Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle.

Chapter 248 Opening Ceremony Dinner, 1993
"Professor Lu Ping, Professor Lu Ping..."

Harry's call snapped Lupin out of his daze.

The Thestrals were parked below the steps of the entrance hall, warm and bright lights emanating from within. Ghostly cheers, student chatter, and the whistling of the evening wind through the towers and courtyards filled the air. Everything in the castle was as it always was. Professor McGonagall stood at the door to greet them, and in the distance, a small boat of new students floated on the Black Lake.

"Hogwarts, it's been a long time," Lupin thought to himself.

He never thought he could come back here. It was his second home, the place with the most beautiful memories. After contracting werewolf disease, he moved around and spent the most peaceful student years here, where he met several of James' friends.

The figure stood in front of the entrance hall, wearing a dark green robe, with his hair neatly combed, black-rimmed glasses, and carrying a small orange-red lamp in his hand.

"Students in their second year and above, please proceed to the auditorium. Do not linger in the foyer or on the steps, and do not disturb the new students," Professor McGonagall's voice echoed in the foyer.

Lupin subconsciously touched the patch on his sleeve, hesitant to meet the professor's eyes, even considering hiding behind other students to slip through the hallway, but ultimately couldn't avoid it: "Professor McGonagall..."

Professor McGonagall also saw her former student and gave him a gentle smile: "Remus, you should go back to school sooner; it will make things much easier for me and Felius."

When Lupin saw Professor McGonagall's slightly aged face and met her gaze, his awkwardness and restraint vanished instantly: "When I received the letter of appointment from Headmaster Dumbledore, I had just found a new job in Wiltshire. The shopkeeper is a kind man and it's inconvenient for me to resign immediately."

"I'm entrusting you with the task of decorating the auditorium this academic year," Professor McGonagall said, looking at him gently.

"I promise I won't let you down."

Lupin paused briefly, "There's one more thing. On the way back to school, a Dementor crashed onto the Express. No students were injured, but Harry fainted..."

"I'll have him go to Bobby's for a check-up later."

Professor McGonagall stood guard in the foyer to welcome the new students, while Lupin followed them into the auditorium. A full moon hung above the magical dome, casting a soft, silvery glow. The long table remained exactly as it had been decades ago, square and upright, its weathered patterns of age unfolding beneath the tung oil, ancient and simple.

A slightly more refined tablecloth was laid out at the main guest's seat, where a familiar figure sat in the center: a centenarian wizard with silver hair and beard.

“Dumbledore… Headmaster Dumbledore.” Lupin was somewhat dazed.

"Remus, your return to teach at the school is a great help," Dumbledore said warmly, a smile on his face.

Seeing the principal, Lu Ping felt as if he had returned to the time when they first met 11 years ago. In fact, he had always wanted to return here, but he had not lived a very respectable life over the years.

“You’re familiar with all the deans. Let me introduce you to some of the professors for elective courses. This is Melvin, this is Victor, and this is Bussyda…”

Magic candles swayed in mid-air. Several adjacent seats to the side of the main guest's table were occupied by Melvin, Flitwick, and Lupin. The dinner had not yet officially started; there were only some desserts and drinks on the table. Bubbles rose to the surface of the wine and burst, and a warm current flowed from the fireplace. Every detail exuded comfort and peace of mind.

Melvin had only been at the school for a short time. He was wearing that brown trench coat, which had been exposed to the wind and rain. He wasn't soaked to the bone, but it had some minor wrinkles and wasn't exactly smooth.

Lupin was wearing a tattered robe with several patches at the seams of the sleeves. The two men looked somewhat alike in their hurried and unconcerned manner.

Sitting in the hall, Lupin suddenly felt relaxed. All the unease and panic of the full moon night were left outside the castle. This warm and peaceful feeling made him relax, and even the story of encountering the Dementors on the train was told calmly.

"Hot beer, hot cocoa, or champagne?" Professor Flitwick asked from across the table, a copper kettle emanating a sweet aroma from its spout.

"Hot cocoa, please," Melvin said, handing over a glass.

“I didn’t ask you. You’ve been a professor for two years now. Don’t you know how to get yourself a drink?” Flitwick complained as he poured him some hot cocoa. He then looked up at Lupin. “How about a butterbeer? You used to like that when you were in school.”

"Professor, do you still remember..."

“Who can remember what students liked decades ago? I just thought they all liked this.” Flitwick poured him a glass of butterbeer, half full of buttery foam. “You just said that the train encountered Dementors, and Harry fainted because of it. Was it serious? Were any other students injured?”

