Chapter 363: Chapter 363: Witch, Werewolf, Prophet (Edited)
"¡That was really well done!" Lupin exclaimed, impressed by Hermione's levitation spell. With so many students previously in panic and disarray, Hermione's performance stood out even more.
Without hesitation, he awarded Ravenclaw five points.
"Don't get nervous, face it calmly! Just like Miss Granger," Lupin applauded as he spoke loudly to the young wizards. However, it didn't have much effect.
It was like having a difficult problem and repeating over and over, "read the instructions carefully, analyze calmly," and "some students in the class have already solved it." So will the students who don't know how to do it suddenly have a moment of enlightenment? That's impossible!
So the young wizards in the class would still be defeated by the Kappa. However, it wasn't a total defeat, as some students managed to react before being knocked down. Even a Hufflepuff girl named Hannah discreetly stunned the Kappa with a clean and precise Stunning Spell.
This made Tom and Lupin feel relieved. One felt that his work from the previous year had not been in vain, while the other thought that his students were not a complete failure yet.
Soon, the young wizards entered the swamp one after another. As there was still some time left before the end of class, Lupin had the young wizards who had been defeated before line up and enter again.
This time, their performance was better. They were no longer standing there getting hit foolishly. Although they couldn't defeat the Kappa, they could face it and scare it for a while.
When the class ended, each young wizard showed a clear improvement. At least, they had strengthened their psychological resilience.
Lupin's teaching level was still very good, much better than Tom's, who was only an amateur. Lupin's teaching ability, combined with his experience in Dumbledore's army, made him equal to Tom overall.
The young wizards constantly praised Professor Lupin's classes.
"The class was amazing! Did you see how the Kappa emerged from the water? It was so agile!"
"No, I only saw you fall into the water resolutely. The splashes were small. Maybe you have a talent for diving..."
"Diving?"
"I really want to have another class with Professor Lupin. What kind of new things do you think he will do?"
"But all the classes are about magical creatures. It feels repetitive compared to Professor Newt's classes, doesn't it?"
...
The young wizards chatted animatedly, like a group of chattering sparrows.
Lupin listened to all these words, and as he saw this lively and vivacious group of young wizards, he couldn't help but wear an "auntie's smile" as he remembered his student days.
At that time, he was also lively, cheeky, and full of energy, just like these children. In fact, that was quite rare because most werewolves spent their childhood amidst discrimination and wandering. If Lupin hadn't met Dumbledore and his friends, he probably wouldn't have escaped that fate.
The seven years at Hogwarts were the happiest, most joyful, and peaceful days of his life. And in these recent times, it seemed like he had returned to his student days, enjoying carefree feasts and friendly looks.
A full stomach, no discrimination, and a worry-free life were like a dream for a werewolf.
He got a little distracted.
At that moment, he noticed that Tom Yodel had already packed his things and was preparing to leave. He remembered that he still had something important to do, so he said to Tom, "Tom, wait a moment."
Tom was about to leave when Professor Lupin called him.
"Do you have time to come to my office?" Lupin asked Tom in a negotiating tone. Hermione, standing beside Tom, changed her expression and gestured for Tom to decline Lupin's invitation.
"Of course." Tom was also intrigued by what Lupin had in mind, so he acted as if he hadn't noticed Hermione's signals and accepted immediately.
"That's great." After receiving an affirmative answer, Lupin sighed in relief. He quickly captured the Kappa in a container of water and then led Tom to his office.
Hermione, who was behind them, was stunned. Tom completely ignored the signals she was sending him, which was unexpected to her. After thinking for a moment, she finally stomped her foot on the ground and followed them silently.
Lupin led Tom into his office. Tom curiously examined the room, which wasn't much different from when he was there, except for some additional boxes. A large container of water in the corner of the room was especially conspicuous.
"I've always wanted to have a Grindylow, but for now, I have no leads." Lupin controlled the container of water in his hands and gently placed it on the floor as he spoke to Tom.
