A certain Hogwarts professor of runes.

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"Madam, you could write a note on it and slip it under the door to that family, warning them to be mindful of other people's feelings. Um, it would be best to include the emergency number as well."

"Will it work?" The old woman took the card with some skepticism. "People around here aren't very polite."

"Give it a try, it can't get any worse."

After declining her invitation, Felix cast an illusion spell on himself and stood quietly in place.

A few people walked by in the neighborhood from time to time, but no one paid any attention to him.

Around noon, he took out his wand and waved it repeatedly, parting layers of mist, as if his body had squeezed into the air.

His figure disappeared.

Felix struggled forward through a narrow crevice, only to be blocked by an invisible wall—a highly sophisticated magical barrier.

He then heard a piercing scream, so horrible that Felix involuntarily shuddered. A few seconds later, he was repelled by a tremendous force and found himself back on the lawn of Grimmauld Place.

Is someone inside?

Felix said with a hint of doubt, "Principal Black didn't mention this..." But upon closer reflection, he thought it could also be a house-elves.

After a moment's hesitation, Felix decided to leave. He could indeed squeeze back in and break through the barrier with his superior magical skills, but that could take an hour or two, or even several days.

If there were people inside, whether wizards or house-elves, they would not remain indifferent to his attack.

'At least I know where this place is now.'

Felix gave him a long look, then disappeared from sight.

……

Meanwhile, the Hogwarts Express.

“Did you see that, Harry? Malfoy is such a coward. He ran away as soon as he saw a professor. That’s typical of his family!” Ron said with a slightly sarcastic tone, but you can’t blame him for that, since Malfoy had just mocked his family.

“Ron,” Hermione shrieked, pointing at the professor slumped over the small table. “Watch out…”

The three glanced at the disheveled professor, who was still fast asleep. They continued their conversation, but in much lower voices.

“I’m serious. If he dares to make fun of my family again, I’ll grab him by the head—Harry, what’s wrong with you?” Ron asked, looking at Harry.

"what?"

“You’re too calm. You were like that when Malfoy was around. You just so naturally pulled out your wand and looked at Malfoy, as if he were a caterpillar or something.”

“I feel the same way, Harry,” Hermione said earnestly.

Harry scratched his head: "Maybe it's because I've gotten stronger? When Malfoy provoked us, I didn't feel much anger, it was like watching a performance. It's strange..."

He looked at Ron and Hermione and said uncertainly, "I think it's because even if we really did fight, I could easily win. I anticipated this outcome beforehand."

Ron let out a strange cry, “That’s so cool, buddy!”

“Keep your voice down, Ron—” Hermione reminded him.

But he didn't pay any attention, excitedly saying, "Tell us more about the details of Professor Hyp's special training of you, Harry! I'm so envious!"

Harry repeated helplessly, "To be honest, it wasn't a pleasant experience. I don't know how I managed to get through it, but Professor Hyp said it was a rare opportunity..."

He began to speak, and Ron and Hermione stared at him intently.

No one noticed that the professor, who was sleeping peacefully to the side, twitched slightly.

Chapter 183 Remus Lupin

“Merlin’s socks! Your Disarm Charm is at level four, and you didn’t reveal any of that before!” Ron’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “Is that true? I mean—that graduate who was going to become an Auror only had a level two Disarm Charm.”

Harry attributed it all to the magical outburst, “Professor Hyp said it would make my magic more active, which made… made me learn spells much faster.”

Ron said with anticipation, "I wish I could experience a magical surge too."

“Ron, Professor Hyp said that magical outbursts are the product of extreme emotions, and they usually occur before a young wizard enters school. Once we enter Hogwarts and learn how to control our own magic, this almost disappears.”

Hermione said matter-of-factly, “Like Harry, his case is very rare. It’s probably because that aunt insulted his parents first—oh, sorry, Harry.”

“It’s nothing,” Harry said, but Hermione looked at him apologetically.

“I know~ Can’t I just fantasize about it?” Ron seemed to have thought of something and suddenly said excitedly, “Besides, it’s not impossible, is it? There were one or two times during the summer vacation when Percy showed off his big head badge to me, and I had the idea of blowing it up.”

“There shouldn’t be much difference between frying and swelling? Maybe my emotions weren’t strong enough at the time,” Ron guessed haphazardly, believing it to be a shortcut to learning.

Hermione stared at him, and even Harry was speechless.

“But speaking of which,” Harry looked at Ron thoughtfully, “I do feel more comfortable with the Disarming Charm, and with other spells, I just feel a little lacking.”

Ron looked at him, puzzled. "Isn't it because you spent the most time on the Disarming Charm?"

Harry explained, “It’s a feeling! It’s just…” He waved his hand, “Well, I don’t know either, it might just be my imagination.” He said somewhat dejectedly.

Hermione, standing nearby, offered theoretical support: "Harry, it's not impossible—there are always some young wizards who learn certain spells much faster."

