bioinnovel Chapter 153 New Year's Professor Throw
Chapter 153 New Year's Professor Throw
Chapter 153 New Year's Professor Throw
The envelope was pale yellow, without a stamp, and marked in emerald green ink: Yorkshire, Mr. Remus Lupin.
The other side of the parchment envelope is printed with a shield-shaped emblem, surrounded by a lion, an eagle, a jar, and a snake around the capital letter "H".
It's Hogwarts!
It was Hogwarts, the school that once gave Remus hope!
Remus Lupin was born into a happy family, a family whose story began with fairy tales.
The story begins in a dense forest, where the beautiful Muggle girl Hope is attacked by a Boggart, and the brilliant wizard Lyle comes to her rescue.
A few months later, Lyle and Hope, who had fallen in love, got married. Their wedding cake was decorated with a Boggart figure on top.
A year after their marriage, their life as a couple became a family of three when Lupin and his wife welcomed their first child, a healthy and happy little one.
If Fenrir Greyback hadn't met Lupin, and if Lyle had been as incompetent as his colleague, the Lupin family's fairy tale would have continued.
Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs" in the world. Fenrir Greyback's revenge was swift and terrible; he attacked five-year-old Remus, Lyle Lupin's only child.
From then on, the Lupin family had to live a nomadic life, constantly moving from one small village to another, because Remus, who had been bitten by Fenrir Greyback, had become a complete ruthless man.
Young Remus had no friends and could not play with children his own age. He also had to endure painful transformations every month, and even the doors of Hogwarts were slowly closing.
Lyle, who loved his son dearly, homeschooled Remus, certain that his son would never be able to go to school.
No one wants to accept werewolves, and no one will be merciful to them.
It is generally believed that werewolves are soulless, evil, and only deserve to die.
Just before Remus's eleventh birthday, Albus Dumbledore arrived uninvited, like a ray of light illuminating the Lupin family, because he brought Hogwarts acceptance letters.
Twenty-two years later in Yorkshire, Remus Lupin received a letter from Hogwarts after many years. He trembled as he stroked the shield-shaped emblem, feeling the warmth emanating from the parchment envelope.
Remus recalled that distant afternoon when Dumbledore sat by the fire, eating toast and playing Gobbles with the eleven-year-old werewolf.
"I can't accept this," Remus said firmly. "I'm sorry, I really can't accept this." He returned the envelope to Belvina.
Even without opening the letter, Remus could guess its contents: an invitation to return to Hogwarts as a faculty member, most likely related to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
That's why Remus couldn't accept it, and even dared not open the letter. Remus knew that once he opened the letter and saw its contents, he wouldn't be able to refuse, because he couldn't bear to.
"Whether I accept it or not is none of my business," Belvina said dismissively. "I'm just a gofer, a human owl, you know? The little salary Hogwarts pays me is all compensation for my emotional distress."
With that, Belvina picked up the letter sealed with the Hogwarts emblem and tore it open without a second thought, completely ignoring Remus's panic across from her.
Touching other people's belongings without permission or reading their mail without their consent are both very unpleasant behaviors. Belvina demonstrated through her actions why Little Big Star disliked her.
"Pfft, Defense Against the Dark Arts! That old man really does pick on acquaintances!" Belvina clicked her tongue. "The students are really unlucky. First, there was Quirrell, who had Voldemort stuck to the back of his head, and then Lockhart, the liar of the century. Poor thing!"
Belvina lifted her eyelids, glancing at Remus's flustered and exhausted face, and continued, "This year, they're going to have another werewolf professor. Lockhart's 'Wandering with Werewolves' was written too early!"
Ding!
Remus dropped his fork, and his biggest secret was exposed: how did Belvina know he was a werewolf?
"Don't ask me why Dumbledore is telling me this. You know, the old man's always been a bit crazy," Belvina continued. "I suspect he may have suffered some serious mental trauma when he was young."
Panic, anxiety, unease—Remus felt like he was going to be driven crazy by these complex emotions. Why was it that every time he saw Belvina, nothing good ever came of it?
"Dumbledore said he'll provide you with wolfsbane to alleviate your monthly hairy little problem," Belvina said, putting down the letter. "And there's no limit to the supply; you can drink it like water if you want, and hopefully it'll wear that bastard Severus out of his wits."
Providing Remus Lupin with wolfsbane medicine could not possibly be written in the employment contract; it could only be relayed through Belvina's words.
As for why Dumbledore leaked the secret, letting Belvina know that Lupin was a werewolf and having Belvina deliver a message to Lupin, only Dumbledore himself knows the answer.
Wolfsbane potion was invented not long ago, and its production process is complicated and the raw materials are expensive. However, this potion can make werewolves drowsy during their transformation period, greatly relieving their pain during the full moon.
Given Remus Lupin's dire financial situation, he couldn't afford to buy the expensive wolfsbane medicine from the market and simply couldn't afford to drink it.