"After you've had contact with Kappas, dealing with Grindylows shouldn't be a problem for you." Lupin closed the office door as he spoke.
"Tom, today I invited you here because I have something to ask of you..."
A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. Lupin turned to the door and opened it, surprised to find Hermione standing outside, slightly out of breath.
"Miss Granger, what can I do for you?" Lupin was a little confused.
"Well... Hmm..." Hermione became a bit nervous and pulled out an essay from her backpack. "Professor Lupin, Professor Snape said this essay is very poorly written. I would like you to take a look and help me improve it."
This excuse was a bit far-fetched, but as an improvised reason, it seemed plausible.
Hermione's true purpose in approaching Lupin, of course, was to worry about Tom's safety. After the werewolf class, she began to doubt Professor Lupin's identity, especially because his absence coincided with the full moon, fueling her imagination even more.
However, Hermione still trusted Dumbledore. If Dumbledore was willing to hire Professor Lupin, it meant he was someone trustworthy. But today, Professor Lupin would be alone in a room with Tom, which worried Hermione.
Although she trusted him, she didn't want to leave Tom alone in a room with a werewolf.
Tom, of course, understood Hermione's true intention but decided to play dumb. There was no need to expose Lupin's identity. Why not play dumb together?
Lupin sighed and took the essay to examine it carefully. He also understood the reason why Hermione had come. She could write such an excellent essay, but if she couldn't see through his identity, it only meant she had copied the essay from someone else.
But what else could Lupin do? He had to take it step by step. That was his way of thinking.
While Lupin read the essay, silence filled the office. Suddenly, Tom realized something. Well, a small office with a witch, a werewolf, and a Seer; it was like a live version of the game "Les Loups-Garous de Thiercelieux" (The Werewolves of Castronegro). If he called Hagrid, they could directly form a group of three: the Seer, the Hunter, and the Werewolf...
"You've written very well, there are just a few minor issues..." Professor Lupin quickly finished reading the essay and began to provide detailed feedback to Hermione.
Chapter 364: Chapter 364: News from London (Edited)
"Thank you, Professor." Hermione gave a small thankful nod to Professor Lupin. His feedback on her essay had been enlightening. At the same time, she felt a bit embarrassed; even though Professor Snape had been unpleasant in his comments, he was somewhat right. Her essay didn't live up to those high grades.
"Hmm." Lupin nodded in agreement, and the three of them fell into silence again.
The atmosphere grew a bit awkward. Finally, Lupin, somewhat resigned, told Hermione, "Miss Granger, I need to speak with Mr. Yodel. I hope he can be my assistant and help me tutor someone."
Tutoring someone? Hermione was puzzled, but Tom had a vague idea.
"I need him to assist Mr. Potter in practicing the Patronus Charm and other spells," Lupin revealed, leaving Hermione stunned.
Tom, helping with spells?
Tom assisting with spells? It sounded like a good thing, but why specifically Tom? The excuse of practicing spells sounded reasonable until examined more closely. Did Lupin need help with that? Couldn't he do it himself?
"People of the same age can motivate each other," Lupin said, providing a barely convincing excuse. In reality, it was an arrangement by Dumbledore.
When Dumbledore learned that Harry was a bit frightened by Dementors, he sought out Lupin immediately, hoping he could help Harry and, if possible, Tom Yodel as well.
Motivated by friendship and his mentor's requests, Lupin quickly accepted this task. His solution was to give Tom and Harry special treatment.
"Professor, if I may suggest, I believe you should teach the Patronus Charm to all students so that more people can learn this spell," Tom proposed.
It would be beneficial for more people to know the Patronus Charm.
Lupin considered the idea and thought that, in the end, teaching one or many was the same; there wasn't a significant problem.
"It's a high-level spell," Lupin commented.
"They'll never learn it if they don't try, right?"
