บท 26: Will this House Collapse?
The sound of a knock on the door pulled David from his work. He looked up from his notes and called out, "The door's not locked!"
The door creaked open, and John peeked in, his soft black hair falling neatly to either side of his face. He was wearing a brown coat over his shirt and an apron tied snugly around his waist.
"It's time to eat," John said with a polite smile.
"I'll be right there," David replied, tidying up the manuscripts spread across his desk. These were notes on magical creatures he'd been researching, some of which were exclusive to the Forbidden Forest near Hogwarts. He wanted to be well-prepared for his planned studies there. After all, exploring the Forbidden Forest at night wasn't something you did without preparation.
As he made his way downstairs, the smell of fresh pie filled the air. Tina and Newt were already seated at the dining table, chatting idly. John walked out of the kitchen, balancing a steaming plate of pies. Over the past ten days since he'd moved out of Newt's enchanted case and into the cozy second-floor room, John had taken over the household chores. Tina, delighted to relinquish kitchen duties, now spent most of her days leisurely playing with her Kneazle cat.
John's lifestyle had become somewhat of a fascination for David. Despite being a wizard, John rarely used his wand, opting instead for practical, hands-on solutions like a Muggle. When asked why, John had explained, "I lived in the Muggle world for a long time. I didn't want to attract attention, so I just got used to doing things the Muggle way."
As the group began eating, Newt turned to John. "Did you drink your Wolfsbane Potion?"
John nodded solemnly. "Yes, I drank it earlier."
"Good," Newt replied, then glanced at the window. "Tonight's a full moon."
David, munching on a slice of pie, glanced up. "Are you sure?"
"The Daily Prophet confirmed it," Newt said. "They've been including nightly moon updates recently—something the Ministry of Magic insisted on to help werewolves manage their transformations."
Despite the Ministry's efforts, discrimination against werewolves persisted. Most wizards still feared them, unwilling to trust that they'd taken their Wolfsbane Potion.
Later that afternoon, Newt took John and David into the nearby forest. They passed through dense trees before arriving at a small clearing. In the center stood a simple wooden house, its thin walls and slightly leaning frame making it look less like a shelter and more like an optimistic experiment.
David stared at the hut, his skepticism clear. "Grandpa, are you sure this place will survive John's transformation?"
Newt rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit sheepish. "Don't let appearances fool you! The house is sturdy—Dumbledore himself helped enchant it. Trust me, John could go all out during his transformation, and it wouldn't collapse."
John didn't seem as convinced. He eyed the structure warily, already scanning the forest floor for a rope to tie himself up just in case.
"Here, let me show you," Newt said, walking over to the hut. He pushed the door open with a creak that sounded far too ominous for comfort. Inside, the room was spartan—just a small bed with a quilt, enough for John to rest after his transformation. There was nothing else, as anything more would likely get destroyed during the transformation process, even with the Wolfsbane Potion helping to maintain his mind.
David stood at the doorway, suppressing a laugh. "This house looks like it's one strong wind away from toppling over."
Newt frowned but chose to ignore him. "John, you'll be fine. Just stay here tonight, and everything will work out."
John forced a smile but still gripped the rope he'd found. The thought of spending the full moon night in a house that looked like it might collapse under its own weight didn't inspire much confidence.
"At least there's a bed," John muttered, trying to focus on the small comforts. He would rather be anywhere but back in the cold wilderness. After weeks of warm meals and shelter, the idea of sleeping under the stars, vulnerable and alone, was far less appealing.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows through the clearing, Newt reassured John again. "You'll be safe here. We'll check on you in the morning. And remember—those spells are reinforced. You won't break through."
John nodded, gripping the door frame as if still debating whether to step inside. Finally, with a resigned sigh, he entered the hut and closed the door behind him.
David couldn't help but murmur, "If that house stands through the night, I'll eat my hat."
Newt chuckled. "Well, you'd better get your hat ready for dessert, then."
But deep down, even Newt couldn't help but worry. As the first rays of moonlight filtered through the forest, they all held their breath, waiting to see if the rickety little house would survive its first test.
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