mind to focus entirely.

"Pestis Incendium!" (Fiendfyre Curse)

With a sudden whoosh, a stream of orange-gold flame shot from his wand and hit the large tree next to the Gaunt house, instantly erupting into a ferocious blaze.

Wade held onto his wand, and watched the fire intently. He sensed a faint yet tangible connection between himself and the flames.

Lupin, with his wand ready, stood by, and was prepared to intervene at any time..

Though Fiendfyre was extremely dangerous and difficult to control, there were spells to counter it. If Wade lost control even slightly, Lupin could create a barrier to contain it, buying Wade time to regain command.

The fire surged and transformed, first into the shape of a hunting dog, as though it were about to lunge at someone, before dissipating abruptly. 

Then, a hippogriff emerged from the fire, galloping around the house, setting everything flammable alight before merging back into the flames.

The fire continued to morph—first into a dragon, then a phoenix, a niffler, a thunderbird, a wolf, and a chimera.

Some flew, others ran, and occasionally they tried to break free, only to be blocked by Lupin's water barrier.

Gradually, the movements of the fire creatures became more agile but stayed within the circle. Lupin glanced at Wade and noticed the fine beads of sweat on his forehead, and quietly admired his skill.

Many wizards spend their entire lives avoiding the Fiendfyre curse, fearing they won't be able to control it. Magic is inherently will-based, and their fear of the spell only makes learning it even harder.

Lupin himself learned this spell as a teenager, during the days when he and his friends were bold and fearless, and tackled all sorts of challenges. 

Though they despised dark magic, they weren't intimidated by it. Even then, he had to burn plenty of things on the beach before mastering Fiendfyre.

Lupin originally planned to teach Wade the same way, prepared for him to fail several times and even to discard a few old wands in the process. But, to his surprise, Wade began to succeed slowly on his very first attempt.

This child before him was a born wizard; he was destined to grow as powerful as Dumbledore. Perhaps he might even surpass him one day.

Lupin squinted slightly, and watched as the flames gradually took the form of a golden bird—almost like a phoenix, yet distinct from Dumbledore's phoenix.

It spread its wings gracefully within the flames, as if flying. Its eyes, seeming to be made of pure fire, appeared to look back at them.

Amidst the flames, sporadic crackling sounds echoed, sometimes resembling glass shattering, sometimes as if something were exploding.

This didn't surprise Lupin. 

Given that the place had once belonged to a wizarding family, various enchantments would undoubtedly be in place. But Fiendfyre's power was immense, capable of destroying most spells and protections.

However, Lupin's calm expression soon gave way to shock.

From within the flames, he suddenly heard a familiar, blood-curdling screams!

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