Chapter 115 ⭃ The Battle at St. Mungo's

In their final Defense Against the Dark Arts class of first year, they had learned about werewolves, so Kyle was familiar with these creatures.

The being before him was unmistakably a werewolf — it resembled a wolf but walked upright, with a slightly shorter snout, gray fur covering its body, and sharp, hooked claws on its hands.

But weren't werewolves supposed to transform only during the full moon? What was this — a daylight werewolf?

Kyle had no time to ponder. He quickly raised his arm, letting his wand slide from his sleeve into his hand.

Every account of werewolves shared one crucial detail: their minds were chaotic, devoid of reason, driven purely by instinct to attack any living creature in sight.

This werewolf was no exception. It stared at Kyle, its eyes blazing with cruelty and bloodlust.

There was no helping it — he was simply the closest target.

The werewolf opened its mouth, revealing two-inch-long fangs, cloudy saliva dripping through them onto the reddish-brown floor.

Drip...

"ROAR!"

Just as the werewolf lunged, Kyle cast his spell first.

✭ Spongify ➜ Softening Charm ✭

Thud!

The werewolf's movement faltered, its body tumbling uncontrollably to the side.

This was thanks to Oren's final lesson, where he'd shared details about werewolves not found in their textbooks. He'd taught them that werewolves typically attacked with a forward pounce.

A softened floor was perfect for disrupting their balance.

Though the werewolf quickly recovered, the spell had bought Kyle precious seconds. He couldn't risk returning to Hagrid's hospital room — there wasn't enough time, and turning to open the door would leave his back exposed.

Without hesitation, he took two quick steps backward from the werewolf while raising his wand.

The floor in front of him began to rise, forming rows of sharp stone spikes a few inches high. The spikes were sturdy enough that even a thick-skinned werewolf would find them painful to step on.

It tried to slip past along the wall...

BANG!

At that moment, a hospital room door burst open, and Hagrid's enormous figure appeared in the corridor.

He had rushed out at the sound of the commotion. Though startled by the werewolf, he quickly spotted Kyle in the distance.

Hagrid's face flushed with rage.

"You monster, how dare you attack a young wizard!" He tore the door from its hinges and hurled it like a discus.

CRASH—

"YELP!"

Hagrid's aim struck true — the door slammed into the werewolf with a sickening crack of breaking bones, making it howl in pain. Even Kyle winced at the sound.

Though mindless, the werewolf's basic animal instincts remained. It gave Hagrid one terrified look before turning to flee.

Kyle's eyes widened as he spotted its escape route, "Hagrid, that's the stairs — we can't let it get through!"

"I know." Hagrid lunged after it.

But his tight hospital gown constricted him like bandages, making it impossible to run properly, let alone catch up to the fleeing werewolf.

Even Kyle easily overtook him.

"Kyle, come back!" Hagrid called out, struggling to tear free from his restrictive clothes.

"Damn it, where are the St. Mungo's staff?"

Kyle's heart raced as he pursued the werewolf. If he got bitten, his life at Hogwarts would be over.

Unlike Lupin's situation, a werewolf bite at St. Mungo's would be impossible to keep secret with so many witnesses around. Still, he couldn't let the creature reach the unsuspecting people downstairs.

"At least Hagrid's here." Kyle thought, drawing comfort from the heavy footsteps behind him.

When the werewolf slowed at the corridor stairwell, Kyle raised his wand.

✭ Impedimenta ➜ Impediment Jinx ✭

✭ Flipendo ➜ Knockback Jinx ✭

The spells struck in sequence — first freezing the werewolf in place, then slamming it violently into the wall.

Kyle glanced back to see Professor Kettleburn lying on his side, his remaining arm extended with his wand. He had cast the Knockback Jinx.

"What... what are you doing..."

A childish voice suddenly rang out.

Kyle spun around. A chubby, round-faced boy had appeared at the corner of the stairs, clutching a boxed meal. His eyes were wide with terror.

The werewolf noticed the newcomer too. Its dull eyes blazed with renewed fury as it prepared to lunge at the boy.

✭ Spongify ➜ Softening Charm ✭

The werewolf stumbled and fell as it tried to stand on the softened floor.

Kyle quickly transformed a corridor iron rack into a sharp spear and hurled it with all his strength. The spear pierced the werewolf's skin but couldn't penetrate deeply.

Anticipating this outcome, he immediately followed up with another spell.

✭ Flipendo ➜ Knockback Jinx ✭

Like a hammer striking a nail, the Knockback Jinx drove the spear through the werewolf's chest, pinning it to the ground.

"Kyle, look out... oh!" Hagrid arrived, but seeing the defeated werewolf, he lowered his raised arms.

His help was no longer needed.

"Could you please find the hospital staff?" Kyle asked the boy, "Tell them there's an out-of-control werewolf on the second floor."

The boy was so shocked by the scene that Kyle had to repeat himself before getting a response.

"O-okay..." The boy gave Kyle a frightened look before rushing downstairs.

"I think he might be traumatized." Hagrid said quietly.

And no wonder — even Hagrid himself had been terrified earlier.

"It couldn't be helped." Kyle shrugged, "Better scared than turned into a werewolf."

Professor Kettleburn, now fitted with his prosthetic limb, limped over to them.

"Sorry, child. I was careless. If only I had cast one more spell then."

Kyle shook his head, "It's not your fault, Professor."

The werewolf had already been mostly subdued; it only became aggressive again upon seeing the boy. And from Professor Kettleburn's position, the boy at the corner of the stairs had been completely out of view.

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