Chapter 185: Remus Lupin


    "Merlin''s socks! Your Disarming Charm has reached Level 4, and you hadn''t even mentioned it before!" Ron eximed, his mouth wide open in astonishment. "Is that true? I mean—the bloke who''s aiming to be an Auror, and he''s only at Level 2 for the Disarming Charm."


    Harry attributed all of this to his magical outburst. "Professor Lupin said it would make my magic more active, which... well, it seems to have sped up my learning of spells."


    Ron looked expectant. "If only I could have a magical outburst too."


    "Ron, Professor Lupin said magical outbursts are the result of extreme emotions, and they mostly happen to young wizards before they enter Hogwarts. Once we''re at Hogwarts and learn to control our magic, these situations almost disappear."


    Hermione chimed in, matter-of-factly, "Just like Harry. His case is quite rare. It might be because his aunt insulted his parents—oh, sorry, Harry."


    "No worries," Harry replied, but Hermione looked at him apologetically.


    "I know~ Can''t I just daydream?" Ron seemed to have thought of something, suddenly excited. "Besides, it''s not impossible, right? There were one or two times during the summer when Percy was showing off his Head Boy badge, and I had the urge to make it explode."


    "Is there much difference between making something explode and making it swell? Maybe my emotions weren''t strong enough at the time," Ron spected yfully, believing it to be a shortcut to learning.


    Hermione stared at him wide-eyed, even Harry was quite speechless.


    "But speaking of it," Harry looked at Ron thoughtfully, "I do seem to have a better grasp of the Disarming Charm. With other spells, it''s like I''m just a bit off."


    Ron looked puzzled. "Isn''t that because you spent the most time on the Disarming Charm?"


    Harry exined, "It''s a feeling! Like... it''s just..." he gestured with his hand, "Well, I''m not sure either. Maybe it really is just an illusion." He said somewhat dejectedly.


    Hermione provided theoretical support, "Harry, it''s not impossible—there are always some young wizards who learn specific spells faster."


    "Where did you read that?" Harry asked with interest, perhaps he could include this viewpoint in his essay?


    The thought of the essay made his head ache a bit. He had spoken without thinking, not considering the consequences at all.


    While he had umted a bunch of random notes during the training process, he had no idea how to turn these things into a presentable essay—out of certain considerations, he didn''t want to just bluff his way through.


    Hermione''s answer was a bit different from what he expected. She smiled with her eyes narrowed in a pleased manner, resembling the ginger cat in her arms: "Do you remember the assignment from the Dueling ss, those forms? I helped Professor Lupin organize a part of them, and he proposed this idea then, but..."


    She made a helpless expression, "There were too few samples, and a lot of the submitted data was fabricated. I could tell at a nce!"


    Ron''s gaze suddenly became evasive, and Harry also lowered his head guiltily.


    Hermione looked at the two of them indignantly, they shared some responsibility for the false data.


    At this moment, a hoarse, weary voice joined their conversation.


    "Forgive me—"


    The three of them looked anxiously towards the small table. The professor seemed to have just woken up, his face looking as worn as his patched robes and heavily worn suitcase, giving off an air of destitution.


    But his eyes were bright and sincere. The professor spoke gently, "I just overheard some of your conversation, it wasn''t intentional, but I did be curious."


    "Professor Lupin?" Hermione asked in a hushed voice.


    "Yes, I am Remus Lupin," Lupin said with a smile, "Did you see the markings on my trunk? Quite observant. If this were in ss, I''d give you extra points."


    "Remus Lupin?" Hermione let out a short scream, startling her ginger-coloredrge cat in her arms. It leaped out and stood in the aisle, looking at its owner usingly.


    "Oh, sorry, Crookshanks," the young witch said.


    "Quick, control it, don''t let it discover Scabbers!" Ron covered the bulge in his chest pocket where his pet fat rat, Scabbers, was hidden.


    "Have you heard of me?" Lupin asked.


    "N-no," she stammered dryly, quickly lowering her head and picking up herrge cat.