To receive a discount from the Ministry of Magic, one must register as a werewolf and publicly reveal that one is a werewolf, which is something Remus Lupin cannot accept.
"You should still remember Severus Snape, right? If you forget, Severus will be very sad." Belvina kept talking and adding more, "He's now the Head of Slytherin and the Potions Professor."
Remus certainly remembered; he not only knew that Snape worked at Hogwarts, but he also knew that Snape disliked Harry.
"Severus dislikes Harry, probably transferring his hatred for his father onto the child; he's petty and narrow-minded," Belvina continued. "Poor Harry, he's a bit slow and reckless—"
"Alright, you don't need to say anymore," Remus said, then suddenly smiled with relief. "I'll go back now."
Remus took the letter from Belvina and read it carefully, just as attentively as he had read the acceptance letter back then.
He continued, "You're trying to persuade me like this so I'll go back and help you put Snape down, right?"
"More or less," Belvina stammered. "It's mainly for poor Harry. I don't have a legitimate reason to speak up for him, but you're different!"
That was a weak and unconvincing statement. Belvina had never stood up for Harry, not even in the slightest. Snape's mouth was like a poisoned iron plate—not to be trifled with, not to be trifled with.
Remus sighed; he hadn't been to Privet Drive in all these years.
Whenever he approached Little Wheekin, Remus would shrink back. He didn't know how to face Harry, nor did he dare to face the son of an old friend. He was running away.
"According to them, Harry looks a lot like the Potters," Belvina said. "He looks almost like James Potter, and his eyes are just like Lily Potter's. You know what, he's quite good-looking."
Remus unconsciously clenched the letter in his hand. His longing for his deceased friend and his concern for his friend's son overcame everything else at this moment. Remus Lupin no longer wanted to run away.
"I want to go to Privet Drive. Harry's birthday's coming up soon," Remus said quietly. "His thirteenth birthday."
"Given your current state, you should at least tidy yourself up a bit, shouldn't you?" Belvina said. "At the very least, change into a clean and tidy set of clothes."
If Remus went to Privet Drive dressed like a beggar, it would be fine if the Dursleys didn't find out. But if they did, Harry's summer vacation would be completely ruined.
"Oh right, and this too, I almost forgot." Belvina suddenly remembered something and started rummaging through her skirt pockets again.
Belvina pulled a vial of potion from her skirt pocket and pushed it across the table to Remus, who was sitting opposite her. She continued, "Wolfsbane Potion, made by Potions Master Severus Snape. It'll be just the right amount of potion for the next full moon."
Remus picked up the wolfsbane potion and said with a self-deprecating laugh, "I'm getting better now, I can actually afford to drink wolfsbane potion."
A self-deprecating joke, yet it sounds strangely poignant. Although Remus Lupin has been running away, he is still that strong wizard and powerful warrior.
If she were in Remus Lupin's shoes, Belvina wouldn't be able to endure a single day of life like that; she would go insane.
"Forget it, let's not go to Privet Drive." Remus abandoned the idea of setting off immediately. "I'll spend more time with Harry. I'm worried that showing up abruptly will scare him and disrupt his normal life."
Belvina paused for a moment. She understood Remus's idea, but she did not agree with it.
Remus continued, "After all this talk, I haven't even congratulated you yet. The Order of Merlin, First Class, congratulations!"
"It's alright, we still have one at home," Belvina Vanrivan said irritably. "You can get one of these medals by donating a large sum of gold to the Ministry of Magic."
As she spoke, Belvina pulled out the medal she had just received from the pocket of her skirt.
The Order of Merlin consists of a gold medal and a colored ribbon indicating the rank of the medal. The ribbon on the medal in Belvina's hand is green, representing the first class.
The ribbon for the second-class medal is purple, and the ribbon for the third-class medal is white.
Belvina laughed and said, "A Slytherin graduate broke into Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets, killed the basilisk left behind by Slytherin, and received a medal with a green ribbon. How interesting!"
After saying that, Belvina glanced at the sky outside the window; she still needed to rush back to the Ministry of Magic.
"It's almost time, I should head back to London," Belvina said. "See you at Hogwarts, Remus."
"See you at Hogwarts, Belvina," Remus said. "Don't punch me the moment we meet."
Belvina didn't respond, but smiled and waved before turning and walking out of the Muggle shop. She walked along the street to the corner not far away, and her figure quickly disappeared.
Remus Lupin sat by the window, gazing out. He was physically present, but his mind had already wandered to Surrey.
I've flown to Scotland, and I wish this summer would go by faster!
After an unknown amount of time, Remus, regaining his senses, decided to leave the shop. He needed to find a new place to stay as soon as possible and also prepare for the next full moon.
It was only then that Remus suddenly noticed that two Muggle bills had been placed under the plate.