Witcher at Hogwarts

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"They're nothing but killing machines! That Warlock created them for one purpose: to slaughter! They're living weapons!"

The butler, clearly rattled, had lost his temper again, rambling in frustration.

"You never thought to fight back?" Tonks asked, her voice sharp with disbelief.

"Of course we did!" the butler snapped.

"We've sent teams of highly skilled wizards. The Polish magic world even sent Aurors to deal with them, but it was useless! Anyone who dares to get involved in this mess ends up paying a horrible price!"

He paused, his tone darkening. "Those Canines have been breeding in the mountains for years. They've formed a new pack, and these newer ones are even more vicious than the originals."

"In the end, most of the villagers couldn't bear it anymore. They gathered their families and left, moving away in groups. Now, only the most stubborn, those who refuse to leave the land of their ancestors, remain."

Ethan hesitated, the weight of the decision clear on his face. This mission was far more dangerous than he had anticipated. The butler, noticing his hesitation, spoke up.

"Mr. Ethan," he said, his tone growing serious, "your reputation precedes you. If you can help us rid ourselves of these dog people, the Sapkov family is prepared to reward you with 20,000 gold Galleons."

Tonks' eyes widened. It was the first time she'd heard such an outrageous sum mentioned. She glanced at Ethan, her emotions torn. She understood the extreme danger of the task but was equally overwhelmed by the promise of such a massive reward.

"I hope you'll forgive my bluntness," Ethan said, his voice firm.

"But I have to ask—can the Sapkov family actually afford such a bounty?" He studied the butler closely as he spoke.

Ethan had seen this before, far too many times. Promises made, bounties agreed upon, only for villagers to turn on the Witcher after the deed was done. Sometimes they'd pay only a fraction of the promised sum, sometimes nothing. And more than once, they'd tried to kill the Witcher himself, seeing him weak and battered after a hard-fought victory.

In this remote frontier town, with little to no support from outsiders, Ethan had no reason to believe things would be different.

The butler's expression didn't change. He met Ethan's gaze, his eyelids lowering slightly.

"Your concerns are understandable, sir. Our village does not look prosperous, and we've seen better days."

"But rest assured," he added, a hint of pride creeping into his voice.

"The Sapkov family is noble, and we honor our debts. If you wish, you may verify this for yourself."

The butler reached into a drawer, pulling out a large suitcase. He unlocked it and flipped it open.

A brilliant golden light filled the room as coins, jewelry, and ornate gold crafts gleamed inside. The sight nearly blinded Ethan and Tonks.

"I believe this should ease any doubts you have regarding our ability to pay," the butler said softly, a faint touch of arrogance in his tone.

"Consider my doubts gone," Ethan replied, still on the gleaming treasure.

"I'll take the job. Now, can you give me more details on the situation?"

"Ask anything you like," the butler replied smoothly.

"If I know the answer, I will share it."

Ethan thought momentarily before asking, "The villagers said you've been fighting these Canines for a while. Have you managed to collect any of their bodies? I'd like to study them, see if they have any weaknesses."

The butler's face fell slightly, an expression of guilt crossing his features.

"Unfortunately, no. Believe me, we've tried. We've killed a few of them, but every time we've attempted to keep their bodies for study, something goes wrong. They either disappear or decay unnaturally fast."

"Even then those Canines wouldn't let us keep their dead. We lost several men to retrieve a single corpse."

The butler's voice trembled as he recalled the terrifying memory. "I didn't expect them to be so mad. They attacked, they stormed into the village, right through our defenses, and took the body back. You can't imagine the chaos of that day!"

His hands shook as he spoke, the fear of that moment still fresh in his mind.

"It felt like... like..."

The butler struggled for the right word, searching for a way to describe the terror.

"Like someone is controlling them," Ethan muttered under his breath.

"Exactly!" The butler's eyes brightened with realization.

"That's it! Like they're being directed by something or someone."

Ethan nodded thoughtfully. "I see. I'll need to prepare. Once I'm ready, I'll head to the mountains to see if I can find any clues. Where do these Canines usually hide?"

The butler walked over to the castle window and flung it open. He pointed to a distant hill, partially obscured by thick trees.

"There," he said, his voice low.

"They haunt those mountains."

Ethan followed his gaze. The mountain was tall, covered with dense foliage—a perfect hiding spot.

"Sometimes, they stand on the peak at night, staring down at the village. I know they're searching for weaknesses in our defenses," the butler added, still shaken by the memory.

Ethan narrowed his eyes, scanning the mountain. Everything was eerily quiet, and the snow-capped peaks and barren trees added to the isolation. Satisfied with the information, he set to work preparing for the hunt.

He sharpened his blades, applied sword oil, tightened the crossbow strings, and adjusted his armor straps. Tonks helped with the final touches, fastening his armor.

"Alright," Ethan said, testing his movement.

"I'm heading up the mountain. You stay here and keep watch."

"What? No way!" Tonks protested, her voice rising in frustration. She stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

"You think I'm a liability? I'm coming with you! I'm not weak—I can help!"

"Tonks, this mission is too dangerous. I can handle it alone," Ethan replied, his tone firm but gentle.

"You are treating me like a burden!" she exclaimed, her temper flaring.

"I got all O's in my N.E.W.T.s, you know!"

Ethan couldn't help but smile at her determination. "I wouldn't know. I wasn't in this world for exams."

Tonks grinned, taking his remark as a challenge.

"Then you should take me! Maybe I'll come in handy when you least expect it," she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

She broke into laughter, and despite himself, Ethan chuckled as well. The butler, baffled by their sudden burst of laughter, glanced over several times, unsure of what was so amusing.

In the end, Ethan couldn't resist her persistence. With a sigh of resignation, he nodded. "Alright, fine. You can come."

"Yes!" Tonks squealed with excitement, wrapping Ethan in a quick hug.