Hogwarts: Who made her a professor?

Chapter 5: A lonely person shouldn't be on the streets at midnight.

Midnight on the street.

A lone man and a lone woman.

A clash of passions.

A dark alley with very few people.

This is a scene that appears repeatedly in the study materials folder.

It's worth noting that the female lead has a great figure and looks, and her acting skills are impeccable. While she may not outshine all the virtuous and talented teachers, she can at least consistently rank high on the charts.

Unfortunately, there was no romantic atmosphere between the man and woman, not even a hint of sparks; instead, the fierce fight had left this rarely visited alleyway battered and bruised.

At this moment, the outcome between the two was already clear. Belvina Black looked down with the composure of a victor; Rom Luce lay sprawled on the ground, unable to rise again.

Seeing Belvina slowly turn her wrist, Luce's eyes widened as he realized something was wrong. He knew exactly what this movement meant; it was one of the most common starting moves for Legilimency.

However, before Belvina could finish casting the spell and forcibly examine Luce's memories to confirm his identity, a sudden change occurred.

Rom Luce's face, contorted with pain, became even more distorted, his features seemingly each having their own thoughts, sometimes converging in one place, sometimes scattered in another; his skin bubbled like scalding wax, and his palms sometimes grew larger, sometimes smaller.

Then, Luce, who was lying on the ground, began to breathe heavily, and his thick brown curly hair began to fade, gradually turning gray.

His weathered hair color actually complements his unique eyes quite well.

"A compound decoction, just as I thought. Is this what you meant by the rushed time?" Belvina stopped what she was doing. Now she didn't need to cast "Leech Technique" to know the other person's identity, and she could even witness the transformation on the spot.

Compound Elixir is a magical potion that can transform a user into someone else's appearance. Its production process is complex and lengthy, taking at least a month to complete.

Unless you buy the finished product directly.

Belvina considered another possibility, muttering to herself, "Are those guys in the Law Enforcement Division just sitting around doing nothing? Can't they properly manage those unscrupulous merchants in Upside Down Alley?"

Knockout Alley is another wizarding commercial center besides Diagon Alley. There are many shops related to dark magic here, and you can also buy illegal items that are prohibited from being bought and sold by the Ministry of Magic. The largest shop here is Borgin Burke.

The reason why Belvina is Belvina Black II is because there was another Belvina in the family, and that great-grandmother Belvina happened to marry Herbert Burke.

In the dimly lit, shabby street, Belvina stood with her arms crossed, patiently waiting for the effects of the herbal potion to wear off completely. However, the spectacle of this miraculous transformation was rather unpleasant to watch, and it wasn't recommended to observe it while eating.

After a while, Mr. Luce, who had miraculously transformed into a living person, returned to his original form.

Although he was still young, he had premature wrinkles, gray hair, and a pale, haggard, and tired face, looking like he had been through a lot.

Moreover, he looked very weak, not from the beating he received from Belvina, but because he was already somewhat weak to begin with.

"So it was you, one of that bastard's cronies." Belvina crossed her arms, her tone reproachful. "Why did you do this? If you wanted to pretend to be a reporter next time, you could have told me beforehand! Even though you're a Gryffindor and that bastard's friend, we've known each other for a while, so why wouldn't I help you out? Look at you now, what was the point of getting beaten up like this..."

Belvina rambled on and on, but the gist of it could be summed up in one sentence—this isn't Grandma's fault!

Mr. Luce—no, he should now be called Remus Lupin.

Weak Lupin struggled to sit up, supporting himself with his hands on the ground and gritting his teeth. His chest heaved as he leaned against the wall, and his bloodless lips trembled.

If Lupin hadn't lost to Belvina in their recent duel—and lost badly at that—he would have jumped up and beaten her to a pulp. Do all their family members talk like this?!

"Let's talk, don't be so tense." Belvina then squatted down, her gaze level with Lupin's, who was leaning against the wall.

Her legs were together, her hands resting on her knees, and her curled-up body swayed rhythmically back and forth. Her childlike movements lacked some of the wizard's authority and gained more of a girlish charm, even though she was no longer a girl.

After catching his breath a few more times, Lupin slowly spoke, "Can I trust you?"

Since that Halloween eve ten years ago, Remus Lupin has stopped trusting anyone, and he can no longer trust anyone, including Albus Dumbledore.

After experiencing the double blow that night, Remus Lupin could no longer bear the slightest betrayal.