    Hermione''s behavior struck Harry and Ron as odd, but with an outsider present, they tactfully refrained from asking.


    Lupin didn''t press further either. He smiled at them. "I''m your Dark Arts Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, only for one year, as agreed with Dumbledore."


    Harry and Ron exchanged a nce, assessing the professor''s actual abilities. To be frank, solely judging by appearance, he didn''t inspire much confidence.


    Lupin gazed gently at the three of them, particrly lingering on Harry for a moment. Then he said, "I left the school exactly fifteen years ago, and many memories have faded, such as, I''m not quite clear about the Professor Harp you mentioned..."


    Harry and Ron turned their gaze to Hermione. She never disappointed in this aspect.


    Indeed, Hermione rattled off in one breath, "Felix Harp is an incredibly aplished wizard, a Slytherin graduate. He currently teaches Ancient Runes and has remarkable achievements in Muggle Studies. His influence is exceptional."


    "And he graduated only three years ago—no, now it''s four years." Harry added.


    "A true rising star." Lupin admired. He changed the subject, asking, "You mentioned some special training earlier. Are you close to Professor Harp, Harry?"


    "Do you know me?" Harry unconsciously brushed his hair, where a lightning-shaped scar was, recognized by many as his signature.


    "I knew your father," Lupin said simply.


    Harry wasn''t too satisfied with this response, but he still said, "Professor Harp is kind, gentle, and courteous. Although he only started teaching third-year students, he has assisted some first and second years."


    He referred to the time during the Chamber of Secrets attack when the school was in turmoil, and many sought sce from the professors. Among them, Professor Harp had an exceptionally high approval rate.


    Lupin pondered for a moment, then asked, "You just mentioned that he graduated only four years ago. So, his Head of House is... Severus Snape?"


    "It''s Snape," Harry quickly followed up, then looked a bit embarrassed as he realized he hadn''t used the honorific.


    Lupin didn''t react much. His gaze turned distant, lost in thought.


    Outside, the rain wasing down heavier, and the weather turned pitch ck. The train slowed down.


    "Are we there yet?"


    "Not yet!" Professor Lupin drew his wand, and Harry stood up as well.


    The train''s lights suddenly flickered off, and shadows moved outside.


    Ayer of frost quietly climbed the windows.


    Someone stumbled in from outside, crashing into Ron directly, eliciting a painful yelp from him. Across the aisle, frightened breaths were audible.


    "What''s happened? Ouch! Is that you, Neville?"


    "Yes, it''s me. It suddenly got dark outside. Do you know what''s going on?"


    More people rushed in, speaking all at once in a chaotic manner.


    "Is Ron here? I''m looking for Ron."


    "I''m here, Ginny!"


    "Oh dear, that''s my face."


    "Who are you?"


    "I''m Neville, Neville Longbottom..."


    "Quiet!" Lupin shouted loudly, raising his wand. A burst of mes poured down from the wand tip, illuminating the panicked faces.


    The light also illuminated his tired, grayish face, but with an adult wizard present, everyone felt a bit more reassured.


    Hearing Lupin say, "Stay in ce and don''t move. I''ll go out and take a look," he opened thepartment door and stepped into the aisle.


    Harry thought for a moment and followed him outside.


    "Harry?" Hermione said urgently.


    "I''ll see if I can help." Harry passed through thepartment door and followed behind Lupin.


    A chill swept over them, and Lupin quickly stepped back, saying, "Go back, Harry!"


    But Harry didn''t hear; his entire attention was captured by something draped in a ck cloak with a hood. The thing floated in mid-air, a decayed, ashen hand emerging from the cloak. Following that, an intense coldness rushed over him, freezing his lungs, making it impossible to breathe.


    A distant female voice sounded, terrifying, terrified, and pleading.


    "I want to help her!"


    He didn''t know why he had this thought, but it was so strong. Even as he was about to lose consciousness, he instinctively responded.


    A dazzling red light illuminated the entire train.


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