Harry and Ron, dragging their slightly tired but excited bodies, returned to the Gryffindor common room. Before they could collapse into the soft armchairs, they were stopped by an unexpected figure.
Sagres appeared silently near the Fat Lady's portrait hole, startling several passing first-years, who quickly ran off.
"Mr. Potter," he said calmly, his voice not loud yet clearly reaching Harry's ears.
Harry and Ron immediately straightened.
"Professor?"
Sagres did not waste time on pleasantries. He pulled out a slightly worn, blank piece of parchment from his robe and handed it over.
"This, returned to its rightful owner."
Harry took it in confusion. The moment his fingers touched the parchment, familiar ink writing gradually appeared: "Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs are proud to present the Marauder's Map!"
It was the Marauder's Map!
Harry was both surprised and delighted; he had almost forgotten this treasure that Sagres had previously confiscated.
"It… it's still useful to me…"
Harry tried to explain, worried the professor might take it back again.
"I know."
Sagres replied calmly. "But I must apologize to you."
Harry immediately looked up, confused by his words.
Sagres continued, "It seems I may have damaged its ability to conceal its own secrets, but its most basic and important functions remain unaffected."
"Oh, that's alright, Professor…" Harry said, understanding at once. "Besides, most of the professors already know its secrets."
Sagres nodded. "It belongs to you, and that is why I am returning it. But I hope you will use it wisely, not merely for sneaking out at night."
After speaking, he gave a slight nod and turned to leave, disappearing as suddenly as he had arrived, leaving Harry holding the recovered map, his emotions mixed.
…
That same evening, Remus Lupin was sorting through his lesson plans in his modest office when a gentle knock sounded.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Sagres appeared in the doorway.
"Professor Greengrass?"
Lupin was slightly surprised, then broke into a sincere and warm smile. "Please, come in! I never expected you to visit. I've been meaning to thank you properly again. You gave me… a second life."
His voice was filled with gratitude, his eyes bright, no longer carrying the gloom and weariness of the past.
Sagres stepped into the room, his gaze calmly sweeping across it before settling on Lupin. "How are you adapting to your new body?"
"Very well!"
Lupin's tone could not conceal his excitement. "It's completely under control now. I've never felt better. Even… the nights of the full moon are no longer torment, but rather a… considerable enhancement."
He paused, then added, "Of course, I still take the potion Severus prepares on time, just to be absolutely certain."
Sagres nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer.
He fell silent for a moment, then spoke. "Professor Lupin, I came here to…"
"Just call me Remus, Professor Greengrass."
Sagres nodded. "I'm not here merely to greet you today."
"Please, go on."
"I am formally extending an invitation to you on behalf of an organization," Sagres said calmly. "Its name is Bronze Feather."
Lupin's smile faded slightly, turning serious. "An organization? I've never heard of it…"
"You wouldn't have."
Sagres shook his head. "We operate discreetly, exploring forgotten knowledge and dealing with hidden dangers that cannot be resolved through conventional means. I believe your abilities, your experiences, and your outlook after gaining this new life align closely with our goals."
He met Lupin's surprised gaze and continued, "You are no longer a werewolf, and you now possess a unique power and perspective. Bronze Feather needs people like you. Here, we can offer you a broader platform, like-minded companions, ample Galleons, and… an unlimited supply of Wolfsbane Potion with a normal taste."
Lupin was momentarily stunned. He had never expected Sagres to extend such an invitation.
A secret organization?
It sounded somewhat like Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix.
But thinking of Sagres's abilities, and the resources and influence he might represent, Lupin's heart began to race.
All his life, he had struggled against darkness, longed for acceptance, and longed to truly make a difference.
Now, a brand-new opportunity stood before him, and it was an invitation personally extended by the one who had given him a new life.
Given that, why would he refuse?
He no longer wanted to imagine a future where, after leaving Hogwarts, he would return to the gloomy docks, barely making a living by hauling cargo.
With almost no hesitation, the surprise in Lupin's eyes was quickly replaced by firm resolve.
He took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. "I'll join. Professor Greengrass, thank you for your trust. Whether to repay your kindness or to pursue the greater goals you described, I am willing to devote all my strength to it."
Sagres seemed to have expected this answer, showing no sign of surprise.
"Very good. At the next gathering, I will introduce you to the other members. Be prepared, Professor."
With those words, he turned and left the office.
Lupin watched his departing figure, feeling the outline of his future slowly unfold in an unexpected direction.
…
Sagres's invitation to Lupin to join Bronze Feather was not a whim, but a carefully considered decision.
Firstly, under the influence of his father, Lyle Lupin, he had developed a deep and distinctive understanding of Boggarts, restless spirits, and other dark creatures.
Although this field was somewhat niche, it made Lupin highly proficient in dealing with certain magical threats, precisely the kind of specialised talent the organisation required.
Secondly, thanks to Sagres's magical transformation, Lupin was no longer bound by full moon transformations and had gained enhanced physical abilities and reflexes, making his overall combat capability formidable.
Sagres needed a reliable operative capable of independently carrying out field missions and handling complex situations, and Lupin was a perfect fit for that role.
...
On the edge of the floating arena, Hermione Granger was once again teleported out in a flash of white light.
She stumbled slightly before steadying herself. Fine beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and her brows were tightly furrowed.
The confident glow she usually had after solving a difficult problem was gone, replaced by a rare sense of anxiety and self-doubt.
She had just challenged a Dark Wizard mirror image skilled in mental interference and silent sneak attacks, and the outcome had been even worse than before.
She had not even managed to organise an effective counterattack before being overwhelmed and ultimately defeated by the opponent's relentless, insidious tactics.
"...No," she murmured, her wand unconsciously tracing patterns in the air, her gaze slightly unfocused. "The Shield Charm is strong enough, but it can't block successive sneak attacks...the offensive spells are powerful enough, but the casting movements are too obvious."
"He always dodges in advance or distracts me with taunts...there isn't a single existing spell that can perfectly handle both rapid sneak attacks and sustained mental interference at the same time..."
She lowered her wand and walked toward the Great Hall. This had become her routine over the past several days.
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