"Which book did you see it in?" Harry asked with interest, perhaps he could incorporate this idea into his paper?

The thought of the thesis gave him a headache; he had spoken rashly without considering the consequences.

Although he took a lot of miscellaneous notes during the special training, he had no idea how to turn them into a presentable paper—for some reason, he didn't want to just get by.

Hermione's answer was somewhat different from what he expected. She squinted her eyes and said cheerfully, looking just like the cat in her arms: "Remember the homework we did in Duel Class, those tables? I helped Professor Hyp organize some of them, and he brought up this idea back then, but..."

She looked helpless: "The sample size is too small. A lot of the submitted data is fabricated. I can tell at a glance!"

Ron's eyes suddenly darted around, and Harry lowered his head guiltily.

Hermione glared at the two of them, blaming them for contributing to the falsified data.

Just then, a hoarse, tired voice broke into their conversation.

Please forgive me—

The three looked at the small table with considerable alarm. The professor seemed to have just woken up, and his face, like his patched robe and worn-out suitcase, exuded a sense of destitution.

But his eyes were bright and sincere, and the professor said gently, “I just overheard some of your conversation, unintentionally, but I was genuinely curious.”

“Professor Lupin?” Hermione asked in a low voice.

“Yes, my name is Remus Lupin,” Lupin said with a smile. “You saw the mark on my box? That’s very perceptive. If this were in class, I would give you extra points.”

“Remus Lupin?” Hermione let out a short scream, startling the large ginger cat in her arms, who suddenly jumped out and stood in the aisle, looking at its owner reproachfully.

“Oh, sorry, Crookshanks,” the little witch said.

"Quickly, control it, don't let it find Spotty!" Ron clutched his chest pocket, where a bulge was where his pet fat rat, Spotty, was hiding.

"You know me?" Lupin asked.

“No, no,” she said dryly, quickly bending down to pick up the big cat.

Hermione's attitude puzzled Harry and Ron, but with outsiders present, they tacitly refrained from asking.

Lupin didn't delve into it. He smiled at them and said, "I'm your Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and I'll only be teaching for one year. It's been arranged with Dumbledore."

Harry and Ron exchanged a glance, mentally assessing the professor's true abilities. Frankly, his appearance alone didn't inspire confidence.

Lupin looked at the three of them gently, lingering especially on Harry for a moment, before saying, "I've been away from school for fifteen years, and many memories have faded. For example, I'm not quite sure what Professor Hyp you're talking about is like..."

Harry and Ron turned their attention to Hermione, who never disappointed in this regard.

Sure enough, Hermione said in one breath, "Felix Heap is an excellent wizard. He graduated from Slytherin House and currently teaches ancient runes. He is also highly accomplished in Muggle research and has an extraordinary influence."

“And he’s only been out of school for three years, no, it’s been four years now,” Harry added.

“Truly remarkable for a young man,” Lupin exclaimed. He then changed the subject, saying, “I heard you mentioned the special training. Are you on good terms with Professor Hyp, Harry?”

“You know me?” Harry subconsciously brushed the hair from his forehead, where there was a lightning bolt-shaped scar that many people recognized him by.

“I know your father,” Lupin said simply.

Harry wasn't entirely satisfied with the answer, but he still said, "Professor Hyp is a very kind and gentle person. Although he doesn't start teaching until the third year, some first and second year students have received his help."

He was referring to the panic that gripped the school during the locked-room mystery attack, with many seeking comfort from professors. Among them, Professor Hyp received exceptionally high praise.

Lupin thought for a moment and said, "You just mentioned that he only graduated four years ago, so his dean is... Severus Snape?"

“—It’s Snape.” Harry finished speaking quickly, then looked at Lupin somewhat awkwardly, without using any honorifics.

Lupin didn't react much; his gaze was distant as he fell into deep thought.

The rain outside intensified, the sky turned pitch black, and the train slowed down.

"almost there?"

“No, it’s still early!” Professor Lupin drew his wand, and Harry stood up as well.

The lights on the train suddenly went out, and shadowy figures could be seen outside.

A layer of frost crept up the car window.

A person stumbled in from outside and landed squarely on Ron, causing him to cry out in pain. A sound of terrified breathing came from the other side.

"What happened? Oh dear! Is that Neville?"

"Yes, it's me. It suddenly went dark outside. Do you know what happened?"

More people poured in, talking all at once in a noisy cacophony.

"Is Ron there? I'm looking for Ron."

"I'm here, Ginny!"

"Oh dear, that's my face."

"who are you?"

“My name is Neville, Neville Longbottom…”

"Quiet!" Lupin shouted, raising his wand high. A beam of fire poured down from the tip of the wand, illuminating the panicked faces.

The firelight illuminated his tired, ashen face, but the presence of an adult wizard reassured everyone.

They heard Lupin say, "Stay where you are, I'm going out to take a look." He opened the car door and went into the aisle.

Harry thought for a moment, then followed him outside.