Witcher at Hogwarts

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All three boarded a flight from the UK to Poland.

"So, where are you headed? I can suggest a few places only locals know about—real hidden gems!" Mr. Stein said enthusiastically.

"Thanks!" Ethan replied gratefully.

"We're heading to the Buwalk Mountains."

"The Buwalk Mountains?" Mr. Stein's face suddenly grew serious.

"Why would you go to that forsaken place? Are you chasing after the legend like the others? Turn back!" he said, his tone stern.

"Legend? What legend?" Tonks asked, intrigued.

"You mean you came here without knowing anything?" Mr. Stein's voice rose in disbelief.

A flight attendant's reminder returned him to his senses, and he lowered his voice.

"The Buwalk Mountains are crawling with dangerous animals! Many people have died there. Even a team of professional hunters sent by the Polish government vanished! You can't go there—it's suicide."

"Recently, some people have spread rumors about the Buwalk Mountains in novels and magazines, which have drawn in thrill-seekers. None have returned. The Polish authorities have completely sealed off the area."

He fixed his gaze on them. "So, let me tell you again—don't do anything reckless!"

After much reassurance from Ethan and Tonks, Mr. Stein finally relaxed and shifted the conversation back to other Polish attractions.

The flight to Warsaw passed quickly amidst their lively discussion.

Before parting, Mr. Stein handed Ethan a note with his address on it.

"If you find yourself near my village, come by! I'll cook you the best Polish food you've ever had."

Ethan and Tonks waved goodbye warmly as they each went their separate ways.

Tonks had hoped to explore Warsaw first, but Ethan, mindful of their mission, declined. He promised they would enjoy a proper trip together after completing their task.

So, they settled for a quick meal at a local restaurant, savoring classic Polish dishes like noodle soup and dumplings, before heading toward the Buwalk Mountains.

As they approached the mountains, the temperature plummeted. Snow lay thick like a heavy blanket, reaching up to their knees.

Tonks was immediately hit hard by the cold. Eager to appear stylish, she had only worn a thin windbreaker, relying on a weak warming charm proving useless against the freezing conditions. She shivered uncontrollably.

"Ethan, I swear, my toes are about to fall off!" Tonks exclaimed through chattering teeth.

Seeing her miserable state, Ethan figured she had learned her lesson. He pulled out the cold-weather gear he had stashed in his bag and handed it to her.

Grateful, Tonks no longer cared about appearances. She quickly bundled herself in the thick clothes, her body finally warming as the layers and a more powerful heating spell did their job. Her face, pale from the cold, gradually regained its color.

Tonks let out a long sigh. "Next time I come up with such a stupid idea, hit me hard over the head!" she said to Ethan.

Ethan chuckled. "I'll gladly do it."

Since neither knew where the village of Oshtin was located, they had no choice but to trudge through the snow, searching slowly through the Buwalk Mountains. Fortunately, their cold-weather gear kept the chill at bay, making the trek more bearable.

Before long, they encountered a barbed wire fence. No guards were present; only a sign hung loosely on the wire.

"Dangerous Area. No Entry," it read.

Ethan and Tonks exchanged glances and quickly slipped past the fence, continuing deeper into the mountains.

Eventually, they found a path only partially covered by snow, making their walk easier. As they pressed on, something caught their eye—a small red dot stark against the white snow. They ran toward it, and when they reached it, they realized what it was.

A horse lay dead in the snow, its lower half wholly gone. The gruesome scene revealed exposed, frozen internal organs and a massive wound on its neck, clearly a bite mark from some large creature.

Tonks covered her mouth in horror, feeling slightly nauseous.

The bite was savage. It looked like a large beast had torn the horse's throat out, killing it instantly. The poor animal's eyes were still open, snowflakes settling on them as they stared lifelessly at the pale sky.

Ethan immediately began to inspect the scene. The extreme cold had preserved the body, and based on its condition, it appeared the horse had died around two days earlier. Fortunately, no fresh snow had fallen then, so many surrounding tracks were still visible. Relying on his keen hunter instincts, Ethan carefully examined the clues.

Two footprints surrounded the horse: one human, leading off into the dense forest, and another from a large canine creature. The canine tracks had drag marks beside them, indicating that whatever it was, it had been more interested in the horse carcass than the human.

Oddly enough, there were only two canine footprints, suggesting that the creature could walk on two legs, using its upper limbs to drag the horse. Ethan considered the possibility of a werewolf but felt the truth might be more complicated.

He followed the tracks deeper into the forest, where they eventually led to the mouth of a dark cave. Without hesitation, Ethan sipped a potion that granted him night vision, ready to enter and investigate.

But before he could take another step, Tonks grabbed his arm.

"Be careful, Ethan! That thing could still be in there," she warned, her voice filled with concern.

She knew that any creature capable of tearing a horse apart like this was bound to be powerful and dangerous.

"It's alright," Ethan reassured her with a smile.

"I'll take a quick look. You stay here and keep watch."

"No!" Tonks shot back, her tone firm.

"I'm coming with you. I can help—I won't slow you down! I'm an Auror, remember?" Her eyes locked on his, full of determination.

Ethan sighed, unable to argue with her resolve. Reluctantly, he handed her a bottle of the cat potion.

"Drink this. It'll give you night vision," he said.