"Werewolf?!"
Hermione's voice trembled as she instinctively tightened her grip on Kai's hand, her complexion paling noticeably. She had read about them—fierce, bloodthirsty Dark Creatures that even experienced Aurors hesitated to face.
But Werewolves had sharp hearing. The lead Werewolf's pointed ears twitched, his lupine eyes narrowing.
"Smart little girl, aren't you?" he sneered, exposing unnaturally white, predatory teeth. "In that case, save us all the trouble. Come along quietly."
He exchanged a glance with the brute beside him—clearly, his 'offer' wasn't a request.
Two towering figures began striding toward them, blocking the alley's only exit. Kai, however, simply smiled, calm as ever.
"Humour me—your goal wasn't to find the master of this house?"
The lead Werewolf snorted. "No, boy. Our goal… is you." His eyes glinted maliciously. "Grab the lad. Alive. As for the girl… do as you like."
The others chuckled darkly, closing in.
Kai tilted his head, unfazed. His gaze shifted to Hermione.
"Want to give it a try?"
The little witch understood immediately, a flicker of determination lighting up her amber eyes. Her lips pressed together in hesitation.
"Can I?" she whispered.
Kai's smile deepened. "What are you afraid of? We're not in Britain—the Ministry's not breathing down your neck."
Hermione exhaled sharply, steel creeping into her posture. "Then of course I have to try."
With that, she boldly stepped forward, head held high. The approaching men towered over her, exchanging puzzled glances as the 'child' reached for her waist.
Out came a slender wooden wand.
The Werewolves chuckled—until the leader's expression darkened.
"Idiots," he snapped. "That's not a toy—it's a wand! They're Wizards!"
But it was too late.
"Stupefy!"
A brilliant jet of blue light burst from Hermione's wand, slamming into the first Werewolf like a battering ram. His towering, muscular frame—easily over six feet tall—was hurled backwards through the air, landing in an unconscious heap.
The second brute gawked.
"What in—"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Hermione's spell struck true. The man stiffened, his skin draining of colour as his limbs snapped together, frozen mid-motion like a marble statue. He collapsed in a heap, unmoving.
The leader's face contorted with fury.
"Useless mongrels!" he spat, claws flexing in frustration.
They had been hastily converted locals, fledglings barely scraping the surface of the magical world—he hadn't expected much, but this? Beaten by a child?
Still, Wizards or not—they were just two young ones.
The leader stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
"It seems you're determined to resist," he mocked. "I suggest you drop your toys before you get hurt, sweetheart."
Hermione's wand remained steady.
"You should worry about yourself! Stupefy!"
The spell hit—but this time, it barely staggered the Werewolf. He stumbled back two steps, baring sharp teeth in a wolfish grin.
Kai's eyes narrowed as he caught the telltale glint—the man's pupils contracted to mere pinpricks, his irises a predatory yellow.
"Refusing the easy way, are we?" the leader snarled, his voice deepening unnaturally.
A guttural growl erupted from his throat as his body began to contort and elongate, bones popping, muscles bulging grotesquely beneath his skin.
The others followed suit—half-men, half-beasts, sprouting fur and claws, their snarls shaking the alley.
Kai had seen Werewolf transformations before—the incident in the Forbidden Forest last year—but Hermione clearly hadn't. Her face paled further, fear flickering in her eyes.
Kai's hand settled gently on her shoulder.
"It's alright. They're just creatures… no different from Dobby."
Hermione's voice was faint. "They're… much bigger than Dobby."
Kai smiled. "Sometimes, Luna's bigger than them."
"Chirp?"
A small purple blur darted from his sleeve. Luna—the mischievous feathered serpent—poked her head out, tilting it curiously toward Hermione.
"Chirp!"
Exactly. Just Werewolves? No problem at all!
Though Hermione didn't understand Luna's language, the weight of Kai's hand on her shoulder steadied her.
By now, the pack had fully transformed—hulking, fur-covered beasts with bloodshot eyes and slavering jaws. Their snarls filled the air, and at the leader's signal, they surged forward.
Hermione's wand rose, her voice clear despite the tremor beneath it.
"Stupefy! Petrificus Totalus!"
The spells struck, momentarily slowing the advancing beasts. They staggered, stiffened—but recovered almost instantly, the dense fur shielding them.
More ferocious than ever, they charged again.
Kai shook his head slightly.
Still too soft, he thought. Hermione's spells—stunners, binding charms—lacked true stopping power. Useful for duels, not battles for survival.
Apparently, Hermione realised the same. Her wand twitched, hesitating—then her jaw set.
"Incendio!"
A blazing sphere of fire erupted from her wand, swelling mid-air into a crackling inferno. The heat rippled outward, whipping her chestnut curls back, revealing fierce, determined eyes.
The Werewolves faltered, snarling, retreating from the flames.
But Hermione wasn't finished.
"Dissendium! Vera Verto!"
A seamless, rapid-fire incantation. The fireball split, morphing into two fiery serpents that coiled and hissed, cutting off the beasts' approach.
"Leave. Now."
Her voice rang out, proud, unflinching, her chin lifted defiantly as the firelight danced across her face.
The pack hesitated, the heat distorting the air.
"Pathetic," came a guttural voice.
The largest of the Werewolves—the leader—pushed to the front, eyes burning with contempt.
"I told you—child's tricks can frighten half-breeds, not me."
His arm swept through the flames. Burning fur sizzled, skin blistered—but already, the wounds knit together with unnatural speed.
Hermione's bravado faltered, frustration flashing across her face.
Kai stepped forward, ruffling her hair gently.
"You were brilliant."
He placed her behind him, voice low. "Good girl. Turn around. Eyes closed."
Without hesitation, Hermione obeyed, squeezing her eyes shut.
The Werewolf lunged, claws gleaming, salivating at the thought of victory.
"Keeping them alive's enough," the beast growled. "A missing limb won't matter."
But all he saw was Kai's calm, elegant smile—and then—
The temperature spiked.
A wave of oppressive heat filled the air, the ground beneath them humming with barely contained energy. The sky darkened as shadows bled from Kai's fingertips.
The Werewolf's eyes widened.
"What—"
A surge of obsidian mist roared outward, coiling like smoke yet dense as iron—the signature of an Obscurus awakening.
Kai's smile never wavered.
"Your turn to be afraid."