"Obviously not," Belvina said, swaying slightly. "To be honest, I don't even believe myself."

"you!"

Lupin pointed at the swaying Belvina, his trembling fingers like someone with Parkinson's. "Can't we even have a conversation?!"

He hesitated to speak, then hesitated again, trying to organize his thoughts, but forgot what he wanted to say.

Remus Lupin was a gentle man who rarely got angry. He was also a composed man who rarely lost his composure like this.

Lupin grew angrier the more he thought about it.

It's one thing to lose a fight, but to get so angry over a few casual remarks is another. Sirius Black only ever said his little sister wasn't very likable, never that she was so good at making people angry!

"I was just thinking about it. Harry Potter has Dumbledore watching over him, so a 'reminder' probably isn't your main purpose," Belvina said seriously. "You don't actually think that jerk will tell me all his dirty secrets, do you?"

When Lupin's identity was revealed, all the doubts were resolved. The only connection between Belvina and Lupin could be one person: Sirius Black, who was singing "Tears Behind Bars" at that moment.

Lupin remained silent, partly to hear what else Belvina might have to say, and partly as a tacit agreement with her statement.

As Sirius Black's half-sister and a member of the younger generation who can move freely outside despite bearing the surname Black, Belvina became Lupin's lifeline.

"No way, do you Gryffindors all share one brain? And that brain is actually Dumbledore's!" Belvina had lost count of how many times she'd been speechless tonight. "That bastard ran away from home at 16. Do you think I'd have a good relationship with him, or do you think I'm some Death Eater who managed to escape trial?"

In fact, many people have suspected that Belvina was also a member of the Death Eaters. Some people asked her indirectly, some people pointed fingers behind her back, and even Death Eaters who had escaped trial secretly exchanged glances with her.

It's a miscarriage of justice!

Belvina is even more wronged than Ms. Dou!

Even if Belvina were a Death Eater, what does that have to do with her?

Lupin, leaning against the wall, remained silent. He didn't know if Belvina was a Death Eater, nor did he care. He simply regarded Belvina as his last hope, or perhaps a deeper despair.

Everyone knows that Sirius Black was James Potter's best friend and the person the Potters trusted most.

After that incident, everyone naturally assumed that Blake had betrayed his best friend to the Dark Lord, betraying the person who trusted him the most.

Even though everyone said so, even though Sirius was imprisoned in Azkaban, even though ten years had passed, Moonface still found it hard to believe that Bigfoot would betray Prongs.

"Please, courage isn't recklessness, and it's certainly not about having muscles all over your head," Belvina continued. "When the Dark Lord was running rampant, I was just a young girl, and when he fell, I hadn't even graduated from Hogwarts yet!"

Merlin, my mother is truly innocent!

Why would the dark tyrant hire a blonde girl? Does he like employing child laborers, or does he also... well... I can't say...

"Uh... well... actually..." Lupin seemed to be hesitating whether to start a fight, "Regrus Black... your other brother... he didn't seem to have graduated when he joined the Death Eaters."

Ah, if that's what you mean, then I won't argue with you.

The Belvina generation of Blake members consisted of two sons and four daughters.

Of the four women, besides Belvina herself, one married a Death Eater (Narcissa), another married another Death Eater while being a Death Eater herself (Bellatrix), and the third was expelled from the family for marrying a Muggle-born wizard (Andromeda).

The two men are Sirius Black and Regulus. Regulus's identity as a Death Eater has long been confirmed, and his whole family is proud of him, considering him a little hero of the family; Sirius Black, on the other hand, is considered by the public to be the second-in-command of the Death Eaters because of his betrayal of the Potters.

Furthermore, the Black family has always been proponents of pure-blood supremacy, with the entire family steadfastly supporting the "pure-blood supremacy" theory. Black Devil, in particular, is a devoted follower of the entire family. They may even have provided angel investment in Black Devil during his early entrepreneurial days.

Wizarding families like the Longbottom and Prewitt could be described as "a family of loyal martyrs," while the Black family was the complete opposite; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them "a family of traitors."

Belvina Black is a true black-blooded devil; the Ministry of Magic must be incredibly lucky not to have broken her wand.

Smoke isn't enough; it has to explode.

Seeing Belvina speechless with frustration, Lupin, who had been holding back for so long, finally felt a sense of satisfaction. The pain all over his body couldn't stop him from forcing a grimacing, ugly smile.

Sure enough, as long as carrying a bar pays more than waving a flag, everyone becomes a human form of ETC.

