0169 Lupin’s Visit

0169 Lupin’s Visit

"Before Black is caught, Harry, you should stay in the Gryffindor common room every night, and never sneak out of the castle at midnight to find Hagrid, or, break into the Forbidden Forest!"

Hermione glared at Harry sternly, her bushy brown hair framing her worried face. She was clutching a thick book titled Hogwarts: A History in her hands, as if it was a shield against any danger.

"You talk as if we didn't take you with us when we went to see Hagrid."

Ron retorted, his freckled face turning red with annoyance. He glanced at Hermione with a bit of displeasure, feeling that she was being too bossy and nagging. He was holding a piece of toast with jam, which he had snatched from the breakfast table before they left the Great Hall.

Harry didn't intervene in Ron and Hermione's argument, although his eyes only fell on the photo in the Muggle newspaper, which he had found in his dormitory. It showed a gaunt man with long black hair and a wild beard, who had a crazed look in his eyes. The caption read: Sirius Black: The Most Wanted Man in Britain. He felt a few strange gazes looking at him, the owners of those eyes were the same as Ron's 'Pure Blood Heirs', they had already known Black's purpose of escaping from prison, but they didn't publicize it in the school because of the warning from their families.

"I know–"

Harry interrupted the argument with a dull voice, tearing his eyes away from the photo. He folded the newspaper and stuffed it into his backpack, hoping that no one else would see it. He knew that Black was after him, and that he had to be careful.

Black's horror reminded Harry of the place that Professor Watson had taken him to during the summer vacation, which made Harry realize that the wizarding world was not only beautiful and magical, but also had the darkness and filth that the Muggle world had.

"I'll try to stay in the castle after dark."

Harry said, trying to sound calm and reassuring. He didn't want to worry his friends, or to let them know how scared he was.

Harry's performance satisfied Hermione, who nodded approvingly, while Ron seemed very surprised, but he also knew that this was not something to joke about, he shrugged innocently and didn't say anything, burying his head to deal with the rest of his breakfast.

The first class of the third year this morning was the herbology class shared by Hufflepuff and Gryffindor.

Because the conversation at breakfast delayed a little time, this resulted in Harry and the other two having to run all the way to Professor Sprout's greenhouse, which was located at the edge of the school grounds. They had to cross the large lawn, where they could see the Quidditch pitch, the Black Lake, and the Forbidden Forest in the distance.

Harry felt a pang of longing, as he remembered the times he had flown on his broom, or explored the forest with his friends. He hoped that he would be able to do those things again soon, without having to worry about Black or the Dementors.

On the lawn of the schoolyard, the first-year freshmen were learning how to control flying brooms under the guidance of Madame Hooch, the flying instructor. She was a strict and stern woman, who had short gray hair and yellow eyes, like a hawk. She was blowing her whistle and shouting commands, as the students tried to mount their brooms and lift off the ground.

Harry looked at the younger wizards who were swaying in the air ten feet above the ground, and couldn't help but recall the situation when he first touched the flying broom in his first year. At that time, he made Malfoy suffer a big loss in front of everyone, when he had caught the Remembrall that Malfoy stole from Neville. He was also invited by Professor McGonagall to join the Gryffindor Quidditch team as a Seeker, the youngest in a century. He felt a surge of pride, as he remembered the thrill of flying and catching the Golden Snitch.

"I hope Black can convince Wood–"

The past good memories made Harry feel better, and Harry muttered softly, as he neared the greenhouse.

"Harry!"

"Elite Auror Dawlish?" Bryan chewed the bread while rolling his eyes, recalling when he had injured this guy named Dawlish last night.

Knock knock knock–

The knocking on the door outside the hall suddenly brought Bryan back to his senses. His penetrating eyes saw through the walls and found out who the visitor was. He walked quickly to open the door, looked at the warm smile of Remus Lupin, squinted his eyes, and asked calmly,

"What, is there any emergency in the school? And, how did you figure out that I live here?"

Although he was still wearing the washed white, patched wizard robe, Lupin's complexion was much better than two or three weeks ago, which finally made him look more like an energetic middle-aged wizard, rather than a beggar who had no next meal.

"Don't be nervous, Bryan." Remus said gently, "Everything is normal in the school, and Harry's side is also fine. -Um, won't you invite me in to talk, Bryan?"

"I'm just afraid you'll find it not decent enough here–"

Bryan, who knew that Potter's father had cuckolded Professor Snape, and that Lupin had been James Potter's friend, so he had a bit of coldness in his tone, but he still turned around and walked back to the living room, inviting Remus in.

Lupin, who had lived a difficult and dirty life as a werewolf for half his life, was accustomed to the wizards' resistance and disgust. He was not offended by Bryan's slight coldness. He only felt a bit strange. The last time they met, Bryan was very cordial to him and spoke politely. It was probably because of the huge bounty of fifty thousand galleons on Sirius Black's head.

As a werewolf, Lupin's manners and etiquette were already considered elegant and noble. He walked into the house and stopped at the junction of the hall and the living room, smiling at Bryan who continued to eat. He noticed the newspaper on the table, and the headline about Black's escape.

"Actually, it was Albus who told me you live here."

"Oh, really, then did Headmaster Dumbledore kindly tell you how he knew I lived here?"

He was not surprised that Dumbledore could figure out where he lived. Hogsmeade was under his eyes. If he couldn't figure out even this, then Albus Dumbledore wouldn't be feared by so many people.

"Rosmerta, the owner of the Three Broomsticks pub, is a friend of Albus–" Remus said gently.

Bryan rolled his eyes, choked by the dough in his throat, which meant that as soon as he rented the house here, Albus Dumbledore knew the rent for the house.

"Actually, I came here for another reason as well–"

Remus pointed to the bedroom and said, "He hopes I can help bring Hagrid back to school."

Bryan put down his fork, raised his eyebrows, and smiled mockingly, "Is that all?"

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