“No one was hurt,” Lupin explained, taking a sip of his hops. “The Dementors didn’t have time to disturb the students, but Harry’s situation was special. The Dementors seemed to have triggered some bad memories for him, so he fell into a coma.”

"This is an oversight by the Ministry of Magic..."

With Professor Flitwick guiding and introducing him, Lupin quickly integrated into the group of professors and gradually became familiar with them. Most of the professors were very friendly, sharing their teaching and life experiences, except for Professor Levent next to him, who seemed a bit strange.

Lupin noticed the professor's strange smile. The professor had been observing him, and for some reason, it seemed as if something exciting was about to happen to him.

Melvin looked at him with a gentle and friendly expression, and raised his glass to clink: "Welcome back to Hogwarts, Professor Lupin."

"Just call me Remus."

Lupin still found it a bit strange.

The sweet-smelling hot drinks dispelled the chill, and the ghosts and students entered the hall, making the venue lively. Melvin sized up the new professor, who was in his early thirties, still considered young among wizards, but his brown hair was sparse, with some gray streaks mixed in, making him look rather jarring.

I wonder what the average lifespan of a werewolf is?
Melvin noticed that he kept glancing at the moon on the magical dome out of the corner of his eye. He suddenly remembered that the moon was full in the next couple of days, but the wolfsbane potion needed to be taken a week in advance to take effect during the next transformation.

If Professor Lu Ping were to transform tonight, he would probably have no choice but to lock himself up.

A sharp, gloomy gaze pierced through from next door. Melvin turned his head and saw Snape with a cold smile on his lips.

The opening banquet officially began.

Professor Flitwick led the Toad Choir in singing "Two Troubles," and the Sorting Hat sang his own revised version of the Sorting Song. The freshmen lined up in two rows, stepped forward according to their names on the list, and put their worn and dirty hats on their heads.

Each student's arrival at their assigned long table was met with applause and cheers from their fellow students, while the clouds gathering above the magical dome continued to surge.

The professors in the main seating area chatted in hushed tones, while Lupin quietly watched the new students, sipping his butterbeer, the hops melting away, taking small sips now and then, his eyes filled with reminiscence and emotion.

"Welcome! Welcome back to Hogwarts for the new school year!"

Harry and his friends rushed back after the Sorting Ceremony, just in time for the Headmaster's speech. They bowed and hurried past, almost turning into three black shadows, and sat at the end of the Gryffindor table, looking up at the old wizard who was speaking.

"Before everyone's heads are still fogged up by the delicious meal, I have something to say."

"First, let us welcome our new Professor Remus Lupin, who has gladly agreed to fill the vacancy and teach the Defense Against the Dark Arts course. Also, Professor Kettleburn has decided to retire to care for his remaining limbs, and fortunately, his successor is none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid!"

Dumbledore turned to introduce them to everyone.

"Let's give Professor Hagrid a round of applause."

"Good luck, Professor Lupin."

Lu Ping stood up and bowed to the students. Amid the applause, he could clearly hear his two colleagues discussing the words of blessing.

"The principal really doesn't know how to speak. What does 'wishing him good luck' even mean?"

"Perhaps it's because the Defense Against the Dark Arts professors haven't been very lucky in the past, especially since you came to Hogwarts."

"What does this have to do with me?" "You're the one who sent Quirrell and Lockhart away."

"This is slander, pure and simple slander!"

Lupin couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth, sat back down and took a sip of beer. He didn't care about the legendary curse. What curse was worse than werewolf disease? What misfortune was harder to endure than being a homeless person?

Dumbledore continued rambling:

"Finally, there is something serious. For your safety, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, the Dementors of Azkaban will be stationed at Hogwarts until the fugitive Sirius Black is arrested. The Dementors will guard all entrances to the school."

"Although I have been assured that the appearance of Dementors will not interfere with your daily studies, I must remind you that Dementors are ferocious and cruel creatures. They do not distinguish between fugitives and those who are in the way, therefore I need to warn you—"

"Don't give them any excuse to hurt you!"

……

The night is getting darker.

The streetlights of Hogsmeade were lit, stretching out from the Central Post Office. Many shops had already closed, but the Three Broomsticks and the Hog's Head were bustling with activity.

In the alleyway opposite the three brooms, a figure huddled under the eaves, quietly gazing at the brightly lit bar lobby.

The shop door kept out the cold, wet rain and stray dogs. The bar was bustling with customers, who were all football fans, and they cheered loudly from time to time, apparently because there was a new match going on at Yingjing.

Today, Thestrals dropped Sirius Black off at Hogsmeade and left him outside the Hog's Head pub. The patrons there were rather irritable; they were kind enough not to give alms to stray dogs, but to kick them a few times. Black, relying on his sense of smell and the black dog's disguise, wandered around half the village, familiarizing himself with the surroundings by comparing his hazy memories.

