RioRaRyu
patreon
Chapter 148: Maybe Go to New York
🕑 Added 2025-05-09 15:30:03 +0000 UTC
Kamar-Taj remained as peaceful and serene as ever. It was mealtime, so Noah and his two guests didn’t run into many sorcerers along the way.
However, upon hearing of Noah’s arrival, Karl Mordo quickly appeared, accompanied by Wong.
Wong, in particular, was still puzzled by Noah’s previous aloofness and couldn’t help but wonder if he had unknowingly offended him.
“Noah! Long time no see.” Mordo greeted him warmly and embraced him with a broad smile.
“Hello, Mordo. Technically, it’s been less than a month since I left.”
Noah returned the smile and hugged him back. Mordo might be a bit too strict sometimes, but that didn’t make him irredeemable.
“Really? I thought you'd finished the school year already. By the way, Wong mentioned you seemed a bit... preoccupied just now. Ran into any trouble?” Mordo asked, patting Noah’s shoulder.
“Wong? Wait, have we met today?” Noah turned, confused, toward Wong.
“Seriously? I was right in the temple earlier! Who did you think greeted you? What were you even thinking about that made you so spaced out?” Wong replied, exasperated.
Only now did Noah recall someone had indeed spoken to him earlier.
His mind had been filled with thoughts about cloning, so he had completely tuned out his surroundings. Now that he thought about it, it was pretty careless of him.
“Sorry, I was deep in thought...”
“It’s fine. Seems like it was something important. Are you here to see the Ancient One? Oh, and you haven’t introduced your companions yet.”
“Oh, right. These are professors from Hogwarts. This is Professor Remus Lupin, and this is Professor Severus Snape.”
“Professors from Hogwarts? Welcome to Kamar-Taj!” Wong and Mordo greeted them with genuine enthusiasm, surprising the two professors.
Neither of them expected such warmth. Thanks to Noah's earlier explanation, they knew these two young men were disciples of the Ancient One.
Moreover, they could feel the immense magical energy emanating from them. Both Mordo and Wong were clearly seasoned and powerful spellcasters.
Kamar-Taj was known for its battle-hardened mages, and Snape and Lupin understood this well.
“The Ancient One is aware of your arrival. She’s waiting in the main hall,” Mordo said with a smile after the brief introductions.
“Thanks, Mordo. I’ll take them there right away,” Noah nodded and led his professors toward the inner courtyard.
Mordo and Wong exchanged a glance and headed off — it was mealtime, after all, and they didn’t want to miss dinner.
Kamar-Taj’s architecture and atmosphere were vastly different from Hogwarts. Snape and Lupin observed their surroundings curiously while Noah gave them a quick tour.
When Noah mentioned the Ancient One, Lupin grew slightly anxious.
“Noah,” he whispered, “do you think the Sorcerer Supreme will really help?”
“Don’t worry,” Noah replied with a comforting smile. “It’s better to try than do nothing, right?”
“You’re right. If it doesn’t work, we’ll leave immediately. Just make sure you don’t start begging like some lunatic,” Snape muttered with his usual deadpan expression.
“Don’t worry. I’ve been through too much to fall apart now. But you — just make sure your research is more than basic theory. And don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment. That’d make you the lunatic.”
“Humph. I’m not as fragile as you.”
“Of course, Severus. You’re the epitome of emotional strength.”
“Remus, I swear — one more sarcastic comment, and I will hex you into the next dimension.”
“Oh, come on. Always threatening to kill me... Are you sure you're not still a Death Eater? Oh wait, technically, you are.”
Noah chuckled inwardly as the two bickered. He didn’t interrupt — he knew this was just Lupin venting his anxiety. Snape, despite his icy demeanor, was just as nervous.
Snape had never heard of this "cloning" technique Noah spoke of and had no idea how likely it was to work. The fear of failure loomed large — hope was a fragile thing.
As they neared the inner chamber, the two professors fell silent, the tension thickening.
The moment they stepped into the room, they froze like statues. All the earlier sniping disappeared.
