Harry Potter's : Fantastic Beasts Guide

The young man tied to the wooden pillar groaned as Tina waved her wand, conjuring a stream of clear water to splash onto his face. He jerked awake, his eyes darting around the unfamiliar space before locking onto Newt, who stood before him with a stern expression.

"Who are you?" Newt asked firmly.

The young man stammered, "J-John Smith."

Newt leaned closer. "When did you join the R Organization?"

John's voice trembled as he replied, "I… I joined only a few days ago. I didn't know what they were." He looked terrified, his body trembling as he avoided Newt's piercing gaze.

"You expect me to believe that?" Newt's tone was sharp. "You just happened to stumble into a group of thieves?"

John shrank into himself, his eyes filling with tears, but Tina stepped forward, gently placing a hand on Newt's arm. "Let me handle this," she whispered.

Kneeling in front of John, Tina softened her voice. "John, what happened? How did you end up with them? We want to help, but you need to tell us the truth."

For a long moment, John said nothing, his lips trembling as he fought to find the words. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely audible. "I'm… I'm a werewolf."

The room fell silent. Even David, who had been standing to the side, looked shocked.

Newt's expression softened slightly. "A werewolf? How did that happen, John? Were your parents…?"

"No!" John interjected quickly, his voice trembling. "My parents were normal wizards. They… they passed away years ago."

His head dropped, and a tear slid down his cheek. Tina reached out, her voice filled with compassion. "Oh, John, we're so sorry. But how did you…?"

Taking a shaky breath, John began his story.

"I grew up in the States," John said, his voice tinged with both nostalgia and sadness. "I was a student at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, sorted into Pukwudgie House. After graduating, I got a job at a small potion shop run by an old man named Luke Wilson. Everyone in the neighborhood called him 'Old Luke.' He wasn't the most skilled potion-maker, but he was kind."

John smiled faintly. "Luke taught me everything he knew about brewing and handling magical ingredients. He treated me like family. He even said that when he passed, the shop would be mine, as long as I promised to visit his grave every day with flowers and a glass of his favorite strong wine."

The smile faded as John continued. "One day, we ran out of some herbs, and I offered to gather them from the forest. Luke wasn't feeling well, so I went alone. I never thought… I never imagined what would happen."

John's voice wavered as he recounted what came next. "In the forest, I stumbled upon a group of wizards. They attacked me, and I couldn't escape. They stunned me and dragged me off to some dark, cramped place."

He looked up, his eyes distant and haunted. "I wasn't alone. There were others, all locked in cages. We didn't know why we were there. They didn't answer our questions, just brought us food and ignored our pleas for help."

David leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "What did they want?"

John's voice dropped to a whisper. "One night, it all changed. The moon was full, and its light poured into the room. We were talking about our families, our homes, trying to keep hope alive. Then the door burst open."

He shuddered. "Werewolves. Real, terrifying werewolves. They rushed in, biting and clawing at us. One of them bit me on the shoulder. After that, I blacked out. The pain… it was unbearable."

"When I woke up, most of the others were gone—dead or worse. The ones who survived were dragged outside and forced to listen. The wizards who had captured us said we were now werewolves. They told us the wizarding world would never accept us, that we had no choice but to join their cause—to fight, to recruit, to spread the curse."

John's hands clenched into fists as he continued. "They wanted us to attack anyone, even children. They gave us Wolfsbane Potion only if we brought in more recruits. I couldn't do it. I couldn't hurt anyone else."

He looked up, his voice raw with pain. "When the Aurors raided their camp, I saw my chance and ran. I thought I could escape, find some quiet corner of the world where no one would know what I was. But I was wrong. Wherever I go, people see me as a monster."

The room fell silent again. Tina's eyes brimmed with tears, and even Newt seemed at a loss for words.

David stepped forward. "John… you're not a monster. What happened to you wasn't your fault."

John gave a hollow laugh. "You say that now. But wait until the next full moon."

Newt finally spoke, his voice firm but kind. "John, being a werewolf doesn't define you. What you've been through… it's awful, but it doesn't make you evil. We'll figure something out. You don't have to face this alone."

For the first time, John's eyes showed a flicker of hope. "You mean that?"

Newt nodded. "We'll do our best. But first, we need to find out more about this R Organization and make sure they can't hurt anyone else."

As the group exchanged solemn glances, it was clear that John's story had only deepened their resolve to fight against the darkness threatening the magical world.