Chapter 258: Mutation
"How about it?"
Seeing several people coming out, Phoebus, who had been waiting outside the door and listening to his daughter's screams, asked hurriedly.
Phineas smiled and said,
"Fortunately, it worked. However, because Astoria's body was regrown, she will not be able to control it for a long time. She'll need close care, just like a newborn learning to walk. She needs to practice and become familiar with it bit by bit."
As he spoke, he levitated Astoria into the arms of Mrs. Greengrass, who stood beside Phoebus.
Phoebus looked at Phineas and the others eagerly, confirming repeatedly,
"So, the curse is lifted, right?"
Dumbledore smiled and nodded.
"Yes, it has been lifted. I think it won't be long before you, Mr. Greengrass, hear that Phineas has been selected as a candidate for the Wizengamot."
Nicolas smiled and nodded.
"Yes, Phineas's discovery is extremely valuable to the wizarding world—it could change countless lives. He is fully qualified. Albus and I are also considering using this incident to support his application."
Phoebus's eyes lit up at this. The Greengrass family had already joined the Black family—they were in the same boat. If Phineas rose in power, the Greengrass family would benefit as well. He nodded.
"That would be wonderful. If needed, Professor Dumbledore, Mr. Flamel, and I can testify to the success of the experiment."
Phineas shook his head.
"Phoebus, I think such proof may be unnecessary—after all, the professor and Mr. Flamel are here. But if it is required, you need to understand: if you testify, you'll be handing Astoria over for inspection. I don't believe for a second that those researchers will be kind enough to guarantee her safety."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement.
"Though I'm also a Wizengamot member, I must say Phineas is right. Those researchers have great contempt for life. If they examine Miss Greengrass, all our efforts today will be for nothing."
Upon hearing this, Phoebus fell silent and didn't bring up testifying again.
Seeing this, Phineas smiled faintly. This was human nature. Besides, he himself had no desire to see Astoria, newly rescued, subjected to examination by those lunatics.
The exhaustion from healing Astoria could not be alleviated by a short rest. Phineas and the others stayed the night at Greengrass Manor, arranged by Phoebus, and departed the next day.
Dumbledore and Nicolas returned to the French village where they would spend the final months of Nicolas's life.
Phineas, however, chose to go later. He had business in London first.
He needed to see Lisa.
He had gained much in the past three days. First, the Malfoy family had joined him, which would greatly strengthen the Black family's influence.
Lisa, who usually helped Phineas handle wizarding and Muggle affairs, would need to be briefed and begin communication with the Malfoys. That was one reason he went to her.
What surprised Phineas most was the Greengrass family's support. With their help, he could gain more resources and backing from the Council of Elders.
Information about godhood was monopolized by the Council. Becoming a god was a goal Phineas had to achieve, so obtaining that information was vital.
Only Selwyn and their combined forces were not enough, especially under opposition from the Rich and Lestrange families. More support from the Council was essential.
Phineas's second purpose in meeting Lisa was to expand his reputation in the wizarding world. Lifting the Greengrass blood curse was a powerful story, especially with Dumbledore promising to nominate him for honors.
He hoped Lisa would help spread the news through underground channels.
The alley was not deserted despite the holiday break at magic schools. In fact, it was more active than usual.
Of course, the bustle was not noisy like Diagon Alley. The people here were silent. Even acquaintances would not greet one another—everyone hid their identity, engaged in shady business. No one wanted to be recognized.
Here, there was no room for children. No safety.
Any child who appeared in the alley would be watched by dark wizards hiding in the shadows. When the time was right, they'd be stunned, kidnapped, and used in experiments or sold off. Bystanders would not interfere—sometimes they even joined in. This was the harshest part of the wizarding world.
As usual, Phineas didn't enter from the main alley entrance. He was still a child himself. Though few could threaten him now, trouble was still trouble.
So he Apparated directly to the door of the Silver Moon Potion Shop.
Just as he reached for the door, Phineas suddenly ducked left.
A silver spell hit the door where his head had just been.
Without hesitation, Phineas's right hand twitched, and his wand slid into his palm. He turned and pressed against the wall, scanning the direction the spell had come from.
An adult wizard in a black robe stood there, face hidden in a hood's shadow.
Flanking him were several similarly dressed wizards. Clearly, they were together.
Phineas had reason to believe the attack was premeditated. One of the unspoken rules in this alley was not to duel in front of potion shops.
Potion shops were rare in Knocktutn Alley, and their goods were essential to many. Not fighting near one was a sign of respect for the owner and ensured continued business.
So, attacking in front of the potion shop meant these people didn't care about consequences. They had planned ahead.
Only wizards unfamiliar with the alley's norms would break such a rule.
Phineas grew even more alert.
Strangely, the wizards didn't follow up the attack. They only stared at him, as if blocking his escape.
They have reinforcements!
Phineas realized this was a very bad sign.
Sure enough, more black-robed, hooded wizards appeared, encircling the Silver Moon Potion Shop.
Their outfits matched, their purpose obvious—even a fool could tell they were after Phineas.
At that moment, the shop door opened.
"Who's standing outside my store like they own the place?"
Lisa walked out, swearing as she moved.
In Knocktutn Alley, one survived by being fiercer and more ruthless than others. Lisa, as a werewolf, knew this well.
"Huh? Master, when did you get here? And what's—"
She paused. Seeing Phineas's tense stance and the encircling wizards, she immediately shouted,
"Master, go! Leave this to us!"
At once, the werewolf wizards loyal to Phineas poured out of the potion shop and surrounded him, ready to fight.
"Rick, take the young master away now!" Lisa shouted to a young werewolf beside Phineas.
Rick grabbed Phineas's hand and tried to Apparate—but nothing happened.
"Big sister! There's a spell! We can't Apparate!"
Lisa's heart sank. Today wouldn't go smoothly. She raised her wand and yelled,
"Avada Kedavra!"
Green light shot forward and instantly killed the wizard.
She struck first because she knew—if a fight was inevitable, taking initiative was key.
Following her lead, the werewolves unleashed Killing Curses like a curtain of green light.
The enemy wasn't weak. After one wizard fell, they responded, though with chaos. They used each other as shields.
A third of them died instantly under the werewolves' curses.
Spells of every kind filled the space in front of the shop.
Two young werewolves remained close to Phineas, blocking fatal curses with their bodies.
Ralph, a small leader among the attackers, was panicking. He knew there was some connection between the potion shop and this young wizard—but he hadn't expected the werewolves to fight to the death for Phineas.
Caught off guard, many of his men weren't even present yet.
As he fretted, a flash of light shot toward him.
Not good!
Ralph tried to dodge, but he was too late. The white spell shattered the shield around him—but the attack was absorbed.
A crescent-shaped pendant on his chest shattered and fell to the ground.
He had bought it on the black market, thinking it decorative—but it had just saved his life.
Just as he raised his wand to retaliate, fatigue overtook him. He saw a flicker of green—and then everything went dark.
Ralph, now dead, was just a pawn. No one cared about his fate. The black-robed and werewolf wizards had only one thought—kill.
This was strange. The werewolves had only wanted to protect Phineas, to get him out. Now they fought with bloodthirsty fury.
The clearing turned red with blood and corpses.
Even Phineas, who once avoided the Killing Curse, now used it freely.
He hadn't used it against the vampire ancestor—but today, he did.
He even summoned Fiendfyre, letting it rage across corpses.
The chaos was unimaginable.
In such confusion, anyone could die in an instant.
Phineas was in great danger.
The first to notice something wrong wasn't Phineas—it was Lisa, whose concern for him endured even through the madness.
She rushed toward him, trying to wake him from the frenzy.