Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle.

Chapter 269 The Werewolf Drinking Bitter Medicine
Early October, Hogwarts.

Melvin met with the editor-in-chief of Three Brooms and Goodfellow for two hours to discuss the future direction of Prophet News, and both sides gained a lot.

Editor-in-Chief Guffer's insights as a professional in magical journalism are very thorough. He not only discusses news reporting, but also explores the unique historical legacy and future development of the magical world. Melvin is familiar with a lot of the Daily Prophet's business, and has a deep understanding of the impact of the Shadow Mirror on wizarding life.

If this pace of development continues, perhaps wizards will indeed be able to explore their own unique media system.

Of all the programs currently airing on The Mirror, The Prophet is the only one that continues to grow without Melvin constantly monitoring it or providing advice and guidance to the creators. Editor-in-Chief Gufair has his own unique understanding of wizarding news, and the reporters and editors, including Rita, are equally outstanding.

Back at school, I saw more than a dozen figures in bright red team uniforms hovering above the Quidditch pitch, riding brooms and speeding by.

The sight of a group of students training hard for the trophy, their youthful spirit truly evokes fond memories.

"hiss……"

George and Fred shivered past, their robes still damp with dew.

"It's so cold, and we're up so early to train. Our teeth are freezing."

"Tooth has thick fur and can hide inside Hagrid's coat, so it won't be in such a sorry state."

"..."

Melvin pretended not to hear their discussion and continued to stand and admire the ever-flying bright red figures. The students exuded a vibrant and energetic life force. Although they were freezing and cursing, the audience found it pleasing to the eye.

"This is our last Quidditch season at school... my last season."

Oliver Wood is the captain and goalkeeper of Gryffindor Quidditch. He is a burly, seventeen-year-old boy who is now in seventh grade. When he speaks and directs his teammates, he exudes an unwavering determination.

“Gryffindor went five years without a champion, those were the darkest five years of our house, until Harry came to Gryffindor with the Seeker’s talent, and the Quidditch Cup was returned to our hands…”

"I don't want to lose it before I graduate. I'm leaving school at the end of this year, and I won't be able to compete here anymore. I won't have a chance to win it back!"

George and Fred exchanged a glance and sighed.

Since Wood has said that, what else can we do but train with him to the death?

The team began training with unwavering determination. They vowed to brave the cold and overcome their instinct to stay in bed early, and that neither wind, rain, cold fog, nor mud and frost could shake their determination to win the championship.

The Scottish Highlands are at a high altitude and are geographically close to the Arctic Circle, so they are frequently affected by northwesterly winds and polar cold currents, resulting in very low temperatures in autumn and winter. The mountainous and hilly areas make it easier for cold air to accumulate and linger. In addition, the presence of Dementors around schools and the accumulation of cold fog make the cold winds even more biting.

Melvin watched quietly for a few minutes before returning to the castle.

The school was not lively at this time. Only when passing by the auditorium or library could one hear faint discussions, which were the whispers of students. Occasionally, the ghosts and portraits that had been gone would be disturbed, and there would be another rustling sound.

As Melvin passed the third-floor landing, before he could even get close, he saw Snape, dressed in a black robe, expressionless, striding confidently downstairs, his long hem trailing behind him, walking with a swagger.

“Professor Snape.” Melvin nodded and smiled. Snape didn’t respond, but glanced at him as he passed by and gave a cold snort.

"..."

Melvin felt this person was a bit strange. Before he could think about it, he turned his head and heard a series of dull sounds coming from the Defense Against the Dark Arts office. It sounded like hard-soled boots stomping on the floor, or like vixens and goblins banging against wardrobes.

Footsteps approached quickly behind the door, and with a click, Lupin poked his slightly disheveled head out of the room. His face was a little pale, but his eyes lit up when he saw who it was: "Melvin, come quick, help me deal with these problems."

"?"

Melvin was stunned for a moment.

Lupin gave him a resentful look and began to complain: "Therapists, remember to dispose of medical equipment and medical waste properly after treating patients. That night you used more than a dozen Boggarts to treat the Longbottoms, and the effect was very good. Afterwards, remember not to disturb their reunion. However, you forgot to take those Boggarts with you. Professor Kettleburn sent them all over, but the boxes developed cracks during the bumpy ride, and I have to repack and seal them one by one."

"..."

Melvin couldn't find a reason to excuse himself; he knew he had done something wrong, so he had no choice but to accept the invitation to work overtime.

Following Lu Ping into the office, I saw a dozen elmwood chests laid out on the carpet. The lacquered surface, polished with tung oil, reflected the candlelight. The chests were mostly black and slightly thicker than suitcases. Beautiful silver locks hung on the clasps, giving them a touch of artistic refinement.

The only minor flaw is the slight gap at the joint of the lid, just big enough to fit a quill pen.

Sensing the wizard's presence through the cracks, the Boggart inside the box became restless, constantly banging against the lid; those dull thuds came from inside the box.

The candlelight flickered on the brass lamps, and daylight streamed into the room through the glass windows. Separated by an oak desk, Melvin and Lupin stood on opposite sides of the room. They waved their wands to open the box and transferred the Boggart inside into a narrow drawer of the wardrobe.

The wardrobe is a Victorian-style piece of furniture, old-fashioned, with faded printed decorations. The internal partition panels have been removed and replaced with drawers, resembling the cabinets in Ollivander's Wand Shop.

As a shapeshifter living in dark and cramped places, Boggart was more suited to such narrow and rough drawers than to a slit elm chest. Once inside and the drawers were closed, Boggart, unable to perceive any outside information, remained obedient.

Next to it was a second-hand desk that had been replaced. It was unclear which abandoned classroom in Hogwarts it had been salvaged from. The pattern on it was the same style as the wardrobe. Melvin suspected that it was old furniture from the Room of Requirement that Dumbledore had salvaged.

On it were some books and materials, student papers and assignments, and newly acquired pens and stationery, as well as a black porcelain bottle with a small pine stopper. Overall, it was a common container used to store potions.

Upon seeing the potion, Melvin suddenly understood why Snape had walked upstairs with a sour face and why Lupin looked somewhat weak.

As the full moon approached, Snape brewed a wolfsbane potion and brought it to Lupin's office to watch him drink it. Given their deep friendship from their student days, the taste of this wolfsbane potion must have been quite peculiar.

"How are you feeling?" Melvin asked, leaning against the wardrobe. With a wave of his wand, he opened the wooden box, and before Boggart could react, he turned into a wisp of black mist and disappeared into the wardrobe, landing in a drawer where he was sealed away.

"It was bitter, a bitterness that went straight to the depths of my soul, as if every muscle in my stomach was spasming and trying to vomit up the medicine I had drunk," Lu Ping stated calmly, his tone and expression indifferent.

(End of this chapter)