"Sigh..." Belvina sighed, recalling the difficult days when she first entered the Ministry of Magic. There was nothing she could do; she hadn't been careful when she landed, and now she was stuck with this whole family.

"That's not what I meant—I didn't mean you were—" Faced with the woman who had just beaten him up, Lupin was flustered and wanted to say a few words of comfort, but he didn't know where to begin.

"It's alright," Belvina waved her hand. "What you see is who I am, good or bad. I won't argue with you. What others think of me is irrelevant and unnecessary."

The two then fell silent.

Belvina remained silent because she realized her path to redemption was still long. Lupin's appearance also served as a reminder: would Dumbledore also suspect she was a Death Eater, or had Death Eater tendencies?

Lupin remained silent because of Belvina's words—"What you see is what I am." Could the Sirius Black he knew and saw possibly betray Jaime?

The two men, who had just been at loggerheads and ready to fight to the death, both began to fall into deep thought.

No one bothered them; there were no Ministry of Magic employees leaving get off work, nor any Muggles passing by the street corner glancing over. This shabby, dilapidated street seemed to have been forgotten by the entire world.

After an unknown amount of time, Belvina, whose legs had gone numb from squatting, slowly stood up. She first straightened her wrinkled dress, then picked up the wand that had fallen to the side and returned it to Lupin.

After doing all this, Belvina spoke again, saying, "You don't think that bastard was framed, do you?"

As Lupin put his wand away, he said softly, "I just can't believe it, or rather, I don't want to believe that's the truth."

Indeed, not only Lupin couldn't believe it, but even his own mother, Mrs. Black, didn't quite believe it.

The old lady has had the picture on the wall for several years now, and she still yells at Sirius every day that he is an unfilial descendant!

In fact, Belvina knew that Sirius Black had been wrongfully imprisoned.

Based on fragmented memories from his past life, such as short videos like "Dog Dad and His Big Son" and "Black's Darkest Half of Life," it can be concluded that Sirius Black was wronged.

Although the phrase "Dog Dad and his good son" is ambiguous—it could mean a loving father and a filial son, or a father leaving and the son laughing—Belvina, through her previous visits to Azkaban and her verbal probing of Sirius, came to the same conclusion: Sirius was not a Death Eater, and the one who betrayed the Potters must have been someone else.

Even so, Belvina, who had gradually risen to the core of the power structure, did not make any move, did not make any preparations to clear her brother's name, and did not even have the slightest idea.

The reason is simple: Belvina can't overturn this case.

First of all, Belvina has no evidence whatsoever. Sirius Black is a stubborn fool; if he had uttered a single word instead of laughing like a spoiled teenager, those old geezers from the Black family would have dared to smash Galleons into the faces of Ministry of Magic officials.

Secondly, it would be virtually impossible to overturn Barty Crouch's verdict, as he was a ruthless man who could send his own son to Azkaban. In addition, the public unanimously believed that Sirius Black had betrayed the Potters. These two obstacles were enough to make Belvina feel suffocated.

Ultimately, the root of the problem lies with Sirius Black, that stubborn bastard. He doesn't utter a single word, and even if Belvina were to tear a hole in the sky, it wouldn't make a difference.

Of course, there is another special reason, which is that Belvina does not have enough energy. She cannot go in and out of Azkaban seven times and kill him, leaving his robes stained with blood.

Ultimately, in wizarding society, might makes right, and Belvina is neither Dumbledore nor the Dark Lord.

Besides, Sirius himself didn't even want to overturn the verdict, so why should Belvina go to such lengths? Forcing things won't work.

Thinking too much can cause hair loss and make you age faster, plus this is London... The image is too beautiful, Belvina dares not think any further.

"Can you stand up?" Belvina asked, extending her right hand.

With his back against the wall, Lupin raised his hand and, with the help of Belvina, stood up, grimacing.

Lu Ping, finally free from the cold ground, glanced at it cautiously, thinking to himself: Are all their family members this ruthless?

At this moment, the tension between Belvina and Lupin had dissipated, replaced by the air of two old friends who hadn't seen each other for years. Of course, that is, assuming one could ignore Lupin's disheveled appearance.

"I don't think I can help you much," Belvina continued. "Even if Sirius was truly innocent, only he himself probably knows the truth. That old bastard Barty Crouch didn't give him a chance to speak. If he had actually said something back then... even something like that he was controlled by the Imperius Curse!"