The daytime events were too bizarre. The young wizard hadn't eaten the dog meat and had even sent it to Hogsmeade. Sirius couldn't help but suspect that he had been exposed. But several hours passed, and no Aurors or Dementors came looking for him.

Since it concerned revenge and Harry's safety, he wanted to find the wizard to get some answers, but the Thestral left after delivering the item. With no one to answer his questions, he couldn't give up on revenge, so he had no choice but to stay in Hogsmeade for the time being.

School has just started, so sneaking into Hogwarts isn't a priority right now; the most important thing is to fill our stomachs.

The black dog curled its body up even tighter, exhaling white mist from its mouth and nose.

In early September, even in the Scottish Highlands, a stormy night shouldn't be this cold. It's all the fault of those damned Dementors; their cold mist has stolen away the remaining warmth of late summer and early autumn.

Fortunately, the Three Brooms storefront has been expanded considerably, with two additional floors added. Inside, the fireplace burns brightly, and being close to the wall, the stiff body feels much warmer. It should be able to hold on until the winter snow arrives.

"Did you see that goal? I dare say Bulgaria will definitely qualify for the World Cup next year!"

"Scotland didn't score a single goal. I don't understand it. They were the favorites to win the last World Cup."

At this moment, two drinkers walked out of the bar, their necks shivering from the cold wind, white breath coming out of their mouths and noses, and the aroma of hot food in their arms, which seemed to be snacks they had packed to take home.

Sirius recognized the smell as fish and chips and immediately got up and went over.

The three brooms were mostly used by local residents. Seeing the emaciated stray dog ​​and looking at the damp, cold rainy night, they sighed, shook out a few coins from their brown paper bag, and tossed them to the stray dog ​​on the roadside.

"When did black dogs appear in the village?"

"I don't know. I wish him good luck, and hope he doesn't die this winter."

"..."

Sirius Black buried his head in his fried fish; the hot food he'd brought from the tavern would get cold if he didn't swallow it quickly. He felt no humiliation or resentment; Azkaban had long since worn away any normal human emotions.
He swallowed it all in a few gulps, then continued to curl up in the corner, waiting for the next kind-hearted customer.

Hogsmeade is a great place with plenty of food. In the morning, if you wait outside Honeydukes, the kind Mr. and Mrs. Froome will give you leftover sugar-making ingredients. At noon, if you wait at Mrs. Partridge's Tea House, passing couples will be happy to feed you. Today, I arrived a little late, so I can only wait at Three Brooms for dinner.

Half an hour later, the black dog walked away with light steps, its belly bulging.

With his basic needs met, he now needed a warm and secluded place to sleep. He happened to know a suitable spot where no one would disturb him; he used to stay there every month during his student days.

Screaming Shack, the raiders' secret hideout.

……

The orange torches illuminated the staircase, the stone carvings were cool, and the armor displayed in the corridor was covered with water droplets. The chattering students passing by shook the water droplets off, bringing the castle, which had been quiet all summer, to life.

At the end of the student line, the professors walked and chatted, glancing at their new colleague. Some of the professors who knew the inside story had a glint in their eyes.

“Remus, do you need any help tonight?” Professor McGonagall asked.

"It's okay, the clouds are thick tonight."

"Be careful, and come to me anytime if you have any problems, or go to the school clinic to find Bobby."

"I know."

After saying goodbye to the professors, Lu Ping returned to his office, locked the doors and windows, and stood in front of the bathroom mirror for a long time.
Since his infection in May, Lupin has spent over three hundred full moon nights. He has ample experience in dealing with it, pulling out chains and shackles from his chest and putting them on. Even if he transforms into a werewolf in his sleep, he won't cause trouble for others.

……

In the Hogwarts boys' dormitory.

Harry lay in bed listening to Neville's snoring, tossing and turning for a long time without falling asleep. He whispered to the next room, "Ron, Ron..."

"Ok?"

Ron, half-asleep and groggy, asked, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I'm thinking about Dementors."

"Don't even think about it. The headmaster said they won't come near the castle."

"I……"

"If you're worried, you can learn the Patronus Charm on your own. You and Hermione have weekend tutoring sessions, so you can ask Professor Levent or Professor Flitwick for help."

Harry pursed his lips, burrowed into the covers, and rolled over. Professor Levent's words echoed in his mind until the rain started drizzling outside the window again, at which point he finally fell into a deep sleep.

On the pillow next to Ron's, Mouse Spotted nestled in his arms, smacking his lips, dreaming of the delicious food at the opening banquet.

(End of this chapter)