"Hormones?"
Harry had heard this word on television and, in his impression, hormones were always linked to sex, so Harry blushed immediately.
Vid pondered, "No wonder..."
Seeing the other two not quite understanding, he explained, "In Muggle research, hormones are called the source of human life. Human physiology and psychology—growth, development, health, emotions, desires, everything is related to hormones."
"It's said that supplementing hormones can delay aging, extend lifespan, and maintain vitality and youth. And when hormone secretion decreases, organs begin to deteriorate, and spirits become depressed. So, Muggles have increasingly focused on hormone research in recent years."
"Moreover, even the slightest change in hormone concentration can have a huge impact, even completely altering physiological and psychological states."
Harry listened in a half-understood way: "So... those people injected Remus with something like 'lycanthropy hormones' to force him to become a werewolf?"
Vid nodded slightly, "I think their research on werewolves must be very thorough to be able to extract the corresponding hormonal substances from a werewolf's body."
Human experimentation is naturally a very cruel topic, but fortunately, Harry's experience was not yet rich enough to allow him to imagine extensively.
However, Lupin's hand on the quilt trembled slightly, clenching unintentionally.
"I have a werewolf friend," he said in a slightly hoarse voice, "someone paid him to participate in an experiment... he's been missing for months."
Harry was stunned.
Vid looked up at Lupin but said nothing.
He knew Lupin was talking about Will, and Vid didn't intend to reveal the truth.
Lupin, having emerged from his most difficult days, did not indulge but instead tried his best to help others in the same situation.
Yet those he helped, whom he regarded as friends, did not thank him; instead, they resented and loathed him for not wallowing in the mire like them—just hearing about it was nauseating.
In comparison, Vid thought—it was better to let Lupin believe that Will was still the Will he knew, only that he was unfortunately murdered—this seemed better.
...
Returning to the dormitory, Vid pondered for a long time before opening the Friendship Book.
He contacted Claire.
[Vener: Are you there?]
Earlier, in the hands of several vampires, Vid had seen Claire's photo, and he thought she might have gone missing too, but unexpectedly, Claire quickly responded after he sent the message.
[Claire: I'm here, I'm here. Mr. Vener, is there something you need from me?]
[Vener: We didn't find anything unusual in the blood samples you sent earlier, but now we have new research ideas. I hope you can send me another sample, preferably blood just after transformation.]
Claire responded enthusiastically:
[Claire: I understand. After the next full moon, I'll send you the collected blood.]
Vid set down the quill, took out a bag of Golden Galleons from the closet space, and looked over at Eva on the shelf beside him.
The young lady had flown from the Gray family the day before, bringing Vid a scarf knitted by his mother.
"Eva," Vid said, "take this bag of money to Claire, and also check her state, see if there are any strange werewolves or vampires around her."
As Vid spoke, he placed an ornament like a gem badge around the owl's neck.
This was his latest creation, a Flow Mirror Mother Mirror, the size of a fingernail, easily concealed within a transparent gem shell.
Eva extended her claws, grabbed the money bag, and solemnly cooed twice.
"Be careful, if she's been controlled by someone, fly back immediately."
Vid said this, fed it a few pieces of jerky, and watched the owl lady fly out the window and quickly disappear.
He closed the window, pointed the magic wand to the side, and a Sub-Mirror spread out rapidly, resembling a TV set against the wall.
"Phil," Vid said softly.
With a "pop," the house-elf holding a rag appeared in the room, softly saying, "Vid Gray, feel free to command, Phil is happy to assist Vid Gray."
"Tomorrow when I go to class, can you keep an eye on this mirror?" Vid asked.
"Alright..." Phil paused and asked, "Just watch it?"
Vid said, "If a young girl appears inside, notify me immediately; if I can't come, I hope you can record everything that happens next."
Ordinary Sub-Mirrors don't have recording functions, but for Vid, these things were naturally not a problem.
"Alright," Phil said softly, "Phil will definitely complete it earnestly."
Vid felt at ease.
In fact, house-elves are all quite conscientious, but Phil was among the most meticulous ones.
There was Defense Against the Dark Arts class the next day.
Professor Abigail no longer dueled one-on-one with students this term.
She had learned a game named "Maifa" from a wizard friend in Russia and enthusiastically used the game to replace teaching.
She said—
"Real battles don't require flashy techniques; you just need to react faster than others and then use your most familiar methods to finish the fight!"
As soon as class began, Professor Abigail started handing out identity cards to students—
The most powerful but the fewest in number, Aurors.
Unable to use magic, ordinary villagers who can only hide and flee.
Civilian wizards with some ability to retaliate.
Werewolves who attack everyone and are infectious.
Four identities, each with prescribed abilities, stances, and ranges of activity, requiring them to act according to their identities, resulting in a real-life version of Werewolf Game.
Students chased, attacked, and counterattacked each other, making the Defense Against the Dark Arts class seem like a small-scale skirmish each time.
The first time Vid participated in the game, he was an [Auror], taking out all the werewolves in a few minutes, after which he could only draw [Villager] identity cards.
Generally speaking, Vid stayed near the professor, practicing magic or reading, and no werewolf would come to attack this "ordinary villager."
In class today, Professor Abigail didn't focus on the students' game but came over to Vid.
"Gray, can you make your poppet pets look like magical creatures?" Professor Abigail asked.
"It's possible, but they only resemble in appearance; the poppets don't have the abilities of magical creatures," Vid said.
"That's fine; I might need some Red Caps, Hinkypunks, Grindylows... preferably also vampires and werewolves, life-sized. The school will buy them at market price."
Professor Abigail said this but didn't seem particularly happy.
"Did something happen?" Vid asked.
"Oh—" Professor Abigail sighed deeply, complaining, "Professor McGonagall told me to not just play games with the students; she wants me to teach more things required for the OWLs exam. According to the schedule, you're supposed to learn about these magical creatures..."