That statement made sense too. So, Professor Lupin decided to include the Patronus Charm in his teaching plan.
"So, are we in agreement? Will you join as my little assistant?"
"Of course, no problem."
After reaching an agreement, Lupin relaxed a bit.
"How about a cup of tea?" He took out his teapot and tapped it with his wand, causing steam to rise from the spout. The water was already boiling.
Despite having a well-paying job now, Lupin, who had been accustomed to poverty, maintained a modest lifestyle. It was a mentality he had developed over the years, always saving money just in case he became unemployed again and fell back into poverty.
"I've heard you're good at tea leaf divination," Lupin said as he looked at the tea bags in his hand. He recalled the rumors about Tom's "talent" in that area and couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Yes," Tom openly admitted, "how did you know?"
"It's something the entire school talks about; how could I not know? I'm not deaf," Lupin replied before their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in," Lupin called out loudly.
Snape entered, carrying a steaming tall glass. When he saw Tom and Hermione there, his dark eyes narrowed slightly.
Snape had come to deliver the Wolfsbane Potion to Lupin.
The Wolfsbane Potion needed to be taken a few days before the full moon to be effective. The last batch he had prepared was already used up, so he needed to make another one just in case. As an active werewolf at Hogwarts, it was better to always have a supply of Wolfsbane Potion in his office.
Though Snape was sarcastic, he was a responsible teacher and always put the students' safety first. So, during the night, he had brewed a new Wolfsbane Potion and was delivering it to Lupin. He hadn't expected to find Tom Yodel and Hermione Granger in Lupin's office.
Snape's mood suddenly improved. He knew very well that Tom and Hermione were talented in potion-making, and Tom had even researched the replica of the Wolfsbane Potion with him. For Tom, identifying the Wolfsbane Potion would be a piece of cake.
Once he recognized the Wolfsbane Potion, Lupin's identity became clear; it couldn't be said that Lupin was fond of potions too, right?
"Remember to take it regularly," Snape said coldly, his words full of implications.
"No problem," Lupin replied without seeming to notice Snape's insinuations.
He accepted the potion from Snape and politely asked Tom and Hermione to leave the room.
...
"Tom, I thought you should have figured it out!" Hermione quickly stepped in front of Tom and blocked him.
"Figured out what?" Tom asked nonchalantly.
Hermione was stunned for a moment and started to stammer, realizing that she couldn't discuss it in public. She looked around and saw no one else, so she lowered her voice. "Obviously, it's about Professor Lupin's true identity..."
"I already know," Tom responded with an indifferent attitude, frustrating Hermione.
"I believe in Professor Dumbledore." The second half of the sentence left Hermione speechless.
"Very well then," Hermione shook her head in resignation, and her brown hair fluttered in the air. "As long as you're clear about it."
At that moment, a flying messenger pigeon caught both of their attention.
It was Tom's messenger pigeon.
"What is it?" Hermione approached curiously, trying to see the content of the letter. But Tom quickly moved it away.
Hermione: ¿?
"It's a little project I mentioned to you before."
Hermione immediately understood: it was news about the private prison.
"So fast?" She was surprised. She knew how complicated dealing with the government was, and the administrative efficiency in Britain was surprisingly low. She thought they would have to wait until the end of the year to hear any news, and even waiting until the end of the year was a luxury as the cabinet was being reshuffled this year.
Ministers were focused on the cabinet change; how could they have time to approve a private prison? Submitting the proposal, cabinet approval... applying for the contract for a high-security prison would definitely stir controversy, and they might even have to go to parliament. Even if they were lucky and the cabinet and parliament approved Tom's request, they still faced a big obstacle: building the prison.
Everyone knew how infrastructure in Britain was. It was entirely possible that even when Tom graduated, the prison would still be under construction...
"So, what's going on exactly? What's the news?" Hermione was extremely curious and began to ask questions one after another.
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