Alex approached calmly, giving Fang a nod of reassurance. “We’re here to help. These are friends, and they’ll make sure you and the other creatures are taken care of.”
Alex noticed Fang staring at him with wide, expectant eyes. It reminded him of an overexcited husky eyeing a fur sofa—except in this case, it was a wolf with intelligence, and the thought sent an odd chill down his spine. “Professor,” Alex called, tilting his head toward Fang. “This is the little moon wolf I mentioned earlier.”
Professor Kettleburn, catching Alex’s gesture, shifted his attention to Fang. His expression softened immediately, as if he were looking at a child in need. He crouched down to engage with the wolf, his voice full of warmth and curiosity.
After listening to Fang’s life story, Kettleburn nodded solemnly. He reached into his coat and pulled out a small vial of blue liquid. Taking a saliva sample from Fang, the professor performed a series of meticulous tests, his wand glowing faintly as he worked. Finally, he straightened up and turned to Alex. “He’s clear,” Kettleburn announced with certainty. “No lycanthropy virus. Fang is safe.”
Both Alex and Fang sighed in relief at the professor’s verdict. Fang’s intelligent eyes gleamed with gratitude, but Alex’s focus remained on the next steps. “In that case, let’s get him out of this cage,” Alex said, then hesitated. “But because of his… unique background, I don’t think we should inform the Ministry of Magic. I don’t trust them to handle his case properly.”
Kettleburn’s face darkened. “Absolutely not. The Ministry’s track record with magical creatures is abysmal, and Fang’s case would only lead to unnecessary bureaucracy—or worse, exploitation. We’ll take him to Hogwarts for now, along with the other creatures. The Ministry can focus on tracking down that werewolf wizard.”
“I agree,” Hagrid chimed in, his voice firm. “Fang can stay in my hut. If the Ministry finds out, it’ll turn into a circus, and that’s not what he needs.”
Alex nodded, seeing the resolve in both their expressions. “Alright, let’s do it.”
With a flick of his wand, Alex unlocked Fang’s cage. The wolf stepped out cautiously, glancing between the three of them. He had overheard their entire conversation and was deeply moved by their willingness to help him. For the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope. Meanwhile, Wimzy watched Fang curiously, her head tilting to one side. “He’s so big,” she murmured to herself. “And kind of cute. Why would anyone hurt him?”
Kettleburn clapped his hands to draw everyone’s attention. “Alright, that’s enough about Fang for now. From this moment, he’s just an ordinary hound. Fang, try not to talk in front of strangers. Now, let’s focus on these magical animals—they’re in bad shape, and we need to move fast.”
He began pointing at the cages and issuing instructions with practiced efficiency. “These two manticores and the Mackled Malaclaw are aggressive but relatively healthy. They’re just hungry and have some minor injuries. I’ll give them sleeping draughts, and once they’re sedated, we can transfer them to the fourth paddock at Hogwarts. Hagrid, you’ll be in charge of them.”
“Got it,” Hagrid said, already eyeing the manticores with a soft smile. “Poor things.”
Kettleburn moved to another group of cages. “The bird snake, sable-like creatures, Mothra rats, and Crup are all malnourished. The poor ventilation here has also caused respiratory infections—likely pneumonia. We’ll administer medicine immediately, but they’ll need to stay in their cages and be carefully transported to Hogwarts for quarantine and recovery.”
His voice softened as he gestured to a cage containing two frail-looking Mooncalves. “These Mooncalves are in the worst shape. They’re severely malnourished, and their skin is covered in infected sores. They’ll need isolation and specialized care. They can’t be exposed to sunlight in their condition, so cover their cage with black cloth before we move them.”
He pointed to a lone Thestral. “This Thestral looks fine and can likely rejoin the herd near the Forbidden Forest once we get it back to Hogwarts. The group there is friendly to newcomers.”
Finally, he examined the horned animal and fire crabs. “Both have been dosed with inhibitor potions, which explains their lethargy. Their unusual pupil colors suggest parasitic infections. They’ll need immediate treatment at Hogwarts.”
Under Kettleburn’s guidance, everyone worked tirelessly to prepare the animals for transport. Even Fang and Wimzy pitched in, helping where they could. Hagrid kept a close eye on the larger creatures, soothing them with his gentle demeanor, while Alex and Wimzy carefully handled the smaller, more delicate ones.
Once all the preparations were complete, the group began moving the animals. The process was straightforward but labor-intensive. Hagrid used his flying motorcycle to shuttle animals to the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. Alex, Wimzy, and Kettleburn alternated between escorting smaller creatures on broomsticks and casting Levitation Charms to transport larger cages.
The manticores and horned camel were sedated, their immense weight made manageable with magic. Smaller creatures like the Mooncalves were loaded into cages and covered as instructed. By the time the sun began to rise higher in the sky, the last of the animals had been relocated.
As they stood at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, watching Hagrid drive the last load of creatures toward Hogwarts, Alex felt a deep sense of satisfaction. They had done everything they could to save the creatures, and though the journey wasn’t over, it was a step in the right direction. “Thank you,” Fang said softly, standing beside Alex. His voice was tinged with gratitude and vulnerability. “I don’t know what would have happened to me without you.”
Alex looked down at the wolf and smiled faintly. “You’re safe now, Fang. That’s what matters.”
A few days of nonstop work finally cleared the underground cave, relocating all the magical creatures to Hogwarts. At Alex’s request, Professor Kettleburn agreed to take full credit for discovering the smuggling ring. He explained that he, Hagrid, and Alex had fought off the werewolves together, conveniently leaving out Alex’s name in the official report to minimize attention.
Kettleburn stayed at the scene to call in Aurors and coordinate with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Meanwhile, Alex, Hagrid, and Wimzy spent the entire afternoon settling the rescued creatures at Hogwarts. By evening, their exhausting day concluded with a final trip to Hagrid’s hut, bringing Fang and the last of the animals back.
Alex decided to let Wimzy and Fang temporarily live in his cabin near the Forbidden Forest. Since he usually stayed in the Slytherin dormitories, the cabin was free for them to use, and it gave Fang a comfortable place to recover from the long-term abuse he’d endured under the werewolves.
Fang was thrilled with this arrangement. Though he had regained some strength thanks to Alex’s care, his body still needed time to heal fully. Wimzy, on the other hand, was initially nervous about staying in a new place, but after some firm encouragement (and a bit of coercion) from Alex, she settled in. Hagrid warmly welcomed his two new companions. Having spent so much time living alone, he was delighted to have someone—human or otherwise—to share his space.