The Return to Hogwarts

"You're making it sound like we went to find Hagrid without you."

Ron glanced at Hermione and said with some dissatisfaction.

Harry didn't intervene in Ron and Hermione's argument. Although his gaze was fixed on the photos in the Muggle newspaper, he could still feel several strange eyes scrutinizing him. The owners of those eyes were all "second-generation officials" like Ron. They already knew Black's purpose in escaping from prison, but due to warnings from their families, they hadn't publicized it at school.

“I know—” Ha interrupted the argument in a muffled voice.

Black's horror suddenly reminded Harry of the place Professor Blaine had taken him to during the summer holidays. It showed Harry that the wizarding world was not only wonderful and magical, but also contained just as much darkness and filth as the Muggle world.

"From now on, I will try to stay in the castle after dark."

Hermes was pleased with Harry's performance, while Ron seemed quite surprised. However, he knew this was no laughing matter, so he shrugged innocently and said nothing, burying his head in his breakfast.

The first class this morning for third graders was Herbs, a class shared by Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors.

Because their conversation at breakfast had taken a little longer, Harry and his two friends had to jog all the way to Professor Sprout's greenhouse.

On the lawn inside the schoolyard, first-year students are learning how to ride flying brooms under the guidance of Mrs. Hodge.

As Harry looked at the younger students floating crookedly ten feet above the ground, he couldn't help but recall the first time he encountered a flying broomstick in his first year. Back then, he had given Malfoy a big humiliation in front of everyone, and as a result, Professor McGonagall invited him to join the Gryffindor team.

Hopefully, Blake can persuade Wood—

The pleasant memories of the past cheered Harry up a bit, and as he was still a stone's throw away from the greenhouse, he muttered to himself.

"Harry!"

Just then, Ron, who was following him like a bodyguard, suddenly stopped and pointed in a direction, shouting in surprise.

"Hagrid and... oh, I need to go see what's going on!"

Harry hesitated for only a very short time before making a decision. After glancing around to make sure no one was watching him, he bent down and ran.

"You just promised us, Harry!"

Hermione shouted angrily as she watched the figure disappear into the distance.

“It’s daytime, Hermione, not night!” Harry waved without turning his head.

Ron shrugged innocently again and ran after Harry, while Hermione stomped her feet in anger. After a moment, she secretly glanced at the thin, long gold chain exposed under her collar, looked around guiltily, and then ran towards Hagrid's hut with difficulty, carrying her bulging schoolbag.

Amosta opened the bedroom window, squinting as he welcomed the cool morning breeze, the fatigue from not sleeping all night gradually leaving his body.

Although it is very early, the hardworking local villagers of Hogsmeade have already begun their day's work. Even from a few houses away, the footsteps of people coming and going on the commercial street and the sound of wooden wheels rolling over the stone slabs can be clearly heard.

The distant hillside was still shrouded in a hazy white mist, but the mist was rapidly dissipating under the increasingly dazzling sunlight. A house standing on the gentle slope, exuding a somewhat eerie aura, appeared and disappeared in the mist. Amostella, whose mind had become much clearer, withdrew her gaze and turned to look at the half-giant who was sleeping on her bed, her eyes filled with helplessness.

Late last night, Amosta, having escaped the Ministry of Magic and Dumbledore, dragged his weary body back to his temporary lodging in Hogsmeade, only to find Hagrid lying drunk next to a trash can in another alley. After bringing Hagrid back, Amosta hastily prepared some hangover potions for him and, after a brief inquiry, managed to figure out what had happened.

"That gray hippogriff... Draco, has he forgotten all the advice I gave him last semester? He should be glad Buckbeak didn't swat him in the neck—"

Perhaps because Hagrid's physique, due to his giant blood, was too different from that of a normal wizard, the hangover potions Amostall concocted were not enough to fully restore Hagrid's sobriety. Therefore, he had no choice but to let Hagrid stay in his room for the night.

After retrieving the Daily Prophet from his mailbox, Amosta returned to his dark and cramped living room, where he ate alone while flipping through the newspaper.

"Black escaped with serious injuries, while the Auror Office's elite Auror Lord was bravely wounded and is currently recuperating at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries."

Amosta spread raspberry jam all over the soft, golden-brown toast, rolled it up, and popped it into his mouth. As his hungry stomach felt the food filling him, the comforting sensation made Amosta let out a long sigh of relief.

"Elite Auroro Warrior?"

Amosta chewed on his bread, rolling his eyes as he tried to recall exactly when he had injured this guy named Delilah last night.

Tap-tap--

A sudden knock at the foyer door snapped Amosta back to reality. His piercing gaze pierced through the walls as he identified the visitor. Amosta quickly opened the door, narrowed his eyes slightly at the smiling Remus Lupin, and calmly inquired…

"What, is there some emergency at school? And how did you find out I live here?"

Although he was still wearing the same faded, patched wizard's robe, Lupin looked better than he had two or three weeks ago, which finally made him look more like an energetic middle-aged wizard than a beggar struggling to make ends meet.

“Don’t be nervous, Amosta,” Remus said gently.

"Everything is normal at school, and Harry isn't around... Uh... Aren't you going to invite me in to talk, Amosta?"

"I'm just afraid you'll think my place isn't respectable enough—"

Knowing that Potter's father had cheated on Professor Snape and that Lupin had once been James Potter's friend, Amosta's tone was somewhat cold, but he still turned around and went back to the living room, beckoning Remus to come in.

For a werewolf who had spent half his life struggling in the mud, the wizards' resistance and disgust were commonplace. Amosta's slightly cold attitude did not displease Lupin. He was just a little puzzled, because the last time they met, Amosta had been very friendly to him because of the 50,000 Galleons.

