Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 563, Section 561: Stepping into the Darkness

"This weekend."

After saying this, Dumbledore went into the headmaster's office.

With the name Slughorn in mind, Sheen walked toward the Defense Against the Dark Arts office.

The office door was open.

Professor Lupin has already packed most of the things.

Greendillo’s empty water tank stood next to his worn-out leather trunk, which was open and almost full.

Lupin was lying on the table looking at something, and he only looked up after Sheen knocked on the door.

"I see you've arrived, Mr. Green. Good afternoon."

Lupin smiled and pointed to the parchment he had been looking at, which was the Marauder's Map.

Are you leaving?

Sheen asked seriously.

"I'm afraid so."

Lupin said he started opening the drawers and taking things out.

"You looked very well when you were teaching at Hogwarts."

Sheen didn't know how to comfort him.

"exactly."

Lupin smiled broadly.

The afternoon sunlight, like honey, smeared the castle and blended into Lupin's features.

"Then you shouldn't leave."

Sheen said.

“You’re right,”

Lupin nodded and put the things from the drawer into the box.
"And you, do you find learning magic more interesting than destroying Horcruxes?"

"I understand."

Sheen sighed softly.

There are always things that have to be done.

Lupin was dazzled by the bright sunlight, so he put on his hat, the warm yellow light dividing his face.

Indeed, he was living very well at Hogwarts, and if he could, he would like to keep this peace forever.

Searching for Nagini... it has become an obsession of his ever since he learned about it.

He couldn't possibly be unaware of what it was. Since their prophet had instructed them to search in secrecy, it meant that this matter should not be known to more people.

This means that only he and Sirius truly bear the responsibility.

Responsibility—what a heavy, yet intoxicating word.

"Maybe I'll come back after all this is over,"

Lupin bent down and closed the suitcase.

"You don't need to worry."

Sheehan was somewhat dazed. Had he unknowingly had already had so much influence on Mr. Lupin?
Lu Pingmian looked at the little wizard with a smile.

The man before him, Mr. Green, had no idea how many wizards surrounded him.

Lupin believed that if he wanted, he could become the leader of the wizarding world at any time and unleash a wave even more powerful than the Dark Lord's rule.

What's reassuring is that this status belongs only to those who don't care about it.

"I'm returning this to you. I don't know how you got it from Mr. Filch, but since it's in your possession, it naturally belongs to you."

Lupin handed the Marauder's Map to Sheehan.
“I am no longer your teacher, so I will not feel guilty about returning this to you.”

Sheen took the map, a rare hint of reluctance in his expression.

He knew where Lupin was going, to Albania; and he knew what dangers Lupin would face.

He sighed.

“Don’t sigh, dear Mr. Grimm. No wizard can match you in terms of danger and dedication. That’s why Sirius and I have never doubted your resolve… What do you want to do when it’s all over?”

A ray of winter sunlight shone into the classroom, illuminating Lupin's gray hair and the wrinkles on his young face.

"Learn magic."

Sheen thought for a moment and then said.

"Oh, and then?"

Lupin's smile widened.

"And then what?"

Sheen looked slightly confused. "Oh—"

Lupin stopped smiling and carefully examined the young wizard, remaining silent for a long while.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

It was Professor Dumbledore. He didn't seem surprised to see Sheehan there.

“Your carriage is parked at the door, Remus.”

He said.

"Thank you, Principal."

Lupin picked up the old leather suitcase and the empty water tank.

"Alright—goodbye, Mr. Green,"

He said with a smile,
“It has been a pleasure teaching you. I believe we will meet again. Principal, you don’t need to see me to the door, I can manage…”

Lupin walked with firm steps, surveying the castle as he went.

Something was rattling inside his box.

It is a wolfsbane medicine.

There were many reasons that prompted him to leave.

For example, he refused Snape's wolfsbane potion, but the potion was too expensive, so he had no choice but to accept the reconnaissance fee that Sheehan gave him.

For example, what he was about to do was extremely dangerous; he was perhaps one of the few people who actively sought out Voldemort.
It's better not to bring such dangers to school.

For example, oh Snape, I never expected him to have such good taste...

Mr. Green would probably find it difficult to get along with these people.

At the end of the corridor, the light and shadow divide.

Lupin pulled down his hat brim and walked into the darkness.

……

The fugitive Sirius Black has been exonerated.

The one who truly sided with Voldemort was none other than Peter Pettigrew, whom the wizards considered a hero.

The news spread like wildfire throughout Hogwarts.

Even the Quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff has been overshadowed in terms of hype.

Sheen has been very busy these days and hasn't been paying attention to these messages.

But the rumors spread and eventually reached Dumbledore's ears.

“What a pleasant weekend, Mr. Green. Why not a cup of black tea, or perhaps pumpkin juice?”

Dumbledore watched with a smile as Sheehan fed the phoenix herbs.

"And then, listen to what the wizards are arguing about?"

Sheen chose a pumpkin juice with a lethal amount of sugar added, and his eyes squinted from the sweetness.

The two wizards peered at each other through their slits.

What are you going to teach me?

Sheehan had been looking forward to Dumbledore's lecture for several days.

"We'll talk about that later. The knowledge is in my head, dear Mr. Green. Soon it will appear in your head too, there's no rush..."

Dumbledore didn't respond.

“Even more anxious than this is our dear Professor Snape. He’s been taking on the Defense Against the Dark Arts professorship for several days now, and I think he’s probably…”

Dumbledore paused, recalling Snape's delighted face and Sheehan's direct substitution of Potions, and suddenly smiled knowingly.

Perhaps their teaching assistants will be promoted to professors?
Dumbledore quickly put the idea out of his mind.

This is a huge waste of the young wizard's talent.

"Get ready, child,"

Dumbledore stood up.

"Today we're going to find a retired colleague. After we come back, we'll be having our first class of the semester."

What do I need to prepare?

Sheen asked.

Mr. Phoenix is ​​scratching his hand to relieve an itch right now.

"No need,"

Dumbledore said vaguely,

"He'll understand when he sees you."

(End of this chapter)