HP: It's a snake, not a badger.

Chapter 103 Beating the Werewolf

"Damn Potter, always running around like this." Severus left the castle and headed straight for the Forbidden Forest, cursing as he went.

As night deepened, the full moon quietly rose, casting its silvery light upon the lake's surface, creating shimmering ripples.

Severus's heart skipped a beat when he saw the beautiful scenery. He didn't know if Lupin had taken his wolfsbane potion on time, but if he had missed even one bottle, something terrible would happen tonight.

He waved his wand, picked up a stone, and hit the scar. Without pausing, he went straight into the secret passage, hoping the moon hadn't reached Lupin yet.

Behind him, a kitten quietly followed, its soft paws making no sound as it stomped on the ground. Emeric even chuckled as he watched Severus scramble into the secret passage.

On the other side, the screaming shack

Harry winked at Ron, signaling him to distract Lupin so they could find an exit. Once they got out of the Screaming Shack, they could escape Lupin and wander Hogsmeade at night.

Hermione and Ron received the signal and ran in opposite directions, staying as close to the wall as possible and carefully feeling their way through the cracks. Harry led Lupin in circles in the middle, dodging his grabbing hands.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, and Lupin saw the moonlight on the floor. He realized he couldn't delay any longer.

"Immediately imprison them."

Spells flew toward Harry, attempting to bind him, but even after he had tied up Ron and Hermione, Harry was still running around, occasionally throwing a stunt at him, which was ineffective but very humiliating.

"Harry, you should go. It'll be dangerous if you stay any longer. Listen to me!!!"

"Professor, can we go out and have some fun?"

"No, you should go back to school."

For the first time, Lupin realized how annoying James was back then, just like Harry now, who didn't listen to adults. He could only try again and again to tie Harry up. Ron and Hermione were already at the entrance of the secret passage; he could throw them back in together as soon as he caught Harry.

When Severus arrived, it was a chaotic scene. He casually moved Ron and Hermione away, as their Gryffindor smell bothered him.

"Gryffindors each lose 20 points. Your adventure tonight is over for the three of you. Come back with me."

Upon seeing Severus arrive, Harry obediently allowed himself to be tied up. The score with his Patronus from a couple of days ago hadn't been settled yet, and if he didn't behave now, he'd be dead meat when the reckoning came.

And if Emerick and Draco found out that he disobeyed Severus, they would both take care of him, and he would really be dead.

Seeing Harry being caught by Severus so easily, Lupin was somewhat taken aback. He couldn't help but wonder if he had really regressed over the years, otherwise why would Severus have caught Harry so easily?

Severus used a levitation spell to pull the three of them together, gave a smug hum, and turned to mock Lupin, "Professor Lupin has really regressed these past few years; he can't even catch one student."

After saying that, he prepared to leave. The moonlight outside the window was almost filling the entire room. If he didn't leave soon, Lupin would turn into a werewolf, and then he would have to protect these three troublemakers. Just thinking about it made him very worried.

But moonlight refracted through Harry's glasses and into the corner. Suddenly, a heavy breathing sound filled the room; Lupin had transformed into a werewolf.

"Damn it, why aren't they taking their medicine?" Severus instantly threw the three little ones beside him to the entrance of the secret passage, released the spell on them, and dodged in a very disheveled manner.

"What are you three waiting for? Get out of here and stop dragging me down." Seeing that they were still standing there dumbfounded, Severus told them to leave quickly. He could hold Lupin back by himself, but he couldn't do it with three more burdens.

"Professor, watch out! Sand and stones are flying everywhere!"

"Listen to me, boys, it's our fault that Professor Snape was attacked. We must do everything we can to help him control Professor Lupin." Hermione didn't want to be a deserter. They had the protective brooches given to them by Emeric, which gave them the ability to protect themselves.

Seeing that Harry and Ron both nodded, she continued, "We need to ensure the safety of the secret passage. Harry, you go to the far left, Ron, you go to the far right. The three of us will stay here and assist Professor Snape. Then you two should cast your armor on the professor to protect yourself and distract Professor Lupin as much as possible."

While they were discussing, Emeric crept out of the secret passage, and the kitten came out just in time to see Severus almost get caught by the werewolf.

"Meow~"

The giant cat pounced between the two, slapped the werewolf on the head, and wrapped its long tail around Severus's waist several times before lifting him up and putting him on its back. Emeric felt that there was no safe place on his body except for him.

The cat was furious that its beloved had almost been hurt. It jumped aside to dodge the attacking claws and pounced on Lupin with a running start.

Then slap after slap landed on him. The size advantage combined with the feline speed made Lupin dizzy and disoriented, and he fell to the ground.

Seeing Lupin fall, Severus waved his wand to tie him up and reached out to grab Emeric's cat ears to make him put him down, but the little cat, who had just been through a battle, didn't want to listen and carried Lupin toward Harry.

He started beating Harry and Ron. Hermione, being a girl, was only whipped a few times by the tail and that was considered a beating. He had less strength to beat up troublemakers than to beat up werewolves.

"Hey, why are you hitting us, you cat? If you keep doing that, I'm going to fight back."

"Shut up, Ron. Don't run away. If you get beaten up now, you won't get scolded when you go back."

Harry realized he couldn't escape a beating; their reckless running around had put them in danger and dragged Severus into it. Emerick wouldn't be appeased without giving them a good beating, and now that they'd been beaten by the cat, he wouldn't have to go to the dueling ring to get a beating—a fantastic deal.

"Brother Airi, be gentle! I was just hit here by the Willow, don't hit me here!!!"

Harry was too optimistic. Emerick's cat slaps hurt terribly, especially targeting fleshy areas, with his thighs and buttocks being prime targets. He didn't know how many slaps he received.

"Awoo..."

The werewolf, who had been knocked unconscious, woke up. Emeric, still angry, slapped him a few more times, knocking Lupin unconscious once more. Only then did Lupin barely regain his senses, put Severus down from his back, and nuzzled him vigorously with his cat head.

"Alright, stop playing dumb. What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to stay in the cellar with Draco? And why didn't you put me down just now, huh?" Severus pinched the cat's ears and twisted them.

"Meow..."

"Fine, I'll deal with you when we get back. The three of you are coming with me."

"Okay, Professor."

Harry thought for a moment and couldn't help but ask, "Are we just leaving Professor Lupin here alone?"

"Otherwise, who can keep him company?" Severus rolled his eyes at Harry, kicked him into the secret passage, took the cat off his shoulder and threw it in with him, and then finally left the Shrieking Shack.