Noah smiled at their reactions and respectfully bowed toward the seated figure sipping tea.
“Master.”
“Noah,” the Ancient One replied with a serene smile. “I sensed your arrival earlier. I thought your school year had ended.”
“Mordo said the same, but it’s only been about a month since I left.”
“Is that so? Time must be passing slower than I realized. And these are your professors?”
“Yes. This is Professor Severus Snape, and this is Professor Remus Lupin.”
“Pleasure to meet you. I hope Noah hasn’t caused you too much trouble,” she said with a gentle laugh as she rose and walked toward them.
She ruffled Noah’s hair as he awkwardly stood still, clearly wanting to dodge but deciding against it.
Snape and Lupin were frozen stiff, as if someone had cast Petrificus Totalus on them.
“No, not at all. Greetings, honored Sorcerer Supreme. Noah is a remarkably gifted student. We’re honored to have taught him,” Snape said, quickly bowing.
He elbowed Lupin, who was still frozen.
“Huh? Oh! Sorry! My apologies! Hello, Sorcerer Supreme. Noah is, uh, the brightest student I’ve ever had — no question about it.”
The Ancient One studied them curiously.
“Really? I must say, I didn’t expect Hogwarts to be so open-minded. It makes sense why the school is so well-regarded.”
Lupin smiled awkwardly, feeling her gaze — calm and without judgment. It was surprisingly comforting.
However, the Ancient One’s assumption was off. Lupin’s situation wasn’t due to Hogwarts being progressive.
If his condition were ever exposed publicly, he’d be the first one thrown out — no questions asked.
“Master, it’s not exactly what you think,” Noah said, scratching his head.
“Oh?” she tilted her head.
“Lupin was bitten by a werewolf when he was a child.”
“How unfortunate.”
“His family tried everything to help him, but nothing worked. If not for Professor Dumbledore, he probably wouldn’t have even attended Hogwarts. And now, I—”
“I see. That explains it.”
The Ancient One didn’t need further explanation. She understood the entire situation almost instantly.
To her, Lupin’s case was tragic — turned into a werewolf by a creature that cared nothing for consent. She had little fondness for such beings.
Still, her gaze remained soft.
“This may sting a bit. Try not to bite your tongue, Mr. Lupin,” she said gently.
She raised her hand, and a brilliant golden sigil formed — identical to the one Noah used, only far more refined and powerful.
Within moments, golden light enveloped Lupin, wrapping around his body like a cocoon.
“Shouldn’t you... check him first?” Noah asked, surprised.
“There’s no need. I’ve seen this affliction before,” the Ancient One replied with confidence. Then, with a spark of realization, she added, “Ah, I almost forgot — he’s going to scream.”
She snapped her fingers, and in an instant, Noah and Snape saw reality around them fracture like glass — the Mirror Dimension.
Then, just as quickly, the illusion vanished.
“All done. He’ll need time to recover. I just hope it’s not too painful,” she said, calmly returning to her seat and pouring herself tea.
In front of them, Lupin writhed in pain, mouth wide open in a silent scream. Strange black smoke began seeping from him.
But there was no sound. The Mirror Dimension absorbed it all.
Noah gently pulled Snape into a seat beside him.
“Tea?” the Ancient One offered, sliding cups toward them. “I added honey.”
“Thank you, Master,” Noah said, sipping.
Snape hesitated briefly, then nodded and took a sip as well.
“How long do you plan to stay this time?” the Ancient One asked casually.
“As soon as Professor Lupin recovers, we’ll be heading to New York,” Noah replied, eyeing the black smoke rising from Lupin’s body.
“New York? Well, I wish you a safe journey." The Ancient One didn't ask too much, just nodded slightly.
"By the way, teacher, if you meet a normal person, but there is another person's soul in his body," Noah took a sip of tea and asked hesitantly.
"Don't you know this magic? Just eliminate the extra soul that is not his own. Oh, you are not familiar with it."
"I know it?"
"Yeah, I heard that you killed a lot of Dementors with it?"
"..."