It's important to know that after the Dark Lord's downfall, the Ministry of Magic began to purge the Death Eaters without their leader. Those who resisted were either killed on the spot or imprisoned in Azkaban and sentenced to life imprisonment.

However, some escaped trial by claiming they were controlled by the Imperius Curse. A notable example is Lucius Malfoy, Belvina's brother-in-law, who also came from an ancient and wealthy pure-blood wizarding family.

Whether there was anything fishy going on here, only the people in charge of the trial at the time would know for sure.

As for why she didn't tell Lupin the truth, it was for the same reason: Belvina had no evidence to prove that Sirius was innocent, and she couldn't give Lupin the hope he wanted.

"Can the Soul-Stealing Curse affect the Heart-Stopping Curse?" Lupin asked, brushing the dust off his clothes as he pondered with a furrowed brow.

Belvina was stunned by the question that was suddenly thrown at her.

Born into the Black family, she wouldn't say she was an expert in dark magic, but she was certainly very familiar with it. However, she really didn't know the answer to this question.

Although Lupin's sudden appearance caused some minor trouble, it also offered a fresh perspective.

"I suggest you ask Dumbledore; there's probably no one in the world who knows more about magic than him."

Not hearing Lupin's response, Belvina looked over and saw an indescribable emotion flash across the face of her defeated opponent, who made no response to her subtle reminder.

"You don't actually trust Dumbledore, do you?" Belvina asked, somewhat puzzled. Gryffindor not trusting Dumbledore? What a joke! Aren't you all in cahoots?

Lupin looked up at the moon high in the sky and asked softly, "Then do you believe in Dumbledore?"

Upon hearing this, Belvina gave a disgusted look and took two steps to the side, as if she was afraid that Lupin's silliness would be contagious to her.

She said, "I don't even believe in myself, so do you think I would believe in anyone else, even if that person is Dumbledore? Besides, I am a Slytherin, a Slytherin for generations, a Slytherin of that era."

Lupin, belatedly realizing what had happened, smiled, seemingly amused by his own question.

"Yes, you're a Slytherin, the Slytherin of Mystic," Lupin said forlornly. "But he's a Gryffindor!"

Whether he was referring to Dumbledore or Sirius Black, only Lupin knew the answer.

As a rebel against the Black family, Sirius Black was the only Gryffindor in this pure-blood wizarding family, and his dazzling gold and red was the only bright color in Belvina's childhood memories.

After glancing at the moonlight again, Lupin asked jokingly, "May I leave now, Miss Black?"

Belvina nodded without saying anything.

Now that she had figured out the identity of the imposter, and since the other party happened to be someone she knew (although not well) and posed no threat to Belvina's safety (she was a defeated opponent), she had no need to keep the imposter at bay.

The important thing is that Belvina had already given Lupin a good beating and vented her anger, so why was she still holding him back? Was she going to pay for his medicine?

"Then goodbye, Belvina, may I call you that?" Lupin waved goodbye, then slowly walked towards the street corner, leaning against the wall, just as before, aimlessly and meaninglessly moving forward.

Belvina didn't refute it. She just felt that Lupin's back looked very lonely and desolate, which was why this brother's friend would use his name to refer to someone he wasn't very familiar with.

Looking at that lonely, desolate yet strong and stubborn figure, several questions were on the tip of Belvina's tongue, but she swallowed them back.

How are you doing?

Where do you live now?

Who do you live with?

Why are they living in such a miserable state?

Belvina simply couldn't bring herself to ask these questions, and by choosing to conceal the "truth," she once again hurt the poor man, Remus Lupin.

Lupin slowly walked out, and the image of Sirius in his mind gradually overlapped with that of Belvina behind him.

This not-so-likable younger sister was indeed not very likable, but Lupin thought she was a nice person, just a bit eccentric.

"Remus!"

Hearing the voice behind him, Lu Ping, who was overjoyed, turned around abruptly—the surprise that had welled up in his weathered eyes vanished in an instant.

It wasn't Sirius, nor James; all I could see was Belvina, standing alone in the shadows.

"Next, Remus!"

Disoriented, Lu Ping instinctively reached out to take it, and a heavy leather bag landed in his hand.

"Remember to pay me back next time we meet. I'm really short of money. And life should be full of hope, shouldn't it?"

With a soft "poof," Belvina's figure disappeared down the shabby street, leaving Lupin standing there dumbfounded.

Life should be full of hope.

What did she mean by hope?

Does she really know something?