For a werewolf, Lupin's manners and etiquette were already those of an elegant nobleman. He paused at the boundary between the foyer and the living room as he entered the house, smiling as he watched Amosta continue his meal.

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

"Oh, really? Then did Headmaster Dumbledore have the mercy to tell you how he knew I lived here?"

Amos Tower wasn't surprised at all that Dumbledore knew where he was staying. Hogsmeade was right under his nose. If he couldn't even figure this out, then Albus Dumbledore wouldn't be someone so many people feared.

“Ms. Rosmerta, the owner of the Three Broomsticks pub, is a friend of Albus—” Remus said gently.

Amostella rolled her eyes, choking on the dough in her throat. This meant that as soon as she rented the house, Albus Dumbledore already knew the rent.

“Actually, I’m here on Dumbledore’s behalf—” Remus said, gesturing towards the bedroom, “He wants me to help bring Hagrid back to school.”

Amosta put down his fork, raised an eyebrow, and gave a half-smile.

"That's it?"

Chapter 175 Please Help Me

"In fact, there is one more thing."

Remus gave a wry smile, impressed by the young man's shrewdness and wisdom.

"Sit down and talk, Remus."

Although Remus had a close friend with whom he felt a bit of resentment had given Professor Snape a beautiful compliment, Amosta didn't want to become too narrow-minded.

Remus hesitated for a moment, then nodded gratefully to Amosta and sat down opposite him as instructed.

Although he was respected by the children at school, Lupin never forgot that in the magical world, he was just an unpopular werewolf. Over the years, there had only been a handful of wizards like Amosta who, knowing his werewolf identity, were still willing to communicate with him calmly.

“There’s something else that concerns me, Amosta. I personally hope you can do me a favor—”

Amosta rested his chin on his hands, listening quietly without offering any opinion for the time being.

“You know, Amosta, I turn into a werewolf every time the moon is full—” Remus said calmly. “Normally, I become very aggressive after turning into a werewolf, so I can’t attend classes.”

"You want me to cover your classes for you a few days each month?" Amosta's eyebrows twitched.

"Regarding the teaching during this period, Dumbledore and I had already decided back in the summer that Professor Snape would temporarily take over."

Amostella smiled. After all these years, her old professor could finally indulge in teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"--The first full moon since I entered Hogwarts will be at the beginning of next month. In a few days, I will begin taking a small dose of diluted wolfsbane as instructed by Professor Snape. However, he told me that since I have never taken this potion before, there is a possibility that its suppressive effect on me may not be as ideal as expected. So, I reported this to Albus. You know, Amostella, if I were to lose control at school, it would be a terrible thing. I cannot take any risks."

Remus spoke very calmly, as if he wasn't talking about himself at all.

Amosta paused for a moment, then smiled, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"So, the wise Dumbledore must have given you some good advice, right?"

"Albus suggested I find a powerful wizard to keep an eye on me for the next couple of days—" Lupin looked earnestly at the young wizard across the table.

“That’s why I immediately thought of you, Amosta. Indeed, Minerva and Felius are both highly skilled wizards, but to be honest, if I really went berserk, even if they could subdue me, they would probably be seriously injured. Albus has too many things to worry about every day, and I can’t bear to trouble him any further.”

"So many things to worry about every day?" Amosta rolled her eyes. Was she worrying about finding more delicious candy or about scheming against people?

Wait, isn't this another attempt to scheme against me?

Although Lupin was experienced in society, he was essentially a kind werewolf and didn't want to think too badly of others. He thought Dumbledore was just making a thoughtful suggestion, but Amosta, who was equally scheming, saw through it immediately. Dumbledore was using this as an excuse to test whether he was willing to have another connection with Hogwarts.

“If you would be willing to come to my office and see me on the day of the full moon every month, Amosta,” Remus said, his voice pleading.

"I will be extremely grateful!"

Remus pleaded earnestly, and it seemed he had quickly adapted to his position as a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts.

To be honest, Amosta was quite pleased to see his 'junior' putting in so much effort, but... the effects of the wolfsbane potion 'varied depending on the wolf'?

Amos Tower's potion-making skills weren't as refined as Professor Snape's, who had dedicated most of his life to the craft. However, in his years of working to earn money, his skills had become quite excellent, and he hadn't neglected them even after graduation. Therefore, this claim was most likely a prank by Professor Snape, which Dumbledore, adept at seizing opportunities, had unexpectedly exploited.

"I refuse—"

Amostella said lazily, but before Remus could show any disappointment, he continued, "I don't think I need to go to Hogwarts. You can come and stay with me during the full moon."

The fine lines on Remus's face smoothed out, and his expression became as bright as the sunshine.

This morning, there was a Defense Against the Dark Arts class for fifth graders, and I had to take Hagrid for a while. After thanking him sincerely, Remus, led by Amostall, arrived at the bedroom.

"Zombie Drifting--"

Remus pulled out his wand and chanted something to Hagrid on the bed. Then, as if an invisible rope had been tied to Hagrid's wrists, neck, and knees, the snoring Hagrid was forcibly pulled off the bed.

Amosta's lips twitched involuntarily as he looked at the obviously dented bed frame.

"Oh, right, Amosta—"

Before stepping out of the living room, Remus glanced at the Daily Prophet spread out on the table.

"Albus told me that the wizard who tried to break into the Black family mansion last night was not Black, but possibly a dark wizard who was after the bounty from the Ministry of Magic. I agree with him; we both know Black and know he doesn't have that ability."

"Oh?"